Archive for the ‘Christian Living’ Category
Finding God In Your Failures
Finding God In Your Failures
- 24:16 for a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again:
- Life is not over after the falling down; life is all about the getting back up.
- We all need help, just need it in different areas.
- We all can come from a setback to a comeback.
- There is life after “death.”
My Failure Shows Me…
- My failure shows me that no one is exempt, not even me.
- My failure warns me there are things I need to immediately change in my life.
- My failure reminds me that my flesh is my biggest enemy.
- My failure can help me see what I need to fix to find God’s favor again.
- My failure is not my final chapter.
Why Do People Fail? (Sometimes It’s A Combination Of Things.)
- A limited obedience of God’s word?
- A carless attitude toward temptation?
A pursuit of personal fleshly gratification?- A failure to put God first?
- Blatant disobedience?
The Phases Of Failure
- The Reaction Phase
- Shock – I can’t believe I did it.
- Denial – Won’t admit full guilt. Blames others.
- Blame Others – Like Adam blamed Eve.
- Withdrawal – Hide in the bushes of shame, like Adam and Eve.
- Fear – Of more failure
- Anger – Mad at self, mad at own weaknesses.
- Shame – Can’t face anyone.
- Depression – I’m hopeless, I’ll never amount to anything.
- Despair – I guess I’ll just give up. No use. It’s over!
- The Response Phase
- Flight Response – Leave church, move away. (Quit church)
- Faith Response – Have a desire and determination to be restored.
Repentance – Restoration
- God will give you a space to repent
- God will give you an opportunity to repent (Spirit drawn)
- If God has given up on you – He wouldn’t be reaching for you with a message even right now.
Don’t Give Up On Yourself!
Luke Chapter 15
- The Good Shepherd – Type of Christ. He never gave up. He sought until He found the one lost sheep.
- Lost Coin – Type of the Church – never gave up – swept until she found the lost coin.
- Prodigal Son. Never gave up on the Father or himself. Came home.
What God Knows About My Failure
- God knows we’ll all fail.
- He knows we are flesh.
- He is ready to forgive a repentant sinner.
- His blood is ready to cover all of our transgressions.
- The Holy Ghost is prepared to renew and transform us.
- He sees beyond our failure.
Lessons I Should Learn From My Failure
- There are no little sins.
- Prayers of repentance change everything.
- When we fail, God will forgive if we repent.
- If we do sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous.
- God can bring good out of the bad.
Failure Focus
- Looks at the problem as a hopeless one.
- Looks at the future with great fear.
- Sees the only obstacles.
- Assumes the worst.
- Limits God’s ability to restore them fully.
Faith focus
- Looks for a solution
- Looks past the fear, never loses hope.
- Sees the opportunity to recover and grasps it.
- Assumes the best.
- Believes God will.
Getting Past Your Failures
2 Timothy 2:25 in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if god peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
2 Timothy 2:26 and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
- Really pray through.
- Ask God to help you and deliver you.
- Recognize the desire and spirit that caused your error.
- Admit your sin.
- Humble yourself.
- Clear yourself with others.
- Clear yourself with God.
- Submit yourself to the Word of God.
- Submit to the man of God.
- Learn from your mistakes.
- Be faithful.
- Accept God’s forgiveness
- Ask God for guidance.
- Get back up.
Why Does God Go Through The Trouble To Restore You?
- There Is A Reason God Has Dealt This Long With You.
- There Is A Reason – He Has Put Up With Your Failures.
- There Is A Reason – He Sends Conviction And Sermons.
- He’s Not Done With You!
Some Biblical Heroes Weren’t Perfect. We’re Not Either.
(Saying this doesn’t excuse our sin or give us permission to sin.)
- Abraham Lied
- Moses Got Mad
- David Was Immoral
- Peter Denied Jesus
It Was In Failure These People Found God.
- The Woman Taken In Adultery
- Thief On The Cross
- I’m Not Interested In What You Did, But…
- I Am Interested In What You Are Going To Do Now.
- So Get Up, Get Restored And Go On. You Can Do It.
- There Is Hope For You!
Life Is Not Over After The Falling Down; Life Is All About The Getting Back Up.
All Bad Things Must Come To An End.
All Bad Things Must Come To An End.
We have lived with the old saying, “All good things must come to an end.” I can sure understand the sentiment to some degree. On the other hand, the opposite is what I wish to think on today. All Bad Things Must Come To An End!
They will come to an end. You’ll see! It’s never an if question. It’s a when question! Troubles won’t last forever!
Psalm 30:5 … weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Job
- God changed his circumstances and turned his world around,
When he prayed for his friends.- What would it take to turn your world around?
- All Bad Things Must Come To An End.
Joseph
- Had to live without love, friends, trust, or hope.
- Went from despair, to sitting on a throne in one day.
- Don’t lose hope.
- All Bad Things Must Come To An End.
David
- In his cave of despair, he was surrounded by friends who had major problems too.
- But he didn’t stay in the Cave forever.
- God can single you out for a blessing in an impossible situation.
- David wrote in Psalm 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
- All Bad Things Must Come To An End.
All Bad Things Must Come To An End When Jesus Comes.
When Jesus Comes
Oswald J. Smith 1939
VERSE 1:
One sat alone beside the highway begging
His eyes were blind the light he could not see.
He clutched his rags, and shivered in the shadows.
Then Jesus came and bade His darkness flee.
CHORUS:
When Jesus comes the tempters power is broken.
When Jesus comes the tears are washed away.
He takes the gloom and fills the life with glory
For all is changed when Jesus comes to stay.
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Jesus Came On A Mission.
- Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
- Isaiah 61:2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
- Isaiah 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.
When Jesus Came:
- He Healed Blind Bartimaeus.
- He Raised The Dead Boy Of Nain.
- He Raised Jairus’ Daughter.
- He Delivered The Man Who Dwelt In The Tombs.
- He Fed The 5,000.
- He Came Walking On The Water.
- He Turned The Water Into Wine.
All Bad Things Must Come To An End When Jesus Speaks The Word.
The Storms Go Away
Murrell Ewing
Verse 1.
I’ll never forget that dark night at sea,
The stars hid their faces; there was no hope for me,
The waves lashed the boat, it was tearing apart.
The wins howled, “It’s Over,” fear gripped my heart.
Chorus
Where did the wind go, who stopped the rain?
I only remember just whispering His name,
So the storms don’t decide how long they will stay.
When the Master says, “That’s enough,” they just go away.
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Jesus Spoke The Word And Calmed The Storm.
- He Will Speak To Your Storm Too.
- Mark 4:39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
- All Bad Things Must Come To An End.
He Spoke The Word And:
- Lazarus Came Out Of His Grave.
- Lepers Were Healed.
- Sins Were Forgiven.
- The Man At The Pool Of Bethesda Was Healed.
There Will Be No More Sea!
- Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
- No More Separation.
- No More Tidal Waves.
- No More Shipwrecks.
- No More Drowning’s.
- No More Tsunamis.
- No More Hurricanes.
- All Bad Things Must Come To An End.
He Will Wipe Away All Tears.
- Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
- All Bad Things Must Come To An End.
All Bad Things Must Come To An End When You Come Into His Presence!
- Psalm 16:11 … in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
He’s The Prince Of Peace.
- Peace Is His Kingdom, That Is Where He Reigns.
- When You Live Where He Governs, All Bad Things Must Come To An End.
To You Who Have Faced:
- Pain
- Injuries
- Rejection
- Rumors
- Crisis
- Devastation
- Divorce
- Unfaithfulness
- Betrayal
- Bankruptcy
- Failure
- Addiction
- Death Of A Loved One
- Health Problems
- Abuse
- All Bad Things Must Come To An End.
You Will Survive Your “Night” Of Weeping!! I Promise!
- Psalm 30:5 …weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
- When All The Bad Things Come To An End… That’s When All The Good Things Begin.
“Lest They Be Discouraged”
“Lest They Be Discouraged”
Every one is grateful for a kind word of encouragement. Dreams and ideals can be very fragile and easily destroyed, especially in the early stages of life.
Most find it easy to gravitate towards those who look favorably upon us. Not many can thrive in an environment of constant criticism, hostility and contempt.
I have never met a person sick enough to rejoice over discouraging someone from accomplishing that which is good. Neither can I believe a good father would be happy he made his child so discouraged they quit going to church.
My mind cannot imagine a Spirit-filled father treating his children so horrible that they lose all desire to go to church because of him.
No generation of believers has evidently been exempt from stupid acting fathers. It was a problem big enough to be mentioned In Paul’s writings to the Colossians and the Ephesians.
Colossians 3:21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
No father in his right mind would say he chose to talk his child out of living for God. Evidently then, when strength turns into harshness, un-repairable damage could be done.
Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
There Is No Room In The Kingdom Of God For Harshness.
- Not in the pulpit
- Not in the church or out
- Not between husbands and wives
- Not between fathers and their children
Dads? We don’t show strength by being harsh (strict is what we might think) Harshness isn’t wisdom, it isn’t love, it isn’t mercy, it isn’t the fruit of the Spirit, it isn’t productive, and It isn’t pleasing to God.
Harshness kills love, it kills respect, it kills hope, it kills family structure, and it kills every pleasant memory of childhood.
One time, when my oldest children sons were up in their teens, I made a strict ruling in my home. Within two days I saw the hurt that my ruling had caused for all of my children.
I began to meditate and pray about the problem and felt the Lord impress me to repent to my children. My first reaction was to be repulsed at the thought. I could only imagine what negative thoughts my children would think of me if I did that. My very next thought was… “What will they think of me if I don’t repent?”
I called a family meeting and we all sat down in the living room. I looked at my five beautiful children and wife, and I began to be filled with great sorrow for what damage I had already done. Things would only get worse if I didn’t humble myself and repent now.
I began if sorrowful tones: “I made a bad ruling two days ago that has brought much pain to my family. I am changing that ruling right now. I was very wrong. What I did has hurt you, the very ones I love.
I am so sorry! Would you please forgive me? I never want to make a decision again that would ever bring pain to any of you. I love you!
- Next came tears in the room.
- Next came the hugs and smooches.
- Next came sweet comments, some said aloud and some whispered in my ear.
- Next came a room filled with seven teary-eyed smiling people expressing love for each other.
The Fruit Of The Spirit Includes Gentleness
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Galatians 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
God’s Wisdom Is Peaceable And Gentle
James 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
James 3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
Godly dads don’t discourage their children in living for God. Godly dads live so that they create a craving in their family’s hearts to live for the Lord too.
If a man yields his strengths to God’s ways, submitting himself and his emotions. Then will he manifest the Fruits of the Spirit, transforming his home into a place of comfort, peace and delight.
Daddy? Go Make This A Very Happy Father’s Day For Your Family!
(You’re Kids Are Watching!)
Things You Make Yourself Do.
Things You Make Yourself Do.
When every new recruit steps off the bus, he is met by a drill instructor that tells him immediately, that there are two words he never wants to hear, “I can’t and I won’t.” Because he says, “you can and you will.”
I often see Billboards promoting prostate cancer awareness. They proclaim in no-uncertain terms that thousands of men will die this year because of stubbornness.
The Truth Is: Stubbornness, Excuse-Making and Fear Paralyze Many Of Us. Many Times We Have To Make Ourselves Do What Needs To Be Done.
Dieting
I have successfully avoided thinking about that word for most of my seventy years. I am not saying that I wasn’t packing on some pounds. I am admitting that I just hated the thought of going on a diet.
My lifestyle is such that I often find myself a guest in friend’s homes. The richest foods and the world’s best deserts are spread before me. It is hard to say no. (I sure don’t want to offend the cook.)
For years I’ve told myself that I didn’t have much control over what I ate, but that I could watch my portions. Let me tell you, the portion-watching concept doesn’t work well if the food is really good.
Then, January 2014 hit me like a cattle prod.
- I couldn’t button my size 48-suit coat.
- I was running out of air when I preached.
- I enjoyed putting my own socks on and wanted to continue doing that.
With the help of my close friend, Brother Kenneth Bow, I went on a 500 calorie a day diet. I downloaded apps to monitor every thing I ate, drank and drooled over.
I lost forty-five pounds and can now breathe normally again. I realized it wasn’t that hard after I made myself get started. I Just Had To Make Myself Do It.
My Daughter Keeps A Healthy Distance From The Woods And Wooly Creatures.
My daughter Marisa was raised in a world of four brothers and no sisters. She can hold her own with the best of them. Those that know her are aware of her desire to avoid all animals with fur.
It’s not just a dislike; it’s an emotion that is almost over whelming for her. It has been known to create a moment of sheer panic in her when a raccoon, opossum or mouse is too close for comfort.
This month however, she got a tent and took her children on an all night camp-out in the woods. I was amazed at this young mother of three. She stood up and faced her worst fears. She proved to herself that it wasn’t all that bad. She even sent pictures to the family and we saw smiles on all the faces. It Only Happened Because She made Herself Do It
We Make Ourselves Do Some Things To Over Come Our Personal Fears.
- We make ourselves do things because they need to be done and there is no one else to do them.
- We make ourselves get up when we don’t feel well and go to work anyway.
- Mommies do it.
- Daddies do it.
We Do Other Things Because God Asks Us To.
- To repent.
- To break up our fallow ground.
- To deny our self.
- To take up the cross.
- To humble our self in the sight of God.
- To love not he world.
- To forgive 70×7 in one day.
- To love our neighbor as our self.
- To be Holy
There Are Times We Have To Tell Ourselves To
- Obey All Of God’s Word.
- Pray through.
- Worship when we don’t feel like it.
- Pray when we don’t feel like it.
- Come to church when you don’t feel like it.
- Fast.
- Say Amen.
- Repent to family members, to others, to God when you need to.
- Stay faithful.
- Shun the very appearance of evil.
- Flee fornication.
- Serve.
- Witness.
- Love.
Sometimes We Just Have To Make Ourselves Be Submissive And Obedient.
Some Characters In The Bible Became Our Heroes Because Of What They Made Themselves Do.
Noah
- By faith, built an Ark while the world mocked.
- By faith got in an ark he could not steer.
David
- Faced a lion and a bear when he was just a lad.
- Face Goliath the giant when he was about seventeen.
- Had no one to help him so, he “Encouraged himself in The Lord”
Paul and Silas
- Sitting in Jail, chained, beaten and bloodied, they made themselves pray and sing at midnight.
The Three Hebrew Children
- They were faced with the threat of public death.
- They were commanded to bow and worship a heathen king.
- They made themselves stand firm to their convictions.
Widow Woman Of Zarephath Gave Her Last Two Cakes To Elijah To Eat
- She made herself put the man of God first even when she and her son were facing death by starvation.
The Woman With An Issue Of Blood
- She had tried every doctor she could to no avail until she finally ran out of money.
- She was nearly too weak to walk, but when Jesus came by, she made herself crawl through the crowd so that she could touch the hem of his garment.
Blind Bartimaus
- He was told to shut up by those around him and keep quiet after he cried out for mercy.
- He made himself cry out all the louder.
What Are You Willing To Make Yourself Do To Get Your Miracle?
The Day Of Pentecost
Peter was preaching to a large crowd on the Day of Pentecost. Conviction gripped the hearts of his hearers. They made themselves ask him point-blank while he was preaching what they needed to do to be saved.
Without missing a beat, Peter told them. The requirements he gave that day to be saved are still in effect today.
Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Not Everyone Made Themselves Respond.
Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
What Are You Willing To Make Yourself Do To Be Saved?
I Don’t Like Facial Hair On Pentecostal Men!
I Don’t Like Facial Hair On Pentecostal Men!
(But those that know me already knew that.)
Did They Have Facial Hair In Bible Days? Yes.
Look at the sculptures of Roman times. Look again at the statues of the Caesars. They depict Gentile men wearing short hair, and no beards. They were the style leaders of their day. They depicted the dress of their generation. Evidently the world custom at that was not beard wearing for all men, especially not Gentile men.
The wearing of beards was certainly mentioned in the Bible. The case could be made that most of our heroes in the Old Testament wore facial hair.
Did they have facial hair in the early days of Pentecostal outpouring in the 1900’s? Yes. Early Pentecostal pioneers such as Bro. Seymour and Bishop Haywood wore facial hair. We’ve seen the pictures.
However, in early Pentecost, especially in the white churches, there was a marked absence of beards. The beards seemed to disappear.
Many Hispanic and black men feel that wearing a mustache is symbolic of masculinity. So automatically the cultural thing is throw down like an non-debatable subject. Of course that debate ignores the church’s culture.
During the Hippy Generation of the 50’s and 60’s, beards sprouted on those who rebelled against society. It became their symbol. Many of that culture were draft dodgers and some even moved to Canada. A spirit of rebellion and non-conformity was connected to the beard wearing.
New male converts for years have shown visible evidence of their conversion, by shaving off their facial hair when they got into an Apostolic church. The Pentecostal scene was one of clean-shaven men for over 50 years.
Now, after a half a century or so of no facial hair on men in mainstream Pentecost, It has started appearing again. Why? What changed in their minds and why did it change?
Recently, a Pentecostal organization even passed a position paper making it acceptable in their ranks for men to wear facial hair. Was the change made to appease liberals? Was it made to make the church look more like the world? Was it done to win the world? God knows.
Although It was made legally acceptable in some circles, it is still not palatable or acceptable everywhere. Today, facial hair on men is found in pulpits, in choirs, on the platform, in leadership and in the audience.
My Question Is, Why The Facial Hair Comeback?
- Why now?
- What for?
- What is gained in the Spirit by men wearing facial hair?
- How is the church strengthened by that acceptance?
- Do Pentecostal men wear them because it’s popular in the world?
- How does it further our outreach?
- Why did our new converts shave their beards and mustaches off when they got the Holy Ghost?
- Why the long absence of facial hair in conservative Pentecostal Apostolic ranks?
- If it was deemed wrong then, why is it ok now?
- Should we apologize now to all them who shaved their beards off when they got in church, because now it’s ok if you find the ‘right’ church?
If Facial Hair Today Is So Proper, Why Then Does It Cause Men Of Honor To Distance Themselves From All Those Who Permit Such? Why Then Does It Separate Good Men? There’s A Reason!
- What are it’s wearers trying to prove, and to whom?
- Doesn’t it make its wearers look more like what they used to be?
How Does This Help Identify Us As Apostolic?
If We Took A Poll And Asked Pentecostal Men Why They Are Wearing Beards, What Would Be Their Response To:
- Are you going Charismatic? No.
- Are you backslid? No.
- Are you in rebellion to holiness standards? No.
- Are you wearing it because you think it makes you look cool? No.
If you are not wearing it out of compromise, rebellion, or from a backslidden state, and you are wearing it just because you think it looks good on you, then would you say it is pride issue with you?
Does Your Facial Hair Tell Others That You Have A Flaming Pride Issue?
- If you don’t think pride is involved in wearing of facial hair, just try to preach it off of those who have it. Every wearer I’ve met is fiercely defensive.
When Apostolic Pentecostal Churches And Organizations Say It Is Ok To Wear Beards, The Question Soon Arises…
- Why?
- What do they hope to gain?
- Does that bring revival?
- Is this in anyway related to the same spirit of rebellion of the Hippies?
- What is the purpose?
- In some twisted way does the wearer feel it makes them more like Jesus? How?
- Isn’t pride part of it?
What Other Area Of Their Live Is In Line To Be Changed Next?
Remember The Biblical Statements:
- “It seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us”
- “Here we have no such custom”
Where Will These Two ‘Facial Hair’ Roads Go? Where Will They Take Us?
Most doubt that the two roads will ever meet again, because at present it appears to old school observers like me, that they are not headed in the same direction. My experience has been that those who re-examine and change their church dress standards, have never grown closer to God and to Holiness, but moved further away.
What scares many men is the question of what is behind this wide sweeping occurrence. Is there a spirit behind the push? Are the changes being made a just tip of the iceberg?
The churches I find myself most comfortable in are those who say
“Here we have no such custom.” By making that statement, Paul pointed out in Scripture that, Godly Custom took precedence.
Wearing facial hair today might be lawful to some, but it has not proven itself to be expedient. It’s been divisive.
(I don’t understand this generation’s interest in tattoos or facial hair. Don’t even get me started on tattoos…)
Thanks, I feel better now! You will too… after you go shave!
The Good News About Rubbish
The Good News About Rubbish
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Definition
Rub·bish – ˈrəbiSH/
Vocabulary.com
Noun: rubbish – waste material; refuse or litter. Material that is considered unimportant or valueless.
Adjective: rubbish – very bad; worthless or useless.
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Everyone knows what rubbish is and what it looks like. I am sure that a definition accompanied by a photo is unnecessary.
Who in the world would ever give rubbish a second look? Why would someone waste his or her time trying to find good in what has been demolished?
Besides, rubbish always has an unpleasant odor about it that makes those close feel unclean.
- Men call it rubbish when they have gotten all the valve the can extract from an object.
- They call it rubbish when it has been damaged beyond their comfort zone.
- They call it rubbish when it looks hopeless and spent.
Let Me Tell You An Unknown Bible Story About Rubbish.
Israel had been held in captivity for 70 years. When they returned to their beloved city of Jerusalem, their hearts were crushed with despair. The walls had been broken down and most of the city burned. They had to rebuild the walls immediately. Nehemiah’s burden led the workers. The enemies and critics of Israel watched and spouted their negative opinions.
Neh. 4:2 And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?
The enemy had taken every thing of value. All that was left for Israel to rebuild the glorious walls of Jerusalem were heaps of burnt stones. They dug in the rubbish looking for damaged goods that they could restore.
Even the enemy recognized their dilemma and the futility of the idea. Yet that is exactly what happened in Jerusalem.
Workmen picked up the burnt and tarnished stones out of the rubbish heap, one by one. They no doubt did their best to wipe the stains of the fire and dirt away. Maybe they even washed them, I don’t know. One by one they cleansed each stone and applied new mortar and placed them into the wall.
The Wall Of Jerusalem Was Repaired Using Damaged Goods.
Neh. 4:7 But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,
Neh. 6:15 So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days.
Neh. 12:43 Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.
A God Moment!
When they finished rebuilding the walls, a God ‘thing’ happened. God made them to get so happy that the noise of their joy was heard a long ways away.
The walls of Jerusalem that still stand today, were rebuilt with damaged goods. Burnt stones from the rubbish heaps now fit perfectly in place in the wall.
When you look at the walls today and take pictures of its grandeur, do you ever stop and think, “That was built with damaged goods”? I didn’t think so.
What then do you think the Body of Christ is made up of? If you’re honest, you will have to say that God knows how to use, where to put, and how to preserve damaged goods.
Does God Ever Use Rubbish? You Better Believe It! Every Day!
Don’t Be Too Quick To Give Up On People.
The Good News About Rubbish Is That God Can Still Use It For His Glory.
Things You Never Want To Hear
Things You Never Want To Hear
Your Doctor Say
- There’s no cure.
- You have Cancer!
- He’s having a heart attack!
- Your lab work is back and I’m afraid it doesn’t look good.
- The baby was still-born.
- You have about ten days to two weeks to live.
Your Spouse Say
- I don’t love you!
- I’m seeing someone else.
- Get out of my sight.
- You’re not welcome here.
- It’s too late.
- I’m filing for divorce.
- Don’t ever speak to me again.
- I hate you.
- My heart has turned cold.
A Parent Say
- She ran away last night.
- I’m sorry you were ever born.
The Police Say
- You are under arrest.
- Your granddaughter just committed suicide.
The Judge Say
- Life without parole
The Pilot Say
- The engines have failed and this plane is going to crash.
- We’ve been hijacked.
Anyone Say
- I am here to repossess your car.
- We’re broke.
- They turned the utilities off.
- This is a stick up.
- He’s been unfaithful.
- Fire!
- I think God has cut me off
- The rapture just took place and we are left behind.
The Pastor Say
- She’s backslid.
- God turned them over to a delusion.
- He doesn’t believe the message anymore.
The Lord Say
- Depart from Me, ye workers of iniquity, I never knew you.
HOW HIGH ARE YOUR VALLEYS? – by Jack Hyles
HOW HIGH ARE YOUR VALLEYS?
by Pastor Jack Hyles
(Chapter 30 from Dr. Hyle’s excellent book, Blue Denim and Lace)
“He is always able to rise to the occasion.” How typical this is of our finite minds’ estimation of success. We judge one by the height of his peaks, when the simple truth is that one of the tests of real character is the height of one’s depth. It is not how high the mountain top, but how high the valley that counts. The valley of a mountain range may have higher elevation than the top of a mountain somewhere else; consequently, it matters not how high the peak is, but rather how high the valley is. Raise your valleys and your peaks will care for themselves.
It is not how high one can go, but how low he can keep from going. A person is as moral as his most immoral day. He is as efficient as his most inefficient day. He is as deep as his most shallow day. One can be morally clean 364 days a year and yet be an adulterer. One can refrain from robbing banks 364 days a year and yet be a bank robber. One can resist murder 364 days a year and yet be a murderer. It is tremendously important that in one’s character he raise the height of his depths, the peak of his valleys, and that he not only “rise to meet the occasion,” but refuse to “lower to meet the occasion.”
There are many preachers who on a given day, with a big enough crowd, and enough inspiration, can preach great messages. However, the test of a great preacher is not on Easter Sunday, but on Labor Day weekend. The great preacher is the one who gives his best to his people week after week and is the best preacher on his lowest day. The best worker is the one who does his job every day. His inspiration comes from within and is a part of the subconscious.
At this writing Cindy, my youngest child, is eight years of age. She has been afraid of storms all her life. Oftentimes even a cloudy day will bring tears to her eyes. A few days ago Cindy wrote a little article concerning her fear of storms. She brought it to me. She had written something like this: “I, Cindy Lynn Hyles, do on this 23rd day of June, 1968, quit being afraid of storms. I know that God will take care of me, for He promises to do so. He took care of Daniel in the lion’s den; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace; and He will take care of me. Because of this, I will not be afraid of storms any more . . .”
The article was much longer than that, but all of it was just as well written and serious minded. In less than two hours the worst storm that we had had in weeks was raging. I looked at Cindy, and she was as sober as she could be. I grinned and said, “Are you the little girl that wrote an article a while ago?”
With trembling lips and moist eyes she said, “Yes, sir.”
I hugged her and said, “It is a lot easier to promise than it is to fulfill the promise.”
It is one thing for a person to vow to do his job well; it is another thing for him to develop the kind of character that subconsciously forces him to do the job well. The doing of right must get on the inside. This means that we will subconsciously do a job well even at our lowest point.
Let us work on the valleys and let the peaks care for themselves. Certainly the peaks are more inspiring. Certainly it is easier to do the job well at the peak, but the ones who will be remembered the longest and will accomplish the most are those who do the unspectacular jobs well when uninspired from without, but subconsciously inspired from within with the kind of character that is more concerned about raising the height of the valleys than raising the height of the mountains.
Is This How God Rates Different Levels Of Evil Doers?
Are There Some That Are Worse Than Plain Old Sinners?
Sinners lie, cheat, commit murder, get high on drugs, drink, commit fornication and adultery.
What about Atheists? Are they worse than just plain sinners?
What about Infidels? Are they lower than the rest?
Is there anything worse than being an Infidel?
You say Yes?
Then, what is worse than an Infidel?
Stupid Men With Smart Wives
Stupid Men With Smart Wives
How does that happen? It’s not all that uncommon today to see a stupid man with a smart wife. It makes everyone wonder about how they met and what was the attraction.
If she is so smart, why did she marry him? Did he con her? Did he keep his real self hidden from view until he married? Was she blinded by love?
Evidently, too many men have turned out to be, or act stupid after their marriage. If the wife had known how stupid he really was when they were courting, she quite possible would have never looked at him twice let alone married him.
I can even name a couple pretty stupid men in the Bible that were married to smart wives.
But, Let Me Just Focus On One, A Man Named Who Was Actually Named ‘Stupid’.
That’s Right, There Once Was A Man Named Stupid.
- That’s what his mama named him.
- He was called Nabal.
- Nabal = ‘Fool, Senseless’ (Hitchcock’s Dictionary of Bible Names)
- When it came to stupid, Nabal’s mama made sure he got to sit at the head of the class.
- He turned out to be the name they called him.
Nabal
He Was A Very Great Man, But He Was Also The Ultimate Senseless Fool.
1 Sam. 25:2 And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.
- He was considered great because of what he had going on for himself.
- He had local respect and recognition.
- He had great means.
- He had a wonderful wife.
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Nabal Didn’t Fear God Nor Man
- Nabal was rich but he was also harsh and evil in his dealings. (1 Sam. 25:3).
- He didn’t care about helping others.
- He was focused on building his own kingdom, not helping God’s or anyone else’s.
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1 Sam. 25:3 Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.
- She was Smart.
- She was Beautiful.
- She was Unappreciated.
- She was Ignored.
- He was Evil.
- He was Wicked
- But he came from a great family… Caleb’s
- A goodly heritage and background evidently is not enough. He was still stupid in his actions.
- He was Churlish – (rude, mean-spirited, discourteous, uncivil, impolite).
- He didn’t deserve his wonderful wife.
- Abigail was the very image of beauty, wisdom and grace.
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No One Could Talk To Him
- He was Mr. Macho.
- He refused to listen to his wife or anyone else.
- Stupid men view their wives as inferior.
- Sometimes that attitude erupts in anger, irrational behavior and even violence.
- A man couldn’t speak to him. 1Sam 25:17
- No one could reason with him.
- He was always right, everyone else was wrong.
- Nabal never got delivered from his nature.
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Abigail
- Abigail is described as “intelligent” and she is praised in 1Sam 25:33 because of her discernment.
- But Nabal never benefited from his wife’s wisdom.
- They were never a team in his mind.
- She even stopped David and his men from attacking Nabal and killing him.
- She fell on the ground before David to apologize for her husband and beg for mercy.
- David listened to Abigail.
- Abigail described her husband in a very sad way when she made her plea.
- 1Sam 25:25 Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him:
- She said: “Please disregard my worthless husband, Nabal, is his name and it means foolish. That’s what he is.
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Abigail Saved Nabal’s Life
- He refused to even feed the hungry men that were with David. All they had asked for a piece of bread.
- He ordered them off of his property.
- When Abigail heard what happened, she immediately went to David’s camp and apologized.
- Abigail’s actions are the only thing kept David from slaughtering Nabal and his men.
- When she got home she wanted to tell her husband what she had just done but he was too drunk to talk to anyone.
- She had to wait till he sobered up the next morning, before she could speak to him.
Nabal Heart Died Within Him
1 Sam. 25:37 But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.
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Some Kinds Of Stupid, No One Can Fix. That’s When God Stepped In.
1 Sam. 25:38 And it came to pass about ten days after, that the Lord smote Nabal, that he died.
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Can Anyone Fix Stupid?
I Don’t Know For Sure.
Here’s How I Would Try To Fix Stupid In My Life.
1. Rekindle The Fear Of The Lord In My Life.
Prov 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
2. Repent – Turn Around.
3. Be a Man That Someone Can Talk To. Whether Pastor, Friend or Wife. Be Approachable.
4. Humble Myself Before God And Man… Including My Wife.
5. Admit I’m Wrong, Especially To My Wife And Family.
6. Willingly Take Godly Instruction. From The Bible, My Pastor, My Friends, And My Wife.
7. Never Let My Heart Die And Turn To Stone. (Because I Know What Happens In The Next Verse. That’s when God stepped in.)
So, if you ever see a stupid man with a smart and beautiful wife… pray for him, but pray more for her. She has a great big cross to bear in life.
Apostolic Expository Series
Christy Ballestero (My Beautiful DIL)
http://marciaballestero.com/
Pastor Anthony & Kim Ballestero, New Destiny Worship Center, Clearwater, FL (My Son)
Pastor Bryan & Christy Ballestero, Temple Of Pentecost, Raleigh, NC (My Son)
James Groce Blog – "Toward The Mark"
Kenneth Bow Blog
Kingdom Speak Podcast
Philip Harrelson – "The Barnabas Blog"
Verbal Bean Ministries
Holy Ghost Radio
The Ballestero Blog 