THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THAT NAME! (Part II)

THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT THAT NAME! (Part II)

The Bible records over 700 names and titles for our Lord.  However, none is more glorious than JESUS.  The sound of that name is music to our ears, for at all times and in all circumstances, we may confidently lean upon the power and authority that is resident in the name of Jesus.  That name, Jesus, is closely related to the name, Joshua.  Its literal meaning is “Jehovah, the Savior,” or simply “saved.”  Even a superficial examination of the New Testament reveals the importance and power of His name.  By far, it is the name most often used in the gospels.  Even in the book of Acts, which uses the title “Lord” quite often, the name “Jesus” is used three times as much.

It is fascinating to note that during the earthly life of Jesus, he was seldom referred to (directly) by his given name.  With the exception of the thief on the cross who cried “JESUS…Lord, remember me,” there is no record of anyone ever addressing him by the name, “Jesus,” during the course of his public ministry. (Luke 23:42) Instead, they called him “rabbi” or “Rabboni” or “master” or “teacher.” (John 1:49 – John 20:16 – Mark 11:21 – John 3:2) He was also known as the “son of David,” “son of man,” or “Son of God.”  Some referred to him as “Christ,” the anointed one.  But once the angel Gabriel identified Him, nobody (other than a thief hanging adjacent to his cross), addressed Him directly as “Jesus.”  This fact, alone, makes me realize how good God is to US.  What a privilege and honor it is for us to have the ability and the authority to call Him (anywhere and anytime) by that wonderful and wonder-working name, JESUS!

When his earthly father, Joseph, learned that his son’s name would be “Jesus,” he was also informed of the nature of his life’s work: “He shall save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) Initially, it was believed that the salvation Jesus wrought would be the exclusive property of the Jewish people.  However, God demonstrated to the Apostle Peter (via a vision) that Jesus Christ is The Universal Savior.  That is, he can save anybody, anyplace, anytime.  For in Christ there is no East or West…no rich or poor…no brown or yellow…no black or white…no Jew or Gentile.  The compassionate Christ calls “whosoever will” for free and full access to the “water of life.” (Revelation 22:17) 

Bottom-line: the only name by which humankind may attain salvation and at-one-ment with the Father is Jesus Christ. (John 14:6 – Acts 4:12)  In our age, it has become politically correct to envision many alternative pathways to God.  But the Word of God directly contradicts this mindset: “There is a way that seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”  We should pay special attention to this scripture because it is twice repeated (verbatim) in the Word of God. (Proverbs 14:12 and Proverbs 16:25) No other name (nor any other person) can save us. There’s something about that name…JESUS!

Jesus Christ is the Logos, the Living Word of God. (John 1:1-2) As the incarnation of God, he is both the fullness of the Godhead and the human embodiment of the promised Word of redemption. (Colossians 2:8-10 – John 1:14) As such, Jesus Christ is “Emmanuel,” which literally means “God with us.” (Matthew 1:23) The cross of Calvary is the vehicle by which the Son sheds his atoning blood and reconciles fallen humanity back to the Father. (John 3:16 – Colossians 1:18-22 – Hebrews 9:22) As we achieve RE-UNION with THE FATHER through THE SON (“GOD IN CHRIST reconciling the world to Himself”), we become part of the “Body of Christ” and thereafter we function as productive branches of “The True Vine.” (II Corinthians 5:19 – I Corinthians 12:27 – John 15:1-3) From that point onward, we are positioned by Christ as fruit-bearing “branches” which he constantly purges, by His grace and for His glory.  The divine intention is to bring forth “more fruit,” and indeed “much fruit,” that will forever “remain” and flourish in the Kingdom of God. (John 15:2;8;16)

By the power and authority that resides in the name of Jesus, believers become disciples, i.e. soul-winners par excellence who reproduce themselves spiritually, thereby replicating His Kingdom in the earth. (Matthew 6:10 – Matthew 28:19-20 – Acts 1:8) Through our ministry efforts, always empowered by His name, Kingdom and covenant are established through0ut the earth.  What a signal honor this is for us!  What an awesome privilege!  How blessed we are to be in covenant and partnership with God.  We are stewards of the Word, the very mysteries of God. (I Corinthians 4:1-2)  

The singular requirement for this shared covenant of Christian stewardship is FIDELITY.  As we perform our various and sundry assignments within the Kingdom of God, we must always be found “FAITHFUL.” (I Corinthians 4:2) Remember this: No God-given task is insignificant or inconsequential.  What we do TODAY will echo throughout ETERNITY.  This is of such vital importance that it bears repeating: WHAT WE DO TODAY WILL ECHO THROUGHOUT ETERNITY. 

How so? Carefully consider this. “CHRIST in YOU [is] the HOPE of GLORY.” (Colossians 1:26-27) CHRIST-IN-YOU not only assures your personal salvation and ultimate arrival in the eternal presence of God, CHRIST-IN-YOU is quite possibly THE ONLY HOPE for the redemption or restoration of various people that you know, whether family, friend, or foe.  Indeed, we are responsible and accountable for ‘SALTING’ and ‘LIGHTING’ those who exist within our sphere of influence. (Matthew 5:13-14) So why not tell more people about our loving Lord and Savior?  Why not become a NAME-DROPPER?  In the words of the late Pastor Andrae Crouch, “Tell the world about JESUS…tell them about his love.” 

Stay tuned…more to come tomorrow!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THAT NAME! (Part I)

THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT THAT NAME! (Part I)

Scattered throughout the biblical record, there are more than 700 names and titles that apply to our Lord and Savior.  However, there is no single name or title that is more sacred, more venerable, more grand, or more glorious than the name of JESUS!  I deeply treasure one worship chorus that magnifies and exalts His name.  If you can, sing along with me: 

“JESUS...JESUS…JESUS…there is something about that name.  MASTER…SAVIOR…JESUS…like the fragrance after the rain.  JESUS…JESUS…JESUS…let all Heaven and earth proclaim.  Kings and kingdoms will all pass away, but there’s something about that name!”

The very sound of that name, JESUS, is music in the ears of believers throughout the world and throughout all ages.  In our darkest hours, whenever we encounter danger, or even death, we are supremely confident that we can lean upon the power and authority that is resident in the name of JESUS.  When we pray, when we preach, when we testify, when we witness…we could leave out any other name…but there is something simply extraordinary and indispensable about the name of JESUS.  In the coming days, we will highlight key scriptural revelations concerning that Name-Above-All-Names.  But for today, I just feel like worshipping Him!

Allow me to joyfully share just a little about my CHRIST-CONNECTION.  

JESUS CHRIST is…

My Alpha…My Atonement…My Advocate…
My Beginning…My Bread…My Balm…My Bridegroom…
My Creator…My Counselor…My Covenant…My Captain…
My Daystar…My Defender…My Deliverer…
My Emmanuel…My Elder Brother…My Ebenezer…
My Faith…My Fountain…My Favor…My Friend…
My Gift…My Grace…My Gospel…My Glory…My God…
My High Priest…My Holy One…My Head…My Hope…
My Incarnate God…My Inheritance…My Immortal One…
My Joy…My Joint Heir…My Just One…My Judge…
My Kinsman Redeemer…My King of Kings…
My Lamb…My Logos…My Light…My Life…My Lord…
My Messenger…My Master…My Messiah…My Mediator…
My New Birth…My Name Above All Names…
My Omnipotent One…My Offering…My Omega…
My Prophet…My Priest…My Physician…My Passover…
My Quiet Time…Quickening Spirit…
My Redeemer…My Rock…My Righteousness…
My Savior…My Shepherd…My Strong Tower…
My True Vine…My Tried Stone…My Teacher…
My Understanding…My Upright Spirit…
My Valor…My Victory…
My Way…My Wisdom…My Word…
My ‘X-cellence’…
My Yoke…My Youth…
My Zeal…My Zenith…My Zion…

He is JESUS CHRIST, the only begotten Son of the Living God!

Stay tuned…more to come tomorrow!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

GROWTH EMBRACES RISK...A.K.A. FAITH

GROWTH EMBRACES RISK…A.K.A. FAITH

In the end, it is far more costly to take a risk and do something, than to be ultra-careful and ultra-conservative and ultimately opt to do nothing.  The former decision is founded in faith; the latter is rooted in anxiety and fear.  President John F. Kennedy wrote, “There are risks and costs to action.  But they are far less than the long-range risks of comfortable inaction.”  President Theodore Roosevelt remarked (in a quote often erroneously accredited to President Kennedy), “Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure…than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.”

Jesus Christ set forth a parable to elaborate on the dangers of procrastination, which is actually the product of anxiety and fear.  He spoke of three people who received varying talents: five, two and one.  The first two stewards were commended for cultivating their gifts, i.e. utilizing them wisely so that they (and their lord) would receive an expected return on investment.  The man who received one talent not only devalued it, but he foolishly hid it in the earth, opting to do nothing with the great opportunity that had been afforded him.  At the return of his lord, this steward’s report was revealing and tragic: “I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth…”  Because this man took no risks, he received no positive reward.  His lord ultimately described him as “an unprofitable servant” and he was dispatched post-haste into perdition. (Matthew 25:14:30)

The following story is somewhat reminiscent of Jesus’ Parable of the Talents.

Two seeds lay side by side in the fertile soil.

The first seed said, “I want to grow!  I want to send my roots deep into the soil beneath me, and thrust my sprouts through the earth’s crust above me.  I want to unfurl my tender buds like banners to announce the arrival of spring.  I want to feel the warmth of the sun on my face and the blessing of the morning dew on my petals!”

And so she grew...

The second seed said, “Hmmmm.  If I send my roots into the ground below, I don’t know what I will encounter in the dark.  If I push my way through the hard soil above me, I may damage my delicate sprouts.  What if I let my buds open up and a snail tries to eat them?  If I were to open my blossoms, a small child may notice and pull me out of the ground.  No, it is much better for me to wait until it is safe.”

And so she waited...

In the early spring, a yard hen scratching around in the ground for food found this waiting seed and promptly ate it.

There is a terribly high cost for delay.  Invest yourself.  Today.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

ONE DAY AT A TIME

ONE DAY AT A TIME

There are two days in every week over which one should never stress or worry, two days which should be kept free from every potential fear and apprehension.

One of those days is yesterday…with its errors and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains.  Yesterday has passed and thus it is forever beyond our control.  All the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday.  We cannot undo one single act we have performed.  We cannot erase one single word we have spoken.  Yesterday is gone!

The other day we should not worry about is tomorrow, with its unidentified adversities, its unknown burdens, its potential promises and its possible performances.  Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control.  Tomorrow’s sun will rise, whether in radiant splendor or behind a mask of somber clouds.  But it will surely rise.  Until it does, we have no tangible stake in tomorrow (certainly not from the perspective of anxiety), for tomorrow is yet unborn.

That leaves only one day in which to freely invest and fully focus our effort and energy: today.

Consider this.  All of us can somehow manage to fight the battles of just one day.  It is only when we emotionally summon the cumbersome concerns of yesterday and the plausible problems of tomorrow that we enter into a terrible state of trepidation and torment.

The experiences of today do not necessarily disturb or destroy our peace of mind.  No.  Oftentimes, it is the sheer disappointment or bitterness about something that occurred yesterday or an irrational dread about what tomorrow might bring.  Let us resolve, therefore, to live one day at a time.

There is a song that corrects and comforts when I am tempted to obsess over my past or my future:

One day at a time…sweet Jesus…

That’s all I’m asking from You;

Give me the strength to do every day

What I have to do.

Yesterday’s gone…sweet Jesus…

And tomorrow may never be mine;

So for my sake, help me to take

One day at a time.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

FAITH IS WORD AND VOICE ACTIVATED

FAITH IS WORD AND VOICE ACTIVATED

Sometimes we experience what I call “circumstantial or situational doubt.”  That is, our sensory perceptions (whatever we see, feel, touch, taste, or hear) can potentially become a barrier to our reception of the eternal truth of God’s Word, and thus become a powerful blessing-blocker.  GOD IS A COVENANT-MAKING AND COVENANT-KEEPING SPIRIT.  That means He will always honor His Word.  Indeed, He watches over His Word, to perform it. 

However, an indispensable part of the COVENANT CONTRACT is our willingness and ability to SPEAK HIS WORD.  When we come into unconditional agreement and alignment with God, we position ourselves for the fulfillment of everything that He has breathed into us (and spoken over us) before the foundation of the world. (Ephesians 1:4 – Hebrews 4:3)

Regarding this matter, let’s allow THE WORD to speak to our spirits:

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Psalm 116:10

I believed, therefore have I spoken.

Psalm 107:2

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy,

Mark 11:22-23

So Jesus answered and said to them, Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

Matthew 7:7-11

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Proverbs 18:21

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

John 7:38

He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.

Joshua 1:8

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Psalm 1:1-2

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.

Revelation 12:11

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

Job 22:28

You will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you; so light will shine on your ways.

II Corinthians 4:7

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

Faith is Word and voice activated.  Believe what GOD says...then SPEAK what you believe!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

THE ORIGIN AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THANKSGIVING DAY

THE ORIGIN AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THANKSGIVING DAY

Today we celebrate Thanksgiving Day in the USA.  As a former history teacher and an insatiable history buff, I thought it fitting to reprise the history of this important day in American culture.

The event that we commonly call ‘The First Thanksgiving’ was celebrated by the Pilgrims following their first American harvest in the year 1621.  According to one of the attendees, Edward Winslow, this feast lasted three full days, and was attended by 53 Pilgrims and 91 Native Americans.

The Pilgrims had departed from Plymouth, England, on September 6, 1620, seeking civil and religious liberty in a place that they called ‘The New World.’  Obviously, the land was already occupied by Native Americans.  For two months, 102 passengers on The Mayflower braved the harsh elements of the northern Atlantic Ocean.  Arriving in late November at the place they named Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts, the Pilgrims signed “The Mayflower Compact” (America’s first document of civil government) and disembarked the ship in early December.

After a prayer service, the Pilgrims began building hasty shelters.  However, they were grossly unprepared for the starvation and sickness that would beset them during the harsh New England winter.  As a result, nearly half of their numbers died before the advent of spring.  Nevertheless, persevering in prayer, and assisted by the very helpful Native Americans, they reaped a bountiful harvest the following summer.

The grateful Pilgrims declared a three-day feast, starting on December 13, 1621, to give thanks to God and to celebrate with their native friends.  Technically speaking, this was not the first Thanksgiving in America, since Thanksgiving Services were held in Virginia as early as 1607, but it was America’s first Thanksgiving Festival. 

Pilgrim Edward Winslow described the Pilgrims’ inaugural Thanksgiving with these words: “Our harvest being gotten in, our Governor sent four men fowling [bird hunting] so that we might rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors.  These four killed in one day as much fowl as served the company almost a week.  Many of the Indians [came] amongst us, including their King Massasoit and ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted; and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to us.  Although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God we are far from want.”

In 1789, following a proclamation issued by President George Washington, the fledgling American nation celebrated its first official Day of Thanksgiving to God under its new constitution.  And the Protestant Episcopal Church, of which President Washington was a member, announced that the first Thursday in November would become a regular day for the giving of thanks.

However, Thanksgiving has been celebrated as a federal holiday since 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of “Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens,” to be celebrated annually on the last Thursday in November.

My friend, that is THE HISTORY of Thanksgiving Day. What is YOUR STORY for giving thanks to our God?

Roy Campanella had an amazing story of thanksgiving.  He was one of the first African-Americans to play in baseball’s major leagues.  In his storied athletic career, Roy won the Brooklyn Dodgers’ “Most Valuable Player Award” numerous times, and in 1955 made a very significant contribution toward his team’s victory in the World Series.

However, in January of 1958, his career was tragically cut short when a car crash left him a quadriplegic.  After he was injured, Roy spent a lot of time in The Institute of Physical medicine and Rehabilitation in New York.  One day he paused to read an inspirational inscription in the entryway.  For someone who had been blessed with phenomenal athletic gifts, but was now a quadriplegic, these words resonated deeply:

I asked God for strength, that I might achieve.
I was made weak, that I might learn to humbly obey…
I asked for health that I might do great things.
I was given infirmity that might do better things…
I asked for riches that I might be happy.
I was given poverty that I might be wise…
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of others.
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God…
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life.
I was given life that I might enjoy all things…
I got nothing I asked for, but everything I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am, among men, most richly blessed!

Let us all be sincerely appreciative to Almighty God on this Thanksgiving Day – and every day – for the abundant bounty, benefits and blessings rendered regularly toward us.  OUR GRATITUDE ATTITUDE is not predicated on our present circumstances, nor on our station in life, nor on what we have accumulated, nor on what we have achieved.  It is merely the heartfelt recognition that “every good and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from THE FATHER OF LIGHTS, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” (James 1:17)

Wherever you are in this life, whatever you are in this life, however you are in this life, please take advantage of this golden opportunity to praise and worship HIM.  In the wise words of the Apostle Paul, “In everything GIVE THANKS; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (I Thessalonians 5:18)

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

GRATITUDE OPENS HEAVEN'S WINDOWS

GRATITUDE OPENS HEAVEN’S WINDOWS

During these days leading up to the American celebration known as “Thanksgiving Day,” I have been reflecting on the uplifting truths that The Word conveys concerning our requisite attitude of gratitude.  Please prayerfully consider Psalm 100:

Psalm 100 (NKJV)

¹ Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
² Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing.
³ Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

⁴ Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.  Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
⁵ For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.

Why should we be SO grateful?  Consider this.  Every parent knows the powerful impact of a grateful child.  Whenever your child offers a warm smile and a sincere word of thanks for whatever you have done, it has a dramatic effect on both your present attitude and future action.

I learned long ago to say “thank you,” courtesy of the guidance of two wise and wonderful parents, the late Bishop Joseph Edison Bass, Sr. and Mrs. Mary Watts Bass.  I discovered early on that being genuinely grateful not only positions us positively for today, but sets us up for tomorrow’s blessings.  How so?  It is rather difficult for a loving parent to say “no” to a respectful and thankful child, especially when they have available resources to respond to their reasonable wants and needs.

Similarly, in the spirit realm, our Father is highly motivated and mobilized by our praise.  In fact, the scriptures suggest that God actually establishes His earthly dwelling place within the welcoming tabernacle of a believer’s praise and worship.

Nevertheless, there is a noteworthy distinction regarding our relationships with our earthly and heavenly parents.  Whenever my natural parents did something for me, I responded (after the fact) to their love and kindness with an enthusiastic “thank you.”  However, I have learned to say “thank you” to the Father beforehand, in joyful anticipation of His goodness and grace.  Such gratitude (before the manifestation of any promised blessing) is a pure act of faith.  Unquestionably, faith honors God and stimulates a powerful and productive response.  Additionally, it is an essential affirmation of our covenant relationship, which is never predicated on what God does for us, but rather on WHO GOD IS to us.

My friend, try to remember to begin each day with a word of sincere thanksgiving.  When you awaken every morning, make it a habit to thank God for another day and for a new opportunity to forge divine connections with your Creator and your fellowman.

“Thank you” simply makes room for more.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!S 

GIVE THANKS!

GIVE THANKS!

My friends, let’s make up our minds (today) to stop complaining and to offer heartfelt thanksgiving to our Creator.  Right now, let’s allow The Word to speak to our hearts:

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. (I Chronicles 16:34 – Psalm 106:1)

So we, Your people and sheep of Your pasture, will give You thanks forever; We will show forth Your praise to all generations. (Psalm 79:13)

Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! (Psalm 107:8;15;21;31)

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 15:57)

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (I Thessalonians 5:18)

Here’s a simple prayer that all of us can utter to the Savior: “Lord, I love You and I praise Your Name, today and forevermore.  You are so deserving of my eternal gratitude and worship.  Amen.”

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

ONLY GOD KNOWS THE NUMBER OF APPLES IN A SEED

ONLY GOD KNOWS THE NUMBER OF APPLES IN A SEED

Travis Agnew, a Christian author, shared a powerful story of the miraculous influence of one person who dared to trust and obey the Lord.

Billy Graham has shared the gospel with more people than anyone else in history, but do you know who shared the gospel with him?

It is a series of marvelous events that starts out with one volunteer Sunday school teacher.  Someone shared this story with me years ago, and it impacted me greatly.

“You can count the apples on the tree, but who can count the apples in a seed?” goes the old aphorism.  So it is with the influence of a single person.  Take Edward Kimball, for an example. Never heard of him?  Rest assured – most people have never heard of him.

Kimball was a Sunday school teacher who not only prayed for the boys in his class but sought to win each one to the Lord personally.  He decided he would be intentional with every single one of them.  Surely there were times that he thought about throwing in the towel.  

One young man didn’t seem to understand what the gospel was about so Kimball went to the shoe store where he worked and confronted him in the stock room about the importance of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  That young man was Dwight L. Moody.  In the stockroom on that Saturday, he believed the gospel and received Jesus Christ as his Savior.  During his lifetime, Moody touched two continents for God, with thousands professing Christ through his ministry.

But the story doesn’t end there.  Under Moody, another man’s heart was touched for God, Wilbur Chapman.  Chapman became an effective evangelist who preached to thousands. One day, a professional ball player had a day off and attended one of Chapman’s meetings, and thus, Billy Sunday was converted.

Sunday quit baseball and became part of Chapman’s team. Then, Chapman accepted the pastorate of a large church and Billy Sunday began his own evangelistic crusades.

Another young man was later converted whose name was Mordecai Ham.  When Ham came to Charlotte, North Carolina, a sandy-haired, lanky young man, then in high school, vowed that he would never go to hear him preach, but Billy Frank, as he was called by his family, did eventually go.

Ham announced that he knew for a fact that a house of ill repute was located across the street from the local high school and that male students were skipping lunch to visit the house across the street. When students decided to go to interrupt the meetings of Mordecai Ham, Billy Frank decided to go just to see what would happen.  That night Billy Frank went and was intrigued by what he heard.  Returning another night, he responded to the invitation and was converted.

Billy Frank eventually became known as Billy Graham, the evangelist who preached to more people than any other person who ever lived, including the Apostle Paul.  Billy Graham’s estimated lifetime audience, including radio and television broadcasts, topped 2.2 billion.

This fascinating chain of events was all triggered by a Sunday school teacher’s concern for his boys.  If you are like most people, you have served in some capacity and wondered at times if you were making a real difference.  Maybe you even thought about quitting.

Next time you are tempted to give up, please remember Edward Kimball, whose persistence and faithfulness was tremendously honored by the Lord.  This story could have looked very different if Edward Kimball did not obey the Lord and seek out young Dwight Moody.  Just do your part today in the Kingdom and trust God for the results.

You can count the apples on a tree, but only God knows how many apples are in a single seed. 

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

FORWARD OR BACKWARD?

FORWARD OR BACKWARD?

In the fall of 2014, Belinda and I headed via Kenya on a return trip to South Africa where we had served as resident missionaries.  During this trip, we drove through the provinces of Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape and Eastern Cape to conduct ministry conferences. 

During our previous stints in South Africa we had never visited Kruger National Park, the largest game reserve in the nation, so we also motored through the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga for this purpose.  This part of our trip was devoted to pure enjoyment and we loved seeing ‘The Big Five’ (lions, rhinos, elephants, leopards and Cape buffalo) in their natural habitat.  South Africa is a place of unsurpassed beauty!

On the way to Kruger we encountered a major problem.

Three years earlier, we had purchased a GPS navigation system.  However, we had not updated its software during the intervening years.  Uh-oh!  We somehow found ourselves w—a—y off the roadway that we should have been traveling on.  And for approximately 50 miles (80 kilometers) we were on an extremely rocky road that had so many ditches and potholes that we were forced to travel at a speed of approximately 15-20 miles per hour!

I put on a brave face for Belinda’s sake, but it was nearing dusk and I was afraid of getting stuck in this situation overnight.  Silently, I was praying desperately: “Lord, do we go forward or do we head backward?”

Just when I was approaching a state of panic, the rocky road ended and we found ourselves on a roadway that was much smoother and infinitely easier to traverse.  THANK YOU, JESUS!

But here’s the thing.  My off-road experience might feel quite familiar.  Our traveling circumstance is likely analogous to a situation (or two) that you have encountered along the road of life.  Things looked bad.  And the situation seemed to grow progressively worse (not better) as you moved ahead.  In fact, your soul seemed to sag under the weight of overwhelming doubts and questions: “Do I go left or right?  Should I stop, continue, or head back to my starting point?  Is this relationship what God has planned, or was that all me?  Am I in the right city?  The right job?  The right church?”  During such storms, the mind tends to race, and the mental list of things that could or should be goes on and on.

To make matters worse, the GPS navigation system that you typically depend upon [your intellect, your instinct, your wisdom, your wit, your determination] might appear to be dysfunctional or even inaccessible.

What should we do during such crisis moments?  Surely we can find wisdom and direction in the Word:

From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. (Psalm 61:2)

This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. (Psalm 34:6)

And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You. (Psalm 9:10)

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped.  Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him. (Psalm 28:7)

Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. (Psalm 37:3)

Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. (Psalm 37:5)

GO FORWARD, my friend; never backward.  And when you cannot trace His hand…trust HIS PLAN.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

I FAILED MY DRIVER'S TEST

I FAILED MY DRIVER’S TEST

I smile as I recall an incident that occurred when I was just 16 years old.  Having obtained my learner’s permit, I enrolled in the Driver’s Education Course at my alma mater, Monessen High School.  The course was taught by one of my football coaches, the late Andy Yartin.  After several months of intensive practice on the road, he felt I was well prepared to take my driver’s test so I could become a full-fledged and licensed ‘Master-of-the-Road.’

I breezed handily through the written exam and then joined the Pennsylvania State Trooper outside to take my road test.  I recall feeling somewhat nervous and silently coaxing myself to breathe and relax.  We drove along a simulated highway, a course designed specifically to test the skill of rookie drivers.  It contained traffic signs, highway markings, S-curves and that much dreaded opportunity for parallel parking.

I was performing quite well and feeling psychologically inebriated with overflowing assurance that I had passed my driver’s test and would receive my official license mere moments hence.  Unfortunately, my optimism created a sense of overconfidence and I failed to completely halt the vehicle at the final stop sign.  Uh-oh!

When the examining trooper informed me of this, I was totally shocked and outraged at my sheer stupidity!  Feeling totally exasperated, I slammed the automatic gearshift into the park setting and disappointedly struck the steering wheel with open palms.  The trooper looked over at me rather casually and said, “You really did a great job throughout the test course, and I was going to pass you despite your mistake, but that emotional outburst leads me to believe you’re not quite ready to get your driver’s license.”  I was absolutely dumbfounded and surprised because I had been accustomed to succeeding, not failing.

The ride home felt very much like a funeral procession; my sorrow was painful and palpable.  Mr. Yartin was at the wheel of the Driver’s Ed vehicle, and I was seated in the back seat, sandwiched in between two classmates who had actually passed their driver’s tests.  Surveying my mood in the rearview mirror, my coach-instructor smiled and said, “Wayne, there’s always tomorrow.”

For two weeks, nearly all I could think about was my ‘failure problem.’  I desperately needed to redirect my focus.  I needed perspective.  Moments before my second shot at the test, Mr. Yartin looked me in the eye and repeated his words spoken after my previous failed attempt: “There’s always tomorrow.”

It was on that glorious, sunny, Friday afternoon in the month of May, in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, that Wayne Manning Bass passed his driver’s test with flying colors!

It reminds me of the words of Celia Luce: “A small trouble is like a pebble.  Hold it too close to your eye and it fills the whole world and puts everything out of focus.  Hold it at a proper distance and it can be examined and properly classified.  Throw it at your feet and it can be seen in its true setting, just one more bump on the pathway to life.”  In other words, life happens.

Hindsight is twenty-twenty vision.  Looking back at my perceived ‘calamity’ at age 16, I realize that I did not even know what real problems were!  So here’s something terribly important for all of us to ponder.  Instead of getting bent-out-of-shape over everything that comes our way, we should ask God for perspective.  Even monumental problems eventually reach resolution or simply fade from view.  When we begin to see issues and problems as GOD sees them, we activate faith in His Word, which is tantamount to an expression of confidence in His overall plan for us.  Do you remember the last situation that God got you through?  Well, if He did it back then…He will surely do it again!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

STOP WATERING WEEDS

STOP WATERING WEEDS

Today’s devotional is based on a Facebook posting by my daughter, Kimberly Marcelle Bass.  Upon reading it, I was immediately illuminated with the insight that too much of our time and energy is expended interacting with people, things and situations that do not edify us.  Instead of nurturing the beautiful flowers that have been divinely planted in our lives, our attention is somehow drawn (irrationally) to those negative, persistent and proverbial ‘weeds’ that seek to choke us and paralyze our progress.

First natural, then spiritual.  It is interesting to note that there are at least 172 varieties of weeds that constitute an ongoing challenge for American farmers and crops.  On the Internet, one can locate numerous weed identifiers, with descriptive characteristics and photos of troublesome weeds.  Farmers rely on such sources to maximize their harvests.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we had strategic weed identifiers (in life) to alert us to the presence of human weeds and their decidedly negative agendas?  In fact, we do.  Personal prayer, Word study and ears attentively tuned in to the Holy Spirit are awesome and accurate weed identifiers, which are designed to safeguard our lives and our future.  We must use them!

Kingdom Principle Number One: Try to see people and life through the lens of love. (I Corinthians 13:1-7) This proactive and positive approach yields inner peace and sanity.  Also, it diminishes hypersensitivity, combating our tendency to feel degraded or offended by the cavalier attitudes and actions of others.

Kingdom Principle Number Two: Avoid fellowship with people who do not honor you or celebrate your successes.  Haters are nothing more than malicious weeds.  If allowed to do so, they deplete optimism and drain energy.

Kingdom Principle Number Three: Don’t try to contest or disprove negative opinions.  It is a supreme waste and an absolute misappropriation of time and energy.  Those who are true friends need no defensive explanations; those who are not friends will likely never be convinced by whatever you say.

Kingdom Principle Number Four: Eat the fish and throw away the bones.  While at times it seems impossible, you can survive and even thrive in work environments that are loaded with outright enemies or frenemies (friendly enemies).  Feelings of offense or pride often motivate us to disregard or discard their contributions, even those that might benefit us.  So please don’t drink the Kool-Aid of Pride!  Allow yourself to be blessed by your enemies whenever GOD orchestrates and allows it to be so.  Eat the fish and throw away the bones!

Kingdom Principle Number Five: Jesus Christ is our supreme arbiter and final judge.  He instructs His Church to let the “wheat and tares” (false wheat or weeds) “grow together until the harvest.” (Matthew 13:30) Bear in mind that Christ’s admonition is primarily aimed at the corporate church, not individual believers.  Therefore, within your own life, you must be extremely careful to establish clear and effective boundaries between yourself and that which could potentially destroy you or your Kingdom assignment.  Decide today to stop watering and cultivating any weeds that might creep into your garden.  The Creator has seeded a multiplicity of MAGNIFICENT flowers in and around your life…infinite varieties with indescribable beauty.  Focus on the Flowers.  Pay attention to them; nurture and water them; and your life will be inevitably favored and bountifully blessed.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

MY POSITION, MY CONDITION, MY OBSESSION

MY POSITION, MY CONDITION, MY OBSESSION

I treasure the ministry and wisdom of the late Reverend Dr. E. V. Hill.  In one of his classic sermons, he issued this profound declaration of truth: “My POSITION is that I’m IN CHRIST.  My CONDITION is that sometimes I FAIL.  But my OBSESSION is to make my CONDITION the same as my POSITION.” 

I am confident that most Christians may easily relate to Dr. Hill’s life experience and perspective.  Certainly, the Word declares that we believers are “in Christ.” (II Corinthians 5:17) Thus, through the miracle of the new birth, we become God’s renewed creations and spiritual workmanship. (Ephesians 2:10) To wit, in Dr. Hill’s own words, “My POSITION is that I’m IN CHRIST.”

However, since we exist as frail, fallen and finite humanity, we are subject to both the original and occasional departure(s) from the perfect will of God.  In a word, “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Hence, our human CONDITION precipitates an ongoing failure to fully comply with God’s Will and Word.  As Dr. Hill put it, “sometimes I fail.”

Nevertheless, true believers refuse to become paralyzed at that point, i.e. we will not be subject permanently to the sinful nature of our flesh.  Rather, we strive and make every attempt to “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior.” (II Peter 3:18) So instead of accepting bondage to our old sinful nature, we are totally committed to the process of sanctification, which produces continual spiritual growth and liberation from the power, practice and penalty of sin. (Romans 6-8 – I Corinthians 1:30 – I Thessalonians 4:3-4 – Ephesians 5:25-27 – John 17:17) Thus, Dr. Hill’s conclusion sums up our spiritual intention and goal: “My OBSESSION is to make my CONDITION the same as my POSITION.”

My friend, have you become comfortable with a state of constant defeat to the devil?  In other words, do you have the tendency to excuse ungodly attitudes and actions as the inevitable weakness of the flesh?  Or, on the other hand, have you received, recognized and deployed the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit?  The Apostle Paul states it far more succinctly and eloquently than I:

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. (II Corinthians 4:7, New King James Version)

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. (II Corinthians 4:7, New International Version)

But we have this precious treasure [the good news about salvation] in [unworthy] earthen vessels [of human frailty], so that the grandeur and surpassing greatness of the power will be [shown to be] from God [His sufficiency] and not from ourselves. (II Corinthians 4:7, The Amplified Bible)

After all is said and done, it’s not about our ability, nor about our capacity to cling to the right path and honor the Word of God.  It’s all about Jesus Christ!  Indeed, it’s all about “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27b, NKJV) Paul sums it up this way: “I can do all things THROUGH CHRIST, who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13, NKJV) Amen?  Amen!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

LORD, I'M GRATEFUL

LORD, I’M GRATEFUL

Early this morning, I awakened with a powerful gospel song resonating within my spirit.  It’s lyrics simply say:

Grateful…Lord, I’m grateful…

Grateful…for the things You’ve done for me

Grateful…Lord, I’m grateful…

Grateful…I give my all to Thee.

Oh…Oh…Oh…

Grateful…Lord, I’m grateful…

For everything You’ve done for me…

You’ve done for me.

Sisters and brothers, I find myself resting in an attitude of gratitude for all that the Lord has done for me, blessings that abound and resound throughout time and eternity.

I am grateful…for the wonderful people that He has placed in my life: family and friends (and even frenemies) who have helped to strengthen my relationship with and trust in the sovereignty of God.

I am grateful…for the sins from which He has saved and delivered me, for grace, mercy and salvation through the precious blood of The Crucified One, for sanctification through His Word and for the resident endowment of His Holy Spirit.

I am grateful…for the opportunities of service He has afforded me and for those He has providentially denied me.  Every door open and every door closed represent divine provision and divine protection.

I am grateful…for a reasonable portion of health and strength.  Jesus Christ is my Great Physician, my Healer and my continual strength.

I am grateful…for by faith I am already seated together with Him, in heavenly places, in Christ Jesus.  He is the all wise God who knew my end before my beginning, and I am eternally grateful to be a small part of His purpose and plan.  Victory is mine.  Victory is yours.  Be grateful.

THANK YOU, JESUS!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!