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A Dedicated Walk

2/29/2016

Hello Church,
   In the Bible there is a man whose name was Enoch. Enoch is mentioned in the Book of Hebrews where it says that he had this testimony, "that he pleased God." In Genesis, chapter 5, it says of Enoch that "he walked with God." There's not a lot said of Enoch, BUT there is always something we can learn.
   Enoch's name means DEDICATED. By faith Enoch was taken from this life - he did not experience death - he could not be found because God had taken him away. In Hebrews it says that Enoch "PLEASED" God. Please means that he gratified God entirely and wholeheartedly. Enoch is kind of a mystery man, a man that can excite our imaginations with WHAT IS NOT SAID, THAN WHAT IS SAID. God had taken Enoch directly to heaven (he didn't have to pass GOD).
   Enoch, it says, that HE WALKED WITH GOD. Walking with God is a phrase that we hear a lot of and we might not think that it has a whole lot of meaning. Walking with God is more than a synonym for being religious - it encompasses more than trying to keep the 10 Commandments or living a good life. The Word of God uses the word "WALK" to describe a persons lifestyle. Many can talk a good talk,BUT Enoch walked the walk. Everything in Enoch's life was summed up in the short phrase, "HE WALKED WITH GOD." Walk with God meaning that he was dedicated, devoted, single-minded, unwavering and consecrated to the Lord.
   Walking with God means that you spend time with the Lord, you have an intimacy with the Lord. Church, God still actively seeks those who will dedicate their lives to Him and walk with Him. Intimacy with the Lord is one relationship that will last forever and ever. The way you and I enter this kind of relationship has not changed since the beginning of time - IT'S BY FAITH.
   Let this be our prayer - "Lord, strip away everything that stands in the way of my dedication to You. Tear away the barriers so that I might know You intimately and personally."

P. Tom

Righteousness and Commission

2/23/2016

Hello Church,
   In the year that King Uzziah died, Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up (Is. 6:1). While Uzziah was king, the nation Israel prospered and flourished. They were the envy of all the other nations, BUT what happened to Uzziah that all that is said of him at the end of his life is that HE DIED A LEPER. We see that Uzziah allowed pride to come into his life by going into the Temple to offer incense on the altar. This act that Uzziah did is a type of a society and its leadership becoming their own judge of what is right and what is wrong.
   Can we ask a question – Where did America get the idea that we are as God – that we can declare what is good and what is evil? Why do we think we can transgress (go beyond the bounds of a moral standard) the Word of God, which was once America’s foundation and not pay a price for it? Much of society and sadly much of the church have suppressed the truth we once knew, and as a result, we have subjected ourselves to living in an illusion and opened ourselves up to a diseased mind.
   How does God respond to a nation that finds itself in this condition? God always looks for a man or a woman that He can bring into His presence. When we are drawn into God’s presence we not only have a revelation of His majesty, power, holiness and glory, BUT we also see ourselves as UNDONE as a person of UNCLEAN LIPS. It’s when we see ourselves like this that we realize that there is nothing you and I can do of our self – no sacrifice we can make – no good thing we can do that will ever give us the right to stand in the presence of a holy God.
   CHURCH – it’s God’s heart to use those who have been humbled in the sight of the Lord because they have a tendency to have compassion for people in society who are indulging in all sorts of behavior. These people will speak of the truth of the Lord – they have a message and that message is, “God is good and His mercy endures forever.”
   This is not a time to be quiet and silent. The ungodliness of this generation will not go away on its own – it has to be conquered by you and me, the lights of the world – WE ARE THE HOPE OF THIS GENERATION.
   Be like Isaiah and say, “Here am I Lord, send me.”

Trust in the Word of Christ

2/9/2016

Hello Church,
   In the Gospel of John, chapter 5 is a story of a man, who for 38 years was lying  by the pool waiting for someone help in get in when the water was stirred. The pool of Bethesda became a shrine to the Jews. The tradition was that an angel would come down at times and stirred the waters and whoever got in first was healed of whatever disease they had.
   These people that were at the pool were waiting on the wrong thing. They were waiting on an angel when the Word of God tells us to wait upon the Lord. Waiting on the Lord is expecting God to do something - it's looking for the Lord with an expectation (that's why you'll hear us say here at Hosanna, "Did you come expecting?")
   Jesus goes to this man that has been there for 38 years. Think of that - 38 years of dashed hopes, crushed dreams, false prophesies, struggles, sufferings and loneliness. Too many Christians, God's people today are lying on a bed of despair or depression. They've allowed a root of bitterness to take root in their lives, while all along they're hoping for a miracle to happen in their lives. They're looking for someone to come along and "stir up things" and make things happen. They drag themselves to service after service, meeting after meeting, go to counseling, seminars, conferences, follows this person, follows that person - and they retell the same old story of pain and woe is me - BUT NOTHING HAPPENS.
   Jesus asked the man, "Do you want to be made well?" I believe that Jesus' question implied that maybe this man wasn't really ready to face the responsibility that goes with being healed - when you get healed, you have to have a new attitude, a responsibility. Sad to say, but for some people, their misery is their personality.
   Church, Jesus is speaking to each of us today. We have to do like this man did. This man was made whole because he heard the Word and obeyed the Word. All Jesus wants you to do is believe His Word and act on that Word. If this man refused to obey Jesus Word, he would be still lying at that pool today - life would just pass him by.
   What has Jesus spoken to you? Are you acting on that Word? Are you running with that Word? Is that Word sustaining you through difficult times? In the times that we live in we have to pick up our bed and go on - to keep pressing in to the things of God. The Lord spoke to Paul and said, "My grace is sufficient for you.
   Be blessed in all you do.

P. Tom

A Dedicated Walk

Righteousness and Commission

Trust in the Word of Christ

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