I just want to take some space here and recap (in my own words) what I got out of the services this morning.
This morning, Brother Haner taught on “A Barn Full of Hope”. His text was Haggai 2:19 (NIRV), “Are any seeds still left in your barns? Until now, your vines and fig trees have not produced any fruit. Your pomegranate and olive trees have not produced any either. " 'But from this day on I will bless you.' " You may think, that there is nothing to show for the seeds that have been planted. There are promises that God has given you and yet nothing is happening! This scriptures gives us the hope that even though there is no fruit showing yet, there is hope…He will bless us and complete the work that was started. But, you may say…I feel like I have been cut down to nothing like a tree that has been cut down, leaving nothing but a stump. Job 14:7 says, “For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down , that it will sprout again , and that the tender branch thereof will not cease .” God will complete the work that was started. Don’t allow yourself to be distracted and drawn away. And, if you have fallen by the wayside and strayed from the paths you know are right, 2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV) says, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” Thank you, JESUS, for the hope that you give no matter where we are on this path called life!
Now, the preaching was equally as encouraging. But, then when isn’t the Word of God encouraging? Brother Hammack preached from Matthew 6:21 where it says, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” I know that we have heard this scripture quoted many times. But, stick with me for a minute and let me do what I love to do…break it down a little bit. In this verse, treasures are things that are accumulated in our hearts, like attitudes, thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes or endeavors. Our treasures determine what is in our heart and what is in our heart will eventually show itself through our communications and actions. So, our treasures need to radiate Jesus. The amount of energy we put into carefully choosing the treasures that accumulate in our heart will affect the results of how effective we are in working for Him. We have to make a choice. Who are we serving. Are we serving God or are we serving the “god of this world”. Are the treasures of this world more important to us than taking the time to pray, read the Word of God and reach out to those around us? Here’s a good example: If you go panning for gold and come up with fool's gold, what you have is something that may look good and pretty, but it is not really valuable in the end. You just have “fake gold”. But on the other hand, if you come up with real gold, you have something that is truly beautiful and valuable. Our treasures (our attitudes, thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes or endeavors) can either be a facade of good Christian or they can reflect the real deal…a life that reflects Him.
Wow! I am SO thankful for Men of God who follow the leading of the Lord and preach such encouraging messages. I serve an AWESOME God and He always knows just what things I need to hear to keep me moving forward! ♥
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