Andrew Golden's Blog, page 25

Run And Hide

1 Samuel 17:9-11

9 If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.
10 And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.
11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.

The devil stomped his foot and the Christians ran and hid. They are afraid of the threats the enemy shouts. They fear for their families and lively hoods. They forget that he is nothing more than a boasting giant and just like the Philistine, he will fall to the power of the one true God. Stop hiding in fear. Instead, stand tall and proclaim that our God is greater than the threats of the enemy.

Former Things

Isaiah 43:18-19

18 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.
19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

Many christians come to a time in their walk where things get hard. They start remembering when they were in sin. They think that they had it so well. They had money, even though it was earned through bad means. They had friends, even though those friends wanted nothing but the sin of the world. They had all of these things, but they did not have Jesus. Stop looking back at the things you had in sin. Instead, start looking at what God can do for you. Start looking at how he can make a way. He will use your hard times to make your faith stronger. He will turn your struggle into a blessing. Forget about the past of sin and instead look toward the future of blessings.

Formal Things

Isaiah 43:18-19

18 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.
19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

Many christians come to a time in their walk where things get hard. They start remembering when they were in sin. They think that they had it so well. They had money, even though it was earned through bad means. They had friends, even though those friends wanted nothing but the sin of the world. They had all of these things, but they did not have Jesus. Stop looking back at the things you had in sin. Instead, start looking at what God can do for you. Start looking at how he can make a way. He will use your hard times to make your faith stronger. He will turn your struggle into a blessing. Forget about the past of sin and instead look toward the future of blessings.

No Evil

1 Peter 3:9

9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

It does not matter what someone dies to you. It does not matter how despicable someone is to you. You can never repay there evil deeds with evil deeds. As a Christian, getting even should not be something you think of doing. It does not matter if you do something in the name of getting even, an evil act is still just that, an evil act.

Ashamed

John 21:7

7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.

Peter felt wrong for being naked when Christ showed himself to them again. He was so ashamed he jumped into the sea to hide. How many Christians would do this today if Jesus stopped by their homes? What would they be ashamed of and what would the run in hide in hopes he wouldn’t see it? The problem with this is, if you have to hide it, then it shouldn’t be there. Anything that you feel Jesus should not see has no place in the home of a Christian. So look at yourself and think, would I do this or have this in front of Jesus?

Treasure

Matthew 6

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be

What is your most prized possession? Whatever you think of, think of how you take care of that one thing you hold so dear. It is a treasure to you. So, why not make your salvation a priceless treasure. It was a gift that we could never afford but yet we recieved. So, why do Christians treat it like it is nothing? It is because they forget of how great if a treasure it is. It is eternal life. So, start making your salvation your greatest treasure and know it is the most valuable thing you can place in heaven.

In A Rush

Psalms 31:22

22 For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee

We all have been driving down the interstate in a hurry and drive right past our exist. We knew exactly where it was but in our rush we pass it up. We get like that in our life. We know we need to take time to pray and study the bible but in our rush we never set the time aside to do either. We keep letting the time pass and before we know it we are so far off course that we have to cry out for God to help us get back on track. Stop being in such a rush in life that you speed past your time of with God.

Raised In Church

2 Timothy 3:14-15

14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

If you were raised in church you know scripture. You know somewhat about faith in Christ. You should have the basic idea of accepting Jesus. However, many are not raised in church. Many come to church looking for the answers they need, but are treated like they are ignorant do to the fact that they know little. In reality they have done something that many Christians have forgotten, they are humble. They are like a child asking for help getting something that can’t reach. You can stand there and tell them to figure it out themselves, get it for them, or you can show them how to get it. That is how we should be with people new to the walk with Christ. Teach them how to find the answers they seek. Help them learn that prayer is one the best tools. If they ask about where to find a certain topic, help them. If you were raised in church you may have more of an understanding on the bible, but it does not make you better then those who are new to the bible. It only means you can help those who were not as fortunate as you.

Bring Your Comfortable Shoes

Luke 14:23

23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

Ever get that perfect pair of shoes? That pair that make you feel like you can walk all over the world? That pair that makes you think you can walk to church and back? Yea to do what Christ told us to do, you are going to need those. He did not tell us to only testify of his name in the four walls of the church. He told us to tell the world of him. Don’t be ashamed to tell people of God in the grocery store. Don’t be ashamed to say grace over your food at a restaurant or at work. If someone asks how you are doing tell them, I am blessed and saved by the grace of God. God did not call you to just set on a pew. He called you to do some walking. Just make sure you have some comfortable shoes.

Don’t Give Up On Them

Isaiah 30:9-10

9 That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:
10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:

In our lifetime we all meet people who do not want to hear the word of God. They do not want to listen to your testimony and they do not care what you believe in. Most say to just let them go and live there lives. Most will tell you they are not worth the time. Those people are wrong. They are worth the time. You don’t have to force them to listen to you, just live the life before them. Don’t change when your around them. Pray for them that God will open their eyes. Maybe the way you live and pray will get them asking questions.