2024.02.25 - Burn The Ships

2024.02.25 - Burn The Ships

Friday, February 23, 2024

6:10 PM

Joshua 13:1

13:1 Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed. KJV

 

• o 1/2 used bottles of medicine in the cabinet, didn’t finish it b/c we got to feeling better
• • In the same sense, Israel did not take all of the Promised Land, they did not drive out all those who lived there, so instead of possessing the land they 

 

• o We want to feel better God wants transformation 

 

• o Move past the point of no return 

 

• o Quit playing it safe - working both plan A and plan B

 

 

Hernan Cortés finally sailed for the coast of Yucatán on February 18, 1519, he had 11 ships, 508 soldiers, about 100 sailors, and 16 horses. In March 1519 he landed at Tabasco, where he stayed for a time in order to gain intelligence from the locals.  He won them over and received presents from them. Cortés sailed to another spot on the southeastern Mexican coast and founded Veracruz. On the mainland Cortés did what no other expedition leader had done: he exercised his complete determination  when he sank his ships. By that single action he committed himself and his entire force to survival by conquest.

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Proverbs 3:5-6

5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. KJV

 

James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. KJV

 

 

2024.02.21 - A Great Work

2024.02.21 - A Great Work 

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

9:17 AM

Nehemiah 6:3 And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to  you? KJV

• o What I am doing may not make sense or matter to you - it may not even make sense to me - but it does matter to God.
• o Others may see your assignment as insignificant - or they may be jealous, that is on them

What do  you consider the last great work you accomplished for The Lord?

• • All that we do for The Lord is a "great work" whether it seems great or small to us or others, if it was important enough for Him to commission us to the task - it is an important task.
• ♣ Colossians 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and no unto men; KJV

• o Jesus didn’t spend much of His time explain Himself to those who were against Him, only those who were following Him and looking for more.
• • Matthew 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. KJV
• ♣ Be careful - fight YOUR fight and those which God sends you to;
• • David fought and won over Goliath, but later almost died in a fight God had not commissioned him to.
• • Paul said . . . 2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course , I have kept the faith: KJV

 

What is He calling us to? What is our great work?  What is our job description?

 

Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. KJV

• o What happens if we don’t do our job, complete our assignment?
• • Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! KJV
• ♣ Who will let the slaves know they have been freed?
• ♣ Who will tell those who have been freed what they have access to?
• • Isaiah 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. KJV

 

 

 

2024.02.18 - Snake Handlers

2024.02.18 - Snake Handlers 

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

10:13 PM

I heard someone say something the other day that shook me to my core - I couldn’t get it out of my head and I have to tell it to you this morning!

• o "It isn't the bite of the snake that kills you - it is what is left behind . . . "

 

Acts 28:1-6

28:1 And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita. 2 And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. 3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. 5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. 

6 Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god. KJV

• o There are those that would watch for you to fall and fail . . . But God!

 

Luke 10:19-20

19 Behold, I give unto you power(privilege, force, capacity, superhuman, authority, jurisdiction) to tread(trample)  on serpents(snake, literally Satan,  and scorpions(concealed, sting, mark) , and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. KJV

 

GOD WILL MAKE THIS TRIAL A BLESSING

I’ve just come into a valley one like I’ve never been before

I keep searching for a way out seems like padlocks are on the doors

Oh there must be another sunrise another sunset that I’ll see

God will make this trial a blessing that’s the love He has for me

CHORUS

God will make this trial a blessing though it sends me to my knees

Though my tears flow like a river yet in Him there’s sweet relief

There’s no need to get discouraged there’s no need to talk defeat

God will make this trial a blessing and the whole wide world will see

VERSE 2

I was not the first one to come into this place

You see every child of God this test he must face

It is here that God will mold you and make you what you ought to be

God will make this trial a blessing just be patient you will see

VERSE 3

Now I’m standing on the mountain looking back and I can see

When I was in that lowest valley His strong hand was leading me

Oh it’s good to see the sunshine and to taste sweet victory

God has made this trial a blessing oh the grace He gives to me

• o Job 23:10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold . KJV
• o People are looking for someone to follow, someone to help, someone to be a blessing and walk with them through the fire, will you be that person?

 

 

 

2024.02.14 - Truth

2024.02.14 - Truth 

John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth , and the truth shall make you free. KJV

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

9:45 AM

 

John 8:32 And ye shall know(allow, be aware, be resolved, understand)  the truth , and the truth shall make you free(liberate, exempt from mortal liability, unrestrained, not a slave)KJV

 

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way (a road, route, journey) , the truth(nothing hidden), and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. KJV

 

o   Truth is not experienced by everyone at the same level at the same time

·       I know Rhonda loves me - you know that too, how?

§  The more you are around her the more you experience her love - more than just her gifts. 

·       Same thing w/ The Love of God - how do you know?

§  By what He does for your?

·       What if we don’t get what we want, does that mean He doesn’t love you?

§  By what He did for you?

·       What if we don’t accept what He has done - does that negate His love for us?

§  By Who He is?

·       What if we don’t accept that He is Almighty -does He stop loving us?

§  Because he tells you

·       What if you can't hear Him say it? Does that mean He doesn’t love you?

·       Romans 8:38 For I am persuaded , that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. KJV

 

SINS AND SEPARATION

Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities(evil, mischief, wrongs, sin)  have separated(divided asunder)  between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. KJV

 

Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. KJV

 

INVESTMENTS

o   Unless I apply what I know, and learn more, then what good is what I know? Everyone can quote E=MC2 but who really knows what that means? 

o   When it comes to my faith - it is only as strong as what I invest it in.  I can invest in land, power, etc, but what will the return on my investment be? 

·       I need to invest HERE in what will matter THERE

o   If I invest in half truths or false truths what is the return on my investment?

·       Matthew 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? 4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. KJV

o   Business man and bum walking across the road . . . Story

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Faith is only as strong as what you invest it in - bum on a crosswalk