God Knows Your Potential

We first meet Saul (later known as Paul) at the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7). Then in Acts 8 we read that Saul 'Saul approved of their killing him'. Later in Acts 9, we find Saul again 'still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.' Saul has in his hands 'arrest warrants' for which he intends to round up all Christians.

However, during his journey to Damascus, Saul is surrounded by a bright light - the glory of God. Saul encounters Jesus face-to-face. This same Saul is now given a new job - instead of persecuting Christians, Saul is to take the message of the Gospel to the Gentiles.

You see, we can never be sure of who God will call. We can never really know what God is doing, or may do in someone's life. You may not know, but God does. And He knows your potential - God knows the plans for you. After all, God knew you when you were in your mother's womb.

Saul was a proud, murderous Pharisee intent on crushing all Christians. No one could have been more unlikely to be used by God, yet Saul was chosen to deliver the Gospel message and became perhaps the greatest evangelist of all time.

God is perfectly capable of using anyone - including you.

Jesus, Our Advocate

Stephen was one of seven men selected to be the first church 'deacons.' Stephen is described as a man 'full of God's grace and power.' As Stephen shared the Gospel message, he is met with intense opposition. Stephen is falsely accused of blasphemy and brought before the Sanhedrin. During the trial, as his accusers looked at Stephen, they saw the face of an angel - the very reflection of God. (Acts 6-7).

The council was furious and gnashed their teeth. Stephen was brought outside to be stoned. Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit gazed into Heaven and saw the Glory of God.

But take note - Stephen saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Jesus was not sitting, He was standing. Jesus stood up for Stephen as his advocate.

You see, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. And if Jesus is not your advocate, if you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then you stand alone.

For Stephen, Jesus stood as his advocate. And Jesus will do that for you too. All you need to do is believe that Jesus died for your sins and that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9).

Saved From the Mine

Last month the world watched as 33 miners, trapped over 2,000 feet below ground, were successfully rescued. The result of a collapsed mine, the 33 men were trapped for over 60 days while crews drilled a shaft wide enough to lower a metal capsule by which the men could be raised to the surface.

During the time the men were trapped, they were separated from friends, from family and their loved ones. Sin in our lives is like being trapped in that collapsed mine. Sin results in us being separated from God. And just like the miners, we cannot rescue ourselves. The miners could not dig their way out of the mine. They needed help from above. In our sinful state, we are unable to rescue ourselves. No amount of work will raise us to the surface and get us right with God. Instead we need help from above.

Our help comes In Jesus Christ. Sent by God to take the punishment for our sins, Jesus is the only way out of the collapsed mine that is our sinfulness. And just like the miners, who to be rescued need to get into the metal capsule, we need to grabbed onto Christ to be saved. For the miners, the capsule was the only way and to not climb in would mean dying in the mine. For us, Jesus is the only way and to not accept Him as Lord and Savior, means to die in our sins. To die in our sins means to spend eternity separated from God.

The capsule has arrived, Jesus has come to take the punishment for your sins. But you must hold on to Jesus. Your life depends upon it.

Knocked Down But Not Knocked Out

Emmitt Smith was a running back in the NFL for 15 years, most of them with the Dallas Cowboys. In his career he ran for over 18,000 yards - that works out to over 10 miles. Considering the number of actual running plays, Emmitt Smith average 4 yards per carry. This means that each time Emmitt ran he was knocked down every 12 feet (on average). And in spite of being tackled every 12 feet, he still managed to amass over 10 miles of yardage in his career.

The apostle Paul wrote his second letter to Timothy while in prison, presumably awaiting execution. Paul had been beaten, stoned and shipwrecked, all for preaching the Gospel. Yet he writes to Timothy, in verse 7, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

Paul's words and Emmitt Smith's career show us that there is a difference between being knocked down and being knocked out.

The enemy, Satan wants us to quit. He wants to knock us out of the game. Keep your eyes focused on the goal, knowing that with Christ's help, you may be knocked down, but you will not be knocked out.

David's Mighty Men

In First Chronicles 12 we read of David's Mighty Men. These were warriors described as "brave warriors, ready for battle and able to handle the shield and spear." They were "able to shoot arrows or to sling stones right-handed or left-handed" and had "the faces of lions, and they were as swift as gazelles in the mountains."

Aside from these abilities, David offered this warning, "If you have come to me in peace, to help me, I am ready to have you unite with me. But if you have come to betray me to my enemies when my hands are free from violence, may the God of our fathers see it and judge you."

So, are you a Mighty Man (or woman) of God? Do you rely upon your talents and skills only? Or are you joined with God, to be used by Him? Because if you are, God is with you. However if you are duplicitous, with evil on your heart, then God will judge you accordingly.

Where do you go to church?

Our message from Sunday, September 13th was from James 2:1, "My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory." It is sometimes easier to hold "church" in a nice clean building. God however calls us to share the Gospel everywhere.