I want to encourage you, as we are quickly approaching the new year, to have a plan in place to record how it is the Lord works in your life in the days to come in 2014.  Many times we believe we don’t have time to make a place in our electronic devices or a note book where we can record how God has been working in our lives.  These wonderful journals will bring glory to God as you look back and see and remember God’s mighty hand at work.  It will be of great encouragement when you are perhaps in a season of trials.  Sometimes we become stagnant in our walk with the Lord.  Our prayer time seems perhaps a bit dry or our reading of God’s Word doesn’t have the same fire or desire as it once did.  The thoughts and times that we record will be as fuel on a fire that will remind us of the endless power and provision that the Lord has so graciously poured upon on us in the past.  They will encourage us and God will be the very source of the blessings and strength that we gain from such wonderful memories.  

My wife and I have written down specific prayers and from time to time we go back and take stock to see how God has either answered those prayers or perhaps the Lord has had us in a season of waiting upon Him and His will. You will grow closer to your spouse and more importantly as a couple you will grow closer to the Lord as you depend more upon Him.  Your journal, whether it is kept electronically or on simple notebook paper, will come alive when you revisit the history between you and Almighty God.  Your faith will increase as you cease not trusting in the Lord.  This plan is not only for married couples but also for those who aren’t married. I want to encourage all to keep track and look back.  You will be greatly blessed by such a simple investment of your time.

In our aforementioned verse from Psalm 143 David took three actions during a time of persecution that can be our template to follow at any juncture in our lives:

I. He remembered- To bring to mind or think of again.

II. He meditated- To focus our thoughts; to reflect.

III. He mused- To ponder; to converse with one’s self.

In 2014 let’s look up; let’s look back and let's confess one to another the greatness of the living God!

“It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.”

Psalm 118:8



My wife and I have this scripture on our refrigerator as a reminder of the One we can trust.  You may make many friends and have many acquaintances, but somewhere along the line you will learn the plain simple truth of this powerful verse. Your life will be filled with anticipation and excitement as you trust the Lord more and more. Little steps of faith will lead to giant leaps of faith as you witness the hand of God proving the Word of God.

I have learned that the main ingredient in building trust in the Lord is that God has put me in situations where I find myself on a dead end road and my only hope is my Lord. I have seen many times when it would have gained nothing to have put my confidence in men before my trust in Almighty God.   God does not forget nor pass over His children.  When we exercise trusting the Lord, our confidence will grow and our reliance on man will not be our main focus. The victory will be two fold. First it will increase our faith while impacting the lives and faith of those around us. Secondly the real blessing is that it will please God and bring glory to Him.

Think of the wonderful testimony our lives would be if we said, “I am going to trust the Lord because I know that His word says,” “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5).  Dear believer, do you see how simple this would make our lives?  Can you imagine the transformation of your life if you, with a childlike faith, simply came to the God of the universe in such a manner?  What is it that is keeping you from such a life?  I have learned that it is the fear of man and what he may think of us that keeps us from such a life.  Don’t allow your legacy to be the fruit of doubt. Place your trust in the Lord and live life in His fullest.

I want to encourage you. I want you to be fitted with a resolve and a grit that says, “God has said it, I will believe it and that settles it.”  Before I was saved, I had a PhD in worry. Often time my fears and doubts were the byproduct of my surroundings.  Others will fan the flames of such foolishness with one goal in mind, to get you worked up. Look past man and put your hope, your trust and your confidence in the God of the universe. My friend this is not a motivational speech or a pep talk based on the flimsy philosophy of a mere man based on and from nothing this is a charge given to you based and found in the word of the living God!

Consider these words, “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear” (Hebrews 11:3.) God created something out of nothing. Let that sink in and saturate your heart, mind and your very being.  Our confidence in man should never pass that of our trust in the God of the universe, who can create something out of nothing. 

My prayer for you- My desire for you in 2014 is that you will indeed trust in the Lord in a way like you never have since the very moment that you were born again.  Make it a year to remember.

“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 friends, 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 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.  The New Year is right around the corner- My friends allow God to do that which He has called you to do.  Our time is short, but we move forward by faith.  Make 2014 a year to remember. Make it a year that you allow God to do a mighty work. Let’s go slay those giants!

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

Acts 4:12

 
When I was saved I knew nothing of hymns or the wonderful Christ honoring songs that had been written down through the years.  It was all a new experience for me.  There are many hymns and songs that I could mention, but the words of this old song really stand out:

 “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus there’s just something about that name,
 Master, Saviour Jesus like the fragrance after the rain.” 

O the name of Jesus!  What is it that comes to your mind when you say His precious name?   Do you think of the prophet Isaiah’s powerful words from years and years ago, “And his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).  We do know for certain that His name is the name above all names.

Imagine in your mind all of the lost souls who have called out to the Lord Jesus Christ to save them; the children who have called on His name; the teenagers who have uttered that wonderful name; all the adults who have called on His name.  Some came broken at an altar; others in their homes or in their cars or on their jobs.  Salvation can only be found on one road, and that is the path that Christ blazed from Bethlehem to Calvary.  I must admit there have been times when I have heard a message preached on the theme, “Jesus Christ the Saviour” and tears of gratitude have flowed.

We need to be in the business of praising His name.  Salvation is a free gift that cost the giver a massive and mighty price. We look around and see all that is going on within America and it can become easy to get discouraged. My friends, this Christmas Eve fix your eyes upon the Lord Jesus. His truly is the name above all names! “And thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21b.)

"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Luke 19:10

 

Picture yourself in a deep, dark forest.   The underbrush is thick making each step a challenge.  The trees are massive in height and width, their limbs act as a canopy blocking the sunlight.   Day after day after day you have labored trying to find your way out.  You are heavy laden and burdened and your soul is restless.   You are weary from the darkness and the weight of every plan that you devise to save yourself ending in futility.   You are thirsty and your hunger runs deep into the very depths of your soul.   You begin to cry out, “Help, I am lost”.   Again, with a strained voice, you implore, “Help me I cannot find the way.”  Unbeknownst to you, there was one who was sent and he hears your cries.   He tells you, “Follow me I know the way.”  And so, you turn from the direction you were going and you trust in the one who heard your cry.   His way is easy and it leads you out of the darkness of the forest and into the light.

Jesus Christ is the seeker and the Saviour.   Jesus Christ is, “The way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6.)   Jesus Christ is the light, “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, 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.)   Spiritually speaking, man is like the lost one in the forest we just read about.   Without Jesus Christ as their Saviour, everyone is dead in their trespasses and sins; they are in darkness.   Life is not life until one is born again.   Praise God that He sent His Son, the Seeker and the Saviour.

We praise God for His immeasurable Gift.  We thank God for His mercy and grace that He has poured out on this lost world. Let’s give thought to the days and moments leading up to the wonderful birth of the Lord Jesus.  Imagine the anticipation in heaven and the perfect timing of God Almighty.  All was in perfect harmony with God’s plan and will. Isaiah's prophecy “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” was near its fulfillment, Micah’s words were about to come to past, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting”- Caesar Augustus may have thought he was in control, but God had a plan and nothing and no one was going to alter it.  All was quiet on that night so many years ago, but the world would soon never be the same.

"O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever. Praise ye the Lord."
Psalm 117

This is a call to all nations to praise the Lord.  Those in the cities- big or large. Those in the small towns with dirt roads or paved roads. Those in the mountains. Those in the desert. Those on the ocean. Those in the jungles. Those in the country. Those in the valleys. Where ever it is you are at this very moment in whatever country you are in take the time to praise the Lord!

I. Praise Him for His mercy.
II. Praise Him for His kindness.
III. Praise Him for His enduring Word.

Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

                                                                              Zechariah 4:6




I want to thank my preacher friends who I have met through twitter for being an encouragement to me many times.  You have been a blessing and I appreciate your prayers and encouraging words. I want to be an encouragement to you as well.  I pray that these words will stir your heart and speak to you in a powerful way as you continue to fight the good fight and preach the powerful word of God!

Thank you and God bless you,
Bro. Tracy


One's earthly standing has no influence on the effectiveness of one’s heavenly calling. Consider those who God Almighty called and sent to start the early church. God prepared and sent a handful of fishermen and a tax collector and they turned the world upside down. These chosen men of God were not known for intellect or eloquence, but these servants of God brought the treasure of saving knowledge to the world.  Men of low rank became preachers of the most important message ever, the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.  They spoke in plain terms yet they delivered soul saving truth. A plain spoken message brought in the Power and Might of GOD.

 We don’t need speech makers we need Holy Spirit Filled preachers.  We need preachers who care nothing for the trinkets of this world, but who burn with a fire that can’t be extinguished by the devil, and all the discouragement that he, and his demons throw at them.  We need preachers who have a fire deep within them for lost souls as well as the hurting, hungry and backslidden Christians. We need preachers who nurture a deep love for the Lord Jesus. We need preachers who aren’t looking for a slap on the back or a desire to please a mere man. We need preachers who live to see God glorified.  We need preachers who fear the Lord more than the reproach of man. We need Heaven sent, Holy Spirit filled preachers.  The church is limping and America is dying on the vine.  We need Power in the Pulpits and knees bent in the closet. We need preaching and praying men upon the platform.

Dear Preacher, I want to encourage you to continue fighting the good fight and preaching the good Word!  Stand strong in Christ Jesus. Stand long in the power of the Holy Spirit. This is the specific time in history God has placed you.  I want you to be excited about what God is wanting to do in your ministry. The world needs you and your people need you and the Gospel that you have been called to preach. Don't give up and don't give in. Be strong in the power of God's might!  Dear Preacher,"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." II Timothy 4:2

"Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness." Psalm 107:8-9

 


Sin brought with it spiritual death and a great chasm between God and man.  Along with these came a hunger that all of the delicacies of this world cannot still, subdue or satisfy. But God has made a way to, “satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul." The Lord Jesus said, "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst" (John 6:35).  I know that many must laugh and mock at such truth while reaching for another cup of the world in hopes to quench their thirst. The devil literally whispers sweet nothings in their ears while they fall deeper and deeper in the trash bin of degradation and into the depths of sin. The outcome of such a life is filled with terrible consequences that accompany such a life of emptiness and shallowness that the world promotes and pushes.  The path is well worn and the story has been told time and again.  Those of us who are saved should not cease thanking God for the new life that we have in Christ Jesus, while praying with a fire and fervency for the lost.

God sent His Son the Lord Jesus Christ and God's word teaches us such a wonderful and satisfying truth, "For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life to the world" (John 6:33). Not being saved until I was thirty-six years old I lived a big chunk of my life trying to fill that which only God can fill.  One will never know true satisfaction until they are born again! The saved have true meaning and fulfillment in their life. Amen and Amen.

Christian, let's praise the Lord for His goodness and His wonderful works and why is that?  “Because, "He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul."  My friend, that is true satisfaction.

"Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people."
Proverbs 14:34

Thought- A nation is made up of individual people.  Each individual either adds to or takes away from the righteousness of that nation.  Whatever country that you live in you are either helping that nation to realize revival or you are leading your country in the opposite direction away from revival?

 We should have a desire to live in a way that will bring glory to God. We should be determined to live Holy Spirit filled lives and in the fear of the Lord all the days that God gives us on earth. I fear that many who are saved have become callous, cold and complacent in their walk with the Lord.  If that describes you, why is that?  What has happened that has led you to such a place? This morning, be honest with yourself and more importantly, with Almighty God, because He knows all about you, "The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good" (Proverbs 15:3). Will you come down to your knees this morning and pour out your heart to God?  This world does not need a callous, cold and complacent child of God. This world needs a sold out, knee bent, Holy Ghost filled believer to finish out the race with praise in their heart and power in their steps. This world needs you to share the Gospel and sow the seed of the precious word of God. This world needs you to be a burning lamp that brings light to this dark world. This world needs to know the love of God, but not at the expense of the word of God.  My friend if you are saved the world needs you to do that which God has called you to do, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). Now is the time! Today is the day!

 "Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?"  Psalm 85:6

I.The Source of Revival- "Wilt thou" Is God.
II.The Subject of Revival- "Us" It is God's people.
III.The Satisfaction of Revival- "Rejoice in thee" It's the joy found in the Lord.

In today’s study, we are going to bundle together six verses.  Quantity does not always ensure quality but in this instance I believe that it will. One stick of dynamite is sure to get the job done but six sticks tied together will go above and beyond the desired effect.  We are going to soak and saturate our heart, mind and eyes in and upon six powerful verses that I hope will breathe new life into our understanding as it pertains to true wealth and riches.  Monetary riches can be a wonderful thing as long as the money doesn’t own the man or woman.  Spiritual wealth and riches does not bring with it the baggage that far too often accompanies monetary gain.  When ones spiritual wealth is based and built upon the foundation of God’s Word, your heavenly portfolio will paint a picture of Christlikeness.  The riches will be pleasing to God and a blessing to those around you.

  Solomon wrote “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” (Proverbs 2:1-5).  This is an invitation that will make one wise and wealthy at the same time. That invitation is extended today as well.  Let’s begin.

“Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Length of days is in her hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to them that lay ahold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.”

Proverbs 3:13-18


I. The Happy Man 

Verse 13

Happy (blessed) will be the person who first finds wisdom.  Many look and search for days and years on end for a way to live a blessed life.  I am quite certain that wisdom has been shown to many and they turn their head and run in the other direction to get away from the very thing they are searching for.   Those who heed wisdom’s call, they will be blessed.  It sounds so simple, yet I myself ran for years from that which would have led me to happiness.  Why is there happiness in such wisdom?  It comes from God.  Man’s deductions and philosophies are marred in the miry clay of his sin.  They are formed on the potter’s wheel of iniquity.  That which doesn’t have its origin from God will lead one further from the truth and nowhere near the blessed life.  Proverbs 23:23 says, “Buy the truth and sale it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.”  There is not one investment that can give such a rich return as when one invests in God’s Word.  That person will be happy. After wisdom is found, we need to grab ahold of it and let it take ahold of us. We must not just simply and lazily look upon it, but we should drill deep into it and plumb its bountiful depths and gain understanding.  From wisdom we gain understanding and when understanding is married to application, we grow in the Word of God and live out the way and will of God; all this is worked out through God the Holy Spirit, but we must come to the Word of God.

II.The Rich Man

Verses 14-16

I know many people who are rich in possessions and position.  They are well known, they are highly thought of.  Recognized by many, but known by few.  Their possessions help define their position.  Nothing is out of their reach.  They seem restless and relentless in their pursuit of joy and happiness.  They seem to have it all, yet the pursuit never seems to end in their quest to find some kind of meaning in their lives. The inward storm of their souls is outwardly played out in the constant revolving door of new possessions and the unquenchable desire for another new position.  These people in God’s economy are paupers.  No amount of silver and no amount of fine gold compares to the riches one gains from the wisdom and understanding that is gleaned from God’s Word.  I believe that the Christian will find true contentment in the wealth of knowing that their sins are forgiven and that they know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they have peace with God (Romans 5:1.) With this truth as an unshakeable foundation, the born again will see their heavenly portfolio expand as they spend more and more time in the Word of God.  They will come to understand and embrace that what they have is more precious than rubies and anything (I mean anything!) that they could ever desire.

The benefits of wisdom and understanding are pictured as one who holds out blessings in both hands. The right hand holds, ‘Length of days.’  I Timothy 4:8 says, “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.”  The left hand holds, ‘Riches and honor.’  Remember the riches of rubies and gold are not to be compared to the gain that is found in wisdom and understanding.  Many Christians will never find their names on list of the top wealthy people in the world, but God will provide for them in the here and now in a powerful way, monetarily as well as materially.  Not only are riches found in the left hand but honour as well; a double portion of goodness and blessing.  Proverbs 8:18 plainly states, “Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.”  The main thrust of Proverbs eight speaks of God’s wisdom, understanding, instruction and knowledge.  It is amazing how God’s Word from one verse to another will bear witness to the truths of God’s Word.  I would much rather have honour that comes from God than the honour that has its origin in one’s self and man alone. 

III. The Peaceful Man

Verses 17-18

The Bible says, “Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard” (Proverbs 13:15.) I have often alluded to the fact that God’s Word often times gives us examples and illustrations of two different roads or two different paths, and teaches us what we can expect to find on those roads and paths we choose to take.  The ways of the transgressors is hard, but the ways of those who find wisdom and get understanding, and don’t miss this, and retains them, there is happiness. What are the attributes of such a person, pleasantness and peace?  The quality of life will be far greater and meaningful for the one who travels the way that God’s Word leads.  Let’s allow God’s Word to solidify our understanding when it comes to the pleasantness and peace that awaits us as we travel God’s way.

Light- “For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life” (Proverbs 6:28.)

Life- “For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord” (Proverbs 8:35.)

Health- “For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all flesh” (Proverbs 4:22.)

I never knew or was acquainted with peace or pleasantness that had any lasting power to it before I was saved.  The path that one takes as they allow God’s precepts and instruction to be their guide is full of peace and is satisfying in its pleasantness for those who choose to tread down the way of the Lord.  It is not free of trials and tribulations, but one is strengthened and sustained as they go about their way.  Let this sink in, “She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her.”  Life, true life, sustaining life, an empowered life, awaits those who take hold of the wisdom and understanding that is available in the Word of God.  This all leads back to where we began our study, “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.”