Thought 4 Today

I've had a lot of young friends through the years start their Christian walks in a powerful way. Unfortunately, some of the ones that seemed to have the most promise of doing great things for the kingdom no longer seem to have much of a walk at all. Some decided that drinking alcohol and partying were more "fun" and they faded away. Some decided that their boyfriends/girlfriends sexual advances were a more interesting pastime and they faded away. Some work too much to attend church anymore, and some now tell me that they never really believed in the first place. I know that the Word will continue to work on their hearts, but the fact remains that some of the hearts of those who once said they believe are simply too hard to see their faith grow. What seems worse is that some simply are willing to sell the faith they once found important in favor of all types of ridiculous pursuits. I pray that Jesus becomes absolutely the most important part of everything you do, and every day you live. Selling Him out is what one of the disciples did... here's a few words about him. "Then one of the Twelve--the one called Judas Iscariot--went to the chief priests and asked, 'What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?' So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over." Matthew 26:14-16 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Most of our words are spoken either in worship of ourselves or other "gods" in our lives. For a Christian this should not be the case. Jesus is our Lord, and He deserves our worship. Our words and our actions should bring him glory--not that He needs it, but because He is our God. Honestly, who do your words worship? "On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts." 1 Thessalonians 2:4  Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

"Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite." Numbers 12:1 Many are shocked to discover Moses was married to an African woman. She was a Cushite (translated Ethiopian today). When they learned of the marriage, Moses' brother and sister (Aaron and Miriam) began to speak ill of him, even mocking his relationship with the Lord. It is possible they disliked her because she was not an Israelite, but much more likely because of the color of her skin. At any rate, their hearts were prideful and hardened by their racist attitudes. Is it any wonder sinful, hard-hearted people still find much pleasure in perpetuating racism. As Christians, racism is something we can simply have no part of! "Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all." Colossians 3:11 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Many point out that "my" interpretation of the Gospel is rather narrow. They don't like it when I say that Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to heaven. Some have even asked why God would give these people life if He knew they would spend eternity in hell. Well, this is a serious issue.... let me clear it up as plainly as I can. There IS only ONE way to heaven! You MUST accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. There is absolutely NOTHING you can do to earn it, and there is absolutely NO OTHER WAY IN. God does not want anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9), but because He gives us free choice, many will! Any other version of the truth is what theologians call "pluralism," and is a lie directly from Satan himself! I didn't design the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I only preach what He has taught me directly from His infallible Word. I am not ashamed of it, and I won't stop. My friends, God is the Author, and everyone else is a liar. You can take that to the bank. "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Jesus of Nazareth, Matthew 7:13 "Thomas said to him, 'Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?' Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" John 14:5-6 "then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed... Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:10-12 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Compassion is one of the first things the Holy Spirit will bring into your life when you truly give your life to Christ. The desire to forgive, and even the super-human ability to actually do it will also come your way. Unfortunately, the opposite character traits seem evident in far too many of the lives of those who claim to know Jesus. The reality is that being controlled by our fleshly and worldly emotions is easier for us because we feel like we're more in control. When God truly takes over, you'll be more inclined to be like Jesus or Stephen (the first Christian killed for his faith), actually praying for the ones who were in the process of killing them. In another example, instead of holding on to hate for believers who abandoned him, the Apostle Paul had a similar prayer for those who wronged him. Have you found this attitude becoming more prevalent in your heart? "At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them." 2 Timothy 4:16 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

The purpose of a cheerleader is to motivate the crowd, so that together they can motivate the team. But what happens when the cheerleader becomes more interested in promoting the cheerleading squad than helping the team? Or what happens when a teacher forgets that teaching was something they once loved to do and morphs into someone who likes to look and sound important. What happens when a Christian forgets their first love and begins promoting "self" over Jesus? The answer is that the Body of Christ (or the team, or the students) is placed behind the personal motives of the very ones who were called to serve in the first place. Whether it's parents putting their wants in front of their children's needs, or pastors pursuing their own desires over the needs of God's children, Satan's work is fulfilled whenever we take our eyes off of our Lord and place them on our own desires. "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2  Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

"He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, WHO BETRAYED HIM." Matthew 10:1-4 (Emphasis mine) I don't know about you, but I don't want "Who betrayed Him" ever written behind my name. Makes you think about the way you serve, doesn't it? Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Some churches are loud during their services, and others are more reserved. Some have loud clapping and "amens" every few seconds, and some worship in silence. I believe the Scriptures allow for a wide range of styles. What's troubling to me is that many who are quite comfortable speaking the name of Jesus and praising Him among other believers during a church service rarely mention His name outside the building. I ask you to consider that all the singing and clapping in the world means little to the Lord if those outside your worship services never hear a peep. "When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. For he vigorously refuted the Jews IN PUBLIC DEBATE, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ." Acts 18:27-28 (Emphasis mine) Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate