Feb 23 

STAYING SHARP

What is a sharp character?

sharp, keen, acute mean having or showing alert competence and clear understanding. sharp implies quick perception, clever resourcefulness, keen suggests quickness, enthusiasm and a penetrating mind.

President Abraham Lincoln was asked one time, Abe you are a famous rail splitter. “If you were going to chop down a mighty Oak tree, how would you go about it.”  He replied, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe”

Men must prepare and steel themselves for any significant work.  Praying, putting on the full armor of God, seeking advice of other godly men sharpens us before any enterprise or battle we face.

Hebrews 4:12 (NLT) For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

God’s Word is truth, it is powerful and it reveals the truth about ourselves to help us have God’s mind on things as opposed to our fleshly desires.  Staying in God’s Word with keep us sharp, ready for good works. Jesus is described as the logos, God’s Word alive and He stayed prayerful, knew and quoted the scriptures to model living life well.

Proverbs 27:17 (ESV) Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

Like minded Christian men need to be in relationship with each other sharing our goals and concerns and helping each other stay sharp for successful living in a fallen world.

Every man should have a Paul, a mentor in their life; a Timothy, a protégé that they can disciple and to whom they can pass on the faith and walk; a Barnabas, someone who can encourage and be a cheer leader when they are down; and a Nathan, an accountability partner who will keep them accountable and on God’s path for successful living.

Attend church regularly, join a men’s small group, stay in contact with your Paul, your Timothy, your Barnabas and your Nathan to live successfully.  Stay sharp men!

Waiting for the right time...

You remember how it feels when you are a child and you are waiting on Christmas.

It seems like it will never come.  Recently, my youngest son, David, and his wife Jacqui were waiting on their first child to be born, a girl, who just at the right time arrived on the scene to change their lives forever.

Ask any 9 month pregnant mother and they will tell you they are ready for that baby to arrive.

Talking to Zoe’s other grandpa we commented that “God is never early, but He’s always on time!”

Ephesians 1:10 says,  And this is the plan: At the right time He will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.

The children of God are waiting for the return of Christ, just like as kids we were waiting on Christmas… or at least we should be.

Psalm 105 reminds us that at just the right time God called Abraham out of Ur to call out a chosen people.  At just the right time God sent Joseph ahead to Egypt to preserve the Jewish people through the famine.  At just the right time God sent Moses as His instrument to deliver the Jews from slavery in the exodus.

A few weeks ago, we were talking about our spiritual plans for 2023.  God has a plan and at the right time the LORD will come back and this messy old world will be fixed.

In the mean time, let’s work our plan to be obedient joyful witnesses of the blessings in Christ.  Let’s take some folks with us.  Now’s the right time.

Join us Thursday mornings at 6:30am for the FISHERSMEN ZOOM MEETING for fellowship, Prayer and Encouragement.

 

Blessings,

 A Prayer for National Revival in America 

(by Christian Union Day & Night 8/3/2020)

I exalt you, King of the nations, who righteously reigns over the earth in perfect wisdom and strength.

I praise You, Father, for the United States of America and for all of its blessings.

I thank You, God, for the Church You have raised up in America from generations past through today.

Now, Lord, let the fire of the Holy Spirit be fanned into flame in Your Body, in the name of Jesus.

Let every local church building in America become a house of prayer, as you commanded in Your word, in Jesus’ name.

Let Your consuming fire burn all the dross that has attached itself to Your Church, in Jesus’ name.

Father, purify Your people in holiness and remove unfaithfulness from the bride of Christ, in Jesus’ name.

Let every evil spirit deceiving Your people into disobedience die now, in Jesus’ name.

Let every spirit of complacency fall off of Your Church, in Jesus’ name.

Lord, I consecrate my body, soul and spirit to Your purposes afresh, in Jesus’ name.

Father, use me as an agent of revival and national transformation, in Jesus’ name.

Let all fear of men be driven far from Your people, in Jesus’ name.

Holy Father, take away the love of self, love of money, love of pleasure and the love of sinning from Your people, in Jesus’ name.

Destroy disunity in Your people, in Jesus’ name.

Let love for God and allegiance to the name of Jesus Christ be paramount in our hearts and our churches, in Jesus’ name.

Our Chief Shepherd, give Your sheep self-sacrificial under-shepherds to protect Your flock with uncompromising devotion to prayer and to feed Your flock with the pure milk of Your Word.

Father, strengthen the leadership of "Christian Union" to fulfill its calling to help promote national revival.

Father, strengthen all Your people to use their spiritual gifts and do the work of the ministry, in Jesus’ name.

Let Your people build up one another in our most holy faith, in Jesus’ name.

Let zeal for Your name consume us, in the name of Jesus.

Let the mind of Christ rule our thoughts, in the name of Jesus.

We plead for the power of the Holy Spirit to fall on us and make us bold witnesses for Jesus, in Jesus’ name.

Gracious Father, stretch forth Your hand to perform signs and wonders through the name of Your holy servant, Jesus.

Father, make our homes places of holiness, worship and peace, in Jesus’ name.

Lord, raise up Christian men to lead in our homes, in Jesus’ name.

Lord, inspire Christian women in purity and love, in Jesus’ name.

Lord, let our children know Your ways, love Your name and lead a new generation to the Savior, in Jesus’ name.

Father, let the wisdom of our older generation guide our steps, in Jesus’ name.

King of the nations, turn the hearts of our leaders at every level to do Your will, in Jesus’ name.

Father, abolish the sins of abortion, love of money and love of pleasure from our nation, in the name of Jesus.

In the spirit of blind Bartimaeus, we cry out, “Son of David, have mercy on America!”

Father, send Your Holy Spirit to bring repentance and faith to the lost, in the name of Jesus.

Lord, raise up the army of Your Church to conquer the powers of darkness at work in America, in the name of Jesus.

Lord, let every Christian speak Your Gospel with clarity and courage, in Jesus’ name.

Let the spirit of unbelief die in America, in Jesus’ name.

Let every generational sin and every curse be broken off of America, in Jesus’ name.

Let cycles of sin, poverty and unbelief be reversed to generations of blessing, in the name of Jesus.

Father, let Your name be hallowed in America, in Jesus’ name.

Father, let Your kingdom come and Your will be done in America, in Jesus’ name.

King of the nations, let this future Christian revival and transformation of America be a sign and a wonder to all the nations of the world and a glory to Your name, in the name of Jesus.

Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we praise You now for Your love and power to do the impossible.

Introduction

Our God is the King of the nations (Revelation 15:3). The prophet Jeremiah reveals that the Lord has plans for people groups, not just for individuals. When a nation turns from evil and listens to the Lord, He will direct His mercy and grace to that land and to its people.

If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it.

And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, and if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will relent of the good that I had intended to do to it. (Jeremiah 18:7-10)

Even under the Old Covenant, God had plans for nations other than Israel. The King of the nations has special purposes for each and every nation - including the United States - that exists throughout history.

The people of God must stand in the place of intercession for its nation (Ezekiel 22:29-30). We must act with faithfulness and continuously plead our case that God will bring repentance and faith to the nation before it is too late.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

The disciples of Jesus are the salt of earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16). If we lose our saltiness or hide our light, what hope will be left for the lost people of our nation? Our relentless cry must join with the psalmist:

Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? (Psalm 85:6)

Prayer and repentance are two of the chief means by which God accomplishes His purposes. The Father will hear and respond to the cries of His children.

Prayer

Pray these prayers for revival of God’s people. Pray with zealous passion and determination to have what you seek, according to the word of God (Luke 18:1-8).

 John the Baptist, the best advance man in history!

This past week we took a look at Matthew 3 which shares some information about Jesus' 2nd cousin through Mary and forerunner, John the Baptist.  By Jesus he is called the greatest man/prophet of all time.

Unconventional, John obeyed God and was no respecter of persons in his prophesies.  He called the people to repentance and identified Jesus as the promised Messiah who would baptize his followers with the Holy Spirit and fire.

John fulfilled Isaiah 40:3 in being the voice crying in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord.

Got Peace?

My favorite Bible letter, and favorite chapter in that letter is Philippians 4. Pastor Bruce spoke on it last Sunday, but as I was re-reading and thinking about the passage, what struck me was that the Apostle Paul told his brothers and sisters in Philippi more than once, "May God's peace be with you!" It reminded me of what Jesus said to His disciples shortly before His passion, " Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." John 14:27

So in Christ, it says we can have peace, even in the midst of the world's chaos. The Jewish concept of peace, or "shalom" carries with it not only the idea of being at peace, but also the thoughts of " Nothing missing, Nothing broken, wellbeing, and completeness, or wholeness." I think Philippians 4 has some other verses that give us clues as to how to live in God's peace:

4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!

4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

4:13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

4:19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

Wow, look at all the nuggets in Philippians, chapter 4!

Has the world got you stirred up? Beat up? Read through Philippians, chapter 4. Meditate on the second half of the chapter, and tell me if it helped you feel at peace. Paul says, If you PRACTICE the Christian way of life, then the God of peace will be with you.

TREASURE

Job, the righteous old testament a patriarch, when he was in the middle of his testing, due to the attack of Satan said,

"I have not departed from His commands, but have treasured His (God's) words more than daily food." Job 23:12

Sounds like what Jesus said in the wilderness, when the devil was tempting Him,

During that time the devil came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread." But Jesus told him, "No!" The Scriptures say, 'People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Matthew 4:3-4

Do you treasure what God has to say? Have you been on a healthy diet lately? More donuts than scripture?

Paul told his understudy, Timothy, "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Do you want to do what's right? Do you want to be equipped and prepared to accomplish your work? Do you want to live in the truth?

Have you been in His word today? This week?

Final Words

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 NIV

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 NIV

If you were leaving your spouse and children, your dearest friends on a long trip, and you would not see them again for a long time, what would be your parting words? You would probably tell them that you loved them. But then, you might give them some marching orders; Something like: “Watch out for and be good to your mother,” “make the kids obey,” and “Be good,” or “Do good work.” In the 15^th chapter of John, Jesus tells his followers that He loves them, but the last two scriptures were Jesus’ marching orders to his friends, his brothers, his followers.

The Story of Ying Kai

In 2001 Ying Kai had been assigned as a missionary to an unreached people group of 20 million people in a country in the Far East. For the five years prior to this new assignment, he had been effective in planting one new church per year, and personally discipling about 60 people per year. He was receiving accolades for his effectiveness as a missionary.

But as he considered the overwhelming responsibility of trying to have an impact on 20 million people, he realized that if he kept doing what he had been doing he would never make a dent in reaching these unreached people. As he turned to the Lord in prayer and meditated on the Great Commission, the Lord’s instructions for pursuing his new assignment were there. The Great Commission instructs that we are to go, not just invite them to come to us; that everyone is to be engaged in attempting to reach everyone, everywhere; and we are to make disciples, not just church members or converts.

With these new marching orders, Ying Kai began by teaching a group of 30 Christians how to make disciples who would know how to make disciples. (2 Tim 2:2) During the next 10 years, he was used of God to begin a movement that planted more than 158,000 churches and baptized 1.7 million people.