**Another Lesson from The Lord's Prayer**

When we asked forgiveness from God it was for our own good....same thing when we need to forgive others.....it's for our own good. We can't be healed,never really move toward wholeness, we will never really get on with our lives until we are able to let go of the resentment,until we can give up gaining revenge...and forgive. When we have been wronged, we need to look at who God is, and what God has done for us. How far am I to go with this forgiveness ?.......How far has God gone with you?............. We are to forgive them. Not because of who they are or what they have done; but because of who God is, and what God has graciously done. Take a look at Matthew 6, verse 12. Right in the middle of the Lord's Prayer is a prayer that you and I, if we are not careful, just pray as a motion when we say the Lord's Prayer. ***Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors***. We are asking God to treat us, to forgive us, exactly the way that we deal with other folks who have wronged us.

Father, please forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. In Jesus name. Amen.

"HELL HAS WHAT THE CHURCH NEEDS"

Luke 16:19-31

What every Church needs and what every Born Again Believer needs is.....

1. VISION ....vs23

 

We need a vision for the lost. 

A vision of hell.

 Proverbs 29:18.....Where there is no vision the people perish! 

We need a vision for what God can do through us. A vision about our life.

We need a vision about this church that God has placed us in.

Not a vision of feel good Christianity......but a vision for the work of God in this church.

Acts 16:16-21 Paul and Silas turned the city upside down.

2. TEARS ....vs24

Tears of Compassion 

Now is the time to have compassion....Love

Tears of Repentance

Now is the time to confess our sin.

Tears of Regret

The rich man found that out but it was too late.

3. REMEMBRANCE ....vs25

 Never forget where we came from....remembering will help us to make the right decisions concerning our souls and the souls of others. 

The Christian life is a life of decisions. It begins with a decision.....To believe......

To serve God or man...... the rich man chose "the pleasures of sin for a season."..... Lazarus chose what really mattered, the things of God

We cannot undo past mistakes or sins but we can give the pieces of our life to God and see the wonders that God can do with those pieces.

4. SEPARATION ....vs26

From evil......

God is a God of separation. One of the keys to spiritual maturity is that when God reveals truth to you in the Word of God....you obey it.

From compromise.....

Love God but hate sin. Don’t try to love both God and sin.

5. PRAYER ....vs27

Here is a man praying for the lost. God works in response to man’s prayers. Man’s prayers for the lost fulfill the plan of God.

6. MISSIONS ....vs27

The rich man in Hell wanted to send out missionaries.

7. CONCERN ....vs28

We need a concern that people don’t go to this place of torment and anguish called Hell.

Hell is a place of remorse and despair when they see the perfect joy of God

Hell is a place of abhorrence of the very evil that they had loved.

Hell is a place of eternal desire for freedom.

Hell is a place of memory of lost opportunities.

Hell is a place of regret over deeds committed.

Hell is a place of absolute hopelessness.

Hell is a place of eternal separation from loved ones.

Hell is a place of fire.

Hell is a place of remorse for not listening to the Word of God.

Hell is a place without opportunity.

It’s only a test. Pay day is on the way!!!!

More and more Christians are speaking of giving up, throwing in the towel, wanting to go back into the life they used to walk, walking around saying I just can’t take it no more.

Hebrews 10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
NIV....So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.

Remember your endurance? Remember when your back was up against the wall. There was no way out. But God, with all of His infinite wisdom and power came and rescued you.
Where's that fire?
Remember when your bills were due and you didn't have any idea how they would could paid?
But out of nowhere things starting happening that you couldn’t explain. It was no body but God!!
Remember when you were sick or knew someone close that was and the doctors had given up, but God told death no. Death had to back up. God told death not yet, I’m giving them a little more time.
Remember the story about Hezekiah?
The Lord revealed to Isaiah that Hezekiah was going to die. Hezekiah got scared. He faced the wall and began to pray. He prayed like he had never prayed before. God heard his cry for mercy, and God gave him 15 more years to live.

What has happened to you? Where is the fire!!!!!!!!!!!

Rejoice!!! Rejoice!!! Pay Day Is On The Way!
If we look at the scripture it says in Hebrews 10:35, "So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded." It says richly rewarded.
What are you talking about.....richly rewarded?
Well God’s Word is infallible and that is without error. And since it is without error it has to be true. God cannot lie. He couldn’t even if He wanted to because He is the perfect one. He is the Creator. He is the Great I Am. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. He is the one who can just think it, and it shall happen.

This thing is only a test. After the test, comes the reward.
Romans 8:18, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

It’s only a test. Pay day is on the way!!!!

2 Corinthians 1:17-18 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Pay day is on the way and it’s not to far off!!!

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.



It’s only a test. Pay day is on the way!!!!

SINKING?

Do you ever feel as if you are sinking? Are you discouraged? Are you afraid?  Are your emotions getting the best of you? These are a few of the situations where we might feel like we are sinking. There is help available. Jesus is available and his word will encourage you. 

Matthew 14:28-31 And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." And He said, "Come!" And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" 

 

As Peter attempted to walk on the water he was overcome by fear. As he began to sink he cried out to Jesus. Jesus lifted him out of that miserable failure.

Four truths are in these verses........

1. Sinking sometimes occurs after we have experienced other victories. Peter’s sinking occured on the heels of Jesus feeding of the 5,000. Peter witnessed a miracle, with the feeding. That miracle did not sustain him. He needed another. He needed a touch from Jesus.

2. Sinking can threaten the person who is in the center of God’s will. We sometimes assume that a person who is struggling is out of God’s will. That is not always the case. Peter and the other disciples where in the boat because Jesus instructed them to be there. Sometimes when you obey God it puts you into the midst of the storm.

3. Sinking strengthens our dependence on Jesus. As Peter began to sink he swallowed his pride and humbly asked Jesus for help. That is not a bad thing. Anytime we turn to Jesus, it is a positive experience.

4. Sinking does not hinder future effectiveness. Sinking people are not washed up. Sinking people are not put on the shelf. Peter preached at Pentecost and wrote the two books that bear his name after the sinking episode.

Sinking is not a pleasant experience. But, we need to be reminded that it is not the end of the world. Jesus can bring good from it.

" A GOOD FATHER" part 5

PROVIDE FOR YOUR CHILDREN

1 Tim. 5:8 – “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.”

Even the lost provide for their families … BUT …you can’t be a GOOD FATHER and not provide for your children.

I don’t mean that you have to give them everything they want … that’s one of the worst things you can do.
Too many fathers think they can buy off their children with things … and relieve themselves of the guilt for not being the kind of father they ought to be … that they can buy their way out of Biblical fatherhood.

Providing for your children by giving them too much, is just as bad as not providing for them by giving them too little.

BE A GOOD FATHER … provide for your children.

It’s not easy being a good father … BUT … it’s NOT IMPOSSIBLE either. It takes hard work, hard praying, and making hard decisions. You can’t do it alone.... God doesn’t expect you to....God doesn’t want you to.....Don’t leave Him out of your fatherhood.

"A GOOD FATHER" part 4

LISTEN TO YOUR CHILDREN

Give them your undivided attention  not with one eye on the TV and the other eye on them. When they have a problem … when they are worried … when they are sad … when they are lonely … they don’t need cartoons, or a video game, or their best friends Dad ...they need YOU!

Get involved with your children, and know what’s going on in their everyday life. Listen to them … even when they‘re not saying anything, they are speaking volumes. Be the kind of father that they can come to and say anything that’s on their mind … without being criticized for it.

If you listen to them when they’re small and their problems are small … and then they’ll come to you when they’re bigger, and their problems are bigger.

Proverbs 1:5 – “A wise man will hear and increase in learning …”

 BE A GOOD FATHER … Listen to your children.

It’s not easy being a good father … BUT … it’s NOT IMPOSSIBLE either. It takes hard work, hard praying, and making hard decisions. You can’t do it alone.... God doesn’t expect you to....God doesn’t want you to.....Don’t leave Him out of your fatherhood.

"A GOOD FATHER" Part 2

DON’T EXPECT PERFECT CHILDREN

Just like there are no perfect fathers ..there are no perfect children!

Fathers don’t expect your children to be perfect. Don’t expect them to meet all of your expectations … to fulfill all of your goals for them … to be what you want them to be.

Too many fathers try to live out their own lives through their children. They want their sons to be the football stars that they could never be. They want their daughters to marry into money and success that they never achieved.
Every child is different … they are not a clone of you.....Thank God!. It’s natural for a child to make mistakes … spill their milk … accidentally break things … do poorly on a test … get angry …
They are not perfect … like you were when you were a kid! Accept your children for who they are … whether they are clumsy or athletic … scatterbrained or brainy … shy or never shut-up … goofy or whatever they want …
Instead of constantly criticizing their imperfections, acknowledge their imperfections … and love them. They aren’t perfect … they will never be perfect … don’t expect them to be perfect.

Col. 3:21 – “Fathers, don’t make your children resentful, or they will become discouraged.”

BE A GOOD FATHER …..Don’t expect perfect children.

It’s not easy being a good father … BUT … it’s NOT IMPOSSIBLE either. It takes hard work, hard praying, and making hard decisions. You can’t do it alone.... God doesn’t expect you to....God doesn’t want you to.....Don’t leave Him out of your fatherhood.

"A GOOD FATHER" part 3

ENJOY YOUR CHILDREN

Psalm 127:3 – “Behold, children are a gift of the Lord; The fruit of the womb is a reward.”

Children are given to us to enjoy.… not to be a burden … not to avoid ....not to ignore … But to enjoy! In order to enjoy them, you’ve got to be with them … have fun with them … share your life with them.
The quality of time is more important than the quantity of time.  The quantity of time you spend with them tells them how important they are to you … whether they are just an afterthought … or an inconvenience.… or a disruption in your busy schedule. Don’t just give them your leftovers.

Enjoy being a father … and make sure that they enjoy having you as their father. Spend some time on the floor with them, giving them horsy rides … take them to fun places, doing fun things … laugh … play … give them some memories of Dad being fun to be around.

 BE A GOOD FATHER …..Enjoy your children.

It’s not easy being a good father … BUT … it’s NOT IMPOSSIBLE either. It takes hard work, hard praying, and making hard decisions. You can’t do it alone.... God doesn’t expect you to....God doesn’t want you to.....Don’t leave Him out of your fatherhood.

"Surrounded by Giants"

I took this snapshot while on video call a month or so ago and had the thought hit me "Surrounded by Giants" as I looked at the grass around me.   Two months later my thought put into words. Hope you enjoy. 

Numbers 13:17-33 

The Israelites are standing at the edge of the Promised land, the land God promised to give them for their own, ready to reap the blessings and the treasures that lay in the land of Canaan. 

The 12 spies returned from exploring the land with a glowing report......the fruit was large and plenty and the land indeed “flowed with milk and honey”.  When they returned they reported that the land was just as God had promised but they observed that there were problems in the land as well.....the people were powerful, the cities    were protected and there were even giants in the land. Their observations led to negative....we can’t attack these people.....which led everyone to believe all the people are giants and for them to just forget the whole thing and go back to Egypt.  

Canaan in the Old Testament is a type of the kingdom of God, God’s rest and the peace found in His presence. The promise of the kingdom of God is given to every believer......but how often do we get right up to the edge of God’s peace, staring at the fruit of His rest, only to back away because of the giants living there. 

How many come right up to the edge of salvation, get a glimpse of the joys others express, feel the conviction of the Spirit in their hearts but pull away because the giant of the world calls louder to them.

How many come up to the edge of walking in total obedience to God, seeing the blessings of a joyful life and the rewards. But decide that the price is too costly and the time too demanding. 

It wasn’t the giants in the land that made them complain and grumble against God, neither is it the obstacles in our own Christian life that keep us from a fulfilling walk with Christ, it is the giants in the heart......the giants of unbelief, of fear and of complacency that really keep us from enjoying God’s peace and presence. 

Every Promised Land has its giants, every blessing has its challenges. When the rich man asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life, Jesus answered, “Keep God’s commandments and sell all you have and come follow me.” 

The blessing of eternal life was met by the challenge of getting his priorities in order. 

"A GOOD FATHER" Part 1

1. LOVE YOUR WIFE

Your children watch how you treat their mother. They watch .....and they are learning and forming their concept of marriage from YOU. You are creating a pattern for marriage with your children.
If they see you show disrespect for your wife … your son will most likely carry that into his marriage.
If you verbally or mentally or physically abuse your wife … your daughter will most likely expect that in her marriage.
If you treat your kids mom like she isn’t worth very much … you are degrading the home, the family, and marriage … which they will most likely carry into their future homes, families and marriages.

BUT … If they visibly see you show love and respect to their mother … your son will learn how to be a good husband and father himself.
If you honor your wife … your daughter will never be satisfied with a man who dishonors her.
If you cherish their mother as a valuable part of not only your life, but their life … they will carry that model with them for the rest of their lives.

Ephesians 5:28 ....... “So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;”

BE A GOOD FATHER … Love your wife!

It’s not easy being a good father … BUT … it’s NOT IMPOSSIBLE either. It takes hard work, hard praying, and making hard decisions. You can’t do it alone.... God doesn’t expect you to....God doesn’t want you to.....Don’t leave Him out of your fatherhood.