A Secure Foundation

In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus in concluding His “Sermon on the Mount” speaks of the wise man and the foolish man.  Both of them have built their houses and there is no distinction in the houses.  Outwardly we may not see any difference.  Both of them would face a storm but the consequences of that storm would be drastically different.  The wise man’s house stood firm but the foolish man’s house fell with a great fall!  Why the difference?  Because the wise man built on the rock and the foolish man built on the sand.  The passage is also clear regarding the rock, it is the fact that he has heard and obeyed the sayings of Jesus Christ.

Though there may be many applications to individuals enduring the “storms of life” because of their obedience of Christ that is not to be the primary understanding of this passage.  The storm in this passage would be God’s final judgment.  We learn this from the context of the passage.  Backing up to verses 13-14, we learn that there are two paths in life the narrow way that leads to life and the broad way that leads to destruction.  Verses 15-20 tell us of the differences in the fruit of individuals. The following section then tells of those who seemingly have done all the right things even “serving” the Lord, yet He says “depart from me I never knew you.” 

I challenge you, “Have you put your faith in Jesus Christ for salvation?”  God’s judgment is coming and the results of that judgment all depend upon our response to Christ.  Are you ready to face Him? Is your foundation secure?  We can be assured that the storm of His Wrath is coming. Will your house stand? 

Obedience - Sparks highlights 1-25-12

Obedience to God is very important. We learned how the Hebrew men obeyed God and were saved from certain death in a very mighty way.  And because of their obedience and God’s amazing power of salvation displayed, others – including two very important kings believed.  This week we see some disobedience - Jonah was a prophet of God that had a job to do – specifically outlined to him by God.  But Jonah was unlike Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego as he chose to disobey God.  Through Jonah’s running, he boarded a ship going the opposite direction of God’s directions.  Jonah wasn’t on that ship very long as he found himself thrown overboard into the sea.  God sent a large fish to swallow him so that Jonah could repent of his sin of disobedience and purpose in his heart to serve God.  God saved him from drowning- certain death – so that Jonah could have another opportunity to obey.  Jonah did repent of his sin in the fish and praised God for that second opportunity to obey.   God again proved His salvation from punishment once man repents and plans to turn his ways.

You are welcome to join us anytime at Sparks!    You can also check out the AWANA program at           www.fbc.littletonil.org.     

Mrs. Jennifer Schroeder, Mr. Roger Fox, Mrs. Barb Stein.

Know That the LORD He Is God!

Psalm 100:3 (NKJV) ³“Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”

“Know that the LORD, He is God”.  To Know – we need to possess the information that He is the LORD.   We need to live our lives with the awareness that He is Jehovah, the “I AM that I AM”, the Covenant God of Israel.  He is the “God” of Genesis 1:1 that was there “In the beginning.”    He is the ever existent, all-powerful one, the true God.

 “He has made us.”  As the Sovereign Creator God made us and therefore owns us.  “We are His.”  By right His creation of all means that all belongs to Him.   One goal of the secular humanist is to take away the accountability to God.  When man has Creator and no source he has no accountability and therefore can act as he wishes. 

“We are His people and the Sheep of His pastures.”  God’s sovereign reign is over all mankind.  As His image bearers, all we do should reflect upon Him in a good state; it should bring glory to Him.

As the “sheep of his pasture” – we dwell in God’s Earth.  It is not our own to destroy nor is it ours to worship. We are to live responsively, using the natural resources God provided for us.  He gave us this world and provided us with all we need to survive and even thrive just as a loving shepherd provides for His sheep.

There are those who think that they make god or who in action and attitude make their own gods.  They do not serve the God of the universe; therefore, they do not serve Him thankfully or come before Him because they do not have access to Him.

When we as a sheep learn to follow God trusting Him as the Shepherd we can know that we are pleasing Him as we live lives of obedience. 

This life of submission requires us to realize that indeed God is the creator, the LORD of all.  We must recognize that God loved us enough to send His son “to give his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).  This life cannot be lived until I confess that I am a sinner, that I have broken the law of the Holy God of the universe, and that we must ask forgiveness believing that Christ’s blood is the only thing sufficient to cleanse my sin.  This every individual must do himself.

My desire is that you truly come to “know that the LORD, He is God” and live a life submitted to Him.

The Harvest Will Come

Galatians 6:9 “Be not weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.”

In our local farming community we have gotten to watch the harvest the past several weeks and though it is almost over now we can learn some things from it.

Just imagine with me a farmer who last spring said he was too tired to prepare the field or that it was just too much work to plant the corn or beans.  He would not have had anything to do the last few weeks.  There wouldn’t be a crop and therefore no harvest and no income.  To most this is simply not fathomable.

Likewise, as we go through life we are presented with the opportunity to follow the Spirit of God as he leads us to minister in other’s lives.  Often it may be difficult, trying, or seemingly impossible to maintain what God has called us to do.  Yet, we must look to the harvest.  If our growing weary and giving up on what God has called us to do we will miss out on the blessing he has for us and God will miss out on the glory He should receive for our faithfulness and the harvest that is accomplished.

God promises a harvest for those who persevere through the trials that they face as they strive to do good in the face of difficulty.

The farmer has to work through or around the storms that come.  He has to work through the dry spells.  He has to fight the weeds that will steal the water and nutrients from the crop.  Any of these things may be discouraging but together they could really hinder the spirit of the farmer as he strives to produce a quality crop.

Similarly, we will face the storms of life at times when our spirits seem to dry out.  The incursion of many things will try to steal the influence of the Spirit and the ministry of the Word of God in our lives.  We have to seek the Lord as a deer pants for the water (Psalm 27:1) and trust in Him for strength and support that we may persevere and with His help experience the harvest that God has both promised and planned.