 John 1:35-41
35 Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. 36 And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), “where are You staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour). 40 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone). 2. Andrew was a great student. John 1:36-39 And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), “where are You staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour). John taught he was not the Messiah but the Messiah was coming. When John the Baptist pointed out Jesus as the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world, Andrew listened. He knew who Jesus was. He knew Jesus was the Messiah prophesied of Old. Andrew listened to John and followed Jesus. He listen to John, his teacher, he trusted his teacher, and he followed Jesus. Andrew was a great student. He learned and the knowledge gained drove his steps and his decisions. What kind of decisions do you make? Would you say you are doing good or harm to the kingdom of God. Remember Philippians requires we become blameless and harmless. I don't want to be harmful, the second I start being harmful, I have to consider what I am doing and where am I leading people. I cannot lead people astray. Don't be a harmful christian, remember the picture of the Predator, don't be this guy to the Kingdom. RAK CHAZAK, dw
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 John 1:35-41
35 Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. 36 And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), “where are You staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour). 40 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone). Learn from Andrew: 1. Andrew was a seeker. He was a disciple of John the Baptist. John 1:35 Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. He was seeking the truth. He found the truth in John the Baptist and followed John. Are you a seeker of Jesus? Seriously do you wake up in the mornings with a mind set that you want to find Jesus today. Roger spoke very powerful words at Bible Study last night when he said, 'a practice he employs on his daily walk is when he thinks something negative, he requires himself to think of two things positive regarding the same person, place or thing.' You see, he is seeking good. He is seeking Jesus. Deuteronomy 4:29 But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. If we begin our day today searching for Jesus, looking intently for His presence, we will find Him. Will you see bad today, probably, do you have to meditate on it, absolutely not. Will you see good today, definitely, will it change you and bless you, only if you choose to see it and meditate on it. Good is there and it is there for you to walk in and be blessed by, but you have to want it. Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. have to desire it with your whole heart and want desperately to see Jesus and to please Jesus. Jesus is looking down upon you right now. What is He seeing, I want Him to see me looking up at Him yearning for Him in a real way. I desire to see Him and His work and be willing to adjust my life so that our path collide. I want to be a part of God's Story. I want this story to go past salvation. I want salvation to simply be the beginning of a beautiful life long story that when told screams the presence of Jesus Christ in and through my life. I want to be a seeker. I want to seek Jesus as Andrew sought Jesus. I want my ways to become His ways. I want to love Him with all of me each and everyday. Along the way I want to tell God's Story. I want to tell it so those that know Jesus will hear his story and Jesus will be glorified. I want to tell it so those that don't know Jesus so they will come to know Him and again He will be glorified. Rak Chazak, Brother Big Daddy  Yesterday was one of the most enjoyable sermons I have ever preached. It was revealed to me so very special and very personal over Friday and Saturday last week. God changed the entire direction of the message and it certainly blessed my heart. I want to break the message down this week probably more for me than you out there in blog land, but here climb aboard and lets take a journey down A Story To Tell. A picture tells a thousand words. Above is Sunday's picture I do this each and every Sunday. I hope you study the pictures as you study God's Word. Andrew was a seeker of God which can be seen as he was a disciple of john the Baptist, He was a great student as he listened to the teachings of John and responded in his actions. Andrew had a story to tell and he told it and told it well. His witness first went to his home and form there there he never quit. His story led to Peter's decision and the rest my friend we get the privilege of reading about in God's Story.
When we cut down a tree we learn much about the history of the tree. We learn things like the age, the climate conditions during growth (drought, heavy rain, cold, severe heat etc.), stresses put on the tree, and many other things as science advances and new technology emerges. I want us to look at the story a tree tells. It is kind of neat so permit me for a moment to teach you a little about dendrochronology, which is the science or technique of dating events, environmental change, and archaeological artifacts by using the characteristic patterns of annual growth rings in timber and tree trunks. I want us to then apply these things to our walk with Jesus Christ. A tree grows in three directions, downward towards the water and nutrients in the soil and upward towards the sun reaching for the light it desperately needs to grow and outwardly to establish a strong foundation to support added mass of the tree. We should grow in these same directions. We should grow deeper in the Word of God. We should stretch our arms out in an act of surrender looking upward to Jesus Christ growing everyday. Finally, we should grow outward as we proclaim the gospel to those around us and they come to know Jesus. When a tree is cut down, the growth rings in the tree reveal much about the tree. First, the number of rings indicates the age or maturity of the tree. Count the rings and you can determine the age. It should be noted the age does not always equal the number of rings because some trees deposit more than one ring per year. Secondly, the width of the growth rings indicates climate conditions during the growth. Wide rings indicate much growth and good conditions. There was a plentiful supply of water and nutrients during this growth. Narrow rings mean lean years, difficult conditions, and not as much visible growth. Finally, stresses on the tree are revealed through asymmetrical rings. The tree tells a story. We are to tell a story. We much like the tree have a story to tell. We must tell our story, as well as the stories God provides. Friday, I had the joy of working in the shop with my father and my son. I could not help but thinking about what was represented in the shop that day. Three generations of stories. Three men with a story to tell and a great deal of love that abounded through the stories told. My dad always has a story to tell. He tells stories of his days in Dothan as a little boy, he tells stories about growing up in Bibb City. He tells stories about the military. I know a great deal about my father and can tell you a great deal about his life through the stories he tells. We went to lunch Friday at the Fort Mitchell, Grill and as we sat there we told stories, all of us. Luke, me, and my father each telling stories of times past and the impact it had on our life. I love to hear my father talk about his father. He lights up, he smiles different, he laughs different, and his stories are different. I have never heard my father say anything negative about his father. My grandfather was a loving man and a man my father obviously loved dearly and felt loved by him. I never met my grandfather, but through the stories my father tells, I feel like I know him. His name was Luther Wilson, but everyone who knew him called him “Luke,” so I named my son Luke. Three generations telling stories in a shop, in a restaurant, loving one another feeling loved. God wants us to tell stories. He is asking you to tell His story. He wants you to tell the story of how He used to walk in the garden with Adam, how He told Noah to build an ark and prepare for water to fall from the sky. He wants you to tell people about how He told Abram he would become a father of many nations and how Sarah his wife in her old age laughed at the proclamation she would have a child of her own. He wants us to tell the story of how He spoke to Moses through a burning bush. He wants you to tell people how the bush burned, but was not consumed. He wants you to tell how He used Moses to deliver His people from Egypt and how they took a 60-day journey for 40 years. He wants you to tell how a little shepherd boy stood before a giant ready to fight unto death with a sling and a few stones. He wants you to tell how the stone was laser guided by God Almighty, defeating the giant and bringing victory for His children. He wants you to tell the story of how His children would lose their way and how sacrifices were a required practice to bring things in order with God. He wants you to tell how He loved us so much that He became flesh, and dwelt among us, living perfectly and providing the perfect sacrifice for all of mankind. He wants you to tell how He was beaten, whipped, and crucified on a tree, to pay the price for your sins. He wants you to tell the story of how he poured His life out for three years ministering to 12 men. He wants you to tell the story of how one of those men, Peter, stepped out of a perfectly good boat and walked on water to His Lord. He wants you to tell how He fed 5,000 with a few fish and a little bread. He wants you to tell how He touched the leper and the leper was cleansed. He wants you to tell how the lame walked and the blind gained sight just by His touch and His Words. He wants you to tell how, after they killed Him and placed Him in the grave, the grave couldn’t hold Him and He arose from the grave; conquering sin and paving the way for your God Story. He wants you to tell How Saul became Paul and how a man went from killing those who claim the name of Jesus, to proclaiming the name of Jesus as Lord, Savior, King, and Almighty God. Then He wants you to tell your story, how did you meet this King? How and when did you give your heart to Jesus? Oh you must tell your story. It is absolutely necessary. GO TELL YOUR STORY! TELL IT LOUD AND TELL IN WITH THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST! IT IS IMPORTANT! IT IS REQUIRED! Luke 7:18-21 18 Then the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things. 19 And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” 20 When the men had come to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’” 21 And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight. 22 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: thatthe blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, thepoor have the gospel preached to them. 23 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” You have a story to tell, tell today. Learn God's story today. Learn it such a way that you can tell it. The tell His story. Talk about His story. RAK CHAZAK, Brother Big Daddy  Proverbs 6:16 These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren. DON'T DO THESE THINGS! RAK CHAZAK, Brother Big Daddy  Proverbs 6:16
These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren. The Lord God Almighty hates feet that are swift in running to evil. We are not to be running to evil, we are to flee from evil. Those swift feet should be taking us away from evil not towards evil. You say, 'well what about going out and being a witness for the Lord Jesus Christ.' I say to you, nice try grasshopper, but unless you are proclaiming the name of Jesus, teaching others The Way, The Truth and The Life, then don't go there. You must be doing the work of the Lord. Let us walk through a few scriptures: Amos 5:14-15New King James Version (NKJV) 14 Seek good and not evil, That you may live; So the Lord God of hosts will be with you, As you have spoken. 15 Hate evil, love good; Establish justice in the gate. It may be that the Lord God of hosts Will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph. 2 Timothy 2:22New King James Version (NKJV) 22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 1 Thessalonians 5:22New King James Version (NKJV) 22 Abstain from every form of evil. 1 Corinthians 6:18-20New King James Version (NKJV) 18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. Romans 13:14New King James Version (NKJV) 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. Proverbs 4:14-15New King James Version (NKJV) 14 Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not walk in the way of evil. 15 Avoid it, do not travel on it; Turn away from it and pass on. Case closed end of story, the Lord hates feet that are swift to run to evil. How does He feel about your feet? Flee the sin sin and around your life. BE DIFFERENT! RAK CHAZAK, Brother Big Daddy  Proverbs 6:16-19
16These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren. We covered the first three of these things the Lord hates Sunday, today I would like to focus on 'a heart the devises wicked plans.' First understand we must guard and lead our hearts. The wicked plans which promote selfish desires must be put away for righteous and just things. The plans devised in the heart can be a web of deceit that runs deep and wide. Many times we disguise our wickedness with the camouflage of advice and so called godly counsel. When you begin to travel down a road on which you can't seem to stop putting your interests ahead of everything else, you might want to make sure you have the right map and the right voice in your GPS. It may just be you are devising wicked plans chasing after selfish gains. In everything you do, let it be honorable before Jesus Christ. If you are overlooking evil for your own gain, then you are participating in something God hates. God knows your heart and He is aware of every intent you have. Every deal you work, God knows the intent behind it. He reads your heart and does not depend on your words. Be pure and holy with everything you do. Do all things to bring glory and honor to Jesus Christ and do not work for selfish intent. Love Jesus today with a heart that seeks only His will for only His glory. RAK CHAZAK, Brother Big Daddy  Today is a beautiful day and I just visited two folks in the hospital that if they wanted to could have an attitude of gloom and sadness. However, they jump started my day with their beautiful attitude. They were so thankful to Jesus for what He was doing in their lives. They spoke more of their families than themselves and they were genuinely concerned about me and my family as well as those caring for their needs. I took my RAK CHAZAK bracelet and gave to one of them this morning because she had given hers to one of the nurses caring for her. Think about it, in the hospital, tests being run everyday, but ministering all the while. That is how we should live our lives. God is good and He loves us and has touched us in so many ways. I am thankful to walk the mile He lays out for me each and everyday. Jesus loves you and He called you to be His, for a purpose. You have to find that purpose and tap into it and then begin to live it to the fullest. Walk with Jesus, ask Him to lead guide and direct your paths today, allow Him to bless you and protect you. God is wonderful and you are beautifully made. It is in Jesus Christ and Him alone that we must find our fulfillment.
Psalm 31 In You, O Lord, I put my trust; Let me never be ashamed; Deliver me in Your righteousness. 2 Bow down Your ear to me, Deliver me speedily; Be my rock of refuge, A fortress of defense to save me. 3 For You are my rock and my fortress; Therefore, for Your name’s sake, Lead me and guide me. 4 Pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, For You are my strength. 5 Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth. 6 I have hated those who regard useless idols; But I trust in the Lord. 7 I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy, For You have considered my trouble; You have known my soul in adversities, 8 And have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet in a wide place. 9 Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in trouble; My eye wastes away with grief, Yes, my soul and my body! 10 For my life is spent with grief, And my years with sighing; My strength fails because of my iniquity, And my bones waste away. 11 I am a reproach among all my enemies, But especially among my neighbors, And am repulsive to my acquaintances; Those who see me outside flee from me. 12 I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; I am like a broken vessel. 13 For I hear the slander of many; Fear is on every side; While they take counsel together against me, They scheme to take away my life. 14 But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” 15 My times are in Your hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, And from those who persecute me. 16 Make Your face shine upon Your servant; Save me for Your mercies’ sake. 17 Do not let me be ashamed, O Lord, for I have called upon You; Let the wicked be ashamed; Let them be silent in the grave. 18 Let the lying lips be put to silence, Which speak insolent things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous. 19 Oh, how great is Your goodness, Which You have laid up for those who fear You, Which You have prepared for those who trust in You In the presence of the sons of men! 20 You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence From the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion From the strife of tongues. 21 Blessed be the Lord, For He has shown me His marvelous kindness in a strong city! 22 For I said in my haste, “I am cut off from before Your eyes”; Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications When I cried out to You. 23 Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints! For the Lord preserves the faithful, And fully repays the proud person. 24 Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the Lord. RAK CHAZAK, Brother Big Daddy |