For the next six weeks we will be taking the theme “Positioning Yourself for God’s Blessings.” We want to invite you to put yourself “in a position” for God to bless you. These services are geared to bless you in every way. Bring your family and friends so that we may be a blessing to you and to those you bring with you.
In every service until Christmas someone will be blessed with a hundred dollar bill just for being in the right seat during the morning worship service. But in order for you to have the opportunity to receive the hundred dollars you must “position yourself” to be at church.
In the same way, opportunity to receive from God comes because we position ourselves to receive from him. God has so much for us if we will only place ourselves in a position to receive from him. Need a blessing? Need help? Need a miracle? Position yourself for it and God will supply it!
I hope to see you this Sunday at The Connection Church of Arlington.
Did you know that God has called you to be a watchman? Each of us have the responsibility of watching over our lives and homes to protect us from harm. In the old testament especially the cities were guarded by watchmen on the walls. They would give warning if danger approached and would put the people on alert. When Nehemiah was busy seeing that the city of Jerusalem was being rebuilt after it’s destruction, there were those who sought to destroy the rebuilding that was being done, so there was a “guard posted” both day and night.
God literally said to the prophet Ezekiel, “Son of man, I have made you “a watchman” over the house of Israel.” God’s purpose in this was to give warning of danger. As husbands and fathers the responsibility of watching over our homes and families are a great and weighty matter. We must give watch and guard day and night over them. The scripture uses these terms in keeping us on our toes: “Be on guard, Be alert, and Therefore, keep watch.”
We have an enemy! An adversary! The bible names him in 1st Peter 5 verse 8, “Be sober, be vigilant, because YOUR ADVERSARY, THE DEVIL, like a roaring lion walks about seeking whom he may devour.” His plan is nothing short of stealing, killing, and destroying. Be on guard, keep watch continually so you are not caught unaware.
King David knew the importance of keeping watch. He said, “Lord set a guardat my mouth.” He knew that life and death is in the tongue. He also said in Psalms chapter thirty-nine and one that, “I will watch my ways….” Luke in the book of Acts said, “Keep watch over yourselves and the flock.”
Not only are we to be watchmen over ourselves and our homes and families … but we are also to be watchmen waiting for the return of the Lord. Matthew 24:42 says, “Keep watch, because you don’t know the day your Lord will come.” We are watchmen, waiting for the return of our Lord because he said he would return for those who are watching for him! Are you watching for him? Have you guarded the important treasures of your life? Are you alert and walking circumspectly? God is calling you to be a WATCHMAN!!!
Many of you have read the popular book of Tommy Tenny’s called “The God Chasers.” He also had one entitled “The God Catchers.” Both were very successful writings and were a very good read. The title reminded me of King David’s undertaking in bringing back the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem after being seized by the Philistines. David could not rest until God’s presence, in form of the ark of the covenant, was was returned to it’s rightful place. He chased down the ark and brought it home.
On the same turn, if we are to have the presence of God in our lives today …we must be willing to go after it … like David did! We may have to leave everything else behind in order to go after and possess His presence. It will depend on how much His presence means to us. But once we have captured God’s presence and his undivided attention … what then?
Then I submit we become “God Pleasers.” In order to retain and embrace God’s presence we should maintain a close relationship with him such as Enoch had. Before Enoch was taken and escaped death, the scripture says that he was commended as “one who pleased God.” What is it that pleases God the most? FAITH! The bible says that without faith it is impossible to please God. I want to be full of faith so I may please God to the fullest. Here are some things to help you to be a “God Pleaser:”
The Lord is pleased with us when we have faith. (Heb. 11:5) “And without faith it is impossible to pleasee God.”
He is pleased with those who are truthful. (Proverbs 12:22) “The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful.”
He is pleased with those who fear him. (Psalms 147:11) “The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.”
The Lord is pleased when we prosper. (Psalms 35:27) “Let them shout for joy, and be glad, who favor my righteous cause. Let them say continually, let the Lord be magnified, who has pleasure in te prosperity of his servants.”
But it doesn’t stop there! There is a greater panarama of what pleases God. He is pleased to give us his kingdom! This truth is exemplified through Jesus when he said, “Do not be afraid little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”
We have chased him, and caught him … now like Enoch, let us please him. That is what will label us as “The God Pleasers!”
