WHO WILL ROLL AWAY THE STONE?

                                                                           

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP

 WHO WILL ROLL AWAY THE STONE? 

(Mark 16:3) And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” 

Have you been trying lately to gain entrance to somewhere in life you’ve been wanting to go but it’s like a big stone is blocking the door?  That’s how the women felt on resurrection morning.  Jesus had been crucified and laid in a tomb but they wanted to give Him a proper burial with the anointing of spices.  They had a willing heart and the materials on hand but one big problem kept shutting them out.  So they asked…who will roll away the stone?   

Maybe that’s how you’ve been feeling recently.  You are willing as your heart could be.  You have everything on hand as far as resources are concerned.  But it’s that one big heavy thing that is obstructing your progress.  So what do you do?  Well, do what the women did: 

-STEP OUT IN FAITH:  The text says “they came to the tomb”.  That means they got moving toward their goal instead of their goal dropping into their lap.  In this life of faith we cooperate with God by doing our part in response to His leading in our lives.  Remember Peter?  He had to get out of the boat before he could float!  (Mat 14:28-29) And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.  Maybe God is waiting for you to do that part of faith that needs to be done.  (Heb 11:6) But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. 

-LOOK UP:  In the next verse it says they “looked up” (v. 4).  To have that stone roll away from our lives we must look up to Jesus for it is He alone that has the power to effect change.  (John 12:21) Then they came to Philip…saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”  When things don’t go our way it’s easy to count the cracks on the sidewalk instead of the clouds in the sky!  (Luke 21:28) Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”  When you look up to Jesus, things start looking up!   

Well, what happened in the rest of the story of the women at the tomb?  The next verse says it all:  (Mark 16:4) But when they looked up, they saw that THE STONE HAD BEEN ROLLED AWAY—for it was very large.  God took care of the problem and they walked right through that door!  Isn’t that great how the Lord goes before us and takes care of the problems we face?  No need to worry. No need to strive.  God has it all figured out from the very beginning.  (John 6:6) But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.  HE IS RISEN!  And your door will be opening soon! 

Louie

 

WHEN A CHRISTIAN REJECTS THE FAITH

                                                                            

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP 

WHEN A CHRISTIAN REJECTS THE FAITH 

(Mark 16:14) Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table… 

This is one of the saddest verses in the Bible.  It says Jesus appeared to the eleven.  That means one was missing.  And we know who that was…Judas.  In our churches we have empty seats that used to hold people of faith who no longer walk with the Lord.  They have rejected the Christian faith and have walked out into the night from the light they once knew.  So how does it all begin and what should we do when someone turns away from the Lord? 

 

The first thing we notice is a progression.  Demas in the Bible is a good example.  He is only mentioned three times in the New Testament but notice how he advances in the wrong direction:  (Phile 1:24) as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers…(Col 4:14) Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you…(2 Tim 4:10) for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed…  First Demas is a fellow laborer.  Then he only sends greetings.  Finally he has forsaken Paul and has gone back into the world and has departed.  Does this describe someone in your life?

 

My best friend and best man in my wedding did the same thing.  He taught a home Bible I attended when I was in college.  He then graduated from Bible college and seminary and had a wonderful calling to the ministry.  But soon he had an affair and left his wife and I then lost all contact with him and for many years now he has never surfaced to reclaim his faith.

 

The big question is did these know Christ and then reject the faith?  Or did they never know the Lord to begin with?  Well, only God knows!  (2 Tim 2:19)…The Lord knows those who are His…  So since we don’t know what should we do? 

 

-PRAY:  The best thing we can do is keep praying for them.  If they are truly the Lord’s they will come back.  (Luke 15:20) “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.

 

-BELIEVE:  Since they don’t have faith anymore then we must have faith for them.  God can change the hardest of hearts!  (Eze 36:26) I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

 

-AVOID GUILT:  Many of us feel guilt because we think we could of done something to prevent them from slipping away from the Lord.  Christian parents are especially susceptible to this.  But remember they made a choice out of their own free will.  (Rom 8:1) There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…

 

Louie

 

EMERGENCY BIBLE VERSES

 

                                                             SHEPHERD TO SHEEP 

EMERGENCY BIBLE VERSES 

Many of us have emergency phone numbers to call in case of an emergency.  Beyond 911 there is the doctor, lawyer, plumber, computer tech, etc.  But what about when you are in need and you don’t know where to turn in God’s Word?  Keep this handy chart in your Bible or somewhere close and refer to it often.  The Word of God answers all our needs and dilemmas! 

When you need SALVATION (Romans 10:9-10) 

When you are DEPRESSED (Psalm 42 & 43) 

When you are ANXIOUS (Philippians 4:6-7) 

When you are LONELY (Hebrews 13:5) 

When MONEY is low (Philippians 4:19) 

When you’ve been HURT (Ephesians 4:32) 

When you need a JOB (Psalm 90:17) 

When you need PATIENCE (James 1:2-4) 

When you are WORRIED ABOUT THE KIDS (Isaiah 54:13) 

When you have an UNSAVED LOVED ONE (Acts 16:31) 

When you have BACKSLIDDEN (Jeremiah 3:22) 

When your goals have been FRUSTRATED (Psalm 37:3-8) 

When you have been DISAPPOINTED (Revelation 3:7-8) 

When your MARRIAGE is being tested (1 Corinthians 13)

When you have SINNED (Psalm 51) 

When you are feeling WORTHLESS (Matthew 10:29-31) 

When there is nothing hopeful in your FUTURE (Jeremiah 29:11) 

When you need GUIDANCE (Psalm 32:8) 

When things DON’T MAKE SENSE (Proverbs 3:5-6) 

When you are FEARFUL (Isaiah 41:10) 

When you are ANGRY (Ephesians 4:26) 

When you lack COURAGE (Joshua 1:9) 

When you need FORGIVENESS (1 John 1:9) 

When you are facing TEMPTATION (1 Corinthians 10:13)

 

When you need HEALING (Exodus 15:26)

 

When you are SUFFERING (Romans 5:3-4)

 

When you need STRENGTH (Isaiah 40:27-31)

 

When you lack PURPOSE in life (Ephesians 2:10)

 

 

GOOGLE OR GOD?

                                                             SHEPHERD TO SHEEP

GOOGLE OR GOD?

(Mat 6:33) But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Oh, the wonderful Internet.  When you need something you can just look it up and satisfy your knowledge.  You can buy and sell, interact with people through social media, pay your bills, watch entertainment, and a million other things.  But has the Internet replaced God?  I mean, when you have need of something do you go to Google or do you go to God?  

Now don’t get me wrong.  I love technology and I keep up with the latest devices.  They are so helpful to me on a personal and professional level.  It’s just that we have become so accustomed to running to the Internet before we seek the Lord on the things we need to be seeking the Lord about.  

Think about how the Lord is omnipresent (everywhere at the same time), omniscient (all-knowing) and omnipotent (all-powerful).  Well, the Internet can act like that, too.  The Internet is everywhere, full of wisdom, and a very powerful tool.  But the habit we need to develop as God’s children is to go to God first.  If not, the Internet becomes an idol because an idol is anything that replaces the Lord in your life.  (Deu 5:7) You shall have no other gods before Me.  

Here are some scenarios to ponder as case in point:

- A mom is concerned about a rash on her child.  She searches diligently on the Internet for what might be the cause and cure.  She researches all day and never really stops to pray over the child.  

- A couple looks online for houses because they want to move.  They spend countless hours investigating the socio-demographics of the community including schools for the kids etc.  Not once did they pray together.  

- A man is in the market for a commodity.  He compares all the deals out there and ends up going back and forth with different sellers.  He never took it to the Lord and prayed about it.

- A lonely woman is looking for a meaningful relationship.  No one at church pops up so she finds a dating site and spends hours viewing profiles of potential men instead of waiting on God for His direction.  

Oh, how God wants to be sought!  (Amos 5:4) …Seek Me and live.  (Mat 7:11)…how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Louie

SCRIPTURES FOR THE NEW YEAR

 

(Numbers 10:29) … the Lord has promised good things to Israel.”

(Psalm 65:11)  You crown the year with Your goodness, And Your paths drip with abundance.

(Psalm 91:9-12) Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, 10 No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; 11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. 12 In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.

(Proverbs 3:25-26) Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; 26 For the Lord will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught.

(Isaiah 41:10) Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

(Isaiah 42:16) I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, And crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, And not forsake them.

(Isaiah 43:18-19) “Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert. 

(Isaiah 45:2) ‘I will go before you and make the crooked places straight…

(Jeremiah 29:11)  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

(Jeremiah 33:3)  ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’

(Habakkuk 1:5) “Look among the nations and watch—Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you.

(Haggai 2:19) … But from this day I will bless you.’”

(Zechariah 8:15) So again in these days I am determined to do good To Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Do not fear.                                                                

(Ephesians 3:17-20) that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.  20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

(Philippians 3:13-14) Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

(Titus 2:13) looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

(2 Timothy 1:7) For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

(2 Peter 3:14) Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.

(Revelation 21:5) Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”

(Revelation 22:20-21) He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

 

READ THE BIBLE IN A YEAR

 

 

Have you been wanting to read the Bible more consistently but sometimes lack the drive or just don't know where to read? Then let me suggest reading the Bible through in a year. Here's a handy chart that will tell you where to read each day. You can print it out and put it in your Bible.

We put the chart out on the back table of the church in January and encourage anyone who has the desire to join us in our through the Bible in a year journey. It averages three chapters a day and takes about ten minutes. Just think, in the whole year you would have read the Bible through!

 

Lost your print out?  Then go to the church website and find it on the left hand side.  It will be there every day for you!  

(Psa 119:105) Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

PERSONAL DISCIPLINE

                                                            SHEPHERD TO SHEEP

PERSONAL DISCIPLINE

(1 Cor 9:25, 27) And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things…27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection…

Well, here we are on top of another new year.  We’ve indulged during the holidays in lots of food and fun and are now feeling bloated and broke.  We’ve set some goals and are motivated to take on some challenges.  But what will we do when we start losing that inspiration down the line?  We’re going to need some personal discipline to keep on with the task and accomplish what God has set before us.  

If there is one thing that sets apart a winner from a loser it is personal discipline.  Paul references the Olympic games when it comes to being self-controlled in one’s desires and how a person needs to reign in the body appetites to win the prize.  Are you ready to be one of those winners in life when others give up and give in?  

Brothers and sisters, it’s time we say NO to ourselves and our desires so we can reach the goal that is set before us.  God has great plans for our lives this year but we need to do our part in making the right choices.  We can’t have our way and God’s way at the same time.  Once we turn our will over to the Lord then we will get that stimulus we need to forge on despite the obstacles before us.  

A lot of us were spoiled and coddled growing up.  Our parents did so much for us that the instinct to fight was never really bred into the fabric of our life.  Others of us are just so laid back that we need a push in the right direction.  Some of us are so indecisive and are afraid of taking any risks because it’s all about being safe.  When we give into these fears and apprehensions we think we are in a safe house but we are really in a prison of procrastination, losing ground to the territory God has for us.  (Josh 13:1) Now Joshua was old, advanced in years. And the Lord said to him: “You are old, advanced in years, and there remains very much land yet to be possessed.

Are you ready to say no to laziness and taking the easy way in life?  Disciples of Christ must have discipline so they will accomplish the Father’s will and not their own.  (Mat 16:24) Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  Cry out to the Lord and ask Him for the incentive you need to really do something for the kingdom of God this year.  (Phil 2:13) for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.  Tell yourself that even if you don’t feel like it you will read your Bible, exercise, make that phone call, take that class, etc.  And you know what it will cost you in less TV, computer, entertainment, sleep, etc.  But by this time next year your goals will have been met and your joy level full.  Personal discipline will lead to praise the Lord!

Louie