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2 Chron. 21:20 - He was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years; and he departed with no one's regret, and they buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings. NASU
Old James Ryan: My family is with me today. They wanted to come with me. To be honest with you, I...I wasn't sure how I'd feel coming back here. Every day I think about what you said to me that day on the bridge. I tried to live my life the best that I could. I hope that was enough. I hope that, at least in your eyes, I've earned what all of you have done for me. Ryan's Wife: James? [looking at the headstone] Ryan's Wife: Captain John H Miller. Old James Ryan: Tell me I have led a good life. Ryan's Wife: What? Old James Ryan: Tell me I'm a good man. Ryan's Wife: You are. Ryan was concerned about his legacy. He wanted affirmation from his wife the one who knew him better than anyone else. He wanted to hear from her that he was a good man, that he had led a good life. Isn't that what most people want when they know they are coming down to their last few years or days? Why is it that we wait until our life is about over before we start to think about our legacy? Why can't we concentrate on our legacy when we are in our 20's, 30's, or 40's? Don't we know our life could end in one of those decades? Our scripture text is about King Jehoram who was going to die when he was 40 years of age. Most people care about their legacy but it is for certain not all people are concerned about what type of legacy they will be leaving.
How sad is that? He lived 40 years and when he died no one regretted this King's death. This is such a different picture from when King David died.
Jehoram made choices that only benefitted himself. In the end, he was stricken with an illness that lasted two years. He spent the last two years of his life in great pain according to the scriptures (2 Chron. 21:18-19). You can leave a great legacy by realizing Jesus helped you and therefore you will help others. Think on This: We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word
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Deut. 25:17-18 - "Remember what Amalek did to you along the way when you came out from Egypt, how he met you along the way and attacked among you all the stragglers at your rear when you were faint and weary; and he did not fear God…" NASU
Descendants of Amalek will attack God's people. The reason why they would attack God's people is they have "no fear" of God. God was leading the children of Israel out of the Egyptian bondage they had been under for over 400 years and during their exodus, Amalek and his warriors attacked the weaker ones who couldn't keep up with the other Israelites. There are Amalekites attaching Christians today. As we are wandering in the wilderness traveling to our Promised Land aka Heaven. We are being attacked. We have had our worship services canceled by the Government. Then the government gave in a little and gave us permission to congregate once again. They said, "We weren't allowed to sing." What they were really saying is "You can't sing praises to God." You can gather together but you can't sing praises to God. What? Why? The answer is we might die. What the government doesn't understand is Christians are NOT afraid to die. There is no other way we can find out that our faith has not been useless. Our faith is what is valuable to us. Our faith is what has gotten us through tough times before and to be honest with you this virus is not the toughest challenge I have ever faced in my life. It wouldn't even make it on my top 10 list of challenges in my life.
Prov.1:7 - The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. I would like to explain the Hebrew word for "fear". It means to have "reverence for or awe of" someone. When I look at the stars at night I am in awe of God who created them. The Psalmist put it this way: Ps. 19:1 - The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. NKJV A friend of mine and I were once discussing this passage about the "fear" of God. After listening to his interpretation of this passage I shared having the fear of God is not like a 10-year-old who is fearful of his drunken father who has arrived home to beat the mother or children as he thought. Having the "fear of God" in your life is able to bring you to and understanding of how dynamic and powerful God is. It is to have a "reverence" for Him.
I love how Joshua said it many years ago: "Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; …choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Think About This: Knowledge knows a fact. Wisdom knows what to do with that fact. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Acts 15:36-40 - After some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us return and visit the brethren in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are." Barnabas wanted to take John, called Mark, along with them also. But Paul kept insisting that they should not take him along who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. And there occurred such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. But Paul chose Silas and left,… NASU
The Lord's church was growing because of their fearless and tireless effort to share the life-changing gospel about Jesus Christ. One day Paul says to Barnabas let us revisit the churches where we have already preached and see how they are progressing. Barnabas says great I will go and get John Mark and Paul says no way are we taking that deserter with us. In our text this morning we have two Christian men both possessing the Holy Spirit in their bodies and yet, they are disagreeing. In fact, the Bible says it was a "sharp disagreement" which separated these two brothers. Wow! Two Christians not being able to get along with each other. How is that possible? It is possible because Christians will make mistakes. Being forgiven doesn't mean we will all of sudden be perfect and never make another mistake in our life.
Cephas is another name for Peter. When Pete comes to Antioch, Paul confronts him about being a hypocrite. Peter would eat with the Gentiles until the Jews came and once the Jews come Peter wouldn't have anything to do with them. Way to be a hypocrite, Peter. Peter likewise had the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in him and yet we can see he is making a big mistake here by being a hypocrite. In fact, we could say, Peter was being a racist.
Own it. Admit it. Confess it. Get over it. It most likely won't be your last mistake. The devil is trying to get you to quit being a Christian. So every time you make a mistake he wants to remind you of how horrible you are. When he puts the thoughts into your head about how bad you are agree with him. Tell him he is right you made another mistake and as fast as you can make them God can forgive you of them. Tell him that the difference between you and him is you can be forgiven and he can't. God is a gracious God. Allow Him to extend His Grace to you. Think About This: Mistakes aren't so bad. Christopher Columbus found America by mistake! Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word John 10:7-9 - So Jesus said to them again, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. "All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. NASU
Jesus is the door. What is the purpose of the door of your house? It is the point of entry. Please read again these words: "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, what I have underlined and placed in bold letters will allow one to see my point. When we "enter" through Jesus we will be saved. We will be protected. Can you remember a time when you were a child and frightened? You either called for your mom or dad or ran to them, once they were next to you and assured you everything was going to be okay a peace came over you. Jesus wants us to have peace in this world and the best way He knows how is to affirm He is the door and we have entered through Him and once we are on the inside He is our protector.
John 10:11 - I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. When Jesus says He will lay down His life for the sheep this is to bring peace into our lives. We are to understand He is not a hireling only watching us for the money, and when the enemy comes he will flee. He is the Good Shepherd who is watching and protecting us. He will not run when the flock is under attack from wolves. He is the Son of David and will protect His flock the same way David protected his father's flock. 1 Samuel 17:34-36 - But David said to Saul, "Your servant was tending his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and took a lamb from the flock, I went out after him and attacked him, and rescued it from his mouth; and when he rose up against me, I seized him by his beard and struck him and killed him. "Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear;… David fought both the lion and the bear to protect his father's sheep. Jesus died for His Father's sheep which just happens to be us. If you want peace in this world my recommendation is to enter the Lord's flock through Jesus the Door and then stay under the watchful eye of Jesus the Good Shepherd. Think About This: Knowing Psalm 23 is not the same as knowing the Good Shepherd. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Genesis 3:8 - They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. NASU
What else can it do?
Now is not the time to hide from God. In fact, there is never a good time to hide from God. The best thing we can do is to find God. Psalm 32:5-6 I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"; And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah. Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found;… As you read verse six there is an indication of there being a time when God may be found which also means there would be a time when He may not be found. Proverbs 1:28-29 "Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently but they will not find me, Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD. Now some may say, "Serago, this Proverb is speaking about Wisdom." My question would be to the one who makes that comment, "And who is the embodiment of Wisdom?" You are correct and that would be God.
On the day of Pentecost you can read in Acts 2 "they were pierced to the heart…" The Gospel message preached by Peter had an effect on them and they wanted to change. They were not trying to hide from God on the day of Pentecost. They were trying to get right with God. They wanted to know what God's terms were for this to take place. Here is a part of their conversation and Peter's reply: Acts 2:37-38 - Brethren, what shall we do?" Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. In case you don't know what repentance is let me share this with you. Repentance is a changing of one's HEART which will bring about a change in one's BEHAVIOR.
Think About This: Always remember that a man is not rewarded for having brains, but for using them. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word |
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