03 Mar

Posted at 08:00h in Uncategorized

Many years ago, we took a team of young people to Guatemala to share the gospel.  Our base camp was quite nice with western accommodations and food.  Mid-way through our mission trip, our entire team ventured well out into the country side to minister in some border villages.  We took up temporary residence in an old police hall.  It was one large hall with two small bathrooms for many people!  I must say at night it was very difficult to sleep. As I mentioned, it was one large hall which happened to be an acoustical nightmare.  However, the worst culprit when...

24 Feb

Posted at 08:00h in Uncategorized

Over the last few weeks we began to talk with you about “Four Righteous Realms of Rest”: 1. Rest in the promises of God (II Pet. 1:3-4). 2. Rest in the power of a seed (Mark 4:26-28). Last week, we began discussing: 3. Labor to enter into the rest (Heb. 4:10-12). This week, let's continue...

17 Feb

Posted at 08:21h in Uncategorized

Have you ever watched a court room drama?  After days of testimony, defendants and prosecutors, the lawyer finally looks to the judge and says, “Your Honor, I rest my case.”  Now when the attorney does this it does not indicate he is exhausted , but simply shows he is finished.  That’s exactly what I am talking about here in this series.  Jesus has done all the work and now we can simply rest in the promises of God! Over the last several weeks we have shared with you some biblical synonyms for the concept of “rest” contained within the Word of...

03 Feb

Posted at 08:00h in Uncategorized

A few summers ago I was invited to speak at a ministers conference in Memphis. I had just finished my normal three weekend services and had gotten very little sleep during that particular weekend. On Monday we traveled to Memphis for this three-day event. For whatever reason, I simply could not get to sleep in this hotel. Over the two nights I was there I think I probably got a total of an hour or two of sleep over both nights. Over Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday I was on virtually no sleep. Now I haven’t had caffeine for approximately 21 years...

27 Jan

Posted at 08:00h in Uncategorized

Over the last couple of weeks we also began to share with you “Four Righteous Realms of Resting”: 1. Rest in the promises of God (II Pet. 1:3-4). Within this section we discussed the Greek word for “promises” found in II Pet. 1:3-4 is the Greek word epiangelos which literally means “over the word of an angel.” We can rest in the promises of God because they are more reliable than the word of an angel! This week, let's continue: “Pastor Jim, how do I practically rest in those promises?” It really is quite simple: 1. Believe the promises of God 2. Speak the promises...

20 Jan

Posted at 08:00h in Uncategorized

One night, I was having a very difficult time getting to sleep.  Finally, I got to sleep around 5:00am.  Many years ago I trained myself to go to sleep with someone on CD teaching the Word of God.  As I always do, I turned on the CD player and finally drifted off to sleep.  Because I had not gotten to sleep until early in the morning, my sleep was erratic and filled with many crazy dreams. Only about a half an hour into my sleep I began to wake up.  I was in that hazy spot between sleep and consciousness.  I heard...

13 Jan

Posted at 08:00h in Uncategorized

How do we rest in the promises of God?  I’m glad you asked! 4 Righteous Realms of Resting: 1. Rest in the promises of God (II Pet. 1:3-4). Here the Bible tells us, “According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue; Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” First, please allow me to highlight the word...

06 Jan

Posted at 08:00h in Uncategorized

The word “rest” is found in Hebrews 4:11-12, where the Bible tells us, “Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” It almost sounds like a total contradiction to “labor” to enter into “rest” until you understand the Greek language.  The English word “labor” is...

30 Dec

Posted at 08:00h in Uncategorized

Many years ago, I took a team of approximately 40 people to Guatemala to minister.  While we were out in the villages ministering, I (along with another pastor) was invited to stay in a Guatemalan pastor’s home.  This pastor and his wife were so gracious but they lived very simply.  Their home was basically a wooden shack with a dirt floor.  They had put a long sheet down the middle of the very little home so that my pastor friend and I could sleep separately from the Guatemalan pastor and his wife. They also had a pet rooster that lived inside...