Our Scripture for today is 2 Corinthians 5:7

“We walk by faith, not by sight.”

Sometimes life changes in a minute. One minute you are happy, then news comes –  a car wreck, a doctor’s report, a report of slander. For whatever reason, one minute you were joyful and the next you are devastated and life is changed.

Most of the time, things change more slowly. This was the case for Jacob. The famine in the land happened slowly,  but eventually there was nothing to eat. He struggled with how to feed eight sons and their families. In times like that, just when he may have thought that things couldn’t get worse, his life truly crashed.

He believed his favorite son, Joseph was dead.

Another son, Simeon, was was a prisoner in Egypt.

His family had wealth, but there was no food to buy. What good is money if there is no food to buy? The only place he might buy food required that his favorite son, Benjamin, be brought to Egypt before his family would be allowed to buy food. Egypt had swallowed up Simeon and now it wanted Benjamin.

Facing death by starvation, Jacob finally gave permission to take Benjamin to Egypt. He had to have food for his family. In a spirit of deep despair he wailed, “As for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.” (Genesis 43:13)

We would have all felt just as he did. There are times when our world crashes around us and we don’t know where to turn.

For the times when you feel that way, God has given you the story of Jacob, Benjamin, Simeon, and Joseph.

Jacob loved God and all things worked together for good. It is too bad Jacob did not have enough faith to believe that truth. If he had, he would not have come to such a low point and said, “If I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”

Looking back, God was working in Jacob’s life.

Looking back, God was planning to feed him and his family.

Looking back, everything was working things out wonderfully well. All of this can be understood looking back.

Looking back, life is more easily understood.

Looking back is easy. Looking forward is hard. 

Looking back is sight. Looking forward is faith. 

In our own struggles we must look forward in faith and trust that God is working things out for us. Remember, “We live by faith, not by sight.” (2 Cor 5:7)

~Lonnie Davis

Don’t Bury Your Spaghetti

Our scripture for today is 1 Corinthians 1:25

“The foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

We don’t usually think about the foolishness of God. This really is a phrase of comparison. Paul is saying that the wisest thing a man may ever say is not even comparable to God’s wisdom. In fact, man’s wisdom is silly compared to God’s wisdom. 

Let’s illustrate with a true story.

When I was a kid I had a dog that I named Pancho. I thought he was very smart. Well, he was… for a dog. 

In those days dogs were different. They lived outside, chased cars, and barked at night. Dog food was whatever we had left over from our meal. He ate anything, even spaghetti. Once I gave him a plate of it and he ate it. At least until he was full. When he got full, he did what dogs do: he saved it for later by burying it. I laughed at how dumb that was. You can’t bury spaghetti by covering it with dirt. He didn’t know it. Dumb dog!

Now, when I think back, I wonder if that is how we sometimes appear to God. We too bury our spaghetti. We do things that must look just as silly to God.

We spend time having fun until we don’t have time for important things. 
We chase comfort and ignore health.
We spend money on things and stuff and junk and then get our electricity turned off for nonpayment.
We honor worldly people but ignore spiritual people.
We give time for friends, but not for family.
We search the internet for information to help us make decisions but do not consult God’s Word.
We fail to plan and just live life as it comes.

Well, you get the idea. We sometimes bury our spaghetti.

Lonnie Davis

Our scripture for today is John 14:2

“In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” – Jesus

For fifty years, I doubt if I have ever preached a funeral when I did not read this beautiful verse. Recently, I have seen it in a new light. 

When my fourth grandchild, a baby girl named Emma, was born, I went to the house. She had so many clothes that I was amazed. Knowing her mother had not had time to go shopping, I said to her, “How did you find time to buy all these clothes?” She answered, “I already had a room full of new clothes waiting for her.”

That is similar to what Jesus is telling us in today’s verse. The little girl was not here yet and yet her mother was already preparing blessings for her.”

Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you…I will come again and take you unto myself that where I am there you may be also.”

When you and I were born into his kingdom, we were born into blessings that were already waiting for us.

To assure us of this, Paul told the Corinthians,

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

Blink your eyes; time will pass, and the blessings will be yours.

Just that thought ought to make you have a good day.

Lonnie Davis.

Our Scripture for today is 1 Corinthians 15:33.

“Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’ Come back to your senses as you ought…”

I admit that the phrase “Come back to your senses” actually goes with the next verse but seems appropriate here also. The meaning of this verse for us is that we need to use good judgment about who we choose as friends because they will shape our character.

Many years ago, I discussed this with a teenage boy. I talked to him through a thick piece of glass. He was the son of a former member of the congregation where I ministered. We had glass between us because he was in jail awaiting a trial. He and three of his friends broke into a house in order to steal. They got away, and he got caught. He was penitent and vowed that his life would be different after this was over. His friends had a history of this kind of activity, and so I gave him this advice. “After you get out,” I said, “you need to choose different friends.”

Immediately, he responded, “No. I need to stay with them so that I can be a good influence on them.” Does anyone want to know how this worked out? He kept his friends, and he kept on getting into trouble.

Did his friends influence him for bad, or did he influence them for bad? Certainly, it was a little of both. 

All I really know is that “Bad company corrupts good character.”

I like the way one modern translation puts it: “Associating with bad people will ruin decent people.” If you don’t believe that, then you need to pay attention to the first four words of this verse: “Do not be misled.” Then read that final exhortation, “Come back to your senses.”

Lonnie Davis 

Here are three interesting points about the Holy Spirit, the third in the Godhead.

#1. Jesus performed miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit.

In Matthew 12, the Pharisees accused Jesus of doing miracles by the power of Satan. Jesus assured them this was not so and then said, “But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” (Verse 28). Jesus thus said he did miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit.

#2. Jesus preached by the Holy Spirit

In Luke 4:18 Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,

because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.

Jesus preached with the authority of the Holy Spirit.

Finally, #3. The thoughts in this third section are my opinion, but I thing well reasoned. 

#3. We do not talk about the Holy Spirit as much as we do the Father and the Son. 

Of course the question is why. Recently I heard a man tell a Bible class that the church is afraid to talk about the Holy Spirit. I think this accusation is wrong.  We are not afraid to study or talk about the Spirit. 

I think it is because people love stories and the Holy Spirit is not as story active as Jehovah and Jesus. We love to talk of what someone did or someplace they went or said. Jehovah made the universe, he created man, he talked to Abraham, he blessed David. He has stories we can tell, talk about, and love. Jesus came to earth, he healed the sick, he preached sermons, died on the cross, and got up from the dead. These are wonderful action stories.

In contrast, The Holy Spirit usually worked behind the scenes. Jesus did miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit. Jehovah sent the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus. He guided the apostles into wisdom. Jesus and the apostles in these stories got their power from the Holy Spirit. Stories usually revolve about what the main actors did. 

When people go to a nice restaurant, they leave and talk about the great server, or wonderful restaurant. They talk about how great the food is, but not very often will they talk about the cooks who work behind the scene. Likewise, in the Bible stories, the Holy Spirit usually works behind the scenes. 

We are not afraid to talk about the Holy Spirit, we simply talk more about those whom the Holy Spirit directed.

The study of the Holy Spirit is a broad subject and is much more than can be learned in such a short message. 

Lonnie Davis

Our Scripture for today is Matthew 7:7-8

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

When you read today’s scripture it seems wrong to say that there are times when you ought not to pray. Let’s consider.

In Mark 10:21, Jesus told the rich, young ruler “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor…Then come, follow me.” Should the young ruler have said to Jesus, “Well, let me pray about it?’ Of course not! He already had a word from Jesus about what he should do. 

Consider Abraham in Hebrews 11:8. the Bible says, “Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” When God called him to go, should Abraham have answered, “First let me pray about it?” No.

When Jesus told the lame man, “Arise, take up your bed and walk,” then prayer for a decision was not needed.

When God told Joshua to march around the walls of Jericho, then there was only one thing to do. March! One might pray for strength, but not for a decision.

Why should we not pray under those circumstances? Here is the rule. When God has already made it clear what we should do, then we already have our answer.

Do not pray for guidance about Getting drunk, stealing,  committing adultery, lying…Well, you get the idea. Just obey. When you know what God wants you to do, just obey.

Lonnie Davis

Our Scripture for today is Matthew 28:5–6.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. “

Let me tell you a story.

John and Phil were walking by a stream, and John asked Phil, “Why don’t you believe that Jesus got up from the grave?”

Phil, an atheist, responded, “Because I believe in science and not miracles.”

So you don’t believe in miracles?” John asked.

“Absolutely not.” Phil confidently answered. 

John asked, “Then how did we get here?”

Phil had the answer, “The Big Bang Theory.”

Okay, let me read you a description of the Big Bang theory.

Advocates of the Big Bang say, “13.8 billion years ago, at the beginning of the Big Bang, everything in the entire universe was squeezed inside an inconceivably small space, far tinier than a grain of sand. Then everything just started expanding. Out of it came everything in the universe. That is the Big Bang.”

Since scientists knows of no laws which make this possible, that sounds like a miracle to me. 

Here is the truth: everyone believes in miracles.  Miracles #1. Atheists believe the Sun, Moon, all the stars, and all galaxies were at one time compressed together into a space smaller than a grain of sand. All of a sudden, bang, everything just started expanding.

Miracle #2. Christians believe that Jesus got up again after he died.

It is incredible to hear someone say that Jesus couldn’t rise again because that would be a miracle. At the same time believing that all living creatures, and the sun, moon and stars, all things came from something the size of a grain of sand.

Lonnie Davis

I called my son, the proud father of a 1-year-old, and told gave him the answer for his someday teenage girl. Someday she will be asking, “Why am I even here?”

Here is the answer for him to tell her. “You are here because your mother and I wanted you. We still do.”

Every parent should put that answer in their quiver. Have it as a ready arrow to use when the question arises. 

What about the rest of us? What about those times when young adults, middle aged, and senior adults wrestle with that same question? Sometimes, we also ask, “Why am I here?” 

Is there a good answer for us too? Absolutely! It is also an answer for you child.

Here it is: You are here because God wanted you. This is what Revelation 4:11 says,

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

Look at those words, “by your will.” That means by God’s will. It means it is what God wanted. It is by his will everything was created, even you and me.

You are here because your parents wanted you. If not and even so, then you are certainly here because God wanted you.

Mark Twain once said, “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.”

You were born because God wanted you.

The purpose of your life is what you must discover.

If you don’t know, then keep working on it.

God wanted you for a reason!

Lonnie Davis

Our text for today is 2 Samuel 23:20

“Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, performed great exploits.”

When you first read this verse, you may have thought, “Who is Benaiah?’ “Why would I care about him?” “ Why is he important?

I find it interesting that these are the same questions that people ask about other people. They are also the questions that you ask about yourself. Who am you? Why does anyone care about you? Why are you important at all?

Who is he? He is the greatest little known soldier in the Bible. Why do I care about him? Because he helps me understand why I should keep on keeping on. That makes him important.

To believe these answers, let’s read a little more of his story. It is told in only 72 words.

2 Samuel 23:20-21

“Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, performed great exploits. He struck down Moab’s two mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. And he struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear.”

According to this text, he defeated the two biggest problems of David’s enemies. He killed a huge Egyptian with nothing but a club while the Egyptian had a spear. He snatched the spear away from him and used it to kill the enemy.

My favorite part of his adventures was that he killed a lion (a ferocious beast) in a pit (the worse place to fight) on a snowy day (under terrible circumstances).

In other words, he did what he had to do and what nobody else wanted to do. That makes him a hero in my book. It makes him a hero in God’s Book. 

We can judge him by the battles he was willing to fight. He could have just gone fishing, but instead fought a lion and killed giant.

I tell you his story because, we all have our own lions to slay, in a pit, on a snowy day.

Children may sing, “Dare to be a Daniel,” but I say, “Dare to be a Benaiah.” Even if you have to work in obscurity.

Today, what is the lion you need to slay? 

Lonnie Davis

The Holy Spirit did not act on all people in the same way. In this brief study, we will see four different ways, or measures of the Holy Spirit. In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit is mentioned and described in various ways, and there are several measures or aspects of the Holy Spirit’s work and presence. Here are Four measures of the Holy Spirit as described in the New Testament:

First: Jesus had the Holy Spirit “without measure.” Not just the power to work miracles or preach the inspired word, but as one of the Godhead, Jesus had the full measure of the Spirit. This is mentioned in John 3:34. “For the one whom God has sent [Jesus] speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.”

Second: The Apostolic Measure. 

Before Jesus left earth, he told his Apostles.

“When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come…the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.” (John 16:12-15).

Included in the Apostolic measure was the ability to pass the miracle working abilities to other disciples. Philip an evangelist did wonders and miracles in Samaria, but could not pass on the miraculous measure to the Samaritans. Acts 8:14-17 tells us: “When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria… because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.”

Third: The “Gifts” measure. In the early church, the Holy Spirit imparted various spiritual gifts to believers for the building up of the church and the work of ministry. These gifts include prophecy, healing, speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues, wisdom, knowledge, and others (1 Corinthians 12:4-11).

Fourth: The Baptismal measure. In Acts 2:38, Peter tells the people that when they repent and are baptized they will “Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” This measure is for all Christians.

Lonnie Davis