9.23.9 "Never Forget"

"Never Forget"

Isaiah 41:17-43:13
Ephesians 2:1-22
Psalm 67:1-7
Proverbs 23:29-35

Eph. 2:11 "Never forget that once you were heathen..."

In the midst of busy schedules, it's easy to forget what our purpose is, our mission. We have to remember Eph. 2:9. "Salvation is not a reward for the good we have done, so none of us can take any credit for it."

Eph 2:10 "It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others." I must view my life as a resource that needs to be invested in what God has created me for. Your life is as well. "Never forget," you were a heathen. Now you're not.

Eph 2:2 "You went along with the crowd and were just like all the others, full of sin..." "BUT GOD is so rich in mercy; he loved us so much that even though we were spiritually dead and doomed by our sins, he gave us back our lives again when he raised Christ from the dead - only by his undeserved favor have we ever been saved." Eph 2:4-5

Our salvation is not a badge to be worn in pride. It is a gift. And it's not just a gift to hoard. It is for a purpose. In our world, there are people who are thirsty. Salvation is their water. How easily we forget how desperate they are for this water. We forget because we are no longer thirsty. Have you ever been REALLY thirsty? When you are, that's the only thing on your mind... how can i get water?

Isaiah 41:17 says, "When the poor and needy seek water and there is none and their tongues are parched from thirst, then I will answer when they cry to me. I, Israel's God, will not ever forsake them."

Who do you think God will use to meet the need of the thirsty? He has those of us to whom he has given new life. "But I have witnesses, O Israel, says the Lord! You are my witnesses and my servants, chosen to know and to believe me and to understand that I alone am God. There is no other God; there never was and never will be. I am the Lord, and there is no other Savior. Whenever you have thrown away your idols, I have shown you my power. With one word I have saved you. You have seen me do it; you are my witnesses that it is true."

The world doesn't know where the answer is. BUT WE HAVE SEEN IT! We have responsibility. We don't have salvation just for ourselves, we have it to show them the way!

What's holding us back? Fear?

Isaiah 43:1-3 says, "But now the Lord who created you, O Israel, says, Don't be afraid, for I have ransomed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up - the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, your Savior, the Holy One of Israel."

You probably noticed something there: It doesn't say, "you WONT go through deep waters, or trouble, or difficulty, or fire of oppression..." It says "WHEN you" go through these things.

So, what's our excuse? People dying of thirst all around, and we have cases of "Ice Mountain" water at our disposal... In this time of need do we jack up the cost of the Living Water? Do we wait for them to come to us? We pray that God will send someone to witness to our friends. We pray that there will be anointing on the flyer for a church outreach so they will come and then pastor can lead them to the Lord. It's wonderful when that happens, but don't get in the mindset of "Heaven forbid we give them some of our own water."

Today's Psalm 67 tells it all: "O God, in mercy bless us; let your face beam with joy as you look down at us. Send us around the world with the news of your saving power and your eternal plan for all mankind. How everyone throughout the earth will praise the Lord! How glad the nations will be, singing for joy because you are their King and will give true justice to their people! Praise God, O world! May all the peoples of the earth give thanks to you. For the earth has yielded abundant harvests. God, even our own God, will bless us. And peoples from remotest lands will worship him."

Never forget! The harvest is there! Let's get at it!


Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

P Greg


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