Week Seven, 2018

JUST BENEATH THE SURFACE

By John Grant

Do ye look on things according to the outward appearance? If any man trust himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s. – 2 Corr. 2:7

While riding down river through the Amazon Jungle, noticed how murky the water. It was so murky that one could not see a hand below the surface. I didn’t even try because I have heard what creatures swim in those rivers just below the surface.

I thought about how that relates to sin, which often lurks just out of sight and just below the surface of our everyday lives. Often is subtle and the sin is small. Why would I not want to stick a finger below the water just to see what it is like? Look at Lot. He started with small sins which grew and grew and then he failed.

The reason Lot failed is illustrated by an event that happened on June 5, 1976. On that day, under clear skies, without warning, the massive Teton Dam in southeastern Idaho collapsed, sending a torrent of water surging into the Snake River basin. There was extensive property damage and loss of life. It seemed to happen so quickly. Some workers on the dam barely had time to run for their lives.

But it really didn’t happen suddenly. Beneath the water line, a hidden fault had been gradually weakening the entire structure. It started with just a tiny bit of erosion. But by the time it was detected, it was too late. No one had seen the little flaw; no one got hurt by it. But everyone saw the big collapse, and many were hurt.

That’s what happened to Lot. He allowed little sins in his life to go unchecked. They weren’t major, shocking kinds of sins–just “little” sins. But they were steadily eroding his moral character, until finally the sordid incident recorded here burst the dam.

Keep your hands out of the murky water, for you never know what sins are lurking there to hook you into a life or progressive sin.

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

Obituary:

Joe’s wife passed away and he wanted to keep the obituary as short as possible, so he penned “Sally Smith died.” When the funeral home told him that the minimum wordage was six words, he added “Car for sale.”

Jesus is Lord. And that changes everything.

–o–

During the course of administration, and in order to disturb it, the artillery of the press has been leveled against us, charged with whatsoever its licentiousness could devise or dare. These abuses of an institution so important to freedom and science are deeply to be regretted, inasmuch as they tend to lessen its usefulness and to sap its safety.” —Thomas Jefferson (1805)

–o–

In grammar school they taught me that a frog turning into a prince was a fairy tale. In the university they taught me that a frog turning into a prince was a fact. —Ron Carlson

–o–

C. S. Lewis wrote, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less.” Focus on those you serve and witness the new found value.

***

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

Lord God, I praise You today for burdens lifted, sins forgiven and hope restored.

Pain can be used for good. It causes us to pause and ponder what’s really important. Mark Merrill

In what appears to be his last tweet, on Dec. 1, 2017, R C Sproul wrote about his belief in eternity: “When God writes our names in the ‘Lamb’s Book of Life,’ he doesn’t do it with an eraser handy. He does it for eternity.”

Lord Jesus, what a thrill it is to know You call me friend! It is a bigger thrill to know that You will never unfriend me!

Lord God, I praise You that Your love for me is based on Your character, not on my performance. How great You are!

Keep your face always toward the sunshine and shadows will fall behind you. Walt Whitman

***

Selected portions of Thoughts on Life can also be read at TheLife.com and Thoughts-About-God.com. You can subscribe directly to those on their respective websites.

Your feedback is welcome and if you want to be taken off the mailing list a simple e-mail will do it. Feel free to pass this along to others and to contribute your ideas and thoughts. Address all items and comments to [email protected]. © Thoughts on Life Copyright 2017

©2018 John Grant | Florida State Senator (Ret.) | 10025 Orange Grove Drive | Tampa, FL 33618

Week Five, 2018

IN OR OUT?

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. – Revelation 3:15-16

Recently, my bride and I went to a spot on planet earth that was 0-0-0 Latitude. Located in Ecuador, it is literally the middle of the planet. A yellow line depicts the dividing line between the Northern and Southern hemispheres and is commonly referred to as the Equator. It is depicted literally by a yellow line.

One can straddle that line and be half in each hemisphere. Many Christians live their lives that way, half in and half out. John speaks of that in Revelation saying that we have the option of being either hot or cold, but we should not straddle the middle and be lukewarm.

I am not a poker player, but I understand that when a player feels lucky, he can bet the farm, by shoving all his chips to the middle of the table and saying, “I’m all in.” It is either win the table or lose all he has.

Jesus’ words to the church at Laodicea can be confusing. The vibrancy of the church is best to be hot, but cold is better than lukewarm. What this says is that it is better to be an indifferent pagan than to be a backslidden Christian. It is better to have never heard the Gospel than to have heard, accepted and fallen away. The one who has never heard has an excuse, but the one who has does not.

What is your spiritual temperature, hot, lukewarm or cold? Are you all in and not straddling the middle line?

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

A crowded Southwest flight was canceled because of a mechanical problem. A single gate agent was re-booking a long line of inconvenienced travelers.

Suddenly an angry passenger pushed his way to the desk. He slapped his ticket down on the counter and said, “I HAVE to be on this flight,”

The agent replied, “I’m sorry, sir. I’ll be happy to try to help you, but I’ve got to help these people first, and I’m sure we’ll be able to work something out.”

The passenger was unimpressed. He asked loudly, so that the passengers behind him could hear, “DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHO I AM?”

Without hesitating, the attendant smiled and grabbed her public address microphone: “May I have your attention please; may I have your attention please” she began – her voice heard clearly throughout the terminal. “We have a passenger here at Gate 14 WHO DOES NOT KNOW WHO HE IS. If anyone can help him find his identity, please come to Gate 14.”

***

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

Remember to give thanks and not be afraid of difficulties ahead.

True freedom is not freedom from responsibility to God and others, but freedom from ourselves in order to live for God and others. John Stott

***

Selected portions of Thoughts on Life can also be read at TheLife.com and Thoughts-About-God.com. You can subscribe directly to those on their respective websites.

Your feedback is welcome and if you want to be taken off the mailing list a simple e-mail will do it. Feel free to pass this along to others and to contribute your ideas and thoughts. Address all items and comments to [email protected]. © Thoughts on Life Copyright 2017

©2018 John Grant | Florida State Senator (Ret.) | 10025 Orange Grove Drive | Tampa, FL 33618

THINK On These Things

Now !

Philippians 4:8

In the book of Acts, Chapter 3, there is the remarkable story of a man who had been lame from birth and was healed in just a moment.

“Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said,

‘Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.’

And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God: And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him. And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.”

It is a great testimony to the power of Jesus Name and to the instantaneous power that the faith of a man like Peter can have in that Name. It is also an anecdote about how the apostle got one more opportunity to share the Gospel with the citizens of the day. All this is wonderful indeed.

As we rejoice, let us take a few moments to look at the situation from the viewpoint of the man who was healed. The Word says he was lame from his mother’s womb. It also says he was a man, an adult. At first, we are not told his exact age. Was he 20 years old? 30? 50? We don’t know. What we do know is that he had been lame for a long time – his whole life. (Later on, in Acts 4:22 it is revealed that “the man was above 40 years old.”)

As he sat there that day at the Gate Beautiful, he was not seeking healing. Such a thought was probably not even in the realm of his most hopeful thinking.

He was seeking alms to sustain himself. His hope was for food and perhaps shelter. His life was a settled one without hope of change. It had been the same for more than forty years.

Beg,

Buy food,

Beg some more.

What a cruel existence it must have been. He was totally dependent on others. He was not even able to bring himself to the gate. He needed others to do it for him.

But at a special time, a time called “NOW” in verse 1, a time appointed by God, his whole life changed.

NOW, Peter and John came by.

NOW the Name of Jesus Christ was invoked.

NOW he was instantly and totally healed.

NOW he could run and walk as he had never in his life been able to do.

NOW he was

Standing,

Walking,

Leaping,

Praising God.

Have you ever heard of such exuberance? Oh what joy he felt, what astonishment, what unexpected ecstasy!

It all took place at a moment in time that God had chosen. It didn’t happen 5 years or 5 days earlier. Not a month later. It happened NOW, in the fullness of God’s time. It was the day of God’s visitation, a day of deliverance.

We are accustomed to the idea that those who believe will receive gifts from God. Here is an example of one who received his gift and then believed. Grace upon grace.

Yes, as magnificent as his healing was, the greatest gift that day was his own new, dynamic, exuberant belief.

“And all the people saw him walking and praising God: And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.” And He Gave Testimony!

Could it be that God has a NOW time for some of us and our needs and infirmities?

Perhaps your NOW time has not yet come. Your need or problem may be an old one. You may not even have been expecting a solution. You may be focused on just making do with the way things are, just as the lame man was.

• God’s NOW time for you may be on the way.

• Wait for it.

• Watch for it.

• Anticipate it.

• Recognize it when it comes.

• Seize it with all spiritual vigor.

• Respond to it in a fashion that enables it to change your life. Let it galvanize your faith.

• Rise up and run about in the public place giving Him praise and testimony.

• Allow your victory to be the means by which a multitude of others discover the love of the Savior.

No act of God’s love

Is too small for us to rejoice,

In the temple and in the marketplace.

12/17

Presented by Bro. Al Salay, Blessed Man Ministries Inc.

1093 A1A Beach Blvd. #273, St. Augustine, FL 32080-6733

www.BlessedMan.net [email protected]

First Baptist Church

9 West Main St., Earlville, NY 13332

Rev. Jeremy B. Stopford, Pastor

January 21, 2018

Series: “WHAT’S IN YOUR WALLET?”

Part 1: God Owns It!” (Psalm 50).

PART 2: “You’re In Charge of It!” (Genesis 41).

TODAY’S SPECIAL

[Courtesy of Senator John Grant (Retired), Thoughts on Life, http://www.frankbecker.com]: A crowded Southwest flight was canceled because of a mechanical problem. A single gate agent was re-booking a long line of inconvenienced travelers.

Suddenly an angry passenger pushed his way to the desk. He slapped his ticket down on the counter and said, “I HAVE to be on this flight.”

The agent replied, “I’m sorry, sir. I’ll be happy to try to help you, but I’ve got to help these people first, and I’m sure we’ll be able to work something out.”

The passenger was unimpressed. He asked loudly, so that the passengers behind him could hear, “DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHO I AM?”

Without hesitating, the attendant smiled and grabbed her public address microphone: “May I have your attention please; may I have your attention please” she began – her voice heard clearly throughout the terminal. “We have a passenger here at Gate 14 WHO DOES NOT KNOW WHO HE IS. If anyone can help him find his identity, please come to Gate 14.”

INTRODUCTION

Last week we began a 3 week series entitled, “Stewardship Series 2018”. If you get on our church website [www.fbcearlville.org], you’ll find the original series posted as “Stewardship Series 2011. This year’s abbreviated version is given with the knowledge that, while our church’s finances are “just fine” (according to the studious treasurer), our personal finances might be in need of a little encouragement.

“Stewardship”: according to the dictionary, this term means “the conducting, supervising, or managing of something; especially, the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care”. Last week we learned from Psalm 50 that God owns everything – even everything in our “wallet”, I.e., our finances and everything we possess. This week takes us to the next step: While God treasures (no pun intended) His ownership, He delegates the care – or “charge” or “stewardship” of what He owns to…us! Let’s look at stewardship in action through the life of that OT saint, Joseph.

PRAYER

There are several key words or phrases in our text which help point us to God’s heart on our “stewardship” of what He entrusts to us:

#1 Qualities of a wise steward

A. He trusts the Lord (41:16). Let’s be careful interpreting verse 14 to meaning that God wants all of His godly men to be clean shaven and wearing a change of clothes all the time! Joseph’s declaration in verse 16 shows that in his giving glory to his heavenly Father, he is showing his unreserved trust in all his Father is doing in his life. Remember his compassionate words to his brothers in 50:19-21. He advised them that all that happened in his life happened under God’s eternal purpose – to save lives (and ultimately, the creation of the nation of Israel!). Joseph trusted God. And if we are to be a wise steward, so should we.

B. He is “discerning and wise” (41:33) While Joseph was recommending to Pharaoh the kind of steward Pharaoh should appoint, he was saying 2 things: #1 I, Joseph am of that character; and #2 the steward is someone who, while recognizing God’s Lordship and Ownership, is also one who recognizes that the Lord has put people in charge of what He has provided. And to be that discerning and wise steward, he must be able to determine what is right and what is not right. Check out Psalm 1 for yourself!

So do you trust the Lord, or are you simply “churchy” in your living? Do you trust the Lord even in your finances? And are you seeking His counsel in the wise and discerning use of what He has wisely placed in your hands?

#2. Pharaoh’s name for Joseph shows…VISION – God’s vision!

It was typical of un-Biblical rulers in Biblical times to give pet names to those who served them. As in Daniel, often the rulers’ purpose was to cause those who served to forget the God the servant worshipped and to put a false trust in the false gods (LITTLE “g”) of their land. Remember, Joseph’s mother, Rachel, gave him the name “Joseph”, which means “God will add” (implying first another son, and then long-range, the nation of Israel).

Notice the name (41:45) that Pharaoh gave to Joseph. Pharaoh’s pet name for Joseph was “Zaphenath-Paneah”. If you are at a loss for names for your future children, here is a good start. Perhaps he called Joseph “Z-P” for short. But what does the name mean? It means “God speaks and He lives.” WHAT? What is Pharaoh saying? He is saying this: every time he looks at Joseph and calls him “Z-P”, he is bowing to the truth that the TRUE God of eternity not only speaks and lives, He speaks and lives through His stewards who are in submission to God’s ownership of all that they own! Pharaoh is thus recognizing the true God’s uniqueness.

So every time someone sees you or me, do they recognize in us that God is speaking through our oversight of what He is entrusting to us? Do they recognize that God is living through us by way of our wise care over what He has placed under our watch? And in the BIG picture of things, that is…VISION!

CONCLUSION

We have looked at some of the qualities of a godly steward, mainly that he trusts the Lord in all that he does and is; and, that by character he is both discerning and wise. God is on display through the pattern of a godly steward’s life.

And we have seen through Joseph that when the world looks at a godly steward (as seen through the eyes of Pharaoh), the world sees, well, the living God Who through His Spirit and His Word speaks to that steward on a daily moment by moment basis. Wow!

But we must wrap this second message with one more word. Did you notice the description of the word in verse 49? During those 7 years of plenty, Joseph stored up the plenty. How much did he store up? Verse 34 says “a fifth of the harvest”. 20 %! I don’t think that is intended as a legalistic target for our finances. But it is an insight that Joseph was trusting God to enable him – on a national level, mind you! – to put aside 20% of the harvest, unused, for future living.

But the word for the day – and for our eternity! – is found in verse 56. Did you catch it? “When the famine had spread…Joseph opened the storehouses.” When was the last time you read the book of Malachi? What? Not recently? Listen to these amazing words from Malachi 3:10: “bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”

We will learn more next week about our offerings. AND we will not be legalistic and say that the “storehouse” is the church. But by principle, God is saying through both Joseph and Malachi that the godly steward, the one whom God has wisely set in charge over what God owns, will have a vision for eternity in everything that God allows to come into his stewardship.

In other words, God doesn’t want simply casual overseers of what He already owns. One more time, look at the words we’ve learned today. God wants disciplined, wise, discerning, stewards who not only trust the Lord but who are visible evidences that God is alive and worthy to be trusted today.

Are YOU that one in charge?

Close in prayer

Week Four, 2018

Wisdom

“… then listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom ” (Job 33:33).

Our education system tends to focus the importance of knowledge, but where do we find wisdom and what we understand about this? The dictionary has these definitions about wisdom:

1. Knowledge that is gained by having many experiences in life.

2. The natural ability to understand things that most other people cannot understand.

3. Knowledge of what is proper or reasonable: good sense or judgment

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10) What does it mean to “fear the Lord” and why is this fear the beginning of wisdom? What is “wisdom”? Who Is “the Holy One” and why is knowledge of Him “understanding”?

What is the difference between knowledge and wisdom? Knowledge is really about facts and ideas that we acquire through study, research, investigation, observation, or experience. Wisdom is the ability to discern and judge which aspects of that knowledge are true, right, lasting, and applicable to your life.

Wisdom is acquired by those who listen and learn from those who have traveled before, especially the elderly who often have gained wisdom through mistakes. Recently Pope Francis encouraged the younger to learn from the older saying,

“This is something very beautiful and important. The elderly are the historic memory of every community, a heritage of wisdom and faith to be heard, preserved, and valued.”

If we are young, we are encouraged to listen to the elderly and if elderly, to impart our wisdom to those who will follow behind us. A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a mocker does not respond to rebukes. (Proverbs) 13:1

An unknown person once said, “To Be Old And Wise, You Must First Be Young And Stupid.”

We all, no matter what age need to seek wisdom from others, but also remembering that the greatest source of wisdom is the holy Word of God.

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

A crowded Southwest flight was canceled because of a mechanical problem. A single gate agent was re-booking a long line of inconvenienced travelers.

Suddenly an angry passenger pushed his way to the desk. He slapped his ticket down on the counter and said, “I HAVE to be on this flight.”

The agent replied, “I’m sorry, sir. I’ll be happy to try to help you, but I’ve got to help these people first, and I’m sure we’ll be able to work something out.”

The passenger was unimpressed. He asked loudly, so that the passengers behind him could hear, “DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHO I AM?”

Without hesitating, the attendant smiled and grabbed her public address microphone: “May I have your attention please; may I have your attention please” she began – her voice heard clearly throughout the terminal. “We have a passenger here at Gate 14 WHO DOES NOT KNOW WHO HE IS. If anyone can help him find his identity, please come to Gate 14.”

***

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

Reflecting on the past is healthy, but dwelling on it keeps you stuck in the past. Stay positive with a focus on the future. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is a mystery and that is why today is called the present. Brg. General Dick Abel

***

Selected portions of Thoughts on Life can also be read at TheLife.com and Thoughts-About-God.com. You can subscribe directly to those on their respective websites.

Your feedback is welcome and if you want to be taken off the mailing list a simple e-mail will do it. Feel free to pass this along to others and to contribute your ideas and thoughts. Address all items and comments to [email protected]. © Thoughts on Life Copyright 2017.

©2018 John Grant | Florida State Senator (Ret.) | 10025 Orange Grove Drive | Tampa, FL 33618

 First Baptist Church, Earlville, N.Y.

Rev. Jeremy B. Stopford, Pastor

January 7, 2018

THE END IS NEAR!

—Psalm 71:18 NIV

The Verse of 2018

TODAY’S SPECIAL: “A Golf Challenge”

A young man who was also an avid golfer found himself with a few hours to spare one afternoon. He figured if he hurried and played very fast, he could get in nine holes before he had to head home. Just as he was about to tee off, an old gentleman shuffled onto the tee and asked if he could accompany the young man as he was golfing alone. Not being able to say no, he allowed the old gent to join him.

To his surprise the old man played fairly quickly. He didn’t hit the ball far, but plodded along consistently and didn’t waste much time. Finally, they reached the 9th fairway and the young man found himself with a tough shot. There was a large pine tree right in front of his ball – and directly between his ball and the green. After several minutes of debating how to hit the shot, the old man finally said, “You know, when I was your age I’d hit the ball right over the tree.”

With that challenge placed before him, the youngster swung hard, hit the ball up, right smack into the top of the tree trunk and it thudded back on the ground not a foot from where it had originally lay.

The old man offered one more comment. “Of course, when I was your age that pine tree was only three feet tall.”

INTRODUCTION

Last year at this time, we were talking about faith in the form of the Master’s question: when Jesus returns, will He find faith on earth? 2017 sure had many opportunities for stepping out on faith, in both our home, your homes, and in our church. Let’s not stop that focus.

I have been a Christian for going on 47 years this year. I have probably read through the Bible almost every one of those years – although I’ll never top Pastor Tom who in his latter years would read through the Bible once a month with a different version each month. Wow. This year I’m doing something new – just what I’ve challenged YOU to do: “3 chapters/day and 5 on Sunday.” I’ve never done that before. This is a first.

But it ties in with this year’s new verse from Psalm 71. I trust that this year’s verse will be both challenging and encouraging to each of us as we seek to walk with the Lord in fresh ways this year.

This is a simple verse. Let’s look at 3 main parts of this verse today.

Prayer

#1. “OLD AND GRAY”

So we need to ask and answer the question, “how OLD is ‘OLD’?”. Perhaps you’ve known someone much younger than you who has pre-mature gray hair. Is he old simply because he LOOKS old? Or perhaps when you were younger, you met someone 15 years older than you and you said, “my, he’s really old!”. And the first time someone said to you, “ma’am” or “sir”, you felt old, didn’t you?

But what does the Bible say?

David and Solomon both died when each was 70 years of age. At that time – yes, 70 years of age – it was said of David, “when David was old and well advanced in years” (1 Kings 1:1). For him, physically, he was an old man.

Methuselah died at age 969 years. He was the oldest Biblically recorded person. And yet what did he have in common with those who were younger than he? It is said of him (Genesis 5:27), “altogether, Methuselah lived 969 years, and then he died.”

Only one other person in Scripture is described as being “old and gray”. And that is Samuel the prophet. (1 Samuel 12:2). And yet even at that age, he was able to testify to the people of Israel their entire history of rebellion against God. He knew the Scriptures.

Sarah, Abraham’s wife at age 89, was advised by the Lord that although she was old, there was nothing impossible to have happen to her because of the Lord! (Gen. 18:13) – even the birth of Isaac! Do you or I feel that God gives us tasks that are too big for us, regardless of our age?

Proverbs 22:6 is a familiar verse. Our NIV says, “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” Some have interpreted that verse to mean that if we raise our children in church and in the Scriptures, they will never fall from the Lord. But the verse is actually talking rather about a manner of life and lifestyle – both in trade and in character. Are we raising our children to be one day children of godly character?

And finally, of all places, there is John 3:4. But first, do you remember Jesus’ amazing statement to Nicodemus in verse 3? It says, “Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” And in verse 4 is the reply of Nicodemus. Now remember, he is a scholar of Scriptures, a master of Israel. Yet he asks the One standing before him, ““How can someone be born when they are old ….Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” The whole theology of the new birth in Christ is centered around the impossibility of man to save himself, and yet the possibility of God to take a creature of dust and make him a new creation in Christ.

So how old is old? The Scriptures tell us that there is no age limit to God’s work in a life. When one is young, he or she should be encouraged in the disciplines of the Word. And when one is older, he or she should know that even at that age, God is still able to do amazing things through that life.

Do you feel “young” today? God wants to establish some good and godly disciplines in you! Do you feel “old” today? God is not through with you!

#2. “DO NOT FORSAKE ME”

Note that the author of this psalm is not named. It could have been David. But theologians share that when authorship of a psalm is not given, that means the psalm takes on a wide view of application. So the “me” in this plea could be anyone – either of the author’s day or even of ours!

This is a familiar expression in Scripture. It was the charge that at age 120 years, Moses gave to Israel in general and to Joshua in particular: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deut. 31:6). It surrounds one of the most oft-quoted verses in Scripture, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5). And our Savior Himself, upon giving the charge of what we call the Great Commission, closed His ministry with these wonderful words of encouragement: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Even in the psalm of the origin of this year’s verse, note the author’s plea in verse 9: “Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone.”

What is he saying? That as long as I have breath, God is not through with me! And while the tasks may seem overwhelming, we are invited to cast ourselves upon the promises and character of the One Who has called us to Himself. Regardless of our age, God has a promise for us. Regardless of our age, God has an assignment where He has wisely planted us.

And God’s presence is truly the only support the servant of the Lord needs to do what God has wisely called that servant to do!

#3 “TO THE NEXT GENERATION”

I personally find this last phrase the most challenging of the 3 we are looking at in this year’s verse. Why? Because you and I are often most concerned with…TODAY! Bills to pay. Things to do. People to see. There is seemingly not enough time to do what I want to get done!

Yet the psalmist is looking at “the next generation” and “all who are to come”. How long is a generation? The best estimate is somewhere between 30 and 40 years. Let’s compromise and say “35 years”. Now take the number of years that you are alive today. Add 35 years. OK, to make it easy for you, I’ll be your guinea pig. 65 PLUS 35 = 100 years. You know, I’ve got better things to do at age 100 than thinking about the next generation, of those who are to come after me. Why, by age 100 I should be able to shoot under my age in golf! (well, at least for 9 holes anyway!)

Yet the psalmist reminds us to think “eternally”. I encourage you to read Genesis 17 where the Lord relays to Abraham what is known as the “Abrahamic Covenant”. God bypasses the impossibility of Abraham being a father at age 100. Instead, He encourages Abraham to think “eternally”. What did God say to Abe in verse 7? “ I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.”

Why does the psalmist say almost the same thing? Because God wants the generations to come to have the true God as their God! He wants the generations to come to know Jesus as Savior! And the psalmist encourages us that regardless of what we think our purposes in life are today, we need a fresh vision of Who God is and what He has for us to do today! For what we do today will affect at least the next generation! Can we trust God to do that through us?

CONCLUSION

Three phrases:

(1). “Old and gray” – God is not particular as to one’s age nor one’s hair color (or lack thereof). He has a job for us to do.

(2). “do not forsake me” – God invites us to trust Him, and in so trusting, He reminds us of the many promises He has for us – especially the promise of His presence!

(3). “To the next generation” – a fresh vision. God gives each of us a fresh vision of the task, and more importantly, of those hearts around us that He has wisely set before us every day. Those hearts are “the next generation”. They may be family. They may be friends, neighbors, co-workers, or people we meet today for the first time. They are the next generation.

This year’s verse gives us a fresh vision – of God and of His work.

Will you trust Him with me for the fresh vision from Him?

Close in prayer

THINK On These Things

One More Disciple

Philippians 4:8

In the Gospel of Mark, in Chapter 4, we see Jesus once-again teaching the multitude at the side of the sea He taught in parables. Later, when He was alone with The Twelve, He explained to them the parable of the sower. He ended His teaching with this insight:

“Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God?. . . It is like a grain of mustard seed, which when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.” (Mark 4:30-32)

A tiny seed may become a great tree in the Kingdom.

Then, when evening came, Jesus said to the twelve, “Let us pass over to the other side,” (Mark 4:35)

“And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. And when He was come out of the ship, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit.” (Mk 5:1-2)

The Gospels record many of the Lord’s ministries to individuals. Some seem almost accidental. He was passing along and encountered someone in need. Perhaps a blind man called out in hope. It sometimes seems like He just stumbled on them. Of course we know that nothing is an accident with God. In this story about the Gadarene it is very clear that this was an appointment arranged by Jesus. Luke 8 says it took place on “. . . a certain day. . .“ More than an appointment, it was a missions trip.

Jesus did not go to some heavily populated area, a town or a village. Jesus landed where this hapless man was cowering. He landed at the tombs. The man he met was:

• Torn by demons.

• Shackled by men.

• Alone and naked.

• Feared and hated.

• Howling among the graves of the dead.

• As good as dead himself.

• A terrible sight and in a terrible state.

Then Jesus came. The demons left. Those who watched were in fear and awe. The nakedness and the howling were ended. The poor demonized man was in his right mind. All the local folk could talk about was the two thousand pigs, crashing into the sea. But the rescued man was ready to follow Jesus wherever He might go.

Jesus had a different plan.

This man would become more than a follower. He would become a disciple. He would become a witness in places that Jesus would never walk. Decapolis, the Ten Cities, would be his mission field. He would start now.

Yes, from the beginning, Jesus had a plan.

One thing we know: the devils hate God and hate His people. The more likely someone is to be useful to the Kingdom of God, the more the devil hates them. Those he hates he hinders. He binds and hobbles and side tracks would-be servants. Did not the prince of the power of the air try to hinder Jesus from reaching this very man by stirring up a storm at sea? (Mark 4:37-39) Many afflicted dwell among the tombs of this world, alive to sin but dead to Christ.

From the narrative we can tell that Jesus crossed the sea to perform only one work. His mission was not to drown pigs. His mission was not to heal a mad man. His mission was not healing. Healing was His tool. His mission was to ordain an evangelist. When He had finished this work, He at once returned to the other side of the sea and ministered there.

The theological training program to prepare the new evangelist for his labors was brief indeed. His desire was to go with Jesus and learn more. But Jesus said he already knew all he needed to know. He knew and could say:

“Once I was bound, but now Jesus has set me free. Once I was the slave of a legion of demons, naked, mad and in agony, but now Jesus has set me free.”

This is in contrast to a number of other occasions where Jesus healed someone and told them to “tell no man.” This time He said, “Tell!”

“Go home to your friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.” Mark 5:19-20

And all men did marvel!

How many could be rescued for service, if we would see their condition as enslavement rather than rebellion? The Gadarene was transformed from madness to ministry. We remember how, in a similar visitation, the Apostle Paul was transformed from hate to love. How many are there who could be disciples for Christ, but are bound, prohibited by unclean spirits? Spirits of anger, greed, envy, deviance, pride and other sins run rampant in our world.

We abhor these manifestations. We should. But what of the person “clothed and in their right mind” that is hidden away inside? What of the “exceeding fierce” one, waiting for Jesus to set him free to live a normal life? What of the promise of ministry through an undeniable testimony?

Do you know a “mad Gadarene”?

If you avoid them, you do well for your own safety. But prayer can operate at a distance. Prayer can set such people free. Prayer can reveal the hidden disciple that lives within. Perhaps you believe there are few hidden disciples amongst the raving multitude. You think that prostitutes and politicians have no kernel of good in them. Some may not. Some may. Jesus knows. Neighbors, co-workers, family members, media persons, teachers: all are candidates.

Perhaps, if you would ask, the Holy Spirit might give you the name of a modern day “Gadarene” for whom He would like you to pray, that the scales be removed from their spiritual eyes and that he or she might also become

One More Disciple,

To go where you can’t go,

A tiny seed to become a great tree in the Kingdom.

11/17

Presented by Bro. Al Salay, Blessed Man Ministries Inc.

1093 A1A Beach Blvd. #273, St. Augustine, FL 32080-6733

www.BlessedMan.net [email protected]

Week Forty-Eight, 2017

WHO IS YOUR GOD?

—John Grant

For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you. – Isaiah 41:13

Recently I attended a college home game of one of the few still undefeated teams in the country. Favored to win, the fans were in the stands with a ho-hum attitude. Apparently, the team was too, by the way they played. When the opposing team won with twenty-seven seconds to go the stands erupted in many expletives unfit to print.

My thoughts were: Who is your God? Is it your football team, your job, your car, your bank account? Maybe it is your ego, which is the anesthetic that masks your self-deceit.

Have you learned that even a defeat can present opportunities to grow? When your walls come tumbling down, they can form a firm foundation on which you can build, rise again and go on to even greater things in life.

The firmest foundation in life is a firm foundation on Jesus, even when you find Him in the dust of life when everything else comes crashing down. He, and only He should be your God…. your foundation. Learn to win from losing rather than losing from winning when you worship the things of this world.

I’ve never met a Christian who says they don’t love Jesus. All Christians say “I Love Jesus”. Too many know about Jesus, but that is a far cry from knowing Jesus.

So, Who is your god? Your god is whoever, or whatever you listen to and obey… Implicitly.

Sadly, many people say Jesus is my God, but their actions testify otherwise. They listen to their job, their spouse, their girl/boy-friend, or their school friends and would sooner obey them rather than Jesus. Or they may sacrifice obedience to Jesus for fashion, their education, or some other worldly pursuit.

Don’t deny Jesus in the stadium of public life, whether you win or lose.

Don’t be deceived. Jesus says: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” – John 14:15

Who is Your God?

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

Am I… Are you… are we… All in?

As I think about what that means as a Believer, I go back to what it means for an athlete and realize that commitment to Jesus is similar.

Are we committed to Jesus? Committed to walking with Him on a daily, hourly, moment by moment basis? Committed to taking up our cross and following Him?

Are we committed to strengthening our walk and our faith through prayer, Bible Study, time spent dwelling on Him and His Word? Are we willing to walk as He walked, talk as He talked, touch lives as He has touched lives?

Are we committed to being all that He has called us to be as individuals and as a church as a whole?

Are we committed and willing to go, to share, to teach, to learn, to live for Him?

Are we committed to shine for Him?

Do I really love the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind and strength? Do I love Him with all that I am?

RETIREMENT:

Recognize that retirement is not the end, but the beginning. It is a journey, not a destination. Retirement offers the opportunity of a lifetime to try new and different activities. You may not enjoy all the things you try. If an activity doesn’t pan out, give something else a try. This is a time to be adventurous. Renew your childhood curiosity. You get to start all over again without the pressure inherent for success in the workplace. Because people are living longer, years in retirement are also increasing. You have the opportunity to reinvent yourself many times over. I am not the person I was 5 years ago. I look forward to what surprises may unfold for me in the future.

Views on retirement and getting older are changing. Retirement is whatever we choose to make it. There is no one size fits all. There are as many options as there are one-of-a-kind snowflakes blowing on a winter’s day. I hope my lessons help you avoid some of the pitfalls and reap the rewards of a retired life. As always — put your dent in the universe! Kathy Merlino

***

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

People who try to live without the Spirit of God always end up trying to fill their own emptiness rather than sharing their fullness. —Ken Whitten

There is no such thing as life in between. Be “All In” there are only two options regarding commitment; you’re either in or you’re out. There’s no such thing as life in-between. —Pat Riley

The lines of morality in our society have been blurred.

You can’t proclaim what you don’t possess.

What we believe will determine our direction in life.

Behind every value we have is a belief.

***

Selected portions of Thoughts on Life can also be read at TheLife.com and Thoughts-About-God.com. You can subscribe directly to those on their respective websites.

Your feedback is welcome and if you want to be taken off the mailing list a simple e-mail will do it. Feel free to pass this along to others and to contribute your ideas and thoughts. Address all items and comments to [email protected]. © Thoughts on Life Copyright 2017

©2017 John Grant | Florida State Senator (Ret.) | 10025 Orange Grove Drive | Tampa, FL 33618

First Baptist Church, Earlville, New York

November 19, 2017 10:30 AM

J B Stopford, Pastor, Speaking

“GIVE THANKS !”

Revelation 4

TODAY’S SPECIAL

“A Beverly Funny” (in honor of one of our congregants)

Hey, why do you see hardly any crows as road kill along the highways?

Because the crows warn each other, “Car! Car!”

INTRODUCTION

Thanksgiving has been celebrated on the 4th Thursday of November in the U.S. on and off since 1789 – as requested to Congress by George Washington. It became a federal holiday in 1863, as requested by President Lincoln during the Civil war, a national day of “Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwells in the Heavens.”

And, of course, as we all know, it also marks the halfway mark of the Christmas holiday season which began sometime before Labor Day (ok, just kidding).

In our Scriptures, there are 100 references to “thanks” and “thanksgiving”. The first is found in of all places 1 Chronicles 16:34,35, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Cry out, ‘Save us, God our Savior; gather us and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, and glory in your praise.’”

The last usage understandably is found in Revelation. Today’s passage is a familiar one, and I personally was amazed to find the word “thanks” in the midst of a most familiar passage. As we give thanks today as a spiritual community, may we also be aware that our thanks will not begin and end today.

PRAYER.

#1. We’re in the present – visualize the eternal (Relation 4:1-8)

As I approach this passage, this most familiar passage, I approach it with a simple question, “what does this passage say that helps my worship, my praise of God, and my being thankful?”

Beginning with Revelation 4:1 with the words “come up here”, the church is not seen again until Revelation 21 and 22 with the “new heavens and the new earth.”

But John himself is in the present! He is seeing the future as if it is now.

And when you and I read passages like this, we, too, are in the present – but like John, we, too, can visualize the eternal!

And what would we see with John? We would see worship face to face! We would see pictures that we could not put into words that would make any sense! We would see in the midst of that worship, elders who are bowing down on a regular basis before the Lord Jesus. We would see pictures of the heavenlies like what we would have read in books like Isaiah and Ezekiel coming to fruition.

How do you describe all that? In one word: worship!

Look closely at verse 8: “day and night they never stop saying, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, Who was, and is, and is to come.’” Through John we are hearing the verse from Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever.”!!! And this worship of our Savior is non-stop, day and night. Can we even begin to visualize that?

So before we offer our great God the gifts for Whom only He is worthy, we need to remind ourselves that all of eternity is surrounding the theme of worship.

But John is in the what? TODAY! And so are we! So what things do we do that are wasteful when we could be learning to do what we’ll be doing for all eternity: worshiping our wonderful Savior!

So have I answered my beginning question? Yes! I have learned that I cannot put God in a box and say, “there, I’ve figured You out!” No, only He is worthy of my worship. Only He could bring me to the cross and cause the rest of my entire life AND my eternity to follow to center around…HIM!

#2 The 3 gifts we can give to God now (4:9)

Verse 9 introduces us to the crux of the theme of this day. The living creatures – whom we met first in Ezekiel Chapter 1 – are described as doing just 3 “tasks”, if you will, for all eternity. Now I could think of a whole bunch of things that I would like to do if I had a lifetime to do them in – and yes, golf certainly would be one of them. But their “tasks” are confined to just 3 descriptions. And all 3 they offer to the Lord Jesus:

A. Glory – the word “glory” is taken from the root word which means simply, “to boast”, or better, “to joy, to rejoice.” In essence, this living creatures brag about God – to Himself! They offer no prayer. They offer no complaints. They offer no concerns. They don’t even review before Him what they have observed Him doing for the past millennium or so. NO! They brag on Him – they boast; yes, they GLORY in Him!

B. Honor – the second thing they do is to honor Him. The only thing we have even similar is what we call the judge in a court, “Your Honor.” That is similar to what this means. It is the idea of offering to God His value. But it is much more than just His value. It is what WE value of Him! And the living creatures for all of eternity will be telling God what they think of Him, telling Him what is their value of God for Who He is. Non-stop. Wow.

C. Thanks! It is interesting that to complete the trinity of this picture of worship, John observes not only glory and honor, but also “thanks”. To put it simply, praise is often defined as telling God Who He is. Thanks is telling God what He has done. Once again, it is a purposeful focus – in this case, of eternity! – on reminding God what He has done for all eternity.

Today we are going to do this as well, to thank Him for what He has done this past year!

**LET’S TRY THIS NOW** (the congregation then each one is to offer his or her thanks for what the Lord has done for them this past year)

#3. True worship is eternal (4:10-11)

Simply put, we are to be practicing what these 24 elders do in the last two verses of Chapter 4: for all of eternity, they will be worshipping the Lord Jesus. They will be reminding Him, as it were, that He alone is worthy of their worship.

We are to be practicing NOW what we will be doing for all eternity: centering our lives on the eternal, even the Lord Jesus, alone!

CONCLUSION

ILLUSTRATION: Yesterday I had the privilege to officiate the funeral for a family which I had first met several months ago. I had to travel quite a distance to the funeral home. So before I left our home, I made especially sure that I had my Bible, my copy of the eulogy, and the several “remembrances” that family members had already written out for me.

When I arrived at the funeral home with time to spare, I was quite thankful. I got out of the driver’s side of the van, making sure the van keys were safely in my pocket! I opened the side door behind the van to retrieve from the back seat my Bible with its contents of the eulogy and the remembrances.

And then I reached for my suit coat. But it wasn’t there! In all my preparations, I had left the coat hanging up on the coat rack in the entry way of the parsonage.

An interesting spirit immediately overwhelmed me – one of thanksgiving; one of confidence that the Lord was in charge; one of humbling, that He alone orchestrates the details of my life.

When I went into the funeral home and met with the undertaker, it wasn’t long before he saw my dilemma – and its solution: he and I have the same coat size! He went upstairs and brought down a coat which matches the color of my pants – and the grieving family was not distracted with my lack of clothes. God is overwhelming!

The point is this: in our worship, true worship, God wants us to get out of our own way! True humility before Him becomes the norm, and with that, our text reminds us what God wants us to be practicing now, since we will be doing this for all eternity:

1. Live as if in the heavenlies – visualize an eternal life!

2. Give God eternal gifts today: glory, honor, thanks

3. Each day is a day of worship – get used to it!

Practice it today!

Pray