A DITCH ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ROAD

Today’s Bible readings are 1 Chronicles 12:19-14:17, Romans 1:1-17, Psalm 9:13-20, & Proverbs 19:4-5

Romans 1:16-17

¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. ¹⁷ This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

Are you ashamed of the gospel? Are you frequently sharing it with other people? Do you have a hard time sharing the Good News with other?

I just got done talking to my daughter about sharing the gospel. When I asked her what it means to her to spread the “Good News” she told me to meant telling everyone you meet about God & His Word. What an awesome answer coming from a 7 year old.

When she heard me say that I was going to write the blog for the day, she said, “Daddy, I will help you write the blog.” So we are writing this blog together.

It is important for each of us to share the gospel. Even a 7 year old knows this. With such hope that comes from it, why wouldn’t we want to share it with everybody? Jesus is answer that you & I have found but He is the answer that millions of others are waiting to find. We are the ones that God wants to take the message to the streets.

Paul made a strong statement when he said that he was not ashamed of the gospel. There are many things about the gospel that he could have been ashamed of, considering his background as a Pharisee, but he knew that it was the power of God to save man. It must be preached if humanity is to be saved.

We can do a lot of things in an attempt to minister to others. But none of them are as effective as they could be if the gospel is failed to be preached.

1.      Feeding the hungry

2.      Clothing the naked

3.      Caring for orphans

4.      Caring for widows

5.      Medical clinics

6.      Outreaches

All of these are great things but without the GOSPEL there is no power in them to save!!! These things are all things that should be done, but they CAN’T do what God has designed the GOSPEL alone to do—SAVE PEOPLE!!!

I am glad that we do the different compassion ministries that we do. Many times they are the things that pave the way for gospel. They soften hearts so that in the right moment, when the gospel is preached, people will receive. This is what Paul was speaking about when he said:

1 Corinthians 3:6-9

⁶ I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. ⁷ It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. ⁸ The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. ⁹ For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.

All of these things work together if Christ stays in the center of our plans, BUT LETS MAKE SURE THAT THE GOSPEL IS PREACHED IN EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.

There is a popular opinion today that doing good is preaching the gospel. There is a hint of truth to that, BUT Jesus did more than just good things. He preached the gospel. Yes He demonstrated it with His actions of compassion toward lost humanity, but actions could only do so much. That is why he spoke & declared the Word. It was through the proclamation of the Word that power came to save, heal, & deliver!

The gospel is the power of God. When it is preached in the power of God is released with it. When all we do is acts of compassion then there is a void of the manifested power of God. This comes through PREACHING & TEACHING the gospel.

Let’s do our best to practice balance in these 2 areas. Remember, there is ALWAYS a ditch on both sides of the road. Let’s stay balance so we don’t end up in one of the ditches. Preach the gospel & live your faith through your actions—this is the model that Jesus left us. I choose to follow Him!

Pastor Richard Schlotter

Keep Fighting

Today’s readings are 1 Chronicles 11:1 - 12:18,  Acts 28:1-31, Psalm 9:1-12 and Proverbs 19:1-3

Psalm 9:1-2

¹ I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
    I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.
² I will be filled with joy because of you.
    I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.

 

Psalm 9:9-10

⁹ The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed,
    a refuge in times of trouble.
¹⁰ Those who know your name trust in you,
    for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.

Today is a great day to read these verses.  I was just trying to minister to a friend who feels like giving up.  She always feels like everyone’s punching bag.  She feels like she is always fighting to stay above water.  She feels like giving up and not fighting anymore.  

Have you ever felt this way?  I have but then when I change my thinking and remember who I am in Christ.  I get this strength from the Holy Spirit to keep on fighting and telling people of his love.  It is a strength like a warrior it is very strong.  It is a feeling like nothing else. I feel strong in the lord and I know that no matter what comes I am strong enough.  Because I have the Lord and he never abandons those who search for him.  

So praise the Lord in times of pain and frustration.  Praise him with all of your heart.  Tell people of all of the marvelous things he has done.  Be filled with Joy because of him.

Love in Christ

Kelly Schlotter

HOW TO AVOID THE STORM OF A CENTURY

Today’s Bible readings are 1 Chronicles 9:1-10:14, Acts 27:21-44, Psalm 8:1-9, & Proverbs 18:23-24

Acts 27:21-26

²¹ After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. ²² But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. ²³ Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me ²⁴ and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ ²⁵ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. ²⁶ Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.”

How many times have we found ourselves getting into a jam because we didn’t listen to the counsel of those that God has placed in our lives? This is the theme of our text today. The men on this ship have found themselves in the midst of the storm of the century. It was unlike anything they had ever seen before. It had the captain & the crew terrified. Here is the kicker—It all could have been avoided if they had listened to the counsel of the man of God.

This is many times the same story in our lives. God puts people in our paths that He plans on using to help mold us. Often He will use people to give us instruction that comes from Him. He will speak through different people that He has placed in our lives in an attempt to prevent us from experiencing loss & tragedy. But like in the text, many times we refuse to take their counsel to heart. In the end, we suffer great loss.

It is easy to think that we know it all. We like to trust in our own abilities. Sometimes we just don’t want to do the things that godly counsel encourages us in.

1.      We don’t agree with the advice.

2.      It is not what we wanted.

3.      It doesn’t allow us to have the things that we like.

4.      It would mean letting go of something or someone that we really enjoy.

5.      It would require us to make a great sacrifice.

When we fail to listen to godly counsel we have major consequences. God doesn’t want us to suffer loss. Remember what He tells us:

Jeremiah 29:11

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

When we suffer loss it is usually because we are not in God’s plan, God’s timing, or God’s will. That is why it is so important for us to walk in SUBMISSION to those that God has placed over us in the Lord. It is not a matter of them lord over us. It is a matter of God using them to direct & protect us from loss.

I can remember a time when I really believed God was leading me to do something. I went to discuss it with my pastor at the time. After sharing it with him, he told me that he thought it would be a big mistake. He also said that it could end up costing me in the end.

When he told me this I thought he was just being selfish. I thought he was only thinking of himself & the church. BUT I knew that he was my pastor & that I was supposed to submit to him. I submitted to my pastor & that meant surrendering the dream that I though God had placed in me.

I have to say that it all became clear over the next 2 years. My pastor was right. He was hearing from God. All the other people involved in the ordeal that went against our pastor ended up suffering great loss. We suffered NONE. In fact, we were blessed for our submission 100 fold!!!
Don’t let pride trip you up & cost you anymore than it already has. Chose today to walk in perfect submission to the authority that God has put in your life. They just may be there to save you from the storm of the century.

Pastor Richard Schlotter

MANIFESTED FAVOR

Today’s Bible readings are 1 Chronicles 7:1-8:40, Acts 27:1-20, Psalm 7:1-17, & Proverbs 18:22

Proverbs 18:22

²² He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.

A lot of guys call their wives a lot of things but have you ever heard somebody refer to their wife as a gift from God? That is truly what our wives are to us. I have many times thought about how different my life would be if I had never met Kelly.

Apart from the fact that I would have any of our kids, I also wouldn’t have Kelly. I wouldn’t have her smiles at me. I wouldn’t have her laughter in my life. I can’t imagine life without her soft voice, even though most of the time I can barely hear what she is saying.

The enemy works hard to pervert the way we think about our wives.

1.     He tries to convince us that they are just there to make our life more stressful.

2.     He tries to convince us that they only want to control us.

3.     He tries to persuade us into thinking that all our wives are there to do is spend our money.

These are just a few of the things that I have heard from men.

The truth of the matter is that you found a GOOD thing when you found your wife. You found the second greatest gift that God has to offer you. The first is His Son, Jesus Christ. The second is your wife who has given you to enjoy Christ with. This is a result of God’s favor in your life.

Stop looking at your wife as:

1.     Another chore.

2.     A weight.

3.     Somebody who doesn’t understand.

4.     An enemy.

5.     An outsider.

6.     Your opponent.

7.     Your mother.

She is:

1.     A privilege.

2.     She is God’s manifested favor in your life.

3.     Your best friend.

4.     Your helpmate.

5.     Closet ally.

6.     Your go to player.

7.     Your rib.

Men, do your best to renew your mind to these things. You are a favor finder if you have found a wife. Never forget this. Take some time today to share your gratitude with the one God gave you. They need to hear it & you need to say it!!!

Pastor Richard Schlotter