Monday, March 1, 2010

Don't Eat That!

Genesis 3: 1-6

Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:

But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.


Don't Eat That!

There was a song we used to teach the younger children in Sunday School. The words went something like:

Be careful little ears what you hear
Be careful little eyes what you see
Be careful little mouths what you say
For the Lord is up above
And He's Looking down in love
So be careful...


Of course, being great big, grown up, sophisticated adults, these nursery rhymes shouldn't really be our focus. Or should they?

Our Savior taught that it isn't what goes in to a man that defiles him, but what comes out (Matthew 15:11). He was teaching that it isn't all the rules we follow that make us righteous but what's in our hearts and what we express that is really important.

But how does that stuff get in us? By what we take in.

My pastor was talking to some young people this weekend about learning and how it was important that they take in those things that will profit them in the long run. When he mentioned diet, the Holy Spirit dropped this picture from Eden in my spirit. If we take in junk, we get junk out. Take in good, good comes out.

By taking in dishonesty, deceitfulness and lies, Adam (they were both called Adam at that point...look it up) produced disobedience, shame, blame. When we take in good things, lovely things, pure things, then we nurish our spirits with the the things needed to produce good fruit.

Loved ones, that nursery rhyme still applies. Be careful what and who you listen to. Be careful how you choose to feed your spirit. Be careful what and who you pay attention to. The Lord isn't above looking down. He's right there with you through every experience. He's still looking in love, but does the love go both ways or just from Him to you? Are you trying to run this saved journey on a diet of trash and junk food? Or are you nourishing yourself with the Fruit of the Spirit? The oil of annointing? The Water of the Word? The meat that comes from solid teaching and preaching?

So, be careful little ears what you hear...eyes what you see...mouth what you say!

Psalm 84

How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!

My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.

Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.

Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.

Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.

Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.

They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.

O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.

Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.

For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.


For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.


Sis. Stephanie Robinson

Lifeline is the evangelistic ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. Feel free to share this message. For questions or to subscribe, send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com

Fellowship Church
455 HWY 138 Suite C
Jonesboro, GA 30238
Alton Watkins, Pastor

The Illusion of Life

This is from Tuesday, February 23rd

Psalm 2: 1-4

Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,

Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision.

The Illusion of This Life


I watched a magic show yesterday. It got me thinking about the things that challengs us in this life. In the light of truth, most of what consumes us daily is just a trick...a vain attempt to get the best on God and His annointed.

Paul reminded us that there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God. Not His adoration. Not His appreciation. His love. That's a love where all the promises are true, and God remains consistent in all things.

Yet, when faced with the distractions and illusions conjured up by the enemy, we grow faint and cry out in despiration. It's like we're caught in a magic trick and we think we can't get out. But make no mistake dear one, it is a trick.

Jesus died to make you one with Him and the Father and to make the way for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Anything that isn't of the Father is counterfeit...a trick. You might not know how it works, but it's still a trick designed to deceive you and to keep your eyes off the truth...off the Father and His Son.

God laughs at this attempt and calls it vain. You are His and nothing and no one can change that. And that's not a trick.

Psalm 2:10-12

Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.

Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

Peace.

Sis. Stephanie Robinson


Lifeline is the evangelistic ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. Feel free to share this message. For questions or to subscribe, send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com


FellowshipChurch
455 HWY 138 Suite C
Jonesboro, GA 30238
AltonWatkins, Pastor