“But we all are as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”

One day I was walking down a nature trail and crossed paths with a lady that was enjoying the beauty of the fall colors. I offered her a gospel tract that said, “Where will you spend eternity?” As she looked at the tract, I briefly explained to her that the tract would show her some scripture concerning heaven. She responds, “This is a little piece of heaven right here”, but then rejected the tract. As I walked away, I thought, how sad. Did the trees look beautiful? Absolutely! It was peak season for colors, every lover of the fall waits all year for this small window of beauty, but guess what, it only lasts for a short time. A little rain or a little wind and the leaves are on the ground, but wait, over the next few months they will all be rotted away on the forest floor. Don’t get caught up in yourself, you may think you have it all figured out, but the Bible says that because of sin we will quickly pass away, just as a leaf. The Bible also says “and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags”. What does that mean exactly? No matter how good you think you are, you’re unworthy in God’s eyes because of sin. Jesus is the one speaking to a lost sinner in Matthew 19:17, He says, “…there is none good but one, that is, God:…” If you’re trusting in anything other than the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the Bible says you will one day perish in hell forever. Life is short. Its like a leaf, its only here for a season and then gone forever. Don’t let your sin take you to hell. Jesus Christ died so you could be forgiven of all sin and you must put your faith and trust in Him. Its not by works, its not by your righteousness, it’s by repentance, and then believing with all your heart that Jesus Christ was God, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day. DON’T die in your sin, its not worth it! Life may look good to you right now, but remember this, James 4:14 “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” You might say, “I will accept Jesus Christ tomorrow.” Tomorrow may be to late! Romans 10:9 tells us that salvation is a decision made in one’s heart, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Make that decision today! In your own words, repent of your sins, and then confess to God that you believe with all your heart that Jesus Christ died, was buried, and rose again. God can’t lie, the Bible says he will save you. Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Memory Verse Week 10/28/19

Isaiah 64:6

“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”

“6. Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? 7. Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation. 8. I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.”

Its hunt day! To one, it may be the first deer ever taken, to another, it could be a nice set of antlers or even a big monster! As the arrow flies you see what looks to be a vital shot. For some, the adrenaline has already been flowing up to the time of trigger squeeze or finger release, but to others, its at arrow impact when the nerves become uncontrollable. What a great feeling! This is what causes hunters to get hooked. Tomorrow and the next year now becomes a dreamful desire to experience that feeling again. Let me ask you this! Do you get that excited about serving Jesus Christ? In this passage of Psalm 85 we can see a people with a desire for revival. Go to that time when Jesus Christ changed your life. What an excitement! It was like the whole world just got lifted off your soul. It feels that way because that is what happens. We live in a day where people don’t want revival. They want their joys and success to come from material gain or big bucks on the wall. Vance Havner said, “revival is when God’s people fall in love with Jesus all over again”. Do you want to experience a real joy in life? Something that will be an everlasting fulfillment? Be a soul winner! Tell others about Jesus Christ. Here is some truth: every person in your life, right now, will open their eyes in hell and suffer for their sins for all of eternity, if you don’t make an effort to share the precious gospel of Jesus Christ with them. Killing animals is a great deal of fun to an avid hunter, or even helping someone else do it, but don’t let that be your only focus in life. When was the last time you shared the gospel with someone? Maybe verbally or even by giving out a gospel tract? As a believer, falling in love with Jesus again is when you begin to take a step forward in putting sin out of your life, or maybe getting more involved in your church, spending more time in prayer and reading your Bible, but most importantly, taking this life changing story to those that are bound for hell. Psalm 85:6 “Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?” When revival comes, so does rejoicing. Rejoice means to experience joy and gladness in a high degree. How is your heart today? How is your happiness? Could it be that you don’t love Jesus Christ like you use to? Could it be that you are trying to fill your joy with the world? When God’s people desire revival, He will send it, the result will then be an experience of joy and gladness in a high degree!

Memory Verse Week 10/21/19

Psalm 85:6

“Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?”

“11. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12. Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

Peter is addressing these believers as strangers and pilgrims. What does that exactly mean? Do you ever feel like a stranger or pilgrim in this world? If you are born again that is exactly how you should feel, like your living in a place that doesn’t feel like home. Do you feel like you have been growing as a Christian? The more you grow closer to Jesus Christ the more you should feel like you don’t belong here. The next four words of this verse is where our focus is today; “abstain from fleshly lusts.” What are people seeing in your life right now. As you complete this day or this week, will people notice you as a born again believer or a backslidden believer? Its sad to see the amount of Christians that show up on Sunday morning worship service, but yet look like a lost sinner the rest of the week. Many Christians are consumed in the fleshly lusts of this world rather than living for Jesus Christ. Sometimes people think lust is just a sinful desire for a man or woman, but lust is defined as longing desire; eagerness to posses or enjoy. Hunting and fishing can be a sinful lust just as much as anything else. Not that there is anything wrong with these things, but when it consumes your mind and your life it becomes unhealthy. Sometimes you watch hunting videos about killing that big buck and the narrator says, “Hunting is my life, I think about filling my buck tag 365 days a year.” You hear that type of language in many different hunting films. Could God really be happy with someone who is always desiring worldly satisfaction for happiness? So everyone at work knows you like to hunt, fish, play ball, or shoot photography. Do they know you love Jesus Christ? Our fleshly lusts make us look more like the world than Jesus Christ and people definitely notice! Stop being a Sunday morning Christian and “abstain from fleshly lusts”. The word abstain means to keep from. There are some lusts that are always sin such as fornication with someone that is not your spouse, drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, doing drugs, buying things you cant afford, but there are also things that become sinful lusts because it becomes excessive in your life. We don’t here much preaching on gluttony, but over eating or eating unhealthy foods could also be fleshly lusts. James 4:17 “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” God wants us to have a proper balance in our lives. Don’t let your fleshly lusts ruin your life! Only you know the things in your life right now that God is not happy with. Go back and read the main two verses again. When we live like a stranger and turn away form worldly satisfaction, people will notice! What are people seeing in you today? Are you glorifying God in your works? Are you abstaining from fleshly lusts?

Memory Verse Week 10/14/19

I Peter 2:11

“Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;”

“1. Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” 3. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.”

Notice the first word of the chapter, Paul addresses the church as “Brethren”. So what does that tell us? Paul is addressing the believer! One who has put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ! Verse 3 is the focus of today! What do people see in your life? Its so sad to see believers that think to much of themselves. You could take this thought and apply it to many sportsman in the world. Many believe that their title is defined by the size of buck they kill, the number of tags they fill, the places they have to hunt, the quality of car they drive, the job they have, or even the size of house they own. Be careful Christian! God hates pride! Proverbs 6:16-17 “These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look…” Looking back at the context the Bible tells us that when a believer thinks of himself as something, he has deceived himself. Maybe this year you will kill the biggest buck of your life, but remember, you are deceiving yourself if you believe that is what will make you to be something. God loves us so much, that is why Jesus Christ died for us, so we can be saved from the nothing that we are. Don’t let pride destroy your life this hunting season! Remember that no matter what you accomplish, we need to stay humble! James 4:10 “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” The real focus of the this passage of scripture is that we need to have a loving testimony to others in the church! Even though they make mistakes, we too need to realize that we are nothing as well! Luke 9:23 “And he said unto them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Pride will destroy every part of life! Its a curse that is part of all of us! We must die to our pride every day and allow God to use our lives for Him!

Memory Verse Week 10/7/19

Luke 9:23

“And he said unto them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”

Be careful who you follow. In today’s world its hard to find truthful preaching on the Television. Instead, there are many that may look like the real deal, but in reality they are nothing more that false teachers. Satan is not this big evil looking red man with horns and pitchfork, he is transformed into an angel of light. Don’t be deceived! Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven! Its by faith and faith alone! Its a decision and acceptance that is made in the heart! Romans 16:17-18 “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” We must not base our relationships or circles off of how nice people are, but we must base it off whether or not they line up with the true, perfect, and inspired Word of God. (That is the King James Bible for the English speaking people, also called the Authorized Version, by the way, King James did not translate the Bible, he authorized it to be done since he was the king of England)

Memory Verse Week 9/30/19

Psalm 57:1

“Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.”

“1. Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. 2. I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me. 3. He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth. 7. My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.”

Webster 1828 defines calamity as any great misfortune, or cause of misery. The introduction to Psalm 57 reads “To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave.” David is not yet king, but he has been anointed by Samuel. He has killed Goliath and conquered tens of thousands of Philistines, but here, we find him in a place of misery and misfortune. David is in fear for his life, but yet he still finds his strength in God. What are some great things God has done in your life? Maybe you can date back to the day you accepted Christ or even a big prayer God answered for you. Its important to realize that God is always faithful, but the Christian walk is not always a smooth ride. Do you realize David has done nothing wrong! He has tried to serve the Lord to the best of his abilities and King Saul is hunting him down to kill him. Life is full of calamities! That doesn’t change who God is! God was allowing these struggles in David’s life so he could have a faith that would be unstoppable. David was in training to be the next king, but it wasn’t going the way he suspected. God is faithful and David knew that. As King Saul seeks his life look at how David responds “…yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.” Difficult times will strengthen you and prepare you for greater things ahead, but are you resting in the shadow of His wings? God promised David that one day he would be the next king of Israel and that was proof that his day of trouble would one day be gone or overpast as the Bible says. David had witnessed God’s faithfulness time and time again, and though he was in an uncomfortable place, he said, “God is my refuge”, “He shall send from heaven, and save me…”, “God shall send forth his mercy and truth”. What kind of an attitude do you have today? Would it please God? Would it be an attitude that would say, “God will bring me through this?” If God led you to it, He will lead you through it. Its sad to see how many believers step out during these times of calamity even though God has been so faithful in the past. Did you know that David’s calamity ended? King Saul died on the battle field for his sin and David became the new king just like God said he would! Stay faithful! God will never fail! Psalm 57:1 “Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.”

Memory Verse Week 9/30/19

Psalm 57:1

“Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.”

“10. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 13. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.”

Some religions like to teach you that salvation is circumstantial based off the sin you commit as a Christian. Is that really true? Does the Bible ever show one person losing their salvation? Some like to use Judas Iscariot as an example, but if you would read about Judas through the new testament you will see that he is always named as the betrayer, never righteous, never saint, but always sinner! Even though Judas was a disciple, he still had to put his faith and trust in Jesus Christ to be saved. Even at the end of his life he had conviction for betraying Jesus, but never found repentance. For that reason he is burning in hell today, not because he lost salvation, but because he never accepted the free gift of eternal life. The focus today is vs 12 of the main context, look at the first half of the verse, the Bible says; “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation…” In your King James Bible you should have an introduction to Psalm 51, it says; To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. King David, the most famous king we could read about, he is even called a man after God’s own heart has fallen into very deep sin. He committed adultery with Bathsheba, but then also orders the death of her husband on the battle field who is a very good man. If King David can commit that kind of sin, what kind of things can the devil do in your life? Psalm 51 is such a powerful Psalm because it shows us that God will forgive us of any sin that we commit. Again, vs 12 shows us that when we live in sin against God we cant have joy. How is your joy today? Could it be that sin is stealing away your joy? Its sad to see how many hunters wont tithe their money as God commands us, but yet there is always money for the corn feeder. How many hunters do you think will suffer from family issues or even divorce this deer season because dad is to consumed? Better yet, how many hunters will neglect God through Sunday worship, their prayer life, or even their Bible reading time for hopes of filling a deer or elk tag? Moses was in line to probably be the next Pharaoh, but look what Hebrews 11:25 “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;” Moses was more concerned is serving God than he was in having the material gain and success of this world. Is there pleasure in Sunday hunting? Of course! Is there pleasure in running up the credit line for new equipment? Sure! Is it fun to spend days, weeks, or even months on end chasing that critter? Most would say yes, but what about your family? Better yet what about your relationship with God? The Bible says you may find pleasure in sin, but remember its only for a season and King David’s life showed that there is no joy in it! What sin or sins are keeping you from joy today? David says “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” God forgave David because he had a heart of repentance. Maybe hunting is not your struggle, but everyone struggles with sin. Don’t let it have victory over you! Do you have a clean heart today? If you are truly sorry for the wrong things you do, God will forgive you and He will forgive you of anything! Don’t think that hunting is wrong, because its a lot of fun. Make sure your balance is right! Make sure your joy is found in Jesus Christ and not the things of this world! Proverbs 11:1 “A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.”

Memory Verse Week 9/23/19

Psalm 51:10

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”