Integrity vs. Talk

Proverbs 25:19 "Confidence in a an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint."

Anyone can say they have integrity, but their actions are where the real test of integrity and character are really at. As Christians, our character determines who we are. Who we are determine what and how we see things in this world. What we see determines what we do. If our actions and intentions are constantly battling against one another, then we must look to our character to find out why. We must do more than just talk. Our actions are the most important aspect of who we are.

"Commitment"

Philippians 3:14 "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

From John C. Maxwell:
"When it comes to commitment, there are 4 types of people:

1. Cop-outs: No goals in life, rarely commit to anything.
2. Holdouts: Don't know if can reach their goals, afraid to commit.
3. Dropouts: Start but usually don't finish.
   
4. All-Outs: Set goals, commits to them, and willing to pay the price it costs to finish them."

When it comes to your Christian life, where do you fit in here? Are you a finisher? Never starting is just as bad as never finishing. In the Christian life it is not about how you because you are competing with your own self. Just determine to commit to Jesus and finish your race with patience and endurance. You'll be glad you paid the price in the end.

"Let's eat"

I Corinthians 10:2-5 "And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and all did eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness."

As a pastor, it never ceases to amaze me how sermons that are preached affect people in different ways. During the same sermon some are encouraged, some are moved, some are ticked off, some are offended, some are excited, some are bored, some are challenged, some are critical, some are resolved, some are blessed, some are eased, some are assured, some are discouraged. But it's the same sermon!

How does this happen? I am not really sure, except to say, we all have different tastes. Not everybody in this world loves to eat pecan pie. To me that's just crazy! There is nothing better in this world than pecan pie for dessert. But not everyone agrees with me. THAT'S OKAY WITH ME! Just means more pie for me. Now, back to the spiritual stuff. We must all realize first of all that we are all eating the same spiritual meat. And even though there are times we may not like the taste of what we are being given, we must trust God that he knows what we need at that moment. If are feelings are wrong, we need to change them, not the sermon. Just be grateful God cares enough about us to feed us what He knows we need at the time.

"We would see Jesus"

John 12:21 "The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus."

Let's take a moment to set this scene. Jesus had just made the triumphal entry into Jerusalem. There was a crowd of several people already there worshiping and glorifying Jesus. The pharisees were complaining about the public display of worship for Jesus.

While all of that was going on, there were some Greeks that came to Jerusalem to worship at the feast. While there, they observed what was going on with Jesus. They found Philip, and asked if they could see Jesus. Not knowing what to do (more than likely because they were Greek) Philip finds Andrew and tells him. Andrew also doesn't know what to do, so he tells Peter, who in turn finally tells Jesus.

Wow, who would have thought, even among Jesus' disciples they didn't know what to do with people. The Greeks that came unto them came very sincerely. All they wanted to do was see Jesus, and they were not sure if they would be able to.

You know times haven't changed to much over the last 2000 plus years. We still look at how someone looks, acts, or behaves, and wonder whether or not they can truly come to Jesus.

May God help us look beyond who or what someone may look or act like. When they want to see and meet Jesus - Let them come!

"What's in your hand?"

Exodus 4:2 "And the Lord said unto him, 'What is that in thine hand?' And he said, 'A rod'."

Here in Exodus God asked Moses a very important question, "what is that in thine hand?" This verse illustrates to us God's ability to use anything or anyone, anytime He chooses. Moses had never even thought that God could use him, let alone his rod. Boy was he wrong! Not only did God use it, but he use it is a spectacular way.

I want to ask you the same question. What is in your hand? Is it a hammer? Then let God use that hammer. Is it a drivers license? Use it to pick someone up for church. Is it a baking dish? Use it to encourage one of God's children. Is it a pencil or pen? Use it to send someone a note or a card. What ever ability you think you have or don't have - give it to God. Let Him decide how to use it to further His work.

You never can tell what the Lord will use to accomplish His work. You never can tell, He may even want to use you!

"The Father's Love"

John 16:27 "For the Father himself loveth you"


God's never-ending love for us is very far from my human understanding. He loves us as though we, as individuals, were the only lost soul in the entire world. He would have given His Son if we were the only ones who needed to be redeemed. Don't ever forget this fact. We are very precious in His sight.

"The Ten Commandments"

Read Exodus 20:1-18

God wrote the 10 commandments, which you can read about in Exodus 20:1-18. They are meant to be a guide for people to know and determine the difference between right and wrong. They protect us from impurity, falsehoods, murder, idolatry, theft, and many other things that rob us of our joy and peace.

God's law is like a mirror, pointing out wrong doing as a mirror points out a dirty face. There is hope for this mixed up world that we live in today. I understand that we don't live under the law of 10 commandments, due to the grace of God. However, does that really give us a reason to just cast them aside? When we ignore them, the result always ends badly.

I am tired of hearing Christians complain about our government removing the 10 commandments from public places. The one place you would expect to find a copy of the 10 commandments is usually the last place you find them - the church house! Churches all across our country removed them before the government even thought about. Next time you're in your church, look for a copy of the 10 commandments. If you can't find one ask your pastor if you can put one in.

"Thinking about Death"

When was the last time you thought about death? Now, for the Christian we know death is not an end of something, just a continuation of from passing from this life to the eternal life provided by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I am not trying to be gloomy. However, are you prepared to die? First of all if you're do not know Christ as your savior, then you are not ready. Trust Him now.

Most of you that read this blog are Christians and on your way to heaven. Praise the Lord, for you death will be a wonderful thing. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

Believe it or not, I don't really want to talk about the spiritual aspects of death today. (However they are very important) But I want to talk about physical death. Are you prepared? Is your family prepared? Have you discussed your funeral arrangements with your family?

As a pastor, I have done a lot of funerals. Let me tell you something, pre-plan your own funeral! I know it's not something you want to think about, let alone talk with your family about. Do it anyway, even if it is a little uncomfortable. Your family will be so grateful that you did. Go ahead plan as much as you want. Pick out a casket, buy a plot, plan your own music, pick your own minister. There is so much involved with a funeral, take the load off your family by pre-planning.

I always think about these things when I am dealing with a family that just lost a loved one. The first thing I ask is, "did they pre-plan anything?" Most of the time they didn't but the family always wishes they had.

So don't wait till your dead to plan. Because while you enjoying your new found eternal life, your family is mourning your death. Go ahead, pre-plan, they will be glad you did.

"We all need teachers!"

II Timothy 2:2 "...the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also."

A good English student is not one who follows an English teacher in conjugating a verb, and then when that teacher is gone finds another to follow. No. A good English student is one who eventually learns how to conjugate a verb for himself. A poor student is one who must perpetually have a teacher. We all need teachers. They are wonderful people. I am very grateful for the teachers that I have had in my life. I am grateful because they taught me how to think for myself, rather than just how to rely on them to always be there for me.

In the Christian life, we need teachers too. But just like in school, we cannot merely copy down the answers and never figure out how to solve the problem. We must be taught how to think spiritually for ourselves.

Find a good teacher, learn from them, solve what needs to be solved. Then, go and teach someone else what you have been taught.

I know you can do it.

"Taking the Initiative"

Are you an initiator? Do you look for opportunities for God to use you, or do you wait for it to come to you? Do you endlessly analyze everything before making a decision? Former Chrysler chairman Lee Iacocca said, "Even the right decision is the wrong decision if it is made too late."

When was the last time you initiated something? When was the last time you got out of your comfort zone and tried to accomplish something special for the Lord? David took the initiative the day he killed Goliath! Moses took the initiative when he lead Israel across the Red Sea! Elijah took the initiative the day he prayed down fire from heaven!

Do yourself a favor today, take the initiative and accomplish something great for God! You'll be glad you did.

Acts 23:1 "And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day."

I think this may be the very reason the Apostle Paul is considered to be the greatest Christian to have ever lived. He lived his life in all good conscience before God. He didn't live his life for anybody. Not his parents, not his family, his friends, his employers, or even his church. He just lived how God wanted him to live.

As Christians we ought to be doing our best to live our lives for the Lord, and not for man. If we live longing to have a good conscience before God, then we will also have a good conscience toward man too.

Watch your testimony, not for man's sake, but for your own conscience sake. Do right, and have a clear conscience before the Lord.

"It's More Than a Children's Song"

Jeremiah 32:27 "Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?"

"My God is so BIG, so STRONG, and so MIGHTY there's nothing my God can not do" We used to sing this song all the time when we were kids. We teach it to our own children and grandchildren. It's one of those songs that we have "branded" as a children's song. What a shame.

What a shame that we have allowed that song to only be for kids. Jeremiah was not a child when he penned this verse. He understood (as an adult) that his God was capable of doing anything. I say it is about time that we as adult Christians start believing what we are teaching the next generation.

How big is your God? Is He big enough to solve your problems? There is nothing too hard for Him. Trust Him with your whole heart. You will be thankful when you do.

"Unavoidable Change"

Psalm 71:18 "Now also when I am old and gray headed, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come."

Is this your prayer this morning? As a Christian, is it your desire that everyone around you would know God's goodness, power, and strength? Is it your desire to serve the Lord with the years you have remaining in this life? I know we automatically assume that we will always be doing the same thing we are doing today 20 years from now. We think that we will have the same belief system and that we won't ever change.

The fact of the matter is, is that all people change. Some for the better, some for the worse. Over time we gain knowledge and wisdom that we didn't have in our younger years. There are some things in life that we don't want to change. When it comes to those things we have to be like David and purpose in our heart that we don't want those things to change. If we don't make a conscience decision to remain the same, we more than likely will not.

Change is unavoidable. It's going to happen. Determine to change the things that need to be changed, and the things that you want to remain the same purpose in your heart to get on your knees before God and ask Him for His help. He'll do it for you.

"Just be Quiet and Listen"

Genesis 17:3 "And Abram fell on his face; and God talked with him..."

In Genesis 17 God establishes a covenant between Himself and Abraham. I don't think we talk about Abraham enough. He was such a humble man of God. I can't even begin to imagine what was going on in the mind of Abraham during this time. He was a ninety year old man. When God spoke to him, he listened. "He fell on his face, and God talked with him"

What a picture, of humbleness. In the major realms of Christianity today, I feel that as Christians we have tried to hard to bring God down to our level. Abraham understood that God was to be high and lifted up. He understood that when the Almighty God spoke, you stop what your doing and listen. I think that too often as Christians we don't shut up long enough to hear what God is trying to say. We do all the talking, making demands, telling God what we think He ought to with our lives.

You will find in the Scriptures that the men and women that God used in mighty ways didn't tell God how things were going to go on. As a matter of fact, God told them every time, what to do, when do it, and how to do it. And since the Bible still says that God is the same yesterday, today and forever, I'd say it's about time we stop trying to tell God what is best for lives. Be quiet and listen, for God often speaks with a still small voice.

"Can you fix it?"

Psalm 108:1 "O God, my heart is fixed, I will sing and give praise, even with my glory."

Two weeks ago I had new brakes put on our families minivan. Brakes all the way around. New brake pads, new rotors, new front calipers the whole kit-n-caboodle. Yesterday while driving the van, I started to hear a grinding noise each time I came to a stop. The longer I drove the worse the sound got. Finally, after coming to resting place, I got out and did some investigating. Boy was I surprised to find my rear caliper hanging off the rotor rubbing the inside of the wheel. I immediately took the van back to where I had the breaks put on only to find out that a bolt had broken (which they said they rarely see happen) on the caliper.

I use this event to illustrate my point this morning. The caliper at one time was fixed in place. It wasn't supposed to move. It wasn't supposed rub around inside the wheel. It was supposed to be fixed in place.

The Psalmist said that his heart was fixed. His heart was firm, happy, resolved, established - fixed. His heart was in its right place. In Psalm 57:7 the Bible says, "My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed." In the 108th Psalm we see the very same words being written again. I know David didn't write this, but he could have written, "My heart is still fixed." It was fixed back here and praise God it is still fixed today.

Is your heart fixed, or is your heart like a yo-yo? One moment your up, and the next your down. Isiah said, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is STAYED on thee, because he trusteth in thee." We must keep our hearts and minds fixed and stayed, completely focused on God, and God alone.

May I encourage you today to bolt down your heart close to the Word of God. Tighten it down tight so that it is fixed in its place and cannot be moved.