What Are You Waiting For?

John 5:2-3

Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.

God's Word tells us that this certain man laid here waiting for the moving of the water. Year after year he would wait for the stirring of the water. Every single time someone would beat him into the water and it would leave him to wait on one more year. All of that changed when Jesus passed by. Once this man met Jesus he didn't wait for the stirring of the water anymore.

So let me ask you this... What are you waiting for? Are you waiting for the "right time"? Are you searching for the "right service" that just feels good before you get come to Christ? Christian, are you waiting on a series of meetings before you experience revival? Are you storing up all of your righteousness, prayers, seeking of God for a specific time? What are you waiting for?

Can I tell you something? Stop waiting! He wants to heal you now! He wants to save you now! He wants to give you revival now! He wants to move in your life, that's right you guessed it, now! Now! Now! Now! No more waiting call on Him now!

Sing It With Me!

James 5:13

Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

When our boys were very young I can remember them being in their rooms all alone and playing. My wife and I would be sitting in the living room reading or relaxing and we could hear them playing in their rooms with their toys. Some of my greatest memories is of them being alone and no one paying attention to their playing. They would sing so loud and would just be having the time of their lives. We would sneak in the hallway and listen. I even remember them doing this when they couldn't even talk right and the words of their made up songs would be so crazy. But yet they just kept on singing. Still today we will sit and listen to them as they play throughout the house. Whistling seems to be the number one thing to do around here!  

I love how God's word shows us that things can change so quickly. One moment we could be singing and the next we could be praying over our sickness. Or one moment we could be sick and the next we could be singing. So if life is moment to moment and filled with ups and downs, then we must sing while we can. 

Remember the old song... If you're happy and you know it...clap your hands!  See, if we are happy (merry) then we should show it. If you're excited about Jesus and what He has done for you then show it.  If you're happy with what The Lord has blessed you with then show it. Sing, sing, sing! 

A Door of Hope

Hosea 2:15

And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.

If you've never read the book of Hosea I suggest that you do. This book is a story of love, true love. Not the soap opera or storybook love, but absolute true, forgiving love. God uses the story of Hosea and Gomer, no laughing... I wouldn't have married a woman named Gomer either, to set up an illustration of what happened between God and Israel. Gomer had left Hosea to live an adulterous lifestyle with men and money. She left her children and husband to pursue the selfish sins of her desire. But Hosea wasn't satisfied with letting her go. He redeemed her. He actually sent out the children to find her and plead with her. After she was found, he bought her out of her sinful lifestyle. What love! What forgiveness! What a Pursuer!

God stated that He wanted to do the exact same thing with Israel. He wanted them to return. He made this statement about the "door of hope" we see in our scripture. You may think that this is small or meaningless but you're missing it. God said He would give a door of hope in the valley of Achor. This valley was not known for hope. No, it was known for sin, death and judgment. It was in this valley that Joshua was commanded by God to take Achan and his family there for stoning. It was a valley of judgment, but God says I will give it to you for a "door of HOPE".

Praise God for the door of hope! God is extending His grace unto us this morning. There is a door before you. Today it is the door of hope, but if He comes and puts an end to this time and place then it will be a door of judgment. Open the door, He is standing at it knocking. (Revelation 3:20)