Brother Bill Wednesday Evening 6/22/16

2Co 6:1  We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

2Co 6:2  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

2Co 6:3  Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:

2Co 6:4  But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

Approving means to introduce, to exhibit.  Approving ourselves as the ministers of God.  In all things exhibiting ourselves as the ministers of God. 

Being a minister means more than just being a pastor.  It is also a waiter of tables or a servant.  That is all that any of us are: a servant. 

A minister of the gospel is a servant, they serve the Word of God on Wednesdays and twice on Sunday.  They serve in other capacities as well.

Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

One of the common things that is brought out is the thought of being an edification: You don’t want to tear down, you want to be an edification; build up.  We want to exhibit God in our lives in the way that we live.  If we are not doing this then we are coming up short. 

In much patience:  cheerful or hopeful endurance, constancy.  Holding to faith for answers to prayer; holding yourself together in trying times.  We are going to go through trials and tribulations.  We need to go through with proper endurance.  We need to go through in such a way that we can get the good out of it. 

Sometimes when you go through certain things you feel the fight or flight response.  When we went through the trouble with the school job, we thought to take flight.  We thought to go to the oil fields.  It was not the way to go through that.  But at the time when you are going through the storm, you don’t see that. 

When you are in a deep storm or turmoil, don’t make decisions.  Be careful of the decisions that you make, hold your position. 

Psa 46:10  Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

There were some storms going on in this chapter.  There is a time to be still.  God wants us to exhibit ourselves as the servants of God in our patience.  Hold faith for answers to prayer. 

Brother Naylor wrote something in one of his books:  “Sometimes we as saints have faith for our brother or sister that God will help them, but when it comes to where we need help, we are wavering as far as God helping us.” 

God is no respecter of persons.  God wants you to have faith in Him.  He will bring you through if you just trust Him.

Jas 1:1  James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

Jas 1:2  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

Jas 1:3  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

Jas 1:4  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Jas 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Jas 1:6  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

Jas 1:7  For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

Jas 1:8  A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Go through the trial the way that God wants you to so that you can get the good out of it. 

In much patience.  In afflictions: pressure, affliction, anguish, tribulation, trouble...  We have access to God that really helps.  We don’t have reason to doubt.  We can trust God.  We have been around long enough to know this.

Psa 50:15  And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

Mat 9:29  Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

God brought me through that tough time and it helped me to have faith for the future battles.  It opened the door to increase my faith.  “Look how big God was.  He will help on this next step.”  We have a God that we can truly trust.  He will answer our prayer if we live right no matter who we are.

In your afflictions do your best to exhibit yourselves as a servant of God.

In necessities:  There are times when others need your help because of their necessities.  We are in an aging congregation.  According to Timothy, if you would study it out, when you have family it is up to your family to take care of you.  But other than that there is a portion of the weight that falls upon the body. 

There will be times that the elderly saints will get a hold of you, “Brother, Sister I need help.  I cannot handle this myself.”  You will get old someday and will be in a position that you will need help.  Exhibit God in necessities.  There will be situations where things happen that are a mess.  Exhibit yourself as a servant of God. 

In distresses: narrowness of room.  When you are put in a tight spot, (There is not much wiggle room between a rock and a hard place), exhibit yourself as a servant of God in tough spots.

Psa 96:1  O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.

Psa 96:2  Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.

You show forth His salvation by exhibiting yourself as a servant of God.

In stripes: a stroke, a wound.  When you are corrected by your boss in your job, when you are corrected by the pastor, when you are corrected by your wife or your husband, exhibit yourself as a servant of God in those cases.

Years ago I read the percentage of people that felt they were better looking than they were.  People have a tendency to think more highly of themselves than they ought. 

When you deal with stripes: I’ve found sometimes you are either the hero or the zero.  I have been in both situations.  On the job sometimes there will be people praising you and in just a matter of days, they are chewing on you.  In times of stripes exhibit yourself as a servant of God.

In imprisonments.  Sometimes there is no way out but to go through.  Go through it right. 

In tumults: instability, disorder, commotion, confusion, times of instability.  In troublesome times we have a God that will help us.

Psa 46:1  To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Psa 46:2  Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

Psa 46:3  Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

There will be times that people will fall away.  The earth will be removed.  People will apostatize: the mountains be carried away.  The mountains shake: it causes you to tremble.  Though those times come there is a river the streams whereof will make glad the city of God. 

Though things happen, in times of tumult and instability, be hooked up to the river, to that flow.  We don’t have to be removed. 

Psa 91:7  A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

Though a thousand fall by the side it won’t come nigh you.  We don’t have to fall. 

In the times of instability, exhibit yourself as a servant of God.  Stay hooked up to that river and you won’t have to be removed.

In labors:  Be an example in your labors whether you are noticed or your labors are unnoticed.  Remember that you are a servant to God. 

Mat 6:3  But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

According to the scripture we are not supposed to be talking all that we are accomplishing.  I am convinced that there are labors going on that we know nothing about. 

My prayer has been, “God help me to have my allegiance to you in such a way that it doesn’t matter whether others know or don’t.  You are the driving force.  We want the labors for God to be what is motivating us.

In watching: in what we do and what we say, how we respond to situations. 

In fastings: we have reasons to really fast.  After the bridegroom was gone was the time to fast.  This is the day to fast.  We have reasons to fast.  Exhibit yourself as a servant of God in your fasting

2Co 6:4  But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

2Co 6:5  In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

2Co 6:6  By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

2Co 6:7  By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

2Co 6:8  By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;

2Co 6:9  As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;

2Co 6:10  As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

By pureness: do all these things in a way that is pleasing to God.  We have some knowledge; handle these thigs by the knowledge that we have according to the gospel.

Forbearing one another in love: put up with each other.  You may think that you are the greatest thing that may have come to the church of God but you may have some quirks that people have to put up with.

You read in Corinthians and think, “Those people had a lot of problems.”  I think that is the way that people are.  There are a lot of problems that you have to deal with.  There are misunderstandings.  There are apologies that must be made.  There are things that have to be dealt with. 

We don’t walk about with halos on our head.  There are times that I have had to make apologies.  Yes, God has a holy experience for us.  Today is the day of salvation, but there are times when our humanity or whatever it is gets us in trouble. 

By longsuffering:  there will be times in necessities when you don’t feel like having long suffering but there will be a time when you will get old.  It is easier for me to help people than it is for me to ask for help.  There will be times that it is just that way.

By kindness: how do we handle it?  By kindness.

By the Holy Ghost: you will need God’s help.  It will be hard at times to exhibit God in some situations.  “God please give me that grace; I am needing God here.”  We are human, we are needy creatures of God. 

By love unfeigned, by the Word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left.

Your personality may mesh better with some people than with others.  On the left there may be one that when they make a mistake it is so easy to forgive them.  There is another dorky person, like me, on the other side that you can’t deal with as well.  Make sure that you are even.  God wants you to be even. 

If you don’t understand how, then go for a long walk and meditate on how God is.  He is no respecter of persons.  How would the Lord have you treat this or that one?  If you let the knowledge of God work on you, you will come out having a clear understanding on how it is to work with each other.

By honor and dishonor: whether people of the world treat you with honor or dishonor, exhibit yourself as a servant of God.

You will have some that will give a bad report about you.  You will have people that have a good report.  Whatever the case, exhibit yourself as a servant of God in that case.

As deceivers, yet true:  people will look at a saint of God as fanatical or a cult: as a deceiver, but you are not; you are true.

As unknown but known:  I noticed one time while I was in the break room, it was lunchtime and the men teachers were talking and wanted to get together at the cabin and have a good time.  They didn’t ask me to go.  We don’t fit in with the world. 

As unknown and yet we are well known.  It is surprising how people know my testimony, how do they know that I am what I am? 

As dying behold we live; as chastened and not killed.  Whether people chasten us or the Lord, yet we are still serving God.

Sorrowful yet still rejoicing.  Poor in the vices of the world, yet we have the ability to make many rich in the true riches; yet possessing all things. 

Brother Gary Sunday Morning 6/19/16

Jesus never fails. 

We all have challenges.  They are big challenges, bigger than us.  We know that prayer is our greatest tool.  We know this beyond a shadow of a doubt.  There is one way that we will have victory.  That is by prayer.

The last message that Brother Maconahae preached in Carmichael was conquering through prayer.  As far as I am concerned he was equal if not superior to Spurgeon who they refer to as the prince of preachers. 

Jer 17:7  Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.

Jesus never fails
Jesus never fails
Heaven and earth may pass away,
But Jesus never fails.

I found the hymn story to this chorus.  Art Luther was in Summerset Kentucky; he was a gifted pianist, and was there in revival meeting.  This town was only accessible by railroad.  A train came once a week and left once a week.  When you got there you were there. 

He was there and got a telegram that his son was in the valley of the shadow of death and had been admitted to a hospital.  Here dad was, 600 miles from home.  His son was facing eternity without him being there.  He began to seek after God and call upon Him.

In that old Kentucky home there was an old piano.  He went to it and a tune came to him.  He began to go across the keys.  It was not long until he realized that he was playing: “Jesus never fails…”

Though the sky be dark and dreary,
Fierce and strong the gale,
Just remember He is here
And He will not fail.

Deu 31:6  Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Before this Brother Luther got done praying, a knock came to the door, and the man there brought a telegram that said, “Your son has passed the crisis and is going to pull through.”  Jesus never fails.

Moses told the congregation, my time is going to end and I will not be able to go into the Canaan Land with you.  There are some things that are very necessary for me to leave with you.  The first thing is to be strong. 

There is a strong spirit in the world today that would make you feel exhausted and without strength, “I will not be able to make it.”  That is a spirit from the pits of hell and influenced by the power of unbelief.

Be of good courage:  You might feel that the outlook is bleak.  If you let anything other than the Spirit of God be your influence you will really have a bleak outlook.  There is nothing good in store if you allow the spirit of unbelief and the spirit of our day take you.  Be of good courage.

The other day I came into prayer meeting and I had had a tough weak.  I told someone that I came with a cup full of expectation.  There will be tough times but the bible remains the same.  Be strong and of good courage.

They prayed and took courage.  Fear not. 

2Ti 1:7  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Moses went on to say, “Be not afraid.”  You can wrap yourself up in fear.  When you do this, it is a yoke.  I think that God is working on me to preach a message of breaking every yoke.  There is a terrible yoke of fear, of being afraid of this, that, or something else.

You might recognize that you are in bondage in your mind or to something else here or there.  You begin to fast and pray and the bible teaches us that we can break every yoke.

The Lord goes with thee.  God has a perfect plan.  I think of every one of us.  The desire and design of the world is to influence us.  The design of God is that we know Him in such a way that we are empowered from power on High so that we have an influence. 

When you walk into a place God wants you to have the Spirit of God upon you so that they recognize, “There is someone in this place that is of a different spirit.”

He will not fail thee.  Moses spoke this to all that were there.  May God help us realize that God will go before us.  Wherever God has engineered for you to be, you can rest assured that He will go with thee.  He will not forsake thee.  He will not fail thee.

Deu 31:7  And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it.

Be strong in influence, in the study of the Word of God and be of good courage.  If you lose the desire to thrive then you will stagnate and die. 

A precious child was brought into this world.  They have not gained weight and there are other complications.  The thought was brought that perhaps the child doesn’t have the will or desire to thrive.

We must keep the desire to thrive spiritually.  I felt my need of anointing today.  Aaron was anointed by Moses and the anointing ran down his beard and robe.  We need to be anointed.

There would be in this audience one that God has His hand upon.  I would say that God would have His hand on everyone in this audience for that which He would desire that they would accomplish. 

There is a God that helps men get where they ought to be.  You know the pattern of tabernacle worship.  You wash and go through the door.  You go in and you begin to measure.  There is bread there.  There is light there.  You go to the place where you give yourself a living sacrifice.  You go into the Holiest of Holies.  The Blood of Jesus Christ not only cleanses from all sin but also from the nature to sin.

God will go before you.  You and I are without excuse.  There is a God in heaven.  Be not afraid.  What God has told you to do, when God puts it upon your heart, then it doesn’t matter where God sends you if you are God’s man and woman and have an anointing from God. 

Sister Gerhardt was going through a terrible battle that just got hotter and hotter.  She said, “Devil, stop!  I have a few things to say.” 

Sometimes we have to tell our minds, “Stop.”  What you thought of last week you will think of this week.  If it is something that eats you up, soon if you don’t take a stand it will take all your time and all your resources.

“Stop, I am going to hear from God.  He has somethings to say: “Be not afraid.””

We serve a mighty God.

Deu 31:8  And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

God will go before you and God will go with you.  God will not fail you.  Jesus never fails.  Remember that this morning.  Jesus never fails.

He will not forsake you.  You can count on God, His son, and the Holy Spirit of God being there. 

Fear not. 

Be not dismayed: don’t allow conditions to break you down.

You might have a son, daughter, or friend that feels about you as Haman did about Mordecai: They are always looking for something and would like to get you on the gallows.  There is a God in heaven.  Time and time again He has proved that He is the God of heaven.  Time and time again He has come through.

Speaking of Jesus:

Isa 42:1  Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

Let us all keep our eyes on Jesus.  Consider:  Ponder.  Behold.  God’s servant.  Whom I, God, upholds. 

You can trust Jesus. 

Isa 42:2  He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.

I was thinking of the “Sons of thunder.”  My mother was a person that would preach, counsel, and teach.  What she said would go over and over in people’s mind and God used it for conviction. 

Jesus deals with us, “Son.”  Brother Washer was an old brother that loved and knew God.  He would visit my wife’s family as she was growing up.  If she was dressed immodestly, he would tell her, “Your dress is not modest.”  When he would leave, it would go over and over in her mind.

The sons of thunder: I don’t think they were loud, but when they spoke, there was anointing.  Sister Davis had the ability to preach on the family in a marvelous way. 

Thunder is that still small voice that becomes a repeat because of the love of God.  I am a grandparent and we are blessed to have those little grandchildren.  I want to speak a word fitly spoken:  “Your attitude is wrong.  I know your mom and dad is here, but obey your parents.”

We want to work to help every little child feel loved by everyone in this congregation.  We want to know how to reach out.

Isa 42:3  A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.

There is something marvelous about Jesus and His body.  If you are in this audience this morning struggling and you have had some bruises.  You say, “I am bruised.  I have caused myself a lot of pain.” 

Maybe you are like the couple I talked to last night it has been two years since they have heard from their son.  They say, “It is ok.”  It is not ok.  They are trying to be crusty.

A bruised reed He will not break.  If you are struggling having a hard time, the heart crying out to God, battles within and without, He comes and says, “I am going to help you with that bruise.”

If bruises are not healed, that bruise will turn to bitterness.  We have seen people that are bitter.  They are so rigid that they stand straighter than a yardstick. 

Smoking flax: I am trying to be saved, but I am struggling.  If there is a desire, then God takes the bellows to push air on the fire.  God wants you to have a testimony, “I am so happy in Jesus.  I am so happy being saved.  I am so happy being free from sin.” 

The blood has been spilt so that you can be saved and sanctified.  If you are mixed up on doctrines, then Jesus will come to you and say, “Let me show you.”  It is not the water of baptism that saves you.  It is the blood being applied when you come confessing and repenting and you become a new creature in Christ Jesus.

I know I am saved because of a changed life.  I know I am sanctified because that ugly nature to be a bull, a lion that wants to strike out and fight, is gone.  

Isa 42:3  A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.

The Son is so wonderful.  He draws a line with the Word of God and says, “Gary, I want you to come to the line.”  His Word is line upon Line, precept upon precept.

He shall not fail

Isa 42:4  He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.

Jesus is not discouraged with me or with you.  He will draw out another thousand cubits and say, “Come out a little further.”  He doesn’t get discouraged.

Mat 7:7  Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Mat 7:8  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

I am the first to admit that I don’t have total understanding, but what I have, I love.  He is the first to say, “Ask and it shall be given you.” 

Seek.  A while back I felt my pronounced need of God for wisdom and asked the congregation to pray.  Seek for wisdom and it shall be granted unto you.

Knock.  You need an answer?  You need Him to come in and spend some time with you?  Knock.  It shall be opened unto you. 

Sister Karen Sunday Evening 6/12/16

Because I have had a real battle with prayer I thought, “Something is wrong.  I am not getting through.  I have prayed about things for years.” 

The enemy was really opposing me in prayer.  I got out the book by E.M. Bounds on Power in Prayer.  It helped me to get turned around and believe in prayer. 

He was born in Missouri, August 1845.  His father was the county clerk.  Often in their home there was held court sessions.  He became challenged to study law.  He became a lawyer and practiced until the age of 24.  At that time he felt the call to be a minister. 

He was good at studying.  He studied the word and enjoyed John Wesley’s writings.  He took a church and at that time there were confederate sympathizers in his congregation.  He was arrested because of that as a confederate sympathizer.  He spent a year and a half in a federal prison. 

After that he became a chaplain in the confederate army.  He worked with the soldiers right before the Franklin battle.  There were many soldiers killed and many injured in that battle.  He was there praying with and for the soldiers.

That battle was a turning point in the war.  He stayed and pastored a church there in Franklin Tennessee.  The church sent him to Georgia where he met his wife.  They had three children and after three years she died.  Then he married her cousin.  They had six children together, giving him nine children total.

Then he moved back to Tennessee and became an editor for a newspaper.  That gave him the ability to write several books. 

He went back to Georgia after finishing his job there.  He spent the later part of his life writing Intercessory Prayer and preaching revivals.  He died in 1913. 

Two books were published before his death.  Some of his friends had been blessed by his writing and worked to publish them.  “They are living voices whereby he being dead yet speaketh.” 

This is not from someone that just knows of prayer. These were his experiences of praying. 

His writings cause one of two different reactions.  You are either inspired to move to God with a greater desire. Or you consider him a fanatic that bothers our traditional lukewarm values.  You either stay near to enjoy the warmth or move away because the flames are too much to bear.

E.M. Bounds:

IN any study of the principles, and procedure of prayer, of its activities and enterprises, first place, must, of necessity, be given to faith. It is the initial quality in the heart of any man who essays to talk to the Unseen.

He must, out of sheer helplessness, stretch forth hands of faith. He must believe, where he cannot prove. In the ultimate issue, prayer is simply faith, claiming its natural yet marvellous prerogatives -- faith taking possession of its illimitable inheritance.

True godliness is just as true, steady, and persevering in the realm of faith as it is in the province of prayer. Moreover: when faith ceases to pray, it ceases to live.

Faith does the impossible because it brings God to undertake for us, and nothing is impossible with God. How great -- without qualification or limitation -- is the power of faith!

If doubt be banished from the heart, and unbelief made stranger there, what we ask of God shall surely come to pass, and a believer hath vouchsafed to him "whatsoever he saith."

Prayer projects faith on God, and God on the world. Only God can move mountains, but faith and prayer move God. In His cursing of the fig-tree our Lord demonstrated His power. Following that, He proceeded to declare, that large powers were committed to faith and prayer, not in order to kill but to make alive, not to blast but to bless.

At this point in our study, we turn to a saying of our Lord, which there is need to emphasize, since it is the very keystone of the arch of faith and prayer.

"Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."

Mar 11:22  And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

Mar 11:23  For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

Mar 11:24  Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

“And shall not doubt in his heart.”  That is the secret.  We have to get the doubt out.  “Believe that you receive them and you shall have them.”

My burden has been to pray for VBS for the lessons, the children, the outreach, and for every part.  It is prayer that will make a difference.

E.M. Bounds, The Necessity of Prayer:

Yet faith is called upon, and that right often to wait in patience before God, and is prepared for God's seeming delays in answering prayer.

Faith does not grow disheartened because prayer is not immediately honored; it takes God at his Word, and lets him take what time he chooses in fulfilling his purposes, and in carrying on his work.

There is bound to be much delay and long days of waiting for true faith, but faith accepts the conditions-knows there will be delays in answering prayer, and regards such delays as times of testing, in the which, it is privileged to show its mettle, and the stern stuff of which it is made.

Fear not, O tempted and tried believer, Jesus will come, if patience is exercised, and faith holds fast. His delay will serve to make his coming the more richly blessed.

Pray on. Wait on. You cannot fail. If Christ delay, wait for him. In his own good time, he will come, and will not tarry.

Brother Gary

I came to church tonight with the song, “A wonderful power in prayer.”  The writer was a lady school teacher.  She also wrote, “More about Jesus would I know.” 

She taught school a little while and then was injured while helping discipline a child.  She became an invalid.  In this terrible happening you and I are enjoying the efforts of God using her.

This song takes me in my memory to the little place where we first worshipped when my folks came out of organized religion.  Sister Steigmeyer had a tough road in life.  She was fought every step of the way by her husband that believed differently.  She would pray and come into church with a song in her heart.  I like the memory of her and David singing special songs. 

We were poor then.  There was seldom two special song books and there was no such thing as a copier.  David could play the piano and he would play.  David would try to play and sing.  Sister Steigmeyer would raise her hand and start getting blessed and the book would start bouncing.  David had a hard time following the book.

If the battle of life is tough, that is the reason that it is called life.  When my wife comes home from work and I ask her how it was, when she said, “It was tough.”  I told her, “That is why it is called work.”  People that don’t work have a tough life. 

Just because you are saved doesn’t mean that there won’t be testing times.  Just because your heart is burdened… we know the price of sin.  We have seen what it does.  Sin is terrible. 

We are going to have times of deep, heavy burdens, burdens for sons, daughters, and grandchildren.

“Perhaps you are seeking a soul far astray, that name to the mercy seat bring… there is wonderful power in prayer.”

I was encouraged in this season lately, “There is nothing too hard for God.”  Some that we are burdened for are yoked in sin and not only that but they are yoked to beastlike spirits.  They have sold their soul to money or what people can give them.  There is no yoke worse than being in bondage to some ungodly individual. 

God has been merciful to Karen and me.  When we were so poor there were rich people that said, “We are going to help you.”  When I found out that it was help with bondage, I was not interested.  The help we have in Jesus Christ is wonderful.

Jesus taught us that no man can come unto Him except the Father draw him.  Brother Martin was a staunch catholic.  I don’t know who prayed for him but God began to draw upon heart and soul.  God began to move on that situation. 

Brother Martin was such a catholic that when he got saved his family disowned him.  Sister Phyllis never knew what it was to have an uncle or an aunt.  When they came to God they paid the price.  This song says:

No matter how hard goes the battle of life
God’s children need never despair,
His conquering grace giveth peace mid the strife
There is wonderful power in prayer.

We know that the roses will not always bloom
The skies will not always be fair,
But go to the Father to brighten the gloom;
There is wonderful power in prayer.

Perhaps you are seeking a soul far astray
That name to the mercy seat bear.
The Shepherd himself will go with you today;
There is wonderful Power in prayer.

Through all the swift changes that come to us here,
Till white robes in glory we wear
We look up to Jesus for comfort and cheer;
There is wonderful power in prayer.

Wonderful power, a wonderful power in prayer,
For it moveth the arm that moveth the worlds,
There’s a wonderful power in prayer.

We look back over our life at all the changes and God has never failed. 

Brother Gary Sunday Morning 6/12/16

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

The tenor of this book has spoken strongly to my soul: the love, the compassion, the desire for the brethren to be built up, edified, taught and encouraged.

It is addressed to holy brethren.  This epistle is so to speak designated to you and me.  When you receive a card or a letter it usually has something very specific in it.  This book is written to precious souls that have been saved from sin, that have given themselves to the Lord.

We are not interested in being partly saved or living on the borderline of the world.  We have seen what the world does to individuals.  It would have been terribly unspeakable what sin would have done to me.  It would have taken me, as it has taken others, to the depths and totally ruined my life.

Don’t think that because you are whomever you are that sin wouldn’t have taken you to destruction.  It does to every life.

The sweet will of God is so precious: “Forever I choose the sweet will of my God.” 

Holy Brethren, precious souls that have laid aside every weight, it is vital that we keep ourselves unweighted from the world, unweighted from the ideas of people, unweighted from the bondage that we or others will put ourselves in. 

Isaiah 58 teaches that we break every yoke.  God has spoken personally to me about not putting yokes upon myself or letting others put a yoke upon me: They say, “You ought to do this or that,” and we find ourselves not doing what God would want us to do. 

We want to be free to be holy brethren that by love serve one another.  Moses served His generation by the will of God. 

Holy brethren that have laid aside every weight, have laid aside the besetting sin: God has a perfect plan not only to save from sin but deliver from that nature that would lead back to sin. 

Holy brethren that run with patience the race, that look to Jesus.  Holy Brethren that encourage holy unity among individuals:  They work to bring the best out of every brother and out of every sister.

We are partakers of a heavenly calling.  Sister Chancellor’s testimony was marvelous.  She is a very gracious sister.  She had nothing other than encouraging things to say.  She did not try to one up anyone else.  She just did her best to give her testimony and talked of the warmth of conviction.

I am trying to grasp the warmth of conviction.  The prodigal came to himself.  There is a definite description of the awakening that comes to individuals when they come to themselves and realize, my life is out of order with God, with my husband, with my wife, or with my brother and sister in Christ.

I feel lots of conviction.  I thank God that I felt conviction this last week.  I thank God when he convicts me. 

We probably will minister this week to children that we trust will remember the first invitation of being drawn to God.  Those precious children!  They have a desire for God. 

Wherever you are, it is vital that you are the greater influence.  We have received a heavenly calling.  Think of where we would be if we had not answered the call.  Sin is terrible. 

The lowest individual in Paradise, sin would have taken me there if I would have gone that way.  Don’t try to defend me.  I had a nature that was rebellious and was willful, then God began to tug upon my heart.

When God speaks, we need to listen.  A high school girl told my mom, “I am going to give up on God but I am not going to go far out in sin.”  It didn’t work that way.

The toughest thing in this world is to get people to listen to you.  They will be talking away and then when it is your turn to talk, they are still just talking.  You try to say, “Will you listen?” 

You are so blessed to have a heavenly calling.

Our first invitation to be saved!  It is marvelous that God speaks to us by name.  I have experienced this.  He has called my name.  I, at that place early in the morning, meeting God: “God, this time is set aside to listen to you.”

Brother Bounds spent three hours in intercessory prayer, from four am to seven.  I am not putting that as a cloud on you.  But to have Him speak to us!  “I am listening to you for you to call upon me.  I am listening to you so that I will not think about how bad my head is hurting.” 

This is not the time to check the computer to see if I paid that certain bill.  God knows me by my first name. 

Pro 8:4  Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.

Remember in the days of Noah when God said, “My spirit will not always strive with man?”  In the little world that I live in people tell me that it is too late.  Leo, went into eternity just recently.  I would try to talk to him about the things of God and he would say, “It is too late.”  God’s Spirit will not always strive with man.

Consider means to contemplate.  My brother in law and wife like to take me to a mountain lake.  At that time I say, “I will consider buying a fishing license.”  Sometimes I buy one.  This is not that type of considering.  God wants you to consider Jesus Christ.  Contemplate, examine. 

The more I think about Jesus and what He made available to me; the more I examine His teaching; the more I study the effects of the Sermon on the Mount; the more I realize how much there is to them.  The parables are deep.  Over and over again God brings me back to the Sermon on the Mount. 

Jesus is so designed in the Word of God that you learn and enjoy and then you go back and there is another layer of goodness.

Contemplate, examine, scrutinize… People take off in life and make decisions without even thinking of how it will affect them.  They say, “I have to do this.”  No you don’t.  Investigate.  Ponder.

When you tell someone that you are considering something you are placing a great responsibility on yourself.  Suppose you go to my wife and say, “Is there anything that I can do with Bible Story time I was not there when you asked for help.”

She says, “I am going to consider this; Sister Sue has too heavy of a load.  I am going take part of that and put it on Sister Annette.”  Then she thinks, “Sister Sue would be offended if I took too much away, I need to consider this.”

It is Jesus Christ that brought a total new covenant.  He brought life, truth, and salvation.  It is Jesus Christ that brought adoption.  I thrill to belong.  The Father never treats me like a half son, the step brother, or the step mother, isn’t it wonderful for the new covenant.  He is the high priest forever seated at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us.

God has always designed to dwell with His creation.  In the beginning, in the first stages of man enjoying fellowship with God, when Adam and Eve were in the Garden, they would hear the voice of God walking in the cool of the day.

Think of the beauty of Adam and Eve and what they enjoyed in the cool of the day.  Think with me today: Adam and Eve sinned and failed God.  You and I all know that the result was: the sin separated them from God and from the Garden of Eden. 

Then for however many years, God sent the prophecies all through the Old Testament that a new covenant would come.  That God would give them a new heart and a new spirit and that God himself would be their God. 

When I consider Jesus and contemplate that He came to save us.  He paid the provision to forgive our sin and to sanctify our nature.  We don’t have to have the testimony of that song, “Prone to sin, prone to wander.”  I am glad that I have considered Jesus who made a provision that He would dwell within us. 

That He would desire us for His dwelling!  He was willing to become the sacrifice for all sin that our life could be cleaned up so that he could dwell among us.

Rev 21:3  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

As we consider God dwelling with us and God dwelling in us, God is faithful.

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.

Every year the deck needs maintenance.  We have reached the age where maintenance is getting bigger and bigger.  I am God’s house.  Isn’t it marvelous how He maintains us?  Isn’t it marvelous how He helps us in our mind and in our head?

He maintains this house.  How many times does God come to us and say, “Maybe it would be better to have more devotions earlier.  When you are tired it seems that you cannot find your place in the scriptures.” 

He brings back scriptures that I have read all my life and God brings them back and unfolds them.  “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord and maketh Him his trust.”

How many times does God come and say, “I am going to give you strength.  You need to come apart and rest a while.  You need to watch how much you take on.” 

God maintains us.  How many times has He protected you, kept that onslaught of the enemy, and shielded you.  The enemy comes in like a flood.  You have just been washed.  God says, “I am protecting you.  I am putting a roof on.”

Steadfast.  Hold fast.  As old as I am I have a bright outlook.  God is God.  Serving God is wonderful.  Having the family of God is wonderful.  The outlook is bright.  Hold your confidence in God.  God has not used up their resources.  Hs is not letting the enemy win.  God will not fail. 

Hold your confidence, rejoicing, firm to the end.

They shall be His people.  God himself shall be with them and be their God.

“Today, when you hear God’s voice, harden not your heart.”  Seek Him until you do hear Him.  If you have any sin in your life, the voice of conviction of sin, the voice to be saved, the call to be sanctified. 

We live in the Laodicean time.  Ask yourself, “Am I allowing the Laodicean spirit to affect me?  Am I allowing lukewarmness to affect me?  Am I coming to the house of God wanting to be an encouragement to the saints, ready to pray the prayer of faith, wanting to rebuke all the powers of hell back to where they came from?”

Lukewarmness moves into the soul and then takes the eyes off of the people of God and off of God.  Take care of your brothers and sisters in Christ.  Be ready to build them up not only in word but in deed. 

Sometimes that still small voice is one of the toughest voices I know to hear when I have exhausted myself.  After I get so tired I become in perpetual motion.  My body and mind just go.  I have to get alone with God and say, “God calm my mind.” 

I know a God that is a mind calmer.  He speaks as a Father to a son.  “Come apart my son.   Come apart and rest.  I want to refresh you and take all your burdens and let you know that I am still God.”  This is the most difficult voice to ever hear in my life.

My personality is to run and gun.  I wanted to be one of those preachers that could preach seven days a week and fly the airlines.  God said, “That is not the way that it is going to be.”  Never question God.  His way is always best. 

If you and I want wisdom, we must have a strong desire and be willing to separate ourselves.

Pro 18:1  Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.

I appreciate Bob Waters.  He would always say, “Go, take all the time that you need to take care of that which needs to be taken care of.”

The call of a servant: “God, if I missed it I want to listen.  Do you have a job for me to do today?” 

Your mind will argue with God, “Sister Sharron doesn’t need anything.”  Or “Brother Bill doesn’t need anything.”  No you are wrong.  If God puts it on your heart, if God puts it upon your mind, there is only one resource and that is God the Father and Jesus the Son.

If you think, “they wouldn’t want to hear from me.”  Get rid of that thought.  If God puts it on your heart then you need to move.

Brother Gary Wednesday Evening 6/8/16

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

It seems that the author of Hebrews wrote this epistle with such a love for souls.  There is such power in love.  There is power in the love of a mother, of a child, of the Church, of the Lord Jesus Christ…  There is such a power!   As I read this over and over again, I could feel the love of God reaching through the author. 

It was like if I would have an opportunity to talk to a prodigal or wayward individual and try to convey to them all that had been done to make the benefits of a home and education available to them.  The love of parents!

This is a totally different account.  God wanted to show to us as holy brethren.  We live in a society where since people are hurt or injured they will become a recluse or always hold up a shield so that they won’t be near anyone.

There has been placed in every one of our lives rocks that have brought pain.  We can choose to build a shell around us, “Loving brought pain so I will never love again.”  Then we realize that there is a great lack in our life if we never have relationships especially with the brethren.

Holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling:  mothers and grandmothers, fathers and grandfathers, that is such a high calling.  It is a high calling to be a sister or a brother.  How different the life would be if they would submit to the conviction of God.

Then he wanted us to change our thought pattern to consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession Jesus Christ.

An invalid school teacher wrote the beautiful song, “More about Jesus would I learn.”  There is not one invalid in our audience tonight.  We are blessed to have the author call us holy brethren. 

“Wherefore:” In other words, since I have brought you to this point, I can say this.

In chapter one we see that God spoke in the old times by the inspiration of the prophets.  How many times has our weary soul been watered from the same water that came out of the rock that Moses struck? 

We have cried out, “God, I need wisdom and strength.”  God takes us to Proverbs 8, “Wisdom and strength is He.”  You can feel like a wet noodle until God speaks strength. 

I am concerned with what is happening to people that God speaks to and they are not taking heed.  God said, “My spirit will not always strive with man.”  There are some wicked individuals in this world.  When God turns people over to a reprobate mind that is another story. 

For those that you and I feel confident that God is speaking to them and they don’t do anything about it, may your obedience to the Word of God speaking to you, be a light and a conviction to everyone around you because of your carefulness as holy brethren.

Heb 1:1  God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

Heb 1:2  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Heb 1:3  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

I feel volumes could be written on this scripture.  Think of the volume of the son of God and the personal contact that you and I have had with Him.  To think that we have the awesome privilege of contacting the very Son of God that sits on the right hand of majesty.  All he has to do is speak His Word and worlds are formed.  When we catch a glimpse of the Son of God and the blessings that are ours, our faith is increased.

We have some cups that are supposed to be designed to not leak.  It is probably a good design but it does leak.  If it is sitting on a flat surface then you don’t have anything to worry about. 

I think of days that are tough.  Our path seems rocky.  Health is down, emotions are down.  The body is worn; the mind has a hard time getting it all together.  “God fill my cup.  I can have a full cup of expectation.”  I envision taking that cup and saying, “God fill this cup with expectation.” 

God is God.  It doesn’t matter how I feel our how the enemy is contesting us.  What God has promised, He has the power to fulfill.

Heb 1:4  Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

The angels have a definite work but there are some things that only the Son of God can do.

Heb 1:5  For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

I can feel the tenderness of God when he said, “I will be His father.”

God is the father to His only begotten Son.  He is the eternal God.  He is the God of this Son.  This same Father, this same Son, and the Holy Spirit of God chose the plan of adoption for all prodigals. 

What is so awesome is that He doesn’t refer to us as “the adopted one.”  You and I adopted but not treated as adopted! 

God, send laborers into the harvest field!  Can you imagine whole families and not one person even trying to be a Christian?  Not one truly saved and sanctified holy brother in the family.  It is a reality.  I am burdened.

“I will be His father.”  Isn’t it wonderful that it didn’t stop there?  There is something in the heart of God and in the heart of Jesus that they want all of us to have a Father and to have a fellowship: to be holy brethren unified. 

Heb 1:6  And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

Heb 1:7  And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.

God spoke of the angels as His ministers.  The torch can be a torch of love and of protection.  They are ministering spirits.  They minister to us. 

To the Son, “Thy throne is forever and ever.” 

Heb 1:8  But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

There is one thing that is sure of all the things that have come and gone, the Son, the Father, and the Holy Spirit.  When you and I go to the Son, the Holy Spirit, and the Father in prayer we say, “As far as I know everything is right and I am obeying the Word of God line upon line and precept upon precept.”  Then He holds out that scepter.

Heb 1:9  Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

What a beautiful example to love only righteousness and hate iniquity. 

Romans chapter one is a chapter that deals with such untimely things that they can never be spoken of in mixed crowds.  Hate sin, but have wisdom to know what to talk about.  Don’t put in these pure minds evil.  There is nothing worse than falsely accusing someone. 

He hated iniquity and the father gave Him an anointing the oil of gladness.  God wants every one of us to have this anointing.

We are living in sad times.  We could all have doom and gloom 24 hours a day.  I am not going to.  If the Son of man faced the cross with the oil of gladness, then I can be happy in an unhappy situation and stay there.

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

Contemplate, examine, scrutinize, investigate, ponder.  I believe that my life can be better tomorrow if I will consider Jesus more in my life.  He is the High Priest.