Archive for the ‘Holiness’ Category
It’s Come As You Are, Not Stay As You Are!
It’s Come As You Are, Not Stay As You Are!
Come As You Are? Yes.
Stay As You Are? No.
Most churches have promoted an open-door policy to every new visitor. They want everyone to feel welcome to attend. Although the Bible doesn’t actually say, “Come as you are,” churches reach for everyone. Apostolic Pentecostal Churches are no different. (But, it might be amazing to see what some actually are willing to wear to God’s House using the ‘come as you are’ umbrella as an excuse!)
That, however is not the real problem. Some folks not only come to church as they are, they have chosen to stay as they are. They are not willing to change. They ignore how the saints dress, worship and live. They have chosen not to change or to submit.
Living for God is all about change. Completely change. Change is necessary. Change is required. Change is the will of God for everyone. With salvation comes change. With deliverance comes change. Unchanged people have no hope of deliverance, no hope of being a testimony, no hope of being used of God, and no hope of heaven.
How Do We Become A “New Creature In Christ Jesus” If We Don’t Change?
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
How Do We Become “Transformed” If We Don’t Change?
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
How Do We Become “Born Again” If We Don’t Change?
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God
How Do We Become “Holy” If We Don’t Change?
1 Peter 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
How Can We Come Out From Among Them And Be Separate, If We Don’t Change?
2 Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
How Can We Have Christ In Us And He Never Changes Us?
Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Do You Mean To Tell Me That When We Repent We Really Don’t Have To Change Anything?
Do You Mean To Tell Me That When We Get Baptized In Jesus Name, We Don’t Change?
Do You Mean To Tell Me That We Can Be Filled With The Holy Ghost And Never Be Changed?
When Jacob Prepared To Go To Bethel, He Changed.
Genesis 35:1 And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.
Genesis 35:2 Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:
Genesis 35:3 And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.
Genesis 35:4 And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.
When normal people come into the presence of the God, they quickly remember their sins. At that point, they must choose to keep them or confess and forsake them.
God might be merciful and forgiving, yet His word tells every confessor to forsake their sins.
If the God you serve lets you do whatever you want, and live like you want, then your god is you. You became your own god!
Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
If We Want God’s Mercy, We Must Not Only Confess Our Sins But Forsake Them!
Mercy comes to those who confess and forsake. That is the change God looks for. Forsaking your old life is what living for God is all about.
1 Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1 Corinthians 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
- (And Such Were Some Of You!) That Is Change!
Repentance Must Bring Change. If It Doesn’t Bring Change It Wasn’t Real Repentance!
In The Old Testament, God Chose Not To Bless Israel Until They Changed.
2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
- Change Puts Us In The Direct Path Of God’s Blessings.
Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Romans 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Let’s Get Real Plain…
If you see a sinner man and a Holy Ghost-filled man standing together talking, you should be able to tell which one is which.
If you see a sinner woman and a Holy Ghost-filled woman standing together talking, you should be able to see the difference.
When we obey Acts 2:38, (by repenting of our sins, getting baptized in Jesus name, and being filled with the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues.) We are no longer the same. We are changed on the inside. What is changed on the inside quickly shows on the outside!
- We don’t do the things we used to do
- We don’t talk like we used to talk
- We don’t go where we use to go
- We don’t have the kind of friends we used to have
- We don’t dress like we used to dress
- We don’t drink what we used to drink
Why?
Because Now We’re A New Creature In Christ Jesus.
How Do We Lay Sin Aside And Not Change?
1 Peter 2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
- (Growth is change, too)
Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
- Removing things from our life that will keep us from being saved, is change.
If we say we are saved, yet remain unchanged… We are not honest with our soul, with God, or with the truth.
Our Heart Must Change
Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation (our old lifestyle) the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Ephesians 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Our Speech Must Change
Ephesians 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Our Outward Appearance Must Change
1 Peter 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Change Requires Modesty For Men And Woman
1 Timothy2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
1 Timothy 2:10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
Deuteronomy 22:5 The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.
Hair Care Changes
1 Corinthians 11:14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
1 Corinthians 11:15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
Our Priorities Must Change
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Even Our Furniture Must Change
Psalms 101:3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
The Things We Love Must Change
1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
We Say We’re A Christian, (Christ-like) And Yet…
- We’ve Never Changed On The Inside Or The Outside?
- We Neither Look Like Nor Act Like An Apostolic Saint?
Who Are We Fooling? Only Ourselves.
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
If we balk at Biblical correction and refuse to allow God’s Word to change our life… then we have shown to everyone that we are not a true child of God. We are of illegitimate birth in the Kingdom of God.
Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Hebrews 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Hebrews 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Hebrews 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
Hebrews 12:10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
What’s Missing In Our Lives That Would Keep Us From Allowing God To Change Us?
No Conviction of Sin?
No Fear of God?
No Respect?
No Obedience to His Word?
No Love for His House?
Are we just being Rebellious?
Are we just Clueless?
Are we not able to see that we don’t measure up to God’s Standards?
Are we just Insincere?
How can we come to church for months and even years… claiming to be Spirit-filled, and never change?
Ask Yourself…
If we had a beard and applied for a job at a company that had a ‘no beards’ policy, would we be willing to change?
If we worked for a fancy restaurant that had a no tattoo ‘visible’ policy for its employees, would we be willing to cover ours?
If we got hired by a good paying company but we had to work nights, would we change our sleeping habits?
If our job gave us a promotion, but we had to relocate, would we be willing to change towns?
If the doctor ordered us to change our diet because of cancer, would we?
If our heart doctor wanted us to change our lifestyle to live longer, would we?
If our homeowner’s association didn’t approve of our lawn display, would we take it down?
What if God reminded us in the Judgment of all the changes in our life that we made for man and for money, yet we chose not to make any changes for Him. What will our answer be then?
We Must Allow God To:
Change us like He changes Night into Day, Winter into Spring.
Change us like He changes a Caterpillar into a Butterfly.
The Kiss Of Death
The Kiss Of Death
“Remember Elizabeth? She just got a hearing implant to see if that would cure her deafness,” my wife said. We were eating lunch in Georgia, at a National Country Club.
“They call that, The Kiss Of Death, in the deaf community,” offered the court certified Interpreter for the deaf who was seated at the table with us.
“The Kiss Of Death?” I was in shock! “Why would they call being able to hear, The Kiss Of Death?”
“Hearing would ruin their life, as they know it. Many deaf people are very happy in their own world,” she said. “It’s a very tight-knit society. Lip reading is a coveted gift. Most deaf people don’t want to be healed. They are happy being deaf.”
She related an incident about signing to a client. The client signed back to her that she could read lips and only wanted to be spoken to, not signed to by a hearing person. Although the court had certified the Interpreter, she was still an outsider to the deaf.
The Interpreter began to describe some of her client’s anti-hearing sentiments. She served several expectant mothers who were deaf. These moms-to-be wanted their babies to be deaf as well.
As a hearing person, I’ve had very limited communication with the deaf. If they can read my lips, that’s wonderful. I cannot read theirs. We can only write notes back and forth to each other. I cannot imagine anyone not wanting to hear.
I also have no way of knowing how accurate the Interpreter’s opinion was. She was only relating her life experiences.
Although my interaction with the natural deaf is somewhat limited, I am however, very familiar with the attitudes of the spiritually deaf.
The spiritually deaf that I know, don’t want to be healed. They resist getting a spiritual implant to hear the Word of the Lord. To them, that would be The Kiss Of Death!
Forty-two times the Bible uses the phrase, “He that hath an ear to hear.” Evidently, not everyone can hear what the Spirit saith. Their Pastor/Interpreter is an intrusion into their world.
They too do not wish to be healed and want all of their children to be deaf as well. The preached Word of God is something that the spiritually deaf person cannot hear. They can’t hear sermons about:
- Doctrine
- Tithes
- Holiness
- Separation from the world
It is really futile to try to communicate with those that are deaf to God’s Word. The interference of hearing people into their life is resented.
Jesus healed the deaf. We read about it in the Gospels. He is still able to heal the spiritually deaf today who want to be healed.
My father had been the pastor at a church for three years. A brother came up to him after the Saturday night service and complimented his sermon. Dad thanked him. Sunday morning the same man gave him another compliment.
Sunday night, the same brother came up to Dad and with tears in his eyes said, “Bro. Ballestero, I thank you for that message! That was the best I’ve ever heard! You saved me tonight!”
My father invited the man into his office. When they sat down, my father began his inquiry.
“Brother, for the last three years you’ve fought me tooth and toenail. You have resisted me at every turn. Not one time have you said a nice thing to me since I’ve been here. You have never complimented any of my messages before. Now, for three sermons in a row, you’ve bragged on me. What’s your game?”
The brother broke down and cried. He apologized to my Father. He said, “I am so sorry I’ve been like that to you Pastor. The reason I’ve complimented your preaching, is because I just got my ears open!”
All a Pastor can pray for is that his hearers will get their ears opened! He knows that for those who are content not to hear preaching, it is truly, The Kiss of Death!
The Last Thing You Lose Is Your Hearing
Bro. Henry Baskins fell like he’d been shot. The sound of his head hitting the floor was enough to make those nearby sick and alarmed. His fellow workers called 911 and anxiously watched for the ambulance.
Within minutes, my phone rang and informed me that one of the most precious men in the Kingdom of God was in a coma and being taken from the ER to ICU. My heart sank. Bro. Baskins was near retirement age. No one had an answer why he had passed out on the job. He’d had no previous health concerns.
Henry Baskins
He was a church favorite. Even though he drove over 20 miles each way to church, he was always an hour or so early. He had been an usher as long as I could remember. His pockets always contained a bag of candy for the children. That made him a very popular man after church.
Sis. Baskins lived a pampered life. He waited on her hand and foot, did the grocery shopping, chauffeured her anywhere she wanted to go. What if he died? What would happen to her? She’d never even driven a car!
After calling the Prayer Chain in our church, I rushed to the Osteopathic Hospital. As I headed for ICU, I noticed family and saints were gathering too. There was a waiting room next to the ICU door.
No one, not even family was allowed to go in and see him yet. I told the folks in the waiting room to pray for Bro. Baskins. They prayed Pentecostal style.
I pushed the call button and announced myself. The nurse buzzed me in. She escorted me to Bro. Baskins’ room. My heart sank when I saw him. There were more tubes connected to him than I’d ever seen. There were tubes down his throat, up his nose, in his chest, his arms, his hands and his leg. It seemed like there were 10 monitors going. The pumping sounds of the machine doing the breathing for him were hard to ignore. He looked hopeless.
Even though he was unconscious, I announced myself to him. I said, “Bro. Baskins, this is Bro. Ballestero and I am here to pray for you.
My prayer was probably only a minute or so. I felt guilty being the only one allowed back in his room. I really didn’t want to leave even though my prayer was over.
My Dad had always said that the last thing we lose is our hearing, naturally and spiritually. I remembered that and began to talk.
I said, “Bro. Baskins, no one knows what happened at work today. Those close to you said you just fell over and hit your head. You have been in a coma ever since. The ambulance brought you to the Osteopathic Hospital.
“The doctors are trying to find out what the cause of the problem is. They don’t know. No one but me is allowed back here right now. So, don’t worry about your family not coming in, because the nurses are being very protective of you right now.
“Your wife is in the next room. All of her needs are being taken care of. Your children are here. The saints have filled up the ICU waiting room and I have the Prayer Chain praying for you.
“When they start letting family come in here, it will only be once every 4 hours and then, just for a few minutes. Now don’t worry about anything. You just focus on getting well, we’ll keep praying. I love you!”
Every time I went to see him, I prayed, and then I chattered. I told him of the news in the church. I talked about his family. Reassured him of his wife’s comfort. Every day for about 3 weeks I visited his room.
One Friday, he woke up. They checked him over and checked him out. When I heard the news that he was home and walking around. I rejoiced! This was awesome news.
Sunday morning when I stepped into the auditorium, there was Bro. Baskins standing at his usual ushering post. He hugged my neck and tears came into his eyes.
“Bro. Ballestero, when you came into my room and prayed for me and talked to me, I heard every word you said. Thank you, Thank you!” He said.
He could still hear! Unbelievable! Even when he was in such bad shape!
Dad’s words again echoed through my memory. “The last thing you lose is your hearing, naturally and spiritually.”
Can you still hear?
If You Can Hear, It’s Not The Kiss Of Death, It’s The Kiss Of Life… Spiritual Life!
The Cracker Barrel New Year’s Sermon
The Cracker Barrel New Year’s Sermon
Near the Savannah, Georgia exit 102 on I-95, sits a Cracker Barrel next to our motel. The chalk-written New Year’s message is plain for all to see. It says:
“Cheers to New Beginnings and Old Traditions”
May this New Year be a time for all of us to start afresh. Regardless of past failures or yesterday’s disappointments.
We need to leave our paradigm of failure-thinking and begin again. It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve had to begin again. What you have been through was neither your final chapter nor your epitaph.
Proverbs 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again:
It’s not abnormal for good people to make mistakes and have to start over or begin again. Even Paul said he died daily. He started over every day.
New Beginnings:
Has your Bible reading been almost nonexistent lately?
Begin again.
How about your prayer life? Been busy? Hard to get to pre-service prayer for some reason or another?
Begin again.
Got out of the habit of responding during the worship service?
Begin again.
Has there been an absence of you saying amen to the preaching lately?
Begin again.
You haven’t taught a Home Bible Study in a long time?
Begin again.
How long since you made it to midweek service?
Begin again.
How about your tithes? If you’ve quit giving tithes and offerings…
Begin again.
Have you resigned or quit participating in your church?
Begin again.
Have you stopped kissing your spouse good morning, good night, and good-bye?
Begin again.
Been awhile since you said, “I love you” to your spouse?
Begin again.
Been awhile since you said I love you to your parents?
Begin again.
Been awhile since you said, “I am proud of you,” and “I love you,” to your children?
Begin again.
Have you stopped saying, “I love you” to your in-laws?
Begin again.
Begin again In God. Recover yourself.
2 Tim. 2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
2 Tim. 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Traditions
Traditions make homes and churches special. When our large family gets together, there are always certain meals everyone can count on. You just know that there will be gumbo one day and enchiladas and tacos on another. And the morning we all have to leave, there’s s special breakfast restaurant we go to. It’s our custom. It’s just how it is in our family.
Churches have customs and traditions too. It’s a huge disappointment to go back to your ‘home’ church and find out how different it is or that they have changed.
Hold fast to the old Apostolic Pentecostal Traditions.
When backsliders and those who have had to move away, come back to visit… Let them that see your church is still holding on to the old-time ways!
And, as Cracker Barrel would say if it was preaching this sermon,
“Cheers to New Beginnings and Old Traditions!”
The Holier Than Thou Church
The Holier Than Thou Church
It was Wednesday night Bible Class. Brother Dan sat on the front row. He always seemed to have a smile on his face. His recent discharge from the Air Force had allowed him, his wife and two kids to relocate closer to his wife’s family.
Dan was a gifted musician. He blessed the church with his saxophone playing. He had only been a part of this new church about 3 weeks or so. He was readily accepted and seemed to fit in.
The pastor had warmly received him and his family into fellowship because Dan’s former pastor had recommended they transfer there. Dan and his family had been raised in a very conservative church.
The only immediate difference Dan could see was that in this new church they wore wristwatches and in his old church they didn’t.
The pastor was teaching his class from a small lectern in front of the pulpit. During the course of his Bible study, he noticed that Bro. Dan wasn’t wearing a watch.
Having been raised with great respect for those with convictions and a desire for holiness, the pastor honored Bro. Dan.
Yet he sensed a potential hazard and attempted to address it openly, yet as careful as he could.
The Pastor stood in front of the congregation as said, ”Bro. Dan, you and your family are a gift from God to our church. I am so glad you are here! What a blessing you have been already. I love your saxophone playing.”
The church readily responded with a hearty amen and hand clapping.
“I notice that you don’t wear a watch. I also understand that was the teaching of the church you were in before you came here.”
Bro. Dan nodded in agreement. The smile was still on his face.
“I honor you for that. Thank God for those that are trying to be careful in a world that tries to push all the boundaries.
“My Pastor taught me not to make light of people’s convictions. They might be right.”
The people said amen, and so did the smiling Bro. Dan.
“I guess you’ve noticed that most of us here have a watch on.” The preacher said as he pointed to his own black wristwatch.
“We try to be careful here how we dress. Up to now, we have used watches for the purpose of getting to work, school, and church on time, and not for ornamentation.
“What I do not want you to do my Brother, is to go out and buy yourself a wristwatch and wear one because the rest of us are. I am afraid that you will injure your conscience. I can’t let you do that.
“Promise me you won’t injure your conscience and buy a watch just because you can, and hurt your walk with God.”
Brother Dan nodded and grinned.
“On the other hand,” the Pastor said, “If you don’t buy a watch, be careful and don’t let a holier-than-thou spirit get on you. If you don’t buy a watch, that’s fine, but don’t sit back and look at saints and at a Pastor with watches and think to yourself that you have more holiness convictions than anyone here. That gets dangerous.
“What happens when you do that is you begin to feel superior, and before very long the enemy may speak into your spirit and say, ‘How can the Pastor help you? You are already closer to God than he is.’
“You then wind up with an unteachable spirit and you won’t even mean too. One of the signs of the Holy Ghost is that it is easy to be entreated.
“Before you would ever do that and allow yourself to feel superior to your Pastor, I will order you to buy two wristwatches and wear one on each wrist until you get over that spirit.”
The Pastor, Bro. Dan and the church all shared a hearty laugh.
At the next service, Bro. Dan showed his pastor his new watch and smiled. The Pastor smiled too. Bro. Dan was teachable. He didn’t want a holier than thou spirit.
Things You Won’t Fix
Things You Won’t Fix
Isn’t it amazing how we can allow ourselves to live with situations that are not normal? Not only do we live with it, but also we ignore it, saying that when we get the time we’ll fix it.
Things Like:
- A leaky faucet.
- The cracked storm window.
- Some partially finished remodeling job.
- Your leaky roof.
- The broken back doorstep.
- Missing basement handrail.
- A button missing from a sport coat.
- That rotten tooth that needs pulled?
We Mention It, Say We Need To Do It, But Let It Go Another Year.
- The things you don’t fix will fix you.
- It WILL put you in a fix.
- Is the cost of not fixing it cheaper than fixing it? No! Never.
- Aren’t there some things your wife has asked you to fix six months ago and you still haven’t gotten around to it?
- If you don’t fix your car, you’ll put it up on blocks and it will sit as an eyesore for years out in the front yard. Everyone will know you by that landmark.
- The leaky faucet will raise your water bill.
- The leaky roof will cost you thousands to fix because you let it go.
- The tooth will give you more pain than you could imagine.
- When a house is not fixed we say they just let the place go.
- There are just some things you won’t fix.
King Solomon Marveled At Men Who Procrastinated During The Harvest.
- Prov. 24:30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
- Prov. 24:31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
- Prov. 24:32 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.
Common Phrases Are Used In Regards To One’s Personal Appearance.
- “She fixed herself up.”
- “He let himself go”
When We Do Not Do Something Immediately, We Call It Procrastination.
The closest word to procrastination in the Bible is, sluggard. We are repulsed by even the thought of being called a sluggard.
The sluggard is a procrastinator. His motto is, “Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow.” Sluggards have developed the ability to put off starting a task as well as not completing those they have already begun.
The sluggard rationalizes everything and his mind works much faster than his body. He will always quickly find an excuse not to.
- I don’t have the time
- I don’t have the tools
- I don’t have the know-how
- I don’t have the desire
- I don’t feel in the mood
- I got a lot of irons in the fire
- I have a headache
There Are Those Who Never Fix Themselves Spiritually. They Just Let Themselves Go.
Are There Some Things In Our Hearts That We Won’t Fix?
- A bad attitude?
- A bad habit?
- No prayer life?
- No worship?
- Not honoring God with our tithes?
- Broken family relationships?
- Bridges we need to build?
- Restoring an offended brother?
- Not saying I’m sorry, forgive me?
Be Reconciled To Your Brother Before To Expect God To Hear You.
- Matt 5:23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
- Matt 5:24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Need To Fix Your Back Tithe Problem?
- It will cost you heavily if you do not fix the problem areas of your soul.
- It will cost you 20% additional if you do not stay current with your tithing. The longer you wait the more it will cost you.
- Lev 27:31 And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof.
When You Don’t Fix It, Then It’s Becomes Sin!
- Jas 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
- We like to use the word procrastinate, but that word is not in the Bible. A sluggard is what the Scripture calls us.
- In the natural, your procrastination qualifies you as a sluggard.
- In the spiritual, the Bible just calls you a sinner.
- Spiritually, our pride keeps us from fixing some things.
There Are Things You Won’t Fix, Why?
- You know you need the Holy Ghost speaking in tongues.
- You know you need to be baptized in Jesus name to be saved.
- You know you need to be faithful to church.
- You know you need to worship.
- You know you need to pay tithes.
- You know you need to live a holy and separated life.
- You know you need to be reconciled to your brother.
Jesus Called The Scribes And Pharisees, Hypocrites.
- Mat 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
- They only fixed the part men could see.
- Hypocrites won’t fix what really needs to be fixed.
There Are Men In The Bible Who Never Fixed What Was Wrong In Their Life.
Agrippa Almost Got Right With God.
- Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
- He never fixed it.
Felix Knew What He Needed To Do, But The Timing Wasn’t Right.
- Acts 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
- He never fixed it.
The Rich Young Ruler Thought It Cost Too Much To Follow Jesus.
- Matt. 19:22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
- He never fixed it.
When It Comes To Fixing, Some Things God Has Put A Time Limit On.
- Eph 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
- God’s curfew for anger is sunset. Fix your disagreements before the sun goes down. That’s God’s requirement.
- Fix it.
The Four Lepers Fixed It
- 2Ki 7:3 And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?
- They fixed it!
Jacob Had A Problem But He Fixed It When He Wrestled With The Angel
- Gen 32:24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
- He fixed it!
The Prodigal Son
- Luke 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
- Luke 15:19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
- He fixed it!
The History of Obligatory Archery Practice!
The references to horses, riders, kingdoms and battles in “For want of a nail” indicate the English origins of the rhyme. One of the English Kings did not leave anything to chance! In 1363, to ensure the continued safety of the realm, King Edward III commanded the obligatory practice of archery on Sundays and holidays! The earliest known written version of the rhyme is in John Gower’s “Confesio Amantis” dated approximately 1390.
“For Want Of A Nail”
For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.
Are there are things God has asked you to fix and you still haven’t gotten around to it?
Why would you expect God to fix things for you that you’re not willing to fix for yourself?
Have you got a loose or lost nail in your life?
Please fix it.
Yes, Fix It Now!
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