1. Look at the PRESENCE of God’s CREATION! (Psa 19:1, 2)
“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.”

• See God’s Natural Creation (Psa 19:1, 2)
• Read God’s Supernatural Revelation (Psa 19:7-11)

2. Consider the POWER of God’s REVELATION! (Psa 19:7-11)
“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandments of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb….there is great reward.”

• Restoration (v 7)
• Transformation (v 7)
• Jubilation (v 8)
• Illumination (v 8)
• Satisfaction (vv 9, 10)
• Compensation (v 11)

• Trash In = Trash Out
• Truth In = Truth Out

Conclusion: We do not worship God’s CREATION, we worship the CREATOR – God (“EL”- where we get the word “Elohim,” which means Supreme Being – by the way, Paul mentions Jesus created it all – Col 1:16). Yet, we can admire His handiwork (Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, the sun, moon, and stars, etc)…”How Great thou Art”! But equally important, is the Lord’s “Specific REVELATION,” namely the Bible…”perfect, sure, right, and pure.” The Word of God will keep us from SIN or SIN will keep us from the Word of God (Psa 19:7-13)! So, our prayer ought to be: “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”

Introduction: Recently, I received a call, right after it happened, from a person whose almost new truck had been vandalized – the windows were shot out, busted, and shattered to pieces by bullets from a gun for no reason. Needless to say, they were irate…..ANGRY….we would say RED-HOT MAD! – understandably so….to the point charges were filed.

However, after praying and coming to Church, God began to work on the perpetrators along with this couple who experienced this dastardly deed. Days later, they called and things were made RIGHT! Charges were dropped…. restitution was made, all because they included the Lord Jesus in the situation. Troubles and trials are unavoidable, but having a “PASSION for Jesus” helps lighten the load!

• Being right is all because of God’s “AMAZING GRACE” which initiates salvation (Titus 2:11)
{“Salvation” is the word soterios – see Eph 2:8, 9}
• Doing right is all because of God’s “ABOUNDING GRACE” which activates separation (Titus 2:12)

2. A PASSION to follow Jesus in this life by LOOKING RIGHT! (Titus 2:13, 14)
“Looking for that blessed hope, and glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ: Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

• God’s Grace looks in the RIGHT place! (Titus 2:13)
• God’s grace trusts in the RIGHT person! (Titus 2:14)
{“Purify” is the word katharise, which means to cleanse}

Conclusion: Remember; it pays to follow Jesus! Not just as a “good luck charm” or a “spare tire” but rather, He calls us to have a “PASSION” (strong desire) to include Him in our life as our Lord & Savior! Then and only then, does He guide us, cleanse us, and fill us to live a supernatural life that cannot be humanly explained, but divinely experienced.

“I have decided to follow Jesus!”
Love y’all,
Dr. Randy Reese

2 Corinthians 8 and 9

Introduction: How many of you like a BARGAIN? Speaking of bargains, my granddad used to spend hours cutting out of the paper coupons that would save money. Then he would pass some of those coupons along to us grandchildren at Christmas time. He was known as “Thrifty”! Paul, on one of his missionary journeys, wrote a second letter to the believers at Corinth (who had money), encouraging them to give to the Lord like other Churches had done; i.e, those in Macedonia (Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea). The money would be used to meet the needs of those less fortunate saints in Jerusalem. Three (3) steps were given to the believers that guarantee a BLESSING from God:

1. In order to Discover the BEST BARGAINS, we must 1st GIVE of OURSELVES to the Lord! (2 Cor 8:1-5)
“Moreover, brethren we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia. How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality….Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of ministering to the saints. And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.”

• His grace, freely given
• His grace, freely received
• His grace, freely lived

2. In order to Discover the BEST BARGAINS, we must GIVE of our SUBSTANCES (resources) to the Lord! (2 Cor 8:12-9:8)
“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…..Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf….He which soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully shall really 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.”

• Give from A willing mind (2 Cor 8:12)
• Give from A loving heart (2 Cor 8:24)
• Give from A cheerful hand (2 Cor 9:6-8)
{“cheerful” is the word hilarios… our word hilarious!}
Do we give hilariously?

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.”

Introduction: Temptation is REAL! Do you agree? Everybody is in this war with TEMPTATION. Anybody can fall because of TEMPTATION. Somebody is going thru TEMPTATION right now and needs help today. Nobody can overcome TEMPTATION like Jesus can! James, the half brother of Jesus, gives us (3) ways to WIN the WAR over TEMPTATION:

1. If we are going to OVERCOME TEMPTATION, we’ve got to understand WHO’S in this FIGHT! (James 1:13)
“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.”
• God is good
• Devil is bad

2. If we are going to OVERCOME TEMPTATION, we’ve got to GUARD our hearts with all of our MIGHT! (James 1:14)
“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.”
• Guard your heart on the inside (“every man tempted… drawn away”- pictures a fisherman or hunter luring its prey into a trap – v. 14)
• Guard your heart on the outside (“lust, sin, death”- the devil’s LSD – v. 15)

3. If we are going to OVERCOME TEMPTATION, we need to TRUST God will MAKE it RIGHT! (James 1:12)
“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”
{“Endureth” is the word hupomene, which means to remain under. “Tried” is the word dokimos, which means stood the test… the picture is that of metals/coins}
• Suffering now
• Crown later

John 11:1-46

Introduction: Have you ever been in a situation where you did not know where to turn? Felt Helpless? Hopeless? Has your faith ever seemed like its fizzled out? Mary & Martha experienced the same thing when their brother Lazarus died. Where was Jesus? Why didn’t he show up at their house in time? What were they going to do? Writing to prove that Jesus was God, the evangelist John, gave us at least (5) reasons why we need the Lord Jesus in our life.

1. When we are HURTING and needing COMFORT, we can go to the Lord! (John 11:19, 30)
“And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.”
• Comforted by others (Gal 6:2)
• Comforted by God (2 Cor 1:3-5)

2. When we are facing an IMMOVABLE mountain, we can go to the Lord! (John 11:25)
“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.”
• You’ve got to know the Mountain mover
• You’ve got to look to the Mountain mover

3. When we are feeling INSECURE and needing SECURITY, we can go to the Lord! (John 11:32)
“Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.”
• The Master is come (John 11:28)
• He’s calling for you (John 11:28)

4. When our FAITH needs to be RESURRECTED, we can go to the Lord! (John 11:39)
“Jesus said, Take ye away the stone.”
• When doubt and fear grip your heart
• When your FAITH needs to be resurrected

5. When we are needing OBSTACLES removed, we can go to the Lord! (John 11:39-44)
“Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith… Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he has been dead four days…. Jesus said… if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? Lazarus, come forth… Loose him and let him go.”
• Let Jesus remove the stone of fear, insecurity, etc.
• Then He will “Loose” you and let you go

This includes the PAST, PRESENT and FUTURE:

1. The PAST! (Phil 1:6) 

“He which hath begun a good work in you.”

• He works in (Phil 2:13)

“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

{The word “Work” means energize} 

• We work out (Phil 2:12)

“Work our your own salvation with fear and trembling”

3. The FUTURE! (Phil 1:6)

“Until the day of Jesus Christ”

Introduction: Did you know there are “Blessed Benefits” for knowing and serving Jesus? Speaking of benefits, I heard about an ad in the paper that read: “I can fix anything your husband can… and I’ll do it now!” Many believe David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, was the author of Psalm 68. Check out (5) Benefits for Christians:

1. When we get DISCOURAGED, where can we go? (Psa 68:5, 6)
“A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. God setteth the solitary in families.
{One translation of verse 6 is this: God makes a home for the lonely. Are you feeling down? The Lord will lift you up (1 Pet 5:6, 7)}

2. When we get STRESSED and TEMPTED to WORRY, where can we go? (Psa 68:3, 4)
“But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God…sing unto God…extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.”
{JAH – is the abbreviation for Jehovah which means self- existing. He depends upon no one, and yet we are totally dependent upon Him!}

3. When we are facing CHALLENGES, where can we go? (Psa 68:28)
“Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.”
{Joshua & David knew where to get their strength; Josh 1:9; Psa 27:14. Do you need strength today?}

4. When we are dealing with CONFLICT RESOLUTION, where can we go? (Psa 68:1, 2)
“Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them that hate him flee before him. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.”
{We live in an “Age of Rage”! But God’s MERCY and GRACE is available today for the taking, and yet His judgement will fall upon those who refuse Him}

5. When we don’t KNOW what to do, where can we go? (Psa 68:35)
“He giveth strength and power to his people.”
{There’s no panic in Heaven…reach out your hand of FAITH in simple childlike trust.}

Conclusion:
After reading Psalm 68, did you recognize that the name LORD GOD is used (5) different ways?
1. Elohim (v 2)
2. Adonai v 11)
3. Shaddai (v 15)
4. Jehovah (v 17)
5. JAH (v 19)

“When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities. And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. He said, Bring them hither to me. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.”

• Heal the sick

• Open blind eyes

• Raise the dead

• Save those that are lost 

• Cleanse from sin

• Create the universe 

• Cast out demons

• Calm the storms

• Walk on the water

• Overcome the grave

• Jesus can take us places we couldn’t go, and do things we couldn’t do, with resources we don’t have.

Consider (3) ways to bring security and significance in your life:

1. Instead of worrying about what we don’t have, BRING to JESUS what you do have! (Matt 14:15, 16, 18)

“And it was evening, his disciples came to him…send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals…But Jesus said…..give them to eat…..and they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes….He said, Bring them hither to me.”

   • The problem – we don’t have enough (v 15)

   • The solution – “LITTLE is MUCH if GOD’S in it” (vv. 16, 18)

2. Instead of holding on to what you can’t keep, GIVE to Jesus what you can’t LOSE! (Matt 14:17, 18)

“Bring them hither to me.”

   • The little boy – willing to give his all

   • Jesus gives back when we give our all (v 20)

3. Instead of feeling guilty about what you didn’t do, let JESUS take CONTROL and do what you can! (Matt 14:19, 20)

“And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and two fishes…he blessed, and brake…and gave to his disciples…and they did all eat, and were filled: and took up the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.”

    • Don’t worry about what you can’t do

    • Do what you can

Conclusion: Jesus delights in taking our meager resources and multiplying them over and above! We can trust him with our family, our finances and our future.

Because He always takes our “Not Enough, and turns it in to More Than Enough”!