THE ENEMY ALWAYS GETS A VOTE

THE ENEMY ALWAYS GETS A VOTE!

1 Peter 5:8

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Gen. James Mattis, former commander of the United States Central Command and known to his troops as “Mad Dog Mattis,” is quoted as having said “the war isn’t over until the enemy says it is over. The enemy always gets a vote.”

           It seems appropriate that Peter should be the one to warn us about the roaring nature of the Devil. Peter declared to Jesus that even though all others might abandon Him he certainly would remain faithful. Jesus tenderly responded that Peter would indeed deny him three times. (See Matthew 26:34)

           Jesus issued to Peter both a warning and an encouragement when he said:  “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”  Luke 22:31-32

Dear Lord, help us to be vigilant in our Christian walk because the Devil likes to attack while we are celebrating a victory. AMEN

ADVENT IS A SEASON OF HOPE

ADVENT IS A SEASON OF HOPE!

Luke 1:52-54

52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

54 He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

This week, Christians begin a new four-week season of Advent. For most American Christians, Advent passes virtually unnoticed, as the celebration of "Christmas" as a secular and intensely commercial feast begins the day after Thanksgiving. Yet the time of Advent offers us an opportunity to dive deeply into a counter-cultural time of quiet reflection, a space of hopeful and patient waiting and discernment about how God's incarnation has meaning and is at work in our world today.

           Our Scripture, above, is a quote from the song of Mary which we call The Magnificat. She, pregnant with the Son of the Most High, sings out in inspired song regarding the hope of her people – and our hope. (See First Timothy 1:1).

           Hope for the believer is not some wispy, filmy wish for the impossible. It is founded upon the promises of a steadfast and loving God. “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” 1 Thess 5:24

Creator of the stars of night,
Thy people’s everlasting light,
Jesu, Redeemer, save us all,
And hear Thy servants when they call.

Thou, grieving that the ancient curse
Should doom to death a universe,
Hast found the medicine, full of grace,
To save and heal a ruined race.

Dear Lord, fill us with hope and then fulfill our hope with your grace. AMEN

MY BIRTHDAY WISHES

MY BIRTHDAY WISHES!

3 John 4

4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

Today is my birthday!  The day of my birth was also Thanksgiving Day in 1946. I have already received many wonderful greetings from friends made through the years. I have been asked what I want for my birthday and, generally, I don’t need or want anything. But after some more thought I realize that there are THREE THINGS I want for all my people. Here they are.

1. I WANT YOU TO COMPREHEND THE TRUTH!

Eph 3:16-19

16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

To comprehend is from the Greek katalambano which means “to take eagerly, to seize and to possess.” This is why the minister prepares and preaches so that the veil that is spread upon the eyes and heart might be torn away to reveal the light of the gospel. Oh, I want you to comprehend the truth!

2. I WANT YOU TO CONFORM TO THE TRUTH!

Rom 8:29

29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Rom 12:2

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Truth apprehended is one thing but truth applied is quite another.

James 4:17

17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

3. I WANT YOU TO COMMUNICATE THE TRUTH!

Matt 5:16

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

2 Tim 2:24-26

24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Although the Amplified New Testament does not flow with the poetry of the King James, yet it might be helpful here.

2 Tim 2:24-26

24 And the servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome (fighting and contending). Instead, he must be kindly to everyone and mild-tempered [preserving the bond of peace]; he must be a skilled and suitable teacher, patient and forbearing and willing to suffer wrong.

25 He must correct his opponents with courtesy and gentleness, in the hope that God may grant that they will repent and come to know the Truth [that they will perceive and recognize and become accurately acquainted with and acknowledge it],

26 And that they may come to their senses [and] escape out of the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him, [henceforth] to do His [God's] will.

AMPLIFIED

So, what do I want today? I want you to know and understand the truth, to see it clearly, to grasp it eagerly and make it a part of your life. I want you to communicate the truth to others who are yet in the same bondage which once enslaved you.

Dear Lord, grant that the gospel would be clearly presented and eagerly grasped today. AMEN

LET EVERY HEART PREPARE HIM ROOM

LET EVERY HEART PREPARE HIM ROOM!

Luke 1:67-69

67 And his [John the Baptist’s] father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;

Luke 1:76-79

76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,

78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Today is the first Sunday in Advent, a period of spiritual preparation in which many Christians make themselves ready for the coming or birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Celebrating Advent typically involves a season of prayer, fasting and repentance, followed by anticipation, hope and joy.

Many Christians celebrate Advent not only by thanking God for Christ's first coming to Earth as a baby, but also for his presence among us today through the Holy Spirit, and in preparation and anticipation of his final coming at the end of time.

           It’s Christmas time again and preparations are underway. Merchants are preparing for a financial rescue and families are preparing for reunions and hopeful reconciliations. Everyone is trying to obey the admonition to “be good for goodness’ sake.”

           If you strip away all the tinsel and glitter, you are still left with an event that inspires wonder! The big-G God has sent His Son to earth in the form of a baby. This gift is made even more miraculous by the fact that the baby would be born to a young woman who “had not known a man.” In a time when virginity still had value, Mary was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. But why did He come? “He comes to make His blessings known – far as the curse is found.”

           We still don’t have our tree up! It is a busy time. Soon some of our ladies will be “hanging the greens” along with the gold and red. Anxious adults have been trying to organize an excited and unruly collection of children who will present a play called “Christmas in Kid City” but, with all our preparations, should we not be preparing our heart?

Joy To The World

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

Thank you, Lord, for coming to make your blessings known as far as the curse is found. AMEN

KILTER OR KELTER

KILTER OR KELTER!

1 Peter 4:12-13

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

13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

Heb 12:3

3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

           The first use of the word “kilter or kelter” was in 1628, according to Merriam-Webster, and is of unknown origin. One might think it originated with the Scotts who would have been both uncomfortable and nonplussed to be out of their kilts. I use the Southern pronunciation “kelter” all the time. It means things are not what they should be; broken; in disorder or disrepair. Well, for many people, today is definitely “out of kilter!”

           Thanksgiving was two days ago but the leftovers linger on and on and on. The Thanksgiving Day parade was one long commercial interrupted by political commentary and lip syncing recording artists. Black Friday was yesterday and we haven’t invented a name for whatever today is. Things may be a bit out of kilter.

           ‘Tis the season to be flustered (another wonderful Southern word) as we see the headlight of the Christmas Express barreling (what does that mean?) toward us without a brakeman! Anyway, I certainly am guilty of mind weariness. I am a day late and a dollar short (another wonderful expression). It means that while I am addressing one problem another goes begging.

           Hang in there folks and try not to get discombobulated. Stick with Jesus and He will eventually put things back in kilter.

Luke 13:11-13

11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.

12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.

13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

Dear Lord, please put some order back into this day. AMEN