I realized a long time ago that I am nothing outside of Christ. He is the One who holds my world in His hand, and yet, He can even hold my hand. HE holds my world! I'm not bragging...I'm confessing. I tried it without Him. There is a heaviness in my heart today for a world of people who continue to shut God out. A world of people who offer excuse after excuse as to why they cannot live for God. Excuse after excuse why they cannot attend service. Excuse after excuse why they cannot give or serve in any measure. Have you ever stopped to consider how God might view people's rejection? Genesis 6:6..."and it repenteth God that he had made man" This world, and it's busyness, must absolutely grieve the heart of God. How can it not?
Too often, God gets nothing but leftovers, and in some cases not even that! In some cases, everything other than God gets attention. How do we so easily forget that scripture tells us to "Remember the Sabbath Day to Keep it Holy." Do we think that the one little thing like not keeping that one day holy (separate from all the others) will matter that much? In the Garden of Eden, God said that they could enjoy everything but THAT ONE tree! Just one thing. But it was a BIG thing to God! And their disobedience to that ONE thing cost them and us the rest of our lives. It must grieve God to hear excuses. "It's my only day off" "I don't want to miss my favorite show" (or game) Shopping, parties, groceries, lawn care....on and on it goes. What an insult to God! -to actually put someTHING before Him. -To replace time with Him for someTHING else.... Insults hurled at God. Fists shaken. Cursings. How God must grieve. Or do we even believe He could? Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God... If we are not careful, we will find ourselves falling into the trap of the "You only Live Once" mentality that this world has adopted. You only live once so spend it all! You only live once so buy it up! You only live once so try it out! You only live once so spread your wings and soar! If we are not careful we will start defending our choices to miss Church, to neglect prayer and reading . It would be the "I deserve this!" mentality. I deserve finer things... I deserve more money... I deserve... I deserve... Judges 10:6-16 They grieved God by continuing to turn to strange gods. And God grew impatient with them. God is grieved when we fill our calendars and day planners with so many things that He takes the leftovers of our time. If there are leftovers. God is grieved when He calls and no one answers. God is grieved when He speaks and no one listens. God grieves over people who parish and die lost in their sin.
Busy lives are our choice...not Gods! If we are not careful...The good things God has blessed us with; jobs, family, health, beautiful weather...soon become our excuses.
How embarrassed will people be when they finally stand before God at the Judgment and spit out feeble excuses of how life on earth distracted them so much that they could not keep their eyes on eternity. Then and only then will some realize....you will not only live once!
There
are things in my life I have come to the conclusion I simply must accept.
Some
things are easy. Others not so.
I
have to accept I will never be Miss America or Mrs America for that fact!
I
will never be 30Ibs underweight!
I
will never live in a Penthouse, and have a maid!
I
will never have perfect children!
I
have to accept the fact that some people will never apologize for wrongs they've done to me.
I
accept the fact that I do not pray enough or study the Bible enough.
I
accept the fact I have disappointed God at times.
I
accept that without hard work and dedication, things will not get done.
I
accept that to be happy in this life I must let go of people and things that
cause me sadness.
I
accept the fact that I am a stubborn person who borderlines being a
perfectionist!
I
accept the fact that I can be selfish and overly insecure at times.
I
accept the fact that I make and have made mistakes that I have paid dearly for.
I
accept the fact that I cannot depend on others for my happiness.
“There
are things we don’t want to happen but have to accept, things we don’t want to
know but have to learn, and people we can’t live without but have to let go…”
AND I ACCEPT THAT!
And
sometimes that is painful.
I
also understand and accept the fact that if I am not careful, I accept too many
things that are hurting me, hindering me, disappointing me, and wearing me out-
especially from the devil!!!
When I get weary….I forget.
When I get weary…I drop my guard.
When I get weary…I allow too many negative thoughts to invade my mind.
I
need God to "stir up the gift that is within" in me and help me take back
some ground I may have lost. To take back some spiritual energy, enthusiasm,
excitement I may have lost.
I
accept the fact that I have let the Devil discourage me for too long.
I
have let him spiritually beat me down and wear me out with worry and stress.
I
accept the fact I have LET that happen!!
But
today…
I
refuse to accept that I don't have a future.
I
refuse to accept that my loved ones are beyond reach.
I
refuse to accept defeat.
I
refuse to accept that “It’s not worth the fight” anymore
I
will not accept the notion that God cannot use me.
I
will not accept the lies of the enemy any more!
I
will not accept the “I don’t know what else to do” excuses
I
accept the fact that to the world I may be nothing but to God I am His chosen,
called out, and redeemed child
I
cannot accept the thought that my past mistakes will dictate who I am today
I
cannot accept the thought that God will leave me to be swallowed up in problems and worry.
I
refuse to accept the idea that prodigals will not come back home!
We
are nearing the end of this thing.
Even
if God tarries another 5 years… that’s still very
close to the end!
I
have laid down and let things happen. I have stopped fighting for what is rightfully mine in the Kingdom of God. I have let the enemy wear me out. I have learned to live with disappointments and discouragement in my soul.
But today! I will remind myself that yes, there are things I simply have to accept
Statistics are proving that young adults betweeen 18 -25 are leaving their faith at alarming rates. THAT is disturbing to me! Especially young people who have been born and raised in the Church -ones raised up by good and Godly examples. Those who grew up in Sunday Schools who taught infallible Word of God!
I made a costly mistake some 30 years ago, while teaching my very first Bible Study. My student said: "Well, I see here in the Bible why you do this, and why you do that, but I don't personally feel wrong (convicted) about doing this!"
I thought I answered it fairly wisely (at the time) when I said, "Well. Read these scriptures (ones I gave her on the subject) and sincerely PRAY about it for the next week. I guarantee you God will show you conviction about it when you do that."
We left the Bible Study that day, (My Pastor's Wife was with me) and on the way home as gently as she could,she corrected me! It stung a little at first, but then it made absolutely perfect sense.
She said, "If it's in the Bible, you don't need to pray about it. If the principle is in the Bible, there is no question about it. God said it, that settles it."
Wow! I guess I just figured that if everyone saw it in the Word (like my Bible Study Student) they would BE convicted to follow it! Little did I know that people would challenge the Word of God, which was exactly what that lady was doing.
The lady told me at our next Bible Study that she read it, "but was not convicted about it at all"! Here's the real truth: She didn't want to be convicted . And if you don't want to be convicted about something, then you will not be. Simply because you will not have ears that hear what the spirit says! (by the way, she does not live for God today!)
I'm a little wiser today! I've taught several Home Bible Studies and I have never again answered that question the same!
Young adults are leaving their faith for reasons, just like that lady. They no longer feel convicted about scripture.
What they grew up learning in Sunday School has become stale. I think the word they like to use is "Old school."
The FLAT truth of the matter is this: It doesn't matter what your (or my) interpretation of the scripture is. If God said it, if the principle is written, then it is NOT to be argued with. There is absolutely no reason to pray about conviction over it!!!
God's Word is forever settled! It does not change just because it is a century old or 100 century's old! If anything, that only validates it further!
I FLAT don't care who is "taking it off, or putting it on!" I FLAT don't care who is "Raising it up, orlowering it down!" I don't care where 'they' are all going tonight.......if I feel I shouldn't then I won't! I am thoroughly convinced the Word of God is my guide. I would rather err on the side of being too careful with my spiritual inheritance than to err on the side of too careless!
If it's in the Word, then the Christian lives
by the principle of it!
The Word (HIS word) is not up for debate!
We are not called to look like the World! We are called to "Come out from among them!"
You cannot "come out" AND look like!!"
Young adults, I challenge you to rethink your thinking! Stop caving in to pressure to lay down what you know is right!!
God is the Way. The Word is Right!
Don't be a copycat of anyone else!
Pray for boldness to stand for the Holy Word of God Including righteousness, holiness, and godliness! I don't care who among you... is changing and challenging you to do the same... hold you ground! Stand on the word!
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God! (Heb 10:31) It is a fearful thing to err from truth, the revelation you are guaranteed only once to have received! It is even more fearful for those who encourage others to err from scripture!
People who are rising up against their Pastor, against godly living, and are rising up to change and challenge the very Word of God are heading for a disastrous eternal future!
Many young people are following a rebellious crowd with unscriptural teachings, attitudes and philosophies.
There is a reason Paul said,
1 Thessalonians 5:19-22
19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
To "cling to that which is good" gives us indication that it will not be easy to hold on to right-ness in the last days... but we MUST CLING to the Word without wavering in our faith!
I am burdened this week! I am deeply concerned!
I pray for you, that your faith fail not!!
"When a Christian weakens on an issue, all hell notices and comes running, relentlessly hounding until all resemblance of godliness is gone" ~Nan Palmer
Watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matt 26;41
Life can present us with challenges and decisions that are not easy to make on our own. This class understands that! I understand that!
God focused people pray about everything.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Prov 3:6
But in times of uncertainty even after we have prayed… one should seek the counsel of other wise and godly people.
Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety. (Proverbs 11:14)
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” Psalm 1:1
No matter how long we have been a Christian, no matter how strong we are in the Lord there comes a time in all of our lives when we need advice or counsel on a matter.
Two things the Bible makes very clear are the benefit of godly counsel and the detriment of ungodly counsel.
Therefore it is imperative when seeking counsel that we examine the character and values of the person(s) of whom we receive advice.
First you should factor in a person's character and values when seeking advice.
Second, factor in their motives. Will they counsel you with any biases? Jealousy, perhaps?
1.Consider who you are talking to. Of what character are they? What values do they have and how high are they?
2.Have they failed at something you do not want to fail at? (The only exception is the one who has learned and moved on!)
Receiving advice from a person who has no particular interest in your well-beingmost likely will not counsel you to do what is absolutely right!
Sometimes people tell people things that they want to hear and not necessarily what they need to hear. Some people purposefully go to people they know will side with them.
Someone who is walking in darkness cannot lead you in the light.
Isaiah 30:1 Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:
Someone who is spiritually blind cannot give you Godly counsel. “Jesus said, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?”
Witches, fortune telling, Zodiac, psychic hotlines….DO NOT HAVE YOUR ANSWERS!!!
It is absolutely imperative to seek advice from people who know and love God, people who pray…and who sincerely want what is best for us!
The immature do not ask for help because they have no intention on listening.
They feel it is no one else’s business and will not seek counsel.
Seeking wise counsel is a sign of maturity and humility.
It is a sign you want help. It is a sign you do not want to fail. You do not want to miss the mark. You do not want to make the same mistakes others have made.
“A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels." (Proverbs 1:5)
(John 16:13). “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but test the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. “
“The way of a fool seems right
to him, but a wise man listens to
advice.” Proverbs 12:15
Godly counsel should be
consistent with Scripture.
Godly counsel will never tell you to do something
contrary to scripture.
Find people who will help pray about your decision and not push you to make one hastily.
Bro Shatwell woke up one morning, and sat up in his bed to pray, as he often did. But this particular morning was quite different.
He was sitting there praying fervently in the spirit AND suddenly there appeared a dark silhouette of a man appeared in his hallway. He could not make out a face, just a figure.
He continued to pray and watch it, and it watched him.
It DOES NOT move from the doorway…. and the next thought that flashed across his mind was the most disgusting, immoral, ungodly sexually perverted thought you could imagine!
He kept praying.
It watched him. He watched it. After a few minutes, without that image moving….Rev Shatwell said he felt something weighty like a heavy quilt lay across his whole body.
Two more ungodly, immoral perverted thoughts flashed across his mind.
When he realized what the spirit was, he rose up against it, rebuked it in Jesus Name and commanded it to leave. It turned sideways and just disappeared.
Rev Shatwell, said, “Ok Lord, please! You must explain! I was sitting here praying! Where did that come from?"
The Lord said, “Did you notice how the thing communicated?
-through thoughts and feelings!” It did not use words.
THE LORD THEN SAID. THE TYPE OF THOUGHTS THAT CAME TO YOU ARE THE INDICATOR OF WHAT TYPE OF SPIRIT IT WAS….in this case, it was a spirit of perversion.
Is that type of thing biblical? Well, Let’s read this!
Job 4:14-17
King James Version (KJV)
14 Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.
15 Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up:
16 It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence,
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2 Corinthians 10:5
When Judas went to inform them where they could find Jesus, the Bible says that "Satan entered into him" (John 13:27).
How do I prevent moral failure?
1. Consider the cost! Ask yourself right now what would happen if you fell to immorality? What would happen to your family? Your life? Your children (if you have any) What about your reputation?
Lets get this straight! IT’S NOT WORTH IT!!!
People with a lot of money have fallen morally.
People with no money have fallen morally.
Pretty people have fallen morally.
Ugly people have fallen morally.
Religious have fallen morally.
Prestigious have fallen morally.
Moms and dads have fallen morally.
Children and teens have fallen morally
AND IF YOU AND I DON’T USE KNOWLEDGE and wisdom……we too, could fall! Or you could be a victim of one who has!
2. “Don’t create a seed-bed!” Keep your thoughts clean. Keep them Pure. Keep them Holy.
Don’t allow yourself to sit around and daydream about immoral thoughts with the opposite sex.
You are going to fail first in your mind, then with your heart!
This is why you must stop thoughts before they become actions!
3. Don’t make God angry! Don’t be the cause of a brother or sister to fall! Don't flaunt or tease so as to attract someone to you and cause them to fail.
4. Don’t give place to the devil! Don’t take your lunch down to the public pool! Stop picking up Sports Illustrated or Victoria’s Secret! -Which ever happen to be a problem for you!
5. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes! Ps 101:3
No books, no movies, no images etc...get it out of the house!
6. Don’t try sneaking with God! He knows what a person does in secret. You won’t fool him, and He will shout if from the rooftop if necessary!
Ps 24:4 He that hath clean hands and a pure heart, who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.( promised falsely) (deny involvement)
Job 31:6
New King James Version (NKJV)
6 Let me be weighed on honest scales,
That God may know my integrity.
7. Make yourself a promise! Job 31:1
“I have made a covenant with my eyes;
Why then should I look upon a young woman?
Get an accountability partner if necessary. Give someone (spouse or best friend) access to your emails, Facebook or etc….Maybe the answer is having joint accounts? Or…..cancel all of it if it is too much a temptation!
8. Save it! We need to save the flirtatious comments, sexy, tight, skimpy, revealing outfits, and tasty lip gloss for our marriage!
Prov 7: 6-27 Read this and tell me what is wrong with this picture?)
For at the window of my house
I looked through my lattice,
7 And saw among the simple,
I perceived among the youths,
A young man devoid of understanding,
8 Passing along the street near her corner;
And he took the path to her house
9 In the twilight, in the evening,
In the black and dark night.
10 And there a woman met him,
With the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart.
11 She was loud and rebellious,
Her feet would not stay at home.
12 At times she was outside, at times in the open square,
Lurking at every corner.
13 So she caught him and kissed him;
With an impudent face she said to him:
14 “I have peace offerings with me;
Today I have paid my vows.
15 So I came out to meet you,
Diligently to seek your face,
And I have found you.
16 I have spread my bed with tapestry,
Colored coverings of Egyptian linen.
17 I have perfumed my bed
With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love until morning;
Let us delight ourselves with love.
19 For my husband is not at home;
He has gone on a long journey;
20 He has taken a bag of money with him,
And will come home on the appointed day.”
With her enticing speech she caused him to yield,
With her flattering lips she seduced him.
22 Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter,
Or as a fool to the correction of the stocks,[a]
23 Till an arrow struck his liver.
As a bird hastens to the snare,
He did not know it would cost his life.
24 Now therefore, listen to me, mychildren;
Pay attention to the words of my mouth:
25 Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways,
Do not stray into her paths;
26 For she has cast down many wounded,
And all who were slain by her were strong men.
27 Her house is the way to hell,[b]
Descending to the chambers of death.
The man described in this passage was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Unfortunately, he put himself there, and as a result, he fell to this promiscuous woman!
Keep yourself from falling morally by not allowing yourself, your mind or your daydreams to roam out of boundaries!
Here is a link to Rev Shatwell's full message if you'd like to watch it in it's entirety.
Boredom: routine, meaningless, repetitious, mindless work that results in fatigue.
Ever heard these expressions? “bored to death,” “bored stiff,” “bored to tears,” “bored silly” and even “bored out of one’s skull.” Surveys indicate that up to half of North Americans are either temporarily or permanently bored.
Studies are showing people are bored with their marriage partners, bored with school, bored with christianity, bored with work, bored with television, bored with church, bored with prayer, even bored with the thought of going to heaven. Boredom is an absence of feeling, emotional flatness, lack of interest in anything.
To not be bored with Christianity you must “get into the meaning of what you are doing.” Attend to people, things and situations in a more complete way
Boredom is a symptom of a breakdown in our love relationship to God.
Boredom occurs when we lose sight of the rewards. It occurs when we lose connection to God and the passions of God. Boredom leads to drifting, and drifting leads to backsliding. We lose sight of heaven. Answered prayers. Soul winning. Deliverances. Healings. Miracles. People can become bored when they treat church as a hobby, and expect the church to entertain, and excite them.
The spirit of God is not an expresso or energy drink simply here to provide you a quick “lift” People expect the “Spirit” to wake up their boredom, and provide goose bump religion and experiences. Christianity is not a hobby, and Jesus is not an accessory.
When Jesus called the disciples, he stretched them beyond their own natural capabilities. Don't you think fishing would get boring if that’s all you ever did? God called those fishermen to do something bigger than they could ever imagine. And God calls you and I to“bigger” things too but he empowers us to do what He calls us to! Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the world.” If we are walking in the spirit we will not fullfil or satisfy the flesh. A good indicator of boredom is not walking in the spirit.
Boredom, can be expelled by recovering our passion for God. How could a burning bush experience be boring? How could watching water turn to wine be boring? How could witnessing the feeding of 5000 be boring? How could observing blinded eyes being opened be boring? How could mountain top experiences be boring?
The way of Apostolic Revival is anything but boring! One never knows what God might do…Where God might show up…Who He might be reaching out to…
If we find our self feeling bored with church, prayer, bible reading, witnessing. Soul winning…then the problem is spiritual and internal. It’s within us.
Christians are "fervent in spirit, serving the Lord" (Rom. 12:11).
"Fervent" means is to be hot. Sometimes we say a fervent person is on fire, and that a fervent Christian is on fire for the Lord. If the Lord sets you on fire, you won’t experience burnout or boredom! Apollos was a man described as fervent. Notice what Luke says about this man who was on fire for the Lord:
He powerfully refuted the Jews in public (Acts 18:28).
Does it sound like Apollos was bored? How could he be? He was a believer zealous for the good things of God.
"Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good" (1 Pet. 3:13)?
Jesus "gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds" (Tit. 2:14).
"Zealous" means "having a strong devotion for a person, a cause, or an ideal" Synonyms for "zealous" include enthusiastic, eager, fervent, intense, and passionate. What happens to the Bored Christian? They Fall Away Christians who aren't fervent and zealous no longer repent of their sins, and soon fall away.
Ephesians 4:19 (Amplified Bible)
19In their spiritual apathy they have become cold hearted and past feeling and reckless and have abandoned themselves [a prey] to unbridled sensuality, eager and greedy to indulge in every form of impurity [that their depraved desires may suggest and demand].
Perhaps this was the case with Demas, of whom Paul says, "having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica" (2 Tim. 4:10). If you're bored going to church, worshiping God, studying the Bible, and doing personal work, this should be a wake up call.
II Tim 1:6 Stir up the gift that is within you
Jude 1:20But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
Galatians 6:9 Do not be weary in well-doing…
How do we remedy being bored in our prayer life? Change the way we pray! Write out your prayers. Journal. Walk and pray. Pray at a different time. Pray with a partner.
How do we remedy being bored with church? Get more involved. Volunteer in some capacity, clean, help with kids church, get involved in outreach, soul winning…Bible Studies
How do we remedy being bored with routine service? INVEST! Put more into a service -you will get more out of it!Come early…pray…expect more of the service you invest in!
I basically started my Christian journey when I was 21 years old.
(Although my mother made us go with her when we were kids.) Up to that point....I followed the crowd too.
I went to several under-age drinking parties. I sat in the same room with people snorting drugs. I witnessed several bloody fights. I was encouraged to smoke at 14 by my friend who was doing it. That same friend introduced me to pornography. She had big (small) dreams about chasing men.
I left my 2 year old son every chance I could just to go the bar and dance.
I started drinking on the job. I entertained the thought of suicide more than once. I drove home drunk, in the fog, for 8 miles on the wrong side of the road.
I cleaned up vomit covered floors and walls after almost every party. I was exposed to more perversion than I EVER should have been by so called well-meaning friends.
I squandered thousands of dollars from my fathers inheritance.
I was cheated on, lied to, and abused.
You are talking to the WRONG PERSON to try and convince me that life OUTSIDE of Christ is fun!
There was ABSOLUTELY nothing good about THAT life! Divorce. Heartbreak. Financial Struggles. Embarrassment. Single parenting. Loneliness. Fear.
Now, some 29 years later, I look back in utter disgust because I bought into the lies that all that, was what everyone was doing and they were having fun doing it! I believed them! And I followed the lies!
So, go ahead. Put on your fake smile! Laugh while trying to convince everyone you couldn't be better!
The pleasures of sin....are ONLY for a season! You won't enjoy it for very long!
You are fooling yourself if you think you must leave the church, your spiritual heritage and God's protection to go out and "Find" yourself or go out and "Prove" yourself! Or worse, to go out so you can come back and say you NOW have a "Testimony!" (Yes, I heard that one too!)
I have been painfully honest here with you today! Why? Because sometimes you feel like the people who stand up and teach to you behind that little black music stand (in my case) every Sunday morning have no clue what you are going through!
I am passionate about this message today! I understand. It hasn't been that long that I forgot! There are way too many young people selling out on the lie that they will be happier, out there!
And I vow to you this: I am going to teach this with more passion that I ever have!
because... Better is one day in His courts, than thousands elsewhere Ps 84:10
