Brother Gary Kelly Sunday Evening 8/12/12

Brother Gary Kelly Sunday Evening 8/12/12

1Ch 29:5  The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD?

The king, David, at the end of his journey when he according to the historians had bankrupted himself to prepare a place for God, asked this question, “Who then is willing to consecrate this day unto the Lord?”

Every day you and I awake, we have our devotions; we thank God that we know to have our devotions.  We have confidence in the Saints to have their devotions. 

Some in this audience want to have their day planned from when the alarm goes off to when they set it again before they go to bed.  I’m not finding fault with you or with myself.  But it became real to me as we went through this day that our time belongs to God. 

It is not wrong for you to have a list or a schedule, it is not wrong to look around the house or church and see things that need to be done.  The thought that is on my heart tonight is: Dear God, help this congregation that we will consecrate, this day, and every day to God with the attitude, “God I am yours today.” 

We all have lives to live and family and associates that need care but we cannot use any of these as an excuse.  We have an eternal God. 

I’m not the only one here that God has granted time to.  When Kathy was about to be born, my life was ebbing away.  I pled with God to let me see that little baby.  God has been so good to give me time. 

There is not anyone here that God hasn’t been very good to in giving us time.  I was close to being in a devastating accident last week or killed.  I don’t know how fast that man was going that passed me on the left side when I was about to turn left, but I’m glad to be still alive. 

My first thoughts were on our daily life.  My second thoughts were on going to Carmichael.  Tomorrow the decisions will be made when I go and hopefully when I’ll be returning.  I’m supposed to preach Thursday night and I have a heavy burden. 

When someone comes here to preach, I like them to have a message from God.  I like them to have been alone with God.  I don’t need to tell you how needy our children are.  If you have children and have your right mind then you recognize that our children are really needy.  Our sons-in-law are needy. 

Our new neighbor, I don’t know a lot about her but her son told me that he hadn’t seen his sister in 18 or 19 years.  Who will consecrate his service this day?  This Day!  Who will say, “God I’m yours, I want to do what you want me to do today.  If I’m to write a letter, make a phone call, or prepare a lesson, I want to study today. 

It is not my question of do we neglect prayer.  I don’t think that we do.  Sister Karen said as we were walking, I don’t think that I have all the Dan’s that Sister Vi mentioned.  My thought is, “Dear God, help us to give to God first.” 

2Co 8:5  And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

Give to God first.  I have seen this scripture fulfilled by some of the saints right here.  “Pastor this is what I have planned but if you have something different that you want me to do then that is what I want to do.  First I am the Lords.”

There will be times that you will feel that burden, but “Does the pastor have something that he needs to do?”  Not come mow my lawn, but there are some important things that need to be taken care of sometimes.  Some of the Saints may have something that they need for you to do.

I earnestly covet your prayers that I will go at the right time to Carmichael; I have a heavy burden that I will be totally be undivided.  It is tough for me to be away from home.  I love home.  I covet your prayers for myself in this decision and then that for every day I will consecrate, “God I want to do what you want me to do today.”

We took our text this morning from first Samuel chapter 18.  In the first sixteen verses we have the beautiful account of Jonathan and David’s love for each other.  As David stood before Jonathan and the King, here was this shepherd boy that was dressed in shepherd’s clothing.  Jonathan loved him and wanted him to be dressed in clothes as one of the royal family. 

This is how we feel when we see people dressed in rags, anything that isn’t the robes of righteousness or of humility.  We love people and want to see them dressed in what God has for them.

David was so appreciated and admired by the people that jealousy began to work in the heart of the king that caused him to not appreciate the very one that God had used to protect him and the Children of Israel from being destroyed.  Saul began to eye David, and that evil spirit began to move upon him to destroy David.

David behaved himself wisely.  I openly confess and request that you will pray for me that no matter what we are or who we are with or what the circumstances are, that you and I will behave ourselves wisely. 

There are always those that want to find something in the people of God that will help them justify themselves in their wrong actions.  There is also an enemy of our soul that is looking for something in our heart that will displease God.  May God help us so that he will find nothing.

John chapter 15 tells us that Jesus would lay down his life for us.  ‘If that isn’t love!’  He loved us enough that He would lay down His life that we could have life and life more abundantly.  Whatever season of life that you find yourself in: in a valley or tight place, neglected or left out, this happens to everyone.  You are not the only one, remember that beyond the shadow of any doubt we are loved by God the father and His son and if we will serve Him then we will be loved with an everlasting love.

Jesus told Peter that Satan had his eye on him.  God had a plan for Peter and God has a plan for everyone that will serve Him.  For everyone that will serve God, Satan has a plan to sift them. 

We need to thank one another for praying for us; we really need one another’s prayers.  Jesus, after spending years and being crucified, ascended back to the father and is now on the right hand of the father making intercession for us.  We thank God for that.

For the children here, I want you to find this scripture.  It is a wonderful promise.

Isa 54:17  No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

That is an Old Testament scripture.  In the New Testament:

2Ti 1:12  For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Paul was writing to a younger man.  Difficult times and suffering are designed to help us.  They help me to know how much I need God.  All that live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 

“If any man suffer as a Christian let them not be ashamed but if they suffer as a busybody…” 

Suffering for Christ is designed to bring for us better than anything that we could possible get for ourselves.  Those that don’t serve God will suffer much worse than those that serve God. 

It is an uphill climb to serve God.  Every once in a while we come to a plateau and God helps us to rest but also lets us know that we will be climbing again in a while.  Suffering will cause you to get a hold of God and it will bring good things out of you and bring good things to you in your character and in all ways. 

“Know whom I have believed.”  There is a true God and I’m glad to know Him and have faith in Him.  He is able to keep everything that we commit unto Him.

1Pe 4:19  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

Be encouraged to commit yourself unto Him.  Commit today and tomorrow unto Him.  If you try to keep your life for yourself, then for sure you will lose it.

Isa 31:5  As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it.

The Lord of Hosts will defend Jerusalem.  When you cannot see any help, God will come to your rescue.   As David was there playing the harp for a man that was troubled by an evil spirit, Saul took the javelin with the intent of destroying David and God intervened. 

As you are doing your best to serve God and walk humbly before Him, as terrible things may happen, mind battles may come or accusations, people may draw terrible pictures of you as if you are monster and you look all around for help and there is none, God can send His help from above.

Psa 34:1  A Psalm of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed. I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Psa 34:2  My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

David felt so strong about God that he said, “Let a company come that we may magnify the Lord together.”

Psa 34:3  O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

Psa 34:4  I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

Psa 34:5  They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.

When we look to God then our countenance and burdens are lightened.

Psa 34:6  This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

David was humble.

Psa 34:7  The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

This was written when David was hunted, and he was hunted.  It is beyond our minds how he was hunted.

Psa 34:8  O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

Psa 34:9  O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

Psa 34:10  The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

The original Greek may translate to, “Great men lack.”  There is such an emptiness in souls without God.  People are trying hard to find something that will satisfy in the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life only to be disappointed over and over again.

Psa 34:11  Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

Psa 34:12  What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?

Psa 34:13  Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

Psa 34:14  Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

What wonderful instruction.  Keep your tong, keep your lips, stay from evil, do that which is right, seek peace and pursue it.  Seek the way of peace through the Word of God.

Psa 34:15  The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

Psa 34:16  The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

Psa 34:17  The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

Isn’t this wonderful!

Psa 34:18  The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

Our heart will be broken but God will heal it over and over again however many times that it is broken.

Psa 34:19  Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

Psa 34:20  He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

Psa 34:21  Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.

Psa 34:22  The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

They that hate the righteous shall be desolate; there is a message to be preached on the desolation of 2012.  Those that serve God do not have to be desolate.