Words of Encouragement

This large piece of art was an eye catcher on the wall at the hotel.  If you were on the first floor you saw it.  If you were on the second floor, you saw it.  It was not a small "sunburst" it was a large one and it covered a large part of the wall.  As I looked at this I thought about this important point.  You and I need to be like this large sunburst.  The "Son" burst that should be evident to others is us.  They should see us if they are on the first floor or even if they are on the second floor.  In otherwords, no matter what level they are on (up or down) individuals should see that we are a piece of work!

Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me. Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.  Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence. - Psalm 27:10-12

Who is Leading? The True Leader. We started this week looking at God as the true leader and we will end it on the same.  God is the only leader that if we follow, we can find peace in.  We will never find complete peace and security in our presidents, while it is good to go out and make your political voice be known.  We will not find security in our bosses when they promises things to us that they have no intention of keeping.

The true leader that we must follow is the one that will never leave us, even if those that you love do.  The true leader that is concerned about our safety from our enemy is God.  He does not leave us under the hand of the oppressor.  He does not leave us to face the false accusations (the accuser) alone.

God, the lover of our soul will lead us away from the traps of sin and to the paths that lead to living water.  He will lead as by the still waters so that we can find drink.  He doesn't make us come to the turbulent waters, but the calm ones so that we can drink.

Who do you want to follow?  Do you want to follow the one that will lead you from death to life?  The one that will lead you from the oppressor of your soul who wants you to carry all the sins you committed as well as every one committed against you?  Who do you want to follow?  The false leader that will talk you into going back into captivity, or the one that will show the foolishness of the accuser?

Today, let us pray that God would do something in us so that we will never want to be the same again.  Set us aflame today Lord so that we can follow you where ever you want to lead.

Words of Encouragement

This image was from the post in the Amway Hotel.  As I looked at it, I thought about how we allow unnatural things to lead us astray.  This image was attached to what looked like a box or carriage.  Do we get carried away with unsual things?  Do unusual things catch our attention and then we find ourselves latched on and unable to get away?  That is what happens when we do not keep our focus on God.

                                                                                                                          

Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—became insolent [a] and rose up against Moses. With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council. They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, "You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the LORD's assembly?" - Numbers 16:1-3

Who is Leading? Rebellious Leaders. There were those that were angry at Moses and wanted to remove his leadership from over the people of Israel.  If you notice, it normally only takes one person to stir up a bunch of stuff.  So with this rise up there were 250 men that were leaders of the community that were talking against Moses and Aaron.  They wanted to know why should they follow them when everyone is holy so they should not be set up above them.

Let us really look at the message in this scripture.  The ones that were in a position to lead, did not want to follow.  If you cannot follow how can you be a good leader?  The leaders did not think it fair that someone else should be above them.  It wasn't so much Moses and Aaron, it was God they were really angry with.  See it was not Moses or Aaron that appointed themselves, it was God.  They were angry with the way God wanted to lead. 

When God has called us to be submissive and learn how to lead, but we refuse to humble ourselves because we seek to be holy in ourselves and by ourselves, then we make a mess of things. 

Lord, help us to humble ourselves under your leadership so that we can learn to become what you have called us to be.  We do not want to be rebellious under your leadership and then lead others astray.  We do not want the blood of others on our hands because we have lead them away from your way and your will.

Words of Encouragement

As I looked at this picture, it stood out from amongst the other trees because of its beautiful, vibrant color.  It's red was easily identified.  When I thought about this tree, I thought about us.  We should be like this red tree.  The covering of the red blood of Christ should be evident in each of the believers.  It should show us as beautiful and vibrant. 

and said to the entire Israelite assembly, "The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them." - Numbers 14:7-9

Who is Leading? God, if We Obey. The children of God receive a message about the leadership of God.  They are told that if they please God he will lead them to a land of plenty and from that land he will supply to them.  However what will stop that flow of plenty is rebellion from the will of God.

If the people want to be able to obtain the benefits of God they must obey the one that can lead them to the land of plenty.  God is the provider and it is only through him that we can obtain the provisions that we need.  If we want that storehouse to be opened to us, we must humble ourselves under the leadership of an awesome God.

Lord, today we ask you to lead us.  Lead us so that we can obey you, your way.  Help us to be your people and when we do we can have access to your provisions.

Words of Encouragement

If you are trying to reach a destination, would you take the road backwards, away from that destination?  No, well why then do we want to go back into conditions that we have been delivered from.

Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn't it be better for us to go back to Egypt?" And they said to each other, "We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt." Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. - Numbers 14:3-5

Who is Leading? The Wrong Leader. The people of God became complainers and because of it, they wanted to give up on Moses' leadership.  However, it was not Moses they were really giving up on, they were giving up on God.  So in their complaining, they thought it might be better to go back into Egypt.  They thought to themselves, let us gather a new leader that will take us back to Egypt.

Do you know why Moses and Aaron feel facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly?  It was because of the foolishness of the people.  What they were saying in essence is this, "We will gather a leader that will take us back to the place of captivity, the place where we had been released from.  We will gather to ourselves a leader that will take us back."

They forgot about their complaints and how those complaints had been answered by God and how they had been released from captivity.  Now they wanted to go back.  Well, there is one that is ready and waiting to lead you back into slavery.  Slavery to sin, to lust, to disobedience and bondage.  When you complain and grumble about how God leads you, there is one that quickly waits to lead you back from whince you came.  That leader is the devil. He will gladly help you make your way back into captivity and further away from what God has promised for you.

Lord, help us today not to become foolish and look backwards and follow wrongly back into captivitiy.  Help us to move after you and away from that which will destroy.

Words of Encouragement

This picture is of the river outside of the Amway Hotel in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The river flows in one direction.  The water does not simply flow in its own direction, it has to go with the "current" or that force that makes it go.  We must be like this river.  We must allow the "current" of the Spirit of God to lead us if we are to make it to the destination we were meant to go.

"In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling. - Exodus 15:13

Who is Leading? God Will Lead. We are often faced with the difficulty of knowing which way we will go.  It is most easy if we wake in the morning and see before us a clear direction laid out for us.  We would feel comfortable and more assured, wouldn't we?

It would seem so, however we are not.  We are given a clear path to take every day we wake in the morning but we often do not want to take it because it seems to difficult or maybe we see how we can do it better so we take our own direction.

Today I want to tell you we have one that will lead us (direct us, move us toward a destination).  That leader leads us in his unfailing (never ending) love. He leads us because we are his people that he has redeemed back to himself.  He took great care in bringing his people to himself.

Because of this great love of God, he will  lead us with strength and guide us to his holy place.  Did you know that you and I cannot make it to the holy place of God, if he does not first lead us there?  We cannot in our own strength make it there.  The climb is too high. Our foot will slip every time we try to climb up to where God dwells.  Yet, what this loving leader does is he reaches down and with a hand of love bandage our wounds we have from trying to climb and falling down, and they he leads us up to him.

This week, let us look at being lead by God and what that requires you and I to do.  Lord, we are thankful for you leading us with your love, strength and care to bring us up to you.  Help us Lord, to be your people that are lead by your Spirit.

The Week In Review

“Why are you feeding the dead?” (Part 6)
March 25, 2007
Preached in Wisconsin by Jewel D. Williams

MAN’S PERFECTION

Man believes his way is the best, man refuses to listen to correction.
God’s way is best, for God is perfection.

Man talks of the glory of the world and its offer of unholy things.
God talks of the glory of his world, the kingdom from where hope springs.

Man thinks he knows all there is to know, that he has all power in his hand.
God knows all there is to know and he has all power to command.

Man believes not in things he doesn’t understand, but only what he can see.
God believes in us, even though we rarely show him what we can be.

Man thinks only of what he is doing now, and not what will tomorrow bring.
God knows our past, present, and our future and he wants us to let go of unholy things.

Man reads a little of the word of God, and believes he knows what is wrong with others.
God is the word, and he wants to cleanse your heart before you can help another.

Man is but a fool, yet he believes to highly of himself, of his works and his deeds.
God is all knowledge and only the work done for Christ will help you succeed.

Man’s perfection. He believes to highly in himself, yet each day he falls.
God’s perfection. He is the Almighty and he has the power to keep us all.

Man’s perfection. It exists in his mind and it only leads to sins sting.
He believes too much in his own works and honors and not enough in the Great King.

When the day comes that man depends, leans, believes, trust and lives God’s word,
He will truly be on his path to perfection, living by what his heart has heard.

Man’s Perfection, it is not so.
God’s perfection, it is the only way to grow.

The Week In Review

A woman that seeks – marks of a virtuous woman

A RIGHTEOUS WOMAN RISES EARLY AND SEEKS:
The scripture says, “She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, an portion to her maidens. – Proverbs 31:15

If we look at all the different things this virtuous woman is able to do, it hinges on the fact that she is obedient to God and also on the fact that she rises up early in the morning, when the sun has not even shown itself over the horizons and begins to prepare for her family. She provides food for her family. I’m not simply talking about physical food, but spiritual food as well.

When you think about rising early, I think about more than simply getting up early from bed. I also think about early in the process. This attitude is pleasing to God as scripture says,

I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall fine me. – Proverbs 8:17

A virtuous woman then is able to provide for her family because she consults God about her day. She doesn’t simply get up early in the morning and seek him, but she also seeks him early in the process of what she is doing as well. She does not do things her way first, and then after she has failed or things have become too hectic go seeking God to help her or bail her out of her problems. Instead the virtuous woman seeks God at the beginning of her day, and at the beginning of whatever her hands will undertake so that she can be equipped for the task. The only reason why this woman can run a business, take care of a family, know how to shop for a bargain, is because she is not depending on her own wisdom, but is seeking God’s wisdom.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. – Matthew 6:33

A virtuous woman will benefit from obedience to God. This woman in scripture was one that exhibited her trust in God and because she rose early to seek God, she was able to trust him for the provision for her family. It was his working through her that enabled her to be a smart businesswoman. So it is with us today, we have to go to God first to seek what is his will for us in our daily lives. When we do that, he promises to add all the other things we need. So while I may have a list of things I want for my family, health, wealth, success, that is my “b” list. My “A” list is, God may your perfect will be done in our lives so that if you have to drop anything off my b or c list to get it accomplished, then your will be done.

When we seek God first and his righteousness, we then have our lives in the right priority. When we are doing things God’s way, we can have success. This is the mystery of how the virtuous woman was able to accomplish all that she did, she sought God first and he added to her. We cannot try to add to ourselves and then try to throw a “little” God in for good measure. When you do, you are already on the road to destruction. In her rising early, she also was giving the word “early” to her family. Her children were seeing the written words lived out in her life.

This is most important to a successful family; it is more than telling your children what to do, but mirroring for them the words of God from their “early years”. This is the greatest thing we can do to help our children go in the right direction. We can exhibit Christ for them, and then pray and ask God to water and grow the seeds we planted, but if we are not planting the right seed, we cannot expect the right harvest. And maybe you didn’t have the opportunity to mirror early for your children, maybe you weren’t a Christian at the time, but that is the blessing of God, to start then right where you are. Start early in your walk with Christ, even if that start was not early in your children’s life. It can still make an impact. You will allow your children to see, you were one way, but I now there is something to being a Christian, because you are different. What a gift to give.