I’d like to talk today about being taken for granted . It’s happened to ALL of us at one time or another - by a person or persons , just some more than others . Have you ever had a friend , relative , co-worker , neighbor , or even family members that you never (or seldom ) see unless they want something from you ? Do YOU yourselves only (or seldom) contact friends , relatives , etc., unless you need or want something from them ? I confess that I’ve done it- and have had it done to me as well . It doesn’t make us feel very good about the person , does it ? We see ‘em coming and say , ‘Oh , oh . . Here comes ‘so and so’ again , let’s hide .” And they probably say the same about us when they see us coming . 

Now don’t get me wrong , there’s nothing wrong in helping someone who needs help , after all , in LUKE 6:38 it says , “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”

It’s a shame , Brothers and Sisters , that we pay more attention to our cars , boats , job , bank account , and so on - MORE than we do the Lord - who GAVE us all those things to begin with !! Believers in Christ , do this just as much as Non-Believers . Oh Sure , we may ‘dust’ off our bibles once or twice a week when we go to church - but then what happens ? After services , we put our bible - AND the Lord , back on the shelf for another week. We IGNORE Our Lord and Savior until the following week. During the week we praise our favorite sports team , car , plasma tv and so on more than we do the Lord , UNLESS , of course , we encounter a critical situation during the week - then of course , we ‘dust’ off the Lord again and ask his help - and being the Loving Father he is - he DOES listen to us and sees us thru - then it’s right back on the shelf he goes . I mean , imagine if you will - someone doing that to YOU !! Treating YOU that way . You’d probably tell them like I’d be inclined to tell ‘em , that . “Hey ,you’ve been praising your car , boat , tv . , sports team . . Whatever all week - CALL THEM TO HELP YOU !! “ As a matter of fact , that's pretty much what God told the generation that "ignored" him in the Old Testement , and 'worshipped' other gods - hence , 'IGNORING' the Lord ; Deut: 32: 37-38 says ; "37) And he shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted, 38) Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? let them rise up and help you, and be your protection. "

But No - in his lovingkindness , and as his children - he is ALWAYS there for us. That , my friends , is truly UNCONDITIONAL LOVE !!

Then , of course , I hear many Believers say , “But every week , I give this HUGE amount of money in tithes.” So WHAT !!! Is my reply - that’s what you’re SUPPOSED to do !! 

“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. “ (2 Cor 9:7)

But again - where do you think you got your money from in the FIRST PLACE ?? Additionally , one must ask themselves , “Am I trying to ‘BUY’ God’s Love ?” If so , forget THAT !! You better look at Matt: 19: 24 , “And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” - I’m sure we all recall that one. When the rich guy told Jesus (and I’m paraphrasing , here) that he’s been keeping the commandments and so on , and he asked Jesus , “what more must I do to enter the Kingdom of Heaven ?” And Jesus told him to sell EVERYTHING he has and give it to the poor - that’s when the rich man turned around and walked away without saying anything - Jesus KNEW this guy was very rich , but by the rich mans actions - he showed that he LOVED his money and possessions more than the Lord. I sometimes wonder how many of us could ‘pass that SAME test’ today , Huh ? And while I’m on the subject - note that Jesus DOES NOT say that . Money ,wealth ,possessions , etc are EVIL !! He says it’s the LOVE of those things - to quote Jesus CORRECTLY it’s in 1 Tim: 6:10 “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

Actually , Brothers and Sisters - each and every one of us - REGARDLESS of how much money we have - or DON’T HAVE - ALL have the SAME , most valuable gift that we can give to the Lord - or ANYONE . . for that matter - any one know what it is ? It’s our TIME !! That’s because when you give your time to someone - it’s a gift that can NEVER be ‘re-paid’ - If you forego an hour , two hours or an entire day - putting aside what YOU want to do , and GIVE that TIME to another person , be it visiting them in a hospital , volunteer work , helping them with a project - or just sitting and talking to them - how do they ‘RE-PAY ‘ YOU ?? They CAN’T !! It’s IMPOSSIBLE to get TIME back , Once TIME is GONE - IT’S GONE !! If you give MATERIAL things such as money , gifts , and so on - THOSE THINGS you can ALWAYS replace - therefore TIME is the MOST VALUABLE AND LOVING GIFT YOU CAN GIVE SOMEONE .

Let’s ALL stop taking God for Granted - Let’s all make a concerted effort to praise his name several times a day , as well as reading his Holy word. Have you already read the ENTIRE Bible - From Genesis to Revelations ?? If You have - GREAT !! NOW . . READ IT AGAIN !!! THIS TIME , though -STUDY IT !! There are a great many Authorized King James Versions of Study Bibles that can be had at many book stores.

I’ve got in the habit of Thanking the Lord , numerous times during the day - even at work , for giving my family and I all we need and meeting our needs. We may not have a Brand new car , or live in a fancy section of town , or have designer clothes , or be able to afford to eat out - and we may not even have steak every week -, and the box springs and mattresses on our beds may be ten years old - or older - BUT . . We’re NOT wanting for anything !! We have a roof over our heads ,, we’re not sleeping on the floor , or on the street under a bridge , we’re not having to walk or take a bus anywhere , we got clothes on our backs and shoes on our feet ,and we never have went to bed hungry - so what more can we ask for , Huh ?? - As far as I’m concerned - Our Lord , Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit , is providing for us - and all we continue to do his to SEEK FIRST - HIS KINGDOM - and ALL THESE THINGS ARE ADDED ON TO US - PRAISE GOD . Just read and THINK about what the Bible says in Matthew 6:30 to Matthew 6: 33 ; (30) “Wherefore , if God so clothe the grass of the field , which today is , and to morrow is cast into the oven , shall he not much more clothe you , O ye of little faith ? “

(31) “Therefore take no thought , saying , What shall we eat ? Or , What shall we drink ? Or , Wherewithal shall we be clothed ? “

(32) “ For after all these things do the Gentiles seek ; for your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.”

(33) “ But seek ye first the kingdom of God , and all his righteousness ; and all these things shall be added onto you . “

AMEN to THAT !!

Now , I’m here to tell you , brothers and sisters , that is TRUE !! For OVER 53 and a half years I was doing it all backwards - ignoring God and thinking I can do it on my own by ‘chasing the dollar’ - and it’s a shame that the majority of society measures a man or woman by their bank account - well, you know what , and this of course isn’t scripture , but I feel it rings true - there’s an old adage that reads , “All the money in the world will not enhance some peoples character , any more than sunlight will sweeten garbage . “  When we hit ‘rock bottom’ financially - I told my wife , “Gerri , we NOW just have to take all these problems and put them in the hands of the Lord.” I then .. LITERALLY.. Got on my knees and started crying , confessing my sins to God and asking for his forgiveness , and VOWING to him that if he sees us thru , that I WILL dedicate the rest of whatever earthly life I have left here to minister his Holy word and attempt to ‘re-pay’ him by bringing as many of his “lost sheep” to him as I can. We NOW ‘walk by faith - NOT by sight’ Oh , and by the way - say what you will - but after talking to the Lord , I felt such an inner feeling of Warmth , Peace and Love that it’s unexplainable - and within 24 HOURS , we were given - FREE !! A ‘new ‘ vehicle ,or at least new to us ,as it was a 2002 sport utility vehicle . We were behind in our rent and were facing legal eviction , and within 72 HOURS , we got the money to catch up on the rent - INCLUDING LATE FEES, and have NOT had any financial problems since !! PRAISE GOD IN ALL HIS GLORY !! AMEN !!

If the Lord wants us to get something new or different , he’ll give it to us -BUT . . On HIS timeline - NOT OURS !!

Brothers and Sisters in Christ , take a moment with me now , please - to Thank God with a prayer.

Heavenly Father , forgive us for not giving you of our time and for not acknowledging you and praising and Thanking you for all that you have given us , that you continue to give us , and that you will give us in the future . Let us start TODAY , to acknowledge You EVERY DAY ,and Praise Your Holy Name and to accept your beloved son , Jesus Christ , as our personal savior and redeemer with the Holy Ghost . No matter what this day brings , Lord - your HOLY name be praised - for the HONOR AND GLORY AND POWER IS YOURS , Now and Forever - we Thank-You and ask this in Jesus’ Name , Amen.

Until next time , Brothers and Sisters in Christ , Grace be unto you , and Peace , from God our Father , and from the Lord Jesus Christ .
Your Brother in Christ ;
Pastor Mike