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Fountains Of Life

Fountains of Life

Philippians 4:8

by Brother Al

Who doesn’t delight in a garden fountain? There it is, spraying jets of sparkling water, in a lovely balanced pattern. The drops of water tinkle as they plunge headlong into the pool below. Thirsty birds and small animals visit the refreshing pool.

Though there is lively motion in the fountain, yet somehow it manages to transmit a message of peace, calmness, and serenity. The consistency of its dynamic flow casts an aura of comfort. A fountain cannot be ignored. It is so different from its surroundings. It is quickly noticed, even from a distance.

One Sunday morning, as I stood in the midst of the congregation, praising the Lord with my hands lifted up to give Him glory, I pondered the meaning of that moment. Why had God brought me to this exact place and time? I felt the revelation come from the Holy Spirit, bringing me a dynamic visualization I had not had before. I saw a fountain.

In this brief time, gathered together in worship and praise and adoration, we, His people, were being re-charged, re-filled, and re-commissioned. The commission was to

“Go forth, out of the sanctuary of replenishment, into the world of chaos and need, and there be fountains of life for the Lord. Go, take the certainty and power received here and spray it generously on all whom you meet.”

Just like a physical fountain of water, spraying forth its message, the fountain of the Lord sends out a beckoning call. It is a flow of Heavenly health, bursting forth in the garden of the Lord, under the direction of the Holy Spirit.

“The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life”

Proverbs 10:11

As the righteous mingle with the world they have the opportunity to broadcast life. They can speak love, hope, virtue, charity, faith and, above all, honor of God. These are the ways the mouth of the righteous can endorse and amplify the stirrings that are already in the bosom of the bystander, placed there by the Holy Spirit. What they hear may inspire them to become friends of God. This is “evangelism by being.” It is a life style in which the mouth is a fountain of life. Romans 12 is full of hints on how to bring forth this image. Fellowship with God makes it a natural response.

“The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life.”

Proverbs 13:14

When we speak of “teaching” we enter the realm of assertiveness. We are now talking about a deliberate attempt to change the understanding of another person. The world is full of teaching. Unfortunately, much of it is not wise. When the wise teach it is a fountain of life.

The wise, those in fellowship with God, ought to be alert to opportunities to deliver life, to spray it out as a fountain, to the thirsty souls they encounter. The Holy Spirit will be faithful in anointing the times and the words. The teaching will be His. The power will be His and the fruit will be the Lord’s. The wise, those in fellowship, need only be alert and responsive.

“Prudence is a fountain of life.”

Proverbs 16:22

Prudence speaks of the use of practical wisdom and judgement. When a person of God demonstrates responsibility in the conduct of their everyday life they radiate that pattern. By so doing, they inspire the same behavior in others. It is for the Holy Spirit to endorse their actions and inspire their duplication. The NLT says in Proverbs 21:5:

“Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.”

Fellowship with God and the ministry of His Holy Spirit are the basis of knowing how to plan well. When They do the planning and we do the work the results are grand. The demonstration of this strategy in our lives results in an overflow in the lives of those who surround us. We become fountains of life.

“The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life.”

Proverbs 14:27

To live in the presence of God, as a friend, as a member of His family, in deep fellowship, is to demonstrate to all around that God is to be honored and emulated, worshipped and obeyed, respected in every way. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life to the believer. The demonstration of the fear of the Lord is an invitation to the observer to start their own journey by becoming a friend of God.

Now picture yourself as a mobile fountain, a vessel of the Holy Spirit, passing through the field of God’s harvest, spraying forth the nourishing rain of God. These are the fountain flows by which a believer waters the world.

  • The mouth of righteousness.

Speaking love, hope, joy, peace virtue, charity, faith, honor of God

  • The teaching of the wise.

Directed by the Holy Spirit

  • Prudence.

Demonstration of Godly wisdom

  • Fear of the Lord.

Demonstrating the love for God

Lord,

Help your people,

Who are called by your Name,

Be Fountains of Life

In this world run dry.

10/17

Presented by Brother Al Salay, Blessed Man Ministries Inc.

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

 

Blogs

“WHERE MERCY KISSES TRUTH” (2 John 3)

“WHERE MERCY KISSES TRUTH” (2 John 3)

Oct. 22, 2017 10:30 AM
FBC Earlville, NY J B Stopford, Pastor

TODAY’S SPECIAL #1: “A Support Funny”

The prospective father-in-law asked, “Young man, can you support a family?”
The surprised groom-to-be replied, “Well, no, I was just planning to support your daughter. The rest of you are going to have to fend for yourselves.”

TODAY’S SPECIAL #2: (40 years later from #1) “An Anniversary Funny”

John and Nancy, now ˙married for 40 years, planned a second wedding to renew their vows.
Nancy described to her friend the dress she would wear.
Nancy’s friend asked, “What color shoes?”
Nancy replied, “Silver.”
John chimed in: “Yep, silver … to match her hair.”
With a pointed look at John’s bald spot, Nancy’s friend said: “So, John, I guess you’ll go barefoot.”

INTRODUCTION

In the past month, we have studied “mercy” – God’s giving us what we don’t deserve. That’s what love is! Then last week we studied “truth” – God’s Word is the written truth; Jesus is the living truth. Today, we are going to look at the only passage in the NIV in which “mercy” and “truth” kiss, that is, they appear as influencing each other.

May I share a disappointment with the NIV? The KJV has “mercy and truth” together in 23 verses. The NKJV, 22 times. All but our passage today in 2 John translates “mercy” as “love” and “truth” as “faithfulness” in the NIV. While that is an OK translation, to me it misses the mark of the tenderness of those 2 beloved words together.

2 John is a love letter from the Apostle John to a dear lady saint who has walked with Jesus for years. We are going to look at John’s use of these 2 words in verse 3. And then we are going to look at the challenging applications which John makes. I trust this message is encouraging, uplifting, and challenging to each of us. PRAYER

A. WHERE MERCY KISSES TRUTH (v. 3)

Verse 3 is John’s prayer for the church of his day. We could pray it for First Baptist of Earlville, NY. We could pray it for the church of our day. “Grace, mercy, and peace” are the heart of the sacrifice of the cross, the gift of the Father as seen through His Son becoming my sin on the cross. And as wonderful as those 3 are – grace, mercy, and peace – they are empty and shallow without truth and love. John is praying that every believer of his day – and ours as well – has a foundation in true faith. Not necessarily in church or in religion. But in a living faith which has substance, because it has a foundation which began with the written truth – the Word of God – and the living Truth, the Lord Jesus, as on display through His mercy at the cross. Mercy kisses truth at the cross AND in the heart of every man, woman, boy and girl who is surrendered to the Savior. Has mercy kissed truth in your heart?

B. APPLICATIONS OF MERCY & TRUTH

#1. They are the heart of faith – “The elder” – John is around 80 years of age – is writing and commending a “chosen lady”, a sister in the Lord, and her children. What is the heart of this commendation? Let’s count the number of times John uses “truth” in the first 4 verses (5 times). When mercy strikes the heart, he result is that truth is the heart of one’s life! So…is truth the heart of your life?

#2. “Some” (v. 4) – John doesn’t tell us how many children she has; but he does know that not all are walking in the truth. But some are. Does that sound like your family? Doesn’t that sound like our church? Many are fervent in Church Stuff. Some are fervent in Truth. There’s a difference – shouldn’t be, but there is. Are you one of the “some”?

#3. True love is a true walk (vs. 5-6). “Walk in love”. God wants us to walk with Him. And He wants us to temper our walk with love. How does that show up?

(1) 1 Kings 3:3. Solomon loved the Lord, walked in love, EXCEPT he sacrificed and burned incense at the high places. His worship was a mixed worship – the Lord and the world. And the world always wins.

(2) Rom. 14:15 A walk that allows for an inconsistent life, and allows for a mixed worship, is not a walk in love.

(3). Eph. 5:1,2 A walk in love is a walk in mercy, a sacrifice just like our Savior walked! Our walk is our daily offering to Jesus!

#4. Mercy and truth working together identifies those who have no use for mercy and truth. (vs. 7ff). One clearly clings to the foundation that Jesus “came in the flesh” – i.e., He “really became man” (J.B. Phillips translation). Why is that important? Because God becoming man is the heart of the cross, and the heart of the true gospel. In Phil. 2:7, Jesus “took upon Himself the form of man” – I.e., He took upon Himself the very nature of man. He became a man so that He would have a body that He could die for the sin of man which separated man from His Father. And the cry of Ps. 22:1 as recorded in the gospels, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”, should resonate in our hearts that when He took upon Himself my sin, the Father separated Himself from His Son. For me. And you.

#5. Those who don’t hold to that truth are anti-Christ. We don’t hob-nob with them. We don’t let them into our house (home or church). (vs. 10-11) We point them out as anti-Christ. Their doctrine is not of God but of Satan. But remember, even those who are anti-Christ are those who need Jesus. Paul said, (1 Cor. 6:11) “and such were some of you…”. God can change any heart. He changed mine.

#6. Mercy and truth fellowships face to face (vs. 12-13). Paul liked to write – and he said he had much to write. But he really loved to talk face to face. Illustration The other day I counted 10 people on the street of Norwich, and 6 of them were looking at their phones and NOT at other people, the stores, or the oncoming traffic! Paul would have been upset. Do you depend upon your phone to communicate with people? Or have you developed the grace of meeting face to face?

#7. The children send greetings. I was raised to send “thank you” notes. That is a lost art today. Personal letters are a lost cause today. But what has brought Thuvia much joy in recent days? Cards. In the mail! The lady at the desk at Hope Lodge says that Thuvia has received more cards than anyone! Every day! Many have sent greetings. You can say “you’re not alone”. But visible greetings show that. And isn’t it great to know that you are not alone in your walk with the Lord in a world that has no use for Him?

CONCLUSION

“Where mercy kisses truth”. “Mercy” and “truth” have been fun studies. “Mercy” – God’s undeserved love on display in His Son taking what we should be receiving, death for our sin. “Truth” – both the written Word and the Living Word are gifts of God for our daily walk to know Him. And when mercy kisses truth, how does it show up in the one who says he loves Jesus? He is more alive than he ever was before!

One final illustration. My wife, Thuvia, had a bone marrow biopsy the other day. You know what one of the results was? Her bone marrow is no longer present, but her donor’s bone marrow is! That is what the transplant was supposed to do – and it is doing just that! And when mercy kisses truth in your heart, in my heart, it is no longer you who is on display, but the Lord Jesus! Has mercy kissed truth in your life?

Close in prayer

Blogs

Neighbors to the Rescue

Week Forty-Three, 2017

Neighbors to the Rescue

And who is my neighbor? (Luke 10:29)

Recently Hurricane Irma visited our entire state. It was one of the biggest hurricanes on record and did extensive damage. Our neighborhood, unlike many others, had little structural damage. Many trees were uprooted and so many power lines were down that nearly ten million people were without electricity. Our power was out for the better part of three days. Many others were without for much longer, many for as long as a week in the hot summer.

What impressed me was the way that people came together irrespective of race, politics, religion or economics. The worst storm brought out the best of our citizens.

I met a nearby neighbor, who I had never met before. I charged my phone from my car and was able to keep in touch with others. Social media was a big help. People were offering food, water and lodging. A friend’s son brought us a generator. Where rivers overflowed, people in boats were evacuating people they didn’t know. People helped total strangers in the evacuation shelters. Electric utility trucks came from as far away as Canada and New Hampshire. Everyone pitched in to do whatever they could for whomever they could.

Isn’t that the way it used to be and the way it should be? We serve God by serving others. When it comes to service, what does the Lord ask of all of us? Aren’t we all part of His Great Commission? And how can we set a good example of service for our own children? I picked up my Bible and turned to Matthew 25: 35-40.

‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

Service to others in Jesus’ name doesn’t have to mean going away to a third world country. We can all do something that makes a difference in the lives of others locally. It just takes that personal decision that may mean a little sacrifice on our part to get things started. Whether it’s a commitment of time or money–or both, we are called on to make a difference in this world.

How do you serve others in the Lord’s name? How do you serve as a family?

***

Sometimes True Stories

For all of us who feel only the deepest love and affection for the way computers have enhanced our lives, read on.

At a recent computer expo, a major computer manufacturer reportedly compared the computer industry with the auto industry and stated, “If car manufactures had kept up with technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25 cars that got 1,000 miles to the gallon.”

In response to those comments, the automobile manufacturer issued a press release stating:

If we had developed technology like computer companies, we would all be driving cars with the following characteristics:

1. For no reason whatsoever, your car would crash……… twice a day.

2. Every time they repainted the lines in the road, you would have to buy a new car.

3. Occasionally your car would die on the freeway for no reason. You would have to pull to the side of the road, close all of the windows, shut off the car, restart it, and reopen the windows before you could continue. For some reason you would simply accept this.

4. Occasionally, executing a maneuver such as a left turn would cause your car to shut down and refuse to restart, in which case you would have to reinstall the engine.

5. Macintosh would make a car that was powered by the sun, was reliable, five times as fast and twice as easy to drive – but would run on only five percent of the roads.

6. The oil, water temperature, and alternator warning lights would all be replaced by a single “This Car Has Performed An Illegal Operation” warning light.

7. The airbag system would ask, “Are you sure?” before deploying.

8. Occasionally, for no reason whatsoever, your car would lock you out and refuse to let you in until you simultaneously lifted the door handle, turned the key and grabbed hold of the radio antenna.

9. Every time a new car was introduced car buyers would have to learn how to drive all over again because none of the controls would operate in the same manner as the old car.

10. You’d have to press the “Start” button to turn the engine off.

PS – I’d like to add that when all else fails, you could call “customer service” in some foreign country and be instructed in some foreign language how to fix your car yourself!

***

Quotes You Can Use

We may suffer consequences as the result of our sin, but it is not our punishment. The punishment for our sin is death, and that was dealt with at Calvary. Angela Zagone

You never have to be afraid to come home because home is where shame is dealt with. Ken Whitten

A thorough understanding of the Bible is better than a college education. Theodore Roosevelt

When we are crazy busy we put our souls at risk. – Kevin DeYoung

The obscure we see eventually. The completely obvious, it seems, takes longer. Edward R. Murrow

Some men see things as they are and ask, “Why?” I see them as they have never been and ask, “Why not?” George Bernard Shaw

Only the most foolish of mice would hide in a cat’s ear. But only the wisest of cats would think to look there. Scott Love

When you produce intimacy over activity, you fully recognize He is truth, you freely sit at his feet to honor and obey it. Ken Whitten.

***

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
Blogs

“WHAT IS TRUTH?”

First Baptist Church

9 West Main St. Earlville, NY—J B Stopford, Pastor

Oct. 15, 2017 10:30 AM

“WHAT IS TRUTH?”

Psalm 25:5

TODAY’S SPECIAL

“A Grace Funny”—Sister Grace at the convent opened a letter from home and found a $100 bill from her parents. She smiled at the gesture. As she read the letter by the window, she noticed a shabbily-dressed stranger leaning against the lamppost below.

Quickly, she wrote, “Don’t despair. Sister Grace” on a piece of paper, wrapped the $100 bill in it, and tossed it out the window. The stranger picked it up and read the note. He tipped his hat to Sister Grace and hurried away.

The next day, Sister Grace was told that a man was asking to see her. She went down and found the stranger waiting. Without a word, he handed her a huge wad of $100 bills.

“What’s this?” she asked.“That’s your $8,000, Sister,” he replied. “‘Don’t Despair’ paid 80-to-1.”

INTRODUCTION

Several weeks ago, I gave a message here on the word “mercy”. In a nutshell, Mercy is our getting what we don’t deserve: we can’t earn it; we have no right to it; we need it desperately; and without mercy, we would remain in the same helpless position – for the rest of eternity. And in a larger nutshell, that is what Jesus did for me, for you: “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved) (Eph. 2:4-5). Jesus on the cross is mercy on display. He died for the whole world, but His death on the cross can only be applied if you trust Him as your Savior. How do we get to that point?

Do you remember Jesus’ exchange with Pilate just before being condemned to death? In John 18:37-38 are these words: “Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?”

Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?”

“What is truth”! That is the question which each of us must ask God, we must ask ourselves, and we must be able to answer in order to apply what this dear treasure of God’s Word has to offer for each of us. For without truth, we can never understand God’s mercy. Today we are going to look at just a few passages to whet our spiritual thirst for God. PRAYER

#1. THE FOUNDATION FOR LIFE (Ps. 25:5)

The word “truth” appears 137 times in our NIV Bibles: 35 in the OT and 102 in the NT – with 23 of those in the Gospel of John.

It should not surprise us that the psalms – the hymns of the heart – have much to say about “truth.”

Psalm 25 is pretty special. Note the words of trust (vs. 1-3). Do we have that confidence in the Lord?

Note the words of the heart seeking direction (v. 4). The heart that is truly successful is the one which admits it needs help! And it knows where true help is found – in the Lord! Then note the words of of hope (v. 5) – and David finds that hope in “your truth.”

But note that David does not “have it all together”! He is just like one of us! Look at verses 16-19. But then look how he finishes (vs. 20-21), a prayer reminding God that God is his refuge. And finally verse 22 – David recognizes that the big picture is not David, but Israel. Do we see the big picture as involving the church? We should!

#2. THE REALITY OF LIFE (Isa. 59:15)

What one word keeps the people of God’s creation from understanding His truth: “iniquities” or “sins” (vs. 1ff). Funny isn’t it – or perhaps sad – that the world in which Isaiah lived really hasn’t improved much by today’s standards. Isaiah is very descriptive to show what His society was like – one which was more interested in personal lusts that in seeking God’s face.

With that, look at verses 15ff. “Truth is nowhere to be found” was the motto for Isaiah’s day. The key to the lawlessness of his day was one word: truth. No truth, no life. That was the reality of life.

But look at the picture of mercy coming in. The rest of verse 15 and the following verses show that what man could not do – save himself – God took his place. Holy God becomes one of us! Look at verse 20 – “the Redeemer will come to Zion, to those…who repent of their sins”.

Going from truth nowhere to be found to the Redeemer coming to Zion is a huge leap – and that is the nature of the God we worship.

#3. THE TRUTH IS LIFE (John 14:6)

One verse, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” answers doubting Thomas’ question in verse 5, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

The hunger of Thomas’ heart is our hunger.

The answer of Jesus’ lips is our hope.

The Truth is life!

It should not surprise us that all around us are those who have no hope. And it shouldn’t surprise us that most all of them are confused on this one main point: “who is Jesus?”. Is He just a man, or is He God in the flesh? The answer to that question will show where each of us will spend eternity.
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, the life.” Know Who Jesus is, and you, too, will have the truth which is life!

CONCLUSION

It is believed that John 17 is a recording of Jesus’ prayer given to His Father while He was in the Garden of Gethsemane – just before going to the cross.
We have seen the foundation of life: the truth.

We have seen the reality of life: “truth is nowhere to be found” is the motto of both Isaiah’s day and our day as well.

And we have seen that the Truth IS life – even the Lord Jesus.

SO…if His Word is everything that it claims to be, and He is everything that He claims to be, what does that mean to me, to us? In John 17:17, Jesus said, “Sanctify them by the truth; Your Word is truth.” In these 9 brief prayerful words, Jesus wrapped up the connection of truth with each of us. The hunger we have for a foundation in life is found in His Word, His Truth. And in finding that truth, we can be “sanctified”. Jesus uses a wonderful word which means simply this: “‘set them apart’, in essence, as belonging to Me. And do that through the Word which You have lovingly given to each one of them.”

What is Jesus saying? What is He praying? He is praying that each of us realizes that true Christianity isn’t what happens during these too brief moments we have together each Sunday morning. But rather, true Christianity is what He is doing through us each day of our lives as the Word of Truth becomes very intimate in each of our hearts and lives.

So Pilate asked, “what is truth?” The most powerful leader in Jerusalem had no idea what it is to really live – and the Truth was right in front of Him.

Every day, we have the most powerful Savior in eternity right near us, and He has given us His truth to have substance in our lives.

This week – how is His Truth going to make a difference in your life? Have you trusted the living Truth, even the Lord Jesus? Are you walking with the written Truth, even His Word?

If Pilate asked you today, “What is Truth?”, would our lives give a clear answer to that question?

Close in prayer.