take one for the Kingdom

For the kingdom is the LORD's: and he is the governor among the nations. Psalm 22:28      I just finished my first Conversational Spanish class tonight.  You may be asking why as many others have already.  Four years ago I went on a mission trip with several other believers to Juarez, Mexico and it changed my life.  Juarez shares its border with El Paso.  You've heard of it.  It's the place on the news where you see all the murders and hear of the drug cartel.  The body count the week we were there was in the high 50's.  I could go on about this trip for hours, so I'll wrap this up.      You have heard "take one for the team."  That's why I am taking the class, for missionary purposes.  Yes, it cost me money.  Yes, it's hard.  Yes, I don't have time.  But, I am taking one for God's team.  The first person that gives their life to my sweet Jesus makes it worth it.  Take one for the Kingdom.  The small sacrifice will have eternal rewards.

This is not a sermon about "I feel good" and other crap like that.

Jeremiah 17

New International Version (NIV)

⁷ 7  “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
    whose confidence is in Him.
⁸ 8  They will be like a tree planted by the water
    that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
    its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
    and never fails to bear fruit.”

     I have seen lately several people that struggle with self esteem.  This is definately an epidemic in America between young and old alike.  Maybe that's why the "I feel good" sermons are so popular right now.  I'm so sick of hearing that stuff.  I searched "self esteem" in my handy bible app on one of the newer translations and guess what?  Not in there.  Feel good was in there though, refering to intoxication.  So it makes me wonder, where are the feel good preachers getting their material?

     The above verse talks about confidence.  Confidence in God.  Self esteem is important.   You know that.  Wanna boost your self esteem?  Stop listening to the "ooooh I feel good today" crap, get right in the middle of God's will, have confidence in the Lord, and you will be like that tree planted by water.  

sold

²⁶ Then Judah said to his brothers, “What do we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? ²⁷ Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay a hand on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh,” and they agreed. ²⁸ When Midianite traders passed by, his brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him for 20 pieces of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took Joseph to Egypt.

Genesis 37

     There is no other way to say it, I had a bad week.  Bad news, stressful confrontations with people, and other circumstances out of my control was the story.  My week, however bad, compares nothing to Joseph.
     Joseph was thrown into a pit by his brothers and narrowly escaped death.  His brothers decided to sell him into slavery.  The traders then took him to another country where he was sold again, as a slave.
     It hurts badly when someone you love "sells" you.  I know this pain personally friends.  I've been sold before, more than once.  Are you ready for the good news?  I've been bought by the blood of Christ!  He bought me out of slavery and took me to His house.
     Who have you sold that you need to buy back? 

dearth (the drought)

53 ¶And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended.

 54 And the seven years of ^adearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.

 55 And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.

 56 And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and ^asold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.

Genesis 41

For those of you that have been under a rock this year, the Midwest has seen the worst drought in 80 years.  Crop production has been low, river channels are closed, and food prices going up.  This will have a ripple affect on the global economy.

Imagine Joseph for a minute.  In his day, the bible says there was 7 years of drought.  Drought all over the face of the earth.  In those days drought equalled famine.  Could our modern world survive such a terrible natural disaster?

The only thing I know for sure is that only God could save you from that kind of devistation.  I am not prepared for anything like that and neither are you.  My friend, total reliance on God is the only answer to that question.  Who do you rely on?