TO BE CONTENT

You may think that more money will make you happier, but you will soon learn it doesn't. The longing God has placed in all our hearts is for Him -- not things.

1 Timothy 6:6-8  But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. After having food and raiment, let us be therewith content.

We should be content if we have the necessities of life, but it's not wrong to have possessions God so graciously provides. 

True godliness produces contentment and spiritual riches. A godly person is motivated not by the love of money but by the love of God. 

Proverbs 30:8,9 Remove far from me vanity and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me; Lest I be full and deny thee and say, Who is The Lord? Or lest I be poor and steal and take the name of my God in vain.

WHO IS THIS JESUS?

Historian Philip Schaff was absolutely correct when he wrote:Jesus of Nazareth, without money and arms, conquered more millions than Alexander, Caesar, Mohammed and Napoleon . . . 

Skeptics say that Jesus was just a good teacher. Good teachers don't claim to be God. Some say He was only a good example. Examples don't run around with sinners, prostitutes, and drunkards. Others say He was a religious fanatic. Madmen don't have clarity of thought and show kindness and love.

Skeptics also say He was a religious phony. Phonies don't rise from the dead. Others say He was a phantom. Phantoms cannot be nailed to a cross and bleed. To those who say Jesus was a myth, myths do not set the calendar of man's history.

Jesus asked his disciples an interesting question. "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?"

"Some say John the Baptist; some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, one of the prophets."

Matthew 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God

Who is Jesus to you?. 

RENEWAL -- RECOMMITMENT -- REVIVAL

We only have to look over our shoulder at the times in our lives that God rescued us, forgave us, blessed us, and nourished us when we needed Him most. Our rebellion and backsliding are shackles on the same road, such as doing our own thing and wanting our own way as if he never forgave us or blessed us.

Nehemiah Chapter Nine gives a concise history of God's chosen people at the dedication after rebuilding the demolished walls around Jerusalem. The people separated themselves from all strangers, stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. They worshipped The Lord their God.

They remembered the dividing sea, the cloud pillar and the fire pillar  leading and lighting their way. They remembered God's laws, the manna, the water from rocks, and the land He gave them. They remembered their stiffnecked rebellian, serving pagan gods, and their captivity.

Nehemiah 9:31 Nevertheless for thy great mercies' sake thou didn't not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God.

I believe this is recipe for revival.

WHOM OR WHAT SHALL I FEAR

People are afraid.They are afraid of losing their health, wealth, mind, job, spouse or their children. They are afraid of the future, death, failure, rejection, evil, terrorists, growing old, crime, war, and many other things.

When the disciples' boat was tossed about in an angry storm, they were terrified. Jesus appeared, walking on the water. They thought He was a ghost. 

Matthew 14:25  "Be of good cheer; it is I. Be not afraid."

The disciples knew Jesus was God and had all power, wisdom, and knowledge, but they were living like He wasn't. They had not learned to depend on what they knew. 

Fear keeps us from enjoying all that God has for us. When we are afraid, we have given fear permission to control us. 

Jesus can bring peace to a fearful heart, just as He did on the Sea of Galilee. Look for Him in the midst of your fears. His words will calm you.

FIRST, BEST, AND MOST OF ALL . . .

If we don't love God "first of all, best of all, and most of all", then nothing else we do matters. 

Matthew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love The Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind.

How do you know if you love God with all your heart, soul, and mind?" Consider the following:

• OBEDIENCE: John 14:15 If you love me, keep my commandments.
• PRAISE AND WORSHIP: This is personal, humble, and thankful response of a believer's heart to the Majesty and grace of Almighty God. When we praise and worship God, He is glorified, Christians are purified, the church is edified and unified, and the lost are evangelized.
• INTIMACY: Entering into the presence of God to commune with Him through prayer, reading the Word, and meditation.

Loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind means holding nothing back. It's total commitment.

WHY RELIGIOUS PEOPLE HATED CHRIST?

MATTHEW 27:31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him and put his own raiment on him and led him away to crucify him.

The religious leaders of Israel hated Jesus so much that they were willing to do whatever it took to put Him to death. Many scriptures reveal why Jesus offended them.

• He claimed to be God
• He broke the Sabbath
• He was from Galilee
• He did not attend a theological school
• He was popular with the people
• He confronted the sins of the religious leaders, telling them they needed to repent
• He interpreted the Scripture Himself
• He taught with authority
• He taught that God loved all men
• He associated with sinners
• He overthrew the money tables in the temple
• The people thought He was the Messiah
• He forgave sin, which was something only God could do
• He was a blashemer
• He claimed to be greater than Solomon
• He told them they were not Abraham's sons
• They thought that He was demon possessed

Jesus wasn't in a mess He couldn't escape. He could have called 10,000 angels to rescue Him. Christ laid down His life, a living sacrifice for our redemption.

VICTORY IS BORN AT THE CROSS

When trouble comes into a believer's life, he or she gets to see God work through rivers that seem uncrossable or mountains they can't climb. What is impossible with man is possible with God.

Corinthians 4:8-9  We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

It amazes me that the Apostle Paul could write this after being beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, and put in prison. One time he and Silus were put in jail. At midnight they began to sing, and God caused an earthquake. They escaped.

We may get knocked down but not knocked out. God gives sufficient strength to get through any problem.

Victory is born at the cross when Christ defeated Satan for our redemption. He defeated death at His resurrection.  Are you saved? If not, salvation is available to you. Reach out, accept it, and know the victory God gives.

THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE . . .

Light exposes the true character of God, his truth, and his righteous fruit. Jesus had much to say about light and darkness.

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

To walk as children of light means to live before the eyes of God, not hiding anything. It's easy to hide things from others because they can't see our hearts and minds.

Walking as children of light also means revealing God's light into a dark world by our character and conduct, helping others find their way to Christ. 

John 12:46  I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

Colossians 1:13  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

LIGHT, AIR, WATER, AND FOOD

There are at least four essentials for human life: Light (If the sun went out, everything would die), air, water, and food. Jesus is all of these

He is the Light of life and the Light of the world.

John 8:12  Then spoke Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life

He is the "Sun of righteousness":

Malachi 4:3  But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings . . . 

He is the Water of life.

John 4:10 . . . if thou knewest the gift of God and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

He is the Living Bread of Life that come down from heaven.

John 6:35  And Jesus said unto them, I am the Bread of life; he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

He not only has life and gives life, but he is life. John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.