Brother Bill Wednesday Evening 5/25/16

Brother Bill Wednesday Evening 5/25/16

Psa 19:1  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

Psa 19:2  Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

Psa 19:3  There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.

Psa 19:14  Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Nature will speak to us.  God can speak to us through nature.  Brother Brook told me years ago, “You can see God’s love to mankind through creation.  He has supplied all our needs, look at the beauty of it all.” 

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable:  It is easy for our minds to get off on wrong meditation.  They will come uninvited.  On my job I have to concentrate on what I am doing, yet the enemy will bring other thoughts. My mind goes on two channels at the same time. 

It is easy to have our mind go off on wrong meditation.  It takes effort to have our mind have proper meditation.

This week the enemy was trying to trouble my mind as I was mowing the football field.  I worked on thinking on scripture and after a while there was a proper atmosphere.  It took effort for me to grab my mind and channel it in the proper direction. 

I remember when I was at the sawmill; I took care of the chip cars.  I had to fill the chip cars, climb on the top of the gondolas, and put the nets on them.  At that time there was always a certain type of negative thought.  I had to work at it until I broke that pattern.

Working at the school, as I get the tables down for the cafeteria in the morning, my mind goes into a certain channel.  I’ve gotten so I say, “Here it comes.”  I grab a hold of that thing and instead think on what I read of the scripture this morning.  I have to work hard to change that groove that started in my mind.

Meditation on proper things is a benefit to our souls. 

Psa 63:1  A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

Psa 63:2  To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.

Psa 63:3  Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

Psa 63:4  Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.

Psa 63:5  My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:

Psa 63:6  When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.

The things of God, drawing nigh to God, spending time with God, those are what will satisfy us.  A dry and thirsty land is what it is like in the world.  The things of the world will not bring satisfaction.  There is something about God that when you take time for God, when you take that extra time to spend it with God…  I know that I have done that, and after I felt like: “It was good that I did that.  It did something for my soul.” 

There is something about meeting with God that after going through a full day’s work it is like getting a glass of water. 

If we channel our mind in the right direction there is a value in it.  If we channel our mind in the wrong direction it will work to destroy us.

Throughout the years young people that didn’t get a companion, it would work on their minds, “Time is running out.”  I have seen it work on their mediation so that they decided to take things in their own hands.  There is a danger if we allow our minds to be channeled in the wrong direction. 

It has worked on me to be discontented.  What do I have to be discontented about?  I have a good job, a good wife, good health, and we are not paying for the kid’s college; we are in a good season of our life.  If we will allow our minds to go the wrong direction it can work to destroy us.

I have been reading in Brother C.W. Naylor’s books.  Brother Naylor had an accident and was bed ridden for years.  In the human, it appeared that he had reason to be down hearted.  Here is one chapter he wrote:

I sat at a desk with pencil and paper, and in my dream wrote these words: "If you have but one rose, enjoy it to the full. Do not let its perfume be wasted upon the empty air, and its beauty go unnoticed, while you spend your time in vain longing for the unattainable." When I awoke I wrote down the words that I had written in my dream, and through the years they have preached to me many a sermon.

How natural it is for us to forget what we have while we look at others whom we think to be more fortunate! We look at the blessings that others enjoy and forget to be thankful for our own. We look at others' possessions, and because they are greater than ours, we fail to appreciate what we have. Our position in life may be very humble, but however humble, our life is full of blessings if we but have eyes to see them.

When I had this dream, my health was gone, and I lay alone in my bed throughout the long hours of the day while my wife was away working for our support. My eyes were so I could read but a very little. We had two rooms in a house with another family. All around us were people with health and plenty. I could easily realize the difference between my situation and theirs. Sometimes I would look out of the window and see people passing, strong and vigorous and care-free. I would hear the gay laughter and the sound of happy voices, while I -- there I lay suffering and alone. How easy it was to see their blessings! and in seeing theirs, how easy it was to forget my own!

But this dream came upon the morning of my birthday; and as I lay there thinking it over, I determined that in the coming year I would not let my one rose be spoiled because I was reaching for that which was beyond my reach. I decided to enjoy my own blessings. If others were more blessed than I, should I not rejoice in the fact? Longing to be like them would not make me so. If I had but little to enjoy, I would enjoy that little. So I began to look at my blessings, and as I looked them over I found them greater than I had supposed. I had many things to give me comfort. I had food to satisfy my hunger. I had a home and clothing. I had the loving care of a faithful wife. I had kind friends who gave to me freely of their sympathy and who were ready to grant my every wish so far as it lay in their power. Better than all else, I had the peace of God in my heart. I began to realize that my state might be far worse.

The more I thought, the more I saw for which to be thankful. The more I considered my blessings, the more I appreciated them. And many a time since have I looked out upon the passers-by or listened to their merriment, and have said to myself, "I would not exchange places with you; for I am saved; I have the treasure of God's love; I have the presence of the Holy Spirit; I have the joys of salvation; I have a mansion in heaven." I knew that most of the passers-by did not have these things, and so I was blessed more than they. What were health and strength when put to a wrong use? What were temporal blessings that ministered only to selfishness? What were the joy and gaiety that ignored God? What were the pleasures of sin, when they only laid up a harvest of sorrow? Ah no, I had no reason to envy them, for my blessings were greater and would not fade away like mist before the sun.

My brother, my sister, you may be happy in your own little corner if you will learn the lesson of enjoying what you have. Learn to be content with common things. Learn that the truest joy does not come from external things. It springs spontaneously from a contented heart. If God wills that you be situated as you are, will he not make you happy where you are? The Bible says, "Godliness with contentment is great gain ... Having food and raiment let us be therewith content" (1 Tim.6: 6-8). You may not have much of this world's goods; you may not have many talents; your blessings may seem few; but remember my dream message -- "If you have but one rose, enjoy it to the full." If another has both hands filled, he may enjoy them less than you enjoy your one, unless you look with envious eyes. Sometimes a little perfume is sweeter than an abundance. Do not spend your days in vain longing. Do not despise what you have because it is not greater. Cultivate the habit of thankfulness and appreciation. Be glad for what you have. Be contented. Better your condition if you can, but do not spoil what you have in reaching for more. If you have but one talent, use it for the Lord and be thankful for it. Do not depreciate it because others have several talents. Use it and be content. Happiness consists not in the things we have, but in our appreciation and use of them. So enjoy your one rose. Drink in its sweet perfume; gaze upon its beauteous colors. Enjoy it to the full.

What we meditate on can break us or help us.  I have had to work on my meditation.  Negative thoughts would try to come to all of us.  We are all human and all go through similar battles. 

Some thoughts will have some truth in them.  Yet they are negative thoughts.  A couple months back I tried to wrestle with a negative thought.  I learned from that.  I should have just resisted from the beginning.  Don’t even try to argue with the devil, just resist.

Psa 63:3  Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

Psa 63:4  Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.

Psa 63:5  My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:

Psa 63:6  When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.

What we meditate on, if we will meditate on positive things and meditate on God, it can work to fertilize those things that are beneficial to our soul.  It will fertilize and help us to be thankful to God.

Psa 119:97  MEM. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

Psa 119:98  Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.

Psa 119:99  I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.

If we meditate on the scriptures, God causes the scripture to start opening and gives you understanding on things that you didn’t see before.  It is because of spending time and meditating.  It will help you to have understanding. 

Brother McCramy when he studies gives himself to meditation.  There are jewels in the Word of God.  There are nuggets that we have not seen yet.  There are treasures that God has not revealed to us yet.  The Word of God is beautiful.  If you give yourself to meditation it will open the door for God to give you greater understanding of His beautiful Word.

Eph 5:18  And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Eph 5:19  Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

Eph 5:20  Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

It talks about not being drunk.  There are things of this world that we can be drunk on.  We can be drunk on the political scene.  At times I have to tell Teri, “Don’t tell me anymore.  It just gets me churning.” 

We can get drunk on the bills.  We can get drunk on what our kids are doing.  You tell them and tell them.  You shake your head, they still have to make their own decisions. 

You can get drunk on your future, you can get drunk on the dark things of the world.  Some of the things that the enemy would have us to worry about in the future never happen.

Giving thanks… this is how we are filled and absorbed with the Spirit.  We channel our meditation in the right way.  It helps us to be billed with the Spirit of God.  That is a good thing to be filled with!

Ecc 11:3  If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.

If you fill yourself up with the right things...  Why I had something to give out at times was because I worked to fill myself with the right things.  “If the clouds be full of rain then they empty themselves out onto the earth.” 

Brother Gary Sunday Evening 5/22/16

Eph 4:30  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God.  We know that one of the most dangerous things that a sinner can do is resist the Holy Spirit of God.  When the Holy Spirit of God is grieved and He withdraws from us, the proper thing to do is to humble our heart: “God I grieved you.”

My mother had a very emphatic message that she preached on the dove being grieved.  She could make it so real that you literally had a vision of the Holy Spirit of God being grieved. 

Eph 4:31  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

Life is not fair.  Everyone here has experienced that.  There are always things designed to cause a root of bitterness to spring up.  The bible says, “Looking diligently…”

Men, women, boys, girls… people are full of anger.  The school system has programs to work with unruly children.  So many of them are full of anger.  Life has not treated them fair; now they are full of anger.

A lot of religious people have their religious garb and yet are full of anger.  We are counseled to have all the wrath, anger, clamour and evil speaking be put away with all malice.  Malice is hatred mixed in with wrath and anger.

Be kind:

Eph 4:32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

If we don’t go out into this world with a tender heart then we will not be profitable for God. 

2Pe 1:5  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

2Pe 1:6  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

2Pe 1:7  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

We want to remember that with God nothing is impossible.  We are all blessed that we were given a measure of faith.  The bible teaches this.  We have been given the Word of God; faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. 

Let us not despise the day of small things.  God is a God of miracles.  They are a result of us believing God and having faith in God.  God can take a heart that hardened and left Him… He has a way, it is a work of God and His Holy Spirit to tender hearts.  We don’t have to know how it works.  We know that it works.

Virtue: moral excellence, strength and courage.  To this, add knowledge.  It is wonderful how God teaches us through His Word and through each other.  Iron sharpens iron.  There are some things that only come by prayer and fasting.  Sister Peter fasted either one day a week or one meal a week for her son.

People get under a spirit of intemperance and just want more and more and more.  I believe that God is the same today as He was with Samuel.  I believe that God will come and speak to us just as He did with me, “Son you need to be tender-hearted and kind.”

If you plant a garden, you will not be able to go out and pick from it tomorrow morning.  It will take time.  We are challenged: deeper depths, higher heights; we want to be a soul winner.

To godliness add brotherly kindness.  Isn’t it wonderful to have brotherly kindness?  In the family of God there is brotherly and sisterly kindness.  To this add charity.

2Pe 1:8  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We must abound.  We cannot “barely get by”.  We must abound. 

They say that Psalms 126 was written in the captivity when there was a lot of lack.  They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.  There is nothing like a mother’s tears. 

Psa 126:5  They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

Psa 126:6  He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

Perhaps at this time there was not much seed to be sown.  There are many lives that are not hearing the Word of God.  There is a real famine in the land.  We have to hear the Word of God.  Not just to be received with ho-hum.  We have to have the attitude, “God we have to have your Word.  I must have your Word.”

The Word of God is the most wonderful tool to soften and comfort a heart.  It moves upon the soul.  The bible tells us, “He that goes forth and weepeth bearing precious seed shall doubtless come again with rejoicing.”

Unless people get the Word of God and the truth of God…  The religious people pick up religious lingo.  Have you ever noticed that when people want to read the Psalms 23 or the Lord’s Prayer they use the King James Version?  This precious seed, when it is sown, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing. 

The preparation of the Heart is of the Lord.  That is at least two fold.  Your heart and burden and that one that you are going to’s heart and burden. 

Pro 29:1  He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

Can you imagine a soul becoming hard?  I am asking for wisdom.  I am pleading with you to pray for me.  For every soul that God is dealing with, and we as a church are dealing with, to help us to have wisdom to help them to know, “Don’t procrastinate.” 

He that wins souls is wise.  I am the first to ask for instruction from God and from you.  There is something deep in my soul, “Rescue the perishing and care for the dying.”

In Deuteronomy 32, Moses was about ready to go home.  His last Psalm was recorded:

Deu 32:1  Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.

Deu 32:2  My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:

It is gardening time.  Soil that is hard and dry is hard to plant anything in.  You can scrape it if you have a sharp hoe but it is tough.  If that same soil has a gentle rain on it, it is a lot easier to cultivate. If that soil has been cultivated it is easy to take the soil and move it to put the seed in.  The Word of God knows how to cultivate and prepare the soil to receive the Word of God. 

Then when you and I come to that prepared heart.  The seed can be planted. 

Sin takes people to a difficult place. 

“My speech shall distill as the dew.”  I would like to talk to a soul this week. 

Brother Gary Sunday Morning 5/22/16

1Sa 3:10  And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

I don’t have an exact age for Samuel when this account took place.  All of us remember God speaking to us. 

The Lord Came:  it is wonderful when Jesus comes.  God came strongly to me recently.  We always appreciate when God comes. 

He came, stood, and called, “Samuel…”  Samuel answered because he had been instructed to say, “Speak; for thy servant heareth you.”

When Samuel was a little boy, he was a miracle baby.  His mother and father vowed to give him back to the Lord.  At the appointed time they brought him back to the temple and he lived there and ministered before the Lord.

Samuel helped with the chores around the temple.  He had responsibilities to do.  It is important that children have responsibilities and learn to be responsible.

We love to encourage children.  I love to sing with children.  I like to take the hymnal and even if they cannot read I like them to follow along with me as we sing the songs.

You children are blessed to learn to sing these beautiful songs.  All of us are blessed to have these songs to sing.

The Word of the Lord was precious and there was no open vision.  There is a great famine of hearing the pure, undiluted Word of God again in the world today.  As in this day the Word was precious.  There was not much time given to the Word of God. 

Even above the name of God His Word is exalted.  John chapter 1 teaches us that Jesus is the Word of God.  It is vital that we have the Word of God spoken to us.  It is wonderful when God speaks His word to us.

There was no open vision:  I am on the ending of the journey.  People look at me and ask, “Have you retired?  Aren’t you going to start spending the money that you have saved?”  Our treasure is over in heaven.  I hope I can work until I preach my last message.  Then I just want to go into the presence of God. 

We need a vision that God is going to do wonderful things.  We are living in perilous times.  We need an open vision of what God wants us to do.  One soul is worth more than all the world. 

If we can help one soul, if we can encourage a child in BST or in VBS and help them to know the plan of salvation.  VBS is more than just getting children out of the home.  It is a way to instill the way to get right with God and stay right with God.

Eli’s sons had drifted away from God.  God was there.  Eli’s vision had faded, the lamp of God was about to go out.  The candle stick is important in studying the Word of God.  Revelations teaches us that Jesus was walking among the candlesticks.

The Word of GOD is a wonderful treasure, a book above all books.  It is vital that the reality of the triune God is alive and well.  Jesus is the light of the World.

We can take the word of God and it comes alive by the Spirit of God.  The lamp of God was about to go out.  Every one of us that has been taught knows how important it is that we keep oil in our lamps, keep our lamps trimmed and our lights shining bright.

Samuel lay down to sleep.  Have you wondered why God speaks to you, me, or someone else at a specific time?  “Why did God give me that scripture?” 

Sometimes you wake in the night and you hear God calling.  Sometimes without premeditation your mind goes to an existing condition in your life.  Sometimes your mind goes to whomever that it might be.

My dad was killed September 8, 1968.  In the process of time I got a letter from a lady that said, “I had no idea why I was praying for you September 8, 1968.  I just prayed, and prayed for you.”  God has a way of speaking to us and a way of speaking to others.

God spoke to Samuel as he was sleeping and called him by name. 

Is 43 I have called thee by thy name.

Isa 43:1  But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

It is marvelous that He knows us by our name.  We are not just, “Hey whatchamacallit.”

‘Samuel’ means asked of God.  Samuel heard his name called and he hastened to Eli.  “Eli, Here I am.”  Eli said, “I didn’t call.” 

He heard his name called again and again went to Eli.  Samuel didn’t know the voice of the Lord.

1Sa 3:7  Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.

1Sa 3:8  And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.

1Sa 3:9  Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

1Sa 3:10  And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

Sometimes God has to speak, speak, and then speak again.  It is not the thought of being rebellious.  We answer and do all He wants us to do.  We hear Him call again the next day and the next.  God spoke to Samuel again.  Eli perceived that God spoke to this child.

Eli told him, Go lie down.  If God calls thee, answer, “Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth.”

Samuel went and lay down.  The lord came and stood and called.  I can envision God standing by that little child.  He was about the age of some of the boys that are here.  God stood there and called Samuel. 

You say, “I would be afraid if God came and stood by my bed.”  You don’t need to be afraid of God.  You mothers, young married couples, you widows, and you that are concerned about your health.  For Sister Darla, she will say, “My forgetter is working way too good.”  God will come and stand by her bed. 

It is ok when God comes and stands by your bed and speaks to you.  He gives a burden, we carry it and bring it to God over and over again.  Then one day He comes back with a song. 

“Yes, Jesus took my burden I could no longer bear,
Jesus took my burden in answer to my prayer. 
My anxious fear subsided, my spirit was made strong,
When Jesus took my burden and left me with a song.”

God came and stood by Samuel.  You boys, God is going to come and stand by you.  That is how God is.  We wouldn’t leave the young ladies out. You are not left out.  You can count on God being there in preschool years, in grade school, and in high school; God will be there. 

When God speaks to any of us.  When He calls our name, our response should be, “Speak; for thy servant heareth.”

We are happy that children can minister before God.  Children have an active part in this congregation.  Children know how to minister to the Lord.  Parents teach them to pray and to sing.

There was a famine of the Word of God in Samuel’s day.  There was a lack of vision.  We live in a world where there are a lot of visuals.  There is computer technology… it is vital that you have a vision from the Word of God.

We must have a vision of where we came from.  I am so thankful that the scene changed from where I was and where I was headed. 

We also need a vision of what we have come to.  You got saved that is good.  You are seeking to be sanctified and filled with the Holy Spirit that is good.  We have come to the New Jerusalem. 

We need to know where we are headed.  We must have a vision of that which God wants us to do.

God was concerned about the conditions.  God is concerned about spiritual conditions today.  You might feel limited.  But God has a job.  You may not be able to leave your house or your chair but God has a work for you to do.

God was preparing a man.  God in the past has prepared men to be mightily used of God.  It is men and women that will choose to walk humbly with God that will choose to love God more than everything that is in the world: the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, and the pride of life.

The world has always been the world.  God was preparing a man to be used of God.  The eternal God speaks to children.  The eternal God speaks to all.

Samuel lacked understanding.  We are not critical of that.  I have been saved a while and I am thankful for that.  What I understand today I didn’t understand my first week, my first month, or my first year of walking with God.  God leads His dear children along.

God knows how to lead you from where you are to the next step.  He is a marvelous teacher of what we need to know. 

We are looking forward to seeing that new little baby and giving her a bible and singing the song, “How sweet to hold that new born baby…”

God was preparing a man.  God today is preparing boys, girls, men and women.  He speaks to all.  Samuel lacked understanding but God had a plan for spiritual understanding.

I don’t understand all the bible but what light is shown on my pathway I enjoy walking in.  There are things about the Revelations that I don’t understand.  In the times that we live, there are things that I don’t even try to keep up with. 

What we do understand is what we are accountable to God for. 

God moved upon Eli to perceive that God was speaking.  Sometimes someone speaks to us and we are not as quick as we wish we were in knowing what to say.  Sometimes we know what to say and sometimes later we know more what to say. 

It is vital that we keep an open door between us and the Spirit of God to know what to say.  Then in humility, be able to go back and say, “There is more that I would like to say.”

God came and called, “Samuel, Samuel.”  I have no question that God will speak to everyone here again.  God may speak to you this morning.  He may speak to you this week.  After God spoke, Samuel answered, “Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth.”

God loves to talk to children.  He loves to have children serving Him.  He will speak to children.  May each one of us be in our place to instruct.  Eli’s sons were poor examples.  God has left us excellent examples in the Word of God. 

Hebrews 11: Pray that I will be tenderhearted toward souls.  If I am not, then some will be lost. 

Times were difficult but God had a strategy and a plan.  He spoke to Moses.  He spoke to Abraham.  We have excellent examples of Him speaking to people.

God has left us with excellent examples in our own lives.  Sister Peters was a mother of a son that graduated in 1966.  He went into the marines and went to Vietnam.  He came home with ¼ of his head shot off.  Sister Peters fasted for her boy all the time that he was in the service. 

She got the word that he was in the naval hospital in San Diego.  She took a bus, got there, and visited with the surgeon.  He told her, “There is no hope.  Even if he lives he will be a vegetable.”  She said, “Surgeon, Johnny has to live.  He is not saved.  I have prayed and prayed.” 

The surgeon told her, “We are going to put the largest plate in a head that we have ever put in.  If he lives he will be a vegetable, but I appreciate your faith.” 

Johnny lived.  One day Johnny told her, “I am going to check out.”  At a revival meeting in Espanola they sang the hymn, “Lord I am coming home.”  Johnny stood up, went to the front pew and though he could not bow, he sat on the pew and got saved. 

I don’t know how much time passed but he said, “I want to go to camp-meeting.”  God is a God of miracles.  You may need a miracle.  He is still a God of miracles.

To all: when He speaks may we say, “Speak for thy servant hears.”

We are blessed when God comes into our congregation and calls our name.  There is one that is greater than Solomon here.  May we be challenged and convicted.  It is time to hear and obey the Word of God. 

Sister Teri Sunday School 5/22/16

All the foundations of the earth are out of course. 

Psa 82:1  A Psalm of Asaph. God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.

Psa 82:2  How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.

Psa 82:3  Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.

Psa 82:4  Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.

Psa 82:5  They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.

Psa 82:6  I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.

Psa 82:7  But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.

Psa 82:8  Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.

Verse 5: ignorant judges, head in the sand judges, they haven’t a clue to what is going on.  And now everything is falling apart and the whole world is out of course. 

The people in the world, the judges of the land are ignorant of the true foundation so they are not judging right judgment and things are going contrary to the true Word of God.  Babylon is full of evil.  They used to try to hide it.  Now it is in the open and they are allowing things that God’s Word is clearly against. 

This is why the world is in the situation that it is in.  The religious world is off the foundation.  Their judges are ignorant.

You rulers and judges don’t know anything.  You don’t understand anything you have gotten off of what is true and right.

Adam Clarke – They know not - The judges are not acquainted with the law of God, on which all their decisions should be founded.

Neither will they understand - They are ignorant and do not wish to be instructed. They will not learn; they cannot teach.

All the foundations of the earth - “All the civil institutions of the land totter.” Justice is at the head of all the institutions in a well regulated state: when that gets poisoned or perverted, every evil, political and domestic, must prevail; even religion itself ceases to have any influence.

2Ch 19:6  And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment.

2Ch 19:7  Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.

There is a message for the church: the true people of God.  The things that go on in the religious world affect us.  Those spirits that can be so convincing will work to distort the truth.  We need to take heed.

2Ch 19:9  And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.

2Ch 19:11  And, behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the LORD; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, for all the king's matters: also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and the LORD shall be with the good.

2Ch 20:3  And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

2Ch 20:4  And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.

We need to come together before God and seek Him and His divine intervention to see what He would have us to do in this current state of affairs that we are in. 

2Ch 20:12  O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.

We are encompassed on every side with the forces of evil.  We have no might against this company that is coming against us.  We don’t know what to do but our eyes are upon God.

2Ch 20:15  And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.

It is still God that is the commander of this great army.  He empowers us to do what we need to do. 

2Ch 20:17  Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.

We don’t need to fight in our own strength.  There is a time to stand still and get our eyes upon God.  Get the infilling of the strength, spirit, and power of God and then go out.  For the Lord will be with you.

2Ch 20:18  And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD.

They were encouraged and strengthened in their hearts and worshipped God.  We don’t want to be cowered down in fear, there is a job that God would have us to do.

Within the church of God, God presides over the administration of the Church.  He will cause right judgment to go forth. 

In the church we need to have our decisions based upon the Word of God.  Without the Word of God being our foundation and guide, we are ignorant and should not be teachers.  Our lessons need to be founded on the Word of God. 

We see today that even religion itself is ceasing to have an influence on the government of our land, the laws that are being administered, and the decisions that are being made.

Psa 82:8  Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.

We need God to arise.  He is allowing this to happen.  He is proving the hearts of men.  Where is the judgment of these religious people that they can back the one person that has no godly influence behind him? 

Truncated because I had to leave early.

Brother Gary Wednesday Evening 5/18/16

Heb 3:7  Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,

Heb 3:8  Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

When we need something from God, we always need something from God, but when we are in a situation where we realize, “I really need counsel, encouragement, correction, wisdom, and discernment…” When we need something from God, the Holy Spirit, which is the teacher, will bring the Word of God to us. 

We can be having our devotions and tell God, “I really need you.”  There is a definite way that God brings to us the Word of God that grants to us the need to be supplied. 

Today if you will hear His voice:  David used this scripture.  I believe that God spoke something similar to Moses.  There is a real importance in you and me recognizing and owning how important it is that we listen when God speaks to us.

I had a phone call from an individual that had made a terrible error in judgment.  Everyone here is capable of making terrible errors in judgment.  The individual said, “I feel so bad because God checked me and I overrode the check.”

None of us knows how much God has spared us from because He checks us.  It doesn’t need to be an earthquake or thunder and lightning.  There is the check upon our heart that says, “You better not go there.  You better not say that.  Before you accept that invitation, you need to say “I need to pray.””

The Holy Ghost says, “I want you to do this or that.”  We live in a society that is determined to make us so busy that even when God moves upon our mind our mind throws up the flag, “I am so busy.” 

This is ridiculous.  In just a few months I will have lived 3 score and ten years.  When God moves upon our heart it is vital that we know how to not harden our heart. 

It is vital that we have made our commitments as, “Lord willing…” Anyone that we cannot say that to…, we go on and say it anyway.  We are not here to please them, we are here to please God.

Today if you will hear His voice, harden not your heart:  the reason that I am very convicted on this scripture…, (I ask for your prayers and teaching.  I ask for you to help me understand this.)  I see people get under conviction and not get saved.  That is scary.

D.O. Teasley had to override the check of God to backslide.  The children are old enough, and the rest of us are going to have difficult things in our life.  I believe that children ought to be children and not worry and know about the evils in the world.  We have reached 2016 and these children probably already know more about things than I will ever know. 

As children, as young as Isaac is, he can learn the check of God.  He can know, “There are some books I should never open.”  He can ask about a joke, “Is this clean?  Would you feel comfortable telling this joke in the presence of God and Jesus.”  There are somethings that when they get in your mind go will over and over.  There are somethings that you don’t want to ever see. 

If you get your mind corrupted, you will never enjoy the beautiful things of life.  A man that went to court was told by the judge, “Just your presence is a threat to a child.  You need to be locked up and without parole.” 

God was faithful to him, he overrode the check of God.  Maybe his dad opened the door.  Maybe his mother thought, “I just want you to be normal.”  It matters what is normal is.  If it is contrary to what the Bible teaches then she wanted him to be abnormal and explore the ways of sin.

Heb 3:1  Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

Isn’t it wonderful to be able to consider what Jesus would do, and consider what he would have us to do.

Heb 3:2  Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.

I am convicted, “God help me to be faithful,” whenever I hear of Moses’ faithfulness or Jesus’

Heb 3:3  For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.

Heb 3:4  For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.

Heb 3:5  And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;

Heb 3:6  But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

The other night I didn’t feel good and I went to bed early.  Before I went to sleep I thought, “Did I lock the door?”  I thought, “I can trust God, I don’t have anything to worry about.”  Then I thought, “I saw a new guy walking about Paradise.”  I didn’t want that thought coming back to me.  So I decided, “I am going to go and make sure that door is locked.”

We are God’s house.  We belong to God.  There is a definite opportunity that He has given us to lock the door to somethings.  “I am not going to have that working on me.  I am not going to have that thought.”

There are times when He checks us, “Be careful what you say; be careful where you go.  Be extremely careful in that situation.”  It is ok to make plans.  When God comes, “This is what I want you to do.”  Then we say, “I want to do that.” 

Then when He comes and says, “I don’t want you to think on that.”  Be sure to lock the door. 

A month ago I was burdened prayed and sought God.  I had felt the burden for days and God was working with me.  I did my best to prepare for the occasion that was probably going to be mine. 

When it came time it seemed to work exactly as God would have it work, then of a sudden it fell all apart.  God helped me to be able to handle that.  All glory to God I didn’t say or misbehave.  The next few days I could just feel discouragement working and could feel myself spiraling down; I had hoped. 

I was home alone and began to seek God, “God, I believe that what transpired was not your will.  I have done everything I knew to do the will of God.  My heart ached.”  You think of someone being lost forever it is pretty tough to take.  As I began to seek after God, God came down. 

When you are disappointed and it will happen.  When you have done your best and someway the devil throws something in that messes up what God is trying to do, Paul said, “Satan hindered.”  The only thing to do is to know how to get a hold of God again.

God brought me to Luke 10:38

Luk 10:38  Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

Luk 10:39  And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.

Luk 10:40  But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

Luk 10:41  And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

Luk 10:42  But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

The Holy Spirit witnessed to me, “The good part is to sit at Jesus’ feet.”

Sitting at the feet of Jesus,
Oh what words I hear him say!
Happy place! So near, so precious!
May it find me there each day. 

Sitting at the feet of Jesus,
I would look upon the past;
For His love has been so gracious,
It has won my heart at last.

Sitting at the feet of Jesus
Where can mortal be more blest? 
There I lay my sins and sorrows
And when weary find sweet rest. 

Sitting at the feet of Jesus,
There I love to weep and pray;
While from his fullness gather
Grace and comfort every day.

Bless me O my savior bless me,
As I sit low at thy feet
O look down in love upon me
Let me see thy face so sweet. 

Give me Lord the mind of Jesus,
Keep me holy as He is;
may I prove I’ve been with Jesus,
Who is all my righteousness.

Brother Gary Sunday Morning 5/15/16

Brother Gary Sunday Morning 5/15/16

Last week we brought how God remembered Hannah, now we want to bring how Hannah remembered God.

1Sa 2:18  But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.

1Sa 2:19  Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.

What a wonderful heritage given to that child to be right there in the temple.  Yearly Hannah came to Shiloh to worship and yearly Hannah brought him the little coat.  Hannah remembered God.

It was a stirring setting.  Eli had two sons that lived right there and had a very abominable, reproachful lifestyle.  The sons’ sin was very great. 

We see children in abominable circumstances and we cry out to God for those children.  Jesus taught us that in heaven the angels are always beholding the face of the Father concerning children.  This is not something that just happened in Jesus’ day; it is a part of heaven since God ordained heaven as it is.

Samuel was placed under the supervision of Eli the priest.  Things were terrible in that day; there was no open vision.  I am challenged this morning for a vision from God.  I trust that everyone, not just mothers of little children, have a vision from God.

Hannah brought their precious child, the only child that Hannah had at the time, and gave this precious little son back to God.  There was Eli; the lamp of God had almost gone out.

May God help every American to realize that everywhere the lamp of God goes out then there is only darkness.  If you are able to be awakened to the effects of this spiritually, it will be a blessing of God to be there and awakened.

The sons of Eli took advantage of the offerings brought into the temple.  They did not do as it should have been done.  They took advantage of Eli and abhorred the offering of the Lord.  They did not like to be where people were truly worshipping God.

Samuel was there, but God was also there.  You may be here and facing mountains that you think are insurmountable.  You may have an incurable sickness according to the medical community.  You might be having mind battles. If you get to God, He will be there.  You can count on Him.

Samuel ministered unto the Lord. 

His parents were coming to worship and Samuel’s mother made him a coat.  I thought of the joy of preparing.  We get blessed when we have a vision, “I want to do something reaching out beyond the circle that I am in.”  We want to have a circle bigger than our daughter or our son. 

I thought of the questions, “How did she get the material?  Did she do it without a pattern?  How did she get the pattern?” 

She gathered the material to make this coat of love.  She had something that was causing her to identify with, “We have given our son back to God but I am still involved in his care.”

Some here are blessed to have little children at your knees.  They are at the age where you are helping form the thoughts in their minds.  You are blessed to be able to teach them things that are to be so profitable in their lives. 

That which God has called you to do…  Hannah had a marvelous calling.  God gave her other children, but the for oldest one, that she had given to God, she had an inspiration and anointing, “Every year that I go to worship I am going to take something to him that I work all year long on.”

She may have made it of wool from their own sheep.  She may have cleaned the wool and put it together for her son.  Think of the vision that God wants you to have and that soul that God would want you to reach to this week. 

I still shake and tremble when I talk to someone.  To shake and tremble does not excuse you.  You never know how you will be received when you take a bible and a scripture to them. 

When we deal with someone and they don’t have the attitude, “I really want to be saved,” then don’t stay there long or they will be a distracting influence.  Either we are the influencer or we are the influenced. 

Hannah prepared to make that little coat.  Hannah remembered God. 

1Sa 2:20  And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home.

1Sa 2:21  And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.

ELkanah and Hannah remembered God.  Everyone needs to make the vow today, “God, I am going to remember you like Hannah and Elkanah did.  When I come back in a year I want to have prepared with all of my mind for a spiritual son, and a spiritual or literal daughter.” 

God remembered them.  I don’t covet anything that any of you possess.  That which God has laid upon your heart to give to Him, one of the biggest, most challenging things that I know to give is our time.  We will find ourselves so exhausted that we will feel, “God I would like to give but I am so tired.” 

This congregation is such a giving congregation, I believe that we will have plenty of money for Vacation Bible School.  God has never failed.  He is God. 

We need to remember God, “God everything that I have is yours.  I want to remember that you have made me a steward over these things but I want to be preparing for whatever you wants me to prepare.”

God remembers those that remember Him.  If we will remember God then God will remember us.  We have the beautiful account that Elkanah and Hannah gave Samuel back to God.  We also need to give everything back to God.

I don’t know how much time lapsed, but God remembered them and gave back blessings.  He gave them three sons.  Can you envision the thrill when Hannah felt that another baby was coming?  “Samuel is there, but God is giving me another one.” 

They all went to the temple after a birth in that day.  Can you imagine them showing Samuel, “This is your little brother?”  They told Samuel, “Son, God has been so good to us, stay true to God.”  Probably the dad told Samuel, “Don’t learn the ways of Eli’s sons; they are bad examples.  Learn God’s ways.”

Can you imagine Hannah and Elkanah and two babies with a little coat, then there were three babies.  Then there came a daughter and another daughter. 

Let me tell you, God blesses those that remember God.  Remember God.  It is wonderful to be in a decision making process.  Remember God.  “Is this going to work to keep God first?”

God gave the blessing of three sons and two daughters because God remembers those that remember Him. 

God blessed Samuel as he grew. 

You precious children and young people that are here this morning.  To all of us, God wants us to be as children before Him and if we will be then God will remember us and bless us. 

The wise men came to worship.  Matt 2:2

These men were men that studied the stars.  They were not proud men, but they were men of means of knowledge, and of position.  Some believe that they had been influenced by Jews that had gone to other parts to gain influence and business. 

They knew that there would be a star.  God helped them to see it and line it up so that they would go worship.  They thought He would be born in Jerusalem.  God had a different plan.  The wise men came to worship.

The Kelly’s were not wise men.  God in His greatness not only visits people that are educated but also those that are like the Kelly’s were when we left West Virginia.  We were in a lot of trouble.  Sin had taken our family about as low as you can go.  My grandpa decided that it was time to run.  He headed for Canada. 

Someone from West Virginia was on a train trip to Canada and stopped in Paradise at the beanery and learned that there were Kelly’s there.  It was just a matter of time until the officials showed up.  God remembers the lowly.

My mother had a brother that died of appendicitis.  The family looked for a preacher and found a church of God preacher.  After the funeral, someone invited her to come to a revival meeting.  She heard the message that if you confess, repent, and turn from your sin then the burden of your heart will roll away.  My mother was waiting for that message.

God help us to realize that some are out there waiting for the message.

Sister Walker said that when she graduated from high school she wanted to go to College and her mother told her that she was not college material.  She sought God and told Him that if He would help her to go to college she would remember Him. 

Unfortunately but true after getting scholarships and making her way through college she forgot about God.  She got involved in drugs and other things that were available to her in college.  Brother Gordon was pastor in Illinois.  Some of those people went to that college campus and sang. 

Those people could really sing.  They sang Brother Gordon back from death several times.  Brother Gordon got pretty aged and it looked like he was going on to heaven and he said, “I want to go to heaven with scriptures and songs.”  They began to sing and read scriptures.  Instead of him going up, God came down.  He said, “Honey, I am feeling better.”  Soon he was up walking again.

They went onto that campus.  They found her and she found them; a little lady that was graduation from College and she found Jesus.  She is so happy that she found Him.

Her mother told her that she was not college material.  I don’ know what her professional life was.  It doesn’t matter whether people are sheepherders or dealing in commodities.  God speaks to all.

Remember the woman at the well?  She had a past.  She had a history.  That did not bother Jesus.  He knew what He could do for her.  He said, “If you knew who was speaking to you, you would ask for living water.” 

She came to the question, “Where shall we worship?  Some say worship in this mountain still others say in Jerusalem.” 

Jesus said, “God is a spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth.

Elkanah and Hannah offered, obeyed God, and they were blessed.

God requires all men to repent, confess, and turn away from sin. 

Jesus told the little lady at the well that God seeks those that will worship Him in Spirit and in truth.  This is the reason that doctrine is so important.  It matters where you go.  Doctrine is important.  “If we will do His will then we shall know of the doctrine.  John 6:63

Doctrine is truth.  Anything that contradicts doctrine is error.  “I don’t want to go through a form, count beads, or say the little prayer, “Lord I lay me down to sleep…”  That is a form of prayer but not prayer.  Prayer comes from the heart.

Truth is the eternal Word of God that is taught in the Old and the New Testament and produces a holy life.

May we ever remember God.