How About You?

I can remember back a few years ago, I was not living in God's will. Yes, I was saved and I felt I was a pretty good person, but I had become lax in my walk with God and was rarely reading my Bible or attending Church. For someone that has been saved since I was 7-years old, I knew better. I started noticing that I was never happy and life just had no meaning for me. I was nervous about getting back into church and living the way God wanted me to live. I had good intentions of doing what was right but every Sunday I would make up some excuse not to go to Church. Eventually some devastating things happened in my life which compelled me to seek God's will. Through much prayer, nervousness, and a sense of preservation, I got my life back on track and back into God's will. When I think back on those days I can't believe how selfish and self-centered I was. Nowadays I just keep pressing toward the mark and there is no place to look back or detour, it is full-steam ahead. God has blessed me beyond belief, much more than I deserve.

What about you friend? How are things going in your life right now? I want to ask you a few questions. Just be very honest with yourself and God. You don't have to leave a comment or anything but answer the questions below and then read my invitation at the end.

1. Have you been wanting to start going to church but nervous and not sure where to go?

2. Have you been out of church for a while and would like to find a new place to try?

3. Do you have a desire to work for the Lord but don't know where to start?

4. Do you have a talent such as singing, teaching, leading, playing an instrument, or organizing but no where to use your talent?

5. Do you feel that your current Church is not fulfilling the Biblical and Spiritual needs of you or your family?

If you answered yes to any of those then I want to personally invite you to Highland Baptist Church. Give us a try, I think you'll be glad that you did. For info and directions visit our website at www.hbcknox.org

How's Your Vision?

Greetings dear friend. I trust the Lord has been blessing you. Just wanted to share something with you this fine October morning.

This morning as I slumbered out of my sleep, I was a little annoyed that it was Saturday morning and 5:30 am and I was already awake. I was hoping to catch up on some much needed rest from a very hectic week. But, as I laid there I kept thinking about the message that the Lord laid on my heart to preach for tomorrow. The more I thought about it, the wider awake I got. So I just went ahead and got up and put some coffee on. I gathered together some things and headed out the back door and walked to the Pastor’s Study (which is where I am still now.)

As I sought God’s input on the message preparation, I prayed for His anointing, and Holy Spirit over the study time. I found myself almost as if in a dream as I poured through the Scripture and began penning ideas down. The more I wrote, the more excited I felt. I just allowed God to guide my thoughts and ideas and before I knew it 2-hours had passed. I began praying again and begging for God’s vision for my life, for my family, for my church, for the community, and I entered into one of those states of prayer where it felt like I was only opening my mouth and the words were coming out. I could feel that I reached Heaven with my prayers and He was listening.

My friend, if you’ve never experienced that feeling of connection with the Spirit, I want to urge you to be sincere in seeking God’s face. Do you lack vision in your life? Study your Word and find out what His will is for your life. There is no sense in going through this world without a purpose, without a vision of what God wants you to do and to be. The Bible says in Proverbs 29:18, “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” That vision can only come from the Lord Jesus and His Word. Won’t you seek Him today?

I will be preaching a message tomorrow entitled “Where There Is No Vision.” I would love to see you in church so you can hear what God has to say through His Word. If you need service times or directions just visit our website at www.hbcknox.org.

God's Will For Your Life

As I study the Word of God I can't help but notice so many new beginnings. Noah looking out of that Ark after the water had ceased; Moses going from being a shepherd to leading the Children of Israel out of Egypt's bondage; Abraham leaving his country and going wherever God leads him; Paul after his conversion on the road to Damascus, the examples are endless.

Often times I hear folks say, "how can I know God's will for my life?" I remember asking that question many years ago and struggling with the answer for quite sometime. Then, as I was studying Scripture, I came across 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12:

"1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.
9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
10 And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;
11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing."

I think too many times we are expecting God to send us a burning bush or strike us down with a bright light and a loud voice or some other major life altering intervention to reveal His will for our lives. But, while God has and does work that way, it does not take some major revelation to know His will because it is plainly written in His Word. If we would all feed on the Word we will understand His perfect will for our lives.

In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, the Apostle Paul writes to his son in the faith, Timothy, these words:

"16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."

My dear friend, though those words were written nearly 2,000 years ago, they still apply to Christians today. We must continue in His Word to understand His will for our lives. If we do that, everything will work out in His appointed time. - Bro. Byron Chesney, Pastor.