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When Going Through A Time Of Testing Remember This

3/30/2022

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I Kings 19:3-4 - And he was afraid and arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, "It is enough; now, O Lord, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers." 
  • What Not Trusting in God Looks Like.
Elijah isn't having one of his better days in the above scriptural text. Maybe you can relate with Elijah? He had just experienced a spiritual high. He had defeated the 450 false prophets of Baal.

God had honored him by sending fire down from heaven and consuming the water drenched sacrifice after Baal didn't answer the false prophets.

Jezebel then threatens to take Elijah's life and he flees. What is with that? I really don't understand Elijah's actions here.

He had defeated the 450 false prophets of Baal by trusting in God and now he is going to flee. He is not going to trust God.

If I ever could ask Elijah a few questions one would certainly be: "Why not trust God one more time? Why did you flee?"

Elijah had shown his faith so many times by trusting in God. He was used by God to raise the dead. He knew he had a special relationship with God.

So why did Elijah become such a wimp? He runs away and hides and now he wants to die. 

When have you not trusted God?
 
How did you feel afterwards?
 
You will want to remember that awful feeling so that you don't have to feel it again. Allow that feeling to motivate you to stay faithful and not wimp out. 
  • When Do Opportunities Not To Trust God Usually Come?
Have you experienced any spiritual highs? You led someone to Christ. You invited someone to attend a worship service and they attended with you.
 
If I were you I would be careful because I have observed that right after a spiritual high comes a testing of your faith. This usually will result in a spiritual low if you aren't prepared to battle against this test.

Not trusting God is never the correct answer.
 
The word "beware" is used 14 times in the New Testament. Here is one from the book of Mark 8:15 says, "And He was giving orders to them, saying, "Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod."
 
He was telling His disciples to "beware" of the teachings and the life style of the Pharisees and Herod.
 
That is a pretty good indication that we should be on guard as we walk through this life. We have an enemy who seeks to devour us. We need to beware of the teachings that the world is throwing at us today. 
  • When Trusting God It May Look Like You're Losing. 
One must always remember no trial is able to defeat you and your God. You must keep the faith. 1 John 4:4 - "You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world."

When it is looking very dim for you that is the time to draw closer to God and not run away from Him. You can never lose by keeping your faith in God.
 
NEVER!

Think About This:

All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all that I haven't seen. - R.W. Emerson

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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How To React When Faced With Life's Interruptions.

3/23/2022

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​Mk 5:21-24 - When Jesus had crossed over again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him; and so He stayed by the seashore. 22 One of the synagogue officials named Jairus came up, and on seeing Him, fell at His feet 23 and implored Him earnestly, saying, "My little daughter is at the point of death; please come and lay Your hands on her, so that she will get well and live." 24 And He went off with him; and a large crowd was following Him and pressing in on Him. NASU 
  • Interruptions Defined 
An Interruption is that which "breaks in or upon". If you are at the dinner table and the phone rings this is an interruption. Thirty years ago at our dinner table I was able to take the phone off the hook, but those days are long gone. Now everyone has their own phone that can be used as an interruption.
 
I can remember going into meetings and saying, "Hold all my calls I don't want any interruptions." 
  • Even Jesus Faced Interruptions 
In our text above Jesus is greeted by this large crowd as He disembarks from the boat. Jesus would have been there to teach them the Word of God and to heal those with diseases. He is interrupted when Jairus comes to Him and pleads with Him to come and heal his daughter who is really sick.
 
Jairus is not the only interruption that Jesus will encounter this day.
 
While on the way to Jairus' house Jesus is faced with another interruption. This time it is a woman who is in need of Jesus' healing powers for herself. She thought, "If I just touch His garments, I will get well."
 
She moves in and secretly touches Jesus' clothes and when she does she is immediately healed of her 12 year long illness. This is where the story gets interesting. Jesus stops, turns around and says, "Who touched My garments?"
 
This is not going according to her plan. She wanted to touch Him be healed and slip off into the crowd. Jesus wasn't supposed to stop and turn around and question the crowd of people. 
  • Mean While Jairus' Daughter Is Dying 
What would you be thinking if you were Jairus?  Would you be thinking "I don't need this interruption right now."?
 
Would you get involved and speak out like this?

"Alright, if you touched Him I want you to tell Him, NOW, the longer we stand here the sicker my daughter becomes."
 
Jairus waits patiently while Jesus engages with this lady and commends her for her faith.
  • Are We Able To Wait Patiently And Remain Faithful?
When we experience interruptions in our lives are we able to wait patiently for Jesus to come and answer our prayers?
 
The lady was sick for 12 years with her illness yet she never gave up on her faith.
 
Would we continue to pray about something if our prayer had not been answered in 12 years? Would we remain faithful to God if we hadn't received the answer to our prayer sooner than that? 
  • Goals And Interruptions 
What are your goals in life?
 
Do you know that anything that doesn't help you accomplish your goals is an interruption in your life?
 
When interruptions entered into Jesus' life He used them to Glorify God.
 
We need to realize interruptions may come into our life and stay for years so that we can glorify God with them.
 
Jairus is going to receive more than he asked for that day. He asked for a healing and what he is about to receive is his 12 year old daughter resurrected from the dead.
 
Many times with God you will receive more than you ask, but you must persevere through to the end.
 
If your life is being altered because of interruptions, be like Jairus and the woman who suffered for 12 years, put your faith in Jesus and wait for Him to answer your prayers.
 
Think About This:
 
Life is 10% what you make it and 90% how you take it.
 
Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word
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A Simple Way To Overcome Adversity

3/16/2022

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​Prov. 24:16 - "For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again,..."

A study of Proverbs will reveal the way to overcome adversity is to get back up after you have had your encounter with adversity. 
  • Get Back Up
It doesn't matter where you are in life you can testify to this truth. As you were on your way you were knocked down by something.

It may have been an illness, a medical set back such as a torn ACL, a rejection of your resume, failure to accomplish a set goal, a divorce or the death of a loved one.
 
There are thousands of ways to get knocked down but if we intend on overcoming adversity we must get back up and re-enter the race.

We must get back up on our own two feet and start again. 
  • How Do You Get Back Up?
How you get back up doesn't really matter. What matters is you find a way to become motivated again. What does it take to re-invigorate you?
 
For some, it would be a conversation with someone that you respect, or watching a movie or reading about other people who overcame adversities.

Are you one that is able to motivate yourself? Or are you the kind who will graciously allow others to help motivate you?

It doesn't matter which method works for you. What matters is in order to overcome adversity you will get back up and move forward with another plan and a new head full of ideas. 
  •  How Many Times Do You Rise? 
You rise every time you get knocked down is the correct answer. But the writer of Proverbs says you get back up 7 times and that is true if you believe he is speaking literally. I believe he is speaking figuratively. The number "7" in the Bible means perfect or complete.

Every time you get knocked down by life you get back up on your feet and start all over again.    
  • Why Does Life Knock Us Down?
I have trained myself not to ask the question "Why". I always ask myself "What".
 
What can I learn from this trial? I then write down the things that I can learn and allow these to help motivate me positively to keep moving forward to accomplish my goal.

If you ask "Why" you may never be able to determine if the answers you come up with are true. If you're knocked down get back up and you'll be glad you did.

If you meet some events that knock you down in life then plan on getting back up and re-engaging. This is the correct way to overcome adversity.
 
Think About These:

The difficulties of life you're going through now in 20 years will be the good ole days.

Say what you will about trouble; it always gives us something to talk about.

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word
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When Dealing With Guilt Try This.

3/9/2022

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Gen. 42:21-22 - Then they said to one another, "Truly we are guilty concerning our brother, because we saw the distress of his soul when he pleaded with us, yet we would not listen; therefore this distress has come upon us." 22 Reuben answered them, saying, "Did I not tell you, 'Do not sin against the boy; and you would not listen? Now comes the reckoning for his blood."                                       NASU
  •  The Cause of their Guilt 
Jacob's sons are in a dilemma. They sold their brother, Joseph, into slavery years ago. They had taken his coat of many colors and stained it with animal blood and then lie to their dad, Jacob, about what had happened to Joseph. 
 
Now years later, there had been a famine and Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to buy grain. This is when Joseph sees his brothers. He recognizes them but they don't recognize him. Joseph has them placed in prison and accuses them of being spies. He leaves them in prison for three days and tells them they must leave one of the brothers in prison, travel home and bring their younger brother to Egypt to prove they are telling the truth that they are not spies.
  •  The Guilt of the Past Returns 
Now is when their guilty consciences remember what they had done to Joseph, their brother, and they believe this is why this disaster is coming upon them. We probably have all done some thing in our past that periodically comes back from time to time to haunt us.
 
The two best ways I know to overcome a guilty conscience if you have hurt someone:
  1. Apologize and ask for forgiveness from the hurt person.
  2. Apologize and ask for forgiveness from God if the hurt person cannot be contacted.
After their father, Jacob, dies the brothers send a message to Joseph asking him to forgive them. Gen. 50:16-17 -"Your father charged before he died, saying, 17'Thus you shall say to Joseph, "Please forgive, I beg you, the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they did you wrong."' And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father." 
 
The brothers asked Joseph for forgiveness and it was granted to them.
  • The Hope We Have In Christ 
When your conscience brings up your past, remind yourself that you're not that person any longer. That person died and was buried in the watery grave of baptism. Jesus was and is the perfect sacrifice that atones for the sins of mankind. The best way to defeat your guilty conscience is to be born again.
 
I am not perfect now, but thank God I am not what I used to be nor am I what I want to be.  I want to do what 2 Pet. 3:18 says, "…grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
 
Like the sign says, "Under Construction: God isn't finished with me yet." We really need to memorize this statement. We are under construction. God is working on us and will continue to work on us as long as we are on this earth and will let Him.
  • Guilty Conscience About Something Done After Your Baptism?
Incase you didn't know, Christians aren't perfect and sometimes our guilty consciences come from things we have done even after we have become a Christian. You may have done something that hasn't hurt anyone but yourself so you don't have to ask for anyone's forgiveness.

People have told you, "To let it go." You wish you could but everything you have tried isn't working. 

So what should be done in those situations? I would say, "You need to remember what God has done for you. He has forgiven you, so forgive yourself." 
  • I Am Plagued By Feeling Guilty Constantly
Some people have a personality that dwells on the past, and if you are a Christian who is constantly fighting your past mistakes, then by all means you need to dwell on God's ability to forgive you of your sins.
  • Christians Have The Same Enemy As Jesus
Christians must remember that we have the same enemy as Jesus had when He was on earth. The enemy constantly wants to bring up your past mistakes.
 
I like this saying, "When the devil wants to remind you of your past, remind him of his future." 

God is going to CRUSH him one day as it says in Romans 16:20 - "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you."  
 
If you want to dwell on something, dwell on what God has done for you and what He will do to the devil. 

Think About This:
 
Your conscience is not the voice of God; it is a gift from God.

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago      
    
​
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This Is The Funny Thing About Obeying The LORD?

3/2/2022

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Jere. 26:8-11 - When Jeremiah finished speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak to all the people, the priests and the prophets and all the people seized him, saying, "You must die! "Why have you prophesied in the name of the LORD saying, 'This house will be like Shiloh and this city will be desolate, without inhabitant'?

….Then the priests and the prophets spoke to the officials and to all the people, saying, "A death sentence for this man! For he has prophesied against this city as you have heard in your hearing."  
NASU 
  • Obedience To God's Will Can Sometimes Be Painful 
I'm not quite sure where the teaching was derived that once you became a servant of God, follower of Christ, or a Christian that everything in your life was going to be a piece of cake, all of your prayers would be answered the way you wanted, and tough times would now be a thing of the past.
 
I can say without a doubt that Jeremiah was a man of God and he discovered that serving God brought with it some very painful situations.
 
He was a Prophet of God, called to be a prophet before he was even born. Jere. 1:4-5 - Now the word of the LORD came to me saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations." NASU
 
I can guarantee you that he didn't believe his life was a piece of cake because he was a servant of God. 
  • Obedience To God's Will Can Sometimes Be Confusing 
As I have been reading the book of Jeremiah the constant thought that has been crossing my mind is this, "I would not want to be a prophet of God." This was one of the most thankless jobs on the face of the earth. 
 
You obey God and the end result is suffering for you. This is what happened in Jeremiah's life.
 
The very people Jeremiah was sent to help were the ones that wanted him dead.
 
The people the prophets were sent to help would be the ones who either made their life very miserable or they killed them. Here is a conversation Jesus had with the scribes and Pharisees about killing the prophets sent by God - 
 
(Mt 23:30-31 - 'If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' "So you testify against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets." NASU)
 
Jeremiah was an obedient man of God, but it caused him a lot of grief.
 
You may be a servant of God today and have lots of grief. If you do, don't let your thoughts get you to doubt your calling. Don't be led down the path that God must not care about you or He certainly would not allow this suffering in your life.
 
He called Jeremiah and told him exactly what to preach and who to preach this message too. Jeremiah did exactly as he was told and he was hated by the priests and the false prophets. Their hatred was so great they wanted him to be killed. 
  • Do You Have Any Enemies? 
Now I don't mean people who won't talk to you any more, or gossip about you, or won't invite you to their birthday parties.
 
I mean do you have any enemies like Jeremiah? They want you dead and have a plan to end your life. The answer to that question for most of us would be "No".
 
When I read what Jeremiah was going through I laugh now at what I had to endure in the ministry. I had people lie about me, misquote me, and God forbid the false accusations about my motives.
 
Hello!
 
Could you imagine me sitting down with Jeremiah and telling him how hard my ministry was?
 
I can actually see this person who I visualize as Jeremiah rolling on the ground laughing. When he stops laughing he says to me, "Really, that is all that was done to you? They didn't try to kill you at anytime?
 
Jere. 38:10 - Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, "Take thirty men from here under your authority and bring up Jeremiah the prophet from the cistern before he dies." NASU
 
They were literally trying to kill this man of God. Why? He was doing what God had asked him to do. 
  • Life Lesson 
If you're suffering in life and it is because you are doing what God's Word has asked you to do accept your suffering as graciously as you possibly can. You may not receive any rewards here on earth, but the rewards God promises us in heaven will make us forget about all the suffering we have endured while here on earth.
 
Think About This:
 
As long as your conscience is your friend, don't be concerned about your enemies.

47 years ago today (2/2/75) I was baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of my sins and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. If you have not been baptized as an adult please make this a priority in your life and as always I am always here to help you accomplish this act of obedience to God's Word.

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

​Minister of God's Word
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