Andrew Golden's Blog, page 41

The Broken Heart

Proverbs 15

13 A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

When we lose a loved one, we begin to weep. The heart break feels as if our soul is being torn to pieces. The strain feels as if it is too much to bear. We begin to look back on the memories and think of the laughter we once had shared with them. God will use those memories to keep us going. I know it is going to hurt. However, it is never a true goodbye. It is only a see you later. You may weep and mourn when you think of them, but I promise you will laugh. I promise God will comfort you. I promise the memories will make you strong. So when your heart is broken over a loss, just turn to God and let him hold you. He will let you remember the good times and he will put the pieces of your heart back together.

The High Calling

Philipians 3:13:14


13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Have you ever been setting there and you feel unworthy of what God has blessed you with? Has the enemy ever tried to convince you that there is no way God could use someone like you? I know your answer is yes. I know there are times you wonder why does God love you. I know I do. The simple answer is he just does. You see Christ called each of our names. He wanted us to follow him and do his work. Forget about your past mistakes. They are things we cannot change. Focus on today. Focus on our high calling. When someone begins saying that they remember who you were, let them know who you are through God. Use your past as a testimony. Do not get caught up in what you did nor let people convince you that no one changes. Because through Christ, we have changed. Know your name was called. Know that Christ loves you. Start working toward the mark. Start testifying and spreading the word. Start telling people how great Jesus is. If you do look back, look back and show the enemy of how far you have come. Then turn around and keep pushing forward.

So Many Excuses

Luke 14:18-20

18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.
20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

Here lately I have found myself making excuses. I have preached against doing this many times. I have spoken that we have to push them aside and get to work. This morning it hit me that I was doing the very thing I had preached against. I would get busy and not do what God put on my heart to do. I am not alone. Many other Christians have done this. I have put off things and claimed I will get to it tomorrow. However, tomorrow may never come. God opened my eyes to a few things and now I see that I had no reason to make excuses. I see that God will make a way for work to be done. If you are making excuses because what God is telling you to do seems impossible, stop and know that God will make a way. Know that he has a plan. It may take you out of your comfort zone, but it is worth it. You become bolder, stronger, and more blessed the more you move for God. So stop making excuses and trust God in his plan.

He Will Give You More Than Enough

Matthew 17:27

27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

I remember the first time my brothers and I heard this message preached. We were amazed at the thought of money being in a fish’s mouth. Every fish we caught, we would look and see if any money was in there. Our father would just laugh and tell us to keep that faith and never stop looking for our blessing. As I got older I forgot about that message. I let the world tear my faith down. I let it make me stress about life and bills. This morning I was praying and I started to remember that message again. I began to see no matter how little I had, I still had enough to spare. I now know that when we feel like we do not have enough, God can bless us with enough to bless a brother or a sister. Christ told Peter to get the money and go pay both of their taxes. He did not say count it to see how much was left over. He did not tell him to pay his if there was enough. He knew he would have enough for both of them. Do not let the world beat you down. Always remember that God can and will bless you with more than enough.

A Wolf In Disguise

Matthew 7:15-16

15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Many people claim that they are ministers sent by God. Many will claim they are here to do the work of God. Some are here for just that. Their are those that pour their hearts into their preaching. They do not care about money nor do they care about worldly possessions. They care about the kingdom of heaven. Now, beware of some others. They do not care about the kingdom. They only care about the offering plate and the worldly possessions they can attain. They will twist the word. They will tell you what you want to hear just to get you into their churches. Beware of them. However, it is not just preachers. Many wolves are trying to hide behind a mask. They claim they are Christians, but then support sinful deeds in the world. Do not follow these people. Follow the word of God and it will lead you to the church where the preacher is doing his work for God and only God. Learn to spot the wolves so maybe you can help other stray away from them.

Limbs Of The Vine

John 15:4-5
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing

I know many people are not gardeners, but they understand that a limb cannot grow if it is cut away from a tree. It is like trying to charge a battery but your charger is not plugged into a outlet. That is what Christ is trying to tell us. We have to be connected to him. He is the only power source that can get us to heaven. No Buddhism nor Hinduism can help you. There is no giving out good energy or vibes and that is what you will receive back, because as a Christian times get hard no matter what you do. There is only getting connected to Jesus Christ. Get connected to him. Grow on him. Become the fruit bearing limb that God is pleased with. You will grow stronger as long as you stay connected to him.

The Empty Tomb, He Is Risen

Luke 24:6-7


6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

Today we wake up and go to church. Kids will enjoy hunting eggs and eating candy. It is a beautiful day for family and friends. However, we must remember why we celebrate today. We celebrate that the tomb was empty. We celebrate that our saviour conquered the grave. We celebrate that our saviour, the king if kings and lord of lords, reigns forever. Remember today, that on the third appointed day, the stone was rolled away and Jesus Christ walked out holding the keys to death, hell, and the grave.

Newborn Christians

1 Peter 2:2

2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

Yesterday I decided to do some yard work. I jumped on my zero turn and took off. I did not get far when I heard the belt snap. I was shocked and could not believe it. I had just bought the thing last year. It is practically new. That is when I began to look around and notice that my grass was high and I had the blades set too low. I had rushed and did not raise the blades in order to handle the high grass. That is when I began to think of newborn Christians. They are so eager to change the world. Their lives have been changed and they want to go to war with the enemy. We have to help them to understand that they have to learn to fight before they can fight. I am not saying stop them from working. I am saying help them grow so they know how to work. They are like newborn babies and the enemy knows how to trip them up. However, if those who have a few years in the work of God help and teach them, they will not have to pick themselves up. We can help hold them up until they can run on their own.

Open Our Blinded Eyes

Matthew 12:22

22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.


Did you wake up in a warm home this morning? Did you have a vehicle to drive to work? Do you have someone that is there to encourage you and you there for them? Do you have food in your cabinets? I was praying on my way to work this morning when these questions came to me. I have all of these things. I am a blessed man and at times I forget that many do not share in these blessings. As I drove, I began to realize that the church has become silent and mute to the cries of the world. We hold up in our buildings and think that the world has it better than us. There are people out there waiting for us to reach out and help them, but we have become so arrogant in our suits and ties that we fail to see them. We have become to blind to see the mother with two jobs crying because she still has not made enough to make ends meet. We are blind and cannot see the father not eating at work because he did not have money for lunch when he sets right next to us. We have become blind and do not see the child setting in school who sees nothing but turmoil in their home life. We have become blind to the suffering of those around us. Many of these people just need us to open our mouth. Tell them it is okay to stress. Let them know that we are there for them, but we cannot. We have become mute to the world. Unless they set next to us in a churc, we do not speak to them about the hope that is Jesus. We do not let them know we are there for them. We should speak up. No, I do not mean make a big show to them that are suffering by giving them money in front of everyone. Quietly go to them or just simply leave them a blessing in their vehicle or on the front door to their house. Speak up and ask them are they okay. They may just need someone to give them a kind word. Tell that child that they will be a great adult one day that can change the world. Tell that mother that she is an amazing mother and to always hold her head up. Let that father know that he is an awesome dad and maybe share your lunch with him. It is time we open our eyes to the suffering of the world. It is time we open our lips to the suffering and not only speak of Jesus, but show them Jesus through our kindness. We have been blind and mute to the cries of the world. We have barricaded ourselves into our sanctuaries for far too long. The world needs Christians to get back to work. I fear that if we do not open our eyes and mouths, God is going to show us the suffering that people are going through by simply letting us go through it ourselves.

It Is Finished

John 19:30

30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Those few words that shook the foundations of heaven. Those few words that set the captive free. Those few words that made the enemy tremble. Those few words were, It is finished. When those words were spoken, he declared that the war was over. When he spoke, It is finished, we were set free and awarded our path to heaven. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice. He was tortured and mocked by the very people he had come to set free. However, the freedom he offered was not as the King that they wanted. He knew that he had to set the soul free from bondage. He knew that he had to pay a price that none of us was worthy enough for it to be paid. As they beat him, he looked at the finish line. With each step up Golgotha, he thought of each and every one of us. He took each step as a mighty battle. When they took his hands and drove the spikes to him, he ignored the pain for us. He hung there in
defiance of the excruciating pain. He hung there knowing that the battle was almost won. Then he spoke those final words that ended it all, It is Finished. At that very moment he opened the door to paradise and paid our debt. I thank God that it is finished.