One Minute Sermons – Page 10 – Serminutes

STIR IT UP!

June 15, 2011R. Mangold

In 2 Timothy 1:1-6, Paul tells Timothy, the faith that was in your Grandma, and your Mama….I now see is also in you! So this is a gift…passed down from generations. Someone said, “If you ever see a turtle on a fencepost, you know he didn’t get there by himself”.

None of us started out with our own ‘stuff’! Just like the son of Aaron the High Priest. The only anointing upon him was what soaked into the clothes he now wore…FROM HIS FATHER IN MINISTRY! Only AFTER you walk under HIS anointing, do you get your own anointing! That’s where “double portion“ comes from! Nobody can pray it on you! You receive it by manifesting as a faithful son in ministry!

There are gifts passed from generations, deep inside of you…It was there when you were born! You’ve been studying generational curses; you NEED to study generational BLESSINGS!

As you reach adulthood, all the gifting that was apparent in you as a child, has a tendency to get covered up with A LOT OF STUFF….THAT’S why Paul told Timothy…STIR UP THE GIFT!

STIR IT UP, CHILD OF GOD!

By Rev. J.S. Willoughby – To read other posts by Rev. J.S. Willoughby visit his blog at http://jswilloughby.wordpress.com

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians! Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

Limiting the ONE Without Limits

June 14, 2011R. Mangold

Yes, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it? Isaiah 43:13 (AKJV)

Despite being ALL powerful, even God has a limit. As ludicrous as it sounds, what may come as even more of a shock is what that “limit” is…YOU.

I’m not saying we’re more powerful than God. I AM saying each time we attempt to impose our plan over God’s, in essence we limit His ability to bring about a favorable outcome for us. He will not “force” Himself on us. He may through a set of very undesirable circumstances, convince you His way is superior, but the freedom to choose is yours.

What loathsome ingredient in a man’s character would ever insist his plans are better than God’s? Pride! The very look of which God detests (Pro. 6:16-19)! To the reader of Exodus Pharaoh appears to be withstanding God by holding Israel hostage, but God allowed those circumstances to prove it was in Egypt’s best interest to let HIS people go!

Before we limit God, insisting on our God-given right to choose, let’s humbly submit ourselves to God’s Divine Will. He knows our end from our beginning! Let’s remove our prideful limits off God, allowing Him to “work” an optimal outcome for our blessing and His Ultimate Glory!

"Ain't" – A Boy's Fascination with God's Creation

June 13, 2011R. Mangold

He was just a little boy,
On a week’s first day.
Wandering home from Bible school,
And dawdling on the way.

He scuffed his shoes through the grass;
He found a caterpillar.
He found a fluffy milkweed pod,
And blew out all the ‘filler.’

A bird’s nest in a tree o’er head,
So wisely placed up high.
Was just another wonder,
That caught his eager eye.

A neighbor watched his zig zag course,
And hailed him from the lawn;
Asking where he’d been that day
And what was going on.

‘I’ve been to Bible School ,’ He said,
And turned a piece of sod.
Picking up a wiggly worm replied,
‘I’ve learned a lot about God.’

‘M’m very fine way,’ the neighbor said,
‘for a boy to spend his time.’
‘If you’ll tell me where God is,
I’ll give you a brand new dime.’

Quick as a flash the answer came!
Nor were his accents faint.
‘I’ll give you a dollar, Mister,
If you can tell me where God ain’t.’

~ Author Unknown

“Serminute” Series – Big Lessons in Small Packages

One Chance Too Many

June 11, 2011R. Mangold

Steve Irwin, or as he was nicknamed the Crocodile Hunter, knew the imminent danger he faced each time he approached a deadly creature. By his own estimate, Steve had been bitten by thousands of animals, insisting it was always his fault, not the animals’.

Steve Irwin died September 4, 2006 while filming a documentary in the Great Barrier Reef, when a barb from a Sting Ray entered his heart and killed him instantly. Ironically, after the thousand or so bites and attacks by much wilder animals, a normally peaceful and not easily provoked creature, the Sting Ray took the daredevil Crocodile Hunter’s life!

Like Steve Irwin, we think we can cheat death, or even punishment. The Bible says, “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil [Ecc. 8:11].”

We’d do well to learn from examples of just one offense that resulted in immediate punishment or death – One bite of the fruit (Adam). One glance over the shoulder (Lot’s Wife). One strike of the rock (Moses). One haircut (Samson). One touch of the Ark (Uzzah). One lustful look at a bathing beauty (David).

Some Bridges Are Better Off Burned

June 10, 2011R. Mangold

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. [I Cor. 10:13]

We’ve all heard the adage, “Don’t burn any bridges.” Good advice if you want to leave the channels open to perhaps return to some ONE, some PLACE, or some THING. But, when it comes to our past, sometimes burning bridges is absolutely necessary. Those times when the bridge has brought you to a place in God and there’s no turning back are for one-time use only to get you through your trial or test. It was a way of “escape” to endure your temptation, trial, or test, [I Cor. 10:13] but it’s only a one-way ticket.

God immediately caused the Red Sea to fold back on the Egyptians after Israel’s safe passage. Israel’s enemies, their former way of life, and the shame of slavery were literally washed away forever! What God used to bring Israel out, He also used to destroy their enemies! That proverbial “bridge” was better off burned!

Jesus said, “No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God [Luke 9:62].” There’s no turning back in God. There’s no second-guessing. God is calling you to move forward, put the past to rest, and let that bridge burn!

"Sitting"…Don't Stand For it!

June 8, 2011R. Mangold

A recent scientific study has deftly concluded sitting can be bad for you. The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences says after 4 hours of sitting, the body starts sending harmful signals telling the body’s genes that regulate the amount of glucose and fat to start shutting down. Doctors from the British Journal of Sports Medicine, wrote, “excessive sitting leads to obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Dangers increase for people who do little exercise as it is.”

Christians, our day calls for action! If we’re sitting around, we’re losing ground! We could easily become “spiritually obese”, gorging ourselves on the blessings of God! David said, “Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful [Psalm 1:1].” Idly standing or sitting is going to get you in trouble!

The angel asked the disciples at Jesus’ ascension, “Why are you standing here gazing?” They had a promise in Jerusalem waiting for them. [Acts 1:11]

I know it’s easier to “sit” and wait for things to happen, but Jesus commanded us to GO! Go compel, preach, baptize, and disciple our world! [Mark 16:15]

Big Lessons in Small Packages – The Tongue (Verbal Bullying)

June 6, 2011R. Mangold

Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindles! James 3:5-12

As kids, when bullies called us names, our standard retort was, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me!” Those words, while meant to volley back against insults, often fell on the deaf ears. According to the School Bullying Council, every day some 160,000 students stay home from school afraid of bullies. With the advent of social networking, there has been an increase in teens committing suicide because of “words” posted on sites like Facebook by “cyber-bullies.” Yes, when taken to heart words can hurt…even kill.

Paul described these “verbal bullies” as “tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not (I Tim. 5:13).” Our words can be as sharp and cutting as any dagger. How tragic would it be, if as Christians we were guilty of bullying fellow Christians? Not physically, but verbally and mentally, isolating them from the body of believers cutting them off from their source of vital spiritual strength. We’re all admonished to “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” (Eph. 4:29)…Oh be careful little tongue what you say!

“Serminute” Series – Big Lessons in Small Packages

Big Lessons in Small Packages – The Lilly

June 4, 2011R. Mangold

“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; ²⁹ and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰ Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Matthew 6:28 – 30 (NKJV)

“Indeed the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame of which I heard.” After a thorough investigation of her own, the Queen of Sheba was left in a state of bewilderment over the sheer enormity of Solomon’s Kingdom, wealth, and wisdom. First Kings Chapter 10 attempts to inventory Solomon’s earthly treasure, but even that could not adequately capture “Solomon’s glory.” Even more baffling is Jesus said, “Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like” one of the lilies of the field! Yes, the beauty of ONE lily exceeded that of Solomon in “all his glory.”

We’re easily impressed with the immense wealth of Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, but in “all their glory” they pale when compared to ONE that is arrayed by God’s beauty. If you’re a child of God, don’t you dare stoop to compare yourself to the fleeting fortune and fame of this world. We are sons and daughter of the MOST HIGH GOD!

You may be struggling now, but Apostle Paul said in Romans 8:18, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

“Serminute” Series – Big Lessons in Small Packages

Big Lessons in Small Packages – Widow's Mites

June 3, 2011R. Mangold

And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, ² and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. ³ So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; ⁴ for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God,but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.” Luke 21: 1 – 4

Who can truly say what he or she has is exclusively theirs? James reminds us, “Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. ¹⁷ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights… (James 1:16-17)

If what we’ve been given comes from God anyway, why be so stingy? Why do we clench our hands so tightly and hoard the blessings God has so generously provided?

Several reasons…

We’re selfish
We don’t trust God
We mistake prosperity with God’s approval
We see blessings as scarce when God is truly the source
We love the BLESSINGS more than the BLESS-ER

God doesn’t need your dough! All things were created through Him and for Him (Col. 1:16). Your giving isn’t as important to God as it is to YOU. Understand this; few things in life disrupt the flow of God’s blessings like arrogance, pride, and selfishness. It’s absurd to think we can supplant God’s provision with our own chicanery, cunning and contrivance.

The poor widow’s giving amounted to more than the wealthy, because God can do more with your humility and generosity than you can with your affluence and influence!

“Serminute” Series – Big Lessons in Small Packages

Big Lessons in Small Packages – A Child

June 2, 2011R. Mangold

13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. 16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. (Mark 10:13 – 16)

One of the most profound of all “Big Lessons in Small Packages” has to be this portion of Jesus’ teaching. The “adults” were quick to shoo away the children assuming they would be more of a nuisance to Jesus. There were only a few times Jesus was this “displeased.” One such episode resulted in Jesus quite literally “turning the tables” on “religious” professionals of His day. The impact of Jesus’ words regarding children had virtually the same effect.

By no means was Jesus saying become childish, in fact, Paul said to put away childish things (I Cor. 13:11). Rather Jesus was teaching us to strip away the pretense we display as adults; afraid to convey any sign of tenderness, love, and humility. As adults, we’re constantly on guard, always in control, have all the answers, and put on a strong front. Tragically, we keep a tally of those who’ve wronged us, harboring grudges, we lash out in anger, we distrust, we retaliate, we remain bitter. But as children, we were quick to love, quick to forget, and quick to move on. These qualities and childlike nature give us a glimpse into the beautiful Kingdom God is preparing for His “children!”

“Serminute Series” – Big Lessons in Small Packages

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