A little wine!

I don't drink, but I do believe that wine has a medicinal purpose. Jesus turned water into wine and the bible says they saved the best for last. I believe the bible to be absolute truth, so I can't do away with this scripture just because I may think it's wrong to drink.

1 Timothy 5:23 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.

I do however know that the bible also teaches us to be not drunken.

Romans 13:13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

People can pick one verse and make a sermon around it, but I believe God's word is all or nothing. You must take his whole word as truth and know that it will never contradict itself. If it teaches that wine is good for our infirmities, then it is good for our infirmities and if it tells us to be not drunken, then we should have enough common sense to know that to be drunken is not good for us in any way. I believe when it says "A little wine" that is what it means because anything more than a little would no longer be medicinal, but would make you drunken. You can not be drunken and still be in God’s will.

A Prayer of Faith!

James taught us in chapter five that if there are any sick among us that we are to call the elders of the church and let them anoint us with oil and pray for us that we might be healed. The oil is not what heals us. The prayer is not what heals us. It’s the FAITH IN GOD that heals us. He taught us that the “Prayer of Faith” shall save the sick. We can pray all day long but if we don’t have faith in God, that prayer will never go anywhere. There is more to James’ teaching here that many people don’t realize or choose to ignore. He also taught that if that person we are praying for has sinned, those sins shall be forgiven. Now we are getting into some deep water here. James is telling us that the prayers of the elders and their faith in God will reach God and he will forgive someone’s else’s sins. This means the one’s doing the praying has become an advocate for the person that is sick. This is a big responsibility on the elders and prayer warriors. Our churches today are lacking in both. We pray for people and often wonder why they are not being healed. It’s not just one thing that stops the prayers from being answered. I believe one of the biggest faults in churches today is that we see people asking for prayer but it’s not usually the elders that does the praying. You will see many brothers and sisters in Christ gather to pray for them and that is good, but it’s not in line with what the bible teaches us to do. We need our elders to take a bigger role in the church. We need our prayer warriors to step up and we need for others to step down. Now let me say this, you don’t have to be and elder in age to be an elder in the church. I believe an elder is someone that has served God for enough years to have built up a close relationship with him and has the faith that can reach heaven’s throne. I believe an elder is someone that lives within God’s will 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, not just when they walk into the church building. The title of elder is not to be taken lightly. It is an honor and something to be cherished. We all need to strive to become elders, to build our faith and relationship with God so that when we pray, we will see the results of those prayers.

James 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

Stay Rapture Ready!

The one thing I know and trust to be the truth is that Jesus said I go to prepare a place for you and if I go away, I will come again to receive you unto myself. I know he is coming back for me and you. The rapture or calling away of the church could take place at any moment. I believe we are closer to his coming than we have ever been. I believe Jesus Christ is going to step out on the clouds of glory and call his children home. People are waiting for the coming when he steps his feet upon the Mounts of Olives, but when he comes at that time, he will be bringing an army with him to do battle...that army my friend, is you and me....the church....He told us to watch the signs...the signs are slapping us in the face. Look up, your redemption draweth nigh...

All of the scriptures are confusing to some because some of them are speaking of the rapture and others are speaking of when Christ actually comes and sets his feet upon the earth again. I believe these are two different events and we just need to get them clear and know which scripture is speaking of which event.

John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. Psalm 130:7 Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.

Tending the fallow ground

My son has preached many times about “The Fallow Ground” and today I am thinking about the apostles and why there was so many miracles and such outpouring of God’s power. Can I tell you that they were preaching on “Fallow Ground”. They had the opportunity to preach the Gospel to people that had never heard it before, to tell them about a Savior that they had never dreamed would be real. Their hearts was completely fallow ground and when you plant seeds in fallow ground you get a good crop! They faced rejection, persecution and conflict, but it didn’t stop them from telling people about Jesus!! Today as Christians, we need to look for that person that we might meet that has not heard of Jesus, we need to go out into the world and start sharing the gospel with those whose hearts are fallow ground. We will face rejection and ridicule, but Jesus told the apostles to spread the gospel and friend, if you are a child of God, then you too are an apostle of Jesus Christ. He told us to go out into the world and tell them the gospel. He didn’t say just stay within the safe walls of our churches.

Mathew 28: 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

This old world is soon to become new again. Christ said, I go away to prepare a place for you and if I go away, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there you may be also. He is coming back for his people and if you are like me, then you have many loved ones that have not accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior. We need to be fasting and praying for them. We need to be telling them every single day how much Jesus loves them. We need to be telling the stranger we meet at the supermarket and the people we run into everywhere in our daily lives. We need to go out into the highways and byways and find someone that needs Jesus and then we need to share the gospel with them. Finally and more importantly, we need to let them meet him. How you might ask can we do that? It’s simple, Christ lives in me and he lives in you. If we are going to be his apostles and spread his gospel, then we need to walk in his footsteps. Our lives need to reflect his love for all people. When that drunkard that you are talking to about the Lord looks at you, he needs to see something in you that he longs for. When they can see Christ in your life and my life and see our JOY, then and only then will they want to have what we have. We need to build their faith in Christ and seek the salvation of their souls! Our faith will be tested and tried, but like Gold that only gets better when it goes through the fire, we will become stronger in Christ each time we go out into the world and share his gospel!

1 Peter 1:7-9

7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

I challenge you today to go out and find just one person and tell them about Jesus. Tell them about a man that loved them so much that he died that they might live. 

The blood still works

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 1 Corinthians 15:1, 3-4 KJV

Have you declared the gospel to anyone lately? I am thinking this morning that if not, then today would be great day to begin. I believe it is the responsibility of every Christian to go out into the world and share the gospel of Jesus Christ with sinners. Good people, bad people, drug addicts, drunkards, adulterers, ect...it doesn’t matter how good or how bad, they all need to know Jesus and accept him as their savior. They need to be told about how much he loved them. They need to be told how he came to this wicked world and suffered and died for their sins in order to save their soul from a devils hell. They need to be told that he loves them so much, that nothing they have done is too big that he can’t cast it as far as the east is to the west, never to be remembered. They need to be told that his love for them is so strong that he would leave ninety nine saved souls (sheep) to fend for themselves while he goes out to search for them, because they are lost and need to be found, need to be saved for the ravishing wolf which is Satan.

Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life. There is no other way to the Father, except through him. When destruction came to Egypt and the Hebrew children had to slay a lamb and put the blood on their door posts, it was symbolic of Christ’s blood that was shed for the sins of the world. Nothing could get past that blood of the lamb and the blood still flows from Calvary today. When you accept Christ as your Savior, his blood covers all of your sins. You become a new person and nothing can cross his blood. 1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Friend, Jesus loves you today and he stands with outstretched arms, waiting to welcome you into his embrace. Revelation 3:30 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. He will bring you the peace that you have searched for your entire life. My life has not been a bed of roses, but with Christ in my life, it has been and continues to be filled with peace. This world is full of hatred, anger and strife, but in Christ, I have found rest. You can do the same. If you don’t know him today, let me invite you to pray. Today, on Good Friday, as we begin to celebrate his death, burial and resurrection, won’t you take a moment to think about what that means. The God of all creation loved you, a sinner so much that he stepped out of heaven’s splendor to become a man and suffer death on a cross in order to save your soul. Today, he is saying unto you; Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

The way of righteousness

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 1 Peter 2:24 KJV

Peter told us here that we should live unto righteousness. What is living unto righteousness? It’s living morally right and justifiable according to Christ’s teachings. Throughout time, man has sought for that fountain of youth, that thing that could keep a person young, healthy and beautiful. There is no fountain of youth, but there is a way of obtaining immortality. There is a way to be sure that throughout eternity, we will age no more, suffer no more, die no more, that is the way of righteousness! Proverbs 12:28 tells us: In the way of righteousness is life: and in the pathway thereof there is no death. We can’t live in the way of righteousness and not accept Christ, the two go hand in hand. Jesus Christ told us in John 14:6 I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. By accepting Christ and turning from sin, you are turning away from death! The bible teaches us in Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The more you turn away from sin, the more righteous you become. You become revived daily in Christ. Physical death as we know it is but a transition from this fleshly body to a heavenly body. Jesus taught us in John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. To die in the flesh is to live in Christ. John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: To be born again in Christ is truly the moment we take that drink from the cup of that fountain of youth so many have longed for. Jesus let us know that in him is life and if we live and believe in him, we will never die! John 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

When we accept Christ, we are crucified with him. Our life is no longer our own, but his. We are but a vessel to be used for his purpose. We can never be righteous, but the Holy Ghost that lives in us is righteous and makes us righteous! Galatians 2:20 tells us: I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Living our daily lives in righteousness will daily revive us and we have the blessed promise of God that though we were dead, yet shall we live! John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

The reflection of God

Have you ever thought about how we might see the reflection of God? We know that no man has ever seen the Father, but we can see his reflection in each and every Christian. Mathew taught us that we are the light of the world. He told us in Mathew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Let us take a look at the moon for just a moment. Did you know that of itself, the moon does not give off any light, but rather reflects the light from the sun. When we look at that beautiful full moon what we are truly seeing is the reflection of the sun! It is similar to this that we as Christians are the reflection of God! When we live as Jesus lived, love as Jesus loved and let our good works show forth to our fellowman, then they see God reflected in our lives! By letting our Christian light shine, we are showing the world the reflection of God!