I Just Wanna Be Successful

Psalm 1
BOOK I: Psalms 1-41
1 Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.

I want the money, money and the cars, cars and the clothes
I suppose
I just wanna be, I just wanna be successful
I just wanna be, I just wanna be successful
I just wanna be, I just wanna be successful

Drake and Trey Songz have an anthem for the young 20 Something’s that speak to the superficial strivings of many young Americans. Like many young rappers of their generation and even before them, they speak of the material trappings of “success” but in this particular song there is almost a somber undertone of confusion that these material assets can’t really bring you happiness….I suppose.

Success is not what we put on; it is what we put in. Success is when you are happy or blessed with a life that is prosperous.

Another young man wrote a song about Success, his name was David. He started out as a shepherd boy and eventually became one of the most powerful kings in History! (Talking about Success!) He was knows as having a heart for God. The women even wrote a song about young Dreezy….I mean young David. “Saul has Killed his thousands but David his Tens of Thousands.” If David was a successful recording artists as he was a warrior he would have been Platinum.

David was kind enough to leave us steps to being successful, but he starts out telling us how not to go about success.

1. Blessed is the man who does NOT walk in the counsel of the ungodly. In this early stage a person is walking or browsing for advice with the wrong crowd. David admonishes us not to walk amongst the wicked. Make sure you are browsing in the right crowd.

2. Nor stand in the path of sinners. Notice he went from walking to standing. Now the person is no longer moving but idle because they are listening to the wrong people.

3. Nor sit in the seat of the scornful, that is in the seat of people who just sit around talking about people. As a result of joining the wrong inner circle this person has become stagnant and sitting with the wrong crowd. These three steps are a digression toward stagnation instead of steps toward success. The key to success is in the next verse:

But His (the blessed man/woman) delight is in the word of God and in his law he meditates both day and night and (he will be successful) he shall be like a tree planted by the Rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf will not wither. Whatever he does he/she shall prosper. I just wanna be successful! When God’s hand is on you and you are prospering just as your soul is prospering that is Success!

Dear God, I just wanna be successful. I want to be pleasing to you. Help me to put more emphasis on what I put in than what I put on. Give me the wisdom, courage, and discipline to step away from people who are bringing me down. My delight is in your Word. Plant me by the rivers of water so that I will produce in my season and whatever I do for you it will prosper. I just wanna be successful!

In Jesus Name!
Amen.

Be Saved From This Perverse Generation!

Acts 2:38 Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

“Don’t save her, she don’t wanna be saved.” These were the words to a popular rap song in the late 90’s by E-40. The Urban Dictionary gives more info on this urban phenomenon of Captain Save a Ho.

E-40, the rap artist, coined the phrase "Captain Save A Ho".

Where a guy will take care of a goldigger, pay for everything, pay for "Goldie" to get her nails done, hair done, get a cellular hooked up. The guy will be a sucker for the girl and take care of paying for her kids. He will come to the girl's rescue like a superhero in attempt to get some play. Dine her and she will take advantage of him. He would actually say, "I will save a ho baby I am here for you."

Make "Captain Save A Ho" take care of your kids. Make your kids his. It is all part of that take care of me like a superhero with an "S" on the chest. When I call on the cellular you hooked up, come and save me.

It was a comical song about how nice guys waste their time trying to save women who are not wife material. These particular kind of women are only out to play games and manipulate men for money but this nice guy can’t see through fame he only wants to save them.

There is deep truth even in shallow songs. For in this song we can see ourselves if we look close enough. Jesus is the Captain of our Soul and we have played the Harlot, he wants to save us, but we don’t want to be saved.

We live in a perverse generation where every person is living life by their own rules and following every fleshly pursuit that Is not pleasing to God. We don’t want to be saved. Jeremiah said, “the harvest has come, the summer has passed, and we are not saved.”

On the day of Pentecost, the disciples were on one accord, in one place and were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Each one spoke in a different language so that even foreigners heard the Gospel being explained. When they could hear clearly, their conscious was convicted and they wanted to know, what must we do to be saved? They wanted to be saved! They realized that their lives were out of alignment with God’s Will and his Word. If they didn’t change their ways they knew in their hearts they would die in their sins. They wanted to be saved. After hearing the Word of God they realized they couldn’t hide anymore and participate in ungodly lifestyles. They wanted to be saved. And they asked Peter, “What shall we do?”

Peter replied:

1. Repent. The good thing about God is that he allows legal U-turns. Whenever you realize you are traveling in the wrong direction God will let you turn around in the middle of your life and head in a New Direction.

2. Let everyone be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ. Baptism is an ordinance of the Church that symbolizes the washing of your sins. It’s not the water that cleanses you but your obedience and the symbolism of going into the liquid grave to come up a new person.

3. For the remission of your sins. It is the blood of Jesus that cleanses you of your sins. Jesus substituted his life for ours and his life was without sin. He who had no sin became sin for us and his blood caused our diseased souls to go into remission.

4. You shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is what helps us live our lives like we are saved. WE are empowered to live lives that are pleasing and acceptable to God. Every believer receives this gift when God saves them.

Dear God, help me to live a counter-cultural lifestyle. Show me how to live clean in a dirty world. I want to be saved! All of our righteousness is like dirty rags; no one is Righteous but Jesus. Fill me with your Sprit so that I can be delivered from that which pulls me from you. Let me influence this perverse Generation instead of being tricked by the Harlots. I want to be Saved!

In Jesus Name!

Amen.

What Are You Waiting On?

Acts 1:8
But you shall receive Power when the Holy Sprit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem; and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.

Everybody is waiting on something. Somebody is waiting on a phone call for someone to say, "You’re hired." Somebody is waiting on a check in the mail. Someone else is waiting on a donor to save their life. Someone is waiting for the right time to say something that may change the direction of a relationship. But a lot of our waiting could be over sooner if we learned to wait on God. Those that wait on the Lord will renew their strength, they will mount up with wings as Eagles, and they will run and not get weary and walk and not faint.

How is this possible? It’s possible if you are a follower of Jesus Christ. Jesus tells his disciples before he ascended back to heaven, ‘You shall receive Power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you!’

When we are born again of the sprit, we all receive what we’ve been waiting on Power! Power to live right, Power to talk right, Power to think right. The Holy Spirit is the mind of God in the form of wind.

Jesus said," the Holy Spirit blows where it wishes" but for sure when you are a believer it’s going to blow on you.

Every morning you should ask God to stir afresh his Holy Spirit in you. The Holy Spirit is also the breath of God. Each morning you should ask God to breathe on you.
God doesn’t just give you the Holy Sprit to feel good but to do good. The Holy Spirit is not reactive but Proactive.

Jesus said, when the Holy Sprit comes on you something happens, “You will be my witnesses.” A witness is one who vouches for another. Jesus gives us power to go and vouch for him that he is the Son of God raised from the dead and still alive in us. The word "witness" also means martyr. We have to be willing to die for what we believe whether literally or symbolically.

We must be witnesses in:

1. Jerusalem that is our hometown or city. There is so much work to do where we live that we could be busy for a lifetime trying to get people to know Jesus as Lord and Savior.

2. Judea is a town nearby but different than your hometown.

3. Samaria is a different region or culture. This is when you get out of your comfort zone to witness to people whose belief system is totally different from yours.

4. To the end of the earth. With the invention of technology, we all can be global witness. We can witness to people across the Globe through Facebook and our blogs.
Whatever you are waiting on, you will find it when the Holy Sprit has come upon you. When it does go be a witness.

Dear God, breathe on me. Let your Holy Spirit fill me so that I can be what you want me to be. Endow me with your Holy Spirit so that I can be your instrument to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. I receive the Power of the Holy Sprit on Today!

In Jesus Name,
Amen

Your Redemption Is Near!

Luke 21:28
Now when these things begin to happen look up and lift up your heads because your redemption draws near.

There is a movie coming out called “2012” which depicts the beginning of the world's end. The special effects are astonishingly devastating. It is eerie to see Los Angeles fall into the ocean and see skyscrapers tumble like a deck of cards. Many people have predicted that something catastrophic will occur in “2012,” the truth of the matter is that no man knows when the day or the hour will come but God is giving us signs that the day of our redemption is near.

Jesus spells out the signs of the end of the World in Luke 21:25-26
25"There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.

After that Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead. For those of us who belong to Christ this is good news because we will be redeemed! When you have a coupon worth a certain amount of money you cannot spend that coupon as currency just anywhere. It can only be redeemed by the person who issued it. In order to redeem your eternal Life coupon issued on the day you accepted Jesus as Lord, you have to present yourself as a living sacrifice, which is your reasonable act of service. On the day that Jesus returns you will be redeemed.

Many people are anxious about that day because of the devastation that comes prior: global warming, earthquakes, pestilence, War, but Jesus tells us that when these things start to happen we should:
1. Look up. Psalm 121
A song of ascents.
1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—
Where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

2. Lift up your head. Psalm 24:9
Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.Psalm 24:8-10 (in Context) Psalm 24 (Whole Chapter). When you lift up your head in expectation that’s when the King of Glory can come in. Lifting up your head shows that you have nothing to be ashamed about.

3. When these things happen Jesus is about to return and if I belong to him, I will be redeemed.

Dear God, thank you for redeeming me. I’m not going to be anxious like everybody else when “these things” start happening because I know I am redeemed. Whether it’s 2012 or next week I want to be ready when you come. I surrender my life to yours and I’m getting my house in order so I’ll be ready when Jesus comes.

In his Name,

Amen

How Much Did You Get From Your Trade In?

Luke 19:15 (New King James Version)
15 “And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

I’ve learned that when you trade in your car you are fortunate if you get the book value for your trade in. Sometimes the dealer shows you on paper that you got some money but by the time they finish marking up the prices you’ve got nothing for your trade in. It’s better if you sell the car yourself and come with cash in your hand to negotiate your purchase.

When we trade in our lives God always gives us more for our old “Clunker of a Life” in exchange for our new life. When we make a trade in with God he puts change in our hands along with being made new. He gives us life and life more abundantly.
When God puts money, change, and new life into our hands he’s expecting for us to make more in our trading.

Jesus uses a parable of a man going out in search of a Kingdom and he leaves some servants with some money to be stewards over until he returns with his Kingdom. Jesus is the man who is establishing a new kingdom and we are the servants he gives the money to. The money is whatever God gives us after our trade in. For some of us it is literally, money, new life, a second chance at life, promotion, or a healed body.

Now the question is how much did you gain by trading?

Two out of three Servants invested the man’s money and gave him back double, but the third servant said he was scared because his master was an austere man. The word "Austere" means economically rigid. He knew the master didn’t play with money, “he collects what he did not deposit and reaps what he did not sow.”

Jesus said, “If you knew that to be true, why didn’t you put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?”

Whatever God gives us he’s expecting us to give him more back. What have you gained by trading?

1. Your Time. God has redeemed time for you by giving you an extension on your life. Are you using your time to give God glory through ministry, volunteering, missions or do you make excuses when it’s time to serve?

2. Your Talents. Whatever we are gifted in we should use a portion of it to bring more people to the Kingdom. You should be using your gifts and talents to bring people into relationship with Jesus Christ.

3. Your Tithes. We should invest our money into Kingdom initiatives. Your tithes should go to a ministry that is about the business of helping people transform their lives and their neighborhoods. The ultimate goal for Kingdom living is when you are able to live off of 60% of your income and invest the other 40% with 10% in tithes, 10% in savings, 10% investments, 10% philanthropy.

What will you have to show for your trade-in when Jesus returns?

Dear God, thank you for giving me more than my trade-in was worth. My intentions are to invest my life in Kingdom initiatives and not waste my life being idle and being fearful. Use me as your servant to increase whatever you put in my hands.

In Jesus Name,
Amen.

That's What You're Supposed to Do!

Luke 17:10
So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded say, “we are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.”

It’s funny to me when my boys ask me for money when they clean up their rooms, take out the trash, or make good grades. I keep reminding them that these are the things that they are supposed to do. As provider, it is my job to make sure they have food, clothing, shelter, healthcare, and a good spiritual environment. All they have to do is what they are supposed to do without looking for something in return. Sometimes, I don’t believe children know how good they have it.

Children of God are the same way. We think when we Love our Neighbor, feed the hungry, visit the prisoners, clothe the naked, heal the sick, teach bible study, witness to non-believers that we deserve a congressional medal of honor or favor from God. Favor is not earned it’s given. What we get from God is at God’s discretion. The things we do for God is what we are supposed to do when we are servants of God and disciples of Jesus.

Jesus uses the analogy of a servant when he tries to explain to his disciples that this is what they are supposed to do:

Luke 17:7-10 (New International Version)
7"Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'? 8Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'? 9Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.' "

So why should we expect to get special treatment just because we did what we were supposed to do? God has already been good to us. He let us live another day. He saved us from our sins. He put a roof over our head. He put food on our table. The least I can do is be faithful in my service.

I’m supposed to:
1. Treat others like I want to be treated, not how they treat me.
2. Help those who can’t help themselves.
3. Give my tithes and offering in support of ministry to others.
4. Share the gospel with unbelievers through my witness and my words.
5. Use my gifts in serving others
6. Attend worship regularly
7. 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind' ; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' "

Dear God, thank you for being my provider. It’s my Joy to serve you. If you don’t do anything else you’ve already done enough. Thank you for blessing me! Now it's time for me to be a blessing to somebody else. That’s what I’m supposed to do!

In Jesus Name!
Amen.

Don't Be Tardy for the Party

Luke 14:18
But they all with one accord began to make excuses.
"Excuses are tools of the incompetent, and those who specialize in them seldom go far."

Excuses are tools of the incompetent used to build monuments to nothing. For those who specialize in them shall never be good at anything else."

An excuse is worse than a lie, for an excuse is a lie, guarded. Alexander Pope

On a recent episode of Atlanta Housewives, Lisa threw a fashion show party to display her new clothing line. She invited Sheree to come but for some reason she came late to the party. One of the designers stopped her in the parking lot and asked her why she was late? She said, “I had to go to my son’s recital.” He called her on it and asked incredulously, “Now come on Sheree, you know you came late on purpose?” She got visibly irritated and said, “{Psssst!} please don’t go there with me.” I thought it was bold but needed for the man to bust her out for that excuse. This is your friend’s party, why can’t you come and celebrate her like she celebrated you? Don’t be tardy for the party.

I recently threw my wife a surprise birthday party which I planned a whole year in advance. What a challenge!

1) To keep it a secret from my inquisitive wife
2) to get friends and relatives to come to Memphis for the party.

In my mind, I thought with advance notice it would be easy to get loved ones to come in and celebrate with someone who had meant so much to them in their own lives. The majority of the people I invited came, she had a wonderful time and I’m grateful for the turn out, but what surprised me, what was interesting, were the excuses of some of the people that didn’t come. The feast is prepared, I’m paying for the venue, it’s for somebody you love, all you have to do is show up but there were so many excuses.

If I was let down by the few, I can only imagine how God feels being let down by so many. Every week God throws a party in honor of Jesus, a rehearsal dinner, if you will, to get ready for the big party when Jesus returns for his Bride (the church). The rehearsal dinner is every Sunday in a local church but when the invitation is given there are so many loved ones who have benefited from the life of Jesus who refuse to come. Now these are not strangers or unchurched people I’m talking about. I’m talking about people who already know Jesus. People that don’t know Jesus understandably have some reservations about coming to a party for a person they don’t know but for those of us who know him it is surprisingly hurtful that you show up late or not at all when the party is for Jesus and you have excuses as to why you are not coming.

I got to work, my spouse don’t like church, it’s too early, they keep too long, too many hypocrites, too loud, too many young people, too many old people, it’s too far…and God is saying but I prepared a banquet table for you in my house. Jesus paid the price for your salivation by being crucified on the cross, can’t you show up for an hour and a half. He hung for you form the Sixth to the Ninth hour?

But they all together on once accord began to make excuses:

1. I just bought some land. Land represents our homes and real estate. One of the first things we jeopardize when we avoid God’s invitation for kingdom is our home. When we are in proper spiritual alignment with Jesus, there is a covering over our homes but when we choose our home over Jesus, we put our homes at risk.

2. I just bought some oxen. I need to test them out. Oxen can represent cars we’d rather test out on Sunday by driving anywhere but to God’s house. Maybe the reason we aren’t going anywhere is because we aren’t driving towards God.

3. I just got married. Many of us put our relationships before God. Jesus said, unless you hate your mother, father, wife, children, brothers and sisters and even his own life cannot be my disciple. Jesus didn’t literally mean “Hate” he meant prioritizing God before all other relationships. Our marriage can’t last if we don’t put God first.

This invitation was for people who already know God and have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. When they turned God down, God sent His disciples out to the streets, the hedges and highways to invite in people who don’t know Jesus, the lame, the blind, the poor so they could come in and take your place. It is our job to get people into the Party. Sunday’s are just rehearsals for the big dinner. If you have not RSVP'd by the time of the Party, you will not get in. Don’t be Tardy for the Party! What will be your excuse when Jesus catches you in the parking lot?

Dear God, thank you for inviting me! I can’t believe you want me at the party! I will be there on time and I can’t wait to see Jesus and tell him thank you for all that he’s meant in my life. If it’s alright I’d like to bring a friend with me this weekend because I want them to share in the celebration. Thank you again Jesus for hanging in there for me, you didn’t have to but I’m so glad you did. I will not be tardy for the party!

Amen.