From His Heart

[Judy Harder]

ABOVE ALL, PRAY

Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart ... — Luke 18:1

I have a penetrating question for you.  Are you willing to honestly answer it?  How is your prayer life?  Is it vibrant, active, and powerful?  Are you seeing God answer your prayers on a regular basis? 

The sad truth for many of us is this: Our prayer life is far from where we want it to be and need it to be.  Oftentimes our prayers are boring and stale, lacking heart and passion.  Our mind wanders in prayer, and it is hard to stay focused.  We ask God for things in prayer, but we get discouraged easily when we don't see immediate answers.  The bottom line?  Most of us struggle with prayer.

WHY IS IT HARD TO PRAY?             

Prayer is hard.  It is not like running a four-minute mile hard, something only a few can do, and then only after years of intense training.  But prayer is hard for this key reason: It is the thing the devil fights most.  Why is that?  The devil knows that prayer links our nothingness with God's almighty power.  The devil knows that prayer is critical in yielding victory and fruitfulness to the life of a Christian.  So the devil works like crazy to keep you and me off our knees.

In the Book of Acts, the disciples prayed 10 days and preached 10 minutes and saw 3000 saved.  Today, we preach 10 days and pray 10 minutes and wonder why nothing is happening.  Could it be that power is linked to prayer?  I believe so.   

In the Gospels, you cannot find many passages that speak of Jesus studying the Scriptures (although we know He did, based on His quotations), but you can find lots of references to His prayer life.  In fact, He sometimes prayed all night.  What does that tell us?  If the Son of God saw the need to pray, how much more should we?  Without question, the warfare is prayer.  James said, "You do not have, because you do not ask" (James 4:2).

But sometimes we ask, and God doesn't seem to answer.  We hit a roadblock in prayer ... and often lose heart, throw in the towel, and quit praying.  Can you relate?

PERSISTENCE IS THE KEY

In Luke 18, Jesus told the parable of the widow going before the unrighteous judge, day after day saying, "Give me legal protection from my opponent" (Luke 18:3).  The unrighteous judge did not want to help her.  He couldn't care less about her.  But because of her persistence, because she knew she was within her legal rights and wouldn't stop pleading her case, he did what she asked in order to get her off his back.   

Here is the prayer lesson: If an unrighteous judge responds to persistence, how much more does your Father, the righteous and loving Judge, respond when His own dear children keep asking Him to do what is written and promised in His Word?   

Let me encourage you as I encourage myself.  Find the promises in His Word, and cling to them in prayer.  Pray according to His will, and don't stop until you see Him answer you.  God is a good God who longs to do great and mighty things in and through His people.  His power and blessings come to those who, with a pure heart, persist in prayer.

Dr. R. A. Torrey, the great evangelist of yesteryear said this, "Pray for great things, expect great things, work for great things, but above all, pray."  To that, I say, "Amen!"                                           

Pastor Jeff Schreve
From His Heart Ministries                                                       

P.S. Discover that you are not alone in prayer. Allow many people to join you in prayer. Go to www.fromhisheart.org/prayer.

[Judy Harder]

HOW IS YOUR PASSION?

But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. — Revelation 2:4

My father-in-law, Gerald Canon, was a pastor in the greater Houston area for over fifty years. He was a wonderful man with a wealth of Bible knowledge. When I was just beginning to teach my first Sunday school class, I would call him to pick his brain.

I remember asking him about David being called "a man after My [God's] heart" (Acts 13:22). I posed this question to him one day, "Gerald, what do you think it means exactly, to be a man after God's own heart?"

He answered with wisdom and insight, "David had a great passion, love and desire for God. The things that were important to God were important to David. That's at the core of what it means." Well put!

GREAT PASSION?

In Revelation 2:4, the Lord rebukes the church in Ephesus for leaving their first love. Remember, the greatest commandment of all is to love God with all you've got (see Matthew 22:37-38). If you leave your first love, you miss the most important thing of all. If you leave your first love, your passion for Jesus starts to wane.

How is your passion and love for the Lord Jesus these days?  Are you "on fire," "lukewarm," or "getting cold"?  Do you want to take a little test to check your spiritual temperature? (Let me warn you, it is convicting.)

You know you have left your first love when:

You delight more in someone else than in God.
Your soul does not long for one-on-one time with God.
Your thoughts during leisure moments are rarely on God.
You view the commands of God as restrictions on your life.
You inwardly strive for the approval of man rather than the approval of God.
You refuse to give up questionable activities.
You fail to make Christ known for fear of rejection.
You are unwilling to forgive another.
You become complacent of sin around you.   
THE REMEDY

What do you do if your passion for Christ has obviously waned?  What do you do if you are guilty, as the church in Ephesus was, of leaving your first love?  You heed the words of Jesus:

"Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you, and will remove your lamp stand out of its place—unless you repent." —Revelation 2:5

PRAYER OF REPENTANCE

Perhaps you need to pray this prayer of repentance:

Lord, when I honestly evaluate my heart for You, I see that I am guilty of leaving my first love. I don't want to be a lukewarm Christian who is half-heartedly in love with You. Change my heart, God. Set my soul on fire. Help me to be so passionate about You. Thank You for the cross, Lord Jesus. Let me never forget how much You love me and what You paid to save me. I surrender anew and afresh to Your will and Your ways for me. Amen.

Remember, "We love, because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19). Passion problems require a fresh look at the cross of Jesus Christ. Why not reread the crucifixion accounts in the Gospels and watch The Passion of the Christ? You will be powerfully reminded of His unfathomable love for you, and your heart will start beating passionately once again for Him.                                       

Pastor Jeff Schreve

From His Heart Ministries                                                         

P.S. Discover that you are not alone in prayer. Allow many people to join you in prayer. Go to www.fromhisheart.org/prayer.

[Judy Harder]

THE KISSES OF AN ENEMY

Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss? - Luke 22:48

It was late Thursday night.  Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane with his disciples.  He was deeply grieved to the point of death, praying to His Father and sweating drops of blood as the weight of the sin of the whole world was pressing upon Him.  He knew the arresting soldiers were on their way.  To add to His agony, His disciples were asleep ... all except Judas.

Judas was wide awake as he led Caiaphas' wicked posse to Jesus.  Judas was a thief and a lover of money (John 12:6).  He sold Jesus out for a mere thirty pieces of silver, the price of a slave.  Stop and think about that:  Judas sold out the holy, eternal, unfathomable God for the price of a lowly slave.  How tragic!  How inconceivable!

The Bible tells us that it was at the Last Supper, after Jesus had washed the disciples' feet (Judas included) and instituted the Lord's Supper (the new covenant in His blood), that Satan entered Judas.  How boldly arrogant and offensive for Satan to enter Judas right in the Lord's physical presence!  With Satan firmly in charge of him, Judas, a picture of the Antichrist to come, went to lead the soldiers to Gethsemane.  He betrays Jesus with, of all things, a kiss.  Isn't that just like the devil?  It is not enough to merely stab Jesus in the back with betrayal; he also has to twist the knife in the process.  Betrayed with a kiss ... a kiss straight from hell.   

BETRAYAL

Can you identify with Jesus?  Have you ever been betrayed?  Have you ever had someone "kiss you" with deceitful kindness so that they could gut you down the road?  Many a wife or husband has experienced the kisses of a "best friend" who subversively steals away the marriage.  Many a friend has experienced the kisses of a "trusted" confidant who then goes out and betrays that confidence to the gossipers.  Many a leader has experienced the kisses of so-called supporters who delightfully malign his character behind the scenes.   

What are we to do if we receive the kisses of betrayal from a trusted friend?  Get angry ... resentful ... and bitter?  Curse God and die?  NO!  We are to do what Jesus did and pray, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing."  It is amazing how potential bitterness will evaporate in your heart when you pray for the well-being and blessing of those who have hurt you.

What are we to do if we find ourselves in the role of betrayer?  We are NOT to do what Judas did.  When he saw that Jesus was condemned to die, he was overcome with grief and remorse.  But instead of repenting before God, He returned the thirty pieces of silver and went out and hanged himself.  As Dr. Adrian Rogers so poignantly explained, "Trying to escape the hell within him, he stepped into the hell before him."  What a tragic picture of wasted privileges was this man, Judas Iscariot.

If you find yourself guilty of betrayal, you must get things right with God and the person you betrayed.  Peter was guilty of betrayal.  In the Lord's great time of need, Peter cursed and swore and said, "I don't even know the man!"  And what did Peter do then?  He went out and wept bitterly, and he repented of his sin and received forgiveness from God.  You can do the same.

GOOD FRIDAY AND EASTER SUNDAY

The lessons of Good Friday and Easter Sunday are numerous.  The overarching message is clear, however:  No matter what terrible things you may have done, your sins can be forgiven in His name.  No matter how long you may have lived in sin and selfishness, no matter how low you may have sunk, no matter what hurt you may have endured, you can receive a fresh start and a new beginning from the King of Glory!   

The Lord really does love you.  He allowed Himself to be betrayed (He knew what Judas was doing every step of the way) and willingly went to the cross so He could pay for all your sins and mine.  He wants to have a relationship with you that is genuine, personal, and life-changing.  It starts when you confess your sins and turn from those sins to Jesus Christ.

Will you do it?  Will you get things right with God and those you may have hurt?  Will you let go of the bitterness you may be carrying over those who have betrayed you?  There is nothing as wonderful as knowing your heart is clean, pure, and free because of the blood of Jesus.  And that can be true of you today.

Pastor Jeff Schreve,
From His Heart Ministries                                                           

P.S. Discover that you are not alone in prayer. Allow many people to join you in prayer. Go to www.fromhisheart.org/prayer.

Jeff Schreve founded From His Heart Ministries, www.fromhisheart.org, in 2005 with the vision to reach as many people as possible with the good news of God's love. Jeff believes that no matter how badly you may have messed up in life, God still loves you and has a great plan just for you. He broadcast on radio, TV and in the internet around the world from his pulpit ministry as Pastor of First Baptist in Texarkana, Texas. This ministry is completely listener/viewer supported. It continues only through the faithful and generous gifts of people like you. Pastor Jeff takes no income from this ministry. All gifts go to further the broadcast.

[Judy Harder]

THE UPS AND DOWNS OF PRAYER

And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Thy bond-servants may speak Thy word with all confidence, while Thou dost extend Thy hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Thy holy servant Jesus.  Acts 4:29-30

One of the greatest gifts God has ever given man is the gift of prayer.  Why is prayer such a special and wonderful gift?  Because it links our need with His supply, our nothingness with His almighty power.  God wants us to pray, and He has promised to answer when we do (Jer. 33:3).

Ah, but here is the kicker: Many of us have prayed and prayed and prayed ... and have not yet seen our answer come.  We believe God for the miracle we need, but we languish in the waiting room as we wait on Him to do what we have requested.  Why does God seem to be so slow in answering our prayers?

Here are some of the reasons why:

1. The answer is no.  Sometimes we are asking God for things that are not in keeping with His good and perfect will for our lives.  In that case, His answer will be no.  If we continue on in that request, His answer will not change.  God told Moses he would not go into the Promised Land because of the rock striking incident.  Moses prayed for God to reverse His decision.

Here is what Moses said about that prayer - "But the LORD was angry with me on your account, and would not listen to me; and the LORD said to me, 'Enough! Speak to Me no more of this matter'" (Deuteronomy 3:26).  When God says, "No," we need to say, "Yes, Lord.  You know best."

2. The timing is not right.  God is much more interested in timing than He is time.  We, on the other hand, are much more interested in time.  We would love for God to act like a microwave oven.  Pop in the prayer request and get a piping hot answer within minutes.  But God isn't like that and doesn't typically operate that way.  Often our prayers are on target, but the timing is not.

God has work to do behind the scenes to prepare all the particulars for the answer to come at the precise time.  For instance, Abraham and Sarah were promised a son.  No doubt, they claimed that promise in prayer, yet the promise didn't come to fruition until nearly 30 years later.  Was God late?  No, He was right on time.

God does all things well (see Mark 7:37).  Remember, the ultimate goal of prayer is not just to get your answer, but to draw near to God.  Abraham grew stronger in faith and closer to the Lord as He waited on Him to bring about the answer, his son of miracle birth, little Isaac.                       

3. The Lord has a better plan.  Paul prayed for God to remove his thorn in the flesh, and God said, "I've got a better plan.  I will use it to pour out My grace and shine more brightly through you."  Paul responded by saying to the effect, "That sounds awesome.  Thank you, Lord."   

THE PRAYER THAT GETS AN IMMEDIATE ANSWER

There is a prayer in the Bible that God longs to answer.  It is the prayer the disciples prayed in Acts 4.  When they finished that prayer, God immediately answered, and He punctuated His answer with an earthquake.  It was God's way of saying, "Hallelujah!  Now you are getting it!  That is the prayer I want to answer more than anything else!"  What did they request?  Boldness to speak His Word and be the witness He wanted them to be ... and the Holy Spirit's power to work through them so that the name of Jesus would be glorified.  God loved that prayer, and He longs to answer it today for you and me.

WHAT TO DO?

In your prayer life:

1. Quit asking for those things that He has already said no to.  "Not my will, but Yours be done." 

2. Keep asking for the things that He has said yes to but have not yet come to pass.  God loves and honors persistence.

3. Start asking for Him to give you boldness, confidence and power so that you can be the witness He wants you to be.

Pastor Jeff Schreve

From His Heart Ministries                             

P.S. Discover that you are not alone in prayer. Allow many people to join you in prayer. Go to www.fromhisheart.org/prayer

[Judy Harder]

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO SATAN

"God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent." - Acts 17:30

No doubt you have heard of The Gospel According to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.  But, have you heard of The Gospel According to Satan?  It is saturating our world today, and it is even being embraced and disseminated in churches that call themselves Christian.  Perhaps you yourself have unknowingly bought into The Gospel According to Satan.

So, what is this Gospel?  It is a teaching that says you can be right with God apart from repentance.  The Gospel According to Satan refuses to agree with God on the issue of sin.  Furthermore, this false gospel jumps through hoops to explain away clear cut sin and immorality.  With The Gospel According to Satan, sex before marriage is so trivial we no longer even consider it as wrong.  Living together and having children together outside of holy confines of marriage is as common as the sniffles.  Homosexuality, a form of sexual expression that the Bible has clearly called sin from the dawn of civilization, is now something to be championed and celebrated ... even in the church.

The favorite sermon in The Gospel According to Satan is "I'm OK, You're OK."  High points in this sermon are as follows: "God loves you just the way you are.  There is nothing you need to do but just continue living as you are, basking in His love and unconditional acceptance.  Rest assured heaven is for you, regardless of what you believe or how you live, because, after all, you are a good person ... and all good people go to heaven."     

The Gospel According to Satan is a lie.  That should be no shock to anyone, since Jesus said Satan was "a liar, and the father of lies" (John 8:44).  If you believe his lies and his false gospel, you will die and go to hell forever and ever.

WHAT IS THE TRUE GOSPEL?

The truth is that God does love us just the way we are ... but He cannot accept us just the way we are.  God is holy and cannot tolerate sin in His presence.  Make no mistake; we are all wicked sinners before a holy God.  We have willfully broken His law and gone our own way (Isaiah 53:6).  We are traveling in the wrong direction, on the broad road that leads to eternal hell.  We are in serious trouble.  We are in desperate need.  We can't save ourselves.  God knows this.  That is why He sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins, and pay a debt we could not pay.       

Unless and until we recognize our sinfulness before God, repent (change our mind regarding sin, self, and the Savior), and turn from our sins to Jesus Christ, we will never be saved.

Repentance is critical and crucial.  John the Baptist preached, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 3:2).  Jesus preached, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4:17).  The apostles preached, "Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord" (Acts 3:19).  Peter said, "[God is] not wishing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).  Jesus said, "Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3, 5).   

THE NEW MORALITY IS DEADLY

The devil is working overtime to erase the moral out of bounds markers that God has permanently established.  Once that diabolical job is completed, it is Katy bar the door.  If I don't see and believe that I am a sinner before God, I will never repent.  Repent of what?  Being a good person?  I have nothing to be sorry for and no need to repent, if indeed sin is no longer sin.

May the Lord help us to see how desperately wicked we are before Him.  May our eyes be opened to the truth.  May we learn from the poor, blind beggar in Jericho named Bartimaeus and cry out in brokenness and repentance, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Unless we do, we are doomed.  But if we do, we will experience the unspeakable joy of eternal salvation.   

So which Gospel will you follow?

Pastor Jeff Schreve,
From His Heart Ministries                                                           

P.S. Discover that you are not alone in prayer. Allow many people to join you in prayer. Go to www.fromhisheart.org/prayer.

Jeff Schreve founded From His Heart Ministries, www.fromhisheart.org, in 2005 with the vision to reach as many people as possible with the good news of God's love. Jeff believes that no matter how badly you may have messed up in life, God still loves you and has a great plan just for you. He broadcast on radio, TV and in the internet around the world from his pulpit ministry as Pastor of First Baptist in Texarkana, Texas. This ministry is completely listener/viewer supported. It continues only through the faithful and generous gifts of people like you. Pastor Jeff takes no income from this ministry. All gifts go to further the broadcast.

[Judy Harder]

SEEING RED

"Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock?" Then Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation and their beasts drank. Numbers 20:10-11

Have you ever seen a bull fight? The brave matador goes toe-to-toe with an angry bull. And why is the bull so angry? The red cape of the matador is waved in front of his face. When the bull sees red, he goes ape ... and he tries to gore and stomp anyone in his way.

What do you do when you "see red?" What do you do when the daily trials and frustrations of life cause you to get hot under the collar? Do you lose it and charge ahead to get a pound of flesh, as the bull does? Or are you able to process the anger and respond in a Spirit-controlled, godly fashion?

MOSES AND THE ROCK

Without question, Moses is a great hero of the Old Testament. He is a prophet unlike any other, one whom God knew and spoke to "face to face" (Deut. 34:10). But Moses wasn't perfect. In fact, he could see red on occasion ... and respond out of anger. If you don't believe me, just ask the dead Egyptian. 

In the Book of Numbers, he got very angry with the people one day, as they whined, griped, complained and blamed him about having no water to drink. God told Moses to speak to the rock and the water would flow. But Moses angrily struck the rock twice in the sight of all Israel. The water flowed, but Moses lost the privilege of going into the Promised Land as a result of that outburst, one that was very disobedient and dishonoring to God.

LESSONS LEARNED

While the whys of God's severe chastisement on Moses' sin can be debated, there are practical lessons to learn when we are "seeing red."

1. Don't respond to situations in anger. Responding in uncontrolled anger will get you in trouble every single time. You will say things you'll regret. You will do things you wish you hadn't. You will make a bad situation worse. Trust me, I have experienced it all too often.

So, what is the answer? Don't respond until you can cool down. Oftentimes, I will get an email from someone who doesn't like me or takes issue with something I said or did. Sometimes, it can really tick me off. My natural response is to fire back with an email of my own, clicking on "Bold, Italic, and Underline" for added emphasis. But that response is very unwise and causes an unpleasant situation to escalate. I must practice the 24 hour rule: Do not respond for 24 hours in order to let the emotions settle down. I must remember Proverbs 15:1, "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." When I respond gently, the tension lessens significantly.         

2. Don't let another person control your actions. Moses let the whines and gripes of the people get his goat. Arguably, his poor response came from a desire to lash out at those "rebels." It is easy to respond in the flesh, looking for a pound of flesh to satisfy your anger, but that is not the Lord's way. On the cross, He prayed for those who were mercilessly mocking, taunting, and jeering Him. They could not control Him, because the Holy Spirit was in control of Him all the way. Let it be the same with you.

3. Be patient and wait on the Lord. I love the acronym H.A.L.T. What is H.A.L.T.? When facing a key decision and emotions are running high, don't make a decision if you are:

H - Hungry

A – Angry

L – Lonely

T - Tired       

Wait on the Lord and call upon His name. He will settle you down and allow you to quit seeing red and start seeing things from His perspective. He is a good God. You can trust Him.

[Judy Harder]

THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF GIVING

"Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7

When I was a kid, my sisters and I loved Sunday night TV. On Sunday night, a special kid-friendly show was aired - "The Wonderful World of Disney." We knew we were in for a treat when we heard that show's magical intro. The world of Walt Disney was indeed wonderful.

In the Christian life, there is a very wonderful world that far too few Christians ever discover. It is a world that is filled with blessings and abundance from the Lord. It is a world where its inhabitants experience great joy and fulfillment. It is the wonderful world of generous, cheerful giving.

Jesus said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). Do you believe that statement? Is He telling the truth? Of course He is! So, if you want to be "more blessed," then take your greed, selfishness, and materialism to the cross and nail them there ... and enter into the wonderful world of giving.

WHAT'S SO WONDERFUL ABOUT GIVING?

1. When you enter into the wonderful world of giving, you keep the love of money at bay. The love of money is an insidious predator that stalks us all. It can capture our hearts without us even realizing it. And when the love of money gets its hooks in you, it brings with it all sorts of evil. Generous giving repels the love of money. It reminds us that God is the Master, and money is merely the servant.

2. When you enter into the wonderful world of giving, you touch the heart of God.  "God loves a cheerful giver." How cool is that!? Now, I don't believe that means He loves givers more than non-givers, for God loves us all with an everlasting love. But, it does mean that God loves it when we willingly, cheerfully, and generously give to the work of the kingdom. Giving makes God's heart race with joy and excitement. When we give with right motives (for the glory of God and not the glory of self), we bring a smile to His face.

3. When you enter into the wonderful world of giving, you reap the blessings of God. Make no mistake, God is a generous giver. When we give generously, He notices it ... and He gives back to us in spades. Christian philanthropist, R. G. Letourneau, was prolific in his giving. He made millions of dollars in his lifetime, and he gladly chose to give away 90% and live on 10%. He was a reverse tither. Through his generous giving, he learned this valuable lesson: You cannot out-give God. Letourneau said, "I shovel it out, and God shovels it in. And God has a bigger shovel." So true! 

The Lord says, "He who sows sparingly (stingily) shall also reap sparingly (stingily); and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully" (2 Corinthians 9:6). If you want to reap bountifully from the Lord, start sowing bountifully in His field. Quit with the stingy, chintzy giving, and start bringing your biggest and your best to the Lord. I promise you, you won't be sorry.

Missionary Jim Elliot, who willingly gave his life trying to reach the Auca Indians in Ecuador, is famous for these immortal words: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." Remember, you can't take it with you ... but you can send it on ahead as you give to the Lord and His work.

So, what do you say? Would you like to touch the heart of God and be "more blessed"? The world of giving is indeed wonderful ... and there is plenty of room for you.     

Pastor Jeff Schreve
From His Heart Ministries               

[Judy Harder]

HEAVEN IS FOR REAL ... AND SO IS HELL

"And do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."    Matthew 10:28

Do you believe in heaven?  A recent survey found that approximately 68% of Americans do. No doubt the popularity of the book and movie, Heaven is for Real - the account of a young boy who claims he went to heaven - has spurred discussion about the issue of heaven and the afterlife. Perhaps some who were previously skeptical are rethinking their position. I hope so.     

Regardless of who believes or who doesn't, heaven is for real. It is not because little Colton Burpo says so, but because God makes that fact clear in His Word. Heaven is indeed a real place where the Lord lives in all the fullness of His glory.

And just as heaven is a real place, so is hell. The same Savior who told us of the wonders of heaven also told us of the horrors of hell. Interestingly, the same survey that found 68% believing in heaven, only found 58% believing in hell. Obviously, the idea of a place of eternal fire for those who reject Christ is something a great (and increasing) number of people choose to discard as unpalatable, unconscionable, and untrue.   

Tragically, many preachers today never even touch on the subject of hell for fear of turning off the crowd. Jesus, however, had no aversion to talking about hell.  In fact, He talked quite a bit  on the subject. Why? Because He knows it's a real place... and He doesn't want anyone to go there.

PEOPLE NEED TO BE WARNED

In Luke 16, Jesus told of a rich man who went to hell. (Technically, this rich man went to Hades, which differs only slightly from hell.  Hades is like the county jail where criminals are held, and hell is like the state penitentiary where convicted criminals end up after their sentencing by the judge). Describing Hades/hell, this rich man said, "I am in agony in this flame." He called to Father Abraham, "I beg you, Father, that you send him (Lazarus) to my father's house-- for I have five brothers--that he may warn them, lest they also come to this place of torment" (Luke 16:27-28).

Did you catch that? The rich man wanted his loved ones to be warned of this terrible, horrible place. It was too late for him, but not for them. He wanted to get the message to them ASAP.

WE NEED TO SHARE IT

I believe the job of every preacher (and every Christian) is to share the good news of Jesus... and warn the people of the severe consequences of rejecting Jesus. God says, "When I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die'; and you do not warn him or speak out to warn the wicked from his wicked way that he may live, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand" (Ezekiel 3:18). No doubt, God takes our job of warning people very seriously.

When I was seventeen years old, the gospel penetrated my heart. God showed me my great need of Him. He showed me that if I died, I would go to hell, and rightfully so, because I was a guilty sinner deserving of death. When I realized that critical truth, I received Christ willingly and gratefully, and my life was forever changed.

May we get back to the place in our churches and in our witnessing where we share "the whole counsel of God." Eternal, righteous judgment is coming to those who reject the unfathomably gracious and loving sacrifice of God's dear Son. People need to know that hell is for real.  They need to know that God has made a way of escape. It is found only in Jesus Christ, and it is offered freely to all who will repent and believe.   

Have you done that? Will you tell others before it is too late?

Love,

Pastor Jeff Schreve,

From His Heart Ministries                             

P.S.  Discover that you are not alone in prayer. Allow many people to join you in prayer. Go to www.fromhisheart.org/prayer.

[Judy Harder]

GROWING OLD GOD'S WAY

"They will still yield fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap and very green, to declare that the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him."  Psalm 92:14-15
Two elderly gentlemen named Frank and Jim were sitting on a park bench under a tree.

Frank: "You know, Jim, I'm 85 years old, and I'm just full of aches and pains. You're about my age. How do you feel?"

Jim: "I feel just like a newborn baby."

Frank: "Really!? Like a new-born baby!?"

Jim: "Yep. No hair, no teeth ... and I think I just wet my pants."

Let's call a spade a spade: Growing old is not for the faint of heart. It is tough work. Our bodies start to fall apart somewhere along the line of the aging process. Things quit working like they once did. Eyesight and hearing start to wane. Muscles start to atrophy. Tasks as simple as bending over to tie your shoes can become monumental endeavors. It is just hard to get old.

THERE IS A WARNING

Have you ever encountered some cranky, cantankerous older people? They are not fun to deal with, to say the least. They are always griping and complaining about something. Why are some people like this when they get old? It is because of something I like to call The Law of Becoming.

What is The Law of Becoming? What you are today, you will be even more so in the future. Cranky older people were cranky younger people. They were just better at concealing it when they were younger. But, when you add age to the mix, the filter is removed ... and out comes a mean, ugly, sour disposition. Obviously, that is not God's way to grow old.

Remember, we reap what we sow. Wise is the one who considers in his or her youth what seeds are being planted. That is one of the reasons the Lord tells us to always give thanks in all things, and never give in to the temptation to gripe and complain. Grateful, thankful Christians give a powerful witness to this world – (see Phil. 2:14-15).

THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY

Older people often think usefulness in life has passed them by. But that is not true. God still has a plan, regardless of the great number of candles on one's cake. God wants to fill an older person's life with His love and grace. God wants to use that person to be a witness, even in old age. What a testimony older Christians can have as they radiate the sweetness of Jesus, no matter what they may be facing, and declare to all they encounter that God is still good, and He truly does walk with us through every dark valley ... all the way to glory.

Are you feeling old today? As a Christian, you are one day closer to your great reward. Make every day count until the Lord calls you home. Use the extra time you have on your hands to pray for and encourage others. Push yourself to keep going and keep growing. Embrace technology and use the computer and social media to be a blessing to family and friends. God is not finished with you yet, so don't quit and don't stagnate!

Love,

Pastor Jeff Schreve,
From His Heart Ministries 

[Judy Harder]

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO CORRECTION?

"To accept correction is wise, to reject it is stupid"  Proverbs 12:1 CEV

Recently, I ran across an interesting story about the popular Christian worship leader, Matt Redman. Early in his career, Redman was singing with his church's praise band when his pastor confronted them. He felt the band was proud of their musical performance and were neglecting true worship. Without question, that was a stinging rebuke, a heavy dose of needed correction. Insulted by the charge, the members of the band left the church—all, that is, except Redman.

Redman responded wisely to the correction, and shortly thereafter wrote his hit song "The Heart of Worship." The song contains these powerful lyrics, "I'm coming back to the heart of worship, and it's all about you, Jesus."

AN IMPORTANT QUESTION

Let me ask you an important question: How do you respond to correction? What is your reaction when someone points out some failing area in your life? To be sure, correction is akin to having one's toes stepped on. It will illicit a response. What kind of response is the issue.   

1. Some respond to correction with anger. The underlying attitude here is one of wounded pride. "How dare you lecture me! Who do you think you are!?" No doubt, that was the attitude of Redman's band mates when their pastor stepped on their toes.

2. Some respond to correction with attack. This is anger turned up a notch, anger with aggression. "Oh, is that so? Well, let me tell you all the things you do wrong, pal!" Since the best defense is a good offense, the one who responds this way quickly goes on the offensive to turn the spotlight away from his/her own failings.

3. Some respond to correction with dismissal. These folks quickly dismiss any correction as bogus, unwarranted, and unfounded. Listen, if one person calls you a horse's rear end, you may dismiss it as pure meanness. If two people call you that, you need to take note. If three people call you that, buy a saddle.

4. Some respond to correction with retreat. Once again, wounded pride comes in to play. "Obviously, you don't like me. I guess I will just take my toys and go home."

5. Some respond to correction with implosion. "I am a terrible person. I can't do anything right. The world would be better off without me."

6. God wants you to respond to correction with wisdom. It is good practice to take every stinging rebuke and word of correction to the Lord to see if He reveals any merit to the charge. I have found that my enemies will tell me things that my friends will not. Oftentimes, those things can be helpful in dealing with blind spots.

Listen, the Christian life is a journey, not a destination. It is all about learning and growing. God's Word is "profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16). As we read His word and hear it preached, we will be convicted and corrected so that we can make necessary course adjustments. Don't despise and reject Spirit-sent reproof. God is giving you loving correction to help you grow, flourish, and get things right. It is for your good, not for your harm. If you don't believe me, just ask Matt Redman.

Love,

Pastor Jeff Schreve,