Weekly Bread

March 30, 2009

“Don’t Lose Your Focus!”

In Proverbs 29:18 we read;

“Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”

Circumstances and problems are always trying to blur our vision and get us off course. When our vision is based on the Word of God, nothing, absolutely nothing, will be able to cause us to lose focus. We will then have His strength to finish the course that God has for us.

Jesus said in John 16:33;

“These things have I spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer I have overcome the world.”

As Christians, we are on a journey; and we need to enjoy the course. Nothing should take us by surprise. When we keep our attention and focus on God’s Word, it will give us direction; and we will see where our destination is, and we won’t be wandering around aimlessly.

We must also realize that our course is in this world, and we will encounter problems along the way. We have the Greater One living in us, and He has allowed us to use His ability to have victory and overcome the problems that try to cause us to lose our focus.

In Matthew 12:28 we read;

“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Along the way we might become tired and feel like stopping, but I encourage you to keep moving forward. When we get tired, we must be careful; because the world will offer you a resting place, but it will only hinder your progress. We must once again keep our focus on the Word of God; and He will give us rest, and we will be closer to the finish.

In Romans 12:2 we read,

“And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.”

God’s perfect will is for you and I to stay on course. He doesn’t want you and I being deceived or enticed to wander off the course He has for us. The world is trying to conform us and offer us a temporary peace or fix, but Jesus has given us a peace which passes all human and natural understanding. If we will trust in Him and acknowledge His Word as truth along our journey, we will be transformed in our mind; and we will stay focused.

Finally, we read in Matthew 6:33;

“But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Our eyes must always be looking to Jesus, the Author and the Finisher of our faith. We must realize that God is on our side, and He wants to help us get to the finish. The world is continually trying to distract you and I from making it to our destination. All the world has to offer is tribulation and more problems; but Jesus said we could have peace and joy, because He overcame the world, and He now lives in us.

I encourage you as you stay focused on God’s destination for your life, enjoy the journey, don’t get tired, don’t get off course, and keep your eyes on Jesus. He will always be there to pick you up when you are down.

Trust in the Lord always,

Pastor Jimmy Brackeen

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March 16, 2009

“Some Emotion Required”

Being emotionally involved with God and His Word is imperatively important. All too often we have the tendency to get in the ditch on one side of the faith road or the other. We have those who show very little emotion and those who are emotionally overwhelmed. I understand people are where they are, but change is required for healthy growth. Our emotions are to be used in the worship and service of God as a heart response to His goodness. Emotions express what we believe to be true. They are an avenue to inspire and produce enthusiasm, passion and strength for the pursuit. Trying to serve God without an emotional connection will lead to boredom and eventually quitting. Although emotions are vitally important they are not supposed to be the sole source of being sustained in this life. Those who are emotionally controlled have the tendency to be up or down based upon the circumstances around them. When things are going good, they are good; and when things are bad, they reflect that emotionally. There is an important balance that needs to be found and cultivated in our lives. First of all, let’s define the difference between facts and truth. Facts are generally connected to this natural world and define to us what appears to be final. Truth is what God is and what He has determined to be the final word on the subject. Just because things are factually against you doesn’t mean it has the final say so.

Psalms 119:89 says,

“Forever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.”

God’s Word is the only thing forever settled. We have the privilege of allowing this to be the final say in our life. The emotional realm can be trained to respond according to the Word. There can be rejoicing when others say you should be crying; peace when others are fretting. Our emotions have been trained by observation and information. If this has been done without the Word, then it can be wrong. An example of this can be seen in Matthew 8:23-26 which reads,

“When he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. Behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. His disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. He saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.”

Notice the difference between Jesus and the disciples; they were frantic and fearful, and Jesus was calm and peaceful. Although He was calm when He dealt with His disciples, there was a passion and fire in His voice. Jesus was emotionally compelled concerning things of the Father. He was not emotionally complacent but fervent in everything He did. What we see from these verses is the importance of our emotions being nurtured and trained by faith. What God has determined to be forever settled in heaven is settled. Truth acted upon will make freedom a reality in the lives of people. A good example of this would be when someone sinned and felt guilty because of their action. Freedom from the emotional bondage of guilt can be experienced by acting on the truth of 1 John 1:9 which says,

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

According to normal training of most people, guilt should be a prolonged experience; and, therefore, suffering emotionally is expected. This is not the way God wants His children to live. He prefers a healthy emotional response to circumstances of life based upon His Word.

Pastor James Miller

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March 3, 2009

“Casting Your Care”

The world in which we live is full of anxieties, circumstances, and problems. As a blood-bought child of God, we have been given the answer to a worry-free life here on earth, right now-- the living Word of God.

We must understand that the words in the Bible are not there to just fill up space, but they were given to us to produce the God kind of life in us. God said what He meant, and He meant what He said.

In I Peter 5:7 we read, “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.”

God is actually telling us that we should be free of any cares that might come our way. We shouldn’t even consider them, we should just pass them on to God.

I used to think, “Well, God cares for me; so that’s why He wants my care.” But God showed me something else.

In Mark 4:19 we read, “And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the Word and it becometh unfruitful.”

I want you to notice what “cares” do. They choke out the Word of God from your life. They make you unfruitful. God knows that as long as we keep the cares of this world, the life that is in His Word won’t produce the fruit we need to live victorious and to be a strong witness to the world.

In Romans 10:17 we read, “So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.”

If Satan can get you to worrying, leaning to your own understanding, and holding on to the cares of this world, he will destroy your faith by choking the Word of God out of your life. Paul told us to fight the good fight of faith. One way we can do that is by casting all of our cares upon the Lord once and for all. Remember God doesn’t want some of your cares, He wants them all.

Jesus said in John 6:63; “It is the Spirit that giveth life; the flesh profiteth nothing. The words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit, and they are life.”

God’s Word produces life within our spirit, and satan is trying to suffocate and choke that very life out of us. Satan is trying to make us unfruitful, and Jesus told us that we should bear much fruit. A spirit-filled life is one that produces fruit.

In Galatians 5:22-23 we read, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law.”

Today, God wants you to know that His very nature was placed inside of you the day you were born again. You can be rid of worry, fear, and cares.

Jesus said in John 16:33, “These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

As you can see in God’s Word, cares will come your way; but you don’t have to receive them. You can cast them on God. Allow His Word to be full of life inside of you and help you overcome. Then, your life will produce much fruit; and you will live an abundant life of freedom, full of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance.

I encourage you to be a doer of the Word, and cast your cares on the Lord once and for all.

I love you,

Pastor Jimmy Brackeen