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2 Corinthians 12:7-9 - "…there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me — to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." NASU
God goes on to say that His Grace is sufficient for him. WOW! If one of the Apostle Paul's prayers was given a "No" answer what are the chances that some of our prayers may receive the same answer from God? Many times when we pray we are expecting a "Yes" answer from God and if God answers it with a "No" we have a difficult time excepting His "No" answer. One thing we should remember a "No" answer from God may lead to a more productive life.
He then said "Yes" and opened up doors for me to attend Eastern Christian College in 1979. After that He opened up doors for me to start a 20 year ministry in Glen Burnie and Severn, MD. I have often wondered what might have happened had God said "Yes" to my prayer to attend Ozark Bible College. All the friends I have made in Maryland would have never happened. All the people that I have baptized into Christ would not have happened, at least by me. Let me repeat this - One thing we should remember a "No" answer from God may lead to a more productive life.
He really does give us what we need. All one has to do is think about Jesus Christ and how God gave His Son to make it possible that all of our sins are forgiven. If God has said "No" keep your eyes and ears open for the "Yes" answer that He has coming your way.
God said "No" to David being permitted to build the temple for Him, and God said "No" to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Since God has said "No" to those Bible Greats we shouldn't be too surprised when He says "No" to us. It is what God will do with us after He says "No" that really counts. Think On This: Keep your chin up and your knees down. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word
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Heb 5:7-8 - In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. 8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. NASU
They have this view of God that He is sitting up in Heaven watching every move His creation is making down here on earth and when they commit a sin He deals out retribution or punishment upon them. If you really think about this view of suffering God would not be doing anything except punishing His creation because we all sin and fall short of His glory. Some also judge your type of suffering. If you have a little financial set back then your sin wasn't that great and God is trying to get you back on the straight and narrow. However, if you are really suffering or something has happened to one of your young children then your sin must have been a horrible one as can be seen in this next scripture text: John 9:1-3 - As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?" Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents;… NASU HELLO! Did you read what Jesus said, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents;…" But you can see the disciples believed that this man's blindness was caused by someone's sins. What they wanted to know was this man being punished with blindness because of his sins or his parent's sins. Jesus answers their question with these words, "It was neither…" If you have ever read the book of Job then you realize this was the exact view that Job's friends all believed. Job was suffering because of some sin he had committed and if he would confess it then his sufferings would go away. Although, this is a popular view by many I believe it to be incorrect many times. It was not correct in Job's situation and it certainly isn't correct in our scripture text this morning.
Another scripture to help us understand this verse is found in Philippians 2:8 - "Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." As a man, Jesus was going to learn how to die on that cross or He was going to experience death as a man. He could never experience death as God because God can't die. God is life. One of the best things we can do when we are suffering in any way is ask ourselves this question: What can I learn from my sufferings? Do not allow yourself to get caught up into the negative cycle of asking yourself, "Why am I suffering?" The purpose in my mind for suffering is to teach us some things we could never learn without these sufferings. The best way to deal with suffering of any kind in my mind is to ask yourself the question, "What can I learn from this situation?" Think on These: We may not know what the future holds, but we know Who holds the future. A person who looks up to God will not look down on people Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Acts 20:35 - "...Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
We always hear about what it is that someone wants. Some want a car, a house, a new loan, a husband, or a wife, or a child who would just listen for once in his/her life. Would you like a dollar for every time you heard someone say they wanted to win the lottery?
Let me explain what I mean by that statement. If you say you will help so and so if you win the lottery, or you say you will give to the church if you win the lottery. I ask, "What are you giving to them now?" If you say, "Nothing" then guess what? I don't believe you will give to them if you win the lottery. Why do I say that? It is because we are creatures of habit. We will do what we have always been doing. If you spend everything on yourself now that habit will continue.
Jesus didn't say, It is more blessed to give when you have an abundance. He said, "It was more blessed to give than to receive." We are to give from what we already have. God has blessed us all. If you don't believe you are rich right now I suggest that you travel to a third world country and see for yourself. Do you have water and electricity in your house? I stayed at a missionary's house in Uganda and they only got electricity every other day.
In 2005, while traveling in Peru on a mission trip I saw a naked man begging for a handout. I was riding on a bus at the time and no way to stop and help him. I made a promise to God right then if I ever saw another naked person begging I would help them.
In 2011, I was in Liberia on a mission trip and I was sitting in a vehicle while others in our party were buying some supplies. I saw a man walking down the street in Monrovia, the capital city of Liberia, totally naked. The promise I made in Peru immediately came to my mind. I always carried extra underclothes and socks in my computer backpack in case my luggage was lost on an overseas trip. I pulled out a pair of boxer shorts and a T-shirt from my bag. I approached him holding out the clothes and he accepted them. Before I left Liberia I gave all my clothes to those who were in need. When I gave one man my tennis shoes you would have thought I had given him a $1,000.00.
It truly is more blessed to give than to receive. So let me ask you a question, What is on your give-a-way list? Certainly, you have something to give to others. I am sure you have something in your home that you are not using that could be a blessing in someone else's life. So, why not give it and receive a blessing that comes with giving it away? If you are a coach can you find one thing to compliment one of your athletes today? If you are a boss can you find one thing your employee did to receive a compliment from you? Believe this passage of scripture, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." So start being a giver today, which in turn will make you a receiver. You definitely will not regret it. Think on This: Some of the greatest gifts are not monetary ones. If you have lost a loved one how much money would you give to have 10 minutes with them? Time, we all have time, and others could use some of our time. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word 1 Timothy 6:7-10 - For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many grief's. NASU
Everyone knows when you die you are not taking any materialistic thing with you. It doesn't matter if you had a watch, a ring, or a gold coin given to you by your mom or dad that you cherished. It isn't going with you. Now you may put some things in their casket but that doesn't mean they took them from the casket to the next life. Paul told Timothy, "… we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either."
If you have children 18 years or older tell me you love their money spending decisions. Yeah, I didn't think so.
Seriously, plunging into ruin and destruction is the path you want to travel. Paul goes on to say that if you love money it can to lead you away from your faith in Jesus Christ and dump you into a life of many griefs. Now doesn't that sound like a great life?
The best advice I can share with you today is if you want to get rich go after true riches and by that I mean seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and you will have all the things you need in this life. Plus, in the next life all the materialistic things you have acquired while here you can't take with you, nor will you have any need of them in Heaven. The accomplishments you have gained for the Kingdom of God will go with you into the next life. Those are the true riches and the ones you will want to obtain because death can't stop them from following you into heaven. Think About These: There is nothing wrong with men possessing riches. The wrong comes when riches possess men. There are two ways of being rich. One is to have all you want and the other is to be satisfied with what you have. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Matt. 27:24 - When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd,… NASU
He was trying to say, "I am washing my hands from my responsibility." Pilate was the Governor of Judea at this time. Jesus was brought to Pilate by the Jewish elders and all the chief priests (Matt.27:1-2) because they wanted Pilate to be the one to hand down the death sentence against Jesus.
When a new person became the dealer a knife was passed to him and this showed it was his responsibility to deal. The knife handles in those days were made from deer antlers, hence the name "buck" was derived. When the "buck knife" stopped in front of you it was your responsibility to deal out the cards. The word "knife" was later dropped and it simply became "passing the buck". Pilate tried desperately to escape from this enormous responsibility. He learned Jesus had taught in Galilee so he had Jesus sent to Herod because Herod was in charge of this area (Luke 23:6). Pilate was "passing the buck" on to Herod, but Herod wanted nothing to do with condemning Jesus to death so he sends him back to Pilate.
When Pilate gives them a choice between Barabbas and Jesus the people gathered had been instructed by the elders and chief priests to ask for Barabbas and that is what they did. Pilate receives a message from his wife and it says this: "Have nothing to do with that righteous Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him." Oh, Pilate is going to be in so much trouble. He is not able to free himself from this horrible situation, the condemning of an innocent man, Jesus, and putting to death the Son of God, also Jesus.
President Harry S. Truman made famous the slogan "the buck stops here". In other words, what he was saying is "I am the President, and I am the one responsible for making the final decisions." If you are a leader then you are the one responsible to make the final decisions. Accept your responsibility and please do not try and "pass the buck". Think About These: Responsibility makes just as many cowards out of men as it does successes. Those who shrink from responsibilities keep on shrinking in other ways too. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word |
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