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How To Be Around Difficult People

5/11/2022

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​Lk 14:2-4 - And there in front of Him was a man suffering from dropsy. 3 And Jesus answered and spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?"  4 But they kept silent. And He took hold of him and healed him, and sent him away.  NASU 
  • Jesus Helping Others  
Have you known someone that was difficult to be around? Jesus at times was surrounded by Pharisees who were very difficult to be around. They had an attitude that they knew everything about God's Word. They also believed Jesus was one who violated God's Word constantly and this couldn't have been further from the truth.
 
Jesus knew the truth about what God wanted Him to accomplish and He did it. You have to know what you are doing is the correct thing even while being criticized or persecuted. When you know in your heart you are doing the right thing it is easier to continue on with the task. 
  • Being Like Jesus Can Create Its Own Set Of Problems
Being like Jesus can create problems. He was trying to heal a man and the Pharisees were not impressed. As they say in another place there are six days in which to be healed come on one of them, but not on the Sabbath Day.
 
We can see that man's traditions were violating the Word of God. One thing we need to remember and that is "It is never wrong to do the right thing." There are some people who are very outspoken and they will try to stop you from doing the right thing. You must move forward deliberately even in the face of opposition. 
  • A Brother's Story
 I remember a brother in the Lord came to me one day when I was ministering in MD. His name was Larry and he wanted to explain to me why he missed Sunday morning service. I assured him that wasn't necessary but he went on with his story.
 
He was driving to our worship service and he saw an elderly woman standing by her disabled vehicle. He stopped to help her and became involved in the situation and by the time he had helped her fix her vehicle the worship service was finished.
 
I told Larry that he had done exactly what Jesus had wanted him to do.

The next Sunday as I was greeting people after the service an elderly lady came up to me and said a man from this congregation had stopped to help her last week and she tried to pay him. She said the only payment he would accept is for her to attend one of our worship services. She said so please tell him I said thanks and that I did attend.  
  • It Was Sunday When Larry Did His Good Deed
Larry was living like Jesus. I believe Larry was exactly like Jesus when he was helping that elderly lady. I am sure some modern day Pharisees would have found fault with Larry but I wasn't going to find fault with him because the way I see it "It is never wrong to do right" regardless of the day.
 
I wonder how many times that elderly lady told the story of how her car broke down and a nice young Christian man stopped to help her?  
  • Who Are We Helping?
What I believe about Larry is this "that was his mindset" or M.O. (modus operandi or method of operation). He was always looking to help people. I know for a fact that elderly woman was not the first person Larry had helped and I am pretty sure she wasn't the last. He went about doing good and helping people because he was always looking for that opportunity.
 
In life you can find two types of people - there are the "Givers" and the "Takers". 
 
Larry was a giver all the time. What makes Larry's story even more remarkable was the amount of suffering he endured on a daily basis. If I told you of his struggles you would be saying, "Where does he get his strength?".
 
When others would have quit, become cynical or walked away from their faith not Larry. He endured hardships like a true spiritual warrior.
 
So who are we helping today? 
 
We won't help anyone if we aren't looking for people to help. It has to become a part of our mindset.
 
Find someone today that you can help, I am sure you will be glad that you did. After all that is why Jesus came to earth to do good and help people who had gotten themselves into a terrible fix.

Think About These:

You can give without loving, but you can't love without giving.

 The manner of giving is worth more than the gift.

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word
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Have You Done What You Could?

5/4/2022

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Mark 14:6-8 - But Jesus said, "Let her alone; why do you bother her? She has done a good deed to Me. "For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you do not always have Me. "She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial.  NASU
 
  • She Anointed Jesus 
Her act of kindness will never be forgotten according to Jesus. In Mark 14:9 Jesus says, "Truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her."
 
I can actually say I am participating in a prophecy of Jesus as I make mention of this lady who anointed Jesus. If you will tell people about this lady then you likewise can participate in fulfilling a prophecy of Jesus.
 
We know there are numerous reasons people were anointed in this day and age. It was done to refresh a person's body after traveling all day. The sun would have beaten down upon one's body and the oil would have brought relief.

We know that people's body were to be anointed with oil when sick and to be prayed for during this time of anointing (James 5:14).
 
But Jesus' body was being anointed because He was on His way to die and be buried, "…she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial."
 
Jesus knew His time was at hand and drawing nearer and nearer. 
  • She Has Done What She Could 
Every time I read those words I always ask myself, if I am doing everything "I Could".
 
She had done what she could. She had this very costly oil and she poured it over Jesus' head. He said she was preparing Him for burial. This was a prophetic act whether she knew what she was doing or not Jesus knew what it meant.
 
He was going to die.
 
What about us today? If Jesus were to appear before us today, what would he say?
 
Would He say, "We are doing what we could."? 
  • What Could We Be Doing? 
She gave some very costly perfume. Maybe we are poor and don't have a lot of money. What can we do for others?
 
Can we show some acts of kindness or display compassion to those in need?

Can we share the gospel message with someone who doesn't know Jesus?

Can we tell our waiter or waitress where we eat that we are going to pray for our meal and ask them if they have a need we can pray about for them?

Wouldn't it be nice to know if Jesus were here He would say about us that "He/She has done what he/she could."? 
 
Think About These:
 
Faith with works is a force. Faith without works is a farce.
 
Faith without works is like an automobile without gasoline.

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word
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Are You This Committed To The Lord?

4/27/2022

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John 11:16 - Therefore Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, so that we may die with Him."  NASU 
  •  Courageous Statement 
Jesus has informed His disciples He is going to return to the town of Bethany in Judea because Lazarus his friend has fallen asleep (died) and He will awake (resurrect) him for the glory of God.  
 
The disciples totally didn't understand what Jesus was referencing. As can be seen in John 11:12-13 - The disciples then said to Him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover." Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep.
 
Jesus in John 10 eludes those Jews who were wishing to stone Him because they thought He was guilty of blasphemy. Now He wants to go back into this same area and the disciples are concerned He will be stoned to death this time.
 
When the disciples see that can not persuade Jesus to change His mind, Thomas says, "Let us also go, so that we may die with Him."
 
WOW!
 
That is what I call courage. Are we willing to die for Jesus today? Thomas was ready to die with and for Jesus. 
  • Thomas' Reputation 
I think years ago some well meaning preacher has besmirched the character of Thomas by calling him "Doubting Thomas". This character assassination of Thomas has stuck to him. Every one of the disciples "doubted" who Jesus was. I think it is totally unfair for Thomas to be harangued for hundreds of years by this uncomplimentary remark.
 
Why doesn't anyone comment on this statement: "Let us also go, so that we may die with Him."  made by Thomas?
 
I for one want to highlight what Thomas said to the other disciples when Jesus was going to return to Bethany and resurrect Lazarus. "Let us also go, so that we may die with Him." 
 
As I see the world more and more critical of Christianity there just might be a time in the near future when we need to be prepared to die for Jesus.
 
Think About These:
 
A person's faith is not judged by what he says about it, but by what he does about it.
 
All men need a faith that will not shrink when washed in the waters of affliction and adversity.

                 *****************************************************************
I am organizing a trip to the Holy Land in January/February 2023. If you are interested in possibly going on this trip reply to this Pump Up and I will add your name to the list. As I receive more details I will send them to you. I am very happy to inform you that Dr. Mark Ziese is going to be our Bible Lecturer for this trip. You can read more about him and the trips he has already led on his website.

www.MarkZiese.com

I hope you will be able to join us on this adventure of a lifetime.

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word
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This Will Be One Of The Hardest Things To Do In Our Life.

7/14/2021

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​Prov. 24:17-18 - "Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; Or the LORD will see it and be displeased, And turn His anger away from him." NASU

            When You Just Want To Scream "Yeah"

If you are a leader or successful in any area of life you made enemies along the way. Some times in life you didn't do anything. There are some people in life that will be your enemy and have flimsy excuses for a reason why they are against you.

One of the hardest things in life we will ever accomplish is not rejoicing when our enemy falls. When we want to scream "Yeah" the LORD says, don't do it.

            You Have A Visual Of That Person

When you read the scripture above a visual of that person came to your mind. When they fell you may have said to yourself, "Good, they got what they deserved."  You were glad they were receiving some type of punishment.

            How Are We Supposed To Respond?

We are not to be glad or happy. We are not to be jumping up and down with joy. You may be thinking, “Serago, you have got to be kidding me. You don't know what was said about me or done to me by him/her” You would be correct, I don’t know what was said or done, but God knows and that is why he/she has fallen.

God is dealing out the correct judgment, at the correct time, and He doesn't need us gloating about it.

Well, I guess you're right this is very hard.

So how am I to behave in this situation?

You are to realize that God is in control and that He is watching over you. He will judge those who mistreat us. He is the judge and we aren't. Let Him do what He is supposed to do.
 
           Joseph Is To Be Our Example

Also, it might help to remember what happened to Joseph in the book of Genesis.
 
His brothers sold him into slavery and then lied to their father about what had happened to him. I am always amazed at Joseph's faith when he makes this statement to them in Gen. 50:20 - "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.
 
Your enemies may be just like Joseph's brothers. What they have said about you and have done to you may have been done with evil intent, but God can use it for good. He did in Joseph's situation and may be doing the same in yours.

Give God time to work like Joseph did. Joseph had to wait for 13 years while God was working His plan.

            What Took God So Long Before He Acted?

It is my opinion He was giving the brothers time to repent which they never did and God could be giving your enemies time to repent and avoid being punished which they may never do.
 
When the ones don't repent within God's time schedule judgment will be passed down upon them. God's judgment will always be just and always on time.
 
The penalty will always fit the crime.

Think On This:

We always want judgment to come upon our enemies immediately, and we want our judgment to be delayed as long as possible.

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word
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Having These Will Bring Blessings

5/26/2021

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Prov. 15:31-32 - He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. He who neglects discipline despises himself, but he who listens to reproof acquires understand-ing. NASB
  •     Ears That Listen
If you are one that is able to listen to someone else giving you correct advice you will be blessed. If your ears are able to listen to the life-giving reproof from others you will prosper. The item we need are ears that will listen to others when they share correct information with us.
  •     How Many Times Have We Said,
As I sit here and write this Pump Up I am smiling, but when I was going through life looking back on another mistake I made because I would not listen I wasn't laughing. I wasn't even smiling. I was asking myself, "Why didn't you listen?"

The answer is right there in Proverbs because I didn't have ears that would listen. I thought I knew what was best. The one thing I find amazing is the times I didn't listen and I was correct I can't remember those situations as easily as I remember the ones where I didn't listen and was wrong.
  • Reminds Me Of The "How To Be Successful Story"
A young college student was sitting in the 5,000 member congregation. He was going to graduate from the local seminary that year. He asked the preacher after service if he could meet with him for 5 minutes. The preacher told him to stop by the office tomorrow morning at 9 am.

The young man was there promptly. As he sat in the preacher's office he explained that he would be graduating in the spring and wanted to have a successful ministry like his and was there any advice he could give him.
 
The preacher told him why sure. "I can tell you how to have a successful ministry in three words."

The young student said, "Are you kidding me?" The preacher said, "Not at all. Are you ready to write them down?"

"Yes." he replied.
 
"Make Right Decisions." the preacher said.

As the young student wrote down those three words he asked, "How will I know if I'm making the right decisions?"

"I can answer your question with one word. Experience!" said the preacher.

With a pondered look on his face he asked, "And how do I get this experience?"

With a big smile on the preacher's face he said, "By Making Wrong Decisions."

There my friends is how to be successful. You will make decisions in life and not all of them are going to be the right ones. You just have to learn from your mistakes. Make the necessary adjustments, make another decision, and continue to move forward.
  •  The Choice Is Yours
You can either listen to others when they give you correct advice and be successful as Proverbs states or don't listen to others and learn from your own mistakes.
Hopefully, your mistakes will not be too costly, you will be able to rebound, and move forward becoming successful.
 
The choice really is yours.

Think On These:

The biggest fool of all is the one who refuses to learn from his mistakes.
 
Making mistakes isn't stupid, disregarding them is.
 
A mistake is proof that someone was at least trying to accomplish something.

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word
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