|
I Sam.17:36-37 - "Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he has taunted the armies of the living God.” And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and may the Lord be with you.”
When was the last time you remembered some of your victories that you had with the Lord? This is very important please take some time either now or when you finish this Pump Up and replay some of the victories you and the Lord have shared in your life.
He saw himself defeating this enemy like he had defeated others before. David didn’t fight alone. He knew God was with him when he entered on to the battlefield. When you go into battle do you see the Lord going with you? If you don’t see God traveling with you don’t go. The Lord has helped you defeat other enemies in your life and He will help you as you face these new ones. Be like David and remember how the Lord has helped you in the past and will now help you as you travel into your future. ·What battles are you fighting today? Is it financial, health, family, work or some other type of battle? Then if you don’t mind me making a suggestion follow in the footsteps of David. He remembered how God had delivered him in the past.When we are entering into a battle we need to remember how God has delivered us in the past. ·My Own Personal Financial Crisis I was having a financial crisis many years ago. I was asked to preach at a little country church. This was my first sermon ever. When I entered that church building that day I only had 11 cents to my name. After I finished preaching and all the people had departed one of the elders handed me a check for $35.00. When I saw that check I was excited for a second, BUT I couldn’t take the check. I personally thought I had preached the worse sermon ever. So I informed the elder I could not accept money for that sermon. I signed the check and gave it back to him. Later that afternoon I got a call from the Boilermaker’s Union Hall to report to Shippingport, PA at the power plant the next morning. When I got my first paycheck it was for $350.00. God gave me 10 times the amount I gave to Him. God had delivered me from that financial crisis and He has delivered me from many different types of crises since then. ·Remembering Your Victories Like David What you want to do is remember the times God has delivered you. Too many times we forget what God has done for us. Don’t let this happen to you. Remember what God has done for you. He has told us He will never leave us nor forsake us (Heb.13:5). Once you have mentally visualized you and God conquering your enemy then it is time to actually fight the fight. Get Going with God! It is the way to success. Think About These: When we let God guide, He will provide. The Lord calls for us to stand, though not always to understand. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word
0 Comments
Jonah 1:17 - "…And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights." NASU
The reason Jonah was swallowed by a great fish was his disobedience to God. Jonah 1:1-3 - The word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me." But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. God wanted Jonah to go to Tarshish and preach and Jonah wanted no part of that assignment. He didn't want to do what God wanted him to do. Plain and Simple! Are you in your present situation because you haven't done what God has asked you to do? You must answer this question truthfully. Are you in your present situation because you have disobeyed God?
Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the stomach of the fish, 2 and he said, "I called out of my distress to the LORD, And He answered me. I cried for help from the depth of Sheol; You heard my voice. 3 "For You had cast me into the deep, Into the heart of the seas, And the current engulfed me. All Your breakers and billows passed over me. 4 "So I said, 'I have been expelled from Your sight. Nevertheless I will look again toward Your holy temple.' PRAY! PRAY! PRAY! When Jonah was in distress he called out to the LORD, and the LORD answered him. Be open and honest with the Lord. Tell Him you have messed up and would like another chance to correct this situation. God is a loving and forgiving God. All great parents love their children and sometimes we have to correct them. God is correcting Jonah's actions of disobedience. Exactly the way parents correct their children's acts of disobedience. Now I don't believe in child abuse, but I can tell you I had my butt beat numerous times by both of my parents when I was younger. I may not have enjoyed it at the time, but as I sit here and write this Pump Up I know I was spanked because my parents loved me. Jonah was in the belly of a great fish because God loved him and God loved the people of Nineveh. God wanted the people of Nineveh to have the opportunity to repent of their sinfulness and this is exactly what they did once Jonah went there and preached to them.
If you are doing what God wants and you still find yourself swallowed up by life then there is only one possible conclusion. You are being attacked by the evil one for living a life according to God's Word. You endure this attack and God will give you the victory. Think About This: A good example has twice the value of good advice. God's main problem with the laborers in His vineyard is absenteeism. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Go To www.SeragosPumpUps.com Psalm 103:10 - He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.
I am glad you asked. It is my opinion. This is the USA. Where we are allowed to have different opinions, or at least we used to be when I was maturing in life. This doesn’t have to be the greatest verse for you. Go read God’s Word and discover your own “greatest verse”.
I have started a “prayer walk” here at Fairway Christian Church on Friday mornings where I work. I was sharing with our walkers this scripture verse before we began our walk. My thoughts were zeroed in on this concept that God doesn’t deal with me according to my sins and I was immediately flooded with thankfulness. Oh, those ugly sins I have committed in my life. Any one of them would be enough to send me to Hell for all eternity and then I read this verse and it says, “God doesn’t deal with me according to my sins, nor repay me according to my iniquities.”
Is there anything wrong with having a favorite verse? No. Is there anything wrong with our favorite verse changing? No. What is the most important thing here is that we continue to read God’s Word and allow it to speak to us. As it speaks to us may we allow it to change us so we can be the best version of ourselves.
It seems in life from time to time we look to others for an example of how to live. If you are such a person then please allow me to present to you, Ezra. For he had made up his mind (firmly resolved) to study the Law of the LORD. There is a great example for all of us to imitate.
My advice and please hear my heart when I say this to you today, read God’s Word because you know it is God’s Love Letter to you from Him. Think About These: The Bible is the only book whose author is always present when one reads it. A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t. - Charles Spurgeon Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word FYI: I have been teaching on Wednesday nights at Fairway Christian Church. The lessons have been about lesser known Apostles, Overcoming Suffering, and Matthew 24 about the destruction of Jerusalem, and Jesus' 2nd Coming. I am attaching a link for anyone interested in watching the lessons I have taught the last few months. https://vimeopro.com/user45356398/wednesday-night-bible-studies Also, these lessons are "Live Streamed" on Wednesday evenings at 6 pm (EST). I would love for you to join us. Mt. 16:21-22 - From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. 22 Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You." NASU
Jesus then calls Peter His "adversary" which is the translation of the word "satan" and tells Pete to get behind Him. An adversary is one who opposes you or your plan and that is exactly what Peter was doing. Jesus even tells why Pete is opposing Him "…for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's."
Weaver had a rule that no one could steal a base unless given the steal sign. This upset Jackson because he felt he knew the pitchers and catchers well enough to judge who he could and could not steal off of. So one game he decided to steal without a sign. He got a good jump off the pitcher and easily beat the throw to second base. As he shook the dirt off his uniform, Jackson smiled with delight, feeling he had vindicated his judgment to his manager. Later Weaver took Jackson aside and explained why he hadn’t given the steal sign. First, the next batter was Lee May, his best power hitter other than Jackson. When Jackson stole second, first base was left open, so the other team walked May intentionally, taking the bat out of his hands. Second, the following batter hadn’t been strong against that pitcher, so Weaver felt he had to send up a pinch hitter to try to drive in the men on base. That left Weaver without bench strength later in the game when he needed it. The problem was Jackson only saw his relationship to the pitcher and catcher. Weaver was watching the whole game. We, too, see only so far, but God sees the bigger picture. When he sends us a signal, it’s wise to obey, no matter what we may think WE know. Copied - https://bible.org/illustration/baltimore-orioles-manager
I have to admit I have more in common with Peter than Jesus. Maybe, just maybe, you likewise have followed in the footsteps of Peter and thought God's plans for you were all wrong. Well, go ahead and get a good laugh out of it, shake your head in bewilderment of how you could be that stupid to ever think God would be wrong in what He has planned for you. Then tell God you are now willing to follow His plan for you.
What God says in Jeremiah has a much better sound and promise to it. Jere. 29:11 - For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. When God is your coach His plans for you will be exciting and great. Think About These: It is better to appreciate something you have than to have something you can't appreciate. Happiness will never come to those who fail to appreciate what they already have. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word |
Archives
November 2024
AuthorGary A Serago. Categories
All
|
RSS Feed