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Happy Thanksgiving

Posted on by Jesse Walker

Hello all.  Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families. As you take time to make sure the turkey is brined, that the mac and cheese is perfect, and that the dressing is ready, I hope you will remember to give thanks to God. There are many things we can all be thankful for. As you sit around the table this Thursday, I’d like to challenge you to share some of your favorite verses with each other.  Below are a few of my favorites as I think about being thankful. As you gather for dinner, maybe you can each read a verse, and discuss why it is your favorite. These are a few of my favorites as I think about being thankful.

  1. Because God created you.  Psalm 139:13-14 –  “13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
  2. God’s love is unfailing. Psalms 13:5 – “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.
  3. God is good and his mercy never ends. Psalm 100:5 – “ For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”
  4. God answers prayers. Psalm 118:21 “I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.”
  5. God guides me. Psalm 16:7 – “I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.”

I know there are many, many more verses you can find for reasons to be thankful. I will close with this thought.  Psalm 69:30-31 – “I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. 31 This will please the Lord more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hooves.”   As you give thanks to God this week.  Know that God is wanting a people who will shout out to him in song and praise. God has done enough for all of us in one day to last us a lifetime. Let us be a people that never stop giving Him praise for all that he has done. For all that he is doing. And for all that he will do.

Grace Flows for All

Posted on by Jesse Walker

How would you feel if you worked all day for your employer, and at the end of the day, he paid everyone the same wage? Even those who came to work a little late that morning. Or even those who only came to work for a couple of hours. All received the same amount of pay.

Did you know, there is a story like this in the bible. In Matthew 20:1-16, Jesus tells of a farmer who hired workers at various times of the day. All of the workers who were hired early in the morning agreed to work for one day’s wage. While the others agreed to accept whatever the farmer thought was fair. In other words, they trusted the farmer to pay fairly.

At the end of the day, the farmer calls all of the workers together, and pays them all the same wage. You can imagine how this made the early workers terribly unhappy. By their calculations, they were do more. They had worked longer and harder than those who only worked a very few hours. They believed because they had worked longer, they deserved more money. Which I’m sure is what you and I would have done if we were in that same situation. But Jesus replies in Matthew 19:13-16, “I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?” “So, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

There are numerous messages we can take from this story. One is that we are not to be people who are jealous when others are blessed, and we aren’t. Are you mad that Jesus offers grace to those that you think are worse sinners than yourself? Are you angered that he accepts a thief’s request upon his death bed and promises him he will be with him in paradise? Are you mad when another church is growing faster than your own?

This story contradicts our thinking. It makes no earthly sense. But that’s the point. It’s not supposed to make earthly sense. Jesus isn’t telling a story about working and getting paid. He’s telling a story about grace. And how wonderful it is. And how it’s offered to everyone. Salvation is a gift. You don’t earn your salvation.

Jesus is still addressing the rich young rulers’ question in Matthew 19:16, “What must I do to be saved” and with Peter’s question in Matthew 19:27, “we have left everything to follow you, what will be left for us.” The answer is found in Matthew 19:29-30 where Jesus says, “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for the sake of My name will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

What the rich young ruler needed to know, is putting Jesus first, not the perfect keeping of the law, is what made the difference. What Peter needed to know, is no one who has sacrificed for God, will go unrewarded. What the early morning workers needed to know, the midday workers and the late day workers, is salvation is a gift. You can’t earn it. No amount of work will ever pay our debt. That debt was paid in full by God when he accepted the sinless life of his Son.

I don’t know where you are today, in your walk with God. But the good news is, it’s not too late. If you’re listening to this message, then you can receive grace. Your age, your wealth, your efforts don’t matter. What matters, is do you know Jesus. If you need help, please leave me a message. And I will do all I can to share the wonderful message of salvation with you.

When God Has Spoken

Posted on by Jesse Walker

Have you ever been lied to by someone you trusted? By even someone in a leadership position in the church. In 1 Kings 13 there is a young prophet who was lied to by an old prophet. The young prophet is told to go to Bethel and proclaim that Josiah, the son of David, will one day sacrifice their false prophets on this altar.  And the young prophet did this very bravely. In fact, when King Jeroboam stretched out his hand to have him seized, his arm became shriveled up. When asked by the king, the young prophet prayed to God, and his hand was restored. Thus, the King invited him to his house to eat and drink and to give him a gift. But the young prophet refuses to go. In 1 Kings 13:9, he reveals why he would not go. “For I was commanded by the word of the Lord,” You mut not eat bread or drink water or return by the way you came.”

As the events of this day roll on, there is an old prophet who lies or misleads the young prophet. He tells him he was told by an angel to invite him to his house to eat bread and drink water with him. Weather the old prophet lied or heard from an angel we do not know. He may have heard from a deceiving angle. For in 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 were told that Satan and his messengers can appear as angels of light.

There are several reasons I suppose that the younger prophet believed the older prophet. He may have respected the old prophet because he said he heard from an angel. He may have just respected him because he was older. He may have been physically tiered and hungry. So, what are we to learn from this story?

First, we must always remember to never turn back from the work of God. When God has told you to do something. We are to carry that out without letting others sidetrack us. This young prophet received a word from God directly. He should have listened to God and not a man. Today, we get our word primarily from the bible. And we are to be faithful to it. And not to let others lead us astray. Obedience is key in the life of a believer. Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love me, keep my commandments.”

Secondly, we are to test every spirit. Just because someone says they are a preacher, a teacher, or a prophet, check out what they say. Make sure it aligns with God’s word. Not everyone who claims to be a Christian is a Christian. Not everyone who is in a leadership role is faithful. Matthew 7:15-23 warns all believers to “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits.” This young prophet may not have been a good fruit inspector.

Thirdly, no one is above the law. The evil, disobedient King Jeroboam will be judged, and the prophet of God will be judged. Disobedience has its own reward. According to Romans 14:12, “Each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.” Your position, or title will not save you. In fact, those who are trusted with greater responsibility will be held to a higher standard. Luke 12:48 says, “To whom much is given, much will be required.”

Fourthly, when you are facing a tough decision. Always consult with God. No where do we see the young prophet asking God what he should do. Matthew 24:4-5, “take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many”. We need to be people who always drop to our knees before we make a decision that can cost us our salvation. God will always provide a way for those who are truly seeking his advice.

Let us all learn to be a people that trust more in the word of God than we do in the many words of men.

Stand Still – Let God Move

Posted on by Jesse Walker

Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Can I ask you a question, are you good at doing nothing? I don’t mind telling you, this is not one of my strongest traits. I have to practice it. There is always the next project to complete. The next meeting to attend. The next ball game, practice, or school event to get to.

We get on the merry-go-round and around and around it goes. We get on, we get off, we get on and we get off. Never seeming to complete what we intended to complete. And the cycle repeats itself over and over. Sometimes, it’s as if we are sleepwalking through life. Always chasing the next promotion, the next career, the next season of our lives. We can’t wait for the kids to go to school. We can’t wait for school to be out. We chase after the bigger house, the nicer car, the better job. When do we just stop and stand still and enjoy the blessings God has given us.? To truly hear God’s voice, we must retreat from the chaos of life and enter a place of quietness. An example of this was recorded for us in Mark 1:35 where it says, “very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”

If you’re truly seeking a deeper relationship with God, or seeking solace, or seeking guidance, you must stand still. In Exodus 14:13-14, Moses told the Israelites to standstill and watch what God will do for them. This would be good advice for all of us today as well. We should all learn to standstill and watch the hand of God at work in our lives. If we’re truthful, there are many times when the hustle and grind of our daily lives, stop us from seeing the workings of God.

In Mark 10:49 we read, “And Jesus Stood Still.” This was on the occasion when Jesus being followed by a large crowd, heard a blind man named Bartimaeus, crying out “Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stood still and healed Bartimaeus. If Jesus hadn’t stood still, Bartimaeus would not have been healed. Jesus was on a tight schedule. He had multiple events to attend before ascending up to heaven. Before his date with the cross. But Jesus in that moment of the day, found time to stand still.

My prayer is that we become people that are never too busy to hear the cry for help. That we are never too busy to stop and stand still. Isiaih 40:29-31 says, “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tiered and weary, and young, men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.” The truth is, we have all been tired. We have all needed our strength renewed. This is only possible when we take the time to do nothing.

John C. Maxwell said in his book “Think on These Things,” when pressures are pressing, schedules are screaming, and the world is whirling, don’t just do something -stand still.” May I encourage you today to stop and standstill. God knows exactly what you need, and He will renew your strength so you can soar on eagle wings.

Moving Mountains

Posted on by Jesse Walker

In Matthew 17:20, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” I have wondered for years just exactly how little is this kind of faith? I know the mustard seed is a tiny seed. But can a small amount of faith really move mountains? Can it be enough in the darkest moments of our lives? Can it keep us strong when we’re feeling so weak and vulnerable. When it seems we can’t even stand, can this tiny faith move mountains.

But I think I may have gained a little insight into this verse over the years. You see, it has little to do with us, and everything to with God. It’s God who is able to do more than we can ask or imagine according to Ephesians 3:20-21. It’s in our moments of crushing, that God turns our weakness into power. When we can no longer rely upon ourselves, or our strength, we must turn to God. And in that moment of mustard seed faith, He acts. He moves our mountains.

Yes, I believe that’s it. What we need is enough faith to trust in God. To turn it over to him even when our faith is as tiny as a mustard seed. When we have been crushed, we cry out to Abba Father. And our daddy hears our voice. And like our earthly father, He comes along side us to comfort us. There is a beautiful picture of this faith in the garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus cried out Abba Father in Mark 13:36.  While sweating drops of blood, Jesus took what faith he had, and cried out to his Father. Daddy, help me, take this cup from me. But if not, your will be done. In a sense, Jesus says to his Father, give me the strength to finish what I have begun. And He did. You talk about moving mountains. That night mountains were moved. And when the deed was done the Sky darkened, and the earth stood still. The faith of a mustard seed conquered death.

It is God, that can move mountains with the spoken word. It is God that parted the sea so his people could walk across on dry ground. It is God that gave his only begotten Son so we wouldn’t have to face the sting of death. How do we move mountains with tiny faith? Like John the Baptist said in John 3:30, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” We with our little faith, decrease, so God with his unlimited power can increase.

Do you have mountains in your life today that you need help with moving? Can I encourage you to take your crushing and allow God to turn it into power. Putting whatever little faith you have, into the hands of an Almighty God is the beginning of something big, like a mountain.

Supernatural Hope

Posted on by Jesse Walker

 

Life can be very tough. There are times when we feel all alone. The road seems long, and the burden seems extra heavy. You may be feeling that way this morning. Can I encourage you right now wherever you are, to know that in times like this you need to remind yourself of what God has said in Hebrews 13:5, “Never will I leave you; Never will I forsake you.”

The Apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Romans 15:13 and said, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy spirit you may abound in hope.”   This is a powerful statement of what God does for his children. God provides all those who believe in Him with hope and peace as they continue to seek Him.  But this isn’t an ordinary event. No, he does it through a supernatural power, his Holy Spirit.

In challenging times, it can become easy to shrink back. To withdraw and to close the world off. Or to think that God isn’t listening, or that God doesn’t see your pain. That is a lie the devil wants you to believe. Can I encourage you today, that if you are feeling hopeless that the God of Hope and Peace is standing nearby. He is ready and willing to supply you with supernatural hope through his Holy Spirit. We are remined in Matthew 19:26, that “all things are possible with God.” And in Ephesians 3:20, that God is “able to do more than we can ask or imagine.” I pray you will lean on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to comfort you with hope and peace that is beyond this world.

Is your heart fully engaged?

Posted on by Jesse Walker

Have you ever found yourself running through the routines of life without much thought put into it? You know you hustle into class with your attention a mile away? Or with a thousand different things on your mind. You hope the preacher hasn’t prepared one of those long sermons.  You have a softball game to get to, a picnic planned, a bike ride, or an afternoon at the lake.  All good family activities.

I suppose we have all done that at one time or another.  Life can be hard to leave at the door on Sunday mornings. Our minds are cluttered with distractions. But can I challenge you to take a moment and breath, and to slow down and ask God to help you prepare. Before you head out the door, or maybe in the car, ask God to help you get ready for worship. Simply say, Lord thank you for loving me. Thank you for carrying me when I couldn’t stand. Lord, thank you for saving my marriage, and thank you for giving me my job. Father, thank you for never giving up on me. Thank you for walking with me through the valley of death when my enemy was all around. Thank you for carrying the load when I couldn’t. These simple words will help you dump the things in life that aren’t really that important.  And when you arrive at the doors of the building, you will be ready to help others see what God has done for them.  If they need a shoulder to cry on, you’ll be ready. If they need someone to rejoice with, you got it.  And your Father in heaven will smile down from heaven and accept your worship as a sweet aroma. Not because of perfection or imperfections, but because of an honest heart.

No God is not seeking perfectionist. Or those who think they can do it on their own. He’s seeking an honest and pure heart.  In Matthew 15:8 we read of those whom Jesus said, “’These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me”.  Church let’s check ourselves this morning, and make sure we are not just giving God lip service but that our hearts are fully engaged. Then our sacrifices will be acceptable and rise before Him as a sweet aroma. And this is Jesse Walker with the Glenwood Church of Christ.

Stand Strong

Posted on by Jesse Walker

How long do you think a football player would last in a game today without a helmet or shoulder pads before getting injured?  My guess is not very long.

The same is true for a Christian who enters the game today without being properly dressed. You don’t have to do anything to enter this game. If you’re a child of God, the devil makes it his mission to seek you out and to defeat you.

So, what can you do to prevent him from succeeding?  I’m glad you asked. Like a football player you need proper equipment. In Ephesians 6:11-18 there are several things mentioned that can help us.

First, we must stand in the power of God’s might. We can never unplug from God. This is a supernatural battle, and we need supernatural power to defeat our enemy. We must put on all the armor of God. No single piece of equipment is going to win the battle for us. It will take everything God has given us to defeat the enemy. We fight with the truth. When Jesus was tempted, he fought back with the word of God when he said, “it is written”. We fight with righteousness. We have been redeemed. We are seen as righteous in the eyes of God. We are holy, a people separated unto God’s glory. Our faith shields us from the fiery darts of the devil. We know that nothing can separate us from the love of God. We fight with the Gospel of Peace. We have a peace that passes all understanding. We stay alert and we pray often.

Don’t be fooled, the devil seeks you every minute of every day, and you need the power of God to win this battle. You can never unplug from God. He is your power source. Suit up brothers and sisters, and stand.

Finding Healing Through Forgiveness

Posted on by Jesse Walker

 

How do we forgive when we have been seriously hurt or injured by someone we love or was supposed to love us? I’m not going to lie. This is a very difficult thing to do. But there is hope. With the help of God, all things are possible. And you may need to seek professional help.

But if you hear nothing else, please hear this. You are precious in the eyes of God. You were created in God’s image. You were woven in your mother’s womb. In other words, God formed your DNA. He wanted you to be born. You are not an accident. Your parents might have had an accidental pregnancy. But you were no accident. And your value isn’t determined by other’s actions. Your value is determined by your heavenly Father. Please know that sad isn’t bad. While it is very sad that you were seriously hurt. You are not bad. You are not guilty of their mistakes.

So how do you move on? How do you release your anger and resentment? One thing that might help is to remind yourself that as a child of God you are commanded to forgive. Not only forgive them, but in other verses were told to pray for them. This may seem ridiculous at first. But if you consider that God is a God that gave his Son for you, you know how much he loves you. He’s not asking you to do this for no reason. Obviously, there must be a better reason. But what could that reason be? Could it be that God knows what you need most is to turn your pain over to him. And let him carry it for you? Could it be through prayer you can speak directly to Jesus. Who knows what it is to be innocent and to suffer, even to die, having done nothing wrong.

I think another thing we must remember is that forgiveness is not acting as if what was done is okay. Or acting as if it never happened. Forgiveness does not  remove any punishment they may have to serve for breaking the law. Forgiveness does not allow them to pull you down. It’s like trying to save someone who is drowning. If they try and drown you with them, you are not required to save them. That is not love. That is foolishness.

There is an old Chinese proverb that says, “He who seeks revenge should remember to dig two graves.” The longer you hold resentment and anger inside of you, you are burying yourself alive.  In the first chorus of “Burdens are lifted at calvary,” it says,

Days are filled with sorrow and care

Hearts are lonely and drear
Burdens are Lifted at Calvary
Jesus is very near

Remember surrendering to Jesus at calvary is where your burdens are lifted. And as you grow closer to God, he draws closer to you. Jesus becomes near. I am very sorry others didn’t see the value in you or live up to their responsibilities. But the truth is, if you don’t release it, you will end up drowning in it. And if you’re not careful, you will pass down the same guilt to your children one day. To break the curse, you must learn to forgive.

What is your greatest accomplishment?

Posted on by Jesse Walker

 

What is your greatest accomplishment?  Some interviewers love to ask this question. They want to hear from you what you believe is your greatest achievement as it relates to the position you are applying for. For a software engineer, that might be how fast they completed a software upgrade. Or the amount of money they saved their company while preventing cyber-attacks.

As a child of God what is your greatest achievement? If you’re like me, I don’t have any trophy’s setting on my desk for being some super-duper Christian. I haven’t written any books. And those sitting close by me on Sunday morning, can testify it’s not my angelic voice.  So, what does God see as our greatest achievements?  I hope it’s my love for Him. I hope it’s how much He knows I can’t live without him. And how sorry I am when I mess up.

Could it be that our greatest achievement is that we refuse to give up?  That we aren’t who we once were. After all, all of us were once like the prodigal son. We were lost but we are found, we were blind, but now we can see. Maybe our greatest achievements don’t seem like much, but maybe they are everything to God.

Because we have changed, we care more for others than we care for ourselves. We are willing to sacrifice in order that others can have what they need. We meet on Sundays to encourage others to stay in the race. We make phone calls, send cards, and make visits. Why? Because we have changed.  No, it won’t ever be printed in the local paper, but it means a lot to our Heavenly Father who calls us to be imitators of Him.

When Elijah was on the run from Queen Jezebel, God reminded him in 1 Kings 19:18 that “there were 7,000 who had not bowed their knee down to Baal”.   We don’t know these 7,000 by name, but they made a difference in the life of a struggling saint just by remaining faithful. In Judges 7:7, God told Gideon he would defeat the Midianites with just 300 of his soldiers. These 300 men made a difference. God said to Abraham in Genesis 18:32, “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it”.  In Matthew 18:19-20, Jesus said, “I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” In Luke 10:1 we read that Jesus “sent them two by two”.

I pray today that you will know that you are needed. Not because you are famous or not famous, but because you are part of the family of God. You are the hands and feet of God. Your greatest achievements may seem small to some, but to God, you are one of the ones, whom Jesus said, “For as much as you have done it unto one of these, you have done it unto me.”  Can I encourage you to remain strong and to continue to serve.  And this is Jesse Walker with the Glenwood Church of Christ.