What’s In It For Me?
We’re living in some trying times, aren’t we? Well, instead of looking at circumstances, let’s look at who God is and what it means to be His, shall we? I mean, after all, if it doesn’t make any difference in the here and now, when things are so difficult, how much incentive is there to be a follower of Jesus? I mean, pie in the sky is nice, but shouldn’t there be some benefits NOW?
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that I think there should be more money in my bank account just because I’m a Christian. I don’t even have a specific expectation in mind when I say this. But really, what’s so great about being a Christian?
The Bible says that we should be ready to give an answer, doesn’t it? Sure it does. Well, my good friends, have I got an answer for you! This answer is one that has been working its way up to my consciousness over the past several weeks. And even months.
There Is A Plan
I think that one of the reasons God has taken me through this very rough year has been to show me something first hand. We read about this throughout the Bible, from the Old Testament to the New, but you know, there’s just something about personal experience that drives a message home. When a story goes from the third person to the first, you own it.
And when you are as hard headed as I tend to be, sometimes the message needs to be driven home with a sledge hammer.
What is it that has finally made it to my conscious thoughts? That God wants me to not only believe…but to know that I know that I know because I’ve lived it. That is a real benefit today, not just in eternity!
What is it that will encourage your heart if you’re in the pit today, or that you’ll want to remember tomorrow for the dark time that you may not even see coming?
Listen Up!
Let me share with you a short little chapter from the book of Psalms. It’s really a pity that some verses are much a part of our culture that we don’t hear them any more. I mean, we HEAR them all the time, but we don’t HEAR them. Jesus said many times, “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear”
Listen to this, if you can, with new ears. See if you can hear what David is saying here in Psalm, chapter 23. Don’t listen for what you think I am going to say, just listen to what David wrote, under the direction of the Holy Spirit. They are good and rich words for us today….
1 The Lord is my shepherd, ?I shall not want.?2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; ?He leads me beside quiet waters.
3 He restores my soul; ?He guides me in the paths of righteousness ?For His name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, ?I fear no evil, for You are with me; ?Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; ?You have anointed my head with oil; ?My cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, ?And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Did You Hear?
Did that speak to you like it does me? That is good stuff, especially for those of us who are in the dark valley right now. There is SO MUCH there.
There is encouragement, and there is hope. And it is not only for tomorrow! As a matter of fact, this is written in the present. This is a promise for NOW! This is not mainly about eternal life and a future of being in God’s presence, as great as that will be! This is NOT about future rewards! This is a promise for today!
I’m going to focus on just a portion of this chapter in just a minute, but let me just say that I can say that this 23rd Psalm is true. I have lived this psalm over the last year…actually more than a year. In the midst of my enemies, in the valley of the shadow of death, He has given me green grass and still waters. He has given me peace. I have experienced His goodness and lovingkindness in many different ways, and I know that He is my shepherd. There is no doubt. He loves me, he provides for me, and he alone is my protection. I would not have made it through the year without Him and His provision of love and strength and peace, as shown to me in times of worship and prayer, and through my family, my church friends, and those of you who have taken the time to write to me and call me.
But for right now, I want to focus on just four words, and they’re the opening words of verse three. Here they are: “He restores my soul”. HE restores my soul. He RESTORES my soul. He restores MY soul. He restores my SOUL! Any way you read that, there’s is Good News in the words!
Let’s Focus On This
So, what I want to focus on right now is the word “restores”.
I love old cars. I’ve always said that if I ever had more money than I knew what to do with, I would have a collection of them. I love the artistry, the style, the sound…even the smell of old cars with their horsehair upholstery. I especially like old cars that have been lovingly restored. Not customized. Restored. Restored to like new condition, with everything as original as is humanly possible. Restoring a car takes skill, patience, and commitment.
Starting a project car…one with body damage, rust, bad paint, with a motor that won’t run and upholstery that has rotted, wires that have shorted out and hoses that leak…that kind of car, starting on a car like that is easy…finishing it is difficult…and expensive.
God RESTORES my soul. He doesn’t patch my soul. He doesn’t just put a fresh coat of paint to hide the rust. He doesn’t put new covers over the old upholstery. He, as my creator, has the original plans for me…His unique and original blueprint that He used to knit me together in my mother’s womb. He knows where I’m broken and how to fix me. He RESTORES my soul.
He brings new hope, new vision, new vigor to a worn and tired and broken soul. He RESTORES my soul even in the midst of the valley. He RESTORES my soul even though my enemies are all around. He RESTORES my soul even though my business has failed or I just lost my job and I can’t pay the mortgage. He RESTORES my soul.
He RESTORES my soul. His presence, His touch, His Word brings life TODAY, brings hope TODAY, brings joy TODAY.
Life is hard. And as long as we live in this world with all of its problems, that will not change. But we have this promise from the lips of Jesus himself, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
HE … restores my soul!
There’s More!
Be sure to listen to the podcast. There is lots more to hear than what you see here on the show notes page.
Music On The Show
Justin Honaman…”Let Go And Let God”
Rob Costlow…”Family”
On Today’s Show
Hosted by Steve Webb
Perseverance is something that many of us need to focus on in these troubled times, and the Bible has many things to say on this subject. Steve Webb shares many of the scriptures dealing with this. We open today’s show with a powerful statement by Dr. S.M. Lockridge on who Jesus is…you gotta hear this! And we hear the debut episode of “Life Out Of Step“, a new show hosted by Bryan Duncan and Steve Webb.
My King
INSPIRATION BY DR SM LOCKRIDGE
Dr. Lockridge, a retired Baptist pastor was spotted in the audience at the beginning of a Baptist convention. The organiser of the convention asked him to come up to the stage, and open in prayer.
What followed was a stunning description of what God means to Dr. Lockridge.
We begin the show today with Dr Lockridge’s powerful and inspiring statement of who Jesus is. Below is the text. If you listen or read this, and are not moved, you had better check to be sure you have a pulse!
My King
The Bible says He’s a Seven Way King. He’s the King of the Jews – that’s a racial King. He’s the King of Israel- that’s a National King. He’s the King of righteousness. He’s the King of the ages. He’s the King of Heaven. He’s the King of glory. He’s the King of kings and He is the Lord of lords. Now that’s my King.
Well I wonder if you know Him.
David said the Heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament show His handiwork. My King is the only one whom there are no means of measure can define His limitless love. No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shore of supplies. No barriers can hinder Him from pouring out His blessing.
Well, well, He’s enduringly strong. He’s entirely sincere. He’s eternally steadfast. He’s immortally graceful. He’s imperially powerful. He’s impartially merciful. That’s my King. He’s God’s Son. He’s the sinner’s saviour. He’s the centrepiece of civilization. He stands alone in Himself. He’s honest. He’s unique. He’s unparalleled. He’s unprecedented. He’s supreme. He’s pre-eminent.
Well, He’s the grandest idea in literature. He’s the highest personality in philosophy. He’s the supreme problem in high criticism. He’s the fundamental doctrine of proved theology. He’s the carnal necessity of spiritual religion. That’s my King. He’s the miracle of the age. He’s the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him.
Well, He’s the only one able to supply all of our needs simultaneously. He supplies strength for the weak. He’s available for the tempted and the tried. He sympathizes and He saves. He’s strong God and He guides. He heals the sick. He cleanses the lepers. He forgives sinners. He discharged debtors. He delivers the captives. He defends the feeble. He blesses the young. He serves the unfortunate. He regards the aged. He rewards the diligent and He beautifies the meek.
Do you know Him?
Well, my King is a King of knowledge. He’s the wellspring of wisdom. He’s the doorway of deliverance. He’s the pathway of peace. He’s the roadway of righteousness. He’s the highway of holiness. He’s the gateway of glory. He’s the master of the mighty. He’s the captain of the conquerors. He’s the head of the heroes. He’s the leader of the legislatures. He’s the overseer of the overcomers. He’s the governor of governors. He’s the prince of princes. He’s the King of kings and He’s the Lord of lords. That’s my King. Yeah. Yeah. That’s my King. My King, yeah.
His office is manifold. His promise is sure. His light is matchless. His goodness is limitless. His mercy is everlasting. His love never changes. His Word is enough. His grace is sufficient. His reign is righteous. His yoke is easy and His burden is light.
Well. I wish I could describe Him to you, but He’s indescribable. He’s indescribable.
Yes. He’s incomprehensible. He’s invincible. He’s irresistible. I’m coming to tell you, the heavens of heavens cannot contain Him, let alone a man explaining Him. You can’t get Him out of your mind. You can’t get Him off of your hands. You can’t outlive Him and you can’t live without Him.
Well, Pharisees couldn’t stand Him, but they found out they couldn’t stop Him. Pilot couldn’t find any fault in Him. The witnesses couldn’t get their testimonies to agree. Herod couldn’t kill Him. Death couldn’t handle Him and the grave couldn’t hold Him. That’s my King. Yeah. Praise the Lord. That’s my King.
Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory. Well, all the power belongs to my King. We’re around here talking about black power and white power and green power, but it’s God’s power. Thine is the power. Yeah. And the glory. We try to get prestige and honour and glory for ourselves, but the glory is all His. Yes. Thine is the Kingdom and the power and glory, forever and ever and ever and ever. How long is that? And ever and ever and ever and ever. And when you get through with all of the evers, then, Amen.
Folks, as I record this, we are two weeks away from Christmas, and I really feel like we need to be encouraged. We need to hear from God. Let’s face it, as we listen to the news, or read the paper, or scan through our RSS subscriptions, the world is in pretty bad shape. The economy, pretty much world wide, is in a decline. Just last month, over a half million people in the U.S. lost their jobs. The U.S. government is shoveling billions and billions of taxpayer dollars…your money and mine…into failing companies, with doubtful benefit to you and me. 401k account balances are in the tank. Thankfully, gasoline prices are lower than they have been in years, but do you think that’s going to last? Personally, I don’t.
I could go on, but that’s not what I want to talk about today. I want to encourage you. If your family is anything like mine, or millions of other families in this country, there will be fewer gifts under the tree this Christmas, because of the things I mentioned a few moments ago. Should we be sad because that? Should we be fearful because of the economy?
Who is in control? To whom do we go for advice, for reassuring words, for strength, for courage? I think you know my answer. We go to the Lord. God is still on throne. He hasn’t lost His job. He is not surprised by falling stock prices or the big three auto makers on the brink of bankruptcy. Jesus is still our salvation, our redeemer. The Holy 
Spirit is still our Comforter.
Today, I want to look at several scriptures that remind us of what God has said. I’ll be reading a lot of scripture today, and commenting a little. His words are much better than mine, and I just really think that we need to hear from God today, and not so much from Steve. I hope that’s okay with you.
Listen to the show to hear the what God has to say to lift our hearts.
Music on today’s show was Northern Light Orchestra singing “Celebrate Christmas”.
Jimmie Bratcher’s “One Rock”
“Keep Singing”
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