Consider and Build [podcast]

Paula White Exposed [video]

THAT’s My King! Pastor Lockridge [video]

Powerful Prayers from Children-This Will Shake You [video]

The Fear of the LORD is to Hate Evil: Pride, and Arrogancy #shorts [video]

WHY did God tell His people to “consider your ways”? and what does that mean to us today as His people?

Consider Your Ways (below)

Resting to Build (below)

“Whew thank you for that rebuke I needed that ! What a magnificent powerful biblical gospel message.” Cassandra

IS GOD (His work and people) important to you? Is the LORD Jesus Christ first place in your life? Is furthering His Gospel a priority to you? Have you scheduled Him into your financial distribution? OR, is the LORD, who bought you with His blood, a second class citizen to you? Well, think about it – we never thought twice to budget for the cable company, the electrical company, the gym, the beauty salon, the mortgage/rent, eating out, the tanning salon, or entertainment, etc. Now what about God?

Biblical stewardship MUST be preached. Stewardship is simply the use of resources. According to Christ, our personal stewardship is the measure of our love, or lack of love, for Him (Matthew 6:19-24). It is the measure of the daily cross that is truly being applied in our daily life, or being refused. Jesus made it a life and death/Heaven and hell issue didn’t He? Here’s one example – Matthew 25:40-46.

Is the LORD calling you today to “consider your ways”?

If our stewardship of the LORD’s resources is not what God’s unchanging Word states it should be, it would be wise to examine ourselves (2 Corinthians 13:5). Our spending is a direct reflection of where our hearts really are and reveals just exactly WHO we are serving – self or the Savior. See Matthew 6:19-24, 1 John 3:16-19, James 2:14-17, Proverbs 23:4.

In the days of the prophet Haggai, the covenant people of God were enjoying their creature comforts, were self-absorbed, and not realizing judgment was about to come upon them. In their fleeting wealth, they forgot God (Psalms 9:17). Now watch this:

“Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is NOT come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built. ³Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying, ⁴Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses (lavish comfort), and this house lie waste? (souls left untended to)⁵Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways. ⁶Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes (curse – law of diminishing returns). ⁷Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways. ⁸(it’s time to truly repent) Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord. ⁹Ye looked for much, and, lo it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it (scattered wealth). Why? saith the Lord of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house. ¹⁰Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit. ¹¹And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands.” Haggai 1:2-11

The people had made their own places and comfort in this temporal abode (earth) as that which was most important to them. They made these temporal dwelling places their highest priority, which had thereby negated the LORD’s work. Like so many today, they were engulfed in an out of control consumerism lifestyle.

Many have poured their all into their own “ceiled houses” and left the house of God undone (Haggai 1:4). The house of God is the people and work of God, not a physical building or church organization!

Sound familiar?

In Haggai’s day, those who claimed to be the LORD’s children were living for self-serving lusts and had fallen away. They were lukewarm (Luke 3:15-16). Many today are in the same exact place. Their lives are nothing but a self-serving festival of lust and yet, they are empty, guilty, sin-ridden, and hell bound – even though they were born again in the past. Unless they repent, their eternal suffering will be worse than if they had never been saved (2 Peter 2:20-21).

“Build the House” – (v8) The building of the house of the LORD refers to obeying the Great Commission Christ gave us (Matthew 28:18-20). Through our obedience to Him, the fruit Jesus creates is the blessed fruit of matured, edified and equipped saints, and lost souls saved. But today, most who claim to be Christ’s are fully given over to self-indulgence. They have compartmentalized their “Christianity” with a 2 hour attendance of a so-called “church service”, even though Jesus never told anyone to join a church or go to church. No, Jesus said “Follow me … daily.” (Luke 9:23-24) These flesh-flattering counterfeits are specifically fulfilling what the Bible foretold of this last generation (2 Timothy 3:1-8). They have a mere “form(ula) of godliness” and are on the wide road that leads to eternal damnation (Matthew 7:13-14; 2 Timothy 3:5). These Christ-denying, lukewarm apostates, who are “enemies of the cross of Christ” live for the next thrill, the bigger car or house (Philippians 3:18-21; Revelation 3:15-16). Christ promised that they shall be spued from His mouth (rejected from entering His eternal abode). Waste, waste, waste. Waste for which We Shall Give Account.

Jesus promised “I will build my church” and He’s doing it today through those few laborers He instructed us to pray that the Father would send forth (Matthew 16:18; 9:35-38). Are you participating?

Gold or God?

Who’s first – self or the Savior?

The Laodicean Connection

The Bible says that “There is no new thing under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9) If it weren’t for this Bible truth, such a connection between modern and ancient times and people would seem eerie. Watch this. Sinful men who claimed to be right with God were living in separation from the LORD in Haggai’s day, just as they were doing in Laodicea and are doing today.

“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; ¹⁵I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. ¹⁶So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. ¹⁷Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: ¹⁸I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. ¹⁹As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. ²⁰Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. ²¹To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. ²²He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” Revelation 3:14-22

Though once saved, they had become “lukewarm” and were in danger of the very lake of fire. It was their ease. They allowed themselves to be inundated with material wealth which they obviously were not sharing as God intended. Was this not the root sin of Sodom? (Ezekiel 16:49-51)

What Were the Sins of Sodom?

Check this out. The sin of sodomy / homosexuality is not even listed here. Sodom was destroyed and so shall be all other souls who repeat these sins and don’t repent before it’s too late:

“Behold, this was the iniquity (sin) of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.” Ezekiel 16:49

1) pride

2) fulness of bread (materialism, hoarding)

3) abundance of idleness

4) neglecting the poor and reveling in their own wealth with no regard for the needy

The LORD is knocking on the doors of the hearts of all whom He saved in the past, but who have since ceased to abide intimately with Him (John 15). The fruit of their lives clearly testifies to their apostate condition.

Ready to Repent?

the top of your list. Find a good ministry that is fulfilling a New Testament mandate and HELP THEM (Matthew 28:18-20). Give, give, give – Jesus says “It is MORE BLESSED to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35) Now listen to this and get your house in order – don’t run away from this – face it or you will never be blessed by Him to overcome.

Those not consumed with Christ as “first love,” will without exception be consumed with “the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things.” (Mark 4:19; Revelation 2:4-5)

When we lay down our lives (saving faith) our money is God’s and not our own. Someone has wisely stated that “If your money’s not saved it’s because you’re not saved.” When we truly repent, we will be about our “Father’s business” and not our own (Luke 2:49). We will fund HIS work and cease wasting the money He puts in our hands on wasteful trinket’s that have no eternal value.

“Let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.” Daniel 4:27

Do we not see in this verse above that we don’t have Christ’s peace due to the sins of self-idolatry and squandering/miss-stewarding the treasures He has put in our hands and for which we shall give full account?

“Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:¹⁰So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. ¹¹My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: ¹²For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.” Proverbs 3:9-12

Let the LORD rebuke and chasten you in order to bring about the right things in your life, which will include prudent stewardship and a passing grade in His coming judgment (Matthew 25:14-29; Romans 14:10, etc.). The “chastening of the LORD” and His “correction” are connected here with giving our “first fruits” to His work and those of His who are in need. Is that not what the earliest believers did and thereby set the example for us to do? (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-37)

Are you taking care of your own business and not “the Father’s business”? (Luke 2:49) If so, unlike Christ, you are all about yourself, your own self-serving business and not “the Father’s business.” The LORD created and saved you to be about His business first and foremost. How do we think that’s going to work out for you if you don’t repent and begin putting the LORD first in your life and finances? Diminishing returns.

The LORD is calling you to repent and to be restored to Him before it’s too late. When you truly repent and lay down your life at Christ’s holy feet, all that is in your possession will then be His and you will be rich in giving generously, laying up for yourself a foundation against coming judgment. Study Luke 12, 16, and 1 Timothy 6 prayerfully.

“Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;¹⁸That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; ¹⁹Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” 1 Timothy 6:17-19

God is able and He will establish our lives soundly if we obey His simple instructions!

Will You Hear "Well Done" or "Depart from Me"? [podcast]

“I’d rather hear the pastor preach on my sins, than to hear Jesus say ‘Depart from Me, I never knew you.'” unknown Are you Building Your Life on Sinking Sand, or Sound, Solid Foundation? Are you getting honest and digging deep, removing the mud of your life so that your life is built directly upon Christ the Rock? “digged deep” “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? 47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: 48 He is […]

Escaping Sodom

“Remember Lot’s wife.” Luke 17:32 When God instructs us to “remember” something, He is underscoring a truth. He is warning us of danger and how to escape it. What did Jesus want us to “remember” about “Lot’s wife”? What was the sin of Lot’s wife? Why was she judged? What is it about “Lot’s wife” that the LORD wants us to beware of? Why would Jesus warn us of an event that was thousands of years old, an account of the rebellion, the disobedience of a woman who while being delivered, looked back? WHAT’S at stake? Make no mistake: This […]

The Cardinal Characteristic of Knowing God [podcast]

The word “love” appears 311 times in God’s Word. It’s one thing to know the Bible. It’s another thing to know the God of the Bible. “Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.” Deuteronomy 13:4 This is why He created you – to know Him. “And this is life eternal (the whole purpose for it), that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3 The disciple has nothing more important […]

Abiding

The Harvest is Coming for all those Sowing the Seed of the Word [podcast]

The Joy and Expectation of Seed Sowing

What we sow, we can expect to reap (Galatians 6:7-8).

As we continue to sow the good, the incorruptible seed of God’s Word into the hearts of men, good news will continue to flow, will continue to be reaped – because God’s Word prospers in the thing where He sends it! See also 1 Peter 1:23.

“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11

The following song captures the need, the importance, and the urgency of reaching the lost souls around us:

Voices, by the band Harvest

Words and Music by Jerry Williams

Voices in the city, voices in the street.

Voices in each home across the land.

Voices in the churches, saying “Peace, be still.”

Where are all the voices in My fields?

Chorus:

Millions and millions dying.

Millions and millions crying.

Millions and millions don’t know who I am.

Children on the highways

Children on the run.

Mothers in the alley ways,

They’re killing all their sons.

The world is blinded in darkness.

I’ve given them the way.

Where are all My voices to lead them out today?

(Repeat chorus)

Where are the millions who love Me?

Where are the millions who say they know Me?

Where are the millions who’ll stand and follow Me?

Exactly where you are is part of “all the world.”

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Mark 16:15-16

Also, Jesus gives His Gospel as an ultimatum. Is Jesus intending that we bring the hearers of His Gospel to a decision? Seems like it. Read the passage again.

“So today I was driving through our town and saw a guy sitting on his porch reading a Jesus tract! Praise Jesus. I prayed that the words he was reading would be sealed in his heart! They are being left throughout our town. Everyday I put one on top of a newspaper stand. It is always gone next day! Seeds of God’s Word are being planted all over our town and will not return void! Isaiah 55:11. Hallelujah!” Karen Cochran

As Christ’s laborers our duty, getting the seed of our LORD’s Word into the hearts of the people, is of the utmost divine priority.

“The seed is the word of God.” Luke 8:11

Sinners are brought to Jesus, are born again, by way of the incorruptible seed of the Word of God being sown into their hearts.

“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” 1 Peter 2:23

When His seed is sown, God can bring the increase of conviction, drawing, and salvation (John 12:32; Romans 1:16, etc.).

“I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:6-9

The conversion of the soul to Christ comes by way of the Word of God.

“The law (Word) of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.” Psalm 19:7

What’s the future look like for those who sow, plant God’s Word in the hearts of men?

“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves (harvest) with him.” Psalms 126:5-6

“Just letting you know I’ve been putting those JESUS tracts in empty gym lockers when I go to the gym and praying that God’s Spirit moves on the hearts of the people that get one! And as you know He can do it! Have a Blessed Day.” Laurie Cox

Read, download the print-ready pdf of the JESUS tract here.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58

“1 Corinthians 15: 58. This verse is for all of us who labor for the Lord. We are to be unshakable. Letting nothing move us from the hope of the gospel. We are servants of Christ ever ‘abounding in the work of the Lord.’ Abounding in the furthering of the gospel. Our labor ‘in the Lord’ will be rewarded. Yesterday the Lord gave me a small reward seeing that man sitting on his porch reading the Jesus tract. And since we are laborers together it is a small reward for all of us! We, each member of Christ’s body, the world over, are team Jesus! And He is our eternal reward! We shall be with Him forever in the New Jerusalem!” Karen Cochran

“For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: 12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Hebrews 6:10-12

YOUR PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You sent Your only begotten Son to rescue, to forgive, to save me. If You can find and save me, You can find and save anyone! Please prepare and use me LORD Jesus. Into Thy holy hands I here and now submit my spirit to Thee dear LORD. I love You Jesus. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Jesus [tract] Read, Download it Here

[JESUS tract English (click to download print-ready PDF) this is the actual text of the JESUS tract of both the English and JESUS tract SPANISH (click to download print-ready PDF] [Okay here’s the text also:] The most astounding event of human history occurred when this man, Jesus Christ, died on a Roman cross. When He died, an untimely darkness covered the land at 3 p.m., and an earthquake occurred as He took His final breath. This man called Jesus was crucified. Three days later He was raised from the dead! Here’s why He died: “But your iniquities (sins) have separated […]

The Joy of Seed Sowing

“While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” Genesis 8:22 Always remember, there must be a seed sown before there can be a crop reaped. BEFORE Jesus saved me, He had several of His people along the way drop His precious Word into my alienated heart. Some of this included the tangible, the printed page. These things all culminated into His saving me into His glorious kingdom (Isaiah 55:11). “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto […]

The Demand for the JESUS Tract is at an all-time High! [podcast]

[this is the actual text of the JESUS tract] [JESUS tract English (click to download print-ready PDF)] JESUS tract SPANISH (click to download print-ready PDF] UPDATE: “Thank you for sending me this JESUS tract PDF. I can’t wait to print them out. God is good. His light is going shine. He’s taking ground that the enemy has been taking. I will be praying for you too. I actually pray for you alot. God Bless you as you go forth with God’s Word ” Laurie Cox This week a man came into the coffee shop smiling at me. I smiled back instantly, […]

Articles

“The Supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ” [podcast]

Don’t Miss This Blessing!

EVER Seen This Verse? Just Wow! PRAYERS appropriate the divine fuel from Heaven saints!!!! Check out this verse! Please hit SHARE to bless Christ’s body!

Do we even begin to realize the profound and immeasurable potential that lies in the power link of prayer? Jesus Christ is forever at His Father’s right hand making intercession for all of His beloved people (Heb. 7:24-25; 10:19-22).

Okay are you ready for a truth that is going to change your life forever? Read the following Bible verse slowly and for all it’s worth, drinking it in:

“For I know that this shall turn to my salvation (blessings, deliverance, and provision) through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:19

Whatever you do today, grab this Bible verse which will then be with you all your days!

In speaking to Christian people he was in fellowship with, this disciple of Jesus – no different than you and I – said that it was “through your prayer” that “the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ” was given to him in his life! Did you catch that?!

How does the LORD bless His people when we pray for them? Is it not by giving them a greater portion and measure of “the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ”?

LIFE CHANGING NUGGET FROM GOD’S WORD

How many of us are thrilled that “the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ” comes upon us by way of, as a result of the prayers of His saints? Wow!

Let’s read it again:

“For I know that this shall turn to my salvation (deliverance, safety, blessings) through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,” Philippians 1:19

Did you realize that the person or people you pray for are given a fresh and greater portion of “the Spirit of Jesus Christ”? According to this insightful truth out of the Holy Spirit inspired pen of the apostle Paul, the Father in Heaven blesses those we lift in prayer with the blessed Person and work of the Holy Spirit. “The spirit of Jesus Christ” is dispensed and poured out into the hearts and lives of those we pray for! This is what Paul told us was happening to him as the saints prayed for him.

Prayerlessness is Sin

Make no mistake, prayerlessness is a sin. Prayerlessness is direct disobedience to the command of God. Prayerlessness is a manifestation of faithlessness. Prayerlessness is the epitome of self-trust and self-dependency. Prayerlessness is the rejection of God in your life – the refusal to trust Him (Matthew 26:41).

“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41

YOUR PRAYER LIFE IS A CLEAR MEASURE OF HOW MUCH YOU LOVE GOD-OR NOT. love, to seek, to worship, and to trust Him. No need to seek God in prayer when pride and self-sufficiency reign on the throne of one’s heart.

The power of God working in us will be according to that which comes into us as we pray (Matthew 26:41).

PRAYER: Father in Heaven, in the name of Jesus, please forgive me for taking prayer communion, supplications (humble requests), praying for others, and prayer requests for granted. Forgive me also for the sin of prayerlessness and for not lifting others in prayer more. Thank You LORD for the unspeakable, incredible blessing of prayer. Your perfect sacrificial blood on that cross made our access to the Father possible and speaks for Your people in Heaven right now and forevermore! Jesus, please bless Your people to be faithful to request those things You have revealed in Your Word for each other! Thank You Father for pouring out Your Holy Spirit upon Your people afresh this hour and also every time we lift each other to You in prayer! Thank You right now for the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ being poured out on Your beloved people. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

His Grace is Sufficient for Thee [podcast]

“WHEN HE HAD BY HIMSELF purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Hebrews 1:3 ALL “BY HIMSELF” Jesus redeemed us, bought, brought us back to God by the shedding of His precious blood on that cross. Jesus needed no help: He alone was sufficient to propitiate, expiate, atone for the sins of mankind. The grace of Christ which saved us through His perfect sacrifice is the same and only grace that keeps us and enables His perfect will in our lives! Here’s how that works in His kingdom economy: He who died, was buried, and […]

The Riches of His Grace

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” Ephesians 1:7 It’s been said that “God bankrupted Heaven to buy us back to Himself!” “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” 2 Corinthians 9:15 Jesus judged sin on the cross so we don’t have to be judged for our sin and so we can experience “the exceeding riches of his gracE” both now and forever (John 12:31-32; Ephesians 1:7; 2:7). The claims of the Father’s justification to redeem mankind could only and exclusively have been satisfied in the perfect […]

Resurrection Grace [podcast]

NOTHING – NO MAN, NO DEVIL CAN STOP THIS! Just as no man, no devil could possibly stop the resurrection of Christ, no entity or army can stop the resurrection life of Christ in His saints, as they submit to their own death and burial. Resurrection follows! “Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12 […]

Articles

“I Love You Son” [podcast]

THIS WILL GIVE YOU CHILLS: (author unknown)

“I LOVE YOU SON”

AFTER A FEW OF THE USUAL SUNDAY EVENING HYMNS,

THE CHURCH’S PASTOR SLOWLY STOOD UP,

WALKED OVER TO THE PULPIT AND,

BEFORE HE GAVE HIS SERMON FOR THE EVENING,

HE BRIEFLY INTRODUCED A GUEST MINISTER

WHO WAS IN THE SERVICE THAT EVENING.

IN THE INTRODUCTION, THE PASTOR TOLD THE

CONGREGATION THAT THE GUEST MINISTER WAS

ONE OF HIS DEAREST CHILDHOOD FRIENDS AND

THAT HE WANTED HIM TO HAVE A FEW MOMENTS

TO GREET THE CHURCH AND SHARE WHATEVER

HE FELT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE SERVICE.

WITH THAT, AN ELDERLY MAN STEPPED UP TO THE

PULPIT AND BEGAN TO SPEAK.

“A FATHER, HIS SON, AND A FRIEND OF HIS SON WERE

SAILING OFF THE PACIFIC COAST,” HE BEGAN.

“WHEN A FAST APPROACHING STORM BLOCKED ANY

ATTEMPT TO GET BACK TO THE SHORE.

THE WAVES WERE SO HIGH, THAT EVEN THOUGH THE

FATHER WAS AN EXPERIENCED SAILOR, HE COULD NOT

KEEP THE BOAT UPRIGHT AND THE THREE WERE SWEPT

INTO THE OCEAN AS THE BOAT CAPSIZED.”

THE OLD MAN HESITATED FOR A MOMENT,

MAKING EYE CONTACT WITH TWO TEENAGERS WHO WERE,

FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE SERVICE BEGAN,

LOOKING SOMEWHAT INTERESTED IN HIS STORY.

THE AGED MINISTER CONTINUED WITH HIS STORY,

“GRABBING A RESCUE LINE, THE FATHER HAD TO MAKE THE

MOST EXCRUCIATING DECISION OF HIS LIFE: TO WHICH BOY

WOULD HE THROW THE OTHER END OF THE LIFE LINE.

HE ONLY HAD SECONDS TO MAKE THE DECISION.

THE FATHER KNEW THAT HIS SON WAS A CHRISTIAN AND

HE, ALSO, KNEW THAT HIS SON’S FRIEND WAS NOT.

THE AGONY OF HIS DECISION COULD NOT BE MATCHED BY

THE TORRENT OF WAVES.

AS THE FATHER YELLED OUT, ‘I LOVE YOU, SON!’

HE THREW OUT THE LIFE LINE TO HIS SON’S FRIEND.

BY THE TIME THE FATHER HAD PULLED THE FRIEND BACK

TO THE CAPSIZED BOAT, HIS SON HAD DISAPPEARED BENEATH

THE RAGING SWELLS INTO THE BLACK OF NIGHT.

HIS BODY WAS NEVER RECOVERED.

BY THIS TIME, THE TWO TEENAGERS WERE SITTING UP

STRAIGHT IN THE PEW, ANXIOUSLY WAITING FOR THE NEXT

WORDS TO COME OUT OF THE OLD MINISTER’S MOUTH.

“THE FATHER,” HE CONTINUED, “KNEW HIS SON WOULD

STEP INTO ETERNITY WITH JESUS AND HE COULD NOT

BEAR THE THOUGHT OF HIS SON’S FRIEND STEPPING INTO

AN ETERNITY WITHOUT JESUS. THEREFORE, HE SACRIFICED

HIS SON TO SAVE THE SON’S FRIEND.”

HOW GREAT IS THE LOVE OF GOD THAT HE SHOULD DO THE

SAME FOR US. OUR HEAVENLY FATHER SACRIFICED HIS ONLY

BEGOTTEN SON THAT WE COULD BE SAVED. I URGE YOU TO

ACCEPT HIS OFFER TO RESCUE YOU AND TAKE A HOLD OF THE

LIFE LINE HE IS THROWING OUT TO YOU IN THIS SERVICE.”

WITH THAT, THE OLD MAN TURNED AND SAT BACK DOWN IN

HIS CHAIR AS SILENCE FILLED THE ROOM.

THE PASTOR AGAIN WALKED SLOWLY TO THE PULPIT AND

DELIVERED A BRIEF SERMON WITH AN INVITATION AT THE

END. HOWEVER, NO ONE RESPONDED TO THE APPEAL.

WITHIN MINUTES AFTER THE SERVICE ENDED, THE TWO

TEENAGERS WERE AT THE OLD MAN’S SIDE.

“THAT WAS A NICE STORY,” POLITELY STATED ONE OF

THEM, “BUT I DON’T THINK IT WAS VERY REALISTIC FOR A

FATHER TO GIVE UP HIS ONLY SON’S LIFE IN HOPES THAT

THE OTHER BOY WOULD BECOME A CHRISTIAN.”

“WELL, YOU’VE GOT A POINT THERE,” THE OLD MAN REPLIED,

GLANCING DOWN AT HIS WORN BIBLE. A BIG SMILE BROADENED

HIS NARROW FACE. HE ONCE AGAIN LOOKED UP AT THE BOYS

AND SAID, “IT SURE ISN’T VERY REALISTIC, IS IT? BUT,

I’M STANDING HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU THAT STORY GIVES

ME A GLIMPSE OF WHAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE FOR GOD

TO GIVE UP HIS SON FOR ME.

YOU SEE…

I WAS THAT FATHER AND YOUR PASTOR IS MY SON’S FRIEND.”

Making Peace with God | Fresh Start with God TODAY!

One Boy's Miracle Faith - Tissue Required [podcast]

“Phew! You were right about the tissues! The faith of a child! He had more faith than his father. I guess that’s why Jesus says in Matt 18: 1-4. You want to be the greatest? His requirement is you must be converted and humble yourself and be like a little child or ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. This is how you enter into the kingdom of heaven become like a little child. This little boy didn’t care if he was cold and soak and wet. He was going to do what God told him. And he was […]

Parenting and the Eternal Destiny of Your Child [podcast]

No such thing as a Christian who is a parent and isn’t teaching their child(ren) God’s Word. So you programmed and indoctrinated your own child to “go get an education” from a commie university, with nothing but antichrist’s as “professors”, who merely read and teach marxist textbooks full of every evil known to mankind. And yet you still wonder why they turned from Christ? – if you even taught them the Bible in the first place. Time for you to get saved. God holds you personally accountable for allowing and inviting evil upon the minds and hearts of the child(ren) […]

Powerful Parenting

PRAYER OF A PARENT: Heavenly Father, thank You for the children You sovereignly gave their father and I. You entrusted them to us, to train up in Your ways – to teach them to know and follow You Jesus. We know they are first and foremost, YOURS. You have committed to my trust Your child(ren). Right this moment, I release each of my children back to You – to Your sovereign care. Please help me to be the parent You’ve ordained me to be, walking in Your love, truth, and wisdom – as I obey them by teaching them Your […]