MY LAST SERMON - April 22, 2016

Dan speaking at Dallas Valley Ranch Camp

I've called this post my last sermon.  It is the last full length message that I have preached, to date.  I have been giving brief devotionals since November 2015 at four nursing homes and assisted living homes each month, interspersed with songs by the Prime Time Singers, a seniors choir.  I have also given a brief talk a couple of times at a dinner meeting and a couple of senior luncheons.  The message in this post is the last one that I would consider a sermon.  I was given a full 45 minutes to deliver the same.  This was shared at the Northern Canada Evangelical Mission’s Central Field Conference (Saskatchewan, Manitoba & Northwestern Ontario) at Dallas Valley Ranch Camp, 15 miles NW of Regina, SK on April 22, 2016.  This was the fourth and final message of a four day conference.  NCEM flew Leona and me to this conference.  I was invited to be the devotional speaker and spoke once each day for the four days.  It was a thrill to hear reports from these missionaries, serving Canada's first nations people.  We were blessed to interact with many of these great folks.

Interacting with some of the missionaries following a service

I was given four suggested topics for the conference.  The theme for the four days was "At Wit's End."  My understanding was that the theme had a two-fold meaning.  One aspect was that for these dear servants of God, serving in one of the two most difficult mission fields in the world, some of them may feel like they are at wit's end.  The other thought was that, since I had written a couple of books with some humor and lighter material and since I had given a copy of each of my books to Jon Siebert, the director who invited me, that he wanted me to share a little humor with these folks.  The notes for the last sermon that I have preached,to date, are as follows. 
 
TITLE:  “ENJOYING THE JOURNEY”

SCRIPTURE:  Philippians 4:4-8

INTRODUCTION:   The story is told about a fellow who was fed up with the rat race of society.  He, too, was At Wit's End.  He was always on the go.  Always at meetings, or work, always noise, talk, people.  The smart phone was constantly ringing, text messages, e-mails, memos, etc.  He was tense, angry, frustrated, sick and just plain tired of his life.  Several times a week he drove by a monastery.  He thought maybe that was the solution to life.

He made an appointment to see the Abbot.  He explained his life to the Abbot and stated that he had been thinking that maybe he should become a monk.  The Abbot was impressed with this man and told him that at this particular monastery he had to take a vow of silence.  There was to be absolutely no talking.  No one would talk to him and he would not talk to anyone.  "However," said the Abbot, "at the end of two years you will be permitted to say two words.  Is that the kind of life you want?"

"Yes!" he replied.  He returned a month later and agreed to the vow of silence and became a monk.  Two years quickly passed and the new monk had done well.  He appeared before the Abbot and was granted the privilege of saying his two words.

"Think carefully what you want to say," said the Abbot.

The monk spoke his two words, "Bed hard!"  He returned to his ministry of reading, meditating, prayers and manual labor around the monastery.  At the end of another two years, he again appeared before the Abbot and was given the opportunity to say two more words, "Food bad!" said the monk.

After another two years had passed, the privilege was again granted to the monk to speak two words.  Without hesitation he said, "I quit!"

"Well," said the Abbot, "it's about time.  You've been here six years and every time you open your mouth to speak, you complain."

Are we complainers?  Do you know people that find fault with everything and everyone? 

ILLUSTRATION:  I heard about a deacon that was known as a constant complainer and criticizer.  He came late to the deacons meeting one night and as he entered the room it is reported, as the story goes, that he said:  “I don’t know what you’ve been discussing, but I’m against it.”

The title given to me for today’s devotional is ENJOYING THE JOURNEY.  I don’t know that we can enjoy the journey, enjoy our Christian life, enjoy our ministry, wherever that might be if all we do is complain and criticize.

Our text today is Philippians, chapter one beginning at verse 4.

“REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS.  AGAIN I WILL SAY, REJOICE!

LET YOUR GENTLENESS BE KNOWN TO ALL MEN.  THE LORD IS AT HAND.

BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING, BUT IN EVERYTHING BY PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION, WITH THANKSGIVING, LET YOUR REQUESTS BE MADE KNOWN TO GOD, AND THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING, WILL GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGH CHRIST JESUS.

FINALLY, BRETHREN, WHATEVER THINGS ARE TRUE, WHATEVER THINGS ARE NOBLE, WHATEVER THINGS ARE JUST, WHATEVER THINGS ARE PURE, WHATEVER THINGS ARE LOVELY, WHATEVER THINGS ARE OF GOOD REPORT,

IF THERE IS ANY VIRTUE AND IF THERE IS ANYTHING PRAISEWORTHY, MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS.”

In these verses I see at least four goals, four antidotes to being unhappy, miserable, a fault-finder, At Wit's End.

Verse 4:  “REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS.  AGAIN I WILL SAY, REJOICE.”  This verse speaks about UNBROKEN JOY.

I.                    UNBROKEN JOY

Paul, in writing to the Galatians, asked, “WHERE IS THAT JOYFUL AND GRATEFUL SPIRIT YOU FELT?”  Galatians 4:15  NLT

Are you as joyful in your ministry today as you were when you first began?  Has the journey begun to wear and tear on you?

Maybe I should have asked, those of you that are married, ARE YOU AS JOYFUL AND GRATEFUL TODAY, AFTER MANY YEARS OF MARRIAGE, AS YOU WERE THE DAY YOU WERE MARRIED?

Are you experiencing an UNBROKEN JOY in your marriage and in your ministry?

Has the journey begun to wear and tear on you?  Have there been times when you felt, what’s the use?

No one appreciates what I’m doing?  There are few responding in faith and receiving Christ and some of those who do, seem to fall by the way and are soon into their old habits and way of life.  That joy which you first knew when you began your ministry, does it still exist, or has it vanished?  IS IT BROKEN?

God intends that we enjoy the journey, that we enjoy the ministry.  THAT WE HAVE AN UNBROKEN JOY.

There’s an old hymn, here is the first stanza and chorus.

There is joy in serving Jesus
As I journey on my way
Joy that fills my heart with praises
Every hour and every day

There is joy, joy
Joy in serving Jesus
Joy that throbs within my heart
Every moment, every hour
As I draw upon His power
There is joy, joy
Joy that never shall depart.

God offers to us an UNBROKEN JOY.  Joy no matter what our circumstances.

You’ve probably heard it said, or said it yourself when asked HOW ARE THINGS GOING?  The answer given sometimes has been, “WELL, UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, NOT TOO BAD.”

As has been said, we are not to be living under the circumstances, but above them.

The Word of God says “REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS, AGAIN I WILL SAY REJOICE.”

In spite of the circumstances of life – Rejoice.

Are we rejoicing?  I know that we are all different temperaments.  It may be easier for some to rejoice, more so than others.  Maybe that comes from our upbringing.  Was it pleasant or unpleasant?  Did we have some bad experiences along the way or was life relatively easy?

I was blessed beyond measure.  I was born and raised in a loving home.  My parents loved the Lord and we loved to laugh.  I can remember, and vividly still see in my mind, my Dad standing by my bedroom door one night.  I had gone to bed and Dad had the latest issue of the Reader’s Digest and stood in my doorway reading to me one of Colonel Stoopnagle’s spoonerisms where the words are twisted.  The one he read that night was about the three little pigs and went like this.

“In the dappy hays, when there was no harsity of scam and porknicks were a chopple a piece, there lived an old pady lig (in other sords, a "wow") and her see throns. Whatever happened to the mig's old pan is still mist what of a summary. But that year, the acorn fop crailed, and Old Pady Lig was having one teck of a hime younging her feedsters..”   On and on it goes. You can find it on the internet.

We were a joyful family.  To this day, whenever my brother and I chat on the phone, there is always a pun or two going back and forth.

Charles Swindoll in his book entitled Laugh Again quotes from W. Grant Lee who said:  “Shared laughter creates a bond of friendship.  When people laugh together, they cease to be young and old, master and pupils, worker and driver.  They have become a single group of human beings, enjoying their existence.”

Some of you are saying that this verse doesn’t tell us to be laughing but rejoicing in the Lord.  You’re right.

So what is it saying?  I think that Paul is saying to REJOICE in the Lord, even when there is nothing to make you laugh.  Paul wrote the letter to the Philippians when he was in prison.  Eleven times in these four chapters he uses the word REJOICE.  In addition the word JOY is in the epistle five times.

I am sure that Paul’s manifestation of JOY must have spoken to some of the guards and other prisoners.  He was REJOICING IN THE LORD in spite of his circumstances.  An UNBROKEN experience of joy, and in prison.

In Acts 16:25 Luke writes about Paul and Silas being imprisoned in Philippi and REJOICING IN THE LORD.  At midnight, it says: “PAUL AND SILAS WERE PRAYING AND SINGING HYMNS TO GOD, AND THE PRISONERS WERE LISTENING TO THEM.”  You know the story, there was an earthquake, the prison doors opened and the jailer was about to kill himself when Paul called out “DO YOURSELF NO HARM, FOR WE ARE ALL HERE.”  

The story concludes with the jailer and his family coming to faith in Christ. 

Paul’s rejoicing in the midst of adverse circumstances was a testimony to others.

Oh, that our lives might radiate with the Joy of the Lord.

Back in the book of Nehemiah 8:10 we read: “THE JOY OF THE LORD IS YOUR STRENGTH.”

“REJOICE ALWAYS.”  First Thessalonians 5:16

“REJOICING IN HOPE…”  Romans 12:12

Are you enjoying the journey?  REJOICE IN THE LORD…  UNBROKEN JOY.  Second… 

II.                  UNENDING PRAYER

Verse 6 “BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING, BUT IN EVERYTHING BY PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION, WITH THANKSGIVING, LET YOUR REQUESTS BE MADE KNOWN TO GOD…:

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear

What a privilege to carry EVERYTHING to God in prayer.

I don’t know if you know the story behind the writing of that hymn.  It illustrates that in times of deepest trials, we can go to God in prayer.

Joseph Scriven was born in 1819 in Banbridge, Ireland. His parents were very prosperous and consequently Joseph had wealth, education, a devoted family and a pleasant life.  Into such a life, entered tragedy.  On the night before Scriven’s scheduled wedding, his fiancée drowned.  In his deep sorrow, Joseph realized that he could find the solace and support he needed only in his dearest friend, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Soon after this tragedy, he dramatically changed his lifestyle.  He left Ireland for Port Hope, Ontario, determined to devote all of his extra time in being a friend and helper to others.  He often gave away his clothing and possessions to those in need, and he worked, without pay, for anyone who needed him.  Scriven became known as “the Good Samaritan of Port Hope.”

When his mother became ill in Ireland, he wrote a comforting letter to her, enclosing the words of his newly written poem with the prayer that these brief lines would remind her of a never-failing heavenly Friend.  He entitled the poem “Pray Without Ceasing.”

A couple of years after his mother’s passing, he again fell in love and was due to be married, but in August 1860 this young bride to be fell ill with pneumonia and died.

He then devoted the rest of his life to tutoring, preaching and helping others.

When Joseph himself was ill, a friend who came to call on him happened to see a copy of his poem, which he had sent to his mother, scribbled on scratch paper sitting near his bed.  The friend read the lines with interest and asked, “Who wrote those beautiful words?”

“The Lord and I did it between us,” was Scriven’s reply.

It eventually found its way into a newspaper and Charles Converse later set it to music and renamed it, “What A Friend We Have In Jesus.”

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear

What a privilege to carry EVERYTHING to God in prayer.

Are there times when we try to work things out ourselves?  I can do it.  I don’t need any help.  Then after many attempts, which end in failure, we remember, “CALL UPON ME AND I WILL ANSWER YOU, AND SHOW YOU GREAT AND MIGHTY THINGS, WHICH YOU DO NOT KNOW.”  Jeremiahs 33:3

I don’t know if I could ENJOY THE JOURNEY if I could not pray.  There have been so many times when prayer has been the only thing that saw us through.

We’ve had our problems.  We’ve had health problems. We’ve had family problems. We've had our sleepless nights. We’ve walked through a divorce when the wife of one of our sons walked out on him after nearly 20 years of marriage.    We’ve had financial problems.   We’ve experienced church problems.  But oh how thankful that we could cry out to God in prayer.  

Dan used a white board for all of his sharing

ILLUSTRATION:  I think of a financial need in our earlier years of ministry.  It was before credit cards.  Credit cards are a helpful and convenient tool, but they also can be a curse.  It is so easy to use a credit card in times of financial need instead of praying.

Well, we were provided with a house, a parsonage, and our total cash income was $225.00, a portion of which was considered car allowance.  That was fifty years ago, or more.  We had two little boys, we needed money and we didn’t have it.  It was a Friday.  I was in my study at church.  I couldn’t study.  This need for money was weighing heavy upon me.  I went into the sanctuary and walked around in the sanctuary crying out to God for some financial help.  After some time of praying, the burden was lifted and I went back into the study to continue with my preparation for Sunday.

We had morning mail delivery at the church.  I expected that since God heard my prayer that He would send money through the mail.  No money.  We had afternoon mail delivery at the house.  No mail that afternoon.

We still had Saturday mail delivery.  No mail Saturday morning at the church.  No mail Saturday afternoon at the house.  As we were seated at the table eating supper, there was a knock on the door.  When I answered one of the ladies from the church was there.  She shoved an envelope at me and said, “You guys must have been praying about this.”  I invited her in.  In the envelope were two twenty dollar bills.  Forty dollars was about four days’ pay.  I responded by saying, “Yes, I was praying.”

She then said that at noon that day she and her husband were eating lunch, neither of them talking.  Finally, one of them spoke and said, “I’ve been thinking about the Goldsmiths.”  The other responded and said, “I’ve been thinking about the Goldsmiths.”  Well, said the first one, “I’ve been thinking that they need some money.”  The other responded and said, “I’ve been thinking that they needed some money.”  “Well, let’s give them some.”  They did!

There have been many examples over the years as it concerns our praying.  Praying for people’s salvation and seeing them come to faith in Christ.  Praying for guidance and seeing things fall into place, not always what we wanted or thought, but according to God’s plan and purpose.  Praying for healing and seeing God touch individuals.  Did God answer every prayer the way I had hoped or desired?  No!

Did I stop praying?  No!

God exhorts us in His Word and says:

I Chronicles 16:11 “SEEK THE LORD AND HIS STRENGTH; SEEK HIS FACE EVERMORE.”

Psalm 145:18   “THE LORD IS NEAR TO ALL WHO CALL UPON HIM, TO ALL WHO CALL UPON HIM IN TRUTH.”

Romans 12:12 “REJOICING IN HOPE, PATIENT IN TRIBULATION, CONTINUING STEADFASTLY IN PRAYER.”

Ephesians 6:18  “PRAYING ALWAYS WITH ALL PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION IN THE SPIRIT, BEING WATCHFUL TO THIS END WITH ALL PERSEVERANCE AND SUPPLICATION FOR ALL THE SAINTS…

Colossians 4:2  “CONTINUE EARNESTLY IN PRAYER, BEING VIGILANT IN IT WITH THANKSGIVING.

To really enjoy the journey, we need to cast all our cares, all our anxious moments on Him.  He will see us through.  We’ll ENJOY THE JOURNEY MUCH BETTER.

A family had put their Grandma on her first plane flight, but she hadn’t been very confident about the experience of leaving the ground on this contraption. When they met her at the airport on her return, one of the family members kidded her by asking, “Well, did the plane hold you up okay?”

She grudgingly replied, “Well, yes,” and then quickly added, “But I never did put my full weight down on it!”

Many Christians are like that Grandma. They are afraid to put their full weight down on Him. As a result, they’re plagued by anxiety and aren’t able to enjoy the journey. Paul advises us to take everything to God in prayer.  Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything.  Some of us may be inclined to pray about the big things in life and forget to pray about what we consider to be little things, that is until the little things become big things.

“CASTING ALL YOUR CARE UPON HIM, FOR HE CARES FOR YOU.”  First Peter 5:7

Talking to God about everything that concerns us and Him is the first step toward being victorious over worry, which will help us to ENJOY THE JOURNEY.

UNBROKEN JOY

UNENDING PRAYER

What is the result of taking everything to God in prayer?  PEACE!  Third point…

III.              UNEXPLAINED PEACE

  

Verse 7: “AND THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING, WILL GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGH CHRIST JESUS.”

UNEXPLAINED PEACE…  “SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING.”

That same verse in the Living Bible says:  “YOU WILL EXPERIENCE GOD’S PEACE, WHICH IS FAR MORE WONDERFUL THAN THE HUMAN MIND CAN UNDERSTAND.” 

“AND THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH SURPASSES ALL COMPREHENSION.”  NASB

“AND THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH TRANSCENDS ALL UNDERSTANDING.”  NIV

“THEN YOU WILL EXPERIENCE GOD’S PEACE, WHICH EXCEEDS ANYTHING WE CAN UNDERSTAND.”  NLT

Warren Wiersbe said:  “The peace of God stands guard over the two areas that create worry – the heart (wrong feeling) and the mind (wrong thinking).

The peace of God guards the heart and the mind.

When we received Christ we experienced PEACE WITH GOD. 

Romans 5:1 “THEREFORE, HAVING BEEN JUSTIFIED BY FAITH, WE HAVE PEACE WITH GOD THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.”

The PEACE OF GOD is that deep settled peace which God gives to us as we rest in Him in the midst of the trials and tribulations which we face on our spiritual journey.  The PEACE OF GOD does not mean the absence of trials, but it does mean a quiet confidence within, regardless of the circumstances of life and the people or problems that we face.

I said a few moments ago that the apostle Paul was in prison when he wrote this letter to the Philippians.

ARE YOU ENJOYING THE JOURNEY????

There are so many things in the world around us to cause us to be anxious and a worry-wart, to have wrong feeling and wrong thinking.

We live in uncertain times.  Life is uncertain but God is not. We don’t know what tomorrow holds, but we know who holds tomorrow. No matter what happens, God has the whole world in his hands.

It is fascinating to hear stories of people who have survived tragic events. Someone makes it out alive of a landslide. Someone survives a plane crash. Someone survives after days at sea.  Someone is born with physical limitations.  The real story is how they demonstrate a peace as they journey through these situations.

ILLUSTRATION:  We’ve all heard Joni Eareckson’s story.  God has given her a world-wide ministry because of being a quadriplegic.  THE PEACE OF GOD.

David Ring, suffering with cerebral palsy.  In spite of it, he is a well-known evangelist. 

Nick Vujicic, an evangelist and motivational speaker, born without arms and legs.  THE PEACE OF GOD enables these folks to ENJOY THE JOURNEY and minister in the midst of suffering or physical limitations.

Paul is writing here that we can have an UNEXPLAINED PEACE IN THE MIDST OF THE CALAMITY, WHILE THE STORM IS RAGING. 

I like Hovie Lister’s song which he wrote:  “Til The Storm Passes By.”  It is a cry of the heart to God as we are in the midst of a storm.  Here is the first stanza and chorus:

In the dark of the midnight,
Have I oft hid my face;
While the storm howls above me,
And there’s no hiding place;

'Mid the crash of the thunder,
Precious Lord, hear my cry;
"Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by."

The chorus:

'Til the storm passes over,
'Til the thunder sounds no more;
'Til the clouds roll forever from the sky,
Hold me fast, let me stand,
In the hollow of Thy hand;
Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by.

Our Blessed Lord will keep us safe until the storm is over.  He gives us an UNEXPLAINED PEACE when we cast all of our cares upon HIM.

UNBROKEN JOY – Verse 4

UNENDING PRAYER – Verse 6

UNEXPLAINED PEACE – Verse 7

That verse leads us to our fourth thought found in verse 8

IV.              UNDEFILED MIND

Verse 8:  “FINALLY, BRETHREN, WHATEVER THINGS ARE TRUE, WHATEVER THINGS ARE NOBLE, WHATEVER THINGS ARE JUST, WHATEVER THINGS ARE PURE, WHATEVER THINGS ARE LOVELY, WHATEVER THINGS ARE OF GOOD REPORT, IF THERE IS ANY VIRTUE AND IF THERE IS ANYTHING PRAISEWORTHY, MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS.”

The desire that we have to be holy is always attacked by the desire to NOT to be holy.

There is a constant war going on in our minds.  Everything around us is forever attacking the mind and seeking to lure us away from that which is true, noble, just, pure, etc.

The media is filled with all that is contrary to that which is godly.  There are happenings in the course of our day that would pull us away from that which is pleasing to God.  We live in a sinful world.  WE ARE IN THE WORLD BUT WE ARE NOT TO BE A PART OF THE WORLD.  We do not have to partake of all that is offered to us.

There are several Bible verses which exhort us to strive for an UNDEFILED MIND.

Proverbs 4:23 “KEEP YOUR HEART WITH ALL DILIGENCE, FOR OUT OF IT SPRING THE ISSUES OF LIFE.”

Psalm 119:9-11 “HOW CAN A YOUNG MAN CLEANSE HIS WAY?  BY TAKING HEED ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD. 

WITH MY WHOLE HEART I HAVE SOUGHT YOU, OH, LET ME NOT WANDER FROM YOUR COMMANDMENTS! 

YOUR WORD I HAVE HIDDEN IN MY HEART, THAT I MIGHT NOT SIN AGAINST YOU.”

The Bible tells us that the heart is the seat of all actions of life.  Joseph Stowell, who was once the president of Moody Bible Institute, has written that “The Heart is used in Scripture as the most comprehensive term for the authentic person. It is the part of our being where we desire, deliberate, and decide. It has been described as ‘the place of conscious and decisive spiritual activity,’ the comprehensive term for a person as a whole; his feelings, desires, passions, thought, understanding and will, and the center of a person. The place to which God turns."

We cannot have an UNDEFILED MIND just with our strength.  Our strength fails.  David Jeremiah said “We do not drift toward holiness, we drift away.” Paul wrote to the Corinthian church II Corinthians 10:4-5 “FOR THE WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE ARE NOT CARNAL BUT MIGHTY IN GOD FOR PULLING DOWN STRONGHOLDS,

CASTING DOWN ARGUMENTS AND EVERY HIGH THING THAT EXALTS ITSELF AGAINST THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, BRINGING EVERY THOUGHT INTO CAPTIVITY TO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST.”

There is a war in our minds, and the world is always pulling our thoughts away from God.

What’s on your mind changes everything that matters.

Proverbs 4:23-27.

Verse 23 says “KEEP YOUR HEART (OR MIND) WITH ALL DILIGENCE, FOR OUT OF IT SPRING THE ISSUES OF LIFE.”  Whatever we say, whatever we see and wherever we serve is determined by the mind.  That’s why we are strongly exhorted to guard the mind.

The mind dictates what we SAY.   “PUT AWAY FROM YOU A DECEITFUL MOUTH…” Verse 24

The mind dictates what we SEE.  “LET YOUR EYES LOOK STRAIGHT AHEAD… Verse 25

The mind dictates where we SERVE.  “PONDER THE PATH OF YOUR FEET…”  Verse 26

ILLUSTRATION:  There is a story about a farmer who was NOT enjoying life.  The journey was full of pot holes and he complained about everyone and everything.  He laid the blame for his spirit of discontent to his farm.  He did not like living on that particular farm and figured if he lived elsewhere that all his problems would be solved.

 
He engaged a realtor to look the farm over and prepare a sales ad. The realtor was very creative and had pictures and a good write-up re this farmer’s farm.  Before putting it in the paper, the realtor called and read the proposed ad to him, saying: “See if this meets with your approval.”

The ad spoke of a good location, a well maintained house, sturdy barns, lush pasture lands, a beautiful pond, fertile soil, and a great view. The farmer listened carefully, and then said, "Read that to me again, slowly."

So the realtor read it to him again. Finally, the farmer said, “No, don’t print that ad. I’ve changed my mind. I’ve always wanted a place like that. I’m not going to sell."

You see, how you look at something can make a world of difference in how you behave.  Enjoying the journey may well be determined by your attitude, your mind set, and your relationship to the Lord.

Are you pining away for a different journey?  Do you feel like quitting?  Maybe I should quit the ministry and go sell cars, or insurance.  It seems that over the years numerous pastors have left the ministry.  The journey was too rough.  Missionaries have left their place of ministry. May I encourage you to review Philippians 4:4-8. 

HAVE WE LOST OUR JOY?

HAS OUR PRAYER LIFE BECOME STALE?

WHAT ABOUT THE PEACE?

WHAT DO WE FEED OUR MIND?

Meditate on Proverbs 4:23 that we just shared with you.  “KEEP YOUR HEART WITH ALL DILIGENCE, FOR OUT OF IT SPRING THE ISSUES OF LIFE.”

As I was finishing the rough draft of this message, the words of the prophet Joel came to mind.  Let me leave them with you, part of Joel 2:25, 26:

“I WILL RESTORE TO YOU THE YEARS THAT THE SWARMING LOCUST HAS EATEN, THE CRAWLING LOCUST, THE CONSUMING LOCUST, AND THE CHEWING LOCUST… YOU SHALL EAT IN PLENTY AND BE SATISFIED, AND PRAISE THE NAME OF THE LORD YOUR GOD…”

Leona sharing at the NCEM conference

CONCLUSION: 

I received Christ as my personal Saviour as a child of about 8 years of age.  Dr. Oswald J. Smith, founder and first pastor of The Peoples Church in Toronto, spoke at a Family Bible Camp when I was 15.  At that family camp, I dedicated my life to the Lord for ministry.  Every step thereafter was to serve the Lord. 

When I was ordained to the ministry over 50 years ago, the charge given to me was that there would be no options or alternatives to ministry.  I was committing my life’s work to serving God. 

Have there been bumps?  Yes, lots of them.  Have there been times when I felt like quitting?  Yes.  But I thank God that He kept me focused.  I am nearing the end of the journey.  The steps are a little slower; the body is slowing down; medication helps.  The mind, though still functioning is not as quick as it used to be.  Birthdays come around faster every year.  But I can honestly say as I look back that I HAVE ENJOYED THE JOURNEY.  Every step of the way….

I am so thankful that the Lord gave me the honor and privilege of being able to share His Word, to share with one at a time, to share with over one thousand at a time.

If I have one regret… I wish I had done better.

However, my prayer now is that I will finish well.

Several years ago, as I was driving home, having just visited one who had messed up a bit near the end of his career, a few thoughts went through my mind.  When I got home I wrote them down.  This is what I wrote.

My life on earth will end,

What day I cannot tell;

My one desire and prayer is

That I will end it well.

I wrote that in the flyleaf of my KJV Bible.  I already had a poem there, which I found in a departed saint’s Bible some years earlier.  It summed up the desire of my heart and my JOURNEY on earth.

This is what it said:

The desire of my heart is so to live,  

That people will say as I pass,

Not what a wonderful Christian he is,

But a wonderful Christ that he has.

We do indeed have a wonderful Christ, and it is wonderful to be able to journey together as brothers and sisters in Christ... LABORERS TOGETHER.

I trust that we will all ENJOY THE REST OF THE JOURNEY.  It is NOT WIT’S END for the family of God.  We’re on our journey home. 

May God help us to be faithful each step of the way and when we hit a bump along the way rest in our theme verse for these days:  “GOD IS ABLE TO MAKE ALL GRACE ABOUND TOWARD YOU, THAT YOU, ALWAYS HAVING ALL SUFFICIENCY IN ALL THINGS, MAY HAVE AN ABUNDANCE FOR EVERY GOOD WORK.”  Second Corinthians 9:8

Let me add, I’ve also enjoyed my journey this week.  Leona and I have been abundantly blessed.  We were so honored and privileged to be invited to be with you and it’s been a wonderful four days.

May we all enjoy the journey and may we all end well.