If you would like to hear my Father’s Day Sermon “Are You a Mighty Man?”… I attached the link. Hope y’all are having One Awesome Week 🙂
So, I just turned 36. I remember when I was 25 thinking that I wouldn’t be another perfect square for 11 more years. Now, it will be 13 more years before I’m 49…the 7th perfect …square. Oh well, I say that to say this, I had just about a perfect week this past week. Let me tell you why.
Last weekend we went to Rock the Park at Carowinds in North Carolina. I really wanted to go and see Jeremy Camp and Skillet. I’ve seen Skillet like 10 times, but have never seen Jeremy Camp. To make a long story short, I was just amazed at Jeremy Camp. He stood out so much more than the rest of the musicians. Every time he had a moment, he would talk about the greatness of God, or what God was telling him, or read a scripture…he just could not shut up about God. When I said this to my wife, she said 3 words, “he loves Him.” This changed me…this has changed everything.
See, the next day I was supposed to preach. Usually, Saturday is the day that I really prepare. I pray more, study more, get into His Presence more, and basically set my heart towards Him so I can get filled up and overflowing so I will be able to pour into other people’s cups. God would be a terrible waiter because when He fills a cup, it is always to overflowing (Psalm 23) Anyway, Jeremy Camp’s cup along with my wife’s words poured some new stuff into me that was just awesome. God spoke to me right then. I wish I could explain how God speaks. It’s like you feel Him and though He isn’t really saying anything, you could write pages and pages of wonderful stuff that He is saying. I asked Him to be on me for my sermon the next day…He said “you will be great tomorrow, not because you’re great, but because you have me living in you…and I’m great!” I was totally free from that point on to enjoy the rest of the day. I didn’t worry a bit about the sermon after that. And, as I preached the next day, He was true to His Word…His Presence was on me the whole time and He used me to fill a lot of other cups that day.
To finish the week off, I went to a wedding yesterday. Now, I normally can’t stand weddings. But, this was a special young lady getting married. I taught her math when she was in the 8th grade. She might have been the hardest worker I’ve ever taught. Anyway, the wedding was just awesome. For the first time, I believe I could have cried and cried. I’ll be honest, I NEVER understood why people cried at weddings…I think when I was younger I thought it was because they wanted it to be over. However, I get it now. I have been to weddings where they tried to manufacture the presence of God. I have been to weddings where they didn’t care anything about the presence of God. But, at this wedding…God was there! He was there because two people that LOVE Him were joining their lives together.
The reason that I couldn’t help but cry was because I couldn’t help but think about the Marriage Supper of the Lamb in Revelation 19. If a wedding was capable of being this awesome on Earth…what will that ultimate wedding in Heaven be like? Years ago, I could not have cared less about going to another wedding…even if it were in Heaven. But now, my heart is about to explode thinking that those whose hearts are pure, and those who are in love with God, will be joined WITH Him for all eternity. THAT…is what I’m talking about! I want nothing more than to have a pure heart and to stay in love with God for the rest of my days.
You may have been saved. But, if you are just saved and do not love Him, that’s just like being in a marriage where the partner never shows you any affection and would rather go anywhere than be with you. Learn to love God. Read His Word and find out what He likes. He likes for you to forgive no matter what the cost is to you. He likes for you to help people who can’t, or even won’t help themselves. He likes for you to tell others about Him. He likes for you to be filled with Him. He likes for you to honor Him at work and at school. He likes when you spend time with Him listening to praise and worship music, talking to Him, or just being still before Him. I used to think that stuff was for Him…it was just His “requirements.” It turns out, all that stuff is for ME! Doing all that stuff didn’t change Him one bit…He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). But, it sure has changed me.
Later
Adam
Wednesday Morning Devotional 