Monday, August 14, 2023

DON'T LET THE DEVIL STEAL YOUR WORSHIP


Worship is to the soul what rain is to the parched land. When we worship, it’s like rain on the dry ground and water to the thirsty. Worship makes us spiritually strong and without it we become weak and anemic. It’s no wonder Satan tries to steal our worship away from God. We sing the little chorus: “We have come into His house and gathered in His name to worship Him”.  That’s the way it should be but often it’s not. Worship doesn’t just happen; we can’t just show up for church and think that worship will take place while our minds are somewhere else. We have an adversary that will do everything that he can to steal our worship to God. 

 John Wesley conducted an open-air meeting in a little village in Cornwall two hundred years ago. He said, "I preached Christ our 'wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.' I could not conclude till it was so dark that we could scarce see one another. And there was on all sides the deepest attention: none speaking, stirring, or scarce looking aside. Surely here, though in a temple not made with hands, was God worshiped in the beauty of holiness." 

 On the day of Pentecost, they were all in ONE PLACE and in one accord. We have a hard time getting everyone in one place because people are all over the place! Pastors are trying everything to get people to church... Drive-by, drive thru and drive in churches where you don't have to get out of your car. Drive-by prayers and blessings, a "fast-food" service. Early services for those who want to hurry and get it over with and then go on about their business. Later services for those that want to sleep late. Contemporary services for the young and traditional services for the old. Fluff Services, an hour of singing a ten-minute devotional. Media Church, which is great for shut-ins, but it will never take the place of assembling in the house of God if you are able. When you are in need of a pastor, those you watch on TV aren’t going to help you. 

 There is no substitute for church! There’s healing in the house of God; there’s balm in Gilead. God has given you the local assembly and there's no substitute for it! Some claim that they can get close to God on a deer stand, on the golf course or at the lake fishing, but don't kid yourself! Get yourself to the house of God and worship with fellow believers because it's not just about you. 

 Shortly after Scott Hamilton won the gold metal as an Olympic skater, he said, “Someone asked me why I was looking at the metal so intently. What I was doing was looking at 16 years of my life.” 

 We’ve got too much invested in this race to quit now! Too many years and too many miles behind us to give up now! Don’t let Satan steal your worship or your crown.

Tuesday, April 11, 2023

IT'S DARK, BUT MORNING'S COMING!


In less than a week, the cry of “Hosanna” turned to “Crucify Him”, and less than a week the people chose Barabbas, a murderer and thief over Jesus Christ.

There was darkness settling over the land just as there’s darkness today with:

  • Babies Sadistically Aborted
  • Widespread Suicide 
  • Murder Commonplace 
  • Divorce Prevalent 
  • Disease Worldwide 
  • Perversion Applauded
Many today are dealing with the aftereffects of abuse, divorce, a life-threatening disease, or depression. Some are suffering from the grief of recently losing a family member. 

This is a very dark hour, not only in our nation but in the world. The hatred toward Christianity is unlike anything we’ve seen in modern times. 

1 John 3:13 
13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. 

That hatred is coming out of the darkness and out of the pits of hell as Jesus warned… 

John 15:18 
18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 

The world hates a child of God because the Christian message is not a message of inclusivism; it is not a message of relativity. It is an exclusive and absolute message. It is not a broad message but a narrow message. It is not a broad way but a narrow way! And that makes people angry; especially in a day when there is a cry for tolerance and acceptance. 

The Bible does not offer an alternate lifestyle or another way; Jesus Christ is the ONLY WAY! 

It’s not so much a "war on Christianity" as it is rebellion against God. It is a hatred toward anything that points to God or His Son Jesus and that includes Christians. 

The world is dark, and politicians and terrorists have become ambassadors of evil. It is dark and getting darker every day. Jesus warned in John 9:4 “Night is coming!” 

Psalm 30:5 b 5 Weeping may endure for a night. 

And what a night it is! A night of darkness represents weeping and there is so much weeping as the shadows of darkness covers the globe. 

Isaiah 21:11 
11 Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? 

We ask when will this long night be over? 

I’ve seen families sitting under a tent at the graveyard who looked like they had just lost everything. That’s pretty much how the disciples felt when Jesus was crucified, death is such a dark valley. 

But the Gospel is Good News, and the good news is that “It’s dark, but morning’s coming!” 

The darkest hour in human history happened almost 2000 years ago. An angry mob led by Judas Iscariot, came in the darkness with swords, spears, sticks and torches to arrest Jesus. It was in the darkness of midnight when Jesus was bound and taken into custody like a common criminal. But He had committed no crimes, in fact He had just finished praying. He prayed so earnestly and so fervently until His sweat became as great drops of blood. 

They held a “mock” trial at night for Jesus, which was illegal. He suffered abuse at the hands of the soldiers; when Jesus wouldn’t answer their questions, they hit Him in the mouth. They blindfolded Him and slapped Him in the face as they cursed and swore at Him. 

Psalm 35:15 b 
15 The abjects gathered themselves together against me…they did tear me, and ceased not. 

They spit in His face, showing their disrespect and contempt for Him. The spittle ran down His face and beard. They mocked Him, beat Him, and plucked out His beard. 

Isaiah 50:6 
6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. 

They stripped Him of His clothes and tied Him to a whipping post where a soldier beat Jesus within an inch of his life. Every time the whip cracked; pieces of flesh, some the size of the palms of your hands, tore from His body. His precious blood splattered on the stone walls and on the pavement. 

Josephus said He was beaten so badly until His eyes lay in the cup of His cheekbones. 

Psalm 129:3 
3 The plowers plowed upon my back, they made long their furrows. 

Isaiah 53:5 
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 

They beat Him until He was hardly recognizable. His bones were out of joint, and He was poured out like water. His heart was like wax melted in the midst of His bowels. His strength was dried up like a potsherd. His tongue clave to His jaws. The bulls of Bashan gaped upon Him and surrounded Him.

They wrapped a purple robe around His bloody body. A crown of thorns was pressed down on His head until blood poured down into His ears, eyes, and face. They hit Him over and over again with a reed fulfilling prophecy of… 

Micah 5:1 
1 They shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek. 

The soldiers tore off the robe that had become glued to his back where the blood had coagulated. Calvary was a place of execution; called the skull. It was where criminals, slaves, felons, insurgents were executed. Death by crucifixion was a horrible way to die. It was invented by the Persians and perfected by Romans. Crucifixion was the greatest shame, humiliation, and disgrace anyone could experience. 

Galatians 3:13 
13 Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree. 

Jewish historian Josephus had witnessed many crucifixions, he called it: "The most wretched of deaths." It was a lingering death; some suffered on a cross for days before they died. 

Philippians 2:8 8 Being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 

They stretched Jesus out on the cross and nailed His hands and feet with nails that resembled railroad spikes but much sharper. Those hands that touched blind eyes, and those feet that had walked upon the water. 

Psalm 22:16 
16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. 

Jesus hung on the cross for six hours. He endured the jeers and taunts of the people who were wagging their heads. 

Luke 23:44-45
44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 
45 And the sun was darkened. 

It was the darkest day in the history of mankind. The sun pulled a veil over her face and the moon, and the stars could not shine. The One who had hung the sun, moon and stars was dying and it became as dark as midnight. 

Something horrible was happening! 

  • So horrible that noonday became as midnight. 
  • So horrible until all the disciples ran and hid.
  • So horrible that the Father had to look away. 
  • So horrible that Jesus cried, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” 
It was the darkest day in the history of the world! 

It’s dark, but morning’s coming! 

The body of Jesus was removed from the cross, prepared for burial, and placed in a dark tomb that was sealed shut with a large stone. The tomb was completely dark. The first Easter started out dark and gloomy as the Lord Jesus lay dead in a dark tomb. 

It’s dark, but morning’s coming!

It was early Sunday morning; so early it was still dark! The women went to the tomb with heavy hearts and was surprised to find the stone rolled away. Not only that but the tomb was empty, the dead body of Jesus was not there!

The tomb was empty but two men in shining garments, which were angels, said to them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? 

6 He is not here, but is risen: 

They were not expecting to find an empty tomb! They were not expecting to see angels! They were not expecting to see Jesus alive! BUT that’s what Easter is all about! Easter brings hope! Easter morning gives us the courage and hope to endure the darkness.  

It’s dark, but morning’s coming! 

It was in the early morning when the Son of God rose from the grave. Jesus made Easter morning a time of total victory over the darkness. 

Psalm 30:5 b 
5 Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. 

It’s dark, but morning’s coming! 

It will be Easter morning for all eternity! Easter is not just about victory in death, it is about victory in life. The tomb is still empty!