Jn 5:36 - "… the very works that I do — testify about Me,…"    NASU
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• The Works Of Jesus 

Jesus said the works that He did testified about Him. He was given a job by His Father and He accomplished it. Therefore, the accomplished works of Jesus stated clearly what kind of person He was.
 
He wasn't a hypocrite because what He preached was exactly how He lived.
 
John the Baptist was in prison and he is having some doubts about Jesus being the Messiah so he sends some of his men to ask Jesus if He were the One that was to come or should they be looking for another.
 
Jesus gives them this answer in Lk 7:22-23 - And He answered and said to them, "Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM."  NASU
 
Oh yeah, He is the One all right because Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would be doing exactly what Jesus said He has been doing. 

• The Works Of You 

What would your works say about you?
 
I was at the bedside of a man who was going in for some major heart surgery. When we were all alone he confessed to me that he had not been living his life correctly and he would like to have a second chance to make things right at home, at work, and most importantly with the Lord.
 
I prayed that he would come through his surgery successfully and that the Lord would allow him time to change his legacy.
 
I learned something very important from that brother that day. It was when you are faced with the possibility that you might die you don't want to be a hypocrite. 

• What Is Really Important To You? 

As you read this Pump Up and with no one else around answer this question, "What is really important to you?
 
Now is the time for some introspection. Can you say that your works testify that what you're doing matches what you think is important?
 
If you said, "My family, my job or the Lord is important to me." Then your works should be your proof that your family, job or the Lord is really important to you.
 
Don't say that something is important to you and then have no works to support your statement because that will make you a hypocrite and that is certainly not what you're interested in accomplishing.

It was really important for Jesus to stay focused on His goals and we see Him doing exactly that staying focused on His purpose for coming to earth.
 
That is why He says that His works testify about Him.
 
So ask yourself this question: "What do your works say about you?"
 
Think on These:
 
The plain fact is that human beings are happy only when they are striving for something worthwhile.
 
This will be a better world when the power of love replaces the love of power.
 
Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word

Go To  www.SeragosPumpUps.com  

2 Sam. 24:24 - But the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. ESV
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• What Mistake Had David Made This Time?

David had gotten himself into trouble with the LORD for taking a census of the people of Israel. He would not listen to his trusted general, Joab, who desperately tried to convince David not to take the census (2 Sam.24:3f).

A prophet named Gad tells David to go to the threshing floor of Araunah and build an altar there. He goes to Araunah’s to buy the tract of ground, to build an altar, and offer the necessary sacrifices to bring an end to the plague.

This plague came because David would not listen to the counsel of Joab, a man who was very loyal to David for most of his life. When a person has been very loyal to you and they try to persuade you not to do something it might be wise to listen to them.Had David listened to Joab he would not have brought punishment on his people.

Araunah wanted to give King David the land, but David will have no part of it. This is when he makes this famous statement: “No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing.”

• Another Lesson From David

The lessons David can teach us are by far too many to count, but I can say this about David, he is not afraid to humble himself and repent. His repentance is to correct his sinful mistakes. One can only imagine how many sinful mistakes wouldn’t he have made had he listened to counsel from others?

He would not listen to his General Joab. King David counts the Israelites and for whatever reason, this is not permitted and now he has to be penalized for his arrogance. David sees God punishing the Israelites because of his sinfulness. He is told to go to Araunah and build an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah.

Araunah wants to give his king the land but King David will not take the ground for free.

• Valuable Lesson

David teaches us on numerous occasions how easy one can get in trouble when you won’t listen to the Word of God. David murders Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband after he commits adultery with her, and tried to hide his sinfulness. I am sure he had been taught the 10 commandments. I am sure he had heard you shall not murder and you shall not commit adultery.

• Be Wise

The best path of life we can stay on is the path where we obey God’s Word. Had King David listened to people who loved him and had he obeyed he would not have had to repent and make sacrifices.

But at least when he did repent he gave us the example of how to do it right. He offered to God that which came from his pocket and not the pocket of someone else. When you give to God give from your heart. Whether you are giving Him repentance or a financial offering.
 
Think About This:

Repentance is not when you cry. Repentance is when you change.

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word

Prov. 11:24-25- "There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more,
and there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want. The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered."   NASU

•      The Way To Prosperity

Solomon says, "There is one who scatters, and yet increases…" In other words, some people share what they have acquired and the result is an increase in what they have. The mind of man has a very difficult time accepting this truth because it seems so contradictory to basic common sense.
 
If I have 5 apples and I give one apple away I now have 4 apples. So how does that equate to an increase?
 
Yet, a spiritually-minded person reads this passage and understands it quite easily because they know God sees our liberality and He will bless our action of giving so that we will be blessed with an increase.
 
A person of little or no faith will not understand this concept. Yet, a person of faith understands it perfectly. This course of action to the person of faith makes perfect sense and is crystal clear.        

•      The Pathway To Being a Loser 

The pathway the loser travels on is withholding what he should share. Here is how this pathway leads you down the wrong trail because the result is all you have are feelings of "I Want More".

There will be no contentment for the stingy person only a desire of wanting more. They are not able to be happy with what they have because of this deep longing down inside them that only wants more.

•    Is There A More Pathetic Sight?

Have you ever seen a person who in your mind has just about everything, yet the person doesn't have any contentment?  There is no peace in their life because they are not happy with what they have. Is that pathetic or what?
 
Seriously, wouldn't you want to have a little and be content with it, rather than have a lot of stuff and not be content with what you have?

•     Every American Needs To Go On A Third World Mission Trip.

Going on a mission trip to Mexico in 2003 is what opened my eyes more than anything else. I believe every American Christian should go on a 3rd world mission trip when possible.
 
I led a Christ’s Church of the Valley men's group to Rocky Point, Mexico to build 13 houses on my first trip.

The house dimensions are 11' x 22'. Yes, you read the dimensions correctly Eleven Feet wide x Twenty-Two Feet long. The stick-built, stucco house had one door, two windows, no running water or electricity. The people cried tears of joy when we gave them a Spanish Bible and the keys to their door at the end of the project.
 
Now most Americans who are reading this Pump Up are saying to themselves my garage is bigger than that and you would be correct.
 
Yet, this house will be the home for 4-6 people and sometimes more.
 
I made God a promise during that trip I would never complain about what I have. This was an eye-opener for me. Then I went on a mission trip to Peru and Africa and my eyes were opened even wider. I have more food in my cupboard than they would eat in a month.
               

• The Way To Prosperity Comes By Being Generous 

I started this Pump Up by saying the way to prosperity comes by being generous and I am going to end it the same way that I started it. We cannot improve on God's plan. Do you want to prosper? Then be a giver.
 
Hopefully, you noticed I never mentioned money. Money is not the only way you can give. When I went to Mexico I gave leadership, direction, and time. I organized the trip. I made all the necessary arrangements, recruited others to help me, and I even took clothes for them.
 
Give things away that you are not using that would be a blessing to others and by all means, give your time to a lot of worthy projects.

You need to be one of the ones who scatter because in so doing you will be the one that prospers.

Think About These:

Generosity will always leave a more pleasant memory than stinginess.
 
He who gives only when he is asked has waited too long.

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word
Go To  www.SeragosPumpUps.com  ​