The Apostle Paul is on a ship with 276 men. They are in a violent storm and all the supplies has been thrown overboard to lighten the load. The crew is preparing to abandon ship but Paul tells them if they do this they’ll surely die. God, spoke through Paul to these pagan men even in the storm.

What storm are you going through today? Some are going through the storm of having cancer or losing loved ones! Some are going through storms of fear and doubt, not knowing if they’ll have a job tomorrow! Let God speak to you in the storms of life just like he did Paul. It’s usually in the storms that we hear God more clearly!

God has never said that we will miss the storms in our lives, but He does promise to get us through them! That is the comfort that should come to the child of God in the time of the storm! (Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled!)

The apostle Paul is in chains and he’s telling King Agrippa about the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. King Agrippa listens intently and then says, “You have almost persuaded me to be a Christian!”

Almost is the key word in that sentence. Many people go to church and attend revival meetings and they almost become Christians. Almost doesn’t cut the mustard. You are a Christian or you’re not! You’re living for the Lord or you’re not! You’re sold out to Him 100 percent or you’re not!

You can’t straddle the fence my friends and be pleasing to the Lord. Paul didn’t straddle the fence. He took a stand for Jesus before the Jews, Gentiles, Kings and Queens! It’s past time for Christians to take a stand for the one who died for them! Let’s Do It!

God has blessed us all but He blesses in many different ways! Let me give ya a few examples. I have friends who live in Houston and the Oklahoma City area who have a nice home or homes. When Robin and I want to get away for the weekend we can always go to one of their home in the country! When I’m traveling through the Oklahoma City area and I need a place to light I know I can always stay with my friends who live in Norman.

To some God has given homes, others He’s given money, and as you well know all of us have been blessed with some type of talent. Whatever God has done for you, you should use it for Him! Remember that Moses had a rod in his hand, just a rod, but he was to use if for God and he did! Use what God has given you, not for profit or gain, but to bring honor and glory to the mighty one who gives!

This morning in my Quiet Time I was reading about Paul witnessing to Felix and his wife Drusilla. Paul had been accused unjustly and now the Roman governor had him in bondage.

Acts 24:24-25, And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jew, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgement to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time: whine I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

This man and his wife was being given a chance to accept Christ and did not! They heard about the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus and would not turn to the Lord. They even heard about the judgement to come and still refused salvation.

This could have discouraged Paul but it did not. You and I see this sort of thing even today. The gospel is preached and many hear but they walk out of the church not knowing Christ. Do not be discouraged! Our job is to go and tell and trust that the Holy Spirit convicts people of their sin. Some will turn to Christ and others will not! Rejoice when someone comes to Christ and pray for those who don’t!

As election time approaches I’m asked this question, “Do you think Obama will be re-elected ?” My answer is, “I have no I idea and I’m not concerned about it!” The reason I’m not concerned is God is in control anyway!

One man told me in K Rogers last week that he doesn’t think the country could handle another four year under the Obama administration! I’ve heard people bash and trash President Obama continually! I’ve heard it in the stores, at home and on the news! As a matter of fact I’ve bashed him myself until I read what God’s Word says about me doing that!

Let me lay it on the line! God’s Word says we should not be bashing and trashing those in office, but we should show them due respect because of the office they hold!

Paul wrote in Acts 13:7, “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute id due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor!”

Here’s the way I look at it! God’s in control and he’s given America what they’ve asked for. If President Obama is elected again I’ll find peace in that, simply because the one who created all things has allowed it to happen!

Paul, before he was converted was a man who had a zeal to kill those who confessed Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. After he was saved he had a zeal to tell both the Jews and the Gentiles about Jesus!

Where does your zeal lie today? Do you have a zeal to tell others about Christ or does your zeal lie in your work, pleasure, family or friends? Work, pleasure, family and friends are all good things, but none of them should take first place before the Lord!

I’ve been reading about Paul’s missionary journeys. This man was welcomed into the church one day and then the people turned on him the next. They beat him within an inch of his life, had him thrown into prison, but he continued loving on them and telling them about Jesus!

This man was remarkable! He was remarkable because the love of Jesus filled him from the top of his head to the tips of his toes! Jesus wants to live in and through you the same way he did Paul!

God can use you and me in the same way without the fear of being beaten and thrown in jail! Our fear lies within ourselves. We’re afraid someones going to make fun of us or call us a Jesus freak! Some have a low self esteem and they don’t think others will listen to them! I don’t know what you’re fears are concerning telling others about Jesus. I do know Jesus will help you get over it if you’ll only give it to Him! We Are To Be Strong In The Lord!

As I study the Bible I see one thing that the great men in the Bible had in common. They prayed, and usually when they prayed you’d find them on their knees in prayer!

I know the posture we take during prayer isn’t what really matters, but it mattered to many of the old and new testament saints and I think we can learn a valuable lesson from them.

Kneeling as you pray,  I believe shows respect and reference to the Lord. I also believe it demonstrates an attitude of submissiveness!

Paul says in Acts 21:5, “And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed!”

Moses was 120 years old when he passed the spiritual responsibility for the people of Israel to Joshua. As this transaction took place, our Lord encouraged Joshua no less than four times to “be strong and courageous!” (Joshua 1:6,7,9,18)

God has a job for all of us to do. Some are called to lead and some are called to follow. It doesn’t matter what job God has given you, the important thing is, are ya doing it? It takes courage to lead and it takes courage to follow!

Whether we lead or follow, true courage comes from the Lord!

I stopped in Calera, OK. yesterday on the way home to drop off a fire bible to Pastor Jacob Toews. While there we had a conversation about our Lord’s resurrection.

We talked about the time when the disciples entered the tomb and our Lord wasn’t there and they found the napkin that had been around His head folded neatly by itself. Pastor Jacob shared something with me about this that was amazing and I’d like to share it with you.

Back in the day when a man had lunch or dinner with someone and he excused himself for a brief period of time he’d always fold his napkin up to let the people know he was returning!

The Bible says Peter entered the tomb and found the napkin, that was about His head, not lying by the linen clothes, but was folded nice and neat in a place by itself. Pastor Jacob says he believes Jesus did this to let everyone know He’d soon return and He did!

He appeared to the disciples and others after His resurrection and He’ll return again some day. It may be today, tomorrow or next week. Will you be ready? John 20:7-8