Category: Ministry

I have returned from my 2 time-zone, 2-state (Florida and Georgia), 8-day, 1,443.5-mile road-trip (business and pleasure). It’s good to be back home here in Homestead Florida – where I belong. It was also good to reunite with my church family this morning for our 11 AM service.

Today I told an amusing true story from my misadventures on the road, and I tied it in with this Scripture from Deuteronomy 11:18-21:

“So commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine. Tie them to your hands, and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home, and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed, and when you are getting up. Write them on the doorposts of your house, and on your gates, so that as long as the sky remains above the earth – you and your children may flourish in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors.

Keep your Bible open at all times. Refer to it. Utilize it. Read it. Study it. Memorize it. Each verse represents God’s voice. Absorb and apply God’s Good News all day every day.

It’s not enough to simply hear the Preacher preach on Sunday morning. This is not a weekly 2-hour social club. This is a new life of believing, following, learning more about, and becoming more like Jesus Christ with each new opportunity of each new day.

All Scripture is inspired by God, and is useful to teach us what is true, and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong, and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT)

So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

If you are a thief – quit stealing. Instead – use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember – he has identified you as his own – guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead – be kind to each other – tenderhearted – forgiving one another – just as God through Christ has forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:25-32 NLT)

That’s good advice right there – even if you’re a non-believer and non-follower of our Lord God Almighty. What a difference this world would be if we all followed the great wisdom above.

For the believers and followers of Jesus Christ (post-salvation) our speech must reflect what God has placed in our heart. It must reflect the Holy Spirit. It must reflect the fruits of the Holy Spirit. You know – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23). If you’re spouting off at the mouth – like an erupting volcano – then are you reflecting any of those fruits at all ?

See when we carry anger in our heart. When we slander others with our words – we are sinning against God The Holy Spirit.

It is the Holy Spirit that gives us the power that we need to live the way God wants us to live – and to say the things God wants us to say. If we listen to the Holy Spirit, and if we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us – then we will want to obey God. We will seek God’s Glory – above our own.