“It’s Time to Wake Up the Sleeping Church”

"Therefore let us not SLEEP, as do others: but let us WATCH and be SOBER."—1 Thess. 5:6

Wow, time sure has been flying by! I haven’t had any time to write devotions.

Hopefully, I will have more coming out soon.

Meanwhile, I encourage you all to go to our website: www.biblefood.org as we have many devotions there; and if that is not enough, we have many more devotions in our archives at: www.geocities.com/biblefood/archive.html. Also, also our church site is beginning to include some of my sermon notes at: www.kanepa.org/sermons.htm

The LORD has been moving in our little town of Kane and in Go Proclaim Ministries/BibleFood reaching the world with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

In November 2006, I will be going to INDIA to minister at a Pastor/Minister Seminar and in churches, villages, and an orphanage in MALAKAPALLI - WEST GODAVARI.

The LORD has been so faithful in providing the finances and blessings to make this trip possible. Now I need your prayers more than ever.

Please PRAY for me to not get sick there, for my strength, and also for my voice, as I will be speaking 25-30 times in 2 weeks. Go to: www.goproclaim.com/india.htm

In preparation for this trip, a brother in Christ called me a couple weeks ago and told me I needed to get the book, “Revolution in World Missions” by K.P. Yohannan. Interestingly, I had picked up the book at a Pastors’ conference a few months back, but amongst my other books, it was overlooked and never. So when this brother told me about the book, I told him I already had two (unread) copies (my wife had also ordered it, not knowing that I had it – that’s another whole God story).

I have read the book with such excitement and vision, as I get ready to go to India. The LORD has been so faithful in providing that I will have money enough to help support some of the pastors in India. As a matter of fact, we have had more money come in for India than has come in for the past 8 years of Go Proclaim Ministries/BibleFood. WOW! What a MIRACLE!

After reading “Revolution in World Missions” by K.P. Yohannan, I have been so encouraged about our being able to support pastors who live in poverty in India.

Please get your free copy of this book at: www.gfa.org/gfa (scroll down to bottom left of page). They will mail it to you absolutely FREE (no shipping charge either). It is also available to download as a big PDF file (book), again, for FREE.

I feel that we are so spoiled in America. I believe originally it was God’s blessing on our country, but we have hoarded it upon ourselves and now what was once a blessing is causing us to FORGET God (See Prov. 30:7-9). I believe economic disaster is in the future of America (and deserved for forgetting God), but in the meantime we still have a chance to help get the Gospel of Jesus Christ around the world.

Today, are you among the financially blessed in America (or the world)? What are you doing with that blessing? Are you buying more homes, cars, stocks, toys, etc., OR are you properly using it to spread the Gospel around the world? WHY do you think God has blessed you financially, fellow Christian! Seriously, why has God blessed you financially? HE HAS BLESSED YOU TO HELP SUPPORT THE SPREADING OF THE GOSPEL! Not to buy more homes, cars, stocks, toys, etc. or as the Bible says it, “to build more BARNS” (See Luke 12:13-21).

I am not a money-making machine and have been personally criticized in the past for my lack of a secular trade or skill; and, thus, my lack of ability to make a decent income. Meanwhile, I continue to do what God has called me to do: Preach the Gospel AND do whatever jobs come along to help financially support my family and for the spreading of the Gospel. My wife and I feel, first and primarily, I must spend my time and energy in the work of the ministry as Pastor and all that goes along with that, as well as my calling to be a voice to the Body of Christ worldwide, even if it is but a whisper.

Maybe you are like me and haven’t been blessed financially by the LORD. By Third-World standards, I am considered extremely rich, but in American standards, pretty poor. Past stock market crashes have had no effect on me directly, and neither will future ones, as I have no stocks (guess that’s one benefit of not being rich). Some of you out there are much poorer than I, you wish you had more money to give to spread the Gospel, but God in His infinite wisdom has chosen a different path than riches for you. You still have such power (though not financially rich) in the LORD. Are you praying for those who do not know Jesus? If not, why not? Are you sharing Jesus with those in your everyday life in your circle of influence (friends, family, neighbors, etc.)? If not, why not?

EVERY SINGLE CHRISTIAN ON EARTH HAS A PART TO PLAY IN SHARING THE GOSPEL. ARE YOU DOING YOUR PART? IF NOT, WHY NOT?

This is not to put a guilt trip on anyone, but I believe God wants us to wake up out of our SLEEPING state and seek to do more of God’s will on this earth.

Time is short, the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few!!! (See Matt. 9:37,38)

PRAYER: LORD, help us to see our Kingdom priorities and responsibilities as your laborers. Forgive us for our greedy, selfish and lukewarm state of our hearts. Give us a fresh vision of our purpose for being here, and help us to see our part in this end time harvest of souls. In Jesus’ Name – AMEN!

In His Service,
Jim (jim@biblefood.org)
www.biblefood.org

ARE YOU SEEING CLEARLY?

In this day and age we live in many of us get DISTRACTED from the purposes of God and make things priorities that ought not to be.

Today’s devotion will deal with this issue, and prayerfully, help us to refocus our spiritual eyes so that we will see clearly.

Our society (and often our carnal minds) teaches us to want (even lust after) the nice car, big home, big paying job, etc. These things can be nice and SOMETIMES God blesses us with them. But if your mind is occupied with these things as a priority in your life, your spiritual vision is VERY BLURRED. In my own life, I have had to learn to NOT give THINGS too much importance.

In America, as well as in many other parts of the world, success is measured by what type of job you have (i.e. how much you make), by the home you own, the car you drive, etc. But this is NOT how God measures success!

Success in God’s eyes is based on our OBEDIENCE to Him and in our seeking to make an eternal difference.

Our eyes MUST be on the things of God, not on the temporal things of this world.

I‘ve shared my heart above, now let’s look at these things from God's heart through His Word:

3 Things That Blur our Vision:

1 - THE DECEPTION OF THE LUKEWARM CHURCH (I.E. LUKEWARM CHRISTIAN)
"And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write...........thou art lukewarm........BECAUSE THOU SAYEST, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that THOU MAYEST SEE". - Revelation 3:14, 16-18

"Because thou sayest." What a difference between their thoughts of themselves, and the thoughts Christ had of them! .......There are many in hell, who once thought themselves far in the way to heaven......They were poor; really poor, when they said and thought they were rich. They could not see their state, nor their way, nor their danger, yet they thought they saw it….. Some things must be parted with, but nothing valuable; and it is only to make room for receiving true riches. Part with sin and self-confidence, that you may be filled with his hidden treasure….. Let us examine ourselves by the rule of his word, and pray earnestly for the teaching of his Holy Spirit, to take away our pride, prejudices, and worldly lusts".
- Matthew Henry Commentary

2 - THE COVETOUSNESS OF MAN IS NOT RICH TOWARD GOD

“And he said unto them, Take heed, and BEWARE OF COVETOUSNESS: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, his night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is NOT RICH TOWARD GOD”. - Luke 12:15-21

“Covetousness is a sin we need constantly to be warned against; for happiness and comfort do not depend on the wealth of this world. The things of the world will not satisfy the desires of a soul.…..If we value the beauty of holiness, we shall not crave the luxuries of life”. - Matthew Henry Commentary

3 - CONCERNS OVER THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD (ANXIETIES, RICHES, AND LUSTS) WILL CHOKE OUT THE WORD IN YOUR LIFE

Jesus spoke this parable about a sower sowing seed and the outcome of those seeds sown. Someday, I hope to look in more depth into that entire passage; but for today’s devotion, let’s just look at a small portion of Mark Chapter 4.

“Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow....And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up,and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.......And these are they which are sown among ......thorns; such as hear the word, and THE CARES OF THIS WORLD, AND THE DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES, AND THE LUSTS OF OTHER THING entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful”. - Mark 4:3, 7, 18, 19

3 things are mentioned in this passage that will choke out the Word of God in our lives:

1.Cares of this World - Always worrying and being anxious about the things of life will absolutely cause us to have blurred vision spiritually.

2. Deceitfulness of Riches - Don't buy into the lie that money is success and happiness. This results in blurred spiritual vision.

3. Lust for other things - This would include all lust or "over-desires" in reference to OTHER THINGS not already mentioned that are NOT from God. This, too, will result in blurred spiritual vision.

SCRIPTURE CLARITY COMES BY:

1 – PUTTING (SEEKING) THE THINGS OF GOD FIRST IN OUR LIFE. IT IS THEN THAT GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF THE LITTLE EARTHLY THINGS OF OUR LIFE.
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.... Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. BUT SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS; and all these things shall be added unto you”. - Matthew 6:24, 31-33

“Worldly-mindedness is a common and fatal symptom of hypocrisy, for by no sin can Satan have a surer and faster hold on the soul, under the cloak of a profession of religion [Christianity] …..Christ counsels to make our best things the joys and glories of the OTHER world, those things not seen which are eternal, and to place our happiness in them. There are treasures in heaven. … A man may do some service to two masters, but he can devote himself to the service of no more than one. GOD REQUIRES THE WHOLE HEART, AND WILL NOT SHARE IT WITH THE WORLD. When two masters oppose each other, no man can serve both. He who holds to the world and loves it, must despise God; he who loves God, must give up the friendship of the world. THERE IS SCARCELY ANY SIN AGAINST WHICH OUR LORD JESUS MORE WARNS HIS DISCIPLES, THAN DISQUIETING, DISTRACTING, DISTRUSTFUL CARES ABOUT THE THINGS OF THIS LIFE. This often insnares the poor as much as the love of wealth does the rich….. If we take care about our souls and for eternity, which are more than the body and its life, we may leave it to God to provide for us food and raiment, which are less. Improve this as an encouragement to trust in God….. SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AND MAKE RELIGION [CHRISTIANITY] YOUR BUSINESS: SAY NOT THAT THIS IS THE WAY TO STARVE; NO, IT IS THE WAY TO BE WELL PROVIDED FOR, EVEN IN THIS WORLD”. - Matthew Henry Commentary

2 - OUR AFFECTION (MIND) MUST BE ON THE THINGS ABOVE.

“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth”. - Colossians 3:2

God tells us to set our affection (i.e. mind) on the things above. Lightfoot puts it this way in regard to this passage, “You must not only SEEK heaven; you must also THINK heaven”.

Though the things of this earth are not necessarily bad, our mind, thoughts and attention needs to be on those things that are eternal. In other words, DON’T GET WRAPPED UP IN ALL THIS EARTHLY TEMPORAL STUFF!

Seek God above all else, and set you mind, thoughts first and foremost focused on the Word of God and the things of God, and you will see as God meant you to – CLEARLY!

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, help me to get my eyes off those things which are temporal and not of any value to your Eternal purposes. I come to you right now and ask you to help me SEE with Your eyes, and to truly have Eternal priorities. I ask this in Jesus’ Name! AMEN!

In His Service,
Jim (Jim@Biblefood.ORG)

INDIA - Needs Jesus - Do YOU Care! Part 2 of 2

Today I want to share a little more about India as I am excited that the LORD has opened a door for me to go to India and preach the Gospel in November.

Scriptures on WORLD MISSIONS (please read)
Romans 10:14,15
Matthew 28:19,20
Acts 1:8

The challenge (especially to AMERICANS) is to look beyond our immediate surroundings and acquaintances and to see the WHOLE WORLD as our field of labor.

Here are some statistics specifically about India:

Christians in India, Indonesia and Pakistan run the HIGHEST RISK OF LOSING THEIR LIVES. Persecution Ranking worldwide: 26th

In India, Christians only make up 2.43% of the population!

On November 9th - 23rd - I (Jim Mazzulla)have been invited to be daily guest speaker at a ministers conference (a minister to ministers), and to also speak in churches, villages and orpanage in Rajahmundry (Andhra Pradesh), India.

Actual e-mail from Pastor Babu (who recieves BibleFood Devotionals) dated 6/24/06:

Dear Brother Rev.Jim,
Thank you so much for your kind reply.Really I was blessed to having fellowship with you to grown up in spiritual life to reach the goal. HOLY SPIRIT TELLING ME THAT YOU ARE RIGHT PERSON TO PREACH AND TO TEACH OUR PEOPLE IN INDIA TO FEED SPIRITUALLY FOR THEIR SPIRITUAL GROWTH. My soul encoraging me to invite you to our midst to teach and preach.I have visited your websites and inspired mostly. We are praying the Lord to provide you finances to meet your needs for the outreach work.Our God is trustworthy. Prayerfully and hopefully waiting for your visit to India.We have a Seminar for ministers and pastors during November 14,15,16,17-2006...God Bless you very richly and abundantly.
With Prayers,
Pastor Babu

SEE RECENT LETTER/FLYER:
http://www.goproclaim.com/youth__gospel__crusade.htm

This is an opportunity to minister to an estimated 500 pastors, ministers and church elders for this conference. TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO GO FORTH AND WIN INDIA FOR CHRIST.

Also check out: http://www.goproclaim.com/india.htm

Recent news about persecution in Andhra Pradesh:
March 2006:
Andhra Pradesh saw relatively few attacks against Christians in 2005, despite the murders of pastors K. Daniel and Isaac Raju. However, 2006 has already seen a number of violent atrocities against Christians.

June 2006
Post:Titled "Missionaries Beaten". This is a story about a Gospel for Asia missionary team that was showing a film to a village in Andhra Pradesh, India and some men showed up and beat them and destroyed thousands of dollars worth of equipment.
Link: http://inspirationalkorner.blogspot.com/2006/06/missionaries-beaten.html

June 2006
The body of 67-year old Pastor Prem Kumar, a 67-year-old preacher from the Church of South India, was found Thursday, June 8th in a forest in the Nizamabad district of Andhra Pradesh state. Pastor Kumar was contacted by a young man requesting that Kumar lead a prayer service in the village of Rampur Thanda. Pastor Kumar was attacked with stones and boulders and his head was crushed beyond recognition.

August (2006) from the Hindustan Times,
The state government has ... introduced legislation that would ban the propagation of any faith other than Hinduism in the area. If the legislation is passed, those preaching any other religion could face imprisonment and fines... Those attempting to convert people to religions other than Hinduism could be imprisoned for two years.

Sept. 2006
Several Indian states have recently imposed so-called ‘anti-conversion’ laws to limit the spread of Christianity and discourage missionaries and church leaders of preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to non-Christians, church groups say (Source BosNewsLife Research Sept 2006)

In the midst of persecution more than 100 million Indians have viewed the "JESUS FILM."

I personally believe a "persecuted church" is a growing church. Both numerically and spiritually.I'm excited about this opportunity to minister in India. We need your prayers and financial support!!!

Please let me know if you, or your prayer group, or your church is praying for me - It will be a blessing in paving the way for my trip to India and will encourage my heart.

Also, if you can help financially, it is much needed! Please help! THIS MINISTRY IS NOT ABOUT MONEY. NEVER HAS BEEN, NEVER WILL BE. YOUR HELP (IN PRAYER/FINANCES) FOR OUR MINISTRY INTO INDIA IS NEEDED.

If you choose to support me financially as I participate in this missionary trip to India, please make your check payable to: Go Proclaim Ministries. In the memo write: India Trip.

Please pray about the part God would have you to play in this trip, and may He bless you for your prayers and support.

Our Mailing Address is:
Go Proclaim Ministries
Attn: BibleFood
Box 676
Kane, PA 16735

Go Proclaim Ministries is a 501c3 organization and all contributions are tax deductible.

For your convenience you may also give by credit card by going to www.goproclaim.com/donate.htm

Visit:
www.goproclaim.com/india.htm
www.goproclaim.com/support.htm

Please forward to EVERYONE that you feel would want to be involved by prayer and support for my trip to India.

In His Service,
Jim
E-mail: jim@biblefood.org

INDIA - Needs Jesus - Do YOU Care! Part 1 of 2

Scriptures on WORLD MISSIONS:

"How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how
shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and HOW SHALLTHEY HEAR WITHOUT A PREACHER? And how shall they preach, except they BE SENT? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" - Romans 10:14,15

"GO YE therefore, and teach ALL NATIONS, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen." - Matthew 28:19,20

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and YE SHALL BE WITNESSES unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, AND UNTO THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH." Acts 1:8

There is only ONE mission of the Church: to bring GLORY TO GOD by proclaiming the Gospel and reaping the HARVEST OF SOULS which willworship and delight in God forever.

The challenge is to look beyond our immediate surroundings and acquaintances and to see the WHOLE WORLD as our field of labor.

Now I would like to specifically share about INDIA, which is in what is called the 10/40 Window.

10/40 window means the section of the world located between latitudes 10 degrees and 40 degrees north of the equator.

It covers the Middle East, North Africa, Central and Southeast Asia, and holds two-thirds of the world's population.

Only about one and a quarter percent (1.25%) of Christian mission giving is going to missions work in the 10/40 Window.

Here are some statistics specifically about India:

Christians in India, Indonesia and Pakistan run the highest risk of losing their lives. - June 27, 2006 Persecution Ranking: 26th

The average annual income in India is $370 ($30.83 per month).

I've been told by a Christian who lived there. It is even worse for a Christian (basically treated as outcasts) at around $240 ($20 per month and lower).

In India, Christians only make up 2.43% of the population!

Well I have good news:
November 9th - 23rd - I (Jim Mazzulla)have been invited to be daily guest speaker at a ministers conference (a minister to ministers), and to also speak in churches, villages and orpanage in Rajahmundry (Andhra Pradesh), India.

We need your prayers and financial support!!!

Please let me know if you, or your prayer group, or your church is praying for me - It will be a blessing in paving the way for my trip to India and will encourage my heart.

Also, if you can help financially, it is much needed! Please help! THIS MINISTRY IS NOT ABOUT MONEY. NEVER HAS BEEN, NEVER WILL BE. YOUR HELP (IN PRAYER/FINANCES) FOR OUR MINISTRY INTO INDIA IS NEEDED.

If you choose to support me financially as I participate in this missionary trip to India, please make your check payable to: Go Proclaim Ministries. In the memo write: India Trip.

Please pray about the part God would have you to play in this trip, and
may He bless you for your prayers and support.
Our Mailing Address is:
Go Proclaim Ministries
Attn: BibleFood
Box 676
Kane, PA 16735

Go Proclaim Ministries is a 501c3 organization and all contributions are tax deductible.

For your convenience you may also give by credit card by going to
www.goproclaim.com/donate.htm

Visit:
www.goproclaim.com/india.htm
www.goproclaim.com/support.htm

Please forward to EVERYONE that you feel would want to be involved by prayer and support for my trip to India.

In His Service,

Jim
E-mail: jim@biblefood.org

If I could speak to today’s churches and ministers - WHAT WOULD I SAY?

Today’s devotion comes from the depths of my heart, and is spoken in love, sincerity, and humility! It has taken me a long time to get to the place where I can write this! It is written with ministers in mind, but is a word we all need to hear. I’m not in a popularity contest (obviously), but just wanting to obey my LORD JESUS CHRIST and help the church in these perilous times.
(II Tim 3:1).

Main text:
“Behold, how good and how pleasant [it is] for brethren to dwell together in unity!” - Psalm 133:1

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; THAT THEY ALL MAY BE ONE; as thou, Father, [art] in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: THAT THE WORLD MAY BELIEVE THAT THOU HAST SENT ME. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; THAT THEY MAY BE ONE, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and THAT THE WORLD MAY KNOW THAT THOU HAST SENT ME, AND HAST LOVED THEM, AS THOU HAST LOVED ME. - John 17:20-23

For today's devotion, I’m going to use my little town as an example, but I believe what I am saying needs to go out to everyone who claims to be a born again Christian, and to every Pastor who claims to love God, love God’s Word, and love God’s people (sheep).

I pastor a church of approximately 30 attendees on a good Sunday, sometimes higher, sometimes lower. Taking the position of pastor at Community Fellowship in the little town of Kane, PA, (www.kanepa.org) changed my life--quite a change after living near Atlanta, GA, since 1993. It has cost me being away from my grown children and grandchildren. Is it worth it for 30 people? My answer to that is, if GOD SENDS YOU somewhere, it is worth it even if it is for ONE person.

NOTE: Many missionaries of the past saw few or no converts on the mission field, but they paved the way for future missionaries and the move of God in various parts of the world. Praise God for their obedience!

While I have a church of 30, I have a ministry to EVERYONE in town. Our little town has approximately 4,000 people and likely AT LEAST 3300 or more have not been born again (John 3:3) . Hopefully, there are 700 or so brothers or sisters in town (though honestly I have a hard time finding them ...Hmm) that I can UNITE with to change our area for Christ. Some of you might be thinking good luck on that!!!

I understand that thinking--Churches and people who call themselves Christians normally don’t unite. So is it any wonder we are not seeing true spiritual growth? A

Are you aware that most of what we call church growth around the country isn’t really “growth” at all? It’s just Christians moving from one church to another. It’s more like who has the “best show” in town. That’s a sad but true reality.

We AREN’T supposed to go to the “best show” in town! We are to go to where God WANTS us AND where the Bible is proclaimed and taught as the infallible Word of God.

I have, at times, almost wished I wasn’t the pastor of a church, just so people wouldn’t worry about me stealing their sheep (which hasn’t and won’t happen). Actually, they are God’s sheep. True churches don’t grow by stealing sheep anyway.

On the other hand, if you carry the name pastor/shepherd and are not feeding the sheep the Bible and don’t plan or try to, then I will RESCUE those sheep all day long. In my opinion, there are a lot of wolves in the pulpits today. Let’s pray that we can get to these sheep before they are devoured by wolves (Matt. 7:15) and hirelings (John 10:12-13). Also, see Jer. 23:1,2; Jer. 50:6 and Ezk. 34:2,3,10.

This doesn’t mean that just because of some doctrinal differences that the pastor is a wolf or hireling. I believe if the fundamental truths of the Bible are being taught and the sheep are not spiritually beaten, then that pastor is likely a shepherd, so encourage the sheep to stay there!

Praise God, in our little town, approximately 6-8 born again ministers get together weekly to pray and encourage one another. We also have had joint services outside in the park during the summer.

Yeah, I’m bragging a little on our town and the ministers.

But that’s not enough, we must EVERYWHERE, IN ALL CHURCHS AROUND THE WORLD, break down the walls even further and stop worrying about where the sheep go.

SO, WHERE AM I GOING WITH ALL THIS?

If we REALLY want to see a move of God, we will have to be Christ-like enough to not worry about carnal sheep stealing and JOIN HANDS AND HEARTS in the purposes of God. We have a world that is lost out there!

Let’s get free from that “religious show” or “country club” mentality and “they’re MY sheep” thinking. Pastors are under shepherds, UNDER THE GREAT SHEPHERD (John 10:14-16) . We’ve had the wrong mind-set long enough.

Let’s get back to the Bible and our purpose of CARING/FEEDING sheep and REACHING A LOST AND DYING WORLD with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

In His Love, Grace, and Mercy,
Jim (jim@biblefood.org)

Please pass this on to others by e-mail, websites, blogs, snail mail, photocopies, etc…

God is Working in Our Lives

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way." - Psalm 37:23

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28

"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."
- Philippians 1:6

As we journey down the road of life, it has many twists and turns in it and also some mountaintop and valley experiences. In the midst of all this, we MUST see God's hand working throughout our lives.

Can we mess up God's plan for our lives? Sort of yes, and sort of no. We will do things that are NOT God's will; like sin, disobedience (which is sin), etc., that will get us off of God's track for our lives. But the moment we repent and seek Him, He works us back into His plan and will for our lives.

You may think - no, you don't understand, I messed up too bad for God to use me. No, that is not so!!! I have wrestled with that myself, but we need to remember that God is BIGGER than our mess-ups. And guess what? God KNEW you were going to mess up even BEFORE you messed up. He also KNEW when you would repent and had ALREADY laid out the path BEFOREHAND to get you back on track with His will for you -WOW!!!

Not only does God move in straightening out our mess-ups, but He also is moving in our everyday life as we walk with Him.

Over the years, I have had what I'll call "divine appointments" which simply means being at the right place at the right time because of following the LORD.

There are many times we don't even have a clue that God is directing our steps (we think we are), but then you look back and say ONLY GOD could have made that "divine appointment."

One example of this is in founding BibleFood Devotional 8 years ago in January 1998. I followed the LORD'S leading in starting BibleFood Devotional. At the time, it didn't seem like a big deal, just an act of obedience; literally, only sending the devotion out to a handful of people.

Out of that ONE act of obedience, I have had the following happen:

1. I have grown through reaching out to others.

2. I have made many real friends.

3. I have made many ministerial friends.

4. I met my wife in 1999. She was a member of BibleFood and had moved to the area where I lived (though we didn't know each other yet). She e-mailed me one day that she was looking for a church in the area. I recommended that she visit where I was attending. We became offline friends and in time, fell in love (no cyber dating for us). Let me state here that we were not looking to date each other; that happened in time, God's time! And what a blessing He gave me in Joyce (my wife).

5. Out of BibleFood Devotional was started another online ministry in January 2000 called "The Encourager," devotions specifically written for ministers, elders, others in church leadership positions. These devotionals get into more specific issues that face those in ministry. It is also viewed by many via the internet. www.geocities.com/biblefood/tearchive.html

6. “GodWillHelpYou” was started in 2001 - This was inspired by Jim trying to minister and help co-workers at a job. Then he saw the need for this ministry over the internet. This ministry is an outreach to the lost, bound, backslidden, and hurting, as well as the unsaved. www.biblefood.org/godwillhelpyou.html

7. I was inspired by how God used the internet with BibleFood to using it in the starting of Christian Pool Players Association in 2002. This was started to reach the lost and hurting in the “pool/billiards” environment through friendship evangelism and special events. This has grown to over 250 members throughout the USA and the world. Go to: www.christianpoolplayers.com

8. In 2005, I accepted the pastorate of “Community Fellowship Church” in Kane, PA. This came about through a member in Pennsylvania who receives BibleFood Devotional. I had mentioned I felt the LORD calling me to the pastorate (somewhere). She e-mailed me about a place in Kane, PA (where’s Kane, PA, was my first thought). Also, I thought that it’s got to be cold in Kane and I don’t like the cold (but I do like to obey God). Yes, I took the pastorate of a small church in the small town of Kane. By the way, due to the cold winters, Kane is known as the “Icebox of Pennsylvania.”

Church website is: www.communityfellowshipofkane.org and www.kanepa.org

9. Opportunities in 2006 have opened for me to minister overseas (short-term missions) in India, Africa, and Pakistan. This is something I have had on my heart for years!!!

There are other areas where God has done amazing things in my life and others just because of obeying Him in this ONE area.

The last thing (number 10) I would like to share on relating to BibleFood touches my heart deeply as it is so GOD! This will take a few lines to explain but I think it will be worth your reading.

10. Back in the spring of 2000 I was planning to register www.biblefood.com as it was available that winter and would be so much easier for you all to remember and/or find. Finally, later that spring when I was ready to register it, I found that it had been taken in March 2000, I just missed getting it!!!

I was upset about losing the name and checked to see who took it. I decided to e-mail the person who registered it. I explained to this person how I had been wanting it for a long time. We ended up becoming friends (real close friends). The website name became a non-issue, but our friendship became our main concern. Since that time, my wife and I met Bob and his wife Mary while on our vacation. Now we have known them for years, have been to their home a couple times on vacation, spoke at Bob’s church, and love and respect them both highly. I consider Bob my “BibleFood brother” and have been so blessed by his love for Christ and his knowledge of the Bible.

I decided, with my busy schedule and the many changes in my life time-wise, that it was time to ask Pastor Bob Jones to use his God-given gift in the Greek to bless the readers of BibleFood Devotional. He has written a number of devotions for us. Although we are separate ministries, we are also working together for the purpose of blessing the Body of Christ.

I did register BibleFood as www.biblefood.org (ORG)and Pastor Bob Jones is still www.biblefood.com (COM).
Isn't that AWESOME!!! :)

In closing, over the years since starting BibleFood Devotional, I want to say I have experienced many trials and lots of valley time; but through it all I know God is still God, He is still in control!!!

So whether things are looking bright or dark, remember God is ultimately in CONTROL!!! Let God be God and allow Him to move in your life!

Your prayers are ALWAYS welcome and appreciated.

In His Service,
Jim (jim@biblefood.ORG)

NOTE: A trip to India is planned in November 2006. (We need supporters – If so led please send support to GO Proclaim Ministries, Box 676, Kane, PA 16735 (Attention India).

I Don’t Deserve This

Have you ever heard anyone say, "I don't deserve this!!" Or better yet, have you ever heard yourself saying “I don’t deserve this”? And you may be right, there may be times in our lives that we were treated wrongly, gone through situations that weren’t fair, that weren’t right.

We expect life to be easy, to be fair; and it doesn’t always work out that way. In 1970, there was a song sung by Lynn Anderson – “I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden.”

When we look around, we see people who are suffering for their wrong doings, and we may think that the thing they suffer from is what they deserve. For example, it is hard to think that a murderer does not deserve to spend time in jail. The guy at work who is always late and does a bad job probably deserves to lose his job.

deserve (verb) - To acquire as a result of one's behavior or effort: earn, gain, get, merit, win. To be worthy of; merit.

Psalm 28:4 - Give them according to their deeds, And according to the wickedness of their endeavors; Give them according to the work of their hands; Render to them what they deserve.

We understand when it is obvious that “bad” people suffer for their actions.

BUT I DON’T DESERVE THIS - That is really quite a statement and it may be ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

The Bible is absolutely FULL of examples of people who did mot DESERVE what happened to them.

Joseph was thrown in a pit by his brothers; sold as a slave in chains; thrown into jail, falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife, and forgotten about for years after he helped the King. Did he deserve this? The answer is very easy “NO.” Genesis 39:2 says, “The Lord was with Joseph.”

Daniel was shipped off to a foreign country, thrown into a lion's den, and hated by those that he worked with while he served the King. Did he deserve this? Again, “NO.” But look at the result when he was delivered from the circumstance that he “Did Not Deserve.” Daniel 6:26 - I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, And steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, And His dominion shall endure to the end.

John the Baptist was beheaded. Did he deserve this? Again, “NO.” Luke 7:28 – “For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."

Paul was cast into jail, ship wrecked, stoned, and beaten with rods. Did he deserve this? Again, “NO,” Colossians 1:24 - “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church.”

Our ultimate example: Did Jesus deserve to be beaten, whipped, stripped and then hung on a cross? NO, NO, NO! Hebrews 12:2 – “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured.”

None of these men DESERVED (earned) the treatment that they received; yet, even as great men of God, it happened.

“The undeserved circumstances, events, and treatment we face will either defeat us or develop us more into the likeness of Christ, depending on how we respond.”

“I have my rights” – you are absolutely correct.

Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

IT IS NO LONGER I WHO LIVES – YOU ARE DEAD to this world, YOU ARE DEAD to the way the world conducts itself. You are alive in CHRIST. You have rights, every single thing that the WORD of GOD tells us are our rights.

We have a different set of RIGHTS. Luke 6:27 – “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.”

And it goes on to list some of our other RIGHTS as a Christian. We are told in Romans 12 that we are NOT to conform to this world. We are to be a different people. How different?

Galatians 5:22 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control.”

It is really all about having the right perspective and the right attitude.

I have slowly been reading Foxe’s Book of Martyrs – A woman watched her child scalped and then beheaded. Then they took her, whipped her, removing patches of skin. Then when she would still not deny Christ, they heated an iron chair till it was red hot, sat her in it; and she praised God while she cooked.

Thanking and praising God – that is quite a testimony!

Stephen in Acts 7:59 – “And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

If we can keep a right attitude, we will not seek revenge on people.

Hebrews 10:30 – “For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The Lord will judge His people."

I DON’T DESERVE THIS –

Think about this -- Do We Deserve Salvation?

Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Do we deserve to be called the Children of GOD?
Do we deserve to have a relationship with Almighty God, the creator of it all?
Do we deserve the blessings that HE gives us?
Do we deserve to have HIS HOLY SPIRIT dwelling within us?

I remember thinking how UNDESERVING of all this I was. It was during a praise and worship service in 1986 while I was attending Christ For The Nations. The presence of GOD was so real; yet with 2000 people around, it was just me and HIM. I began to cry when I realized Who I had been, who I was and who HE was. I did not deserve any of what He had given me. I didn’t deserve the love that HE had given me. From that experience, I have tried to keep an attitude of thankfulness. I could have died in 1975 in a car accident where I had been pronounced dead. I was not a Christian at that time. If it weren’t for HIS mercy, where would I be today?

I pray that each of us would always remember that, and that each of us would have an experience with Almighty God that would give us a true perspective of what we deserve.

CONCLUSION:
James 1:2 – “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

Today's devotion is written by my brother Tom.
He too is a minister, and loves to teach God's Word.
To contact Tom by E-mail: tom@biblefood.org

To contact Jim by E-mail: jim@biblefood.org