Monthly Archives: July 2019

Rockcrusher

Acts 9:16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

Do you ever read about Paul, I mean not the epistles that we may study, for he wrote so much of the New Testament, but what about looking at the author’s story, his life behind the pen? At church this week it was shared how he passed most of these epistles through the small window of the jail cell, imprisoned for his faith. That one fact many times is watered down in our perusing through the New Testament, but Paul suffered much more, just as the Lord told Ananias he would, after God blinded him on the Damascus road. Paul was not only the greatest author, the last apostle, and likely the greatest conversion, but he endured one of the greatest trials for his faith. The depth of this trial, the proof of his conversion, and the relentlessness of his bold proclamation, God used on a level we cannot fathom for even those that read of it today.

A younger Saul (Paul) stood holding the coats as the religious stoned Stephen to death, and the first martyr died praying for God to not charge them with the sin (Augustine said Paul’s conversion was to the account of Stephen’s prayer.) Paul watched, Paul condoned, and Paul later in life found himself in Stephens shoes. Acts 14:19 Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. 20 However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. Paul found himself full circle, likely wondering if he would die as Stephen did, likely praying as Stephen did, and yet God did not take his life. As those he had built up in the faith came to mourn, came to pray, God stood Paul up and performed a miracle of accounts, and then Paul boldly returned to the city. Think about how much this encouraged the believers, converted the lost, and assured Paul that God had a plan beyond the scope of Paul’s dreams for his life. Paul wrote of himself as the “chief of sinners” and felt the conviction of sins past, present, and future. Paul’s pride was always being worked on by God’s sanctification hammer.

When I look at my life, the weight of my sins seems immeasurable. Mine enemy taunts the mind with accusations, convictions, and persecutions. Satan will spend a seemingly eternity beating you down, stoning your mind with guilt. God will lift you up the more you pursue him in prayer and his Word each day. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Repentance is good for the soul, cleansing unto salvation and renewing one’s intimacy with Christ. Don’t let Satan stone your faith to death. Don’t let Satan beat you down to the point you don’t be bold for your faith. Don’t let Satan convince you that you cannot be forgiven. The work Jesus did at the Cross for you will crush any rocks Satan throws at you.

Breakfast

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things.

I looked back this morning to the first OneMinuteMinstry I posted on my blog site in 2012. I love how God works, even encouraging myself from over seven years ago from the time spent with the Lord. I don’t know about you, but I have had an incredibly stressful week. The AC business has commanded lots of time in the field, and lots more hours of late nights and early mornings running the business. I see the world around me falling apart, my country split at it’s seams over politics, ungodly leaders at war amongst themselves. All of this coupled with physical back pain, has left me stressed out and taking my eyes off eternity and the peace that lies there. God has encouraged me in his Word each morning, and I don’t know how I could face each day without it. My plea through these online ministries has always been for you to pursue God daily yourself, not to rely on what he has given me, but to see what he will give you through time in prayer and his Word each day. Matthew 6:33 Seek Ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.

There was none that suffered for their faith in the New Testament such as Paul. There was none that endured and continued to point others to Christ through their persecution like Paul. There was none that saw the peace that surpasses all understanding, even through incredible suffering. When Jesus approached Saul (Paul) on that Damascus road, Saul’s life would change forever, and he did not hear a promise of worldly blessings as many pastors preach from pulpits today, just the opposite. (Acts 9:11-21) 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” All throughout the Bible, throughout the New Testament is the evidence of those suffering in worldly ways, but resting on the promises of God for eternal reward. Satan rules this world, and when you live your life openly in rebellion against him, why would you not expect to suffer? Those that coast through life with worldly riches, likely are not living their lives for God, yes, even those professing Christians will answer to misguided time spent here.

Are you competitive, do you like to win? Are you putting forth your best effort in the business world to succeed financially, in sports to get the trophy, in life to hear accolades, in church to hear praises, in anything do you do it for the earthly reward? God knows our heart, the reason behind why we truly do what we do. Others may see the reason we say, but God truly knows the why. If we are pursuing everything with an eternal focus, we can draw glory to God with it. It does not matter how mundane our work seems, if we do it like God is standing there judging our every move (he is). When we focus on the noble, the integrity in everything, we gain that focus that Paul speaks of. When we look up and forward, the peace of God rewards us in a way the world cannot. The soul is nourished, strengthened, and ready to persevere onto the next. Strength is only found by eating breakfast, time spent with God to start each day.

Return The Love

Mark 6:34 And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.

You could summarize the Bible in that scripture, in that statement of Jesus’ compassion, lies that story of how much he loves you. The Bible is historical and prophetic, creation and it’s destiny wrapped up in a living Word like none other, a timeless book that has tugged the countless for centuries, because it is all about God. We are wired with that desire for him, sin causes many to deny him or pursue the wrong one, but our need for him is in our DNA, inexplicably within us. God has such a compassion for you that he died for you, rose from death to conquer sin forever, and now sits in Heaven awaiting the judgement day to change history forever when Satan is defeated. Hebrews 10: 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

I read this in my favorite devotional this morning, “Your relationship with God out to bring you more joy, satisfaction, and pleasure than any other relationship, activity, or material possession you have.” (Experiencing God Day by Day) It goes on to point out the only way we begin to “get that” is the pursuit of God’s will for our lives through seeking him. I will add the way I view that as, Matthew 6:33 Seek Ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. We all know of the Ten Commandments, and what is the greatest commandment; Jesus was even asked that exact question, and this was his reply. Matthew 22:37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. The entire Bible points to God’s love for us, and our need for him. God designed us with Free Will, but the battle good and evil has been around since the Fall of Man at the Garden of Eden. Even the lost know of these stories, but moving past them to the love exemplified in the Gospel changes lives eternally. Once God tugs on the heart, an eternal decision is made, not knowing the time we have to return the love that has been given us.

You know not the hour eternities door will open for you. You have this life to prepare for the next one. Everyone will spend eternity in one of two places, Heaven or Hell; the default is Hell because God has given you his Word and all of Creation to see your need for him, he has even wired deep within the desire for him. No amount of good works, church attendance, giving, or just not being that bad will get you into Heaven; you cannot earn it, only accept and understand that John 14:6 is the only way. Then and only then will you begin to return the love to him that he has to you.

Swift kick in the butt

Revelation 2:4 But I have this [charge] against you, that you have left your first love [you have lost the depth of love that you first had for Me]. 5 So remember the heights from which you have fallen, and repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, your sinful behavior—seek God’s will] and do the works you did at first [when you first knew Me]; otherwise, I will visit you and remove your lampstand (the church, its impact) from its place—unless you repent. (Amplified Version)

I have read this letter to Ephesus many times now, many different versions, commentaries, meditating on the passage and “to me” it speaks of life and death. The “life” we once had for our faith, our Savior, and the “death” we now walk in. I look back at myself, I look at the zeal I once possessed, now the lacking pursuit due to many different things. I look at over 1,100 devotionals/blogs I have written, daily pursuits that Satan used someone incredibly close to me to destroy. I look at the time in the pulpit, a depth of study and revelation unparalleled in my life. I look at the present time in my life, consumed with the anxiety of business, of family, of one’s health. I have always feared of being like my grandfather, one who died at my age at work, likely due to the same work stress I am under. I am at a very scary time in my life in so many ways.

If I were to die today, for any reason that God takes me home, I pray I am remembered for the zeal I had for the Lord. I hope people have seen my boldness to proclaim truths, to share failures, to filter my life through my faith. I pray my little contributions to online ministry, to prayers with friends and strangers, to my business ministry, to Trackside Ministry, to just being an open book, I pray my life has glorified God in these latter days. I want to finish strong, to use this second half of my life as a witness to the One who gives us eternal life. I read this morning of how blessed we are with the access to all God has at our fingertips in media, and of how we are going to be held accountable for how we used it in these days. (Exp. God Day by Day). Luke 12:48 but the one who did not know it and did things worthy of a beating, will receive only a few [lashes]. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more. There is no excuse for not seeking God more when you have your phone 24/7, and there are so many Bible Apps, podcasts, daily scriptures, and question answers you can find at your fingertips. Why not start with a daily verse reminder? Get it to come to your phone a minute after your alarm, and start your day with God.

These warnings to the churches of Revelation speak of the lack of zeal in a broad scope. The intense statement Jesus speaks to the lukewarm Christians in Laodecia is terrifying; he will vomit them from his mouth! I know my zeal has become distracted with life, I know my body is weaker than even recent years, I know Satan hammers my mind with depression and accusations, I know we all battle the same stresses of this messed up world we live in. Satan is peaking before his ultimate and final fall. God is showing himself in many ways today, gathering his church to stand for truth, building his army to call them home, and looking for zealous and fearless leaders that he has given that desire, to step up and show Him how much they love him. I need that swift kick in the butt to straighten me up, to revive my senses, and I pray that God does the same for you when you pursue him with a renewed passion.