In yesterday's message we were reminded that our first and foremost citizenship is in Heaven. That reminder was good because sometimes it's easy to forget where our allegiance ought to be. The Bible in 2 Corinthians states that we are ambassadors of heaven in this foreign country and Hebrews tells us that we're strangers here while we pass through. Yet with all that the Scriptures say about this world, my love, and being a good solider in it I do forget and live like this is my first and final country.
Yet while I'm here I do my part as a good citizen of where I'm living. I obey the laws because I don't want to disgrace my true country by my arrest. In addition it reflects how I submit to the laws, rules, and chain of command of the country of which I am a citizen.
I speak well of the authorities of the country in which I live even though they are not as good as the leadership of my country. I my not agree with the policies of the country in which I live and I will try to explain why the way my country does that thing is better but I don't disrespect or dishonor my country by running down the leaders of the country were I'm residing.
But most of all I never forget that someday I'll come home. Somehow, no matter how much I settle in where I'm at I never get over the longing of home. My place in heaven is not something that will take place in the future after I run out of all the enjoyments of earth but a living desire right now in my life. So as a good citizen of heaven I do my part as a good citizen on earth.

Wasn't it good yesterday to be reminded that the first and foundational work of a husband and father is to be the prophet of and for the home? It was a point well made and important to be headed. It is vital to have someone represent the family before God to make sure God's Word is brought into the home and received by the family. This is the position of leadership God has given, the chain of command He has established.
It is so good because it transfers the greatest of all love into the home, it gives direction (Will of God), provides disciplines (children are raised in Ways of God), gives a proper view of God (He's talked about by dad), and provides a living example of the Christian faith. The father as a prophet is important to the wellness of the family.
So dads are we up to the challenge? Are we going to take the steps necessary and see that God indeed is our choice as a family, that "as for me and my house we will serve the Lord."

Yesterday I was reminded of a basic truth when it comes to the preaching and teaching of the Word. If the Bible is going to produce fruit in a life it must be heard. In Matthew 7 the wise man was able to obey the Scriptures because he heard the Word. The people at Pentecost were saved because they heard the Bible (Acts 2). Even Jesus told his disciples "if any man has ears let him hear."
I had taken a pain pill before the service so I was a little dull to begin with and made it a little hard to focus on the message. Then I sat in the overflow and as I looked up toward the preacher I was distracted by the crowd (It's amazing how many funny things people do while listening to a message). During one point in the message my thoughts drifted off to another Scripture that related to the point he was making. Then being a little deaf I had to really focus to hear all the words. To top it off I couldn't get off my mind what was coming next, all I could picture was dinner!
I thought later, it wasn't the preacher's fault I didn't receive much from the message, he was well prepared and presented it well. It was my lack of disciplined hearing, I wasn't paying attention. I learned a good lesson about my hearing and prayed for listening ears. Will you do the same the next time you sit under the teaching of the Word?
By the way I did leave the service desiring to have the determination and faith of Gideon.

I'm writing the sequel from the viewpoint of a person in the pew rather than the pastor in the pulpit. For the next few weeks I won't be preaching because of my radiation treatments.
Yesterday's message by Pastor James was about choosing between the gods of this world and the God that saved us. (Joshua 14-24) Such a choice should be a no brainier but it's really not that easy, is it? I have found that the three top "gods" that we fall prey to by choice are the multitude around us (Proverbs 1:5-12), the money we have and wish we had (1 Timothy 6:10-18) and me ( I Corinthians 10:12). Life seems to pop them up before us daily and they want to destroy our walk with God, our trust in Him, and our dependence on Him.
So I did a self-check yesterday and re-affirmed my choice in the Lord God. I know this week will bring some battles but, by the grace of God good choices will be made and victory won. Who will be your choice?

Yesterday's sermon was about the victory we experience as Christians. Although Joshua's victory was an actual battle our victories are spiritual (Ephesians 6:12). The truth is the same, if victory is to be ours it must come through the power of God who has promised to be with us (Hebrews 13:6) and through Him we are victors. I'm glad, as your Pastor, to see God's people living with victory in their daily lives.
Last night I warned several of those who were baptized to prepare for battle. The public witness of their desire to follow Christ is taken as a declaration of war by the devil. So soon the attack will begin, it may take the form of the material, physical, emotional, or even a combination of several ways to destroy their commitment to Christ. I encourage all who read this not only to be strong in your spiritual battles, but remember those who are fighting battles as well. We need one another as we live for our Lord Jesus. Let's pray for and encourage one another today. There is victory in Jesus.

There are times when there are no visible sequels to the sermon. That's what happened Sunday night when Pastor Barbee gave the invitation for people to receive the Gospel. He was shocked that among the over 200 people present no one would say publicly "I need to be saved". It would seem that among so many, someone would want the cleansing, joy, assurance of eternal life that only the Gospel can bring. Yet there was no sermon sequel.
I cannot tell how many times I have preached with anticipation of visible results only to give the invitation and stand alone at the altar in the front of the church. I've wondered why people don't respond publicly anymore. I've searched my heart and life wondering if I preached in the flesh or the Spirit, do I as a preacher of the Gospel hinder the working of the Holy Spirit in any way? I often wonder why isn't there a public sermon sequel?
I've come to realize that often the best and longest sequel to any sermon is the one that isn't public but is quietly received into the heart and over a process of growth becomes visible. One of the beautiful things about Christianity is that it can't be kept quiet it always becomes visible. Always remember the "light" principle of our faith (Matthew 5:17; Philippians 2:14). There will always be a sermon sequel to the Word of God if we receive it. (Hebrews 2:12; Acts 2:37-41)
So as a Christian why not make it public when the Holy Spirit tugs at your heart? Why not speak to the one standing near you and ask them if they would want to go forward and kneel at the altar? Why not declare quickly and publicly who you need and want? The next time an invitation is given why not be a living sermon sequel? You'll be a stronger person because of that choice.

In yesterday's message I said that it would be good to create a memorial of something God has done in our life so we could tell the generations that follow us. The focus and purpose of these things is not the beauty of the memorial but the desire to teach the generations that follow us just how great our God is and what He has done.
If we think about it, creation is a lasting memorial to our all wise, powerful God. Although some would like to say it's not so, the Grand Canyon is a memorial to our creator God. As we look around the birds of the air and the flowers of the field are memorials to the faithfulness of our providing God. I can't help but praise Him when ever I see a garden growing and thank Him for the food on my table.
In the world around us God has living memorials that He is God and God alone. (Psalm 8 and 19) As a believer I ought to tell others of the great things God has done in creation, I should give Him credit for His handiwork, and stand in awe of my Lord God. So everytime I see that beautiful sunset, watch the amazing bee at work, see one of the natural wonders of the world, I should tell someone in the generations that follow that it's the God of the Bible who has done this!
What's the greatest memorial you've ever seen that God created? I think when it's all said, done, and seen the greatest memorial to the glory of God that He has ever made is the changed life of the believer. It shines bigger and better than even the Grand Canyon because it can speak and tell the great things God has done! (Mark 5:19)