Brother Gary Sunday Morning 7/17/16

Brother Gary Sunday Morning 7/17/16

Mat 5:14  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

The setting of this scripture was that Jesus went up into a mountain and sat down and began to teach the multitude.  Not far from where He was sitting there was a community on another hill.  He said, “A city that is set upon a hill cannot be hid.”

We are the light of the world.  It is a marvelous plan that God designed that the light would be taken into so many places every week by everyone that is saved.  Where God allows you to be, He allows you to be a light to anyone in darkness, an encouragement to anyone that needs encouragement.

When those lights come together it makes a city.  The plan of God for the local congregation, the lighthouse, and the church is that it shine very bright.

This can be the message of an evangelist.  It probably has been many times.  The message of the beatitudes could be used not only for salvation, consecration, or sanctification, whatever the need is God can inspire it and use it to cover many needs.

Mat 5:3  Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

That man, woman, boy, or girl that recognizes, “I am in sin.  I need a life change, a heart change, and a new mind and spirit.”  That is the message that you and I have for those that are in sin.

It is so vital that we always recognize our need of God.  However long that you have been saved, you still need God.  However long you have been sanctified you still need God.  However God uses you in whatever capacity like with E. Faith Stewart, Fanny Crosby, John Stewart, etc. we never reach the place where we are not benefited if we recognize that we are poor in spirit.

They shall be blessed.  It is a wonderful thing to be blessed of God.  “O that men would praise the Lord for His goodness.”  We want to return and give Him our thanks and praise.  It has been worth it all. 

The blessings of God in sending His son, making provisions that we could be saved, sanctified, and through His spirit blessed with unity.  All these are great blessings.

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  No one will reach the kingdom of God or the eternal heavens without realizing the blessings of God.

Mat 5:4  Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

When men and women recognize that they have sinned against God, it brings a real contriteness and brokenness.  They shall be comforted.

Being comforted by God His Son, and the Holy Spirit is a real comfort.  Our brothers and sisters in Christ, the God in them reaching out to us, speaking a word and giving a song is a blessing as well.

Comfort: drawn by God to be wrapped in His loving arms.  Everyone in this audience probably has known heartbreak, heartache, sorrow, and disappointment.  There are many ways that you can go when heartache comes your way.

My father taught us that at a time of grief, loss, or disappointment people’s hearts either turn towards God or they turn away from God. 

They shall be comforted: drawn by God to be wrapped in His loving arms.  As I heard the cry of this congregation for children, for missions, for the aged, and for the lost, I thought of this thought: there is something within those that have experienced the mercy of God to want to have an outpouring of mercy toward souls.

Drawn by God, not just to have a little feel of, “I am here Gary,” to feel His loving arms wrap us.  I don’t know much about babies.  I have always been a little uncomfortable with tiny babies.  I want my wife and the sisters to take care of them until they get a little bigger.

With a newborn they liked to be wrapped tight so that they feel the security that they felt when they were in the womb.  That is how God is with the children in Christ. 

The children will be starting school in a few weeks.  There are some here that are headed to college.  I don’t know what I will be facing in the next week.  It could be joy; it could be sorrow.  In your sorrow it is alright to mourn.  God is not a God that despises tears.

It is wonderful to know that He will come to where you are.  If you are poor in spirit and mourning He will come to where you are. 

I have not been in everyplace where each one of you could possibly have been.  You in this audience that have had children could teach me of the pain of having a child.  My mother had a son that was wounded in Korea.  She told me of her sorrow and pain and how God came and brought comfort.

God wraps his loving arms around us and that God of eternal power, experience, depth, and might comes to us where we are but He never leaves us there.

I wish I had a journal of how many times since Karen and I have been married that we didn’t know what to do next.  We prayed and sought God.  We did our best to pray and then would table it for a week before making a decision on things that were important and had spiritual possibilities to it.  We would then decide whether we should or shouldn’t. 

If God wants you to do something then there is a cost.  If you are thinking of not doing the will of God then look down the road and see what it will cost.  My sister never thought that she would end up where she ended. 

What will this cost us?  Are we willing to do what it costs to be in the perfect will of God?  Karen and I have always endeavored to do this in our life.  With the help of God we will always be willing to pay the cost.

Mat 5:5  Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

The humble receive grace.  Grace has ten meanings in the Greek dictionary of the New Testament.  I want to pick out a few about the meek that are given the grace of God. 

It is the divine influence upon the heart and its reflection out into our life.  It is wonderful that we have grace available.  Grace is the unmerited favor of God.  When you and I think of God’s grace appearing unto us:

Tit 2:11  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

Tit 2:12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

The unmerited favor of God: to think that you and I by being humble and meek and realizing that “I don’t know everything and I really need the divine intervention in my life.”  Life is promising to everyone that is here. 

1Co 2:9  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

The future is very bright with Christ.  There may be darkness in the world but it doesn’t have to be in your earthen vessel. 

Psa 107:8  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

You don’t have to get old for your health to fail.  I was 26 or 27 and I lay in a room dying. 

You don’t have to be old for your health to fail.  I was in the hospital the day that young teenager died from Noxon.  Doctor Far came out weeping and crying.  There was wailing in the room.  A teenager was summonsed.  You don’t have to be old to be failing in health.

Go on to what God has before you.  There are good things in store.

Grace is a benefit.  The meek are given and bestowed holy desires, they hunger for the perfect will of God.  They shall inherit the earth.  The meek are blessed with being led to spiritual Canaan land.  God wants everyone that is saved to be sanctified and enjoying the spiritual Canaan land.

Delivered from Egyptian bondage.  God always gives the message to get out of sin and go forward to each one that is in bondage of sin.  Pharaoh said, “Leave.  I don’t want you here.”  Moses instructed them, “Go forward.” 

Remember it was the Passover night in Egypt when God gave the instruction that “This is the night of the Passover and the deliverance.  Choose a perfect lamb and put the blood on the door post of the home.”  If the family was small they could use the blood for two families. 

This is vital.  I am so glad that I am out of Egyptian bondage, of sin.  I have no thought of going back to sin.  When the enemy says, “It will be easier to give up.”  Go back to that night when you repented and recognized, “I need to have a change in my attitude and my relationships.”  There have been many books written how to improve attitude, the workplace, or marriage.  I want to tell you how to improve: it is to have the blood of Jesus applied to the door post of our soul.

When we are born we are born with a nature to sin.  That nature leads every child to realize when they come to the age of accountability that they have sinned and need to be saved.  When I was living in sin God convicted my conscience, my heart, and my soul.  I knew that I was lost and without God. 

God always offers the best.  Don’t fall for the bait that the world offers.  Look down the road and think, “Where will this take me?  What will that do to my spiritual life?”  Make sure you are saved and as new born babes desire the sincere milk of the Word.  I cannot emphasize the value of having your devotions. 

It is ok to struggle.  Don’t give up in the struggle.  Keep praying.  Keep studying.  Keep pressing.  You might feel, “I am not smart, I have trouble reading, and I have trouble getting lessons together.”  Keep reading and praying.  The more you do then it will not be long until you develop an appetite and desire and find the privilege of reading and praying.

After you get saved, you begin living your life.  It is a real experience to get saved.  You come to the place eventually where you recognize that you have an inward foe.  There is a part of the carnal man there.  Carnality doesn’t have the same traits in everyone.  One of my carnal traits was I was stingy.  I was selfish. 

It was not long until I realized that all those self traits had to go.  Pride is a part of carnality.  There was pride in my heart.  God and His people knew how to draw a good line.  I realized, “That pride has to go.”

If you want to have your own way, that testimony will not bring you to sanctification but will keep you in the wilderness. 

The traits of being in the wilderness:  they murmured.  Can you imagine being delivered by the mighty hand of God from making bricks with clay and straw and it being harder and harder and then being delivered with the cloud and fire? 

Can you imagine they made an idol?  Am I making any idols in my life?  Do I have idols in my life?  Is there something that I could make an idol of?  If you have idols in your life it is a part of the wilderness.

They desired Egypt.  The wilderness causes people to desire what is out in Egypt.  It is very expensive and not only in dollars and dimes.  Then they rebelled against Moses.  The wilderness was only there designed for them to go through.  After you get saved, enjoy walking with God but remember for all the things that keep you from the goal of Canaan, “I have to get through this to get to Canaan.”

It was in Canaan Land that the giants were defeated.  If in your life you always go well until… Is that your giant?  Get to Canaan.  In Canaan there was a land of milk and honey.  God has such rich thoughts and life for us.

There remains a rest for the people of God.  That is Canaan land and sanctification.  “I am at rest with you God.  I am not seeking to find satisfaction here, there or anywhere else.  Christ is my all in all.”

Brother Gary Wednesday Evening 7/13/16

Mat 5:14  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

If there is any desire that I have, as a pastor, it is that the true light would shine in this earthen vessel.  The next desire is that we as a church would realize that we are the light of the world.  Every time you or I are seen we represent this message.

We are taught to not put the bushel over the candlestick.  We all must have times that we have to put ourselves into subjection or we will have a thought pattern that will, or someone else will have an agenda that will, or something else will put a bushel over us so that we don’t shine for God.

Mat 5:1  And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:

Mat 5:2  And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

Mat 5:3  Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

If we are going to be the light of the world then we must realize how much we need God.  The Laodicean spirit in this time age will hinder us from realizing our need of God.  It is wonderful to be still shaking and trembling before God. It is wonderful to realize that “I still need God.”

How we need to pray and value prayer!  If not we will not be a light when sinners come in to church.  We appreciate that we have a building and those that decorate, keep the lawn, or work to maintain the building, but the building itself is not a light.  It must be filed with men and women loving God and sold out to the message.

I think of the song, “Oh sweet will of God.”  Your will being in the will of God is the most wonderful thing in the world. 

The poor in spirit realize the value of meditation.  It is a challenge in 2016 there are many things available 24/7 that would curb meditation.

E.M. Bounds wrote the book, “The preacher and prayer.”  Brother Hines and Brother Maconahae entrusted a copy to me.  It says that meditation comes before supplication.

There is a value of communicating with God.  We need lessons in knowing how to commune with God when there are so many things that try to break our thought patterns from communing with God.

To be alone with God, to have God visit us, to have God correct us; to have God visit us and say, “Son humble yourself under the mighty hand of God.  Prepare to speak to your grandchildren, your sons, your daughters and your sons and daughters in law. 

Teachers, never teach without communing with God.  Have it checked with: “God, am I presenting this in a way that will show a city set on a hill?”

We will be the same as Babylon if we are not a city set on a hill.  We have the right name but the right name doesn’t bring the right spirit.  It comes by us realizing how desperately we need God.

There is the kingdom of heaven.  I think of all that is ours in humbling ourselves before God and realizing what the kingdom of God is:  Righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Mat 5:4  Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are those that know the grief of God.  God is not grieved with the righteous.  He is not grieved with the saved and the sanctified that are seeking and finding the will of God.  He is grieved with the souls that have allowed the times to take them away from God and knowing His fullness.

God is so grieved when a soul is wounded.  I think of how loosely people take the sword and destroy someone.  How loosely they will just give you a dagger.  They are so calloused.  They justify it, “I didn’t like what they did so I just…”

I was studying about the Good Samaritan.  He went to the man that was wounded.  Oh that you and I would be anointed of God that we would have the oil and the wine!  That we would be willing to make the sacrifice, “Whatever I can do to get you to the inn, the church, and see that need met.”  That was the way that the Good Samaritan was. 

Blessed are they that are grieved to see wasted talents.  They are all to be used to the glory and honor of God.  Whatever we have is what God has given us. 

God wants you young minds that are so quick to learn and to grasp, to grasp God.  If you can grasp that nothing is impossible with God. 

A man 21 years old went to Africa weeping for souls.  He gave his entire life working for the mission.  He would come and say, “The reward is so great to see souls changed and lives changed.”  There is a field in America and everywhere.

It takes the gospel, all the gospel truth, to cause men to be godly men and good husbands.  There is something about truth.  For that precious lady to know the value of being a good mother!  We have such a treasure.  Children are only children once.  We have this moment.

Blessed are those that mourn. 

Pro 6:16  These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

Pro 6:17  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

Pro 6:18  An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

Pro 6:19  A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

There are six things that really grieve God and the seventh is an abomination.  There are several things that I never want to be guilty of, one of them is bringing trouble into our home.  I don’t want to be guilty of over talking, over buying, over spending, etc.

I am a man, I need balance.  Don’t bring trouble to your house by buying something that you cannot afford.  Don’t bring trouble to your house by overloading your husband or your wife. 

Our first job is to serve God.  There are six things that God hates and the seventh is an abomination.  I never want to bring discord to my home, to my wife or our children.  I labor to be a good husband.  I labor to keep peace in our home. 

I never want to bring discord into the church of God.  I don’t always agree with everything that goes on in every place.  I don’t even tell my wife.  I never want to bring discord.  The guys from the east that wow-wow about, “I know somethings.”  I say, who doesn’t.  Discord is an abomination. 

Those that mourn shall be comforted.  Drawn by God to be wrapped in His loving arms.  Invited.  When you are mourning, this is more than a funeral message.  Those that really mourn, weep.  There are good saints that are weeping over conditions distanced from here.  They will be comforted, drawn, wrapped. 

Every once in a while you get hugged.  This is wrapped.  It is the love of God going around, around, and around.  Having the love, the Word, the oil of the Spirit poured into the soul.

In a greater way than ever before, Sunday morning we will gather, we want to be a city set on a hill.  We don’t want it for a show, we want to be a city set upon a hill.  The light of the gospel of Jesus Christ, from our first song until the last.

We can be a city set upon a hill but there is a price to pay.  If you are going to be busy, have your priorities right.  Meditate, set time aside, commune and pray.  We want to be a city set upon a hill. 

When people walk through the door, I want them to see something unique.  I want to be in my relationship, my love to God, my love to one another, my curtesy, my love to the saints, a city set upon a hill.

Blessed are the meek.  That is part of what causes the city to be set on the hill. 

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.