Cast it down and destroy it, before it is too late!

(2Co 10:5) “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God…” In the O.T. whenever God introduced a new King, He always mentioned the words, “ he did right in the eyes of the Lord,” or “he did evil in the eyes of the Lord.” Time and time again, the Lord was displeased with Israel and Judah for not tearing down the high places that were erected by Solomon (because of his ungodly wives), and Jeroboam, Israel’s first king of the northern tribes. The high places were places erected to sacrifice to devils and false gods, and God instructed Israel long before to get rid of them utterly or their children would find them. Only one King (Hezekiah) out of 40 kings of Israel, had the spiritual obedience to destroy them, and as a result God brought a great revival. A few weeks back we had revival meetings and many of us made decisions to change, but the question is have we kept our word. In the above verse, God is instructing us to tear down the high places, and to stop making excuses for why we let them remain. Israel did so, and as a result their children found them, and fell away from the God of heaven. All because they thought it was no big deal to keep them around. Don’t be surprised, if that sin you keep around ends up being the very sin that your children pick up on and worship. Cast it down and destroy it, before it is too late!

Love To Give

How can we as Christians develop a heart that loves to give? I think the answer to this question can easily be answered by simply putting God and His Word first in our life. When we do, our hearts will automatically desire to give as it should. As a Pastor, I always here of Christians being short money, and some even use that as an excuse for why they don’t give as they ought, but the real problem is not their lack of money but rather their lack of faith. If God is not first, fear will do the deciding for you. (2 Cor. 8:12) says, “For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.” 10% of nothing is nothing, but 10% of any amount is still something. It’s the heart that determines the amount we give, to whom we give it, and the degree for which God basis His blessings back. (2 Cor. 9:6-7) “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” If we love God and obey His Word, God will honor us. If we are content with what God has provided and not greedy, God will continue to be gracious. If we will just believe and obey the known will of God, God promises to provide for our every need. God cannot respond to fear and doubt, so stop making excuses, put God first, and give from the heart.