Finishing Strong

This morning at church, our Pastor, Dave Minton, gave a very effective message on finishing the year strong so we can start the New Year well. Our theme for the next year is "A Year of Spiritual Growth: A Year in the Word. 

 

It's easy to think of finishing strong as an element of our lives overall sometimes we take things in too big of chunks and then get bogged down and discouraged.  As I see it, God has given us each day as a seed that can be sown toward the calling He has set before us. As we seek Him, He brings wisdom, direction and fruit in our lives.

 

Every year we hear of significant leaders who have passed away and it seems the world is a little poorer for their passing. Pres. Jimmy Carter just went home to be with the Lord at 100 years of age. There will be many memories and many opinions expressed but now, because he knew the Lord Jesus he is engulfed in the loving arms of God and welcomed by his beloved Rosalynn. 

 

The great leaders of our faith have also left a great void in the Body of Christ. Billy Graham, Oral Roberts, Kenneth E. Hagin, T. L. Osborn, and more each had a significant impact on millions over a lifetime of service to God.  I felt a particular pain of loss with the home-going of Jerry Savelle earlier this year. It's easy to compare our own seemingly insignificant life to those generals of the faith but we need to realize that the calling on each of us is just as significant to God as any of the others. 

 

We all have times when we feel insignificant and even useless, but the truth is that we all have a circle of influence. We all know people who are affected by our lives even if we don't realize it. It's not always building a university, or starting a worldwide ministry.  It's mostly giving an encouraging word, praying with someone in need, lending a hand when it's needed, or giving a blanket to someone who is cold.  In Matt. 25:31-46 Jesus tells us that when we help each other it is the same as helping Him.  When we act in kindness to others, we are honoring God and fulfilling our purpose. 

Eph. 1:4-5 says: 

...just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,

 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will...

We were each chosen before the foundation of the world to serve and love God.  Jesus paid the price to redeem us from a destiny that dictated failure and separation from God.  We are all chosen to do a specific work in a specific time.  

Eph 4:16 

 ...from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Each of us has a mission to accomplish in this life, a piece of the puzzle to add. Without us the Body of Christ, and the world, suffers.  God needs us. Regardless of your background or how you came to be in this life, even if you've "messed up" your entire life, God needs you.  

 

I am the fifth of five children in my family.  When my Mother became pregnant with me it had been 7 years since her youngest was born. I was not planned.  However, I was not a mistake.  My parents may not have planned me but I am sure that God did.  My Mom always made sure I knew that she viewed me as a blessing.  I was there as a stabilizing factor in her life during some very difficult times.  She said that she had responsibility and couldn’t just fall apart when things got rough.  God knew what she needed at that time, I also know that I have had some influence on those around me.  I believe God put me on this earth for a purpose.  That purpose is not yet fulfilled so I continue to seek God for His direction and wisdom. I believe my best days are ahead of me. After all, I just published my first book!

We each can live in hope. Rom. 11:29  says that “the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable”  He has instilled in each of us on this earth giftings, abilities, talents, and a specific call to service that He will not take away.  If we will submit ourselves to Him, and His purpose for our life, He will renew those giftings and calling.

It’s important for us to each realize that living from day to day is not guaranteed.  The only thing we can control is right now. If I plant the seed of submission to whatever God asks me to do today, however small it may be, I will see the fruit of that seed in further direction, the blessing of God on my life, and lives changed around me.   

 

I will finish strong. 

Be Encouraged in the Lord

 

1 Samuel 30:6 (AMP)

6 David was greatly distressed, for the men spoke of stoning him because the souls of them all were bitterly grieved, each man for his sons and daughters. But David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

 David had just encountered Saul in a cave with an opportunity to kill him and end the threat against him, but he refused to harm him because David was an honorable man, and Saul was King (chapt. 26). He decided he would ally with the Philistines in order to protect himself from Saul, which was successful. David fought alongside the Philistines for over a year but when they decided to attack Israel they didn’t trust him, so they sent him home to Ziklag, which was the city they had given him.

While they were gone the city was attacked by the Amalakites and burned to the ground. They arrived to find that everything they had was gone, including their families. (chapter 30:1-5)

His troop of 600 men and were turning against him, considering stoning him, and David was in great distress.

He encouraged himself in the Lord and the Lord sent him after the Amalekites giving him victory and restoration of all their goods and families, with only 400 of his 600 men.

God gave him a great victory in a circumstance that seemed insurmountable. So, how did he encourage himself and how do we do it when we are facing dire situations?

Jesus faced the crucifixion and was well aware of what was ahead. He knew he had to go through with it, and was committed to it, but as a man He was afraid and felt alone in His struggle. He sought His Father in the Garden of Gethsemane and found the strength to finish His assignment.

We also can feel alone and afraid at times that are bigger than we are. Perhaps God has given us an assignment that seems undo-able. Maybe an illness, cancer or an addiction we can’t seem to break. Relationships that are broken and seem irreparable, or the loss of someone dear to us leave us brokenhearted and lonely with no apparent end in sight. Maybe our finances are overwhelming and we are facing extreme pressure, losing everything we’ve worked for or facing homelessness. All these can leave us feeling hopeless.

David turned his eyes to the Lord in his weakness. This is what he said in Psalms 18:2-4 NLT.

The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
and my place of safety.
³ I called on the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
and he saved me from my enemies..

David encouraged himself. He sought the Lord in his circumstance, turning his eyes on God to find strength. He said “I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies…”.

I start with this. The Lord God is worthy to be praised regardless of anything else. He is the Holy one, the Creator of everything and we should always praise this God, who is love. This is what Psalm 100:4-5 says.

⁴ Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
⁵ For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.

Connecting with God through thanksgiving and praise is what encourages our soul and gives us strength to face our circumstances, with faith, in the God who is good, merciful and loving toward us. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33-34 NIV.

³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

God has promised to be there for us in ALL our needs. When we seek Him first He is able to give us a great victory in insurmountable circumstances.

Be encouraged in the Lord!

Voting is our Sacred Duty

In Matthew 25 we find the parable of the talents. Jesus tells us of a man who goes on a long journey and entrusts his property to his servants. To one he gives five talents, to another two and to the third just one. The story recounts how he returns and finds that the one had doubled his money to ten talents, the second returned four but the third reasoned that he should do nothing and returns only the one. The servants with the five and two talents were blessed and increased while the lazy, fearful one lost his blessing, his home and way of life.

This parable is about stewardship. God gives us talents, gifts, to steward while He is gone. It is up to us what we do with them. At this time we have to evaluate within ourselves what God has given us and how much we appreciate it. This nation is a tremendous gift from God to the world. No other nation has done more for the Gospel than the United States of America. This nation, founded on Biblical principles, has touched the lives of arguably every person on this planet. It is the gift of five talents to us. 

Christians over the years have taken a lofty, religious attitude about politics in the mistaken belief that “God is in control and it’s going to come out however He wants it.”  However, that attitude is based in a spirit of laziness and pride. We convince ourselves that we are above politics and don’t need to vote and/or become otherwise involved because we are doing more important things. God requires us to work to provide for our families and likewise to work to bring about His will in this earth. Ultimately this entire world will change when the Master returns but until then we are called to be good stewards of what we’ve been given. 

We have allowed a deterioration of morality, direction and many of our rights and livelihoods because the nation has gone astray. More importantly the effectiveness of the ministry of the Gospel has been impeded through restrictions on public prayer and expression, teaching of the Bible and tightening of regulations on churches and other ministries.

It is time to correct our course and return to the founding principles of our gift and that can only be done if we take it out of the ground and get involved with it to increase its value. If we who call ourselves Christians would only inform ourselves and vote in every election there would be a great turnaround in this nation and a tremendous revival would ensue. 

If we think that we are only required to pray for our country and God will take care the rest, this is what the Master says:

2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV

¹⁴ if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

He is calling us to account for the gifts He has given us as the master did with his servants. God is calling us to pray, seek Him for what is the right course, and turn from our wicked laziness and pride. Then, and only then will He hear our prayer, forgive and heal our land returning it to what He created it to be. A light to the world.

Matthew 5:13-16 NKJV

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

The world will see our good works. Not just our prayers, but our works. 

James 2:17-18 NKLV

¹⁷ Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

In the end our Master will return and require us to account for what we have done with the talents. I believe we are about to lose our home and way of life like that wicked servant if we don’t do something about it.

Don’t miss your opportunity to be the righteous servant. Dig up your gift and invest yourself in it. Be the light of the world by making your convictions known not only through religious activities but through supporting this nation, this gift of God to the world. Put away pride and laziness and show your faith through informing yourself and voting your values. By this God will bring increase and blessing to your house.