Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
Matthew 5:14-16 Dear Christian, your light is meant to shine and point people to Christ. The Bible says, "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord" (Ephesians 5:8a). When you were saved you went from the darkness of being dead in your trespasses and sins to the light of true life in Christ Jesus. You are not just any light the Lord Jesus said, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (John 8:12). Let your light shine today. I will be preaching, teaching and singing a special tomorrow at Indian Prairie Baptist Church. I have had them on our prayer list for quite some time. Their new building is getting close to being completed and I hope to have some new photos of the progress. Pastor Ferree and the good folks have been hard at work since this past spring. I am looking forward to being a part of their upcoming meeting in December. Please continue to pray for them.
I would appreciate your prayers for the preaching and teaching tomorrow. I desire a mighty touch from God! Thanks for visiting and thanks for praying, Bro. Tracy "But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them"
II Timothy 3:14 I recently read, “When Benjamin Franklin wished to interest the people of Philadelphia in street lighting, he didn’t try to persuade them by talking about it; instead, he hung a beautiful lantern on a long bracket before his own door. Then he kept the glass brightly polished, and carefully and religiously lit the wick every evening at the approach of dusk. It wasn’t long before Franklin’s neighbors began placing lights in brackets before their homes, and soon the entire city awoke to the value of street lighting and took up the matter with interest and enthusiasm.” I want you to be encouraged to, “continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of.” The path you continue down in Christ Jesus and His Word, which you have been taught, will be a powerful example for those around you. As a Christian, you are being watched. The lost watch to see how sincere you are about that which you have spoken to them about. The saints watch to see how serious you are about Christ as not only Saviour, but as Lord of your life. As we desire to be more Christ like and live Holy Spirit filled lives, we are presenting a pattern for others, and when that pattern is based on the Lord Jesus and the Word of God, that we have been taught by many along the way, it will shine like those lanterns up and down those streets in Philadelphia so many years ago. Our Faithfulness to God will speak mightily and it will have an effect on many today and tomorrow. We may never know here on this earth what impact we have had upon those around us. It is first and foremost about being faithful to God and not about putting on a show for man. By setting a godly example, you will present a pattern for the young and old alike. Consider that when you set such an example, you will be a stepping stone for the next generation to witness today and an example for them to emulate in the future. “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope…. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 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: 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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
I Thessalonians 4:13, 15-18 We are far too guilty of looking down when we should be looking up. I hope, that dear Christian, in your discouragement and whatever life dilemma you might be enduring, you will remember what you have to look forward to. We don't live with our ear to the ground we live with our ear to the clouds, " 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: 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." Those are indeed words of comfort in this ever changing world. Be encouraged today by the powerful word of God. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord. Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek. Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. Psalm 27 Take a deep and long drink from these powerful words. I have no idea what you may be going through at this very moment, but God's Word is the best place to be when trials are many and the devil is on the prowl. Thanks for visiting and thanks for praying, Bro. Tracy My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.”-Proverbs 2:1-6
Isn’t it interesting the extremes that many will go to in pursuit of a goal or a dream? Many say, "I am willing to do anything at any cost to achieve that which I have put my heart, mind and soul into." I am in no way saying as believers we should not give our best in all things that we do, that would run contrary to God’s Word. The Bible says, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” (Colossians 3:23.) Now- with that being said, what if we approached God’s Word with the same reckless abandon as we do for training for a marathon or a financial plan we devise in hopes of making our selves richer or any other pursuit that we are willing to go to great extremes for. Our desires will shape our priorities. Those priorities will reveal where we place God’s Word at in our life. Where God’s Word is found in such a list will be the difference in living a life completely given over to the Lord or to the world and our flesh. We ultimately decide by the choices that we make. Our Scripture admonishes us to receive and hide the Lord’s commandments within us, and to cry after knowledge, and lift up our voice for understanding. These are actions that we as believers must decide upon! Many have spent countless hours that have led to years in pursuit of that which is fleeting. Notice in our Scripture the intensity of seeking and searching after the understanding and knowledge found in the Word of God. The wonderful truth is that God is willing to give wisdom if the believer will come. What is your number one pursuit? What is at the top of your list of priorities in your life? Often time within the writings on this blog and the website I have hammered over and over again the importance of our choices and decisions and how the choices and decisions that we make will dictate the life that we will live and lead. I spent the biggest chunk of my life dead in my trespasses and sins thus I was lost and hell bound, but now I desire and I thirst most of all for that which God desires in my life. My prayer for those who read this is that your desire and intensity will match the Words in our Scripture today when it comes to your pursuit of God and His powerful, precious and enduring Word. There will be guaranteed treasure when the child of God has a white hot pursuit, determination and desire for true wisdom, knowledge and understanding that only the God of heaven can give. “And there went out a champion out of the camp of Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.” I Samuel 17:4 The Philistines had a champion, but God’s man David would be the conqueror of the Philistine’s champion. The King of kings had His hand upon His man. The very heart and soul of the wonderful account of David’s victory over the giant Goliath is the faith David had in God to win the victory (take time to read this wonderful account in David's life). Those in the camp of Israel didn’t believe in David and those in the camp of the Philistines certainly didn’t believe that the shepherd boy had a chance with a sling and five stones. I would rather be an instrument in the hands of the Living God than a pawn in the hands of the devil.
Dear friend, don’t be surprised by what you are about to read! You are going to find yourself in situations when your brothers and sisters in Christ just won’t get it when the God of heaven calls you to do something well beyond your own capability, strength and resources. There will be family members who will not understand your exuberance or the fire that kindles your excitement. God has, God can and God will use the most unlikely person to do a powerful and mighty work. Praise God!! Mark it down, there will be doubters, but don't you dare stop. There will be those, who though you may not here their words they will scoff and question the validity of what you are called to do. The enemy will be sure to show himself. He will whisper doubt in your ear while knocking on your hearts door like an attacking lion. Don't you dare stop! Stand tall and strong in the power of God and in His might. Never allow the lack of faith of another to dilute your trust in God, and what God has called you to do. Victory will be sweet and God will get all the glory and praise. You will be an example to others who God wants to use as they endure the same doubters and roadblocks. We need to be building blocks not stumbling blocks. David’s faith was on display that day for all to see. My friend, allow God to do that which He has called you to do. Our time is short, but we move forward by faith. Let’s go slay those giants! In the power and the provision of Almighty God! God is able! When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek. Psalm 27:8
In his book, “The Pursuit of God”, author and preacher, A.W. Tozer, wrote in reference to those who truly seek a depth in their relationship with God, “I shall simply say that they had spiritual awareness and that they went on to cultivate it until it became the biggest thing in their lives.” The key word is cultivated. If we are not cultivating a deep relationship with God then we must ask ourselves what is it that we are cultivating in our lives and why? Spiritually speaking, we often live on the outskirts but we don’t dare come up close to cultivating a closeness to God. A life of any substance or meaning will never come to existence while one is living for and in the things of this world. The impact of our lives will either make a mark for heavenly things or for earthly things. It is about a choice. What choice will you make? I. We need a renewing in our love for the Lord. II. We need a refreshing in our living for the Lord. III. We need a reviving in our longing for the Lord. In this ever changing world there is a hope that no one and I mean no one can alter or change. God does not change and the truth of His Word is not altered by time or by man. Leonard Ravenhill wrote," One of these days some simple soul will pick up the Book of God, read it, and believe it. Then the rest of us will be embarrassed." Let's purpose today to be the simple soul who reads the Word of God and believes the powerful and precious God breathed Word. I truly believe that if many would trust in Him who is worthy of our trust that victory would not be a tale that we would read about in the life of those in the past or the present, but victory would be a reality that would be lived out in the life of the Christian abundantly and visibly for all to see at this very moment. Too many seem to buy into the notion that the most godly people are only those in full time ministry and that are well known in their circle and possibly around the world. I don't believe that for one moment. I never have believed that and I never will. I have met Christians that will never be known by the masses within the body of Christ who are faithful to the Lord and have bared much fruit as they have wanted nothing more than to draw nigh to God and abide in Christ Jesus. You could start a revival fire from the spark of their testimony.
It is simple: 1. The Lord is your light! 2. The Lord is your salvation! 3. The Lord is the strength of your life! Those are three truths that should light a fire in your heart and cause your mouth to sing praise after praise to the God of Heaven. |
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