“For, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent?” (Romans 10:13-15).

How can people come to believe and be saved? Through the proclamation of the gospel.

This is so important. Preachers of the gospel have one job – to preach what the Bible says. The preacher has no business preaching anything other than that. The preacher must never preach when they want the Bible to say, they only have the right and the responsibility to preach what the Bible says.

The preacher stands under the authority of God and God’s word. The preacher cannot choose what they like and reject what they don’t. The preacher does not have that authority.

What the Bible says is true may not be popular. That has nothing to do with the veracity. What the Bible says is true may be difficult. But, that has nothing to do with whether it is true or not. If there is to be any bending, it is we who must bend to the truth of God’s word.

Little Church and Lakewood Grace, we stand under the authority of God’s word. We do not get to pick and choose what we like and don’t like in the Bible. All of it is God’s word and our job is to do our best to bend and adjust to the truth revealed to us in God’s word. If there is any bending to be done, it certainly is not bending God’s word to suit our taste. If there is any bending to be done, it is us who must bend our wills to God’s word.

The salvation of everyone around us depends on the church getting this right.

We all go through our battles.

I don’t know who needs to hear these words but I wanted to share with you words from God that I absolutely needed to hear today.

“For the battle is not yours, but Gods” (2 Chronicles 20:15).

“Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you” (2 Chronicles 20:17).

God doesn’t ask us to figure it out.

God asks us to trust and obey him.

Do life God’s way. Do struggles God’s way. Do difficult people and challenges God’s way.

Trust God.

Obey God.

“He passed away, to no one’s regret” (2 Chronicles 21:20).

He – passed away – to no one’s regret.

WOW!!!

That’s in the Bible!

This is in reference to one of Judah’s kings – Jehoram. You can read about him in 2 Chronicles 21. He was not a good guy. He killed all of his brothers after he became king. He was a terrible king. He lost territory to the enemies of Israel. And, most of all, he led Judah to sin against God.

2 Chronicles tells us: “The LORD around against Jehoram the hostility of the of the Philistines and the Arabs who lived near the Cushites. They attacked Judah, invaded it and carried off all the goods found in the king’s palace, together with his sons and wives. Not a son was left to him except Ahaziah, the youngest. After all the, the LORD afflicted Jehoram with an incurable disease of the bowels. In the course of time, at the end of the second year, his bowels came out because of the disease, and he died in great pain” (2 Chronicles 21:16-19).

But the worst thing written about Jehoram is the statement – “He passed away, to no one’s regret.”

Yikes!

Unfortunately, I’ve met some people like that. I’ve had to do a memorial for people like that. It’s really sad.

Don’t let that be you. That you have the opportunity to read these words means that God is giving you the opportunity to get things right with God and with the people around you.

Seek peace. Seek reconciliation. Seek forgiveness. Seek to forgive.

Most of all, get your life right with God while you have the time.

Don’t be this guy.