I Don't Speak Zebra

In our Noonday and Evening Bible Studies at the Church we have been studying out of the Book of Hebrews. It has been a blessing to my soul and to the overall health of the church. The book of Hebrews was written to a group of Jewish Christians who were being tempted to abandon the Christian life.

In order to help those who would receive this letter to have a better understanding of the character and work of Jesus, the writer gave this book the word "better" as a theme. As the readers would read this book they would discover that Jesus was a better messenger, one better than the angels (1:4). Jesus was a better apostle (3:1-3). He was worthy of more glory than Moses.

In this book Jesus is also portrayed as a better priest (5:9). He was better than Aaron and Melchizedek. Jesus provided a better covenant because it was built on better promises (8:6-7). Then the writer said that Jesus provided a better sacrifice (10:12). This book closes with the writer showing a better way (10:34). This was the way of faith. The way of faith says, "forsaking all I trust him."

I am now in Chapter 11 where we are continuing our systematic approach now looking at every named person in this chapter from a Character Study standpoint and see what their lives and experiences will teach us. Abel taught us How to Worship! When giving God a gift, we don't give God what we want Him to have but rather we give God what He wants us to bring and that gift is always the best, not the left overs.

Enoch taught us How to Walk with God. To walk with him you must be going at the same pace, headed to the same place, walking on the same path so that you might receive from Him what He has provided. We have now embarked on the study of Noah. Noak teaches us How to Work for God? The Character Study of Noah has really convicted me!

Can you work for God even when you don't understand what He is really calling you to do? Can you remain faithful to your assignment even when you don't see immediate results? Can you give God your best even if the world will give you their worst?

The testimony of Noah 5:22, 6:5 is always the same, Noah did everything just as God has commanded him.

I kept saying, I wonder if that could be said about me and then I realized I am not so sure. This is why the author of Hebrews when naming each person always starts out by saying, BY FAITH each person did what they did. It takes faith.

Faith is the organ by which we are enabled to see the invisible order with certainty just as our eyes see the physical order around us. Faith is not brainless nor sentimental. It is a solid conviction resting on God's words that makes the future present and the invisible seen. It IS NOT a feeling, or optimism nor a hunch or bootleg positive thinking. It is in a word CERTITUDE--a dynamic certainty about what God has promised.

Therefore, faith is only as good as its object and the object of our faith is God as revealed to us through his Word. BY FAITH Noah receives God's instructions in one century only to have to wait until another century to see the fulfillment. BY FAITH Noah builds the ark even when he does not know what an ark is. BY FAITH he build it according to the specifications of God and his Word. BY FAITH Noak makes ready for a harvest he would have to wait over 100 years to come to pass. BY FAITH Noak is looking and expecting rain when in reality he has no idea what that means.

All of that I am fine with. What bakes my noodle is God's command to "bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you" Gen. 6:19 and again Noah did everything just as God commanded him VS22.

I put my Bible down, turned my WordSearch and LOGOS off and screamed as loud as I could, I DON'T SPEAK ZEBRA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HOW CAN YOU MAKE SOMETHING OR SOMEONE FOLLOW YOU THAT DOESN'T SPEAK THE SAME LANGUAGE YOU SPEAK?

DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE WORDS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF MY MOUTH?

IF I APPROACH A BIRD TO FEED IT, WON'T THE BIRD JUST RUN AWAY FROM ME?

God gave me the answer to this and I look forward to sharing this concept this Wednesday. I will share with you in this forum on Thursday, God willing!

Owens

Extra Weight

I am encountering a problem in my life. It is a sin issue! Usually when we admit we have a sin issue, people run to their favorites sins to gossip about, is it fornication, is it lying, gambling, adultery, are you a closet drug addict? No to all the above, however my sin is just as deadly as all of those. Physically and spiritually, I am guilty of the sin of carrying around extra weight. I NEED TO LOSE SOME WEIGHT

Physically, I have not demonstrated any discipline concerning my diet and exercise routine and now I am bigger than I should be. It affects my clothing, it affects my daily routine, it even affects my health because it is something I shouldn't be carrying around. I NEED TO LOSE SOME WEIGHT

As I am preparing for next week's sermon on The Valley Gate in Nehemiah 3, I started thinking of the theme "The Luggage of Life". The Valley Gate is the longest stretch between points of all the gates that needed repaired and represents a time in our lives where burdens get heavy, problems seem to pile on and we don't see a end in sight.

We start to carry things God never intended for us to carry. Max Lucado calls it a "suitcase of guilt, a sack of discontentment, a duffel bag of weariness, a hanging bag of grief, a backpack of doubt, an overnight bad of loneliness and a trunk full of fear. Pretty soon you are pulling more stuff than a skycap. No wonder we are so tired at the end of the day. Lugging luggage is exhausting"!

We need to lighten our load. We need to lose some weight! How do we do it? Maybe we should look at the eagle for an example. An Eagle renews its life by breaking away the buildup on its beak that keeps it from eating and growing stronger. As an eagle grows older, its beak begins to grow and a build up of scar tissue from cracks and scratches forms. This buildup begins to limit the ability of the eagle to open its beak wide enough to eat properly.

The eagle finds a rock or hard surface and begins to beat the end of its beak until it finally breaks away the buildup. Then the beak grows back in its correct proportions and the eagle is able to eat again. It’s strength and vigor returns and it becomes like a young eagle again. IT BREAKS AWAY THE BUILDUP.

Many of us carry excess weight, the luggage of life, buildup that needs to be broken. It can come from a variety of sources. Unrealistic expectations of others, unrealized dreams, past relationships, past failures and present frustrations. It shows up in anger, guilt, arrogance, fear and all kinds of insecurities that weigh us down.

Hebrews 12:1-2 says 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

It's time to lose some weight, physically and spiritually,

Owens