Preacher, I want to encourage you to be excited today about the messages that God has for you to preach on Sunday because as you seek and search and hunger to do His will the messages will not be your own thoughts and deductions, but the messages will be infused with the Power of the Holy Spirit and an unction from on high.

Preach The Word!

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

Psalm 23:1



Matthew Henry wrote in regard to believers and The Great Shepherd, “He takes them into His fold, and then takes care of them, protects them, and provides for them, with more care and constancy than a shepherd can that makes it his business to keep the flock.” What wonderful words from so long ago that ring true at this very moment.  Our fear will slay our faith in a moment when we choose to disregard God’s Holy Word. Our fear is the manifestation of our flesh ruling the roost. Our fear is also a direct response to the devil and his lies that he whispers so cunningly in the time of a great hurt or battle that is raging in our lives. Ephesians 6:16 recently jumped off the page of my bible, “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” It was a timely word that I needed desperately! I praise God for it. Listen, dear believer, we are well equipped if we will suit up and apply that which our Lord has provided.

At our home church we have been dealing with many different situations and scenarios. The death of loved ones- Cancer- illness and sickness- as well as folks being hurt in accidents and many have lost loved ones that they are burdened and broken hearted over. Even in such times we can say without stutter or stammer, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."

Take a moment to read Psalm twenty-three! It can be a great comfort at this very moment.

I will be preaching the morning and evening service at Berean Baptist Church in Tell City, Indiana this coming Sunday.  I would appreciate your prayers. Tell City is located on the Indiana- Kentucky border.

I am looking forward to singing some specials and preaching the Word of God!

Thanks for visiting and thanks for praying,
Bro. Tracy

“He that walketh with wise men shall be wise:  but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.”

Proverbs 13:20

 

God’s Word can be likened to a warning bell.  God gives instructions and with those Instructions comes the opportunity to grow in wisdom and when we put wisdom into motion, we will set ourselves on a sure path that will lead us into a godly life.  How many times have each of us said, “If only I would have listened, I wouldn’t be in the mess that I am in.” 

Imagine planning a hiking trip that was going to take you through breathtaking and beautiful sites but within the surrounding beauty, there was the very real danger of getting lost and not being able to find your way out.  Yet, before you ever take the first step, you decide that you don’t need a guide or a map, you will just “wing it.” You and your friends learn with each passing moment, that you have erred greatly and underestimated the danger hidden within the beauty; your eyes were bigger than your brain.

I believe far too many Christians, because of their own foolish pride, live their lives in the same manner as the foolish hikers; they are the companion of fools instead of the friends of the wise. They don’t listen to God’s warning bell.

God will bring men and women alike into each of our lives to teach us and shape us in the nurturing of God’s love and God’s Word.  We all would be wise to listen and walk with such people.  As we grow, we will soon assume such a role in the lives of those who God brings across our paths.  Starting today, ask yourself, “Am I walking with the wise or running with a bunch of fools.” Choose wisely.

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Romans 10:17

 

Faith comes by hearing the word of God.  Faith comes by reading the word of God.  You say that seems too simple and that my friend is what makes it so wonderful.  As we learn through Gods word of His strength and His power and His provisions and His promises, we learn of Gods desire for us and that is that we would trust in His word.  Our faith will grow as we feed more and more on God’s word.

We cannot live off the faith of another, the experience must be our own and out of such an experience we will learn that the Lord is faithful.  Such an experience will bring growth during the times of storms.  The class room of faith is often held on the valley floor. I have learned more on the back forty than I have on the front porch.  Oswald Chambers once wrote, “Faith must be tested, because it can be turned into a personal possession only through conflict.”  Meditate for just a moment on the thought of faith as a personal possession.  I have had seasons of stretching when like an anchor Gods word has been my solace when all seemed to be falling apart.  God has shown Himself faithful and His precious word to be truthful.

There will be power in your walk and a fire in your bones when you realize who you are in Christ Jesus.  Dear believer keep it in your heart and allow it to flow in the depths of your very being. Remind yourself again and again.  Don’t allow the devil and his filthy lies to still your joy!  Don’t allow man to quench the truth of who you are because of what the Lord Jesus has done for you. Don’t allow circumstances to cloud the victory you have in Christ Jesus. From Calvary’s bloody, victorious Hill to the wondrous empty tomb, precious believer you are victorious through your Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.


Recognize Your Position:

I. Reconciled- “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation” (II Corinthians 5:17-18.)  You are no longer a stranger.

II. Redeemed- “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree” (Galatians 3:13.) You are no longer a slave.

III. Regenerated- “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1.)  You are no longer spiritually dead.

I am fearful that too many believers live defeated lives when they should be living victoriously in and through their Saviour Jesus.  Begin today to be and live who you are in Christ.  We do not name it and claim it.  We read it and receive it from God’s Word!

I recently read these words in reference to George Mueller, “To one who asked him the secret of his service, George Mueller said: “There was a day when I died, utterly died;” and, as he spoke, he bent lower and lower until he almost touched the floor- “died to George Mueller, his opinions, preferences, tastes, and will- died to the world, its approval or censure- died to the approval or blame even of my brethren and friends- and since then I have studied only to show myself approved unto God.”

Let’s die to self.  Let’s read God’s word and spend time in prayer allowing the Holy Spirit to guide and lead us.  May our prayer be, "O Father God I want to be more like Christ than ever before- I want to be filled with the Holy Spirit."  Let’s start right now with a funeral service for self and allow the life of Christ to be lived out in us.  That will be life at its best!

Missionary to Croatia Bro. Sam Ward has a fire within him for the souls of the Croatian people. I am often blessed by his updates and reports from the field that he gives thru his twitter account. Bro. Sam posted a prayer request and I am passing it along to those who visit A Call to the World Ministries- "We are seeing a lot of hard hearts on the streets this week.We need the prayers of God's people to see God do something mighty in our midst."

Let's be a part of something powerful in Croatia. Let's pray with a fervency and fire like never before! Let's pray for the lost souls in Croatia. Most of us will never get the opportunity to step foot on the soil of Croatia, but we can intercede on the behalf of the dear people. Let's believe while praying and pray while believing! Let's pray anticipating God Almighty to do a mighty work! Remember, prayers from around the world will make a difference around the world.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress,or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, for thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 8:35-39

The Christian's strength in the storms and the sunshine of life is rooted in the truth of God's Powerful and inerrant Word. I want to ask you to drop anchor in these powerful and potentially faith changing sections of scripture.  As you read, allow the Holy Spirit to take you through the verses and take Him literally at His Word.  I believe your life will never be the same and there will be substance to your excitement and it will be solely based on the Word of God.