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How many of you have heard
about the TINY HOUSE movement?
A 1997 Blue Bird school bus
is our Tiny House!
God called Abraham, Abraham
went out not knowing where he was going. I think that is also the answer when
people ask where we will park the bus. We just might not park it. We may find
the next decade or more being in motion, living in a "tent" as did
the Father of the Faithful. When I started on in the prison, I did not
originally see it as a foreign mission field. Now we are peering through the
glass darkly trying to see what God has in mind for us as we forsake the
American Dream. There are folks who pass us off as fools. We can live with
that, we have done it before. It is Jehovah alone that we must ultimately give
account. We believe that it is part of letting go of stuff. NOT
getting caught up in the American Dream.
God called Noah to build an Ark and I've been
called to build a Bus. I ask for help in building our "Ark" because
it may be someone's chance to do a good deed. We will need electrical wiring,
plumbing, and carpentry. The interior will all be wood that I got for free from
craigslist. We bought a 5th wheel camper for appliances. All we need is to
assemble the parts.
Words-choose wisely
There are times when we read the Bible or get
answers to prayer, and we are puzzled.
I saw a road sign for instance. It clearly
offered three choices. The road where it is posted, has two lanes, the sign
clearly demands three lanes. How do we reconcile this dilemma? Driving around
the bend clears up the issue as it spreads to three lanes. There are messages
from God that are not understood until we "get there".
(Luke
12:1-5), 1Meanwhile, when a crowd of
many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus
began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on
your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 There is nothing concealed that will not be
disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 3 What you
have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have
whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.
4 “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of
those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will show you whom you
should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to
throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.
I want
to focus on verses 2 and 3. Not only is it in the Bible twice, but it is spoken
by Jesus and that as a prophecy. In Matt 10 the parallel passage has the same
in verse 2 but verse 3 is made a command.
Words
can always be used wrong. Proverbs tell in 18:8 and 26:22 that "The words of
a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the
belly."
I want to focus on words doing good.
What
is our method?
WORDS
The Pillow and the Hammer
The conundrum of the Preacher is how to
address his flock. He knows there are two missions before him.
1) The pillow: we use soft words for those present
are who have injuries, are hurt, or may be beat-up.
a.
Some of us may feel the hurts and know the cause. Those have wounds that just
need cleaning and covering. They need acknowledgement of the hurt so that they can
move on with life. Job 4:4 Your words have supported those who stumbled; you have
strengthened faltering knees.
b.
The injured will need ongoing care. Injuries may require tactics to avoid more
or new cuts/breaks. Isa. 35:3 Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the
knees that give way;.
c.
Then there are the beat-up who may not even be aware of their need. These
require a trained assistance by caring professionals. While the Pastor is
trained and can offer aide, he might require outside help. Ezekiel talks about
a time when some or all will be under great stress in 21:7 And when they ask you, ‘Why
are you groaning?’ you shall say, ‘Because of the news that is coming. Every
heart will melt with fear and every hand go limp; every spirit will become
faint .’ It is coming! It will surely take place, declares the Sovereign Lord”. Exekiel is telling us that "every heart" and "every
spirit" will need help at some time so those who have experienced trouble
will at some point be able to help our fellow man. Step up to support what the
Pastor is trying to do. Because like
the trick knee that you never know when it will fail, someone else will need
your support.
Knees,
Knees, Knees
WORDS
2) The hammer: there are times to use words
that are hard. They may seem to lack compassion but there are times when the
answer is to "Just do it!!!"
Among present are people that have good intention, but are ignoring the
truth. The Bible warns about looking at the truth but not doing it.
a.
We as Christians must give directions in love, even when it is a hard thing to
do! Prov. 28:23, Whoever
rebukes a person will in the end gain favor rather than one who has a
flattering tongue. It may seem hard but the
direct truth gets to the right destination instead of getting lost.
b.
Those who are self deluded think that their way is not known, that their life
is not being watched. Clarify the commands that Jesus set down for those who
would call themselves Christians! Prov. 27:5, Open rebuke is better than secret love.
c.
In some cases until people are faced with a stark choice of truth, they don't
know they are going the wrong way. Correct them with Grace. How many times did
Jesus speak to His disciples away from the crowds? There is a right place and a
right time. Matt 18:15 “If your
brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of
you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. This is the
only way to honestly get them back.
(Luke 12:2-3),
2 There is nothing concealed that will not be
disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 3 What you
have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have
whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.
We
have looked at methods, now, Who are our
targets? (first to His disciples)
WORDS
Jesus
spoke first to those closest, His disciples. Who is closest to us? Family, and in
most cases our spouse.
-Spouse
FORGING magazine, to the banker, market clerk or Law
Enforcement forging sounds like a bad thing. To the blacksmith or machinist
forging is a good thing. How we use words can mean all the difference in the
world.
Pillow - When
using soft supporting words, telling others how great your husband is can make
him into superman. He can lift the car and change flat tire with bare hands,
not really but it will give him strength to tackle life. For your wife your
words can make her into Wonderwoman, where she can clean the house, make great
meals, train children to be well rounded and do all the other millions of tasks
needed to run the home. Don't tell your wife to be Prov. 31, speak compliments
until she is Prov 31. She will never be perfect but she needs to know you are
on her side.
Hammer- Stop
speaking down to your spouse or anyone for that manner. Your words can make
your husband into a fumbling sad sack, your words can make your wife into a cold
frustrated woman. Choose to speak life and support into your spouse or other
family member. Either way, they will become what you say.
WORDS
-MEN,
are you like Adam and blame "that woman YOU gave me" as the reason
you don't tithe, or give service, or devote time to prayer?
Eph.
5:25, Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and
gave himself for it;
1
Pet. 3:7, “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your
wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you
of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers..”
Prov
19:14, “House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife
is from the Lord.
She
is a gift from God and the more you repeat that OUT LOUD the more you will treat her right, the more it will change
your view of her as something precious. Which of course she is. Be Jesus who
sacrificed Himself for His Church. Make your words be her protection! We have allowed ourselves to be
indoctrinated by TV, movies, magazines and whatever that we only praise when we
see a great behavior. Instead of believing what we see we need to see what we
believe (Missouri mule). Actively
seek to lift her up. Do not reserve praise for the spectacular. I should have
told Miriam 37 years ago that one of my criteria for a wife was someone I trust
to manage our home. I was confident she would raise our children keep them in
clothes and feed us. I now see that my need of a help mete was filled by her
presence. I failed in not telling her or telling the kids that she was/is/
continues to be a virtuous woman. I can pursue my vocation away from home and
not fear what I would find when I came home. Women need us men to
be actively trying to lead. MEN, do you have a 1 year plan, a 10 year plan, a
life plan? Of course God can interrupt or force changes but are you looking at
Scripture knowing we are to do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God?
With that in mind, attempt to be in a place where you model for your family
what it looks like to serve our God.
-Ladies, are you struggling because he doesn't do enough
respectable things? 1 Peter 3:6, "Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him
lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with
any amazement." It is the same Greek word as used in Lord Jesus
Christ. Whether your husband is faithful to the Lord or not, God will hold him
to account for the choices he makes. Ladies, God will hold you to account for
if you honored him. You still have the role as a Christian to not go directly
into sin, but you are to support him in all other things.
•Girls, do you see Sad Sack
or Superman? Treat them as what you want them to be.
•Guys, do you see Paint, Packaging, and
Plastic or a person of value? Treat them as what you want them to be.
It's not a lie, it is speaking in Faith, speak the greatness
what you want them to be, "substance of things hoped for, evidence of
things not seen"
How
much time have you devoted to praying for your spouse? Even if you have not met
them yet. Pray that their Faith does not fail in time of testing. There will be
testing, now and until God calls us home. Pray that they will have the
character you need. Pray you will have the character they need.
Miriam and I have devoted a
lot of time to prayer about moving into a tiny home. A mobile one too. We have
tried to be open to YES, NO, and WAIT, so that God can veto. Men, do you count
your wife as having come from God? If so then her input is from God. That does
not give you the excuse of abdicating making the final decision I've done that.
Ladies, do you give your
input and then wonder how he can be so foolish as to not follow the best plan?
When he gets confused do you dig in your heels to keep your future safe?
God made both partners. He
designed the roles to work together for GOOD in the roles the Bible lays out.
-Others
WORDS
The way that we treat others has many of the same essentials
as treating your spouse. Others are second to or after your spouse. They are or
should be in your plans. Are they in your
1 year, 10 year, or life long plans? Have you targeted a disciple? Is there a
person outside of your family into whom you are putting valuable time?
In gun safety courses they remind you that once the bullet
is fired it cannot be retrieved. Words spoken out-loud, sent in email or texted
are out there and will never be erased.
I had a vision a while
back. Not a vision like prophets or Mystics but just a thought, a fear, that we
would find ourselves standing with our daughter Bethany and her husband Josh
having to say some very hard words. Standing there praying "Not my will
but Thine be done" our prayer is over a child's bed. I really hope that
that is not a lesson that we need to learn. God will use a hammer at times for
what in our human eyes is a trial that is beyond our strength or above our
capability. A lesson that cannot be learned any other way. All things working
for good is not always evident and certainly not according to our plans. To
have something so precious snatched away is not what I wish to comprehend. If
it is the way for God to reach His goal or is how we best give Him glory then
so it must be.
You know how we hand God
the script for our lives and HE so patiently looks at it before shredding it.
Becoming like Him is tough enough but lacking verbal support leaves us treading
water. As
fellow Believers we need the assistance of one another. Luke chapter 12 says
that those who would hear Jesus were trampling on each other. Are our words getting in other peoples way?
Are our words correcting or just cutting? Are we building or just making a random
pile of stuff?
Pillow- The Bible says words fitly spoken are like apples of
gold (Prov. 25:11). It was to us and not the Angels, that God commissioned to
take THE WORDS to the world. We are to make disciples, Do you have a target Disciple?
Some groups of believers hold their mission as giving the Gospel as the mission,
but that is only part of it.
Our Mission is to make disciples. That actually includes our
own selves, 2 Timothy “Do
your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not
need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." As in read the Directions!
Follow the instructions! Help another believer become approved.
After I fell ill, I was challenged by my pastor to take on
the task of helping some young boys in our church who had absentee fathers. The
six years that I had the blessing to mentor half dozen boys in our
"Club" was something that might excel beyond everything else I did
outside our home. They may have blessed me more than I did them. I've said
that, "except that God slowed me down I would not have had the time to get
to know them". Because of my energy restraints and their life schedules,
we only met for an hour or so once a week or once or twice a month. We had
great times learning "man things like sharpening knives, fixing cars, or
how to build a campfire. We studied men of character in the Bible, like David
and Joseph. Because Miriam and I had to move to the 'Springs, I'm no longer
holding "Boys Club" but we still FaceBook. Even before we left
Trinidad, other men of our church started to do their own relationships with
the boys.
Hammer- Your words often take on a life of their own, even
contorting away from your meaning. Take great care to not put out there what
can never disappear, haunting you beyond your life in this world. Write down a
list of good responses, copy down verses from the Bible as well as commit
Scripture to memory.
Ps 17:3, “Though
you probe my heart, though you examine me at night and test me, you will
find that I have planned no evil; my mouth has not transgressed”.
Read your list regularly. Get them recorded on a CD to play in the car,
especially for those times when traffic is horrendous. Have Faith instead of
road rage.
Prov 16:23 "The
hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent, and their lips promote
instruction."
How long has it been since you asked God for the right
words? HE will not become weary of those words asked in honesty.
James 1:5 If any of
you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without
finding fault, and it will be given to you.” Make it your practice to pray quickly
when under pressure. Set apart time in your prayer life to address the dilemmas
and asking for specific help. Get specific like "keeping your mouth shut
when confronted by my boss!"
-God
WORDS
What are the words we use when speaking with
God?
(Luke 12:4-5)
4 “I tell you, my friends, do
not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will
show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed,
has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him"
Somehow it would seem obvious, but the words in our prayers
should not be careless. There are over 300 references to "the words of my
mouth" in the Bible. Most of them are God commanding His people to obey,
listen and think on those words. He must certainly have an interest in words.
Ps 19:14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be
pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer .
Prov 4:5, Get wisdom, get understanding:
forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
HE is the WORD. HE is present with us in Spirit but also on
the printed page. The Bible is the WORD of God Jesus is the WORD.
Do you see the connection?
Have you ever said or thought, "If Jesus were here I would like to ask Him
a question? He is here, His answer to your question is HERE!!! (hold up Bible)
WORDS
Have you ever watched "The Wizard of Oz". God is
not the "little man behind the curtain" or the kindly grandfather who
can't see or hear too well but hands out candy. When HE spoke, the universe
came into existence! In the Book of Revelation, the Sword comes out of His
mouth. When HE speaks again, riding the white horse, the armies of the world
will be slaughtered! Those who reject God have excuses or change the meaning of
words. Some go so far as to deny His very existence and if He exists, human
philosophy would make the love of God exceed His righteousness or His justice.
Multitudes say a God of love would not throw people into hell!!!
Lam. 3:22-24, 'Because of the Lord’s
great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your
faithfulness. I say to myself,
“The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”'
So reading that verse proves God is merciful. BUT He does still throw people in to
Hell. Jesus said broad is the may to destruction and many that go that way, but
few find the narrow gate that leads to life.
Remember when Elijah called down fire from Heaven? In that
moment, the offering was consumed, the water was consumed, the rocks were
consumed, and some of the earth was consumed! God also consumed an altar in
Leviticus 9 before Moses and all the people. God consumes things but not
people, right?
In the book of Numbers the ground opened up and a group of
men and their families fell into a fiery realm of the dead and the earth closed
up over them. Their sin? They wanted to offer their own sacrifices on the alter
instead of going through Aaron or his sons. In Luke 16 the rich man was cast
into hell. Hebrews chapter 6 speaks of ETERNAL
judgment not the annihilation of souls. At the Great White Throne Judgment,
Satan and all who did not believe will be cast into the lake of fire.
The Book of Hebrews,
12:28-29, says, "Wherefore we receiving a kingdom
which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably
with reverence and godly fear: For
our God is a consuming fire."
BIC lighter - a flame
that can do hurt But is NOT
a consuming Fire
Oxy Acetylene - torch But is NOT a consuming Fire
High voltage - TIG MIG
could kill on contact, stop the heart as well as massive burns But is
NOT a consuming Fire
Nuclear Bomb -In a
flash rearranged everything within many miles But is NOT a consuming Fire
These fires rearrange elements but the elements still exist.
One day after the final judgment, The Bible says that the elements will burn
with fervent heat. The entire universe will be dissolved, gone, erased from
existence, it will all be consumed!!!
Our God is a
consuming fire, Our GOD is a consuming fire, OUR GOD is a Consuming Fire, OUR
GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE!!!
As we prepare to pray, to worship or speak in His name, are
we keeping in mind that He alone is a consuming fire. ISIS will be on their
knees before Him-totally shocked and forced to worship before being cast into
Hell.
Matt 10:28, Do not be afraid
of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the
One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
We should fall down before THE ONE AND ONLY TRUE GOD, not
because we choose to but rather that it is the only choice we have!
We should fall down before THE ONE AND ONLY TRUE GOD, not
because we choose to but rather that it is the only choice we have!!
We should fall down before THE ONE AND ONLY TRUE GOD, not
because we choose to but rather that it is the only choice we have!!!
WORDS
Pillow - We need to be building a relationship with the one
and true living God.. HE will hear your every call or cry. HE knows the need or
pain we face.
Hammer- Our thoughts are not HIS thoughts, HIS ways are not
our ways. HE will hear your every call or cry. HE knows the intent that we
think is hidden from all ears.
OUR GOD IS A
CONSUMING FIRE!!!
Pillow- HE will destroy our enemies
Hammer - we will face Him ready or not!
(Luke 12:1-5), 1Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so
that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his
disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of
the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 There
is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be
made known. 3 What you have said in the
dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in
the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.
4 “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of
those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will show you whom you
should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to
throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.
WORDS
Application
What truth are you trying to hide? Seek the right words! Use
restraint!
What truth are you trying to show? Seek the right words!
Have courage!
There is a real hell waiting
for all who do not believe! Today is the day of Salvation, now is the time.
Seek the peace with God. Tomorrow might never come!
