Dear Father in Heaven. Praise You, Lord Jesus, Thanks, Lord, for all You do for us each and every day. Some of us this day might not appreciate all You do, but Lord Jesus, I pray today for those who do not appreciate You. Today I pray for the lost and that You might help we who are born again to help bring the lost to your feet. Thanking You in advance, Lord, that things that we do on this line, and Lord, the readers of this line might reach out today and help bring in the lost. Dear Lord, Your Word seems to tell us that time is running short to get this work done for You. Help us, Lord, help us. Lord, please renew all of us this day so that we, when we go to the fields of harvest for You, go there clean. In Jesus' name, I give praise and do pray, Amen.
Good Salvation Friday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ. It is a beautiful morning here at the Southern Location of the North Pole. The sky today is very pretty, as always as God has His hand upon it. This morning one of the weather people made this statement. "Nine more days until we go on daylight saving time and pick up another full hour of daylight." This is the same person who TRIES to forecast the weather that God is going to send us. Yes, folks, next we go onto Daylight Saving Time. And indeed we will have an extra hour of daylight in the evening, but in the morning we will pay for it. Today is March 1st, folks! Yes, we are on the downside of winter for this year. If we get some snow, it will not stick around. Some of our flowers have shown their little heads. I love spring, and what a time to think about rebirth as we have Salvation Friday. Today I ask that you renew in Christ and I pray all on the line are born again and are ready and willing to go out and help bring in the lost. Some people have asked me, how do you work for Jesus if you are homebound because of health reasons? At The Bridges I try each week to talk about love and how they can share it in their retirement community. Others who might be homebound, maybe you could just write a nice note to a neighbor wishing them a very blessed day and tell them you will pray for them. You might be surprised what a really nice note to a neighbor might do. And always put a prayer in it, and be sure you close it up by telling them that Jesus and also you love them. You might call that "sharing your blessings." This also might help the post office. Let me get to the message of today.
The Beatitudes 3/1/2013 Day Five.
Matthew 5:1 - Now, when He saw the crowds He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him 2 and He began to teach them, saying: (NIV)
Matthew 5:11 - Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. (NIV)
Matthew 5:12 - Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in Heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (NIV)
Let us take a look first at Matthew 5:11. Jesus is telling us that we are blessed when people insult us and persecute us and falsely say things of evil against us because of Him. If you were a lost son like me or a lost daughter, one who was raised in the way of the Lord and did a "walk-about" when you come back to the Lord, you can expect to have others "dump on you." Some will try and bring you down by bringing up your past. Some of them will even be folks who "call themselves Christians" and might even go to the same church as you do. Do not worry about this, in fact, stand right up to them and do this as found in 1 Peter 5:14, but be sure it is in Christian love.
1 Peter 5:14 - Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ. (NIV)
Brothers and sisters, there is not a time I can remember that when we are together as a ministry team that it does not start in prayer and we end the day with a hug and more than likely a kiss on the cheek. When people come in for food, they all get prayed for and then receive a hug as they leave. We want to show love, and I am getting more and more into this. God showed His love for us by giving us Jesus, and Jesus gave us His life. But more so, He has given us a way to get into heaven. If you know something about someone from years ago and that person has come to Christ, that past is gone. Please do not bring it up,not to them or anyone else. If someone comes to you and tells you, I knew that person when, and they start to tell you some "dirt", just tell them you don't want to hear about it.
Romans 16:16 - Greet one another with a holy kiss. (NIV)
Now here is a scripture for you to use when someone does want to slow down your work for Christ and bring up your past.
Romans 16:17 - I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause division and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teachings you have learned. Keep away from them. (NIV)
Please, folks, do not get involved in the trash talk that seems to want to be on the top of the talking points anymore. Now let's look at that very last Beatitude.
Matthew 5:12 - Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in Heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (NIV)
Let me wrap this up in a quick fashion today. We who love Christ and work for Him will get our rewards in Heaven. While it is nice to receive a "pat on the back" for a good job here on earth, I get more excited about those rewards that will come in Heaven. Even if you get an award here on earth, just say thank you and keep on keeping on for God. So let us rejoice and be glad as we close out this day. Maybe some of you know this little song. It is called "I'm So Glad."
I'm so glad Jesus lifted me.
I'm so glad Jesus lifted me.
I'm so glad Jesus lifted me.
Singing glory, hallelujah, Jesus lifted me!
I was bound, Jesus set me free.
I was bound, Jesus set me free.
I was bound, Jesus set me free.
Singing glory, hallelujah, Jesus lifted me!
I'll tell the world Jesus lifted me.
I'll tell the world Jesus lifted me.
I'll tell the world Jesus lifted me.
Singing glory, hallelujah, Jesus lifted me!
I'm so glad Jesus lifted me.
I'm so glad Jesus lifted me.
I'm so glad Jesus lifted me.
Singing glory, hallelujah, Jesus lifted me!
I was bound, Jesus set me free.
I was bound, Jesus set me free.
I was bound, Jesus set me free.
Singing glory, hallelujah, Jesus lifted me!
I'll tell the world Jesus lifted me.
I'll tell the world Jesus lifted me.
I'll tell the world Jesus lifted me.
Singing glory, hallelujah, Jesus lifted me!
Dear Father in Heaven, thanks for lifting me today, and I pray that all who read the message today are lifted. All glory and honor to You, my dear Lord Jesus. Honor and glory in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
Now go forth and share those blessings. Have a blessed Salvation Friday, and try and "Win one for the Lord."
Love ya (pass it on). Pastor Dan.
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