Brother Gary Sunday Evening 7/10/16

Isaiah 35 shows the promise of the gospel Day:

Isa 35:1  The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.

All of us can remember the pit from which we were dug.  We remember our inability to bear the fruits of the Spirit.  In our best efforts to be kind and loving we failed miserably.  Through Jesus Christ that desert condition can be changed.

Blossom abundantly:  When we get saved, immediately we begin to bear fruit.  That desire, the blossom, to please God! 

I have been saved a while, I thank God that that desire has not diminished.  We live in the Laodicean period of time but I believe that there are a host of saints that have not been overcome by that spirit of being rich, increased with goods, and have need of nothing.  They have it settled in their heart that, “We are going to serve God.”

What would God have for us?  Does God have something special for some of the workers to do?  Next Sunday night is rest home service.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the next Sunday there was an outreach for young people and children? 

It is vital that we keep our desire.  “If you then be risen with Christ, set your affection on things above.”

Isa 35:2  It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.

Rejoice with joy and singing:  One thought of meditation is having a song.  Our meditation turns into a song or into supplication.  Isn’t it wonderful to know how to be happy? 

I am glad that I have made my choice that the internet and the media will not take my song.  I know God.  I know what my God can do.  I know the testimony of Sister E. Faith Stewart. 

Job said, “I know my redeemer liveth.”

Get your inspiration, testimony, and song on your knees.  Any of these other things are just a source to take you away from God.  Stand in the ways; see and ask.

If you are thinking of going a certain direction ask those that went that way what it led them to.  There are so many that have chosen a different way: “I am not going to measure, I am not going to be pastored, etc.”  Where are they today? 

We are not going to let anything lead us to lose our joy and singing.

For all that enjoy the beauty of trees.  All the beauty of nature does not excel how great God is. 

There is nothing like seeing a beautiful maintained property with cattle and sheep, still it does not compare with what God has for us. 

When we are trying to help souls, when you feel, “God I need you so much.”  When you feel weak, don’t be embarrassed.  When I am exhausted I need to rest physically and rest in Jesus.

The message of the Gospel Day:  strengthen the weak hands.  If there is someone that is about to lose their grip on God, spend time on your knees.  Stay until God gives you a word of encouragement or else be quiet.

Confirm your feeble knees:  when one has not taken an active part before, if they stand with their knees trembling then we want to be, “We will stand behind to confirm the shaking knees.”

In 2016 the media has put a spell over people that people are full of fear.  They are afraid to go to the national parks.  The poor man that Brother Bill met won’t go out of the house.

Isa 35:3  Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.

Isa 35:4  Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.

Behold your God will come with vengeance.  There is a God in heaven that ordained the law of sowing and reaping.  We don’t need to put our hand to it.  It is in God’s hands. 

God will take care of His people.  God will provide for His people.  Look around at this congregation.  No one knows how we make it or how this church survives.  God knows. 

God has taken care of His people.  God doesn’t fail.  I remember when I was in the shadow of death before Kathy was born.  I lay in that bed and prayed that God would allow me to see that baby.  My mom would come and pray all the way to Missoula that God would spare my life.  I have lived until July 10, 2016.  God has not failed us.

When I didn’t saw logs then I didn’t get a check.  I don’t know where the saints found it but mom kept bringing in checks from the saints. 

One of the saddest days in my mother’s life was when she heard that her son, Jack, had died in a car wreck.  She felt herself begin to faint and she cried out to God.  She said she felt the very hands of God strengthening her and a staff of grace in her soul.

I refuse to live by fear.

He will come and save you:  God will take care of everything.  The law of sowing and reaping is already established.  I pray for the mercy of God to those that have done me wrong.

Isa 35:5  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

It takes a miracle from God for literal and spiritual eyes to be opened.  The prince and power of the air has blinded so many to the good things from God.  Miracles happen because someone intercedes and prays.  The eyes open.

I am looking for sinners, no matter who, to be saved.

The ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.  Those that never thought they would listen to God come to the place, “God you speak.”

Isa 35:6  Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

If you are praying for someone that seems to be lame spiritually, there is a God in heaven that can heal that limp.  They can become a deer, and those things that always hindered them they will say, “I am not going to let that hinder me anymore.”  And zoom.

Don’t lose your song.  Have a song. 

God is God.  When God gives a song, you have a song. 

Streams in the desert:  you and I were the wilderness and the desert.  I believe there are those in this audience, you have a testimony to tell and to print how that you were once a desert but God caused a change to take place and now out of that heart flows a stream of living water.

The parched ground: isn’t it wonderful that lives that have been so dry and empty, wind-whipped over and over again, can become full of water?

We need to make sure we have a lot of water when we pray, teach, and sing.  People from Babylon are really dry.  Let the love of God, life, joy, a burden for souls, a testimony let them feel that and that parched ground of their soul will realize that there is something lacking.  Babylon leaves people dry and empty. Truth leaves them well watered.

A highway shall be there: travel a highway.  Don’t live below your privileges.  This is talking about a way that is higher than this world. 

“I am traveling a highway, a beautiful road, it leads up to heaven the home of the soul it is marked by his footprints, …”

A highway and a way.  There is a way to get above this world: Jesus is the way the truth and the life.  That is the Word of God.  Get above this world.  A way of holiness:  Clean eyes, clean ears, clean heart, and clean conscience

The wayfaring man:  a young man that had been on drugs got saved in the Carmichael congregation.  He had no mind to work.  A brother gave him a job and by doing so he got a job going around after him and picking up.  One day the scene changed. 

You may have a relatives that no one says can make it.  If you will get a heart cry out to God and let the body of Christ help then he shall be made whole.

The lions, the ravenous beast, cannot travel this highway.  Isn’t that encouraging and challenging?  Lord help my spirit to never be the spirit of a lion, ready to destroy anyone that doesn’t agree with me. 

Ravenous beast: people get on a hobby horse and it becomes a paranoia, a ravenous beast.  Sometimes people get it in for you.  “I am going to have his job.  I am going to mess up this.”  That may happen out there but there is a highway that those spirits cannot travel.

There are ugly spirits that are mean to their children, they are mean to their husband or in their wife.  As the man you married gets older, you need the law of kindness.  If there is any carnality or pride in your heart, you will become a beast mean and ugly. 

It is the same with us husbands.  As we age we realize, “God help me to stay humble before you.  Help me to remember how we made our vows.”  The wife is good to the husband and the husband is good to their wife.  That is how it should be.

Oh to be kind!  Those that care for the aged, go before God, “Let there be kindness.”  Anyone that works in the school or in the public, in real-estate, you deal with people whose work ethic is not very high.  It will be trying.  While you are running they may be standing around visiting.  You cannot make everything right.  You must have the law of kindness.

God help us to know how to treat people that don’t do a good job.  It wouldn’t be just in Plains school system where people would be sluffing off a little.  All that work in the public remember, “I am here to be an example.  I am not here to fix anything.  I am here only to be an example.”  If you feel a churning within then find an altar somewhere.

The redeemed.  Those that have been bought back.  When we were in sin, we were lost and without God.  Jesus went to the cross and shed his blood that you and I could be redeemed from all sin.  He suffered without the gate that you and I could be sanctified.  Isn’t it wonderful that we don’t have to be partially redeemed but can be totally redeemed?

Isa 35:7  And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.

Isa 35:8  And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

Isa 35:9  No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:

Isa 35:10  And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

I have proved this.  If I whine, then I don’t have joy.  When I have a song, then I have another song.  When I have good mediation then I have more good meditation. When I allow the ways of the world to creep in then I am unhappy here and there and somewhere else.

We serve a God that ordained that in Zion we would have songs, and joy, everlasting joy.  God in his abundance gives more joy and gladness. Sorrow and sighing flee away.

Brother Gary Sunday Morning 7/10/16

God’s counsel to mankind from eternity.

Jer 6:16  Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

Stand in the ways.  For the youngest child here this morning, even as children there are many ways to take.  When you enter preschool and grade school there are many ways to take.  Daily every one of us is given an opportunity to take a different way. 

There are many avenues that want your time, your affection, your thoughts, and your meditation.  Stand in the ways, and see. 

For every avenue or thought that comes to our mind, for every way that we may spend our first hour of the day.  I endeavor to spend my first waking hour in meditation and supplication before God.  This helps me to get a proper focus on the day before the phone rings or there is any contact with the outside world.  I urge you to make it a practice of your life to always spend time in meditation, in supplication, in reading, and in enjoying the good things of God.

What comes to your mind as an invitation from the outside world as a way to take for that day; stand in the ways and see. 

It is important, children, young people, parents, grandparents, husbands, and wives to realize that for every way that is given to my mind, the instruction is: See. “How is this going to affect me personally?  What will it do with my relationship with God, and my relationship with my brother or my sister?  What will it do with my calling to work for God and my desire to reach to souls?” 

Everyone with children and grandchildren should have a strong desire to know God and to know the way of God and truth. 

Everyone in this audience is burdened for someone that is in spiritual trouble.  We want to tell them, “Look at the way that is offered and ask, “How is that going to affect me.  Will it take away from the time to do that which God has called me to do?  Will it take from my time to be a good husband or a good wife?”  We only have so much time left to be a good husband or wife.

After my father got killed my mother who was a wonderful woman and saint of God said, “I wish I had been a better wife.”  I asked, “How could you have been?”

Be a good son and a good daughter.  The world wants to take all of your mind.  It is hard to visit with children today because they have taken the way of technology.  We need to have someone teach on good manners in technology. 

Stand in the ways and see; then question is, “Ask.”  Brother Sanders told me that often when he meets someone and can get an open door he says, “Ask me any question you would like to know about spiritual things.” 

Ask God: “God, I want the old paths.  I want that which you have for me.  ‘I am just passing through life, Lights of home I can see.’  It won’t be long and time will have ended.  I am asking you God to help me to find the old paths.”

The old paths: God began with Adam and Eve teaching the old paths.  Much could be taught from the book of Genesis about the old paths.  God was good to give them boundaries of what to do and what not to do.  He gave them the wonderful experience of having fellowship with God.  Part of the old paths is having fellowship with God.

“There is nothing sadder in all creation than a soul in isolation.”  I am trying to teach the children and young people how to break the yoke of living for themselves and not reaching out in friendship. 

What is beautiful is when a little child has a humble spirit and seeing someone that no one else is paying attention to, going to reach out and find a common ground. 

God so marvelously granted you and me the intuition to hunger for fellowship.  We get hungry for fellowship and to commune with God. 

Always commune with God before you go to commune with someone else.  If you go in the flesh then you will mess it up.  If you go, go with a heart full of love and compassion thinking, “I could not only be in their shape but in worse shape.”

God came in the cool of the day.  There is a cool of the day in the evening and in the morning.

God remembered Noah.  However bad it is today, don’t tell me what you read on the internet, I don’t believe that stuff.  Tell me what you know because you have personally fasted and prayed and gone to a soul because you were burdened.  Don’t quote the internet; quote what you found when you were out working with souls. 

The old path began in Genesis in communing with God.  It was when God spoke to Noah, “The very imagination of man’s heart is only evil from youth continually.”  Yet Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

The other path also began in Genesis: temptation to disobey.  Disobedience.  Every man is tempted when He is drawn away of his own lust and enticed.  Sin brings forth death.

The old path is the good way.  I won’t be able to with words give you the beauty that I would like to of what the “good way” means.  It is past the ability of an artist to describe the good way. 

The definition is in the Strong’s Concordance: Hebrew entrance 2896.

Good - H2896  טוֹב  ṭôb tobe

beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, X fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, liest, -ly, -ness, -s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, X most, pleasant, + pleaseth, pleasure, precious, prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well ([-favoured]).

It makes me think of the song: “I am traveling a highway, a beautiful road.” 

If we are not careful, we will be traveling the wrong road and all we will see in the journey of holiness is: “It is so hard to be different.”  Those out there don’t think it is hard to be different.  They are headed to their next tattoo appointment or for their next drink.

You are yoked in your mind; if you think it is hard to serve God.

At ease is one of the meanings of the good way.  If you find it hard then it is because you make it hard.  My wife and Kayla can take white spelt flour, make it into balls and roll it and pat it and I can make your mouth water talking about fresh tortillas off of the grill.  They don’t think that way is hard.  They love it.

Some people talk about serving God like people that drive through Glacier park and say, “I went and saw Glacier park.  I went over going to the sun road and I didn’t think it was all that great.”

If serving God in your mind doesn’t seem beautiful then you don’t know it.  It is the best.  How does it compare to the other?  It is better.  The old paths are better! 

The good way is bountiful.  Isn’t it wonderful that there is a plan to give and give and give?  Being bountiful means having much.  It is not talking about three fishing poles or two hooks.  It is not about that type of thing.  It is speaking of having a bountiful attitude and a bountiful spirit.  Jesus said to give. 

I am asking you children to ask God to help you to be a giver.  It is not long in a child’s life and the way of sin opens up.  I talked to Dylan yesterday and he said, “I wish I would have talked to you that day that I was on that rock crying.”  

Young people, children, church at Paradise, the way of the transgressor is hard.  Ask God to cause you to be a giver.  Help someone else.  Start at home.  Be a good helper to your mom.  Don’t be a whiner or a complainer.  When the funds are low and you are not eating your favorite food, then be thankful for what you have that is not your favorite food.

We may not be known for having a lot of money or anything else, but may we be known for having hospitality and being friendly. 

What makes you bountiful is standing in the way and seeking the old paths.  I want to be that one that is not always talking about how hard we have it, but that I give bountifully.  Give of self.  Give of time. 

Beautiful, best, bountiful, better.  Cheerful. 

If you let the enemy he will give you a path that you are always sad.  Everyone in this audience could have the journal, “My life is so sad.”  God has got oil to pour into your wounds.  You can get healed and go forward.

Cheerful.  You say, “I have this wrong and that wrong.”  You can still be cheerful.  You can say, “I want something from God so that when I meet a saint or a sinner I can tell them, “I found a scripture that makes me want to shout the aisles.”” 

There is a healer.  I was in Miami and a young man drove down from Tampa and sang this song:

When my life is tested by some bitter trial. 
When the tempter tries to tempt me in life’s way. 
When darkness dreary falls across my journey
Then my Jesus gives a very special grace. 

A very special grace in times of trouble. 
A very special grace to see me through. 
A very special grace just to heal all my heartaches.
How Jesus wants to give this special grace to you.

I know that I was never worthy. 
My sins demanded that I be punished too. 
Then Jesus took my place upon Mount Calvary
And that special grace is here to see me through.

Stand in the ways and ask for the old paths.  Is your burden heavy?  I believe that there is a path that no fowl knows and the vultures eye has not seen.  There is a very special grace. 

Glad.  Good.  Gracious.  The good way is a kind way.  It is a loving way. 

Pleasant journey.  I read about a man that reminded me of my self.  He was at David Livingston’s funeral in England.  There were thousands lining the streets to pay honor to David.  There was among them this man weeping and weeping. 

Someone finally went to him and asked, “Why are you weeping.  Can I help you?”  He said, “No you cannot.  David and I went to school together.  David chose the good way.  I chose the world.  It led me until soon I will fill a drunkard’s grave.” 

I was close to going that way.  It all started fun and games.  There were pretty girls and, I thought, good friends.  Let me tell you that the good way is pleasant and full of pleasure: real joy, real happiness.

It is precious.  Full of prosperity.  I think of serving God.  How we sell everything in that thought and give it back to God.  Then how He gives us houses, lands, friends, brothers, sisters, cars, trucks, and gives us richly all things to enjoy. 

What is so wonderful is this good way prepares us.  Isn’t it wonderful to be prepared?  Isn’t it wonderful when you feel, “I need to pray again and I need to study that.”  Down the road you realize, “That is a part of the good way helping me to be ready.”

Sweet.  God has a way of sweetening the toughest spots.  Wealth. Rest.

The description of the other path: “The way of the transgressor is hard,” and full of disappointments.

How many people have you talked to whose life has gone into shambles and they say, “I never thought it would turn out like this.  I had hopes, dreams, and promises. 

How many young men and women are so broken hearted?  They heard promises by given by the prince of the world, the devil: “It will not be with you as it was with those others.”  Until the claws get in, then broken dreams, broken men and women, and broken children.

The good path is a wonderful way.  I visited a lady in the rest home and she is living in the past.  It is sad.  It has taken her and captivated her mind, the injustice of the past.

Joh 14:1  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

Joh 14:2  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

Joh 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Joh 14:4  And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

Joh 14:5  Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

I go to prepare a place for you.  Isn’t that wonderful?  Everyone here knows that we will not be here forever.  Sometimes we wonder, “What is going to happen?”  Jesus said that He cannot lie.  “I will not lie.”  He said, “I go to prepare a place for you.  I will come and receive you.  I will guide you.”

Isn’t it wonderful to stand in the ways?  “What should I do Lord?”  There are many voices on each way.  I don’t care what you contemplate or meditate, there will be voiced upon voices, “This is the way.  It is better here.  I have more to offer here.”

There is a still small voice that says, “This is the way.  I will guide you.”

Thomas asked the question, “How can we know the way.”  Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.  No man cometh unto the Father but by me.”

We all will be given the opportunity for this way, that way, some other way, or God’s way.  You say, “It would be quite expensive for me to choose God’s way.  I might lose the influence of this or that one.  I might get in trouble here or there.”  Whatever path you choose there will be the influence of someone that you will lose. 

A song was written, “Pick me up on your way down.” All the promises cause people to think, “This is going to be great.”  Then the tumble effect happens.  They find themselves tumbling down.

Jesus said, “Stand in the ways.  See.  Ask for the old paths.  For therein is the good way.” 

You shall find rest.  Soul rest. 

Brother Rick Wednesday Evening 7/6/16

1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Stay on the path that God has for you.  God has a plan for our lives.  He wants us to stay on that path that He designed for us to follow.  If we tune our spiritual ears to listen to Him, He will guide and instruct us.

Jer 6:16 a  Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.

Ways: a course, direction, or manner. 

I want my life to be directed by God so that I can stay on the right path.  We will come to forks in the road where there are different choices that we can make.  We want to make our choice under direction from God and His people. 

If you get on the wrong fork then the farther you go the farther you have to backtrack to get on the right road. 

The old paths are tried and true.  Thank God for the saints that can help us.  We are fortunate to have a godly pastor and saints to give us counsel and direction.  Praise God.

No other way will bring satisfaction to our life.  The wrong road will not have the peace and joy that God has for us.  Only the bible way will lead us to the desired end of heaven.  There is a wonderful reward on the end of the way that God chooses for us.

If we go in a direction that God will have us to, then we will be able to discern how to continue on this journey.  We may or may not all have a number of years ahead.  We want to make it.

It is a usual thing to ask direction when you come to a fork in the road.

The broad way would be easy to follow.  We don’t want to pick the easy way.  We want to pick God’s way.  The wrong path only appears at the beginning to be easy.  But it always ends on paths that are farther off the way.

Psa 23:3  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Paths of righteousness:  God’s paths are the only paths where we do right.  If we are on a path that is not of righteousness then we are on the wrong way.  God’s paths always bring honor to Him. 

We represent something and it is the most important thing going in this world. We represent the church of the living God.  We represent Jesus Himself.  Our good decisions may influence someone else so they do not make the wrong decisions.

Isa 35:8  And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

Isa 35:9  No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:

I want to be on that highway of holiness don’t you?

Isa 35:10  And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Zion represents the church of God.  What a wonderful place to be!  We want to stay on the path that keeps us there.

Sorrow and sighing shall flee:  We go down these paths for God and we will face some sorrow and difficulties.  If you will keep on the path then you will get beyond the things in life that are difficult.  God uses the difficulties of life to refine us.  We cannot escape the things that God uses to refine us.

This highway of holiness is different than the world.  Aren’t you glad that you don’t have to follow their course to try to find satisfaction?  I was 26 years old when I got saved.  If you had seen me prior then you wouldn’t think there was much hope of me.

It is wonderful to be in the way of holiness.  It is a way foreign to the world.  I want to be different in a good way from the world. 

God has made safe passage for those that serve Him.  All we need to do is have a desire to stay on the path that God has for us and He will help us.  We may make mistakes in life and temporarily get off on the wrong road, but if we have the desire to make it through and stay true to God then He will make a way.  He will not fail us.

1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

When the winds come sometimes they are mind battles.  We are going to have those things come to us in life.  For me the mind battles are the hardest to go through.  We feel, “I don’t even know if I am saved or have something from God.”

The slimy devil will make it seem that these trials will last forever, “You’ll never make it; you are done.  This is it.”  He is a big fat liar.  God will bring us through.

Psa 25:10  All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

Those things that are on the pathway of serving God are important.  Without mercy it would be difficult to go on after making a mistake.  God has mercy and realizes that we are learning as we go to be better Christians.

The truth will show us the way and give direction in all our decisions.  Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

God will help us to do what we need to do to keep going on for Him after we have failed.  We need God’s wisdom to keep going on in our life for His ways are higher than ours.  If we were to continue after our own understanding we would be in duck soup.

It is wonderful to get wisdom that is higher than ours. 

From reading Oswald Chambers I have learned that it is important that we give up our right to ourselves.  God will guide us.  We don’t have to try to figure out all the answers in our own pea brain.  He will help us through and He will not fail us.

Many of our own ideas should become null and void and allow the thoughts of God to lead, guide, and direct us.

Psa 119:35  Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.

It is a delightful thing to keep God’s commandments.  There are many things in the world that after people do them it brings them down and makes them feel bad.  But it is a delightful thing to keep God’s commandment.  It is delightful to be freed from the power that once held us.

The psalmist asked God to make him to go in the paths of His commandments.  I want to be willing to go God’s way but if I have some hang-up I want to have the same attitude, “God make me to go thy way.” 

I want to serve God.  I want to make it.  We go through difficulties and trials, sometimes they go on for a while, but we always get the victory eventually if we stay true and faithful to Him.  Thank God.

Pro 2:7  He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.

Pro 2:8  He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.

Pro 2:9  Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.

If we are walking uprightly then God will be a shield for us and protect us from many things.  He preserves the way of His saints. 

May God help us to understand every good path; He wants our understanding to increase.

Pro 4:11  I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.

As we go through these paths of life we need to be as if we were in school wanting to get an “A” grade.  We need to learn and remember the things that God teaches us so that we don’t have to make the same mistakes again and again.  If possible we want to learn from other’s mistakes so that we don’t have to make them

Staying on the path God would have us to do shouldn’t be hard; God is there to help us.  It is wonderful that we have access to God through Jesus Christ.  When we start to get off on the wrong road a bit we can look up to God, “This doesn’t seem quite right.  Am I doing right here?”  God can help us to be on the right path.

Heb 12:13  And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

Adam Clarke –

Make straight paths for your feet - That is, Take the straight path that is before you, do not go in crooked or rough ways, where are stones, briers, and thorns, by which you will be inevitably lamed, and so totally prevented from proceeding in the way; whereas, if you go in the even, proper path, though you have been wounded by getting into a wrong way, that which was wounded will be healed by moderate, equal exercise, all impediments being removed. The application of all this to a correct, holy deportment in religious life, is both natural and easy.

There is a proper way to go hiking through the woods.  You don’t want to take any old trail.  You want to stay on the path that will lead you to your desired destination: heaven.

Don’t be tripping and stumbling around.  This is a journey that we must succeed at.  Check our map book daily and compare to where we are on the path.  Make sure we are in a safe place and a proper on the path so that we don’t just stumble around to get through.

Mat 7:14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

It is a narrow way but it is the right way.  I want to be on the path that God has for me

Rom 6:4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

We need to have that new creature experience.  We want to be a new creature in Christ Jesus.  It will start us on the path of righteousness

Eph 5:2  And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

We want to help as many others as we can to get on this path.  The way to do it is to walk in love.  Show people that we care about them

Gal 5:16  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

We need to be guided by God.  It is awesome how God works to bring us in contact with those that He would have us to work with.

Eph 5:15  See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

We need the light of God especially when the going gets tough.  When we try to find our way in the dark it is tough.  You don’t want to be lost at night in the woods. 

Jesus is that good light.  He can shine that beam right on the path in the darkest night.  We realize, “Thank God He made a way through once again.”

1Jn 2:6  He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

Thank God we have all this documentation of how Jesus lived and what He said.  Sometimes we forget how great it is to have this red letter edition bible and see the actual words that Jesus spoke. 

The early church had just a few scraps of paper with a few scriptures that they could get a hold of.  We need to take advantage and have good devotions and really study the Word out so that we can walk as He walked.

Brother Danny Sanders Sunday Evening 7/3/16

When I was seven, for the first time in my life I went to a Vacation Bible School in a neighborhood where we lived.  I had never been to church before in my entire life even though my grandfather was a minister. 

I was tender as a child.  I didn’t know who God was.  I talked to Him and had all kinds of conversations to Him.  While at VBS, I got out of my seat to go to the altar and a gentleman met me and told me to go back to my seat. 

At 14 my family moved back to Kentucky.  For the first time in my life I went to the church where my grandfather was a minister.  At the end of the service I got up to go to the altar and he met me and told me to go back and sit down.  It was actually a blessing.

I was in the military then and lived in Germany for three years.  My next experience was getting to a dark place in my life.  I was discouraged and unhappy.  I had been married to my wife for only a brief time.  It was stormy out and I was by myself thinking about life.  My friends only wanted to party and I was no better than them.

My wife came home and I said, “Karen can we talk?  I am not happy.  I am happy with you but there is something wrong inside and we have to do something other than what we are doing.”  We got up that Sunday and went to a ridiculous church.  They spent their time talking about how to raise money for a bus.

The next Sunday we went to the Church of God.  Brother Sam was all fired up.  He was bouncing all over the stage in cowboy boots.  When it came to altar call I knew that my wife wanted to go up.  I told her, “If you want to go then I am not going to stop you.” 

She got saved that day.  That put me in a pickle, there were things that I wanted to figure out.  We went to a young couples meeting.  I went to see if they lived it outside of church.  About mid-day I realized that they were real. 

I remember pulling my wife aside and saying, “This is unreal.  It won’t surprise me if we don’t sit around a campfire and sing songs.”  That is what we did.  I heard the testimonies that were given and realized that this was possible.  There were others out there like me that had made mistakes and God had forgiven them and they had been changed.

I asked if I could say something.  I told them my heart was like a frog and felt like it could jump across the Grand Canyon.  I told them I wanted what they had.  I got saved that night.  31 years ago Tuesday, July 5^th. 

God is a big God.  It is worth it to stay true. 

Psa 23:1  A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Psa 23:2  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

Psa 23:3  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Psa 23:4  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Psa 23:5  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Psa 23:6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Does the goodness and mercy that we are a recipient of, as a result of being under the care and management of God, benefit others? 

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:  If we are carrying a spiritual cup that runs over, were we to look behind, what would we see? 

The title of the thought tonight is what we leave behind.

When the world looks at our lives: our coworkers, our friends, or our loved ones look at our lives, what do they see?  I can tell you that they are watching.

Do they see hope, do they see love, do they see charity?  When the world looks at our lives what do they see?  What they see is what we leave behind. 

Eleanor Roosevelt said, “Great minds discuss ideas.  Average minds discuss events.  Small minds discuss people.  Learn from the mistakes of others.  You cannot live long enough to make them all yourself. To handle yourself use your head. To handle others use your heart.  Many people will walk in and out of our life.  Only true friends leave footprints.”

1Co 13:1  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

We need to have a balanced message.  We don’t want to find ourselves out of place. 

1Co 13:2  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

1Co 13:3  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

1Co 13:4  Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

1Co 13:5  Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

1Co 13:6  Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

1Co 13:7  Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

1Co 13:8  Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

1Co 13:9  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

1Co 13:10  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

1Co 13:11  When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

1Co 13:12  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

1Co 13:13  And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

An account is given of two men that had stayed at another’s home.  Once gone, one of the gentlemen realized that he was missing his hat.  The reply came when he asked, “I have searched from top to bottom and cannot find your hat.  The only thing left is your blessing.”  That is what we want to leave.

Isa 52:7  How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

How are we doing this evening?  Is the goodness of our lives proclaiming good news?  Do we leave men and women the taste of the hope that was bestowed upon us?  There are men and women that are desperate for hope just as desperate as we were before it was bestowed upon us.

Gal 6:1  Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

In dealing with souls whose land has been ravished and stricken with poverty; those overtaken in a fault.  Will our dealings be with a spirit of meekness, teaching to a path of righteousness that frees a soul that would be desolate or does it leave a soul without hope of ever changing.

The religious world claims that we just have to do our best and sin more or less every day.  We know the kind of trail that leaves behind.

1Ki 10:1  And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions.

She was looking for truth.  She traveled about 1400 miles on a camel.  It is an example of doing whatever it takes to seek truth. 

1Ki 10:2  And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.

1Ki 10:3  And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not.

1Ki 10:4  And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built,

1Ki 10:5  And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her.

Truth will satisfy.

1Ki 10:6  And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom.

Can others say this of us? 

1Ki 10:7  Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.

Our testimony matters.

1Ki 10:8  Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.

This demonstrates what a happy life we have.

1Ki 10:9  Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice.

Solomon was conducting his life in such a way that she heard and came and tried him with hard questions.  These questions could only be satisfied with truth.

She was satisfied and said, “It was a true report that I heard.”  The evidence of the goodness and mercy that follows those under the good leadership.

The bible leaves us with a legacy of men and women whose life has been in obedience to the Good Shepherd.

Ruth was a Moabite woman that forsook her true heritage to cling to the people of God.  Naomi’s husband and her two sons had died.  Naomi chose to return to Judea. 

Rth 1:7  Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah.

Initially both daughters in law chose to go with her.  But only Ruth chose to remain.  Her life had been influenced by Naomi.

Rth 1:14  And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.

Rth 1:15  And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.

Rth 1:16  And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

The results of Naomi and Ruth’s testimony:

Rth 4:13  So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son.

Rth 4:14  And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.

Rth 4:15  And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him.

Rth 4:16  And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it.

Rth 4:17  And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Isn’t this a blessing? 

We have a great hope to offer men and women.  We serve a great God.  He is King of kings and Lord of lords.  He is the creator and he is able to deliver.  He can deliver the drunkard, quicken the spirit of one that has been beat down, and give hope.

Do we leave souls with hope?  I pray that we do.

Luk 2:8  And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

Luk 2:9  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

Luk 2:10  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

Luk 2:11  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Luk 2:12  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

Luk 2:13  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Luk 2:14  Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Luk 2:15  And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

Luk 2:16  And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

Luk 2:17  And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

Luk 2:18  And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

They all marveled at those things that were told them by the shepherds:  The message of Christ needs to stir one far and near that others could be stirred to seek the truth. 

What is our message leaving behind?  We are all preaching a message. 

If I were to die, a few days after I passed, someone would stand and give my eulogy.  The minister would probably invite those to come and say something of the one that passed.  It is at that time that the true eulogy is given.  The testimony of those that you left behind.