Giving Thanks

 GIVING THANKS

“And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.” - John 6:11

When I was growing up, my father always gave thanks before each meal. It was more than a tradition. It was an expression of faith and gratitude. My father worked hard for a living. He worked long hours at a low-paying job. In spite of his meager pay, God blessed our little family. There was not a day in which we went without food. God was good to us.

As an adult, I still give thanks before each meal. I strongly believe it is important to show appreciation for the meal placed before me. Although I have a job and work to provide a meal, I know that God is the One who provided me the job, the ability to do the job and  the food that is purchased for each meal. God is good. He deserves to be bragged on at each meal.

Even when I eat at a restaurant, I still give thanks. I don't pray over my food to get the attention of others. Instead, this brief time of prayer is a moment of thanks rendered to the Lord for the meal I will soon eat. Location doesn't matter. I believe in giving thanks before a meal.

Our Lord was the same way. Before feeding a large crowd, our text says, “And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.” Jesus gave thanks over the food before it was served. Keep in mind, the food He was praying over seemed inadequate for the situation. There didn't seem to be enough food to feed the huge crowd. Yet a meager serving can become an over-abundance of food --- especially in the hands of the Master.

In front of the massive crowd, Jesus still gave thanks. He gave verbal thanks for the food set before them. Before it was over, the “meager” amount of food fed everyone … and there was food left over.

Whether we have a meager meal or an abundance of food available, we should follow our Lord's example and give thanks prior to every meal.

As we look closer at our text, we find that Jesus took the loaves and then gave thanks. He took the loaves in His hands. Loaves in my hands will only feed me. Loaves in the hands of Jesus will feed thousands. Things turn out so much better when we place our needs, and leave them, in the hands of Jesus.

With the loaves in His hands, Jesus gave thanks. Here are some reasons we should give thanks for our food.

First of all, we should give thanks because the food we enjoy is a gift from God. Yes, you may have worked hard to earn the money that purchased the food, but consider the fact that your job is a gift from God. The good health that permitted you to work is a gift from Him. Others worked hard to provide groceries that you purchased at the store. If someone else prepared the meal, that is another reason to give thanks.

Jesus taught us to pray, “... give us this day our daily bread.” Our meals are gifts from the Lord. Let us recognize His provision and give Him thanks.

Secondly, we should give thanks as we remember that many do not have food to eat. A sever famine would drastically change our attitude about our daily meals. A hungry man is very grateful when he gets a good, warm meal. Many people will go to bed hungry tonight. You are not one of them. Give thanks for the food you receive.

Next, we should give thanks because our food is enjoyable to us. For some of us, food is more than a necessity. We thoroughly enjoy the taste of food. Personally, I enjoy homemade biscuits and gravy (AMEN?!). Admittedly, it may not be the most healthy meal, but it tastes great. Every year, my family prepares me homemade lasagna for my birthday. Wow! I enjoy food like this!

Also, it is good to give thanks for the blessing of eating with others. Yes, we should give thanks when we're eating alone, but there is an added blessing when we eat with family or enjoy a potluck meal at church. Good conversation makes a meal more enjoyable.

Let me give you a final thought. Matthew 8:11 says, “I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.” Notice that there will be a feast in heaven! Can you imagine how tasty the food will be? Also, we won't have to worry calories or cholesterol. We will feast with the giants of the faith. Most of all, the Lord will be there.

I have no doubt that I will thank Him for that meal!

All Night In Prayer

 ALL NIGHT IN PRAYER

“And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.” - Luke 6:12

What has happened to prayer meetings? It used to be that churches would dedicate Wednesday nights for such an event. For some churches, the prayer meeting evolved in a Bible study class with a little bit of prayer sprinkled in the service.

At the turn of the twentieth century, R. A. Torrey led his church in a special prayer meeting on Saturday nights. These prayer meetings were developed so that God's people would seek the Lord for revival. The service typically lasted for hours and would go deep into the night. All-night prayer meetings were not uncommon.

We don't hear much about all-night prayer meetings today. In fact, most church members avoid a short prayer meeting. You can't count on many people to pray all night.

Yet our Lord prayed all night. In our text, the Lord went up into a mountain to pray. The Bible says that he, “continued all night in prayer to God.” From this text, I want us to consider certain things about this all-night prayer meeting.

First of all, the Lord chose a place to pray. In this instance, it was a mountain. Mountains (and hills) were significant in our Lord's ministry. He was tempted in the mountain by the devil. He was transfigured on a mountain. Ultimately, He would die on mount Calvary. In this case, a mountain was chosen as a place for an all-time prayer meeting.

Secondly, our Lord went there alone. The Bible indicates that Jesus did not take anyone with Him. While it is good to pray with others, there needs to be a time when we get alone with the Father ourselves and pray.

Also, we don't know what He prayed about. The Bible does not inform us about the content of His prayer. Some things are private and should remain that way. When we pray alone to God, much of our words are reserved for an audience of One.

Next, we don't find that He did this all the time. While He did get away for an all-night prayer session with the Father, we don't find that He did this very often. Perhaps there was something special that led Him to have this intimate time of prayer. There may come a time when we are called to extended periods of prayer.

Finally, I've learned that His private prayers were often long and His public prayers were normally short. Today, we tend to reverse this. Our prayers at church tend to be long while our private prayers are short. Our Lord models this the best. While there is nothing wrong with public prayers, most of our prayers in private should be detailed and personal.

Some speculate that Jesus prayed all night because He was about to choose His disciples. To be honest, we don't why Jesus felt the need to pray all night. Yet if Jesus felt the need for long, extended times of prayer, shouldn't we? We are utterly dependent upon God for the next breath, yet alone all the challenges of the day. I am not suggesting that we schedule all-night prayer meetings just for the sake of having them. However, I am stating that there are times we need to have protracted times of prayer.

Have you ever awakened during the night and felt the need to pray? Those special moments can be very rewarding. In the still of the night, we may meet with the Lord for a special time of fellowship and intercession.

Most nights, I try to get as much sleep as I can. Yet I am thankful that the Father never slumbers nor sleeps. Whether I pray all night long, or I wake up with a need to pray, He is there to hear me when I call on His Name.

Most of all, I am thankful that Jesus intercedes for me right now. Day or night, He is on the throne and speaks to the Father on my account. Intercession was not just a ministry of Jesus during his life, it is an ongoing ministry today. Whether anyone else prays for me or not, I am assured that His intercession is getting through to the Father and makes a difference.

Our sleepless nights should be powerful times of prayer.

The Best Way To Start The Day

THE BEST WAY TO START THE DAY

“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” - Mark 1:35

Many years ago, a major coffee brand advertised their product with the little musical jingle, “The best part of waking up is Folgers in your cup.” Many can identify with the lyrics to that jingle. Drinking coffee first thing in the morning is a ritual that many practice. I must confess that I am not a coffee drinker. I sipped some coffee when I was younger and decided it wasn't for me.

Although I don't drink coffee, I do have a morning routine. I'm not saying that my daily ritual is any better than any other, it just works for me. You probably have a morning routine. For some, the morning routine is just a frantic effort to get out the door on time.

I believe that the best way to start your day is to begin with the Lord. Every morning, take a few minutes to read from your Bible and pray. You may not be able to spend an hour or two doing this, but you can creatively work this into your schedule.

In our text, Jesus started His day in prayer. He did so very early in the morning … long before daylight. His example has inspired many to get up just a little earlier each morning just for a time in prayer & the Word.

Let's learn about morning prayer from our Lord.

First of all, there was a specific time for prayer. The Bible says, “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day.” Although we don't know that this was a daily ritual for Jesus, on this occasion, He did get up before daylight.

I have to confess that I am not a morning person. Getting up in the morning is a challenge for me. Yet I have to admit that the morning hours are the best time for me to read, pray & meditate. I think Jesus got up early so He could have a private word with the Father before others got up. His days were often hectic. People were often coming to Him, seeking His help. If He intended to have a quiet time of prayer, He had to get alone before the crowd came. We need to do the same.

Once the hustle and bustle of daily takes shape, it is difficult to get away and have a private time of prayer. If you're like me, even the lunch break at work can easily be interrupted by others who need you to do something. A designated time before daylight is a great time to set aside to meet with the Lord.

Consider your morning time with the Lord to be an appointment that can't be broken. We tend to prioritize medical appointments, job interviews and social events. Yet our meeting with God is an appointment we need to prioritize above all others.

Secondly, there was a set place. Our text states, “... he went out, and departed into a solitary place.” He chose an isolated location for His place of prayer. For you it may be in the laundry room, bathroom or guest room. Maybe you even have a dedicated prayer closet. The key is to have a solitary place for prayer, free from distractions.

Finally, there was a set purpose. He didn't get away from the crowds so He could play video games or watch a movie. He got to a private place “...and there prayed.” It is easy to get distracted, but we can't afford to allow this to occur. We come to an isolated place in order to meet with the Lord. Anything less robs us of a precious blessing.

The best way to start your day is to meet with the Lord. There is simply no substitute for the sweet communion that comes when we begin the day with the Lord.

Each day is a blessing that I don't deserve. It is a gift from my loving Lord. Each morning, I need to thank Him for this gift and consecrate it for His service.

If you're like me, you have a busy schedule every day. As time passes, more and more demands are placed on our schedule. We can't try to squeeze the Lord into our schedule. He is not to be marginalized like that. He deserves the best of our day, every day. Furthermore, we need Him every day. We need His guidance, wisdom and mercy. We need His grace for the day ahead.

Start your day right by starting with the Lord. Spend time in prayer and reading your Bible.

That's the best way to start the day.

Down To The River To Pray

DOWN TO THE RIVER TO PRAY

“Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.” - Luke 3:21-22

Allison Krauss is credited for the popularity of the song, “Down To The River To Pray.” The song is believed to have been originally published in 1867. The Allison Krauss rendition of this song was used in the film, “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” The tune is used during a river baptism scene in the movie. To be honest, I've never seen this movie, just bits and pieces of it. What I've seen keeps me from recommending it to anyone.

When we think of the song, “Down To The River To Pray,” we typically visualize a river baptism, don't we? Yet the song doesn't specifically mention baptism. But prayer and baptism should go together. The Gospel of Luke records, “... that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened.” Jesus prayed at His baptism. It would be a memorable day for a number of reasons.

First all, it was a memorable day because the Son of God was baptized by John. What a tremendous honor! One of the highlights of my Christian life was the day I was baptized by my father. I was baptized in a creek on a Mother's Day. It was hot that day. In fact, I was nearly dried off by the heat before I got back in the car. It was a special day I won't forget. As a pastor, I've had the pleasure of baptizing converts. A few pastors can testify of celebrities that they have baptized, but I can't say that I've baptized any celebrities. To me, every person is special, whether they are well-known or not. Yet John had the distinct honor of baptizing the Savior of the world! Wow!

Secondly, it was a memorable day because the Holy Trinity made their presence known to the observers. The Son was baptized in Jordan, the Spirit came down like a dove and the Father spoke from heaven, affirming His Son. That was a special day!

Third, it was a great event because Jesus received verbal appreciation from His Father. It meant a lot to me when I received praise from my father. The Father was pleased with Jesus and let Him know it!

Fourth, it was a glorious day because John would give verbal testimony that Jesus is the Messiah. John had been sent as a forerunner for Jesus, preparing the way for the Lord. When Jesus came to the baptismal waters, it was John that proclaimed, “Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world.” John had promised that the Messiah was coming. Now He was blessed to recognize and testify of the Lord's arrival. John's ministry had led to this pinnacle event of identifying the Son of God.

Next, it was memorable because Jesus was identifying with John's message. John had preached a strong message about sin. He had been proclaiming that the Messiah was coming. John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. Obviously, Jesus did not need to repent, but He was aligning Himself with the core message of John.

Also, Jesus was bold enough to pray in front of others. Yes, others were watching. In fact, two of the men who witnessed His baptism would become His disciples.

Finally, it was a special event because Jesus' ministry seemed to kick into high gear after His baptism. The baptism of Jesus seemed to be the launching point of His preaching ministry. Soon thereafter, the ministry of Jesus seemed to explode with growth, while John's ministry diminished.

Yet at this special event, Jesus prayed. Again, we have no record about the content of His prayer. We suspect that it was a brief prayer, but there is little said about its duration. We just know that Jesus spoke to His Father and His Father responded.

Sometimes we have special moments in our lives that seem so glorious to us. It would be easy to be caught up in the moment and forget to pray. Jesus gives us an example that we need to apply personally. When the mountain peak events occur, never forget to thank God for them. Be engaged in prayer even when things are going great.

Have you ever noticed that a momentous occasion is typically followed by great adversity? That would be the case for Jesus, too. Right after His baptism, He faced the tempter in the mountain. We should remain in prayer during the peak moments of life, knowing that the enemy is ready to attack at any moment.

Every event in life should be bathed in prayer. Every location can be a special place of prayer. There is not a bad place or time to pray.

In fact, it's a good time to pray right now.

Learning From An Expert

LEARNING FROM AN EXPERT

“And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” - Luke 11:1

I am not an expert on any subject. I am more of a dabbler. I dabble in this and I dabble in that. I know a little about several things, but I'm an expert at none of them. There is not a long line of people waiting at my door, asking for my advice. I will never be an old sage that grows a beard and sits on a hilltop as pilgrims come to learn from my vast knowledge and worldly wisdom.

There are experts in our world. These are individuals who've taken a subject and have become so proficient that millions admire them and seek to learn from them. John Maxwell, for instance, heard that if you studied a subject one hour a day for five consecutive years, you'd become an expert in that field. He applied himself to learn about leadership for five years. Today, he is considered a leadership guru. His books on the subject have sold millions.

Many athletes, actors and musicians fall into the category of experts. Yet it is important to learn the right subject from these experts. For instance, it wouldn't be wise to learn about basketball from Warren Buffet or finances from Michael Jordan. If you reversed the roles, you'd find them to be very proficient in their field of expertise.

When it comes to the subject of prayer, I find that a lot of Christians are dabblers, but few are experts. In fact, the best prayer warrior would probably admit that prayer continues to be a work in progress. We are all still learning about this subject. I heard of a preacher who was approached by someone wishing to conduct a seminar about prayer. The preacher was asked if he knew an expert on the subject who'd be willing to talk about it. The old preacher rubbed his chin and responded, “Well, there are people who pray and don't talk about it and those who talk about it but don't pray, so no, I can't recommend anyone.”

There's some truth in that, isn't there? The best prayer warriors would rather keep certain aspects of their prayer-life private. There are some things that are too personal and holy to talk about. On the other hand, there are many who are anxious to be interviewed about the subject. Yet if the details of their daily quiet time were exposed, we'd learn that their prayer-life is rather deficient.

Perhaps you know someone that seems to be a mighty prayer warrior. When you hear them pray, you feel like you are transported to the throne room of heaven. When I was growing up, we had a dear man in our community that seemed rather shy. His name was Virgil Lambert. He rarely spoke. God radically changed his life and he eventually became a deacon at our church. Even though he remained rather quiet and shy, he had great wisdom and was a bold witness for Christ. Often, he would be called upon to lead the congregation in prayer. That old man would weep and pray with great sincerity. Many times the peak moment of a church service was his prayer. He has since gone to glory. I still miss him. We need more men like him.

Yet when it comes to the subject of prayer, there is an expert we can learn from today. His Name is Jesus. His prayers inspired His disciples so much that they asked Him to teach them how to pray.

The disciples never asked Jesus to teach them to heal. They didn't request a seminar on how to cast out demons. Neither did they request a teaching session on preaching. Instead, they asked Him to teach about prayer.

Why did they request Jesus to teach them about prayer? First, they were a little jealous that John the Baptist taught his disciples and Jesus hadn't taught them yet. Secondly, Jesus had modeled prayer to them. They knew He spent time talking with His Father. The best teacher is the one who first of all models the subject to his students. That was certainly the case for our Lord.

Fortunately, we are blessed with a copy of the Scriptures. In the pages of the four Gospels, we learn about Jesus and prayer. We are taught about His example. He modeled prayer in a very practical way. Also, we learn from the lessons He taught. He taught His followers to pray.

Lord willing, in the coming weeks, I hope to write about the prayer-life of Jesus. Additionally, I hope we'll learn some things from the lessons He taught.

Most of all, I hope all of us will learn to pray like Jesus did.

Motives Matter

MOTIVES MATTER

“Doth Job fear God for nought?” - Job 1:9

The text for this message is a question posed by the devil. Our enemy is a liar. He is the accuser of the brethren. Job was the most righteous man of his time, yet the devil accused him of having flawed motives.

Here's the full accusation of the devil: “Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.” Basically, the devil was saying that the reason Job was serving God was to continue receiving the Lord's blessings. In other words, Job was using God to get what he wanted. According to the devil, Job's worship and service were not provided out of love or sincerity, but with an ulterior motive.

Of course, God knew Job's motives. Ultimately Job's motives were tested through great adversity and suffering.

What about us? Are we guilty of serving God for the wrong reason? Do we serve God simply to get a good medical report, a promotion at work or a financial windfall?

Also, do we use this line of thinking when we share the Gospel with others? While giving a Gospel invitation, it would be easy to stress only the positive aspects of Christianity. When we preach that salvation is a gift of God (and it is!), do we avoid mentioning the fact that Jesus expects us to carry a cross? Do we neglect talking about potential persecution or trials? While seeking to win souls, we can be like a salesman who wants to make a sale by only pointing out the positive qualities of his product, but refusing to tell about anything negative.

It is true that Christianity has many positive aspects. But do we really wish to portray Christianity as a get-out-of-hell-free card? Do we want to preach that salvation is solely a fire insurance policy that keeps people from hell?

When you ask a person if he wants to go to heaven, he'll probably say, "yes."  Yet our evangelism needs to go deeper than that. In fact, our own faith needs to be stronger than that. Most people want to go to heaven only because it is better than the alternative. If the truth is known, they want a heaven without God there.

If the devil accused us of having bad motives, would he be accurate? Do we use prayer just to get our own desires? Are we trying to use God to get what we want?

If we are brutally honest, we'd have to confess that, even at our best, a small degree of selfishness taints our motives. For some, selfishness is an egregious sin that strongly permeates all their attitudes and actions.

So why should we fear God? Why should should we love Him? Why should we serve the Lord?

First of all, we should fear God because He is God. I know that doesn't sound very profound … but it really is. We should fear and worship God because of who He is.

Secondly, we should love the Lord because we are commanded to. Jesus said that the greatest commandment of all is to love the Lord your God. The Bible says that we love Him because He first loved us.

Third, we should serve God because that is why were created. Our true purpose in life is to know and serve God. Revelation 4:11 teaches us that all things (including us) were created for His pleasure. We were created to serve the Lord.

Finally, we should get serious about the Lord because judgment is ahead for each of us. Our path will ultimately lead to the judgment seat. I get nervous when I receive medical test results. I tend to be anxious anytime I take a test. If I am ever questioned by someone of authority, I'm sure I will be rather apprehensive --- simply because of their authority. What about standing before God? We'll face our words, deeds and even our thoughts on that day. That's serious, isn't it?

Yes, God has blessed us. He continues to bless us. We should give continual thanks for each and every blessing. The blessings we've received give us extra reasons to love and serve Him, but we should never get distracted by them. God is not a means to an end. We don't serve Him only to be blessed or get something we want. We serve Him because of who He is and we thank Him for all He's done.

Satan's accusation against Job turned out to be false. If the devil made the same accusation against you, would he be telling the truth or uttering a lie?

Ice Fishing

 ICE FISHING

“I will make you fishers of men.” - Matthew 4:19

I don't like the winter weather. I'm not a fan of the cold days and frigid nights. I'd prefer to avoid the icy, snowy roads. I don't enjoy cleaning snow from the porch and cars. I don't get excited to hear of a massive snow storm coming my way. I yearn for spring time. I long for warmer days. I want to see the sunshine dominate the day.

In Genesis 8:22, the Bible says, “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” Yes, winter is part of God's plan for us. While we may enjoy the warm weather, we are expected to live and thrive … even in the winter months.

At church, we are tempted to think that we are in survival mode during the winter months. We don't expect God to do great things when snow is falling. We don't think revival is possible when the temperature falls below 32-degrees. We schedule revivals for the other seasons, not winter. We plan special church events during the warmer months, not during these cold months.

For a serious fisherman, the weather is not a deterrent. In fact, in some of the northern states, fishermen will go fishing out on a frozen pond. They will put up down a chair or perhaps a tent, cut through the solid ice and put a fishing line into the water. It is called ice fishing. Yes, fish are caught in this environment.

Spiritually, we need to be ice fishing. Yes, these are cold months, but spiritually, we are living in a cold world. Most people are cold and indifferent to the Gospel. Some are even hostile to Christianity. We tend to get an icy reception from people with cold hearts. Yet we are still called to fish for men. We are called to do some ice fishing.

Personally, I'd rather wait till spring weather to fish, but there are many reasons to fish, even in these icy times.

First of all, we need to go ice fishing because the Lord has called us to fish. We are not told to only fish in the good times. We are to fish all the times. We should obey God regardless of the circumstances. Good weather or bad weather. During snow or sunshine. Yes, fish on the warm days. But also go ice fishing during the cold days. Regardless of the cold nature of our society, keep fishing. The Gospel is unpopular, but it is needed now more than ever.

Secondly, we need to go ice fishing because of the plight of the unsaved. Death does not wait for good weather. Many will perish during these cold months. I head the true story of a preacher who tried to win his father to Jesus. His father finally promised that he'd get saved and baptized when spring would come. Unfortunately, he died that winter. We can't wait for good weather. Souls need Jesus today. Don't wait for the Gospel to become popular or trendy, be faithful and fish the icy pond that God has placed you near.

Also, we need to go ice fishing because of the power of the Gospel. The Gospel is just as powerful in February as it is in July. The Gospel is just as powerful on a cold day as a warm day. Charles Spurgeon was converted on a cold, snowy day. The weather was so bad that the pastor did not come. A deacon stood and brought a message & Spurgeon was converted. Spurgeon would go on to become a great pastor in London. Perhaps someone reading this message can testify that you were converted in the middle of winter. God's grace is just as available in the winter as it is in the spring. God still saves souls. He is not a fair-weather Savior. Spiritually, we are living in a frigid winter. The world hates the Lord and us. Yet this is the exact situation that requires ice fishing.

Next, our passion to see souls saved should not diminish simply because the winter weather is here. Do you seriously long to see people saved … only in the warm weather? I am thrilled to hear of a conversion at any time. Our passion should be just as real in these winter months as other months. Who knows, you may be one conversation away from leading someone to Jesus … right now!

Finally, God has provided all we need to fish for men. Ice fishing may not be popular, but it still can be effective. We have the Holy Spirit, the Bible, and the local church. These provisions are available right now, not just in the popular warm seasons. He has provided us open doors. Sometimes they will come during a phone conversation. At other times, they will come in person, perhaps at work, the store or the gas pump.

Yes, our society is cold about spiritual matters. Many will give an icy response to our message. The first century was a spiritually cold time, too, yet the early church passionately spread the Gospel. They were successful at ice fishing!

Life does not stop when winter weather arrives. Evangelism should not stop because the spiritual thermostat of this world is near a record low temperature.

Grab your fishing pole and let's go ice fishing!