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Open doors

Open doors

Hebrews 10:24-25    And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

What happened? Why don’t you go to church anymore? What hurt did you experience; what hypocrisy steered you away; what victory did Satan have in your life to keep you from being involved in church this long? God has blessed me with the transformation of my Air Conditioning business into a ministry. My truck boldly proclaims my faith, and I am sure it offends as many as it inspires. I never go into peoples home Bible Thumping their heads, but God just seems to open doors to conversations sometimes, and so many times, I hear their stories of why they don’t attend church any longer. It typically involves some painful incident that Satan keeps reminding them of to keep them away. He knows the strength of a believer is much greater in the company of other believers. Sadly now I hear so many times of people trying to do Christianity alone; Christianity is not a solo sport. Many people have come to doing church in front of a TV, listening to smiling preachers that speak of only the good things in life; of a loving God, and if you aren’t blessed, you don’t have enough faith. They only tell people what they want to hear (2Timothy 4:3-4); they don’t preach the coming judgement of God because that will hurt their popularity, ratings, and pocketbooks. They may preach Christ, but they are personally profiting greatly, and I question their hearts in that pursuit.

Church is full of imperfect people; that is why we are in church. We are seeking the “hope that does not disappoint” (Romans 5:5), the support system of those with the same struggles as you are facing. We need the support of each other to do this thing called life. I spoke yesterday of being the “light in the world”(Matthew 5:14) that Christ told us to be. To let our light shine for others; to be His light to help others along their dark paths. Why would you sit at home and keep His light to yourself? Whatever pain you suffered, is a victory for your enemy if you are not moving past it going back to church. You must move past it and claim a victory over Satan when you pass through the doors of church this coming week.

You may not find, the church where God wants you the first time you open the doors. You will know, the church He wants you at the first time you open the doors. God wants you to be encouraged each week in the body of believers. He wants you to come and worship in in song, praise, teaching, prayer, and fellowship. He wants your candle to be so bright that all the world sees it on Monday morning. He wants them to see Christ in you. Don’t let that memory that Satan keeps bringing up, keep you from stomping it under your feet as you pass through the doors this coming week.

 
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Posted by on September 23, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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But this is heavy God

But this is heavy God

Hebrews 10:32-37   But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: 33 partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; 34 for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. 35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: 37 “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry.

I don’t even know how to pen all the pain I see these days. Those around me that are struggling financially seems to be a common thread; the pains of an economy that is so far from where it peaked only a few short years ago. These pains have infiltrated families, churches, careers, and to be honest most of our lives. The leadership of our country is failing to give us hope and simply spending money so grotesquely that it is further devaluing the dollar and increasing debt. Our world as we know it is collapsing around us, and very few of us have escaped the reality of it. Pain has an underlying tone in the smiles of cover. We all want everything to be ok; but it is not.

The author of Hebrews is speaking to how once we were saved, the trials of life came to steer us away. Satan’s sons prosper when all of God’s children struggle. All of these struggles are allowed and designed for strength and endurance. We would never by choice take these tough roads of life that deepen our faith, for we would take the high road of simplicity and ease, and rest shallowly there. God wants more; wants to bring you more to the likeness of His Son; wants to show you the weight that He bared for you from deep within; knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. These tough times build us like weights we carry strengthen us. The heavier the weight or burden, the stronger or faith becomes.

I truly feel there is an urgency in the air for those who do not know Christ; or worse yet those who rest in false religion. The reality of our world is that it is so far from God; and Satan is peaking before his eternal fall. Satan has planted so many false teachings in today’s society, and so many have been led astray by the struggles of life. They have went someplace to ease their pain; some religion that preaches only joy and not conviction of sin. The author of Hebrews was warning the Jews to not fall back into the trap of the false security of Judaism; to hold fast to their faith in God’s grace through Christ; and the rewards of that endurance. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise. No matter how heavy the burdens get, through the pain of it you are gaining strength. We may only see and feel the present of the pain, but God sees the strength and the end, eternal result of it.

 
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Posted by on November 2, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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