We all know that faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen. But the question is; are we still moving forward in our faith until we reach the summit?
You know that place where we actually see what we are believing for.
Far to many people settle for a resting place halfway up the mountain without ever reaching the top. God designed you to be a climber, to continue on, to not give up. It is easy to get comfortable in a place that does not require us to challenge our flesh. So again the question is, have you received that which God has placed in your heart, that which you are praying and believing for? Has the vision that God placed in your heart been fulfilled? Are you still believing or have you just kind of given up? I challenge you to put on your boots, get back up and start climbing! There are heights that you have not yet reached, and there are views that you have not yet seen! They can only be seen as you ascend up the mountain of faith. Many times Jesus went up the mountain, those who went with him received revelation that those who stayed behind never received.
Climb higher with God, don't sit down until you reach the top, the view that you will see, will take your breath away! And you will know that it was worth all of the struggle that you faced.
The things that we presently see are temporal, but the things which are not seen, (I'M still climbing) are eternal!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Having a bad day? There is a better day coming!
It was a stormy Friday
But Resurrection Sunday is Coming!
Mark 15:1 IT WAS FRIDAY
The story of the crucifixion is probably the most repeated and familiar story of the Bible. The image of the cross is an ongoing, vivid, reminder of the events that happened that day beginning in Jerusalem and ending on a hill called Calvary.
If you would have been there you would have said it was a terrible day, it was an awful day, you see those things took place on a Friday, but Sunday is coming. IT WAS FRIDAY when Jesus was taken to Pilate and tried before the Roman Jurisdiction, false witnesses were brought forth. You see IT WAS FRIDAY and Pilate could find nothing to charge Jesus with, but the crowd persuaded him to hand him over.
Give us Barabbas, whose name means “Son of a liar and murderer”,
the crowd that day chose between the “Son of a liar and murderer” and the Son of God.
And they chose Barabbas!
Oh listen to me; It was Friday and Pilate looked at Jesus and the crowd, they were demanding the crucifixion of Christ, desiring to please the crowd more than to do what was right he washed his hands of Jesus and the case.
You see that was Friday but Sunday is coming!Maybe it is Friday for you, maybe you have been falsely accused, maybe someone has told lies about you.
Maybe you’re being lied to, you have been told that you are no good, that you are worthless, maybe you are feeling unloved and unwanted.Oh listen to me; Maybe it is Friday for you, But take heart, because SUNDAY IS surely COMING.
IT WAS FRIDAY
You see if you cant see past Friday, you will not be able to have victory.
Listen to me you are only seeing a part of the picture, if you cant get past Friday there is no hope for you!
Judas, seeing he had betrayed innocent blood, does not think that God can forgive him beyond his sin, He cannot see pass the Friday of his life, so he hangs himself.
Those who were his friends just looked the other way, putting the blame on him.
You see you cant allow the Friday to stay, you’ve got to realize that today things may be going bad but listen to me, Sunday is coming!
You see, IT WAS FRIDAY when Jesus is taken aside and beaten.
The cat of nine tails, coated in sheep’s blood, with nails and other sharp objects to bite into the skin of Jesus.
39 times that soldier’s whip tore into the flesh of Jesus, turning his flesh to raw hamburger meat.
Then they took him and hit him, and mocked him.
You see, That was Friday, oh but it doesn’t end there you see Sunday is coming.Maybe you’re going through a tough time, your friends seem to have turned on you. You’ve been beaten up mentally or emotionally.
Maybe Some People are making fun of you, taking opportunity to jab you with sharp cutting words, leaving you emotionally or mentally scarred.
Oh listen to me; IT MAY BE FRIDAY, BUT SUNDAY IS COMING!
IT WAS FRIDAY
The soldiers wove a crown of thorns, they were Jubian thorns, which were hard as nails, and they beat them down on the head Jesus.
They placed the cross on his shoulders and made him carry it up the Via Delarosa, the steepest street in Jerusalem.
The crowd jeered and mocked him, some of the soldiers pulled his beard from his face.
Isaiah tells us that his features were so badly beaten, that he was beyond recognition.
He stumbled and fell carrying the cross up the hill, he was so weary - the soldiers made Simon the Cyrene carry the cross.
Maybe it is Friday for you too, maybe it’s the pressures of the job.
Or maybe things are not the way they should be at home and it’s wearing you down.
Maybe its worries of bad health of some one you love, or maybe you have recently lost a loved one.
Maybe it’s financial burdens, or maybe it’s your own health and the pain and suffering has taken your joy. Oh it may be FRIDAY, but SUNDAY IS COMING!
IT WAS FRIDAY And darkness covered the city, Jesus was on the cross, hanging between two thieves.
This should have been the brightest time of the day, it was 12:00 noon, but instead it was the darkest hour!
The soldiers below him were gambling for his clothing, the crowd jeered at him,
he saved others let him save himself.
It was Friday, he was hanging between two thieves - and one of the thieves mocked him but the other one says “Remember me when you come to your throne.”
Oh listen to me;
It was Friday and Jesus cries out “My God MY God why have you forsaken me?”
It was Friday and Jesus experiences for the first time in his life separation from the Father.
It was Friday and Jesus says “it is finished, Father into your hands I commit my Spirit”
The curtain in the Temple is torn in two.
It was Friday and Jesus died,
Are you surrounded by darkness, does it seem like you are all alone, take heart, that is the way it was for Jesus that Friday, Oh but listen to me; that was Friday, BUT SUNDAY IS COMING.
It was Friday when they took him from the cross and laid him in a borrowed tomb.
It was Friday when they sealed that tomb with a Roman seal, and placed a guard of soldiers at the tomb.
It was Friday when the disciples were saddened and distraught;
it was Friday when Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Jesus found themselves crying!
And maybe you are experiencing a Friday in your life?
It was Friday, But Sunday is coming.
Maybe you are troubled, overcome with stress, overcome with worries, distraught and dejected?
Maybe you are all alone, your self esteem may be at an all time low?
Do you feel the walls closing in around you like there is no way out?
That must have been the way Jesus felt like that stormy Friday.
Oh listen to me; Jesus said that troubles are going to come!
He said the trials would come!
But He also said, Be of good cheer, I have overcome the World!
You see Jesus has become our resurrection Sunday!
Don't be caught in the Fridays of life!
You've got to Know that Sunday is coming!
Saturday, February 23, 2008
The Gospel that isn't!
The power of the Cross is real and brings transformation. My concern with so many churches today is the message that isn't!
2 Cor. 4:3-4 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: [4] In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
For many Pastors who claim to be truly concerned about their people, opt out of preaching about the cross, saying that we should steer away from anything that is negative. But the Cross is the central message of the entire Bible. To do away with the Cross is to do away with the transformative power of the Gospel.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Paul said for I am not ashamed of the Gospel; for it is the power of God.... if the Apostle Paul was not ashamed neither should we be..... To be politically correct for the sake of bringing in numbers was not God's plan at all. If all God wanted was numbers he could perform some miracle and the numbers would be there. The problem with that is all people want then is entertainment not enrichment and certainly not change!
The cross is the central theme of the Gospel that brings real transformation! Jesus said unless we are willing to deny ourselves and take up are cross daily we cannot be His disciple!
So I ask you today has there been real change in your life?
The Gospel is good news, well how can this be good news you ask?
How can it be good news to deny ourselves and pick up our cross?
Because in order to live we must first die. Before a grain of wheat can produce life it must be planted into the soil and die!
Jesus Christ paid the physical death for our sins we must follow him in our spiritual walk, denying ourselves and picking up that cross and following Him! That is where the good news comes in because there is a new birth that takes place within the believer, His life is now visible in the believers life. We now have the joy and peace of God within in a real transforming way!
This real transformation only comes one way and that is through the power of the Cross!
So as far as this Pastor is concerned the message has not changed, the Cross is still powerful and transforming today!
2 Cor. 11:4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
2 Cor. 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
Beware of the false teachings that are coming in the form of truth but does not point to the Cross! For without the Cross there is no truth!
2 Cor. 4:3-4 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: [4] In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
For many Pastors who claim to be truly concerned about their people, opt out of preaching about the cross, saying that we should steer away from anything that is negative. But the Cross is the central message of the entire Bible. To do away with the Cross is to do away with the transformative power of the Gospel.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Paul said for I am not ashamed of the Gospel; for it is the power of God.... if the Apostle Paul was not ashamed neither should we be..... To be politically correct for the sake of bringing in numbers was not God's plan at all. If all God wanted was numbers he could perform some miracle and the numbers would be there. The problem with that is all people want then is entertainment not enrichment and certainly not change!
The cross is the central theme of the Gospel that brings real transformation! Jesus said unless we are willing to deny ourselves and take up are cross daily we cannot be His disciple!
So I ask you today has there been real change in your life?
The Gospel is good news, well how can this be good news you ask?
How can it be good news to deny ourselves and pick up our cross?
Because in order to live we must first die. Before a grain of wheat can produce life it must be planted into the soil and die!
Jesus Christ paid the physical death for our sins we must follow him in our spiritual walk, denying ourselves and picking up that cross and following Him! That is where the good news comes in because there is a new birth that takes place within the believer, His life is now visible in the believers life. We now have the joy and peace of God within in a real transforming way!
This real transformation only comes one way and that is through the power of the Cross!
So as far as this Pastor is concerned the message has not changed, the Cross is still powerful and transforming today!
2 Cor. 11:4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
2 Cor. 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
Beware of the false teachings that are coming in the form of truth but does not point to the Cross! For without the Cross there is no truth!
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Giving our ALL for the Kingdom
In Matthew 25 Jesus is having a discussion with his disciples concerning the end of time.
But before we can look at what he is telling the disciples we need to look at the heart of Jesus!
Actually it starts in Matthew 23, He is heavy hearted for the children of Israel, the Bible gives account in Matthew 23:37-39 that he was very saddened. Then in the beginning of Matthew 24 he walks out of the temple. When He left, God left because they had rejected the Messiah. God will not stay where He is not welcome!
In our life we need to be careful not to reject the Messiah, His leading, His caring, His instruction. Life is full of business, family events, and self indulgences. If we are not careful we will want a Jesus that will fit our schedule, our lifestyle, our desires, and we will reject the real Messiah!
That is precisely what the Jews did! They wanted a king to come and set up a royal throne right then, so THEY could have prominence and position. They wanted to tell the world, "look at us!"
They had very selfish motivation. Jesus came to draw all men unto him! He told his disciples to declare the Kingdom of God has come!
What is the Kingdom of God? Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost.
The Jews were looking for a tangible kingdom, Jesus came bringing a spiritual Kingdom!
Because of their insistence for a tangible Kingdom Jesus was saddened and left!
Jesus will not stay where He is not welcome!
So what is our motivation, the intent of our heart, the real reason we live for Him?
Jesus talks in Matthew 24 and 25 about the last days there would be many false Christ!
What is he saying? There would be many in the last days with a false gospel!
And there will be many that will go in the wrong direction because they desire a false messiah, one who will give them what they want right now!
Oh listen to me! God does here and answer prayer, and he does take care of His Children. But don't be caught up in something that is fictitious offering you a tangible kingdom now, position now, prominence now! If our focus is on ourselves then we are following the wrong voice!
It is not about us it is about Him and them!
Jesus came and gave the ultimate sacrifice so that all me could be saved!
Our life has been given to us as a gift, not for ourselves but for others!
Lets live our life for the Kingdom, giving our all for Him!
But before we can look at what he is telling the disciples we need to look at the heart of Jesus!
Actually it starts in Matthew 23, He is heavy hearted for the children of Israel, the Bible gives account in Matthew 23:37-39 that he was very saddened. Then in the beginning of Matthew 24 he walks out of the temple. When He left, God left because they had rejected the Messiah. God will not stay where He is not welcome!
In our life we need to be careful not to reject the Messiah, His leading, His caring, His instruction. Life is full of business, family events, and self indulgences. If we are not careful we will want a Jesus that will fit our schedule, our lifestyle, our desires, and we will reject the real Messiah!
That is precisely what the Jews did! They wanted a king to come and set up a royal throne right then, so THEY could have prominence and position. They wanted to tell the world, "look at us!"
They had very selfish motivation. Jesus came to draw all men unto him! He told his disciples to declare the Kingdom of God has come!
What is the Kingdom of God? Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost.
The Jews were looking for a tangible kingdom, Jesus came bringing a spiritual Kingdom!
Because of their insistence for a tangible Kingdom Jesus was saddened and left!
Jesus will not stay where He is not welcome!
So what is our motivation, the intent of our heart, the real reason we live for Him?
Jesus talks in Matthew 24 and 25 about the last days there would be many false Christ!
What is he saying? There would be many in the last days with a false gospel!
And there will be many that will go in the wrong direction because they desire a false messiah, one who will give them what they want right now!
Oh listen to me! God does here and answer prayer, and he does take care of His Children. But don't be caught up in something that is fictitious offering you a tangible kingdom now, position now, prominence now! If our focus is on ourselves then we are following the wrong voice!
It is not about us it is about Him and them!
Jesus came and gave the ultimate sacrifice so that all me could be saved!
Our life has been given to us as a gift, not for ourselves but for others!
Lets live our life for the Kingdom, giving our all for Him!
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Successful Living!
Everyone wants to be successful!
But how do we maintain a successful life in a world full of emotional ups and downs, unplanned pitfalls, devastating storms, and oh yes and I must include rising fuel costs!
Jesus said;
John 16:33 In the world you will have tribulation; (Trials and Test) but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."NKJV
Jesus said that we would experience rough times, but He also promised that we could maintain a level of victory regardless of what was happening in the world. Jesus said My peace I leave with you, not as the world gives, another words His peace comes from deep within! Not from the outside in, but from the inside out!
So how do we get His peace within? I am so glad you asked!
In order to live in that peace we must experience that peace and we must have that peace deep within! So what produces peace?
Jesus said;
John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."NKJV
It was the words that Jesus spoke that produced peace!
And His word gives the victory over circumstances that sometimes makes a surprising uprising in our lives.
It is through His word that we are able to live a continued successful life.
Josh 1:8-9This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.NKJV
Whenever God speaks of success in scripture, He relates it to the continuous inner activity of meditation.
Ps 1:2-32 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,And in His law he meditates day and night.3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water,That brings forth its fruit in its season,Whose leaf also shall not wither;And whatever he does shall prosper.NKJV
God does not promise success for memorizing scripture, but He does promise success for anyone who will meditate in His Word day and night!
Another words if His Word is in us, then that which is in us will produce life, and bring a positive affect upon that which is outside of us.
This doesn't mean that you will never experience difficulty, but He does promise that His peace through His word will bring you through the difficulty.
And He also promises that your success will be visible to others;
1 Tim 4:15-16Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.NKJV
But how do we maintain a successful life in a world full of emotional ups and downs, unplanned pitfalls, devastating storms, and oh yes and I must include rising fuel costs!
Jesus said;
John 16:33 In the world you will have tribulation; (Trials and Test) but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."NKJV
Jesus said that we would experience rough times, but He also promised that we could maintain a level of victory regardless of what was happening in the world. Jesus said My peace I leave with you, not as the world gives, another words His peace comes from deep within! Not from the outside in, but from the inside out!
So how do we get His peace within? I am so glad you asked!
In order to live in that peace we must experience that peace and we must have that peace deep within! So what produces peace?
Jesus said;
John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."NKJV
It was the words that Jesus spoke that produced peace!
And His word gives the victory over circumstances that sometimes makes a surprising uprising in our lives.
It is through His word that we are able to live a continued successful life.
Josh 1:8-9This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.NKJV
Whenever God speaks of success in scripture, He relates it to the continuous inner activity of meditation.
Ps 1:2-32 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,And in His law he meditates day and night.3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water,That brings forth its fruit in its season,Whose leaf also shall not wither;And whatever he does shall prosper.NKJV
God does not promise success for memorizing scripture, but He does promise success for anyone who will meditate in His Word day and night!
Another words if His Word is in us, then that which is in us will produce life, and bring a positive affect upon that which is outside of us.
This doesn't mean that you will never experience difficulty, but He does promise that His peace through His word will bring you through the difficulty.
And He also promises that your success will be visible to others;
1 Tim 4:15-16Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.NKJV
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Revival
What is revival?
Revival is nothing more and nothing less than God's Arrival. My heart cry is to live in His presence. We seem to lose our intimacy in life because of life itself. We become self indulgent, self satisfying, self pleasure seekers. We have adopted a seeker friendly attitude where we seek to please self more than we desire to please God!
John said it best, "He must increase and I must decrease." We must seek Him with all of our heart and we will find Him when we do! He has promised us that! My challenge to you is to take 30 minutes and Seek Him! Lay aside other priorities TODAY and Seek Him! If we really want Him, we will Seek Him. For a heart goes after what the heart desires! I must Seek Him!
Pastor Buck
Revival is nothing more and nothing less than God's Arrival. My heart cry is to live in His presence. We seem to lose our intimacy in life because of life itself. We become self indulgent, self satisfying, self pleasure seekers. We have adopted a seeker friendly attitude where we seek to please self more than we desire to please God!
John said it best, "He must increase and I must decrease." We must seek Him with all of our heart and we will find Him when we do! He has promised us that! My challenge to you is to take 30 minutes and Seek Him! Lay aside other priorities TODAY and Seek Him! If we really want Him, we will Seek Him. For a heart goes after what the heart desires! I must Seek Him!
Pastor Buck
Monday, February 12, 2007
Jesus, Where are you?
Have you ever had a time when you wondered if God was anywhere at all? Or if he even cared about you? The disciples who walked with Jesus day in and day out for over 2 years of the 3 1/2 year ministry, found themselves feeling like that.
They were doing what Jesus had told them to do, but still they found themselves in difficulty. Have you ever felt that way?
The disciples were told by Jesus to set sail, and go to the other side of the Lake.
Jesus went down below and found a nice place to rest and fell asleep.
While Jesus was asleep, the disciples found themselves in the midst of a horrendous storm. The waves were overtaking the boat, so much that they were taking in more water than they could bail out.
Have you ever been there?
More bills coming in than you can pay off?
Problems overtaking you, relationships falling apart, and in the midst of it all you wonder, "Jesus where are you?".
There are times in life when it seems that all is lost, that there is no hope, and that the ship is sinking.
When we are in this crisis, there is one thing we must remember; if Jesus is on board the vessel will not sink.
Creation can not kill the creator!
We must know that our hope, our rest, and our peace is in HIM!
He is our peace! He is our hope, and in HIM we find rest!
Question; Did Jesus know that the storm would occur?
Does God know everything?
Yes He does! He is all knowing!
Jesus knew that the disciples would face a larger storm in the future, so he was preparing them, using a small storm to develop their faith.
What larger storm would they face?
Jesus knew that there would be a time when the disciples faith would be shaken because he was destined for the cross.
They would have to stand without His physical presence.
He wanted them to mature, grow and be able to handle the obstacles of life.
When the storm occurs, Jesus is not abandoning you, he is there.
He wants you to know that your trust must be in HIM regardless of the storms around us.
Jesus where are you? He is with you, trust him and you will see!
For we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen. The things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal!
They were doing what Jesus had told them to do, but still they found themselves in difficulty. Have you ever felt that way?
The disciples were told by Jesus to set sail, and go to the other side of the Lake.
Jesus went down below and found a nice place to rest and fell asleep.
While Jesus was asleep, the disciples found themselves in the midst of a horrendous storm. The waves were overtaking the boat, so much that they were taking in more water than they could bail out.
Have you ever been there?
More bills coming in than you can pay off?
Problems overtaking you, relationships falling apart, and in the midst of it all you wonder, "Jesus where are you?".
There are times in life when it seems that all is lost, that there is no hope, and that the ship is sinking.
When we are in this crisis, there is one thing we must remember; if Jesus is on board the vessel will not sink.
Creation can not kill the creator!
We must know that our hope, our rest, and our peace is in HIM!
He is our peace! He is our hope, and in HIM we find rest!
Question; Did Jesus know that the storm would occur?
Does God know everything?
Yes He does! He is all knowing!
Jesus knew that the disciples would face a larger storm in the future, so he was preparing them, using a small storm to develop their faith.
What larger storm would they face?
Jesus knew that there would be a time when the disciples faith would be shaken because he was destined for the cross.
They would have to stand without His physical presence.
He wanted them to mature, grow and be able to handle the obstacles of life.
When the storm occurs, Jesus is not abandoning you, he is there.
He wants you to know that your trust must be in HIM regardless of the storms around us.
Jesus where are you? He is with you, trust him and you will see!
For we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen. The things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal!
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