You Move Too Much

You Move Too Much

Psalm 4:2
O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.


Psalm 5:6
Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.


For most of my years growing up, we did not own a house. We always rented or leased houses. Mom was a nurse and we bounced from Louisville to Harlan so many times I cannot count them. As an adult, I see the benefits of renting in certain circumstances, but if you plan on being somewhere for a number of years, buying a house is such a better investment.

Some people even lease cars. They pay a lower monthly payment and turn the car back in after a year or so. After paying those payments, they give the car back with nothing to show for it. Why would anyone do that?  For many it is because they enjoy having a new car every year or so. They want a different car rather than buying one and paying on it for 3-5 years.

In the Old Testament, we read in Psalms about "leasing". Here it denotes a life of deception, falsehood, change and delusion.

When people ask if we had a house, I said yes. But really we didn't "have" a house. We were renting a temporary house. We faked the fact that it was ours. It was leased.

I think there are many Christians who are seeking and speaking leasing today, rather than buying into serving God with all their heart.

I say... YOU MOVE TOO MUCH!!!!

 

1.  Leasing Lasciviousness

There are many young people who are leasing the actions attitudes of this world.

Be honest.....  that is not you. It's not even who you really want to be. Its surely not who God created / saved you to be.

You don't own that music......   You are just leasing.

Newsflash!!!!!   You are not a gangster, a punk, a vampire or a cowboy. You are just leasing that music to feel real. You're just leasing.

You don't own that look.... You are just leasing.

You are not a harlot! You may lease the look of one by wearing short skirts and low tops but that is not you.

You are not a punk, a prep or a pop star!   You may lease the look of one, by wearing those tight clothes, expensive clothes and wild accessories.

You may want people think that, but that is not you... You are just leasing.

You don't own that bad attitude.... You are just leasing.

You are really a sweet girl, you are just leasing that bitterness, anger, hatred and jealousy.

You are really a nice guy, you just leasing that cold, mean stare.

You are a loving, caring, helpful and compassionate young person... 

Let's be honest...  you are just leasing.

Stop leasing.... YOU MOVE TOO MUCH!!!

 

2. Leasing Love for God

Some young people are leasing a REAL relationship with God.

We quickly learn as young people how to look the part for church!
We know what to say, what to wear, how to talk, activities to attend, sin to not talk about, etc.

The sad part is that while we look like we have everything together, many are only leasing their relationship with God.

Some of you don't own a prayer life. You lease one when you have need or when you are convicted by a sermon.

Some of you don't own a walk with God. You lease one when you feel bad or when you know someone is going to ask.

Some of you don't own an obedience to the Holy Spirit. You lease a good deed, good word or good thing when you feel like it benefits you.

You move from walking with God to disobeying to questioning God to rebelling against God to hating God to loving the world and then back to walking with God...

YOU MOVE TOO MUCH  !!!!!

 

3.   The Loss of Leasing

Leasing has all of the owner costs, but non of the owner privileges.

When we rented those houses, we didn't have to fix the A/C or anything like that, however, we also couldn't paint the walls or build a storage building in the backyard. It was not our property, we were just leasing.

You can lease all you want... lease lasciviousness, lease love for God, lease all those things....

But you are just leasing...


As your life is passing by...

Your heart is broken, your parents are hurting, your friends are suffering, your family is watching, your church is needing and your Pastor and Youth Pastor are pleading.....

YOU MOVE TOO MUCH !!!!

 

4. The Leap in Leasing

At some point in every lease, you are given the option to buy in or give up.

That time is now!!!   Decisions need to be made.

If you have been leasing lasciviousness..... GIVE IT UP!!!

If you have been leasing love for God.... BUY IN !!!!
Prov 23:23 says "Buy the TRUTH" 

Don't lease it... BUY IN!!!! 

Decide you are tired of just leasing and looking like you love God and his Word....

#fuel

Brand New J's

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brand New J's

 

 

 

 

II Cor 5:17

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

 

I remember the first pair of Jordan’s I ever bought. They were awesome. They were special because my parents had not paid for them. I worked and I bought them myself. $160.00 !!! Too much for shoes… sure, but not for Jordan’s. When I got them home I put in matching shoelaces and sprayed the shoes with a stain resistant. Every time I wore those shoes, I washed them. If it was nasty outside or I was playing I was sure not to wear my new "J’s". It was awesome to have a pair of brand new Jordan’s.

When Jesus saved us He made us new creatures. He gave us a new song, a new walk, a new purpose, a new life, a new heart, a new mind, a new spirit, and a new future. He made us new and clean. Just as those new Jordan shoes, we are precious and very important to God. 

However, we walk in a very dirty world. Every day we are faced with temptation and sin. As hard as it is to keep shoes clean and new, it is much harder to stay clean and pure in the wicked world in which we live. The new song, new mind, new spirit, new heart and new life that God has given us is often blemished by the world, the flesh, and the Devil. The Christian life is often spent trying to keep those new things, clean and new. Just like those Jordan shoes.

How do I keep my Christian life "like new"?  I believe it is the same way that we do those brand new shoes.....

I. PROTECTION

Psalm 119:154
Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word.


The first thing I did when I got my Jordan’s home was to cover them with some stain repellent. This was an invisible substance that bonded to the shoe to protect it from harmful things that it might come in contact with.

We have a Spiritual stain repellent. He is called the Holy Spirit. The first thing you should do is cover your mind, spirit, heart, and life with the Holy Spirit. Submit to Him and allow the Holy Spirit to guide and protect you from the stains of the world.  

Another thing I did to protect my brand new Jordan's was to check where I stepped. The last thing I wanted to do was to step in mud, gum or........ well anything else! LOL. I was careful where I stepped when wearin my new shoes.

As Christians, how much cleaner could we be if we would just check where we stepped. What we do, what we say, what we listen to, who we hang around with and where we go are all vital parts to keeping our lives clean. Just as we avoid mud when in our new shoes, we should watch what we allow in our new lives. The Bible repeatedly tells us to "watch", "be vigilant" and "be sober". We must be careful what we allow into our lives. It has been said, you can control what influences your life, you just cannot control how things influence your life. Be careful!

II. INSPECTION

Psalm 51:2, 10

Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.  

Create in me a clean heart

Every time I wore those Jordan’s, I would take them off, look them over, and then wash them real good. I mean every single time I wore them, I sat down and took a wash cloth, cleaner, and scrubbed everything. They looked new again after every wear. The reason anything gets to looking old is because we stop taking care of it and keeping it clean.  

As Christians, you and I must be sure to take time to inspect our lives. I know we are all busy. But sit down for a minute. How is your spirit? How is your mind? How is your heart? How is your life? When was the last time you cleaned them up? When was the last time you spent some time at an altar or anywhere with God, cleaning your life up? 

This is why church is so important. We come in on Sunday or Wednesday and we have been running through this old world. We need some time to apply preaching, soak in some singing and then scrub our lives at the altar in prayer.

 

III. AFFECTION

Eph 4:24

And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

I remember that first day I bought those Jordan shoes. I remember how excited I was, how proud I was that I had the new Jordan’s. I was so happy and I loved those shoes.

I am not sure of the exact time frame, but I believe it was about 2 years that I was able to keep those shoes looking new and clean. Even though I was able to keep them looking good, there were times I would see a new pair of shoes or a new color of the ones I had. It was hard at times to keep myself satisfied with what I had. Today there is a new pair of Jordan's every week... What keeps me from buying the new ones?  I keep the ones I have clean and looking new.

Teenager, the same is so true with those things God has given us. Our new song, our new mind, our new spirit, our new heart, our new life, and our new future are awesome things. So are the blessings of our parents, our Church, our Salvation, our Youth Department, our Bible, our Christian School, and all that God has given us in our lives. ]

But if we are not careful, we will begin noticing all that is in the world and all that the Devil offers and we will begin to not appreciate what God has done for us. In fact, we can get so unthankful and so ungrateful that we can actually misuse and waste what God has given us. Don’t lose the affection for the things God has blessed you with. If you begin to see your Christian life as dull and boring... SHINE IT UP!!! Spend some time with the one who saved you and gave you a new life, He will clean things up for you.

 

IV. EVALUATION

Why would anyone baby a pair of shoes like that? Maybe because they cost $160.00! That’s why!

In order for God to save us and give us our new life, new mind, new spirit, new heart, and new future; the price was much higher. It cost Jesus his life. Why would I want to spend more time and effort on my shoes and clothes than I do on the things it cost Jesus His life to give me. Let’s take care of our minds, hearts, spirits, and lives. They are new and clean. Let’s work to keep them that way.

 

How is your view of the Christian life?  Is it old hat to you? Boring, dull, senseless, tired?  Does the Devil have you thinking that you need to try something sinful or worldly?

 

Why don't you just decide you are going to protect, inspect and affect your Christian life? You do it with your shoes.... isn't your spiritual life more important than your shoes? Let's clean it up and keep it clean.

 

#fuel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where Should I Go To College?

Where Should I Go To College?

In the culture of Independent Fundamental Baptist Churches, young people are exposed to Bible Colleges on the regular. Whether at Youth Conferences, College Days, the YP's alumni or the Pastor's alumni; Bible College is not an anomaly for most of us. Most young people learn early to align with a College with like emphasis, standards and ministries.

However, it was for me.

You see, I didn't grow up in a church that actively sent young people to Bible College. If I am not mistaken, I was the first to attend Bible College from our Church EVER!!!! As a teenager there was not a common knowledge, expectancy or push for young people to attend Bible College.

As I write, Commonwealth Baptist College is finishing up College Days 2013 and I have just preached to a chapel full of prospective students. The majority of them will end up going to a Bible College. Whether for a year or for a degree, the choice for them is not what kind of college, it is Which College? ....And it made me think....

Why did I go to Commonwealth Baptist College?

• It wasn't because of an allegiance or because my favorite Preacher was there.....

No, to be honest, I didn't even know Pastor Fugate or any of the staff at CBC...

• It wasn't because of the location or looks of the College...

There was no huge buildings, no fancy chandeliers and no tropical climate...

• It wasn't because of the female population...

I was engaged to be marry when I decided to leave and go to Bible College.

• It wasn't because of a super fun Youth Conference or College Days experience.

I had never been to Clays Mill Road Baptist Church.

• It wasn't because I had no other options....

I had a 4 year scholarship to the University of Kentucky to study engineering.

• It wasn't because I had heard about it my whole life, it wasn't because of who my parents were or where I went to high school....

So... Why did I choose to go to Bible College? Why did I choose Commonwealth Baptist College?

1.   Because I Listened to My Preacher

Well...not really MY Preacher... It was a dinner with Pastor Buster Mullins. He preached a Revival at our church and I went to dinner with him and Bro. Kelly. At that dinner, Bro. Buster casually, kindly asked me "Have you prayed about Bible College?"

He did not tell me that I needed to go. He did not tell me where I needed to go. He did not guilt me into going somewhere...

He kindly asked me "Have you prayed about Bible College?"

Sadly, even as a Preacher-Boy... the answer was NO.

2.   Because I Prayed About It

I went home that night and I had a dart in my heart. I had not even thought about let alone prayed about Bible College. I got on my knees by my bed and I poured my heart out to God. For the next 30 days I fasted, prayed, walked with God and did everything spiritually possible to be as close to God as I could when I made a decision.

3.   Because it Was God's Will

From the first night I prayed about it, I knew... God's Will was for me to go to Bible College.
God had called me to be a Preacher. I had allowed the Devil to sell me a bill of goods on how God would be fine with me being a Preacher for a hobby and an engineer for life. I had allowed making money, being successful, pleasing parents and having things to control my thinking. Preachers should go to Bible College... and God had called me to Preach.

4.   Because I was Surrendered

On August 9, 2000 I surrendered to Preach. In May of 2002, I surrendered to go to Bible College.

Why?

Because I Listened, Because I Prayed, Because it was God's Will and so... I surrendered....

Should you go to Bible College?  HONESTLY... I don't know.

Want to know for sure?    HONESTLY... I can tell you...

Listen to Your Pastor-   Counsel with your Pastor or Youth Pastor about College. Why is it we are so afraid to talk about a decision we supposedly made in God's Will?

Pray-  Seriously Pray. Fast and Pray. Walk with God for 30 straight days before you make a decision.

Know God's Will-  He will lead and guide you the way you need to go. Parents may have a will, you may have a will, friends may have a will... but God's Will is the best. Invest in the Best! Trust Him.

Surrender-  When God speaks, say YES!   Don't question!  Don't doubt!  Don't run!  Just say Yes.

Do you know what those who have wrecked their lives with selfish, sinful choices say is the reason they chose wrong? What do they say is the reason? What do they say???

They Say.....

I Didn't Listen    I Didn't Pray        I Didn't Know God's Will            I Didn't Surrender

Deciding where to go to school is more of spiritual decision than many realize.
Don't get sidetracked by the logistics of a college. Cost, climate, co-eds and career should not make those decisions for you.
Listen. Pray. Know God's Will and Surrender.

So... Where should you go to College?

I don't know!           But have you prayed about Bible College?

www.commonwealthbaptist.org

#fuel