Ephesians 5:20-21 -- Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

It is important to be led by the spirit because if the spirit does not lead us, we cannot live in the knowledge and wisdom of God.  Scripture commands us to walk in the spirit; therefore, if we are commanded by God’s word to do so, we must do it.

We are getting ready to go into a building project and it is going to be hard, but when it is all said-and-done, the work will be worth it.  That is how it is going to be when our work here is over and we stand before King Jesus one day.  If we are allowed to look back, we will say, “It has not been easy but it was worth the struggle.” Therefore, it is up to us to know what God’s plan is for us.  The way to do that is to read His word and apply His teaching to our life.

The Bible is our roadmap leading us to a world of truth in a world that does not know the meaning of truth.  Some of our brothers in the church are truck drivers and work away from home.  They go to places they have never been before; they must get directions on where they are going.  It is the same with our daily life.  The Bible gives us the route we must take.

Can I tell you that God expects righteousness?  Therefore, we must give thanks always for all things.  When was the last time you gave God thanks for a “bad day?”  It is hard to do, right!  One of the things we must realize is that God may be allowing us to have the hard day to keep us humble; to be reminded that He is the one who brings us through the hard times.

“A God pleasing Christian is a God thanking Christian.”  Thank God for even the small things.

Even God’s people go through seasons of heaviness when it seems like someone tightly screwed on the cap of your “blessing cup.”  Sometimes you just need to have a good cry.. You say, “Men don’t cry.” Well, “Jesus wept didn’t He?”  Last Sunday morning’s service was a time for me to bear my heart to God.  I was carrying a heavy heart.  To answer a question that you may have… No, I am not covering-up something.  I just needed to bear my heart to God in front of those who understand my need.  I know that some of you could feel the heaviness in church just as I did.

Let me give you an example of a “God thanking Christian.”  Carlos Bottom has been battling cancer for over two years.  It may have taken that trial to put Carlos where he is today with God; we don’t know why we are sometimes put through trials.  But, to get to my story… One day, I was in the presence of a man who didn’t know I knew Carlos or that Carlos was a part of this church.  He said; “This guy named Carlos Bottom came into my mother’s room and prayed for her because of the cancer she has.”   Carlos is ill himself, but he felt led to pray for that woman and her illness.

It is easy to be thankful when you are upon the mountain but what about when you are going through the valley.  You don’t have to be thankful that you are going through a divorce; you don’t have to be thankful that your child is strung-out on drugs; and you don’t have to be thankful that you are about to lose your home.  But, you can be thankful that you have a God that is going through all your tribulations with you. Not only does He hear your prayers, but He also answers your prayers.

"Submit yourselves one to another in fear of God."   Being forced to submission is not Biblical; voluntary submission is submitting yourself to the work of the Lord because you want to.  God does not grab Fairley Holt by the arm and force him to play that guitar every Sunday; Fairley plays it because he wants to make  music for the Lord.  Christian experiences are never about self -- they are always about someone else.

I love being a Pastor.  A Pastor’s heart is a servant’s heart; let me tell you why.  I love people.  I love to be helpful.  People come to me, and say, “Preacher, I need to talk to you.”  I may not be able to solve their problems, but I can listen. Some of my best counseling has been to listen. Sometimes I ask if there is anything I can do to help, they say, “No, Preacher, you’ve done enough just listening to me, I don’t need anything else.”   Submit yourselves one to another.

JR. Fields, Pastor
April 6, 2008