Good morning everyone. Oh give thanks unto the Lord for He is good yes He is good and worthy of our praise. I was sitting here thinking about the things that have gone on in the last 48 hours and I’m convinced that there are many in the body of Christ right now that are listening to the word of God but not hearing a single thing that is being truly said. My challenge to each of us today is to search your heart and see if you are a hearer and doer of the word and not just a listener.

Today’s Prayer

Father, this is a prayer that feeds off of yesterday’s prayer. Help us honor all of those who have sacrificed their lives to preserve our nation’s freedom. Help us to carefully consider (1) whether we are worthy of their sacrifices, and (2) whether we are in danger of letting this precious freedom slip away. To our forefathers, freedom to worship meant accepting Your sovereignty and Your salvation, and being able to pray publicly. Today, it means freedom for all religions, cults and “gods,” except You, and little public recognition of our Christian roots except in times of crisis.Freedom to learn meant having free access to truth. Today, it often means a rewriting of history by those who wish to mold future generations to live in a godless society! Forgive us, Lord, for not seeking Your guidance and acting upon it. Help us as Christians to turn again to You before it is too late. In the wonderful name of Jesus I present this and all things, Amen.

Let’s eat.

Persuading

We persuade men

2 Corinthians 5:11-15

Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too. Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart. If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.

Preacher’s Business; Almost persuaded

Acts 26:24-29

Suddenly, Festus shouted, “Paul, you are insane. Too much study has made you crazy!” But Paul replied, “I am not insane, Most Excellent Festus. What I am saying is the sober truth. And King Agrippa knows about these things. I speak boldly, for I am sure these events are all familiar to him, for they were not done in a corner! King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do—” Agrippa interrupted him. “Do you think you can persuade me to become a Christian so quickly?” Paul replied, “Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that both you and everyone here in this audience might become the same as I am, except for these chains.”

The Procrastinator Never persuaded

Luke 16:19-31

Jesus said,“There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury.At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores.As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores. “Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried,and his soul went to the place of the dead.There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side. “The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’ “But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish.And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’ “Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home.For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’ “But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’ “The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’ “But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even if someone rises from the dead.’”

The Hardened; I am persuaded

Romans 8:38-39

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Quote of the Day

Silence, as someone has said, is the mother of prayer and the nurse of holy thoughts. Silence cuts down on our sins, doesn’t it? We can’t be sinning in so many different ways if we are being quiet before God. Silence nourishes patience, charity, discretion.

Elisabeth Elliot

WITH HOPE AND FAITH

REV. ELDER G E STERRETT

FOUNDER

GCKRS HELPING HAND FOUNDATION – THE RELATIONSHIP FACTORY