Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
4 29 2024

Audio Version

Sunday’s Prophesy
“Why are you surprised by my blessings? Is that why your praises are so short-lived? How soon you forget about my sovereignty… my graciousness … my love eternal for you personally.
You are too busy for my blessings.
Your lingering grows shorter and shorter as my blessings become ordinary and  unappreciated.
Where are your words of praise and worship beyond Sunday. I am seeking a heart full of Thanksgiving.
A heart overflowing with love and prayers for the greatest gift in all eternity.
Will you fall down and repent for your half heartedness  and lukewarmness?
When your worship becomes a Sunday worship,
it will not sustain you in the fire…or honor me”. 

So what is your immediate sense of what you have just read as it pertains to you?
Are you defensive? Are you taken back that this surely doesn’t pertain to you?
Granted, this is a strong word. I spend time in God’s word almost every day, I pray and ask for his guidance and to be used as a vessel for his glory every day. But when I stop and think of how many times, I have been short with someone or took a wrong tone and attitude towards a given situation,
it often causes me to think  WWJD, what would Jesus do.
He never sinned but he was tempted as we were. Hebrews 4:15 It says he knows exactly what we’re going through. But right now, he’s saying that the intensity of our worship and thankfulness to God seems to peak on Sunday, but continually gets water down throughout the week .
I heard someone say that if I go 60 seconds without thinking about Christ I need to realign what I’m doing, what I’m saying, and what I’m thinking. How long does it take to filter anything or everything through the filter of the love of Jesus .

What is the evidence of our faith? Paul makes it very clear in Galatians 5:22. The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Wow if that isn’t a checklist for the ages. If they read that at someone’s funeral, at my funeral, what a legacy that would speak to. 

If the expression of our faith, in thanksgiving and praise is mainly expressed on Sundays, what does that say about us? All of his gifts, all of the love that he poured out for each of us is something that should be the bedrock of every one of our days. If it isn’t backed by truth, authenticity, and a clear daily demonstration then it’s counterfeit.  Can we take the chance of drifting away in our own complacency within our own comfort zone that we’re good the way we are. We’re certainly better than most of THEM.  Of course we wouldn’t think that out loud or we would sound too much like the Pharisees years ago. 

Have you ever gotten a text that wasn’t meant for you?  I have. And I can tell right away that wasn’t for me. Oops sorry. If this is one of those …discard it, don’t give it a second thought. Prov 4: 20-27 ask us to pay attention:

My son, pay attention to what I say;
    turn your ear to my words.
21 Do not let them out of your sight,
    keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
    and health to one’s whole body.
23 Above all else, guard your heart,
    for everything you do flows from it.
24 Keep your mouth free of perversity;
    keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead;
    fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the[a] paths for your feet
    and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
    keep your foot from evil.

The world is daily watering down what Jesus said to the masses. But we must be the light that shines brightly on the hill above the city… above our cities… our homes, and our families. Matt 5:14  We are called to be the watchmen. The warriors on the wall, ready in and out of season, to defend his words and defend the light he says we are to be. 

That must begin with the recognition of Who God is. Who Jesus is. What he has done for each of us and proclaim his glorious majesty out loud without hesitation or embarrassment and be loudly thankful in our worship every day woven into the very fabric of our daily lives. D.L. Moody said, “the trouble with God’s children is they do not look up enough!” Lord thank you for the wakeup call to put you back on the throne of my expression to you. Empower me by your grace to be bold and courageous in Jesus name. 

Great are you Lord. Casting Crowns