Month: October 2023

TO BE BLESSED or TO BE A BLESSING?

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FRANKLY SPEAKING,

One day he [Jabez] prayed to Israel’s God, “Please bless me and give me a lot of land. Be with me so I will be safe from harm.” And God did just what Jabez had asked. ~ I Chronicles 4:9-10 CEV

THE PRAYER OF JABEZ ~ I Am Blessed and Highly Favored! ~ I once received a shirt with the following words embroidered boldly on the front: “JESUS loves you, but I’m HIS favorite.” I snickered and casually laughed at the shirt, and I wore it a couple of times. Then, I began to think about what that shirt was really saying. I proudly said that JESUS loved me more than you. OUCH! I could not wear the shirt again in good conscience. That is the exact opposite of the GOSPEL Message. Listen to this verse (paraphrased just a bit) …

“GOD loved you so much HE sent HIS ONE and ONLY SON just for you; so that, if you believe in HIM with you whole life, you will not have to fear death because you will live forever in heaven with GOD.”

That verse in the Gospel of John chapter three. It is the truth of the whole Bible. In “the Prayer of Jabez,” we meet a man who was pure before GOD that GOD listened to him and answered his personal prayer. WOW! Who was Jabez for GOD to answer his prayer completely. After all, he is not one of those prophets or apostles from the BIBLE. In fact, these two verses contain just about everything we know about Jabez. I suspect his actual prayer sounded a lot more like this one rather than the version above. 😊

“Oh, that YOU would bless me indeed,

and enlarge my territory,

that YOUR hand would be with me,

and that YOU would keep me from evil,

that I may not cause pain!”

Remember what the LORD JESUS said in THE GOLDEN RULE: “Do to others what you want them to do to you.”  HE never implied that we should put ourselves first. In fact, here’s a great plan for our lives: JESUS, Others, then You. JOY! Let’s think of others before we think of ourselves. Give it a try! 😊

Living in THE SHADOW of the CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15

PS ~ Here’s the link to that question about GOD hearing you.

https://www.gotquestions.org/God-please-help-me.html

GOD’S WORK ~ GOD’S WAY!

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FRANKLY SPEAKING,

But as THE ARK OF THE LORD’S COVENANT entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David skipping about and laughing with joy, she was filled with contempt for him. ~ I Chronicles 15:29

GOD’S WORK ~ GOD’S WAY! ~ Let’s review last week. King David wanted to move THE ARK OF THE COVENANT back to Jerusalem. He basically took a survey, and everyone thought it was “the right thing to do.” However, they left GOD out of the process. A man named Uzzah tried to steady THE ARK as it appeared to fall, and he was killed by GOD for touching THE ARK. We ended the sermon possibly thinking GOD was unfair. Go back and watch. 😊

FIRST, we must come to the realization that GOD is GOD, and we are not! When GOD makes a promise, HE never fails! HE promised HE would redeem us in Genesis 3:15, and HE fulfilled HIS promise. HE promised that HIS holiness was represented in THE ARK, and HE told the people exactly how to move it. HE warned them that if they touched it, then they would die. Why do we pick and choose when to believe GOD’S promises?  We argue with HIM when we disagree with HIS Promises? We seem to want Santa Claus instead of GOD!

SECOND, in today’s passage (I Chronicles 15:1-29), King David seeks GOD’S approval rather than a human consensus.  What a difference that makes! Too often, we, ministers, are more concerned with the opinion of the congregants rather than that of the CREATOR. When King David moved THE ARK ~ GOD’S WAY, everything went well and a HOLY GHOST party broke out. GOD first life!

THIRD, David danced for joy before THE LORD. He was not “showing off.” Michal’s reaction to King David’s worship is a vivid picture of our worship. (v 29 above) In my experience, someone somewhere is always filled with contempt whenever you worship GOD honestly and openly. It is too much for them to handle. Worship anyway! When worshiping GOD, never look out, look around, or look back. Always look up!  GOD’S WORK ~ GOD’S WAY!  😊

Living in THE SHADOW of the CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15

Celebrating The Savior: The Lord’s Supper

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FRANKLY SPEAKING,

For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim THE LORD’S death till HE comes.

~ I Corinthians 11:26

MY HEART CHRIST’S HOME: CELEBRATING THE SAVIOR!  ~ What is THE LORD’S SUPPER? Why do so many churches celebrate THE LORD’S SUPPER in different ways? Who can participate in THE LORD’S SUPPER? What do I need to do to celebrate THE LORD’S SUPPER? What is the significance of THE LORD’S SUPPER? Where should we find the answers to these questions?

First, JESUS told us to gather in remembrance of HIM as we eat the bread and drink from the cup because they represent HIS death, burial, and RESSURECTION! Some people observe THE LORD’S SUPPER every week while others do not have a set pattern. This is true because no pattern is set forth in SCRIPTURE.

Any person who has been born-again (John 3:1-18) may join us in the observance of THE LORD’S SUPPER. This is known as an OPEN TABLE observance. However, others hold to a CLOSED TABLE observance which means only members of their congregation may participate.

Often this gathering and observance is very formal and follows a strict pattern. Others, like us, tend to have a varied format allowing us to approach the table in new and fresh ways as we seek the presence of THE LORD during HIS SUPPER. This is an informal personal approach.

Some believe that the bread (Host) and the wine literally become the Body and Blood of CHRIST.  This is known as the Eucharist, and is observed in more liturgical churches.  We see this as an ordinance which was commanded by THE LORD to be followed symbolically.  Our only manual is the BIBLE! To us, this is a very private and intimate time.

Finally, during THE LORD’S SUPPER we remember that JESUS died for each of us. Reflecting on how HE gave HIS life to save us from our sin. Through this ordinance, we also declare that JESUS is COMING AGAIN!

Have been back to church since COVID began? Isn’t it time to gather with others and celebrate JESUS at HIS table? Find a local church and gather with them so that you can be a fully devoted follower of JESUS who worships, grows, and serves others in the local church. Isn’t it time? 🙂

Living in THE SHADOW of the CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15