John 3:17

I went to Church last night after an exausting day at work. I did get to sleep a couple of hours before church though. That did help a lot.

Anyway, we got to church and during the worship service, my sweet Pastor asked me if had a message I could preach. He assured me it was o.k. if I couldn't, but I know that he doesn't do that unless the LORD leads him to. So I said, "alright".

Having no message actually "prepared", I began praying. I was still a bit out of sync and sleepy. You know how it is when you're really tired, and only sleep for about 1-2 hours; you are a bit refreshed, but still a little out of it.

Usually when the LORD appoints nights like this, this is the condition I am in. The LORD is faithful to set up a situation where I must rely on HIM alone!

So, as the service progressed, the LORD showed me a few things. Then, right when it came time to start, a visitor walked in. A precious little lady who visits us from time to time.

I knew the LORD was going somewhere. It's one thing to come down and teach on a level that everyone can understand, but another thing entirely to teach a word that the person NEEDS. Only God can do this, because only He knows what we need.

The LORD led me to John 3:16,17. The LORD impressed me to deliver this point, and share this with you today.

We all focus on John 3:16, for it is a powerful verse. But, in my personal experience, I can not recall ever, not even once, hearing someone preach on the next verse, John 3:17. This is equally important.

"For God so loved the world

that he gave His only begotten Son

that whosoever beliveth in Him should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

For God sent not His son into the world to condemn the world,

but that the world might be saved through Him."

John 3:16,17

Isn't that powerful?!

Someone needs to know that, Jesus' job is not to CONDEMN YOU! So many times, when we stumble, we fall, let's be plain - we sin, we have the idea that God is there just waiting to take us out!

THIS IS NOT TRUE!!!! God is waiting to reveal His great name of Salvation to us!

Jesus purposed to save the world, not condemn us. We are born condemned! Jesus didn't have to come to Earth, bleed, suffer and die to condemn us, we already were condemned! No, He came to save us.

We are condemned when we reject His Blood! Jesus is saying to us here, "I didn't come to make you feel worthless, helpless and forsaken! I didn't come to sentence you to judgement- you already are! I came to redeem you!"

What Love divine! We only need to be afraid of the LORD if we are stubbornly refusing to repent! If we are in continual sin, with no desire to change- we have good reason to fear God, for we are maintaining our state of condemnation and rejecting His precious Blood.

But if all we are asking is for fresh blood, so that we may be reconciled back to Him after our choices, that's PRECISELY WHY God sent His son into the world! Come freely, humbly but boldly.

Did He not tell us to Come unto Him, all who labor, and are heavy laden?

Amen, let's keep that in mind as we progress in our walk with Him! He is not come to condemn us, but to save us!

Hallelujah, God bless you!

Lift up His name today!



Update . . . .

Good Morning!

I am writing this from work this morning, and barely awake trying not to fall on the keyboard! So please pardon me if I have a few typos.

I want to say thanks to the folks that have been supporting this blog since it started a couple of weeks ago. I greatly apologize for not posting here consistantly. It has been so busy lately! I find it hard to create a half-concerted post. I would like to put quality posts up and share what the LORD shows me daily. How can you sum it up shortly? God is so good.

But please allow me to say thanks for following and please continue - we will be back on track soon- LORD willing!

May I encourage you all to share the Love of the LORD today by shining with First Love gratitude fir the LORD and His careful government of our lives!!!!!!!!!

Amen!

Happy Resurrection Day!

Good Morning! I really must apologize for not staying up to date lately, it's been really busy lately!

I really don't have much time this morning, but, I HAD to write to you today. This is an exciting day!! This is a day we set aside to celebrate the resurecction of our LORD Jesus Christ! I understand that we as Christians celebrate this every day of our life, however there is a special excitement today!

Round about 2000 years ago, the LORD Jesus Christ came to Earth, and lived among us. Oh what Love divine! Oh what humility! Oh what a Saviour, Oh Hallelujah! After walking in the humility footsteps His Father had set before Him, for 3 1/2 years, He willingly walked to Calvary's Hill, Surrendered His Spirit into His Father's Hands and died. Seeming as a total failure to the world.

This man who said He had come to free the world, was killed, by His own people, no less! "He saved others but could not saved Himself" the self-righteous and ignorant quipped (and still do). He was not bothered one bit! He knew His destiny.

"Lift up your heads, O ye gates;

and be lift up, ye everlasting doors;

and the King of glory shall come in.

Who is this King of Glory?

The LORD strong and mighty,

The LORD, mighty in battle."

Psalm 24:7,8

Who is this King of Glory? What was said to this statement? The LORD, strong and mighty! The LORD, mighty in battle!

Amen! HE IS THE KING OF GLORY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Make no mistake about it, Jesus is the King of Glory!

"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly,

that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified,

both Lord and Christ."



Acts 2:36

He's Alive! He's Arisen! He lives in ME! And He Can and Will Live in You! If you just ask Him to! He wants us to make it more than we do!

I apologize if this post doesn't have much of a polished form, if I could just speak and not have to harness myself down to typing, you would see the excitment that Jesus brings!

Hallelujah He's Alive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"

I Corninthians 15:55



Please have a most blessed Resurecction Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Larry Norman

Hello, Hello!

It's been a few days since my last post; I know I've slacked off. This one will be short.

In the last few days I've been thinking about various things. I read a quite lengthy article on the life of Larry Norman. Being a musician and singer, I was very interested in this article. I've always been deep into music, and very interested in our musical predecessors. Most people that have known me just "don't get it", when it comes to my passion for music. So, I just leave it alone sometimes! HaHa!

Anyway, I was very, very struck by this article. For those who don't know, Larry Norman was a Contemporary Christian singer, one of the very first in the genre. I, personally, as a musician, probably fall more in the category of Southern Gospel than anything else, but have been richly blessed by many CCM artists, especially the older ones.

Larry Norman, to seriously paraphrase, was always controversial within the industry and the Church. This was definitely not anything new for the era; most of the founders of CCM or "Jesus Music" as it was known, caused much controversy within the Church.

But something did set Larry Norman apart from all of the other stories I've heard. He seemed to have a real passion for PLEASING THE LORD as well as reaching the lost. It's a question I've always had in the on-going controversy of Christian Music. What is too far? What is too worldly? We must reach down and meet dear souls where they are, but we CAN NOT loose our seperation unto the LORD.

I began to see myself in a different light. I've never been one to try to appeal to the world in my music. Southern Gospel is traditionally sung to a Christian audience. Before I came into the Southern Gospel world, I was in the Praise & Worship world as a worship leader, still singing to mostly Christian people. I began to see that it's easy to criticize people who we think are too worldly as they're trying to reach the lost. It's not so easy to realize that I've not had a burden to reach the lost! Which is worse?

I understand there is a ministry of exortation to the brethern. I also unserstand a lot of folks have gotten saved in "Christian-only" concerts. But what about a burden for the lost?

None of us are perfect- we all make mistakes. Perhaps in our modern, commercial Christian Music industry, we ARE too worldly. But perhaps we've also failed to see our own short comings.

I believe that if we lift up the LORD Jesus, just as He promised, HE will draw all men unto Him. We won't have to salt and pepper the Gospel. But the burden must be there to LIFT HIM UP!

Thank God for Larry Norman. A faithful servant of God. Thank God for all of our "Jesus Music" pioneers. Thank God for Jesus!

LORD, please help me to walk in balance, in Love, and in humility!

Please comment, and please keep praying for me! I'll pray for anyone out there if you wish!

And Jesus is ALWAYS praying, as well as the Spirit. So, WE CAN'T LOOSE!!!!!!

Persecution

I would like to say thanks to the ones who have been reading this little blog that we have here. It's been a little over a week and I'm surprised at how fun and hopefully insightful this has become.

God's word always introduces light! Always. I am nothing special, neither is anyone else. God's word is the special one! His Word (Jesus Christ) is the sustainer! Thanks for sharing all of your insight and for posting what the LORD reveals to you all as well on your blogs! I do read them am and am tremendously blessed by them!


Now, today, I thought it would be a prime time to let you know about a passion of my heart. I feel somewhat guilty for calling it a passion, for I am not nearly burdened as I should be with it. What I am talking about is the persecution of the Christian Church.

It's with a heavy heart that I write this to you. I feel somewhat out of sorts, as I always do when speaking of this subject.

WE HAVE FORGOTTEN OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS!!!!!!!!

I don't hear talk about them! I hear how "hard" our life is here in America. I hear about all that we "endure" for Jesus when we only make $100,000/year instead of $1,000,000/year.

I understand that we do endure what we can. I understand that the sufferings of the spirit and soul and the afflictions of the body, when allowed by the LORD's headship for our good ARE tough to endure. I am not belittling anyone's struggle by any means!

I am heart broken that we have forgotten our brothers and sisters worldwide who endure all these things that we do PLUS physical persecution. My monthly Voice of the Martyrs magazine is in today and the front cover reads "Scars of Faith". It hit me pretty hard.

I have forgotten them! LORD forgive me! Please be with those faithful servants!

Voice of the Martyrs does an amazing work. Not all of us can afford to support them financially, but we all CAN afford to support them through prayer!

I can imagine how much pleasure the Father has in His overcoming servants who love not their lives unto death!

We think about Isaiah, who was sawn in half for His stand. How about John the Beloved, who survived being boiled in a vat of Oil? How about Righteous Stephen, who was stoned to death and saw Jesus standing at the right hand of the Father in Glory?

When we take a stand for Jesus, He takes a stand for us!

Please, join me praying, and remembering them.

Thanks,

God Bless You All!

Demonstrations Part 2- Isaac

"And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham.

And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.

And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and I will bless thee;

for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of the heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the Earth be blessed; Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws."

Genesis 26:1-5



Continuing from yesterday's lesson on Abraham, may we speak a little bit about Isaac? This is a lesson most powerful!

We spoke yesterday briefly of Abraham's demonstration of complete Love & surrender to the LORD by offering his promised son, of whom the LORD gave him through Sarah, and annointed to to bless all people of Earth through, back to the LORD. We talked about us offering back to the LORD what He has given us & proving that we love Him all will love Him even without gifts in our lives. I encourae everyone to read that post (Obedience and Sacrifice) if you have sufficient time to do so.

Today, continuing on demonstrations, the LORD showed me about Isaac, and his demonstration of Faith & Obedience. Well. Isaac made many demonstrations & taught us many lessons, didn't he? I'm speaking in particular about the above text (rather, Isaac's obedience to it!).

God promised this land, the land of Canaan, to Abraham and his seed. But now, there was a famine. Isaac is seriously considering and moving toward going to Egypt. For Egypt seems to offer everything and God's promised land seems to offer nothing.

I'm sure we can all relate; Have you ever been at a place where God's promises and where He has sent you seems barren and where He took you from seems to have life?

God never lifts us up to let us down!

The fruitfulness of Canaan's land depended on the morality and integrity of it's inhabitants. God ordained it this way!

Isaac had to learn to first cultivate the field of his heart, then God would bless his natural fields. We break up the fallow ground of our heart through obedience to God's Torah truth!

Most of us know that the Law, God's word, is called "Torah" in Hebrew. The Torah is God's moral principles of truth. There were two sides to the Torah in the Old Testament. There was the Moral Law and the Ceremonial Law. Jesus Christ fulfilled BOTH sides- both the Moral Law and the Ceremonial Law.

Now, we no longer abide by the Ceremonial Law, which Christ swallowed up, But, we yield ourselves to Christ, so that He through us lives the Moral Law.

We walk in obedience to the LORD's Moral Law by obeying His commandments; His Moral-Torah.

The word "Torah" in Hebrew means, "running water". Can you believe that? Running Water. Is that not why HE said:

 "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,"

Ephesians 5:26



God's word confirms itself over and over again!

So, how are we to cultivate the ground of our heart? With the water, Torah (running water) of the obedience of the word of God!

As soon as Isaac watered his heart, his spiritual ground, God blessed his natural land. The Bible says that he reaped 100-fold in the land.

Now, the conclusion.

If where God has placed us seems barren and dry, let's follow Isaac's example & water our heart with the water of God's word, God's law! God will always water & bless our natural circumstances with fruitfulness if we are faithful to do this.

Let's start making a daily demonstration of Faith and obedience by watering our heart with God's word & our obedience to it!

Obedience and Sacrifice

Adapted from "True Worship in Demonstrations of the Spirit"
                         By B.R. Hicks
                         Christ Gospel Press
                         Jeffersonville, Indiana 47130
                         www.christgospel.org

"And it came to pass after these things,

that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him Abraham:

and he said, behold, here I am.

And He said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest,

and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering

upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of."

Genesis 22:1,2

"And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father:

and he said, Here am I my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood:

but where is the lamb for a burnt offereing?

And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering:

so they went both of them together."

Genesis 22:7,8

What a story! What faith! Within this familiar story, I believe, is a lesson for us even today. We're talking about worshipping the LORD with demonstrations. What is a demonstration? Simply put, a demonstration is an example given to help explain a sometimes non-concrete subject matter. We make a demonstration to prove a principle.

When we make demonstrations before the LORD, we are showing on the outside, a tangible sign of what is happening intangibly on the inside of our heart! We make demonstrations like this all the time.

For instance, when we sing to the LORD, we are demonstrating, in a tangible form, our intangible love for the LORD and the joy with which we have been blessed with by the LORD. We can't help it! It has to come out.

When we weep before the LORD, we are demonstrating our brokenness, which, without tears, would be unknown to most of the outside world.

Even in a more elementary sense, we make demonstrations. We demonstrate we are angry when we clench our fists and tighten our face. We demonstrate our compassion whenever we soften our expressions and open our hearts to help someone in need.

We demonstrate our sense of responsibility and concern for our wives & families when we as men go out into the world and work! Holding down sometimes multiple jobs, just to make ends meet sometimes. When we do this in spite of obstacles that may make it hard and at times heart breaking.

Mothers demonstrate their unconditional love for their children by risking their own very lives and welfare, just to provide the best for their kids. Children, in turn demonstrate their love and appreciation for their parents by rendering due honor and respect and care for them as they age.

God demonstrated His love for us by sending Jesus Christ to die for our sins!

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish

but have everlasting life"

John 3:16

For God so Loved the world THAT . . . . this was the cause of God sending His son- LOVE. Jesus coming to save us was a demonstration of God's love!

Abraham made a powerful demonstration of love and obedience. After all of the years of believing, praying and waiting on God for this miracle child, he's instructed to offer him up to the LORD. After all, Abraham staggered not at the promises of God, so, he was not short on Faith!

This was not to prove whether or not Abraham believed God, for this had already been proven. This was not about building Faith, this was about proving LOVE!

Isaac was not just a mere son to Abraham. Isaac was the only hope of Abraham's seed being as the sand of the seahore. Ishmael had already been sent away. God was not going to allow him to take part in this inheritance. Isaac was the one. He and his children were the ones who would inherit the promised land.

Isaac represents in our lives, not only our gifts from the LORD, but the vehicle through which the LORD has provided to fulfill His master plan in our lives. This was big! It looked like, in the natural realm, that God had changed His mind about what He had promised Abraham. It looked as if Abraham's seed would have ended here! Yet, we don't hear any doubt in Abraham's words! No resistance or complaining. Nothing but surrender!

Do you realize that Abraham Loved the LORD so much, that he was not even going to let his promised child come between him and God! And yet, God never planned for any harm to come to Isaac.

Now, what about us? What about our ministries? Gifts? Talents? Are we letting them come between us and God? Have they become idols? Let's not be deceived into thinking that just because the LORD gave them to us, that we can't misuse them. They can be idols to us.

Let me make this clear once more, God never intended for any harm to come to Isaac. This was not about faith, but Love. Would Abraham love God enough to give back the gifts that God had given to him?

Are we willing to offer God back His gifts if He requires it? Will we still love and follow him without these gifts?

Let's make a demonstration of Love today by offering our lives to the LORD, our gifts, talents, ministries, everything!

Hallelujah!

Please comment! Share with me your thoughts!

God bless You!

Here's a song to accompany our study today: