Friday, June 25, 2010

Edifying One Another

1 Thessalonians 5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
The word "Edify" means to "build up", "to repair or restore by building" to "uplift"
If there ever was a time in our world when people need to be lifted up and restored, I personally think it is now. When you read the newspaper or listen to the daily news it causes one to become discouraged and depressed. I was reminded of the Apostle Paul where he talked about being weary and troubled, fightings without and fears within in 2 Corinthians 7:5 "For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without [were] fightings, within [were] fears. 6 Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;"
What a great word "Nevertheless" was to Paul.. No matter what was going on, no matter what he was faced with, the greatest of problems was about to meet "nevertheless" interpreted means, "however", "in spite of that."
Paul, in spite of the problems, fighting without, the fears within, GOD that Comforts is sending someone your way... And Paul ends verse 6 by saying, "comforted us by the coming of Titus."
Everyone of us will reach a place in our life that we become discouraged, BUT GOD who comforts, has someone coming your way to encourage and edify you...
The question I have is... "Have you ask God to make you an edifier? A builder instead of one that discourages?" You have been in the place of discouragement, troubled, uneasy, so we all know what that is... But have you allowed God to use you to encourage, and edify someone else. If we don't guard ourselves we will allow our own problems to overcome us and think we are the only one with problems and trials. But everyone faces issues and times of discouragement, even like the great prophet Elijah in 1 Kings 18when he became discourage and wanted to die, after seeing such a great victory on Mount Carmel. He was now ready to give up but God sent an angel to edify him. I believe that in our time God wants to use you and I to be that edifier and encourager... Oh the blessings one will receive when they allow God to use them as an Edifier" In 2 Samuel 11, David was sending a messenger to Joab. Along with instructions of what Joab should do, David also told the messenger to encourage Joab..
We are truly in the last days, and if God were to speak to us today, I think He would have instructions for us, but He would also tell us to edify and encourage one another to not give up.
Church we have come to far to give up now, Jesus is just about to come gather His children.
Don't let discouragement, depressions, trouble, trials, or the things of this world cloud your heart and mind... There is a song we used to sing "I've come to far" and the lyrics were,
Verse 1
I’ve come too far to look back again there is nothing behind me
All the treasures I used to love have all faded from view
There’s a new day ahead for me all my heartache is over
For I left it at Calvary where my new life began

Chorus
I’ve come too far to look back
My feet have walked through the valley
I’ve climbed mountains, crossed rivers
Dessert places I’ve known
But I’m nearing the home shore the redeemed are rejoicing
Heaven’s angels are singing I’ve gone too far to look back

Verse 2
Look around, there’s no happiness there’s no reason for living
Life will give you a broken dream full of sorrow and fear
Turn around, don’t look back again face the new day before you
Place your heartache in Jesus’ hand He can mend broken dreams

Let us build up one another in these last days..
Maranatha "The Lord cometh!"
Be encouraged today!!!

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Another Year is upon us...

There is an old saying that states, "Time Flies when you are having fun."
Fact is "time flies" whether you are having fun or not. It seems like we are living in the days when time slips away from us so quickly. Not many years ago society was worried about Y2K and what would happen after the stroke of midnight 1999 as the year slipped over into 2000. Many were worried about food supplies, and water and would all computers come to an abrupt halt? Would we be without electricity and water? Many fears swept over the world of the unknown and what our outcome would be.
Well we survived Y2K and now we have gone through the 1990's the 2000' and now have entered into 2010. Many things happened over the past few years, we have gone through a Presidential election and whether this was your candidate or not we are now one year with a new President. Many changes have taken place, people have lost their jobs, some their homes and material wealth, and the economy is not rebounding like some predicted.
In the past ten years since 2000 many of us have lost our parents and other loved ones to death. In the process of these past years, we have also been blessed with new little people in our lives.. From the year 2000 to 2010 God has blessed our home with five grand daughters and one grandson, ages starting from the oldest grand daughter of nine years of age to a 12 weeks old grandson. What a great blessing they are to my wife and I, God has been so good to us!
As we enter this new year, we realize that none of us knows what this year will be. Some are wondering will this be the year of rebound, where jobs are restored, the economy picks back up, stocks take off again as they have in the past? The truth is all these questions pertain to temporal things which will someday pass away. This seems to be the main topic on most peoples mind. Jesus warned them in the book of Matthew to guard your heart, for where your treasure is, there your heart will be..
Matthew 6:19 "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
Before you get the wrong idea, I am not saying that is wrong to have a fine home, car, or a savings account. The problem with most people is not the things they have, but the things that have them.
This is the most important thing about this new year of 2010, this could very well be the year Jesus returns. Do not allow anything, or anyone to get your attention off of His return. How sad it would be that the material and temporal things would out weigh the Glory of His return. We must guard our hearts for the treasures of this world can never be more valuable than the treasures of heaven.
As Christians there was a time when we had such a strong desire to see and be with the Lord.
We sang a song from our hearts that went like this..

I'm longing for Jesus to come back I long for Jesus Christ my King
To come and take me to My home beyond the sky
Up there where saints Will shout and sing

I'm longing for that glorious day When Jesus Christ shall come
I long to see His blessed face
When all the saints throughout the ages Shall be gathered home
The ones who've trusted in His grace

Oh what a glorious times will be When through the air I go
To meet the one who died for me
My sorrows, cares, my trials, my tears Will all be left below
For then my way will be complete

The word "Longing" means a strong desire, yearning, craving, hunger, thirst.

Where is your desires, your yearning, your hunger? This year let us turn our hearts toward home, laying aside anything that would hinder us in our race..
Hebrews 12:1 "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight , and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,"

I leave you with these encouraging words...
1 Thessalonians 4;16 "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

Look up, this could be the year of the Lord's return