This Coming Sunday's Message

Continuing With Series - Continued Below

Title: The Spirit of Christ

Text: Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Introduction: The Spirit of Christ includes the attributes of Christ. The Holy Spirit does not come into an individual to allow them to live licentiously and lawlessly. He comes to "testify of Christ" or as one version says "he will declare the truth about me (Christ)." John 15:26:b God's Word Version

The attributes of Christ are many. This message will begin a series on the Spirit of Christ and His Attributes. Some of those attributes include but are not limited to the following: humility, forgiveness, immutability, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, and pre-existent. Of course we know that some of these attributes are only characteristic of Christ. No-one would say they are omnipotent or omnipresent. The attributes of Christ that these messages will deal with are those that God expects of Christians and are necessary by the power of the Holy Spirit.

These attributes are - humility and forgiveness.

SUPPORTING SCRIPTURES: Philippians 2: 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Matthew 26:53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

I am the least of the apostles. 1 Corinthians 15:9

I am the very least of all the saints. Ephesians 3:8

I am the foremost of sinners. 1 Timothy 1:15

Illustrations: A truly humble man is hard to find, yet God delights to honor such selfless people. Booker T. Washington, the renowned black educator, was an outstanding example of this truth. Shortly after he took over the presidency of Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, he was walking in an exclusive section of town when he was stopped by a wealthy white woman. Not knowing the famous Mr. Washington by sight, she asked if he would like to earn a few dollars by chopping wood for her. Because he had no pressing business at the moment, Professor Washington smiled, rolled up his sleeves, and proceeded to do the humble chore she had requested. When he was finished, he carried the logs into the house and stacked them by the fireplace. A little girl recognized him and later revealed his identity to the lady.

The next morning the embarrassed woman went to see Mr. Washington in his office at the Institute and apologized profusely. "It's perfectly all right, Madam," he replied. "Occasionally I enjoy a little manual labor. Besides, it's always a delight to do something for a friend." She shook his hand warmly and assured him that his meek and gracious attitude had endeared him and his work to her heart. Not long afterward she showed her admiration by persuading some wealthy acquaintances to join her in donating thousands of dollars to the Tuskegee Institute. Our Daily Bread.

Humilty and A Passion For Praise
Humility and a passion for praise are a pair of characteristics which together indicate growth in grace. The Bible is full of self-humbling (man bowing down before God) and doxology (man giving praise to God). The healthy heart is one that bows down in humility and rises in praise and adoration. The Psalms strike both these notes again and again. So too, Paul in his letters both articulates humility and breaks into doxology. Look at his three descriptions of himself quoted above, dating respectively from around A.D. 59, 63, and 64. As the years pass he goes lower; he grows downward! And as his self-esteem sinks, so his rapture of praise and adoration for the God who so wonderfully saved him rises.

Undoubtedly, learning to praise God at all times for all that is good is a mark that we are growing in grace. One of my predecessors in my first parochial appointment died exceedingly painfully of cancer. But between fearful bouts of agony, in which he had to stuff his mouth with bedclothes to avoid biting his tongue, he would say aloud over and over again: "I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth" (Ps. 34:1). That was a passion for praise asserting itself in the most poignant extremity imaginable.

Cultivate humility and a passion for praise if you want to grow in grace.

James Packer, Your Father Loves You, Harold Shaw Publishers, 1986.

Beethoven's Piano
On a visit to the Beethoven museum in Bonn, a young American student became fascinated by the piano on which Beethoven had composed some of his greatest works. She asked the museum guard if she could play a few bars on it; she accompanied the request with a lavish tip, and the guard agreed. The girl went to the piano and tinkled out the opening of the Moonlight Sonata. As she was leaving she said to the guard, "I suppose all the great pianist who come here want to play on that piano."

The guard shook his head. "Padarewski [the famed Polish pianist] was here a few years ago and he said he wasn't worthy to touch it." Source Unknown.

Be humble or you'll stumble. D.L. Moody.

Many years ago, Christian professor Stuart Blackie of the University of Edinburgh was listening to his students as they presented oral readings. When one young man rose to begin his recitation, he held his book in the wrong hand. The professor thundered, "Take your book in your right hand, and be seated!" At this harsh rebuke, the student held up his right arm. He didn't have a right hand! The other students shifted uneasily in their chairs. For a moment the professor hesitated. Then he made his way to the student, put his arm around him, and with tears streaming from his eyes, said, "I never knew about it. Please, will you forgive me?" His humble apology made a lasting impact on that young man. This story was told some time later in a large gathering of believers. At the close of the meeting a man came forward, turned to the crowd, and raised his right arm. It ended at the wrist. He said, "I was that student. Professor Blackie led me to Christ. But he never could have done it if he had not made the wrong right."
Source Unknown.

Continued. . .


Proverbs 22:4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.

Acts 20:19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews. . .


Colossians 2:18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. 20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh. KJV

Colossians 2:18 Let no one who delights in false humility and the worship of angels tell you that you don’t deserve a prize. Such a person, whose sinful mind fills him with arrogance, gives endless details of the visions he has seen. 19 He doesn’t hold on to Christ, the head. Christ makes the whole body grow as God wants it to, through support and unity given by the joints and ligaments. 20 If you have died with Christ to the world’s way of doing things, why do you let others tell you how to live? It’s as though you were still under the world’s influence. 21 People will tell you, "Don’t handle this! Don’t taste or touch that!“ 22 All of these things deal with objects that are only used up anyway. GWV

There's an idea floating around today that has to sicken the heart of God. It's this idea that true humility means you have to conjure up a kinder, gentler version of yourself so we can all just get along. It's a humility that says you have to straddle the fence, not offend anyone, and "make nice" with everyone. What a phony-baloney load of crap that is! I'm searching the Scriptures, and I can't find anyone like that, at least not anyone who was serving God. Am I to believe that John the Baptist was not humble because he confronted the Pharisees and called them a bunch of snakes? Did Paul lack humility because he appeared to be unkind when he sharply confronted the Judaizers in Galatia and hinted they should all do themselves bodily harm? And in the Old Testament the Prophets of God probably never understood the concept. Where was Elijah's humility when he confronted Ahab and Jezebel, and slew the false prophets of Baal? Surely Elijah wasn't putting forth his best efforts to get along.
From http://www.voiceofonecrying.com/humility.htm


Matthew 18-4 Therefore , anyone who becomes as humble as this little Child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

James 4:6 He gives us more and more strength to stand against such evil desires. As the scripture say, "God sets himself against the proud, but heshows favor to the humble."

1stPeter 5:5-6 You younger men, accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, serve each other in humility ,for "God sets himself" against the proud, but he shows favor to the humble." So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and in his good time he will honor you.


When we listen to most people talk these days, you could come to believe to be humble or show humility, means that anyone of this ilk is weak and spineless, but as we see in the above scriptures to be humble and show humility is true strength, for it reaches into the kingdom of heaven. When we are full of pride we are playing right into the devils hands, pride makes us weak and it reaches no further than our own ego. So therefore, we become a tool for the devil to use.

NAAMAN

GEHAZI

MANESSAH

SPECIAL DAY

Today, Karen and I are enjoying being with my mother who is a young 78 years old. She has been up cooking and doing her daily activities. I want to take this opportunity to give love, honor and respect to my mother. She has been a "beacon" in my life. She often worked two jobs when I was young to support me and my sister. There have been some memorable moments as I grew up with a very special mother.

I remember one time when we were in Dickson, Tennessee where mom was paying some bills. As we walked along down Main Street about to cross the railroad tracks a five dollar bill blowed by us. We looked all around us and there was no one within 50 yards. I took off runing after the five dollars and grabbed it. I was about 8 or 9 years old and I knew my mother was having a difficult time paying some bills. She looked at me and smiled and said, "You better be glad you can run faster than me." Then she laughed. I looked at the five dollar bill (which was about like a fifty now). Then I grinned at her and held it up to give it to her. She smiled at me and lovingly said, "Thank you son." I knew she needed it and felt like a "million" dollars after I gave it to her.

I ask her today if she remembered that time. She said, "Why shore I remember it, I don't forget things like that." She just now said, "Thank you again son." She gives and gives and gives. If I could give my mother a million dollars it would not be enough to repay the life she has given me. I THANK GOD for a godly, loving mother.

She has traveled many miles for the Lord singing the gospel, serving in the local church in many voluntary capacities. She continues to sing to her Savior and teaches the Senior Adult Class at her home church. She may have some "odd, unique" ways but I can attest that she loves the Lord and serves Him from the heart - she has a heart after God.

When her life here is over and her time comes to go, I feel assured the angels will bear her over to the heavenly shore. Yet, she always says, I'm not worthy - only through the shed blood of Jesus - which is another reason why my mother is so special.

Accolades may be given to many on this earth but I give my respect, honor and love to my mother today and every day. Man may keep many records but only God keeps good books. God will reward her for all her faithful works to Him and the many on this earth.

THANKSGIVING

To all who read this, my family and I wish you a blessed Thanksgiving. We will be traveling to be with family.

See what you know about Thanksgiving by clicking this link

Death Notice - Ruth Helen Parker

Ruth Helen Parker, Sister of Deacon J. E. Moore died yesterday. The following are the arrangements from the McKenzie Funeral Home, McKenzie, TN.

Services for Ruth Helen Parker, 67, will be held Monday, November 24, 2008 at 2:00 pm at McKenzie Funeral Home with Bros. Jim Roberts and Jarrod Bailey officiating.

Interment will follow at Long Rock Methodist Church Cemetery near Huntingdon. The family will receive friends on Sunday, November 23, 2008 from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm and Monday, November 24, 2008 from 10:00 am until service time.

Mrs. Parker, a bookkeeper and homemaker, died Friday, November 21, 2008 at her residence. She was born on January 23, 1941 in Selmer, Tennessee to Virgil Lee and Bonnie Mae Meggs Moore. She was a member of McKenzie Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by a son Donald Ray Sanders, a brother Samuel Moore and two sisters Dorra Lee Moore and Dorise June McGee .

Survivors include her husband Elery Parker of McKenzie, a daughter Jeanie Ruth Lowe of McKenzie, a son James Douglas Sanders of Huntingdon, three sisters Corinne Moore of Selmer, TN, Guinne Ogle of Cary Don, KY, Lula Maie Adams of Wildersville, five brothers William Neese Moore of Humboldt, J E Moore of Huntingdon, Coy Moore of Huntingdon, Mack Moore of St. Peters, MO, Rodney Moore of West Port, TN, three grandchildren Tasha Lowe and Josh Lowe both of McKenzie, Melissa Townsend of Huntingdon and two great grandchildren Will and Bradon Townsend both of Huntingdon.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, the McKenzie Church of Christ, or the donor’s choice.

McKenzie Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. For more information please call (731) 352-4848 or visit www.mckenziefuneralhome.com

From Power Point with Jack Graham

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses. --Romans 8:26

Go ahead, you can admit it... prayer is hard work. There is a weakness within us that makes prayer difficult. It is our humanity, our "flesh."

When I start to pray, I can think of about ten other things I could be doing. Does that happen to you? I go over all my responsibilities or my mind wanders. Other times, I just don't feel like praying.

But it doesn't have to be that way! You and I can have effective, fulfilling prayer. What's the key? Praying in the Spirit.

There are two ways to pray. You can pray in the flesh or you can pray in the Spirit. What's the difference? Scripture says, "The Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak."

So if you pray in the flesh, you pray in weakness. Prayer through our own efforts alone and for our own purposes does not get through to God. But if you pray in the Spirit, you pray with strength.

Wouldn't you like to pray with power? Wouldn't you like to know that your prayers are getting through? You can if you partner with the Spirit in prayer.

I want to encourage you to depend upon the Holy Spirit in prayer just as you depend upon the Holy Spirit for witnessing, for teaching others, and more.

Because He is our Comforter and our Help!

PRAYER THROUGH OUR OWN EFFORTS AND FOR OUR OWN PURPOSES DOES NOT GET THROUGH TO GOD. BUT IF YOU PRAY IN THE SPIRIT, YOU PRAY WITH STRENGTH.

from www.crosswalk.com

Profundities From the Apostle Paul

2Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. KJV

1Timothy 6:6 ¶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. KJV

Did you ever hear the statement, "this is the worst of times and best of times." The Apostle Paul warned of some of the worst of times or, better said, "the worst attitudes and behavior of the latter times."

He continues, "2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith." KJV

What a list! What a warning! Reprobate or failing the true test of faith. They go through the form and seem to have all the right words at the right cues but, beware, lest their deceitfulness takes you in. Many of these preach a "prosperity only gospel." Their message is imbalanced and lacks the rightly divided aspect of the scripture. They deny the power of the Holy Spirit to effect change in a person. Their message includes no passages that deal with the the demise of those who "desire to become rich." Their message hammers, harangues and almost harasses people to turn their hard earned income over to them promising a "harvest from their sowed seed." The Scriptures are taken out of context over and over again and again. There is no mention of the passage that says, 1 Timothy 6:6 "But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.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." KJV

Yes, there are those who are blessed with money but the money does not have them. They are good stewards of God's supply and realize that it belongs to HIM not them. Be warned, do not be duped in these "perilous times." Jesus watched him and said, "How hard it is for rich people to enter the kingdom of God!" Luke 18:24 GW Version "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5 KJV

This Coming Sunday's Message

TITLE: Enabling Grace

TEXT: Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

SUPPORTING SCRIPTURES: Colossians1:21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Jas 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

1Pe 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

1 Peter 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Jude 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 8:1 ¶ Brothers and sisters, we want you to know how God showed his kindness to the churches in the province of Macedonia.2 While they were being severely tested by suffering, their overflowing joy, along with their extreme poverty, has made them even more generous.3 I assure you that by their own free will they have given all they could, even more than they could afford.4 They made an appeal to us, begging us to let them participate in the ministry of God’s kindness to his holy people in Jerusalem.5 They did more than we had expected. First, they gave themselves to the Lord and to us, since this was God’s will.6 This led us to urge Titus to finish his work of God’s kindness among you in the same way as he had already started it.7 ¶ Indeed, the more your faith, your ability to speak, your knowledge, your dedication, and your love for us increase, the more we want you to participate in this work of God’s kindness.8 I’m not commanding you, but I’m testing how genuine your love is by pointing out the dedication of others.9 You know about the kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was rich, yet for your sake he became poor in order to make you rich through his poverty. GW Version

ILLUSTRATIONS: You're worried about permissiveness--about the way the preaching of grace seems to say it's okay to do all kinds of terrible things as long as you just walk in afterward and take the free gift of God's forgiveness. . .While you and I may be worried about seeming to give permission, Jesus apparently wasn't. He wasn't afraid of giving the prodigal son a kiss instead of a lecture, a party instead of probation; and he proved that by bringing in the elder brother at the end of the story and having him raise pretty much the same objections you do. He's angry about the party. He complains that his father is lowering standards and ignoring virtue--that music, dancing, and a fatted calf are, in effect , just so many permissions to break the law. And to that, Jesus has the father say only one thing: "Cut that out! We're not playing good boys and bad boys any more. Your brother was dead and he's alive again. The name of the game from now on is resurrection, not bookkeeping. Robert Farrar Capon, Between Noon and Three.

Charles Spurgeon and Joseph Parker both had churches in London in the 19th century. On one occasion, Parker commented on the poor condition of children admitted to Spurgeon's orphanage. It was reported to Spurgeon however, that Parker had criticized the orphanage itself. Spurgeon blasted Parker the next week from the pulpit. The attack was printed in the newspapers and became the talk of the town. People flocked to Parker's church the next Sunday to hear his rebuttal. "I understand Dr. Spurgeon is not in his pulpit today, and this is the Sunday they use to take an offering for the orphanage. I suggest we take a love offering here instead." The crowd was delighted. The ushers had to empty the collection plates 3 times. Later that week there was a knock at Parker's study. It was Spurgeon. "You know Parker, you have practiced grace on me. You have given me not what I deserved, you have given me what I needed.
Moody Monthly, December, 1983, p. 81.

C.S. Lewis says of true friendship, “True friendship is rare on earth. It means identifying with someone in thought, heart, and spirit. The whole experience of life is designed to enable us to enter in to this closest relationship with Jesus Christ. We receive His blessings and know His Word, but do we really know Him?” These were his comments regarding Jesus’ words to Philip in John 14:9, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip?”

The Son of God became a man to enable men to become the sons of God. C. S. Lewis


Note: Unless otherwise noted the above illustrations are from sermoncentral.com

Profundities of The Apostle Paul

2 Corinthians 2:14 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

Why am I going through this? What did I do to deserve this? Have you ever heard those questions? Sometimes one may think they are the only one going through something difficult. Yet, we know that each person has their "difficult days" and "dark night of the soul."

Reading about the life and ministry of the Apostle Paul could make one cringe if one had to go through what he did. He says, "Are they ministers of Christ? I speak as a fool I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. . ." 2 Cor. 11:23-27 Of course, he was an exceptional minister that God enabled with abundant grace, but sometimes we faint at much less than what he went through.

If we can view our tests as something that God uses to help us become stronger and also to be able to minister to others, we surely will receive the grace to endure. What a difference it makes when we put things in perspective. . . . "For consider him (Jesus) that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." Hebrews 12:3

This Coming Sunday's Message

TITLE: Law, Grace & Truth

TEXT: John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

FOUR EXAMPLES:

Four examples of law, grace and truth.

1. A woman caught in adultery.

John 8:2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.
3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.

2. A rich ruler.

Luke18:18 ¶ And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.
20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.

3. A woman of the town.

Luke7:36 ¶ And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat.
37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,
38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

4. A tax collector.

Luke19:1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.

Law says death for sin, grace says mercy, truth says deliverance from and victory over sin.

Time. . .Wisdom. . .Purpose

The writer of Ecclesiastes (believed to be Solomon) records the words, "there is a time to every purpose under the heaven" (Ecc. 3:1)). One cannot remove themselves from the inevitable. When the time to weep comes, there will be tears. When the time of war comes, there will be death. When the time of purpose comes, the result will be evident.

Time moves along and as the saying goes, "waits for no man." The writer of the Psalm 90:12 (believed to be Moses) says, ". . .teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom." Proverbs 11:30b says, ". . .he that winneth souls is wise."

Many insignificant, cumbering "things" can come into our lives and hinder from being wise in our daily lives. These insignificant "things" crowd us, bully us and busy us into things that remove us from focusing on being wise - winning souls to the Lord.

Moses and Solomon were two well known characters in the Old Testament, yet, there is one that we look to that is greater than these two. Jesus Christ says to us, "Follow me, and I will make you to Fishers of men." (Matthew 4:19) Can there be any greater purpose than this? Can there be anything wiser than this? Can time be utilized for any greater or wiser purpose? What do you think? "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10) ". . .a greater than Solomon is here." (Matthew 12:42c) "For the law was given by Moses, [but] grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (John 1:17)