There is a lot of talk about the end times and the last days. It is hard not believe we are living in those days. You can read your Bible and the morning newspaper side by side and see things are lining up. God has already scripted the end.
There will be two beasts. One the Anti-Christ and the other the false prophet. There are some who believe both are alive today. In the end, the world will unite under a one world government. People will be required to take the mark of the beast to buy goods. There are many reports about remote frequency identification chips that are already available to be implanted. True followers of Christ are instructed not to take this mark of the beast even though it will result in being killed. It might even result in beheading.
The end times do not look so far away from where I sit. They look closer than ever. The drama is playing out just as God said it would.
There will be horrible persecution. It is hard to imagine it getting much worse than what we read about with ISIS and extreme Muslim groups, who not only arrest Christians, but also torture and murder them. In the end it will be much worse and martyrs will be multiplied by the thousands. In the end the masses will be deceived by a new world order leader. He will come with a eloquence and the promise of unifying leadership. He will deceive. He will be a pawn of Satan.
God will pour out severe judgements on planet earth. There will be natural and supernatural disasters abounding. It will be a horrific time to be alive. Those who follow Christ will fear for their lives. They will be hunted down like fugitives, imprisoned, and murdered. Serving Christ will become increasingly costly.
We are already seeing this in our day. The end times are no longer something to be thought of way off in the future. The end times are upon us. It is time to wake up and be sober minded. It is time to discern the events of the day. It is time to recognize the signs of the times.
Sunday, September 27, 2015
Friday, September 25, 2015
The End
Every story has an introduction which is the start,
The plot begins to thicken and the drama unfolds,
Life is a matter of what becomes of our sinful heart,
God's activity in lives make the testimonies to be told,
As the climax heightens and the story really begins,
The last chapter clearly comes into our focused sight,
Jesus will come- this will be the beginning of the end,
When we step out of darkness and into marvelous light,
Jesus will rapture His saints - take them all back home,
There will be tribulation lasting for several hard years,
The saved will gather to worship Jesus around His throne,
The end will come giving peace, joy, relieving every fear.
The plot begins to thicken and the drama unfolds,
Life is a matter of what becomes of our sinful heart,
God's activity in lives make the testimonies to be told,
As the climax heightens and the story really begins,
The last chapter clearly comes into our focused sight,
Jesus will come- this will be the beginning of the end,
When we step out of darkness and into marvelous light,
Jesus will rapture His saints - take them all back home,
There will be tribulation lasting for several hard years,
The saved will gather to worship Jesus around His throne,
The end will come giving peace, joy, relieving every fear.
Disturbed and Provoked
I am deeply disturbed about the condition and direction of our nation. This is no secret. I have written about this extensively over the past few years. I have preached about this as well.
In recent days the burden and restlessness in my spirit has deepened. I am deeply disturbed down to the core of my soul. I see things more soberly. Many things that used to matter more in light of eternity do not matter as much.
This is a sobering thought. We are all just one heartbeat away from eternity. For followers of Jesus this is good news. For the lost this is horrific news. Horrific! I can sit here and write that but does it motivate me to action, to prayer, to share my faith with those around me. It must!
In these days so much is said and written about prayer but what disturbs me more is how many times I wake up and do not want to pray. There are days when I awake feeling lethargic, apathetic, and choose the path of least resistance. With everything that is at stake how can I give into these feelings. The soldier in battle may not feel like fighting but out of necessity he must continually fight the enemy for self survival, for the protection of family and friends, and for the protection of his country. How can it be that as a solider of Christ I would take the call to pray any less seriously.
There are disturbing things on the horizon. All you have to do is watch the news, read your Bible, and connect the dots. Things are lining up just as Jesus said they would. Discern the sign of the times. Anyone can look up in the skies and see dark clouds on the horizon and deduct that a storm is coming. Likewise, look around at the events of this world and wake up. There are very disturbing things happening all over the world.
Here is one of our problems. We are all desensitized to current events. Nothing shocks us anymore. If we hear of Christians getting beheaded around the world we hardly even take notice. If we hear about racial tensions building everywhere, even after decades of civil rights fighting, we are quick to dismiss it. Violent crimes dominate headline news but it no longer disturbs us. We have become an emotionally jaded nation and a very apathetic church.
What provokes somebody to action? What provoked Martin Luther to stand against the Catholic church when he shook a nation and ushered in days of reformation. What provoked Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. to stand against racial injustice. What provokes you? What truly disturbs you so deeply you are moved to action.
Seeing so much evil in our world I often feel helpless and wonder what I can do. What can a small town pastor of a few dozen people possibly do to make any difference? This kind of thinking can lead to despair and doing nothing. Many over the years have opted for this path.
Here is what I can do. I can keep praying. No matter what hour God awakes me I can keep praying for our nation, for suffering people, and for clear understanding of the times. I can keep writing. Writing this blog is doing something. I know it will not be widely read. Yet it is doing something. I can keep preaching fearlessly the truth of God's words. I can keep loving people. These little things in and of themselves do not make a huge difference. Yet it is doing something. I can keep telling people about the love of Jesus Christ and the offer of His grace and forgiveness. We all can do something.
Yes, these are disturbing times. That does not mean these times are hopeless or God is no longer in control. While we're facing disturbing times there is also reason to keep pressing on. We cannot shrink back in fear or apathy now.
Praise God I am disturbed. Praise God He is disturbing my soul. That means He is still working. He is always working. For that I give God praise. While I do not know what will happen today, tomorrow, a week from today, or a month down the road I know God is in control. I know He will not forsake His people in troubled times.
May each of us live out our days disturbed by the evil of our days and provoked to action.
In recent days the burden and restlessness in my spirit has deepened. I am deeply disturbed down to the core of my soul. I see things more soberly. Many things that used to matter more in light of eternity do not matter as much.
This is a sobering thought. We are all just one heartbeat away from eternity. For followers of Jesus this is good news. For the lost this is horrific news. Horrific! I can sit here and write that but does it motivate me to action, to prayer, to share my faith with those around me. It must!
In these days so much is said and written about prayer but what disturbs me more is how many times I wake up and do not want to pray. There are days when I awake feeling lethargic, apathetic, and choose the path of least resistance. With everything that is at stake how can I give into these feelings. The soldier in battle may not feel like fighting but out of necessity he must continually fight the enemy for self survival, for the protection of family and friends, and for the protection of his country. How can it be that as a solider of Christ I would take the call to pray any less seriously.
There are disturbing things on the horizon. All you have to do is watch the news, read your Bible, and connect the dots. Things are lining up just as Jesus said they would. Discern the sign of the times. Anyone can look up in the skies and see dark clouds on the horizon and deduct that a storm is coming. Likewise, look around at the events of this world and wake up. There are very disturbing things happening all over the world.
Here is one of our problems. We are all desensitized to current events. Nothing shocks us anymore. If we hear of Christians getting beheaded around the world we hardly even take notice. If we hear about racial tensions building everywhere, even after decades of civil rights fighting, we are quick to dismiss it. Violent crimes dominate headline news but it no longer disturbs us. We have become an emotionally jaded nation and a very apathetic church.
What provokes somebody to action? What provoked Martin Luther to stand against the Catholic church when he shook a nation and ushered in days of reformation. What provoked Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. to stand against racial injustice. What provokes you? What truly disturbs you so deeply you are moved to action.
Seeing so much evil in our world I often feel helpless and wonder what I can do. What can a small town pastor of a few dozen people possibly do to make any difference? This kind of thinking can lead to despair and doing nothing. Many over the years have opted for this path.
Here is what I can do. I can keep praying. No matter what hour God awakes me I can keep praying for our nation, for suffering people, and for clear understanding of the times. I can keep writing. Writing this blog is doing something. I know it will not be widely read. Yet it is doing something. I can keep preaching fearlessly the truth of God's words. I can keep loving people. These little things in and of themselves do not make a huge difference. Yet it is doing something. I can keep telling people about the love of Jesus Christ and the offer of His grace and forgiveness. We all can do something.
Yes, these are disturbing times. That does not mean these times are hopeless or God is no longer in control. While we're facing disturbing times there is also reason to keep pressing on. We cannot shrink back in fear or apathy now.
Praise God I am disturbed. Praise God He is disturbing my soul. That means He is still working. He is always working. For that I give God praise. While I do not know what will happen today, tomorrow, a week from today, or a month down the road I know God is in control. I know He will not forsake His people in troubled times.
May each of us live out our days disturbed by the evil of our days and provoked to action.
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Realizatoin
In the fifth chapter of 2 Samuels God fulfilled a long awaited vision in David's life when he was made King over the whole nation of Israel. He had been reigning as king in Judah for seven years. Finally the day came when all Israel anointed and accepted David as King.
As God blessed David and Israel, David came to the realization of all God had done for him. The word realization means to consider, to contemplate, and to pause to take it all in.
That is what I am doing writing this. I am sitting at the local cafe here in Paradise, TX jotting down these thoughts. I recall four years ago coming back to this cafe with no home to live in, no church meeting place other than a daycare, and no office. All I had was a call of God, a dream to start a new church, and some faith to trust God to do it. I used this cafe most every morning to be my office. I Hs no place to go. Ray Ann Gentry, the owner, kidded me about paying rent because I sat here so long. I've had some wonderful times in this cafe. Brenda and I have celebrated birthdays, Valentine's Days, ordinary lunch dates, and Saturday morning family breakfasts with all the boys over the years.
Brad and Ray Ann Gentry have always treated us kindly. I am thankful for then allowing me to hang out here for breakfast and lunch meetings. They have allowed me to sit here hours uninterrupted to write both books and blogs. I have come here on occasion to study for sermons. The Finish Line Cafe is a second home to me. I love the wait staff and often engage them in lively conversations about the Lord.
Today, God has blessed me with a home. We prayed for two years before our house in Seminole sold but it did sell. I have a home office right off the master bedroom as well as an office in our rental space for the church. I rarely have to use this cafe as an office. It is a good reminder today to recall all the good work God has done over these past four years. Much has changed over these four years. We had one son graduate and have another one now going through his senior year. It is hard to believe how time has flown by. Even with all of that I am sitting here in this same little country cafe realizing all the Lord has done for me. I am a blessed man.
God blessed me with an incredible wife. SHMILY. Ask her what it means. My boys bless me in wonderful ways. I enjoy watching them learn of the Lord and serve Him. I enjoy watching them play ball. I mostly enjoy sitting around the table talking with them over dinner and laughing as we make memories.
I realize I have been blessed to serve wonderful churches in the past. I also realize God is allowing me to serve a wonderful group of people now. In a recent sermon I challenged people to get out of their comfort zones and go minister to people who are suffering. Two of the shyest women in our church went to the hospital to minister to a lady battling cancer who rarely gets visitors. I am so proud of both of them. I know that was not easy but what a joy to serve people who take listening to the Lord and obeying Him so seriously. I am proud of young men on the football team who take prayer seriously and living for God seriously. They have faced much adversity during this season but they have not given up on God, their head coach, or one another.
The people of Faith Community Church love me. Though they are not rich people they sacrifice in multiple ways to support, not only the church, but my family also. They pray for me. They are patient with me. They follow and trust my leadership. They encourage me. We all get along. We are unified and do not have fussing and fighting like so many churches do. We have gone through hard times together. We have weathered many storms and trials that come with planting a new church. We are seeing the Lord turn things around for good. Worship services are exciting. Preaching has been joyful. God is moving among us. New faces are showing up.
I realize the blessing of living in a small town. This week I sat in a front yard to watch the small town homecoming parade. I have laughed with people, I'v had deep spiritual conversations with people. I have driven down the road and honked at friends and reconnected with people I have not seen in awhile. All of it just part of another day in Paradise.
Sitting before me is a plate of piping hot food and iced down unsweet tea. I realize many people will not even eat one meal like this today or any day such at the refugees flooding into Greece. I am blessed. I had a good breakfast. Enjoyed my private lunch and expect I will eat some supper after church tonight.
Tonight I will sit down in a padded chair and open my tattered Bible to teach timeless truths to adults. We will meet in a climate controlled room with beautiful wall decorations. Our students will gather in the warehouse where the temperature will be cooled. They will be surrounded by many adults who love them and given a great environment to have fun and be challenged by God's word. These are the facilities God has provided for Faith Community Church. They are simple, adequate, and blessed of the Lord.
I am a blessed man like David. God, thank you for bringing me to these realizations today. I ask You to do the same for multiple others during their day. In Jesus name, amen.
As God blessed David and Israel, David came to the realization of all God had done for him. The word realization means to consider, to contemplate, and to pause to take it all in.
That is what I am doing writing this. I am sitting at the local cafe here in Paradise, TX jotting down these thoughts. I recall four years ago coming back to this cafe with no home to live in, no church meeting place other than a daycare, and no office. All I had was a call of God, a dream to start a new church, and some faith to trust God to do it. I used this cafe most every morning to be my office. I Hs no place to go. Ray Ann Gentry, the owner, kidded me about paying rent because I sat here so long. I've had some wonderful times in this cafe. Brenda and I have celebrated birthdays, Valentine's Days, ordinary lunch dates, and Saturday morning family breakfasts with all the boys over the years.
Brad and Ray Ann Gentry have always treated us kindly. I am thankful for then allowing me to hang out here for breakfast and lunch meetings. They have allowed me to sit here hours uninterrupted to write both books and blogs. I have come here on occasion to study for sermons. The Finish Line Cafe is a second home to me. I love the wait staff and often engage them in lively conversations about the Lord.
Today, God has blessed me with a home. We prayed for two years before our house in Seminole sold but it did sell. I have a home office right off the master bedroom as well as an office in our rental space for the church. I rarely have to use this cafe as an office. It is a good reminder today to recall all the good work God has done over these past four years. Much has changed over these four years. We had one son graduate and have another one now going through his senior year. It is hard to believe how time has flown by. Even with all of that I am sitting here in this same little country cafe realizing all the Lord has done for me. I am a blessed man.
God blessed me with an incredible wife. SHMILY. Ask her what it means. My boys bless me in wonderful ways. I enjoy watching them learn of the Lord and serve Him. I enjoy watching them play ball. I mostly enjoy sitting around the table talking with them over dinner and laughing as we make memories.
I realize I have been blessed to serve wonderful churches in the past. I also realize God is allowing me to serve a wonderful group of people now. In a recent sermon I challenged people to get out of their comfort zones and go minister to people who are suffering. Two of the shyest women in our church went to the hospital to minister to a lady battling cancer who rarely gets visitors. I am so proud of both of them. I know that was not easy but what a joy to serve people who take listening to the Lord and obeying Him so seriously. I am proud of young men on the football team who take prayer seriously and living for God seriously. They have faced much adversity during this season but they have not given up on God, their head coach, or one another.
The people of Faith Community Church love me. Though they are not rich people they sacrifice in multiple ways to support, not only the church, but my family also. They pray for me. They are patient with me. They follow and trust my leadership. They encourage me. We all get along. We are unified and do not have fussing and fighting like so many churches do. We have gone through hard times together. We have weathered many storms and trials that come with planting a new church. We are seeing the Lord turn things around for good. Worship services are exciting. Preaching has been joyful. God is moving among us. New faces are showing up.
I realize the blessing of living in a small town. This week I sat in a front yard to watch the small town homecoming parade. I have laughed with people, I'v had deep spiritual conversations with people. I have driven down the road and honked at friends and reconnected with people I have not seen in awhile. All of it just part of another day in Paradise.
Sitting before me is a plate of piping hot food and iced down unsweet tea. I realize many people will not even eat one meal like this today or any day such at the refugees flooding into Greece. I am blessed. I had a good breakfast. Enjoyed my private lunch and expect I will eat some supper after church tonight.
Tonight I will sit down in a padded chair and open my tattered Bible to teach timeless truths to adults. We will meet in a climate controlled room with beautiful wall decorations. Our students will gather in the warehouse where the temperature will be cooled. They will be surrounded by many adults who love them and given a great environment to have fun and be challenged by God's word. These are the facilities God has provided for Faith Community Church. They are simple, adequate, and blessed of the Lord.
I am a blessed man like David. God, thank you for bringing me to these realizations today. I ask You to do the same for multiple others during their day. In Jesus name, amen.
Sunday, September 20, 2015
The Gift Of People
It is Sunday morning again. I sit here thinking about all the good people God put in my life along the way to encourage me and inspire me to keep going. There are far too many to mention here.
While I will be the first to admit, I am not an easy person to like much less to love, God has graciously gifted me with many wonderful relationships. Because I have always preached hard people tend to think I do not love people. Though I have no fear of men, God has given me a shepherd's heart for the people I have served. I love them deeply. Even those we had to leave I still love. I have known the blessing of being loved by family, friends, and the flocks I have served. Churches from Faith Community, to FBC Seminole, FBC Paradise, CentrePointe, and Burke Baptist Church have all been used by God to enrich my life.
How can I ever truly give thanks to all of those wonderful people in such a way that they ever know what they meant to me then and now? I cannot go back to them individually. I cannot mention them by name for fear of not including someone and hurting them. All I can do is say a big THANK YOU TO GOD FOR EACH OF THEM.
As I rewind the years in my mind ,I can recall wonderful people in each church I have served as pastor or youth pastor. I made many mistakes along the way. For the most part people were patient and loving toward me forgiving my mistakes and blunders. I am especially appreciative of those who encouraged me in the tough times, prayed for me consistently, and those who inspired me to keep going and not give up.
How could I ever say thank you enough for all those people who have stood with us financially over the years. Thousands and thousands of dollars have been sent to us in direct answer to prayer. Many have partnered with us to help me keep preaching the truth. Today,y as I have the joy of celebrating baptism, I wish each one of those financial partners could stand in the waters with me to celebrate God's new life in a sinner saved by grace.
There is a special kind of bond and love that can only be known between a pastor and his flock or the shepherd and his sheep. He laughs with them, weeps with them, grieves with them, celebrates with them, and teaches them Bible truth faithfully. He stands with the flock in life's best moments such as weddings and the births of children. He also stands with them in life's harshest moments such as disease, divorce, and death. Many faces flash across my mind now. Years of laughing, weeping, praying, and giving the hope of Jesus have made me a blessed man.
I have given my heart and soul to several churches. I have preached and taught with all the passion God welled up inside me. I did this with churches that numbered in the hundreds and churches that numbered only a few dozen people. In each of them God brought some loving people along side me to share the joys and sorrows of life. Each have a treasured part in my heart.
Today, I thank God for you. All of you. Even those who opposed me or betrayed me. God used you to teach me to lean on God, to trust Him for refuge and comfort and to experience His faithfulness. These are lessons I would not have learned any other way. God used it all. Over the years God taught me how to love people. He even moved me to let my guard down and let other people in. My life has been richly blessed as a result.
God, thank You for the gift of people. Thank you for the many You have used to love me, encourage me, disciple me, shape me, and inspire me along the way. You have made me rich in relationships and for that I SHOUT THANK YOU! AMEN.
While I will be the first to admit, I am not an easy person to like much less to love, God has graciously gifted me with many wonderful relationships. Because I have always preached hard people tend to think I do not love people. Though I have no fear of men, God has given me a shepherd's heart for the people I have served. I love them deeply. Even those we had to leave I still love. I have known the blessing of being loved by family, friends, and the flocks I have served. Churches from Faith Community, to FBC Seminole, FBC Paradise, CentrePointe, and Burke Baptist Church have all been used by God to enrich my life.
How can I ever truly give thanks to all of those wonderful people in such a way that they ever know what they meant to me then and now? I cannot go back to them individually. I cannot mention them by name for fear of not including someone and hurting them. All I can do is say a big THANK YOU TO GOD FOR EACH OF THEM.
As I rewind the years in my mind ,I can recall wonderful people in each church I have served as pastor or youth pastor. I made many mistakes along the way. For the most part people were patient and loving toward me forgiving my mistakes and blunders. I am especially appreciative of those who encouraged me in the tough times, prayed for me consistently, and those who inspired me to keep going and not give up.
How could I ever say thank you enough for all those people who have stood with us financially over the years. Thousands and thousands of dollars have been sent to us in direct answer to prayer. Many have partnered with us to help me keep preaching the truth. Today,y as I have the joy of celebrating baptism, I wish each one of those financial partners could stand in the waters with me to celebrate God's new life in a sinner saved by grace.
There is a special kind of bond and love that can only be known between a pastor and his flock or the shepherd and his sheep. He laughs with them, weeps with them, grieves with them, celebrates with them, and teaches them Bible truth faithfully. He stands with the flock in life's best moments such as weddings and the births of children. He also stands with them in life's harshest moments such as disease, divorce, and death. Many faces flash across my mind now. Years of laughing, weeping, praying, and giving the hope of Jesus have made me a blessed man.
I have given my heart and soul to several churches. I have preached and taught with all the passion God welled up inside me. I did this with churches that numbered in the hundreds and churches that numbered only a few dozen people. In each of them God brought some loving people along side me to share the joys and sorrows of life. Each have a treasured part in my heart.
Today, I thank God for you. All of you. Even those who opposed me or betrayed me. God used you to teach me to lean on God, to trust Him for refuge and comfort and to experience His faithfulness. These are lessons I would not have learned any other way. God used it all. Over the years God taught me how to love people. He even moved me to let my guard down and let other people in. My life has been richly blessed as a result.
God, thank You for the gift of people. Thank you for the many You have used to love me, encourage me, disciple me, shape me, and inspire me along the way. You have made me rich in relationships and for that I SHOUT THANK YOU! AMEN.
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Comfortable In Sin
Do not get complacent and comfortable in your sin,
Enjoying yourself blissfully while the Devil just grins,
Do not lay your head to fall fast asleep in Delilah's lap,
Satan is no gentleman but a conniving enticing old chap,
From the beginning he was a liar, tempter, and a deceiver,
And we, his destruction are always the painful receiver,
Lord, help us not grow comfortable in our transgressions,
You are our Deliverer, Savior this is our honest confession,
Please give us a hatred for sin burned with Your holy desire,
Purged and cleansed within from sin with Holy Ghost fire,
I ask You to make us truly uncomfortable in trespassing,
In Your presence, Lord, to find fullness of joy surpassing,
Awake us to the wicked adversary's hellish fiendish schemes,
To the fact sin is never as rewarding as it often at first seems,
Please give us a hatred for anything not pleasing and unholy,
Until we are consecrated to You and we're surrendered wholly.
Enjoying yourself blissfully while the Devil just grins,
Do not lay your head to fall fast asleep in Delilah's lap,
Satan is no gentleman but a conniving enticing old chap,
From the beginning he was a liar, tempter, and a deceiver,
And we, his destruction are always the painful receiver,
Lord, help us not grow comfortable in our transgressions,
You are our Deliverer, Savior this is our honest confession,
Please give us a hatred for sin burned with Your holy desire,
Purged and cleansed within from sin with Holy Ghost fire,
I ask You to make us truly uncomfortable in trespassing,
In Your presence, Lord, to find fullness of joy surpassing,
Awake us to the wicked adversary's hellish fiendish schemes,
To the fact sin is never as rewarding as it often at first seems,
Please give us a hatred for anything not pleasing and unholy,
Until we are consecrated to You and we're surrendered wholly.
Head In The Devil's Lap
Samson was a man's kind of man. Strong. Courageous, bold, and unfortunately way too comfortable and complacent about sin in his life. He married a pagan woman just because she looked good to him. He had a weakness for women. He saw a good looking harlot and indulged in a night of pleasure with her even though he had been dedicated to God while still in is mother's womb.
Eventually he fell for a woman named Delilah. She was the devil in disguise. Satan comes disguising himself as an angel of light. [II Cor 11:14] How many times does Satan show up in a pretty or handsome face to entice people away from God and holiness of living. I have seen it more times than I can count. A smooth talking man takes a godly woman down a path of destruction and devastating. I pretty and seductive woman can manipulate and cause much misery.
Delilah sold Samson out for 1,100 pieces of silver. The Philistine lords wanted to know the secret of Samson's strength. She repeatedly pressed Satan to reveal his secret. Samson lied to her three times. Three times she tried to trap him to no avail.
Eventually she wore Samson down. Her nagging, pestering, and crying annoyed him to the point of death. When he could not stand it any longer he told her the whole truth. She set the plan in motion to capture him.
We learn in Judges 16:19 she lulled him to sleep on her lap. Many people have laid their heads in the devil's lap. They have been lulled to sleep not aware of the impending danger of sin.
We should not ever get comfortable, casual, and calloused toward sin. Sin kills. Sin destroys. Sin is dangerous. Samson had comfortable with loose women who had no regard for God. While Samson was dulled to sleep in Delilah's lap she set her sinister plan in motion to have his hair cut.
I wish someone could have been there to shout a warning to Samson, "WAKE UP! SHE DOES NOT LOVE YOU! SHE INTENDS TO HARM YOU. WAKE UP SAMSON AND FLEE! Get your head out of her lap before it is too late." Satan lulls us to sleep in sin with our heads in the lap of Delilah.
While Samson lived a life of compromise he never thought his profligate living would catch up with him. Sin will take you further than you ever wanted to go and cost you more than you ever wanted to pay. Delilah had his hair cut off. With this hair cut the Lord departed or withdrew from him. He had no more power.
When they captured Samson they gouged out his eyes, put him in chains and made him a grinder at the prison. The Philistines used him to mock and amuse them. Sin cost Samson more than he ever wanted to pay. He lost his eyes, his freedom, and his power.
Get your head out of the devil's lap. Get up and flee like Joseph did with Potiphar's wife. Run from sin. Run from temptation. Flee as fast as you can.
For some of you it is too late.. You kept your head in the devil's lap one day too long. You have paid a hight price for it.
Let us not end there. We learn in Judges 16:22 Samson's hair began to grow again. This is the grace of God. God would give Samson another chance. You know the rest of the story. The Philistine lords had a big party of about 3,000 people. They brought Samson out to amuse them. Samson cried to God to strengthen him one more time. He pushed against the pillars of the building with all the people on the roof. In the end he killed more people in his death than in his life. He fulfilled God's purpose for his life in his final moments.
Thank God for grace and second chances. We have all needed second chances. Truth be told, we have needed second, third, fourth chances, and so on. Praise God for infinite, marvelous, and matchless grace. THANK YOU JESUS FOR SECOND CHANCES!
Today, if you have your head in the devil's lap get up and get out as fast as you can. Do not get comfortable in sin. Do not get casual in your compromise of holy living. Get up and run away before it is too late. Never let yourself get lulled to sleep with your head in the devil's lap.
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