God Has Been Faithful

By Gobel Brockman

   I’ve mentioned before that dates and seasons tend to make me a bit reflective. I’ve been sitting here thinking about how we are approaching the end of not only another year, but another decade, and about just how eventful this decade has been for me. Honestly, it’s been one of the more eventful decades of my life. My wife and I have been blessed with the addition of several grandchildren during this decade. It also brought the end of my 25-year Postal career (by early retirement.) I’ve been given ministry opportunities that I wasn’t even looking for. Not only were my wife and I blessed with the opportunity to vacation in Hawaii, but I’ve been blessed to be part of ministry trips to Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, London, and Ghana. Sadly, there have also been many tragic events that have happened as well. Deaths of family members and friends that brought heartbreaking sadness. There have been challenges on many fronts. The decade of the 2010s has been contained both moments of joy and moments of stress.

   I know I’m not alone in this. Every single person reading this could share their own stories of the wonderful blessings and challenging tragedies that the past 10 years have brought. Some reading this have experienced the highest of highs, while others have sadly known the lowest of lows. Many, many changes have taken place in my life, and I’m sure that you can say the same for yours as well. But my purpose in writing this is to simply share this truth:

   THROUGH IT ALL – THE GOOD AND THE BAD, GOD HAS BEEN FAITHFUL!   

   In everything that I’ve been through – both the good and the bad – one thing that has remained constant is that I didn’t go through ANY of it alone. For me, Romans 8:38-39 hasn’t been just nice-sounding words in “The Good Book” but they have truly been my reality:

  “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

   If you are born again and filled with the Spirit of God, you know exactly what I’m talking about! Our experience hasn’t been one of RELIGION; it’s been one of RELATIONSHIP. Our Father has truly been faithful to us in every circumstance. And the joy we can carry into this new decade is that nothing will change! The Bible tells us this in Lamentations 3:22-23: 

   “The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.”

   God has indeed been faithful to His sons and daughters, and as we go forward, nothing will change. May we go into this new decade believing God for even greater things, knowing that His faithfulness will indeed be new every morning. May we take this new decade one day at a time, and let’s trust God’s faithfulness and believe to see His hand moving in our lives in even greater ways.

   HAPPY NEW YEAR AND NEW DECADE – IT’S GOING TO BE A BLAST!

Are You a Gift from God?

By Gobel Brockman

   Many of you reading this are familiar with the story of Saul of Tarsus, who would become Paul the Apostle and literally touch the world for the name of Jesus. Paul’s time on earth was relatively short, but his ministry is still alive and active. What God did through Paul almost 2,000 years ago is STILL changing the world today.

   A part of Paul’s story involves a man we know very little about, a man named Ananias. Paul was on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians and was confronted by the living Christ. Blinded, he was led into the city. In Acts 9:10-12 we read this:

“A disciple named Ananias was in Damascus. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He said, “Here I am, Lord.” The Lord said to him, “Rise and go to Straight Street, and inquire at Judas’ house for someone named Saul of Tarsus, for he is praying, and has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he may see again.”

   Although afraid, Ananias obeyed. He went and laid his hand upon Paul, and Paul was both healed and filled with the Holy Ghost. Here’s what I want to focus on: Paul left that room and changed the world. Ananias left that room and we never hear from him again. But we cannot miss this point:

God used Paul to change the world, but He used Ananias to change Paul.

   Here’s the interesting part: the name Ananias means “whom Jehovah has graciously given.” Ananias’ place in the history of the early church may seem small, but what a profound impact it had! He was willing to be “graciously given” and as a result the world hasn’t been the same since. Are we willing to be “graciously given” and allow God to use us however He sees fit? Our place may seem small compared to others, but may we keep in mind that if we will do our part, others can be released to do their parts as well, and through it all the name of Jesus is glorified.

   Are we willing to be a gracious gift that God can give?

Don't Forget to Look Up

By Gobel Brockman


    There’s a story from several years ago of a man who took his young son with him into his neighbor’s cornfield. Times were hard, and he went there to steal some corn. As the father climbed the fence, he looked all around to make sure he wasn’t seen - he looked north, south, east, and west. His young son then took his daddy’s hand and softly said, “Dad, you forgot to look up.” Guilt filled the heart of that father, and he took his son home, reportedly to never steal again.

     That little boy taught his father a lesson that we all would do well to remember: DON’T FORGET TO LOOK UP - THERE’S SOMEONE LOOKING DOWN. We read this in Psalms 139:3-8

     “You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in hell, you are there!”

I have two brief thoughts on this today:

     1) For those who struggle with faith because of the failings and hypocrisy you may have seen in others, I do understand how that can indeed be a detriment to faith. I simply want to remind you that God saw those moments as well. I caution you, however, with the truth that when you stand before Him, you won’t be held accountable for THEIR lives, you’ll only be accountable for yours - and He has seen every moment of your life as well.

     2) If you as a child of God, there are times when it may seem like God isn’t noticing what you’re going through. It may seem like your prayers are hitting the ceiling and bouncing right back. In those times may we be reminded of what we read in Hebrews 13:5 about our God who sees our every moment: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Regardless of where you are in life right now, my message this week is very simple:

Don’t forget to look up.

“Straighten Up”

By Gobel Brockman 


“Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years and was bent over and could not straighten herself up. When Jesus saw her, He called her and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” Then He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight and glorified God.” - Luke 13:10-13

   In this Scripture we find Jesus in the synagogue teaching the people. One of the people there was a woman who was bound by a “spirit of infirmity” and could not stand up straight. It’s hard to imagine what her life had been like for those previous 18 years. I’m sure the pain, fatigue, and and possibly even embarrassment of her condition was at times overwhelming. What I find interesting is the that the Bible makes the point that she “could not straighten herself up.” There’s a simple point in that:

If she COULD have, I’m sure she WOULD have.

   We see so many people today hurting in various ways. Not only physically, but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually as well. We see people bound in sin and addictions every day. We sometimes look at where some people are in life and we feel like saying to them, “Why don’t you straighten up?” I believe we need to look at this story and apply the truths contained in it to our lives today.

1. The woman could not straighten herself up.
2. The people in the synagogue did not have the power to straighten her up.
3. There was Someone in the synagogue who DID have that power!

   This woman within herself had no power to free herself from her bondage. People today bound by sin and sickness have no power within themselves to free themselves from those chains. The people in the synagogue there with her had no power to help her, because they didn’t have the power to free themselves from their own bondages, much less hers. We have no right today to tell people to “straighten up” when we didn’t have the power to do it for ourselves.

Thankfully, Jesus was there - for her, and for US!

   When Jesus came into my life, I was bound in my own chains of  sin, and I was totally unable to “straighten up” in my own power. Fortunately, Jesus DID have that power, and as He said in John 8:36, “Whom the Son sets free is free indeed.” If you are reading this and are bound in addiction, greed, sexual sin of any kind, or any other bondage, I will not tell you to “straighten up” - I will tell you that Jesus has the power to say to you, “You are loosed from your infirmity!” If you are in that place right now, I do not have one word of condemnation for you, for I have been there myself. In one form or another, we all have, because we are all born with a sin nature. My heart goes out to you in your pain, and I will simply tell you the best thing you can be told:

Don’t try to “straighten up” on your own. You can’t. Let Jesus do it. He can.

It Can All Change in a Moment

By Gobel Brockman


   When I was a kid I remember my Dad talking with someone about how fast time seems to go, and I remember him saying, "The older you get, the faster time goes." As a youngster that didn't really make sense to me.

It makes sense to me now.

   I'm reminded of this every time I hold one of my grandchildren in my arms and realize that it really wasn't all that long ago that I was holding their parent in the same way. I'm reminded of it when I see my high school classmates post pictures of their grandchildren and remember that it wasn't all that long ago that we were in high school running around and getting into trouble. Most of all, I'm reminded of it every time I look in the mirror. (That's when I'm also reminded that time can be a cruel beast indeed.)

   It's also interesting to me how quickly things can change in our daily lives. Things can be going fairly normal when one phone call or text, one knock on the door, or one "Breaking News" story on TV can change everything - sometimes in a good way, and sometimes in ways that can leave us feeling devastated. There's an excellent example of this in the fourteenth chapter of Matthew. In verses 13-21 we read of one of the greatest miracles that Jesus performed - feeding over 5,000 men (plus their wives and kids) with five loaves of bread and two fish. I try to imagine how the disciples felt that day - not only were they witnessing an incredible miracle, but Jesus was allowing them to be a part of it. In my mind I can see them on that sunny hillside smiling and laughing as they helped pass out this miraculous meal. Jesus then instructed them to gather the leftovers, and it took over twelve baskets to hold them. It had to have been an incredible sight.

   However, the disciples were soon to learn that you can go from a sunny hillside to a raging sea in a matter of minutes.

   After this miracle the Bible says that Jesus constrained (commanded) His disciples to get into a boat and go to the other side of the sea while He sent the multitudes away. It wasn't long after they began their journey that the winds became turbulent and the boat was being tossed around in the sea. Again, in my mind I try to picture their thoughts. Mere moments earlier they were experiencing an undeniable miracle, and now here they were in a stormy sea fearful for their very lives. They were in the middle of the sea - meaning that they were in the center of God's will, because it was the very place Jesus had told them to go. The Bible goes on to say that in "the fourth watch of the night" - meaning that they had been out there for most of the night - Jesus walked out on the water to them. Simon Peter asked for and received permission from Jesus to join Him on the water, and was he was indeed able to walk on the water until he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the waves. Jesus reached down and saved him, and then they joined the others and Jesus saved them all by calming the storm.

   My point in all of this is to tell you something that I know you don't need me to tell you: life can change in an instant. We can go from a "sunny hillside" to a "raging sea" in no time flat, and the interesting thing is that as Christians many times that raging sea is the center of God's will for us. But the way I see it, Jesus was proving to His disciples - and to us - that the same power that can provide for us on the hillside can protect us in the sea. Time may move fast for us, but it's nothing to Him who is eternal. While we're fighting for our lives in the boat, He's taking a casual stroll on the water towards us. I say that because if you'll notice, the Bible doesn't say He was running on the water. He wasn't worried and He wasn't panicked. The changes that time can bring in an instant may catch us completely off-guard, but time has never snuck up on Him or surprised Him. He knew that His disciples were safe.

   Wherever you are in life right now - on a hillside or on a sea - I remind you that neither time nor circumstances can impede His power. Trust Him.

You Can't Die if You're Already Dead

By Gobel Brockman


   If you spent any time at all in Sunday School class as a child, you no doubt heard the story of “Daniel and the lion’s den.” You heard how that the king threw him into the den, and you heard how God shut the lions mouths and saved Daniel. But there is an important part of this story that sometimes gets overlooked.

   Daniel was known as a man of faithfulness to his God. His enemies sought occasion to accuse him to king Darius, but found none due to his integrity. They determined that they could only trap him as a result of his worship of God. They tricked the king into a decree that stated that anyone who made a request of any god or man except him for thirty days would be thrown to the lions. The king agreed to their request. Now here is the part I want to focus on: when Daniel heard about the decree and the results for disobeying it, this was his response:

“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.”
Daniel 6:10

   Daniel’s response was simple - HE CONTINUED HIS ESTABLISHED PRACTICE OF WORSHIP. He didn’t have to “work anything up” because it was already working. He had already determined that he was going to worship the God of Israel in the midst of a foreign land, regardless of the cost. It was the power of his commitment that brought about his “death to self” long before the threat of physical death came.

   Why is this important today? Many people are sadly deceiving themselves by stating that they would boldly stand for God if they were ever threatened with death or imprisonment. How many times have we heard someone speak about the end times and say, “I’ll never take the mark of the beast!” I’m going to be blunt: I highly doubt that their boldness would still be as bold if and when that time actually came. People who aren’t “dying to self” daily as Paul spoke of in 1 Corinthians 15:31 aren’t going to be prepared to lay down their lives as easily as they might think. This is one reason I rarely do a “Heads bowed, eyes closed, no one looking around” altar call for salvation when I’m preaching. If someone can’t stand up for Jesus in a room full of people who love Him, I deeply doubt their ability to stand for Him in a world that wants nothing to do with the true gospel of Jesus.

   Daniel wasn’t afraid to die in the lion’s den because he had already died to himself. Let’s join him in that commitment of being dead to self and alive to Christ. May we make that decision in our lives right here and right now. Making it at the mouth of a lion’s cave is doubtful at best.

The Run

Guest Author T.J. Hope

  I've yet to find a more satisfying place to run than in the lush, green meadow as I did when I was a child.  The cool grass brought soothing relief to the scorched soles of my young feet while the blazing sun blistered my shoulders and the humid air drew sweat from my brow. 

   In this fourth decade of my life, I find myself continuing to run, sometimes from the dark memories that are too difficult to revisit as they were a challenge to face the first time around.

   As a child, it didn't matter where I was going, as long as I was able to run.  I could dash aimlessly through open fields, strategically avoiding the thistles with no specific destination.  Now, I am bolting toward a goal I did not set, a dream I never dreamt, a blurry vision that is forever an arm's length away.  When will I ever arrive at that sweet destination set before me?  How will I muster the strength to run when I often find it so difficult to stand?

   Yesterday, I watched my eleven-month-old grandson as he struggled to step his way across the room.  He must certainly desire to go full speed ahead like his older sister without the restraint of unbalance.  Oh, sweet boy, how my longings are as yours.

   As I observed the innocence of this young life attempting to master the art of mobility, I suddenly had a realization.  I was reminded that the fulfillment of every journey is consistent of the baby steps. I remembered an important truth that God had revealed to me a couple of years ago.  I had read an article about saving dimes in an empty two-liter bottle.  Once a bottle is full of dimes, you have collected a small fortune (far more than you'd expect).  Initially, I didn't ponder much on that article.  However, over the next week I began to see dimes in the strangest of places.  They were on the floors of my house, in my dryer vent and once I saw one in the floorboard of my friend's immaculate car. 

  I knew God was attempting to speak to me, but I was certain that He wasn't directing me to save dimes for two reasons.  Number one, I couldn't just steal money from places like my friend's car.  Number two, He and I both knew that it was unlikely, throughout the busyness of my task filled days, that I would make the effort to stop and run every dime I found into some other room and place it in a bottle. 

   I contemplated the message behind these mysterious findings for several days.  The answer came to me suddenly in a way that I can only describe as a download.  Within a few seconds, a "data entry" of multiple past experiences poured into me as if God was restoring my system with previous encounters that I had since forgotten.  I recalled prophetic words that had been spoken over me long ago.  I remembered trials I had endured and victories I had celebrated.  I was overcome with emotion as God reminded me of prior visits from Him, some from my earliest days of intimacy with Him. 

   Each specific incident consisted of only a small measure of time, or just a few sentences of spoken word.  Collectively, however, they amounted to the fortune I had become.  This experience allowed me to venture back to where I began with God and revealed the vast difference between who I was and who I had developed into.  I have in no way arrived to perfection and since there is no finality of the depth in God, I will continue my quest to delve into Him deeper, to love Him stronger, to serve Him more faithfully, to run with Him in greater determination. 

First Love

GUEST AUTHOR T.J. HOPE

   The cold drizzle of rain brought a welcomed drop in the record high temperatures, ending the best Summer of my life.  I was seventeen, young in age, but well-seasoned in my desire to find love.  I met Troy in June of that year.  It truly was love at first sight, maybe because I was eager to embrace the acceptance that came with his wide smile and mesmerizing charm.  

   The next three months were like a whirlwind.  We spent every waking moment together and slept very little.  We frequently pulled “all-nighters,” talking in my car until the sun awoke, bidding us to part ways for a few hours of rest.  Almost thirty years later, I can't recall a single phrase from those unbroken conversations, but I'll never forget how my heart fluttered when I was near him.​

   We married later in that same year.  Time has never confirmed if that was courageous, or just naive.  There have been numerous challenges in the days that have followed, but my heart craves to linger in that first summer that I spent with the love of my life.​

   I have grown to understand that this lasting relationship is built on nothing less than my ability to recall what I felt in those first weeks.  I have a constant, daily reminder of the initial fall into love's abyss.  The vitality of allowing my heart to remain where love originated is immeasurable and not a day goes by without the demand to charge my yearnings to abide there.​

   Recently, I have pondered on the passage in Revelation 2, where the words of Jesus resound like an alarming trumpet.  "You have forsaken the love you had at first", He bellows in rebuke.  ​

   Like the introductory moments with my earthly husband, the start of my relationship with my Heavenly Father has come flooding to my memory.  I am overcome with emotion as I reflect on the transition from infernal darkness into illustrious and radiant light.  My God came running to rescue me from the shadows that veiled my existence. He uncloaked my shroud of deficiency and called me into sonship.  Suddenly, I have become his. ​

   Undeterred by my continuous wandering, He has remained faithful to relentlessly pursue me with a passionate dedication, despite my shortcomings.  Through every trial and tragedy, He has never let me down.

God is good when I am not.

God is good when life is hard.

God is good, every hour of every day.

God is good.  

    When I feel I have distanced myself from Him, I consider how He has never left me.  I reflect on the many times I have wounded Him while He has never hurt me.   I take my thoughts back to the earlier days when my life truly began, the days when I first met Him, to the days when I found the undeniable, unmistakable, overwhelmingly innocent and pure embrace of genuine love.​

Fear Not

GUEST AUTHOR T.J. HOPE

  It was an ordinary January day when I arrived to clean the house of a dear friend, as I had done weekly for the past ten years.  I expected her to greet me, visit for a moment and be on her way to allow me to uninterruptedly tidy her house while she ran her errands.

  

  A familiar feeling came over me when I entered the family’s sitting room and found my friend slumped over sideways in her recliner.  Every week for ten years I had sensed an eerie presence in that house as I cleaned.  I never saw anything unusual there.  However, I felt as if something bad was going to happen to me for the entire three hours I was there, every single Friday afternoon.

  

  That fear was intensified on this day in January as I scrambled to find the phone and call for help.  I could barely speak above a whisper to the operator on the line.  I was gripped with panic as I was instructed to approach my friend and see if she was breathing.  I couldn’t do it.  My steps were frozen in her hallway as I peeked around the corner to see if she had moved.  Her son arrived and confirmed the worst.  She had departed from this life and I immediately found myself being terrorized by a demon that had likely been tormenting her for a long time.  Now, she was free of a darkness that was forcing itself onto me.

  I left her family standing in the front yard as the ambulance left with my friend and I drove the mile to my house in shaken disbelief.  For the next two days, I was cloaked in a weight I could not bear.  I panicked at the thought of one of my grandchildren finding me dead.  I was petrified that I would find another person in the same condition I had found my friend.  I was reluctant to walk around in my own house at night.  I couldn’t escape the darkness that surrounded me.  It was obvious that something had attempted to attach itself to me and by the second day, I had suffered enough.

  I went to my prayer closet to consult the only One who could free me from the horror I was facing.  “Why was I the one who had to find her?”, I cried to God.  “Of all the hours in a week that she could’ve passed, why did her life’s end fall on my miniscule watch”?  Throughout my life, I’ve come to notice that God is quick to speak in my brokenness.  He was faithful that day to respond to my desperate cry with a familiar verse in the Bible:

  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 41:10

  With the reminder of that verse, came a calming peace that immediately took me back to the person I truly was, the person created to walk in absolute freedom.  As God entered my prayer closet that day to rescue me, the enemy who had taunted me fled and I quickly realized that God had used me to cast that devil away.  Had a different person been the one to have found my friend, it may not have turned out as victoriously. 

  In the past few years since that incident occurred, I have learned many valuable lessons involving fear.  I’ve grown to distinguish the difference between being afraid and facing fear.  Since that tragic day in January, I’ve seen more and more of God’s heart concerning such, but no lesson on the subject has had as much impact.

T.J. Hope 

When What You're Seeing is Different Than What You Saw

By Gobel Brockman

"For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay." Habakkuk 2:3

     Many times when it comes to the promises of God, we get what I have referred to before as "The Microwave Mentality." Thanks to microwave ovens and fast food restaurants we can get things "on the fly" with little or no waiting. Bringing that mindset into our relationship with Christ, however, will bring nothing but instant frustration. When God gives us a vision, it is not an instantaneous answer to prayer; it's the beginning of a journey - a journey that may sometimes be a long a difficult one. I remind you that in Luke 9:23 Jesus didn't tell His disciples to take up their recliners and follow Him; He told them to take up their cross.

     Another truth we don't like to think about: don't be surprised if what you SEE isn't what you SAW. Many times, the first thing that happens when you receive a vision is the exact opposite of what the vision says:

*Joseph received a vision that he would rule, and was immediately betrayed by his brothers and sold in the slavery.

*Moses was told by God to tell Pharaoh, "Let my people go." Pharaoh immediately made their slavery much more difficult.

*Jesus, after being baptized, saw the Holy Spirit descend upon Him as a dove and a voice from Heaven proclaimed, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." That same Spirit immediately drove Jesus in the wilderness to fast for 40 days and meet the devil face-to-face.

     We must recognize that there is a difference between sight (what we see) and vision (what God shows us.) What sight sees as defeat, vision sees as training ground. Joseph was given a vision that he would rule. His "rule" began in a slave owner's house and in a prison. As he was faithful in little, God eventually gave him more and brought the vision to fulfillment. In the meantime God was preparing Joseph for Egypt- and Egypt for Joseph. But through it all, in spite of every opposition he faced, Joseph never lost his faith in the power of God-given vision. Neither can we. What God has said, in His time He will perform.

     With all of that being said, what destiny has God set before you? What calling has He placed on your life? Has He given you a dream, but yet everything has gone backwards ever since? If so, I'll ask you to re-read the paragraphs above and remember Joseph, Moses, and Jesus.

     You're in good company. Don't let you present sights keep you from your God-given vision.

Are You Truly His Disciple? (Part 2)

By Gobel Brockman

MATTHEW 10:37-39 “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.”

     I wonder sometimes what the “Family” sections in Christian bookstores would have looked like in the days of Jesus. Would there have been books titled “How to Leave Your Family in the Dust” on the shelves? Jesus blatantly told His followers, “If you love your family more than you love Me, you can’t be My disciple. Do you see these twelve men standing here? I told them to leave everything and follow Me. I may very well tell you the same thing. If you’re not willing to do that, you can stay where you are, but you won’t be following Me. You see, to follow something requires you to leave something else behind.”

     Don’t misunderstand – the New Testament is filled with instruction on how we are to live our family lives. We are clearly commanded to love and take care of our families. The point that I believe Jesus was making is that He will not take second place in our lives to anything or anyone else. He told the disciples – and He tells us – that if we are going to follow Him, we can’t love anything or anyone else more than Him. He also said that we must be willing to “take up our cross” if we want to be His disciple. What I want to focus on with that point is this: when someone took up a cross, it was a one-way trip – they weren’t coming back. With that thought in mind I ask you these questions:

Is your faith in Jesus Christ a one-way trip?
Is there anything or anyone in your life that would cause you to turn back from following Jesus?
Could a family member’s decision or lifestyle, a financial situation, or opposition to your faith cause you to second-guess your commitment to Christ?
If (more accurately, when) you are placed in a situation where nothing makes sense, no answers are coming, your future is totally unclear, and the only answer you get from God in prayer is “Trust Me” – can you?

     In his book "Radical" David Platt said it this way: "I can't help but think that somewhere along the way we have missed what is radical about our faith and replaced it with what is comfortable. We are settling for a Christianity that revolves around catering to ourselves when the central message of Christianity is actually about abandoning ourselves." Strong, powerful, and very true words. With that thought in mind, I ask the question of all of us once more:

     Are you truly His disciple?

Are You Truly His Disciple?

By Gobel Brockman

     MATTHEW 4:18-22 “And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him. Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.”

     Try to imagine this: Jesus passes by Simon Peter as they are fishing. Jesus calls Peter over, sits down with him, and tells him the following:

     “Peter, I would like for you to follow Me, and I think it’s only fair that I tell you what’s in store if you do. I’m asking you to forsake your livelihood. I’m asking you to leave the familiar and step into the unknown. I want you to go with Me wherever I go, but I’m not going to tell you where we’re going. On this journey, you’re going to see a lot of amazing things – people being healed, those possessed by demons set free, and many miracles that will be difficult to believe. You’re also going to experience pain, loss, and opposition like you’ve never imagined. Eventually you are going to see Me arrested, abused, and executed. Soon the very kind of people who took my life will seek yours as well – and they will eventually succeed. You are going to be used mightily to touch the lives of untold millions, but in the process, you will have to leave everything else behind, live your life completely by faith, and trust Me. You are going to be sent to many strange places, and when you get there you’ll be beaten, arrested, and eventually killed. So what do you say, Peter? You ready to go?”

     The course of human history has been changed because of Peter’s life and ministry. The question I have, however, is this: Had Jesus told Peter what lay ahead of him while they were still standing by Peter’s nets, would he have said “yes” to the call of Jesus? Only God knows the answer to that question. In that moment, Peter had no way of knowing what life was going to be like for him. He was about to go from financial security to soon having to find a coin in a fish’s mouth to pay his taxes. He was about to leave a familiar home life to pour out his life for complete strangers. And that conversation I mentioned? It didn’t happen. All Jesus said was, “Follow Me.” THAT’S ALL HE WILL SAY TO US AS WELL. If we are truly going to be His disciples, we are going to have to do it with uncertainty as to what lies in our futures. THERE IS NO DISCIPLESHIP WHERE THERE IS NO TRUST.

     HEBREWS 11:1, 6 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 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.”

     True discipleship is a life of faith and surrender. One thing we must come to terms with is the truth that God isn’t going to give us a clear picture of what our futures hold. Where there’s no uncertainty, there’s no need for faith, and the Bible says that if we want to please God that faith is necessary. So, with that thought in mind, I ask you again:

     Are you truly His disciple?

Carpe Diem ("Seize the Day")

Gobel Brockman

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." I Peter 5:8

     The news is seemingly filled with continuous stories of human tragedy. Reports of mass shootings happen all too frequently. In taking some time to think about this, there is plenty to say about the causes of these events, but that's not what's at the forefront of my mind right now. What I'm thinking about is how the victims in these tragedies were simply going about their day-to-day lives - attending a concert, having coffee at a local cafe, or enjoying the company of their co-workers at a Christmas party. Without warning, they were ushered into eternity. This got me to thinking of the simple fact that every single day we face that same possibility. It doesn't take a deranged person with a semi-automatic to bring us to the end; any number of accidents, injuries, or illnesses can accomplish the same thing.

     In the Scripture quoted above, the apostle Peter told us to "Be sober, be vigilant." That doesn't mean that we are to live our lives in constant fear - fear is an enemy within itself, and I refuse to give it place in my life. It simply means that we are to be aware that we do indeed have an enemy, and our enemy takes the battle much more seriously than we often do. Phillip Doddridge, a contemporary of the great preacher John Wesley, is quoted to have said the following:

"Let us be very careful that the day of the Lord will not overtake us as a thief. We must maintain a continual watch. How many are at this hour speaking peace and safety to themselves, over whose heads instantaneous destruction is hovering? Let us endeavor to awaken ourselves and each other. Let us rouse ourselves, and be on guard against the most sudden attacks from our spiritual enemies."

     My point in this is to remind us all that we do indeed have an enemy, and he's playing for keeps. For the Christian, our call is to be on guard against his attacks, and as the apostle Paul said in II Corinthians 2:11 to "not be ignorant of his devices." But I also remind you that as a child of God, Jesus Christ has already permanently defeated him. Yes, we are to be watchful, sober, and vigilant, but we are to do so in a spirit of victory - a victory that Christ has already won for us. We can live in joy and peace because we know that Christ dwells in us, Simply put, I am a child of God. I am saved by the blood of Christ and I live in the power of His Spirit. My life is in His hands and I am continually in His care. As Paul also said in Romans 14:8: "So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's." So while I will be on guard against the attacks of the enemy, I will also choose to live in joy and expectation that God is going to do great things in me and through me while I'm here. Yes, when this life is over I know that I shall stand in the presence of the Lord. I also know that as Proverbs 27:1 says, "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring." But until that day comes, I am going to be about my Father's business. I'm going to preach, play music, and write about Jesus with every opportunity I can take. I want to live out my faith so that others may see "Christ in me, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27) I want to be an example of what Jesus can do with a life surrendered to Him. I will indeed be watchful, but I will also indeed be joyful. Jesus is with me, and He shall be for eternity. There's no room for fear in that knowledge.

     I will indeed "Carpe Diem." How about you?

Sometimes You Just Need a Good Cry

By Gobel Brockman

     As a young father I learned an interesting thing; kids have different cries for different occasions. There’s the whiny "I'm tired" cry, the angry "I want my way" cry, and the sad "Don't leave me" cry. I also learned that different cries called for different reactions. Sometimes it meant just picking them up and walking them around until they went to sleep, sometimes it just required gentle reassurance, and sometimes it required a strong resolve to let them know that “their way” wasn't happening and the crying needed to stop. As my parents would say in those times, “Either stop crying or I’ll give you something to cry about!”

     But I also learned that there was a completely different cry: the "I'm in pain" cry. Any parent will tell you that hearing THAT cry has a completely different sound - and gets a completely different reaction. That cry will stop a parent in their tracks. At that moment, nothing else matters but fixing the pain. Why? Because a parent's heart is bonded to their child in a way that can't be explained in mere words. In Psalm 61:1-2 David said to the Lord:

“Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”

     I've noticed in my Christian life that my cries to God have been different as well. Sometimes it's been out of frustration and confusion, sometimes it's simply been "I don't know what else to do." But there have been times when the grief and despair have been overwhelming, and crying out to God has been an act of sheer desperation. David also said in Psalms 34:18, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” I have found that to be true. I think it's a shame that we sometimes treat God - our Heavenly Father - like He doesn't care about our brokenness. We would never desert or ignore the honest, painful cries of our children, but we seem to think God does it to us all the time. How tragic. We will never understand just how deep is the Father's love for us. If we mere human parents can be immediately moved into action by the cries of our children, how much more will a Father Who dwells in perfection come to us in our hour of need?

     I believe one of the reasons America's in the mess it's in is because we're not crying out to God. We've either convinced ourselves that He doesn't care, or we’ve became so comfortable with (or resigned to) the way things are that it doesn't hurt us enough to cry anymore. May we cry out to God. Because we ARE in pain, and we need our Father to help.

     Cry out to your Father, child of God. He will indeed hear.

The Three Are Worth the Thirty

By Gobel Brockman

     The attached picture contains 33 pennies - 30 grouped together, and 3 by themselves. Look at them for a moment, for they are intended to be a visual for the point that I want to make this week. The Bible tells us that Jesus began his public ministry at around the age of 30:

“Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph.” - Luke 3:23

     His earthly ministry lasted approximately three years. Those three years forever changed the course of human history, both now and for eternity. But here is what I am thinking about right now: while his final three years are well documented, it took Him thirty years to get to that place. There is very little known about His childhood - in fact, the Scripture mentions nothing about Him from about the age of 12 to the age of 30. But those 30 relatively silent years prepared Him for three years that literally transformed the world!

     I believe that there are many times when we fail to recognize just how much of an investment is required to get a substantial return. On the surface, spending 30 years preparing for a three-year task may seem too much of a burden to bear. We must understand, however, that in the economy of God there is much value in preparation. Joseph was required to go through betrayal, enslavement, and false accusation and imprisonment in order to be prepared to be second in command in all of Egypt, and save Israel in the process. David was anointed king of Israel, and immediately faced murder attempts and continual pursuit by the very king he was going to replace before he finally attained the crown. There are many more examples of this truth, and the point is simple: reaching the destiny that God has designed for us is not going to be an easy journey.

     What about you? Have you been faithfully serving in what you believe God is called you to do, yet it seems that you’re seeing little (if any) results? Does it seem the current task is too difficult and the end result is taking too long to arrive? If that applies to you, I simply want to encourage you today to keep doing what you know is right. Keep following after the Lord, keep being faithful in what you are doing for the kingdom of God, and - as difficult as this is - learn not to despise the preparation process. Reaching the destiny that God has for you will not be easy, but once you get there, I promise you it will be well worth it. ETERNALLY well worth it. In those times when it seems the days are too long, the nights are too short, and the work is too hard, just remember one thing:

     The last three will make the first 30 all worthwhile.

An Unlikely Catch

By Gobel Brockman


     

“While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:18-19

This past Wednesday I spent a few hours on a lake doing some fishing. I had a pretty decent day and caught several fish, but one in particular was quite unusual. I was just reeling in my line to check my bait, and snagged a fish in the back. (I took this picture for proof.) I released it - after encouraging it to grow so I could come back and catch it again later!

It was quite an unlikely catch. It made me think of another unlikely catch:

ME.

My life was a mess before I surrendered it to Jesus. My biggest concern in life was pretty much where my next beer, joint, or tab of LSD was coming from. The thought of not only living for the Lord, but serving in ministry, was as “unlikely” as unlikely gets.

BUT GOD!

The word of God and the power of the Holy Ghost moved in my life, and I have never been the same. The Bible refers to this as being “born again” and that’s exactly what happened! I know many of you reading this feel the same way about your lives. Knowing where you were in life and just how far God has brought you may seem like an unlikely story, BUT GOD! May we continually offer praise to God that we were “caught” by His power!

I’d like to close by making one more point. I would dare say that every one of us have people in our lives who seem like they will never be “caught” by God. Let me encourage us all to simply keep living out our faith, keep walking in obedience to the word of God, and keep praying that the Spirit of God will do in their hearts what only He can do. As the Bible says in Hebrew 7:25, “Consequently, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” So don’t give up and don’t lose heart.

The One who called us to be “fishers of men” specializes in unlikely catches.

God May Want You to Feed His Locusts

By Gobel Brockman


     I once heard the story of a pastor of an old country church. There was a lady who faithfully attended there, but her husband, a farmer, wanted no part of it. While he was a good, loving husband to his wife and friendly with the pastor, he was almost belligerent in his belief that there was no God. For several years the pastor talked with the man about the things of God, with seemingly little results. However, after several years of seeing his wife's Godly character and hearing the pastor declare God's word to him, he finally came to faith in Jesus Christ. His wife, the pastor, and many in the community were overjoyed.

     Less than a week later, the pastor got a call - the farmer's entire wheat crop had been decimated by locusts. As he drove to the farmer's home he vented his frustration to God: "God, how could you let this happen? We've spent years talking to this man, praying for this man, crying over this man, hoping to see him come to believe in You. Now that he finally has, You let THIS happen? What do I do or say to him now?" As he walked through the front door, he heard something he did not expect - the farmer was walking through his house quietly singing, "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me..." The conversation that followed went something like this:

Pastor: "Uhhh...I heard you had some damage to your wheat crop?"
Farmer: "Yep, I just got back from checking things out. The crop's a total loss."
Pastor: "Uhhh...I gotta say, you seem to be handling it a lot better than I thought you might."
Farmer: "It's this simple - when I gave my heart to Jesus last Sunday, I gave him my fields too, and if He wants to feed HIS locusts with HIS wheat crops, I reckon that's HIS business. I know He'll take care of us."

     There are a couple of lessons we can learn from that farmer:

     *The Bible says in Psalms 24:1 that "The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof..." I think we need to be reminded from time to time that we really don't own anything. The house we live in, the car(s) we drive, the money in the bank, and all the "stuff" that we spend our lifetimes accumulating. None of it's really ours, because "The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof." It's all His; we're merely getting to borrow it for awhile. I'm very thankful for our house, our cars, and all of the blessings I have in my life, but I try to always remember that they won't fit in my casket when it's time for me to go.

     *That farmer learned a valuable lesson very early in his faith - you can't "give your heart to Jesus" unless you're willing to give Him everything else in your life too. Committing your life to Christ is so much more than just changing how you spend your Sunday mornings. It's a call to surrender every aspect of your life to Him. Your family, your job, your finances, your future....and if I've left anything out, that too. Jesus is not only Savior, He's Lord, which means He gets to call the shots in your life. As it's been said before, either He's Lord OF all in your life or He's not Lord AT all in your life.

     We all have "wheat fields" in our lives that mean a lot to us. I'm not telling you that if you commit your life to Jesus you're going to lose your wheat field. I'm telling you that your heart and your wheat field are a package deal. You can't give Him one without the other, and since the wheat field's already His, you may as well give Him your heart too.

     It's a wise investment.

What Will People Be Holding?

By Gobel Brockman



     “Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” Acts 9:36-38

     In this passage of Scripture, we read about a woman named Dorcas. She had passed away, and the disciples sent for Simon Peter to come at once. This story becomes an incredible testimony of the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. But for this week, I want to focus on another aspect of the story. In verse 39, as they were gathered around her, we read this:

“So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them.”

     Dorcas was a woman full of good works and acts of charity. When Simon Peter arrived, they showed him the garments and other things that she had made. They were grieved for their loss because her love for them was tangible. Her life was a life of love, sacrifice, and generosity. When she had passed away, there was genuine evidence of her faith. They were holding the proof of her loving heart in their hands. This leads me to ask myself a question, and I invite each of you to ask yourself this question as well:

     “What will people be holding when it’s my turn to go?”

     I am not talking necessarily about physical things, because I am certain her friends were not weeping because they weren’t going to get any more tunics. What they were holding in their hands was merely a reflection of what they were holding in their hearts. Dorcas had touched their lives deeply.

     I’ve said all of that to simply say this: when it’s my turn, my concern isn’t that people will be holding CDs of my sermons or music, or printed out copies of my feeble attempts at writing. My hope will simply be that Jesus Christ was honored in my life, and that there will be evidence of it when I’m gone.

     As I mentioned earlier, what her friends were holding in their hands only reflected what they were holding in their hearts. The things Dorcas made in her lifetime have disappeared, but the testimony of the heart with which she made them lives on to this very day. What an incredible testimony.

     May it be ours as well.

"Get In, Sit Down, Shut Up, and Hang On"

By Gobel Brockman

     One of the things I find interesting about being in ministry is that you tend to look for sermon illustrations and object lessons in everything. While others are simply enjoying their surroundings, you're looking for life lessons. Sometimes it's at major events, but sometimes it's in the simplest of situations. I once was driving behind a car that had one of those bumper stickers that says:

"Get In, Sit Down, Shut Up, & Hang On!"

     As soon as I read it I thought, "What a great description of the Christian life!" What do I mean?

1) "Get In"
     I would say that John 3:16 is probably the most familiar verse in the Bible: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life." That verse is God saying to you and me, "Get in!" Regardless of how bad you've been, or how far you've fallen, God has room for you. He was willing to let His son die that we might live. The offer is to all: this life is a journey and He has room for us to join Him, but He will be the driver.

2) "Sit Down"
     It's not a good idea to stand up in a moving vehicle. Once you're in a car you need to decide you're staying there for the duration of the trip. If you decide that you no longer want to follow where God's leading, you're going to have to abandon the trip while He's still moving. Jesus made a hard statement in Luke 9:62: "If anyone has their hand on the plough and looks back, he is not fit for the kingdom of God." Before we get in, we need to make up our minds that we're going to STAY in.

3) "Shut Up"
     Speaking of bumper stickers, you know the one that says, "God Is My Co-Pilot"? IT’S WRONG. God doesn't allow backseat drivers. Many times we seem to think that we know what's better for our lives than God does. In those times, we're wrong. Looking back, some of the best answers to prayer I've ever received is when God said "No" because He knew what was ahead. He sees everything - every turn, every obstacle, every potential disaster - and He knows the best route to take. So when we think we have better ideas as to what we should be doing next, here's what we should do: SHUT UP.

4) "Hang On"
     I've occasionally heard people say that Christianity seems boring to them. Those who would say that have never stepped out in faith and let God take them where He wants them to go. God has opened some doors for me over the years that I never would have opened for myself, and I've seen some pretty incredible things in the process. For awhile in the early 90's God opened a door for me to do a weekly short-wave radio program, and I received responses from places like Scotland, Trinidad, and Nigeria. He's opened opportunities to minister in places I never would have imagined, and I've seen Him do some amazing things in people. I could go on, but the point is that it's been an incredible trip so far - and it's not over yet. As long as I have relatively good health and half a mind (although some might say I'm flattering myself there) I desire to let God take me wherever He wants me to go. The trip's not over yet, and I'm interested to see where it's going from here.

     

     “Get in, sit down, shut up, & hang on." The car's pulled over, the door's open, the destination's out of your control, and it's going to be a wild ride.

     Are you in?

McChristians

By Gobel Brockman

     You pull up to the speaker, place your order, pull around to the first (or second) window, give them your money, and get your food. It's all over in a matter of minutes. Say what you will about McDonald's, but they have created a customer-friendly business model that allows them to remain profitable even when economic times are bad. They offer relatively easy-in easy-out access, food that is within the budget of most, and quick service for a world in a hurry. Brilliant.

     Running a business like that makes sense. The problem is I think it's helped create a mindset in some that that's the way God should do things. We pull in and place our order, expect it to cost us little or nothing, and expect the product delivered in a matter of moments. I refer to it as having a "McChristian" mindset. There's one huge problem with that way of thinking, however:

     

     God is not like McDonald's.

     Think of it this way:
McDonald's: Easy-in access.
God: There's only one way. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me."

McDonald's: Place your order. If you want to special order something, no problem.
God: He's not a fast food place. You cannot "have it your way." (Different burger joint, but you get the idea.) If Jesus had to say to the Father in the Garden of Gethsemene, "Not my will, but Thine be done” what makes us think we can do any less?

McDonald's: Their prices fit almost anyone's budget.
God: We're told that if we want to be His disciples, we have to take up our cross and follow Him. That's a price most won't pay.

McDonald's: The whole process takes only a few moments.
God: We're told in the Book of Isaiah that "those who WAIT upon the Lord shall renew their strength." (Emphasis mine.)

     

     I want to focus on that last one for a moment. We've lost the ability (or the patience) to wait on God's timing. The thing is, people waiting on God is found throughout the Bible. Israel had to wait 430 years to be delivered from Egyptian bondage. David had to wait several years and endure many battles before being given the kingdom he was promised. The disciples were told by Jesus after His resurrection to go to Jerusalem and "Wait for the promise of the Father." You see, God's interested in more than quickly filling an order - He's interested in developing men and women of character who'll have faith that God has everything under control no matter how long the answer takes. He wants to have a people that see life as a journey of faith, daily growing in our knowledge of Him. I look at it this way: McDonald's is interested in getting you in and getting you out ASAP. God's interested in you sticking around with Him - for eternity.

     So just let Him do it His way.

That I May Know Him

By Gobel Brockman

     You may have heard the story about three blind men who were asked to describe an elephant. One grabbed the tail and said an elephant is like a rope; one grabbed a leg and said an elephant is like a tree trunk; the third touched his belly and said an elephant is like a wall. The same animal got three different reactions based on their limited perceptions.

     

     We see that in the church today. Ask people who Jesus is and you'll get a variety of answers. To some He's the one who'll cast you into Hell the moment you step out of line. To another He is someone who doesn't really care how you live as long as you're feeding the poor and caring for the homeless while you're doing it. To another He died on the cross to make sure the right people win elections, and to the next His love totally ignores all sin, so “anything goes.” Which brings me to a sad conclusion:

     

     Perhaps we really don't really know Him as well as we think we do.

     

     Yes, we know about Him. We can tell the story of His miraculous birth. We know how He died on the cross for our sin. We can quote a few Scriptures - especially the ones that seem to back up our preconceived ideas. But we don't know Him. The Apostle Paul, perhaps the best example of Christianity that has ever lived, said this in Philippians 3:10:

“That I may know HIM and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, becoming like him in his death.” (Emphasis mine)

     

     This man had seen people healed, the dead raised, enemies blinded, and yet said 'I want to know HIM...'

     

     Yes, Jesus wants us to care for the poor. He does want us to pray for Godly leadership. He wants sinners to know there is hope, but He also wants them to know just how vile sin really is. And yes, even though we rarely hear it anymore, Hell is still real, and people are still going there. But Jesus is so much more than all of that. God gave a promise through the prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 29:13:

“You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek me with all your heart.”

     

     I'm calling on all of us to begin to search for His heart, His ideas, His plans, and His will. May we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. May we put aside our preconceived ideas, open up our Bibles, fall on our knees and our faces before Him, and say with the apostle Paul, “That I may know HIM.” Why? It’s simple:

     

     Perhaps we really don't know Him as well as we think we do.

Leave Your Sacrifice Where it Belongs

By Gobel Brockman


     I’m sure that for many people, hearing the phrase “praise and worship” causes them to immediately think of music. I can easily understand that mindset. When I was eight years old I was standing on church platforms playing dobro with my Dad’s Bluegrass Gospel bands. I have been involved with some sort of “church music” for the vast majority of my life. I understand (at least to an extent) the power of music in our praise and worship of God. But we must understand that “praise and worship” goes MUCH deeper than the songs we sing. There are many points I could make with this, but for today I will focus on one. We read this in Hebrews 13:15:

“Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.” 

     “A sacrifice of praise.” I imagine that we rarely think of praise in terms of it being a sacrifice, but it would do us well to understand this truth. Let me explain what I mean. In the Old Testament temple worship, a person would bring an animal to be sacrificed to the Lord. I know this is obvious, but I still need to point it out:

     When the person left the temple, they didn’t get to bring the animal back home with them. It was SACRIFICED.

     When the Bible speaks of offering “a sacrifice of praise” to the Lord, may we understand that part of that process is that we don’t bring any of the praise back for ourselves. We have no praise left over to offer to anyone or anything else because we have sacrificed it ALL to the Lord - which is the only place it truly belongs. A person who has truly given “a sacrifice of praise” to Jesus has no need of the praise of man, for they have already sacrificed all of their praise to Christ alone. They don’t need recognition, compliments, or adulation, for they have left those things on the altar of worship to the one true God. Allow me to be blunt: a person who constantly needs recognized and thanked for what they do for the Lord needs a better understanding of what “a sacrifice of praise” is really about.

     My desire is to continually grow in my praise and worship of Jesus, for He ALONE is worthy of praise! As we gather in worship today (and in the days to come) may we do more than just sing songs about Jesus. May we fulfill what Paul spoke of in Romans 12:1 and offer ourselves as “a living sacrifice” to Him.

     And may we then not try to keep any of the sacrifice for ourselves.