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Keep Being Persistent – God Hears Your Prayers

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Repost of Pastor Todd Boxely Sermon of from Try Jesus Website (tj.com)

Good morning, everyone. Welcome to “Try Jesus!” If this is your first time joining us, it’s great to have you with us. I would like to thank all the new members for joining “Try Jesus.” Also welcome those in New Hampshire, Maryland, Arizona, New Jersey, Oregon, and Iowa this week.

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6 KJV). God loves to make his people new (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ezekiel 36:26,26; Revelation 21:5).

Have times for you changed for the better or the worse? Many people are wondering, “What’s happening to society?” “Do you believe we are headed in the right direction?” “Have parents lost their children to worldly manipulation?”

Just as a ship can change course to avoid damaging tumultuous waves, people can change course of sinful destructive behaviors. It’s just a matter of being sick and tired of the pain that it brings.

Let’s pray, “Heavenly Father, we thank you for another day of your undeniable love towards us. We thank you for being faithful to provide all our need, even when we fail to recognize it.

This morning, Lord, we take notice of your grace and mercy, and thank you for wanting to draw us closer to your love. Please impact those lives who have the invitation to “TRY JESUS.”

Open our lives and purpose with your truth. Open our eyes today to see the opportunities around us to live for you and to grow in your blessings and favor.

Bless and unite hearts for your Kingdom. May your living anointed word draw broken hearts to be free, in Jesus, name, amen.”

I believe today’s message will speak to every heart. Why? Because in some ways, everyone has had to involve themselves in this situation. What do I mean?

Well, whether you live by yourself or whether you live in a large family, you have had one of those round table discussions to get to the bottom of the truth.

Notice, I said, “Get to the bottom of the truth.” Does truth live at the bottom of your family disagreement? Sometimes family members have to be like professional detectives to uncover family hardships that divide the home.

Truth can always rise to the surface if you’re willing to press and dig to bring it to the light. Getting to the bottom of something means you’re just trying to discover the truth about a situation. You want the true reason for all the chaos in the home.

Every home in this nation has had some since of discussion that involved undercovering facts about what exactly happened. Because you know the facts can only be revealed through an investigation.

Sometimes, to find out the truth relating to marriage, children, finances, education, employment, and even our pets, those words can be heard throughout the whole house, “What happened here!?” I find it fascinating to find out how couples will survive after playing “Sherlock Holmes” against each other.

Sometimes, digging up more dirt, leaves you with, well, “more dirt.” Sometimes you have to discard the old dirt, you never should have in the first place, to get to the new dirt.

Sometimes two people who say they love each never get to experience it because they have all this dirt between each other, and they keep throwing it in each other’s face.

Archeologist will dig things out of the bottom to find out the truth about the way of life and make estimates about how advanced a culture was. But sometimes individuals can dig past key facts that might add a valuable piece to the truth they are looking for.

Many families will leave no stone uncovered to find out the crazy situations that have unfolded in their homes. Some will play the role of Law and Order, Columbo, Perry Mason, CSI, etc. Some family members will even play the role of Police Squad with disastrous unsolved results.

But (in my opinion) the worst thing family members can do when trying to keep the house from being divided is to bring in a biased investigator, like Uncle Bob, or Grandma Lucy. Why? Because family members can sometimes bring a slight slant to the investigation into the truth.

And if you’re not careful, your whole household might end up sliding over the cliff of marital or relationship failure. That’s why nepotism can be harmful in figuring out family squabbles.

Yes, there can be times when wisdom can come from a family outsider, but that sound advice must be covered in neutrality to bring about peace, not favoritism.

Did you know that there are families that have actually taken their unresolved heated disagreements to the court system? Some of the most brutal, most bitter cases in our court system can come from the family court system.

Whether it involves alimony, child support, property disputes, and other family issues, the emotions can bring out the worst in everyone involved. Some of you have experienced this heartache.

Many people just want corrective justice. Meaning, they want someone to take up their case because they feel they have not been heard and they do not know how to get justice from things they consider unfair.

Many people feel we have the best judicial system in the world. Others feel there are major flaws in our system. But if we look at God’s system of justice, we see it is far superior to the worldly system we have today.

In God’s system of justice, your voice matters to him above all earthly endeavors. With our justice system focused on all manner of laws and programs that do very little to help the whole of a person, God’s system always involves righteousness and the heart.

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If you have a Bible nearby, let’s look at a few ways how God’s system of justice and fairness work from his Kingdom. When Moses brought the people out of Egypt to Mount Sinai, his father-in-law Jethro came out to visit him.

This meeting ended up helping Moses because Moses’ life was like that old phrase “all work and no play made Jack a dull boy.” This old proverb perfectly fit Moses because without time off from judging the people, Moses became both bored and boring (Exodus 18:13-16).

Moses’ heart was in the right place, because he cared about the people, but Moses was one man among a nation of people. He also had a wife and two sons to attend too. Moses was spending so much time and energy hearing the Hebrews’ complaints that he could not get to other important work.

Jethro provided Moses with sound wisdom and advice to alleviate this demanding work. Jethro suggested that Moses delegate most of this work to others and focus his efforts on jobs only he could do.

[Delegation relieved Moses’ stress and improved the quality of governance. It helped prepare the Israelites for the system of government that would later be set up in Canaan.]

Imagine hearing cases all day long. From trivial silly cases to the more complex cases, it can wear you out mentally and physically. Some of you come home to be a judge in your house every day.

From who spilled the paint, to who let the dog out, to who forgot to lock the door, to who scratched the car, there may be cases inside your home and outside your home that need solved so peace can remain in your home.



Jethro told Moses these words of wisdom.
17} “And Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.

18} Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.

19} Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:

20} And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.” (Exodus 18:17-20 KJV).

Jethro knew the humongous burdens this placed upon the shoulders of Moses. He suggested Moses incorporate the help of men who could judge the crowd consisting of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and rulers of tens.

These were not just any men picked out of names randomly in a hat. Jethro told Moses God would be with him. So, these men had to qualify under God’s standard of laws, ordinances and justice.

These were men who would commit themselves to God’s righteousness.
“Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness… (Exodus 18:21).

Moses would handle the most difficult and serious cases and would delegate the lesser cases to these men. God never wants us to bear burdens that weigh us down mentally and spiritually. (Galatians 6:2).

The body of Christ, the church, functions only when the members work together for the common good of sharing burdens together. We should always be ready to offer ourselves filled with love for one another (John 13:34,35).

In our government systems today it seems we have lost what God has intended for us. Do the laws of God still matter in America? Do we shrug our shoulders at his Commandments and statutes today?

I’ve heard many voices say we have a broken system in many places. But when both sides come to the table, they never come to an agreement on how to fix the issues. Has the word of God been implemented?

Doesn’t the Bible tell us these words,
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (James 1:5 KJV). What has kept leaders from being agreeable to accomplish a goal that benefits its people?

Has so much power blinded both sides that all they do each day is come out swinging, slinging mud at each other? Each day represents another round of their fight against each other. If they would only seek out God instead of votes.

Moses listened and followed all that Jethro had told him because Jethro was giving him sound wisdom from God. Think about every burden in the Bible that affected the people.

Whether it was famine, sickness, laws, land, marriage, or children, when people consulted God, the problem of pain and suffering was alleviated.

Why do you suppose his word tells us this;
33} Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known. 34} Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. (Proverbs 14:33-34 KJV).

Did you know that even criminals that break the law understand that when their own turf (areas) are not even safe they begin to endure hardship. Another area of concern is the affluent and those with an abundance of wealth.

When sin, degradation, and crime come to their walls and locked gates, then the shouting for change will be heard. Without wisdom from God, our leaders will continue to walk in gross darkness. (Look at the rest of James 1:6-8).

The word that best describes leaders today is unstable. The Greek word (akatastatos) simply means inconstant, restless. It’s like having one leg on your dinner table wobbly than the others. All the good, delectable things that sit above that wobbly leg are in danger of falling.

[When leaders agendas are more about power and self, there loyalty to God Almighty may be divided due to blind loyalties. Divided loyalty leaves a person as unsettled as restless waves.

Such a person treats God’s word like a human source (religion) without power from the Holy Spirit. He or she vacillates between allegiance to subjective feelings, the world’s ideas, and God’s commands.]

People should know that God is still living and is in control of the affairs of every nation. Turning to God in times of despair is critical for any nation. The United States must align its desires with his purposes.

The system of governance (God’s Commandments) that Israel had set up in Canaan allowed for them to respect each other. It involved loving one’s neighbor as oneself and is the core pillar of the system of self-governance.

God is setting all this up in order to maximize benefit for his people. The book of Joshua tells that after the people conquered the land, the land was divided among the tribes. God was still the source of all that Israel needed.

The word of God concerning our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is that he is our all in all when we come to him for justice. Humanist will always form some type of fleshly bias when it comes between God and his purpose for our lives (Ephesians 1:22,23; Corinthians 15:27,28).

Jesus is the head of the church. The church runs and functions through the Godhead. Jesus fills the church with his gifts and blessings. The church should be the full expression of Christ and fulfill his mission before he

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Christians (true born-again believers) serve a God who has given us instruction on how his church is to be run. The church is his body, of which he is the Savior (Ephesians 5:23). Jesus’ relationship with the church is very close and loving. (Ephesians 5:25).

Because Jesus is the head of the church we can go to him at any time with our prayers, concerns, and all things pertaining to justice. One such cry of wanting justice was told in a parable by Jesus concerning a widow.

Please read the following verses aloud to yourself, or with the group you have gathered with.


1} “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

2} Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

3} And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

4} And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

5} Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.” (Luke 18:1-5 KJV).

Let’s look at these 5 verses a little closer. Jesus used the analogy of the feeble court system with the perfect justice that comes from God through prayer. Of course, God is the judge of all the earth. (Genesis 18:25; Isaiah 33:22; Psalm 96:13).

Verse one points out the fact that if you want your case heard, you must go to the judge. It says that “that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” Always praying means being consistent and persistent in prayer.

To persist in prayer and not give up does not mean to subject oneself to endless repetition. Many of you have heard the phrase, “they’re just talking to hear themselves talk.”

Some religious people think the longer they pray, the more they’ll be heard. I used to tell people in church, “If you’re not praying, your fainting, and if your praying, you’re not fainting.”

The key is to make sure you bring your heart with you when you go to pray. Prayer and faith go together. They are like a hand in a glove. If you don’t bring your heart with you to pray, you’ll just be making noise. (1 Corinthians 13:1; James 1:
6-8; Hebrews 11:6).

The Greek word faint (ekkakeō) means to be weak. To fail in the heart. To be utterly spiritless, to be wearied out, exhausted. The Bible says the Antichrist spirit is coming to wear out the saints. (Daniel 7:25).

Many people in this nation continue to say, “Enough with prayer!” They say it without understanding the cause of all the crime and shootings. They think it’s the object, but it’s the heart and mind connected to the object that needs love, prayer, and help.

Not praying only makes things worse. Praying with effectual prayer always avails much (James 5:
13-17). So, when someone tells you prayer doesn’t work, they are blind and deaf spiritually.

I’m living proof prayer works. Christians must continue to keep their requests continually before God as they live for him day by day.

Verse 2 of Luke 18 says there was a judge. We have all kinds of judges in our country in different judicial positions. This particular judge had a personality of not fearing God nor cared about people. Do you think we still have judges with this demeanor today?

In 
2023, we still have corrupt judges that disregard truth and facts. Some will degrade the profession, causing people to lose hope in the system. In OT times, the prophets pronounced God’s judgments on such people for unjust practices (Isaiah 28:7,8;14,15).

Judges should look back at the old black and white television days when you would hear a judge say, “Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?”

Verse 3 and 4 of Luke 18 points out this judge had a specific case involving a woman. Let’s take a little pause just to highlight this picture.

Better still, how many woman out there have ever had to prove your intellectual intelligence to a car mechanic who thought he could take advantage of you just because you were a woman?

[In biblical days widows and orphans were among the most vulnerable of all God’s people. Both Old Testament prophets and New Testament apostles insisted that these people be properly cared for.

The Hebrew law code is noted for its fairness and social responsibility toward the poor. God insisted that the poor and powerless be well treated. When we help those who need support, we are reflecting the love and care God has shown to each of us.]

This judge probably cared even less for this woman based solely on her being female. If he disrespected men, how much more would he treat her.

Of course, our creator, the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had already given instructions on how widows should be treated. (Exodus 22:
22-24; Isaiah 1:17; 1 Timothy 5:3; James 1:27).

So, all this woman wants, is to be heard and receive justice against her adversary. Have you ever been tuned out by a spouse, child, or close friends? It can be extremely disrespectful to close your ears or ignore someone who’s just trying to make their case.

Verse 5 of Luke 18 shows what can happen when persistence and perseverance stay in the face of someone and say “Please, just hear me out!”

The Greek word troubleth (parechō, verb) means to hold, as to be in possession. To have hold in necessity. To have (hold) in the hand, in the sense of wearing. To have (hold) possession of the mind. To grab agitating emotions. 

 

It kind of reminds me of how a teenager might feel when the mom or dad has one of those sit down talks about bringing home a bad report card. The teen sees it as troublesome speech, and really doesn’t want to hear it.

Verse 5 also reminds me of a five-year-old who continues to scream, cry, and whine about his mom not giving him the candy in the aisle way at the checkout counter. I have actually witnessed this embarrassing moment.

I can still hear those shrieking words of the mom saying, “Hear, take it!” The mom who gave into this situation will probably regret losing what authority she had left. Wait until that child takes the car keys for the first time (Smile).

This judge didn’t want to hear anymore, so he decided to vindicate her just to get her out of his office. Verse 5 uses the word weary. Here, the Greek word (hupōpiazō) meaning to tease or annoy.

To subdue one’s passions. It can be viewed as beating one’s ears to the point of beating them black and blue. like a boxer who buffets his opponent in the ear.

Once the verbal pressing is over, and demanding justice is awarded, you feel warn out from voicing your facts in our secular court system. Many families have struggled with tears and suffering. 

They have spent time, treasure, heartache and sleepless nights on an emotional roller-coaster to find justice for their spouse, child, or grandparents. It seems like vindication is out of your reach.

But God! Oh, my friends, But God! He is greater than any judge on this earth. He is forever tuned in to the cries of his children. Those whose names are written in the book of life, constantly have God’s ear when they cry out “Abba Father!”

You can read it aloud to yourself, if you like.
“14} For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15} For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:14,15; Galatians 4:6 KJV).

Please keep in mind, that only a true child of God can receive this from his standing Savior, judge, and advocate. (Romans 8:9-11). When someone is your dad or guardian, you can refer to them as “daddy.”

To the body of Christ, God is our daddy. He tells us to knock, seek, and we will find (Matthew 7:
7-11). What do you need from your heavenly Father? What do you hope for? Do you need peace, rest, assurance, joy, healing, help for a family member on drugs? encouragement, real love, fulfillment?

[Jesus tells us to persist in prayer. The Bible instructs us to pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:
16-18). People often give up after a few halfhearted efforts to pray and then conclude that God doesn’t listen. But communicating with God in prayer takes faith, focus, and follow-through.]

Don’t give up in your efforts to seek God. Continue to ask him for more knowledge, patience, wisdom, love, and understanding. He will give these things to you.

The more you talk to him, the more you will be able to recognize his voice when he speaks to you. Regular times of prayer and Bible reading will lead to God’s transforming power in your life.


🗣📢 Last words: When you go to God, remember, he is your supreme Judge. His having omnipotence and omniscience about you help in you surrendering your life’s case to him. Just as an earthly person has their attorney-client privilege, you have Jesus as your advocate (1Timothy 2:3-6; John 1:12). 

Today, you can count on God to fill you with wisdom. He will literally bathe you in sound judgement (James 1:5). Peace is established on top of wisdom. Your home can have these virtues today. Put these in practice.

A) It is practical. It’s that simple. God’s wisdom relates to your life even during the most trying times. It is not isolated from suffering and trials, but it gives us resources to overcome them.

An intelligent person may have profound ideas, but a wise person puts profound ideas to use in order to choose the best course of action (Proverbs 1:5; 4:7; 9:9).

B) It is divine. God’s wisdom goes beyond common sense. Common sense does not help us react joyfully in the middle of adversity. God’s wisdom begins with respect for him.

It leads us to follow his direction and increases our ability to tell right from wrong. If you’re searching for peace, hang around people who are peaceful. True wisdom can be found through integrity and character (James 3:
13-18).

C) It is Christlike. When we ask for wisdom, we are ultimately asking to be more like Jesus. The Bible identifies Christ as the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24,25; 2:
1-7).

Whenever we need wisdom, we can pray to God, and he will generously supply what we need. Christians don’t have to grope around in the dark, hoping to stumble upon answers (Psalm 32:8,9; Isaiah 30:21).

Have you ever grown tired of praying for something or someone? Paul said that believers should never stop praying. God always hears us and always answers. He is sovereign and has a plan. Sometimes he answers us with a yes or no, but often he tells us to wait.

But God commands us to never stop praying. Such an attitude is built upon acknowledging our dependence on God, realizing his presence within us, and determining to obey him fully.

God is waiting for the heart of this nation to turn back to him.


📕 Here’s some more spiritual muscle to keep you from giving up. Keep going to the JUDGE of all judges. (Philippians 3:14; 4:13; 1 John 5:4; Joshua 1:8,9; Deuteronomy 31:6; Ephesians 6:18; Galatians 6:8,9; Romans 8:25-28; Isaiah 41:10; Hebrews 11:6; Proverbs 3:5,6; Matthew 11:28-30).


🛐 Here’s a prayer you can pray to stay strong in the Lord’s presence and persistent during chaos. “Heavenly Father, thank you for showing me today that I can bring all my frustration, pain, anger, sadness, and disappointments to you.

Your word tells me your court is the highest in the earth. I know that I can cast all my burdens on you because you’ve told me my soul can have rest in you.

Lord, as I continue to pray strengthen me to wait and see your spiritual fruit take place around me. I know I can do nothing apart from you. My home is filled with tears and suffering.

I will continue to pray because I know you will fill the empty void with peace that passes all understanding. Thank you for being my advocate and mediator. In Jesus’ name, amen.”


“If you would like to know Jesus as your Savior, please read the drop-down page entitled “How to know Jesus.”


*Just a reminder: The message of the cross (the gospel, the good news) sounds foolish to those who don’t believe it. His resurrection demonstrated his power over death. This sounds so simple that many people won’t accept it.

They try other ways to obtain eternal life. The people who may seem foolish for simply accepting Jesus’ offer are actually the wisest of all because they alone will live eternally with God.

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”

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Pastor Todd Boxley

Worship Center Ministry

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Find out more on Ministry in India

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My friend of Lauren and Mathew have been ministering to and caring for abandoned children in India. Every month they update the community on the needs of these children and the homeless. Please take time to view their story and if the Lord leads you, pray heaven’s favor for this ministry and donate to the cause. Christine Tyler

The Potter’s Hands is caring for the needs of the poor, widows, and orphans in North India while equipping front-line workers to share the gospel where there is no access to it.

Click to find out more on PottersHand

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God’s Word Heals Us.

“Jehovah Rapha and your Double Edged Sword!” – Deborah Waldron Fry

I totally was going another way today for my post, but the Holy Spirit interrupted me. There is someone tonight who has been praying for a healing. Either for yourself or another in your life. God is coming to you as Jehovah Rapha, or in the Hebrew: “Yahweh Rapha,” the LORD your Healer. As I researched the Hebrew, it is truly amazing. And this verse was shown to me Proverbs 4:21-22:

“My sons, My daughters, attend to My WORDS; incline your ear unto My sayings. Let them not depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are LIFE unto those that find them, and HEALTH to all your flesh!”

Pray the Word over yourself and others. Both the written and the Rhema Word. A Rhema word is a prophetic utterance from the Holy Spirit. And the Lord spoke this, His Word is a DOUBLE EDGE SWORD in your mouth to defeat the powers of darkness!

One edge of this sword came into existence when the Word initially proceeded out of God’s mouth. The second edge of this sword was added when the Word of God proceeded out of YOUR mouth! When it comes out of your mouth, it becomes a sharp, “two-edged” or literally, a “two-mouthed” sword.

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Sickness and disease come from the enemy. Your Sword cuts it in two and destroys it! Keep swinging, Child of God. Keep speaking the Word over yourself others and do not give up. Declare that “By Jesus stripes, I am healed!” Proclaim it today and watch the Two-edged Sword do miracles! Yahweh Rapha has promised to heal every grievous wound as you believe and so speak!

Today, let the high praises of God be in your mouth, and a two-edged sword in your hand!

(I just looked out my window and it literally looks like swords crossed! Do you know that two swords crossed forms a Cross! Isn’t our Father amazing! See pic in first comment. Our God can even use chem trails to confirm things to us! LOL. And two hours later, I was outside and it is dark but the moon is illuminating those swords still! 😀 )

“Beloved. I am the Way Maker, the Miracle Worker, the promise Keeper. My Word is the same yesterday today and forever! You are My Warrior Bride with a DOUBLE EDGED SWORD in your mouth and in your hand! I shall speak a quickened word to your spirit and then you shall proclaim it through your mouth!

“This is your offensive weapon. My Word is LIFE and HEALTH to every part of you, body, soul, and spirit. Persevere, My Warrior! Take up your Sword! The weapons of your warfare are not carnal, but mighty through your God for the pulling down of strongholds! I have made your MOUTH LIKE A SHARP SWORD; I have hidden you in the Shadow of My Hand. I make you like a polished ARROW; I hide you in My Quiver.

“Now I am releasing you, My Warrior. Yahweh Rapha thunders from Heaven, the Voice of the Most High resounds; sending hailstones and coals of Holy Fire to defeat the enemy. I shoot My Arrows and scatter the foes; I hurl Lightning and rout them! Speak My Word, send My Word like a TWO EDGED SWORD, no sickness, no disease can stand against My Name, YAHWEH RAPHA!

“In My Name, you SHALL heal the sick, for this is who you are! Declare who is Your Healer today! I am the God who heals you! The Son bore your sorrows, wounds, sicknesses, diseases and suffering, and by His stripes, you are healed! Wield your double edged Sword, Mighty One! Behold, I give you AUTHORITY to tread upon serpents and scorpions and over ALL the power of the enemy, and NOTHING shall by means harm you!”

NIV Version.

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

Proverbs 4:20-27 NIV

https://bible.com/bible/111/pro.4.20-27.NIV

You’ll Love the Brim

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Pastor Todd Boxley Weekly Sermon

Good morning, everyone. Welcome to “Try Jesus!” If this is your first time joining us, it’s great to have you with us. I would like to thank all the new members for joining “Try Jesus.” Also welcome those in Tennessee, Kentucky, Boston, Kansas City, Arizona, and Minnesota.

It’s a blessing to be with the body of Christ and the members of “TRY JESUS.” God continues to be faithful, even when our faith is shaken like the fall leaves that are soon to fall.

Just as he keeps count of every hair on our head that falls, he also strengthens us when our faith is weak. As society continues to walk in blindness, God is still a lamp unto our feet, and a powerful light unto our path (Psalm 119:105).

Let’s welcome the Lord in prayer. “Heavenly Father, we thank you for giving us abundant life this morning. Thank you, Lord, for watching over us this week and keeping us safe in a volatile world.

Lord, please let us be filled with your presence. Bless this message to reach empty hearts throughout this country. Wherever it goes, let it spread love, joy, peace, goodness, and faithfulness.

May your word transform lives to become more like you and to worship you in they do. Help them desire you above things so much more than the sin that entices them. 

Help us to set our eyes and hearts on you today. Renew our spirits, fill us with your peace and joy. We love you and need you, this day and every day. We give you praise and thanks, for you alone are worthy! In Jesus’ name, amen.”

In many states, the leaves will begin to change, signifying that summers door will soon be closed. There will also be a change for some in how they dress. Growing up in an area surrounded by trees, the fun was soon to come.

That fun was given to us by the raking of a huge pile of leaves. There was nothing better than diving into and disappearing into a ton of leaves. Of course, it’s no fun when it’s time to rake them up and throw them away.

Those fall days as a youth bring back memories of many family traditions my parents kept on their seasonal schedules. One of my mother’s fall hobbies was to bake different pies. My favorite was “Dutch crump apple pie.”

Sometimes I didn’t have to see the apple pie; I could smell that beautiful scent walking up our driveway. My mom would usually bake more than one because of her quiver full of children she was blessed with.

It was great unless you were out playing with friends and came home to empty pie pans with crumbs on them. In my family, sometimes you had to be strategic in how you would get a piece of pie before it disappeared.

I used to look for the ingredients in the cabinet and other clues to find out what my mother would be baking. Of course, I would also simply ask her what she was making that day. But sometimes she would throw me a curve ball decide to fix something else.

If you’re thinking, why not just save each child a piece of pie when it’s done baking. Well, sometimes putting your name tag on foil wrapped up pie doesn’t always work.

When you have siblings that somehow come up with amnesia or memory loss, or somehow walk in their sleep late at night and forget to see a name that wasn’t theirs in the fridge, you sometimes have to take drastic measures into your own hands (Smile).

I would continue to zero in on my mom’s cabinet and dining room table manners. I’m sure many of you love a fresh brewed cup of morning coffee. The aroma can fill the whole house. I’ve never been a coffee drinker.

However, my mother loved coffee. It was called “Maxwell House.” She would especially have it when she was gathering all her ingredients to bake her apple pies. That was my clue to stick close by the house to make sure I would get my piece of that delicious baked pie.

Sometimes my mother would use a baking timer to make sure her pies would be just right. She would always tell us to stay away from the oven and not open it until it was ready.

I would plan my attack on how to make sure I got a piece of that stuff filled apple pie. Even after the pie was finished, I had to wait for the pie to cool down. But once the cooling took place, I quickly grabbed my paper plate and fork.

We were not allowed to take good dishes up to our room. Two things always left an impression on my mind. My mother’s coffee and her terrific pies. Her coffee was always filled to the brim. And her pies were always jam-packed bursting with delicious filling.

 

Some of you may remember a coffee called “Brim.” I don’t remember if my mother drank that brand, but I remember the television commercials. I thought they were sort of silly, but I understood the concept.

Brim was a decaffeinated coffee brand that was first produced in 1961 by General Foods Corporation. Its slogan was “Fill it to the rim, with Brim.” Coffee drinkers love their coffee, they just didn’t want all the caffeine that comes with it.

Like my mother’s different pies, and her coffee mug, she never shortsighted herself on either one. I’m not sure I ever saw her coffee mug empty (Smile). The words to describe her pies were “yummy for my tummy.”

Other words to describe my mother’s pies were, jam-packed, stuffed, loaded, bursting, permeated, crammed and well-filled with superlative taste. I was always sufficiently full after eating her pies.

Of course God looks at us the same way we may see that coffee mug filled to the rim. He sees vessels that have been depleted, weak, and dead because of sin. He desires to give us fresh new life.

Did you know God is all over? How so? Well, let’s jump right in the word this morning. If you’ve been a member with “TRY JESUS” since we started in 2020, you’ve already discovered that this is a word ministry.

This simply means that everything is Bible based. There are typically a lot of scripture passages to look at. God is pleased with it because he already told us when confronted by Satan in the wilderness.

He simply stated, 
“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4; Deuteronomy 8:3 KJV).

So, if you want to live, you’ll always find a smorgasbord of delicious scripture on this site. You can fill up over and over again. Praise God! I’m ready to start shouting! Today, he is still high and lifted up, and his train fills the temple! (Isaiah 6:1-3).

God is so good to us. Let’s continue to search his word. In (Ephesians 4:4-6) we read, 
4} “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5} One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6} One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:4-6 KJV).

God’s Word tells us through his servant Paul, that we are one body under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. He is the spiritual general of his church. We are all led and filled by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:12-27).

God has given each of his authentic born-again believers spiritual abilities for the church to be unified together in love. God is over all. He has ruling power over all his creation (transcendence). God is “in all” and “living through all.”

Unbelievers cannot recognize his active presence in the world and in the lives of believers (immanence). They are spiritually blind until they repent and receive Jesus Christ as Lord.

Any view of God that violates either his transcendence or his immanence does not paint a true picture of God. There is one religion that places Jesus on the same spiritual level as Satan. They also claim Jesus was created.

This and other false religious teachings from other denominations are spiritually bankrupt and paint a different Jesus to their followers. (Romans 8:9; Matthew 7:21-23).

That’s the true evidence where Christianity differs from man-made religions, traditions, legalism, and by-laws (John 10:1-10). Again, the true immanence of God means that he is knowable, perceivable or graspable. 

We see this in Jesus Christ. He is still referred to as the “God-man.” That is, he is God incarnate (in the flesh). (Colossians 1:14-20; Isaiah 41:10; Haggai 2:5; Zephaniah 3:17). We are only fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Before I continue, I wanted to encourage everyone to go back and look at the sermon a couple weeks ago. The sermon was entitled “Drawing closer than close.” God wants his people to come closer. He wants us to come into that Holy of hollies type relationship.

As this nation continues to be shaken and unresponsive to God’s warnings, he will fill his church (believers) to stand during the discipline that is coming. God, we take care of his people the same way he took care of the people in Goshen.

Just as my mother’s coffee mug was always filled to the brim, God is going to fill those who hunger and thirst for more of him during these turbulent times. 
“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” (Matthew 5:6 KJV).

The Holy Spirit filled these individuals over two thousand years ago, approximately AD 63-70. (Acts 2:4; 4:8; 4:31; 8:14-17; 9:17; 10:44-47; 13:9; 19:1-7). My friend’s, God is not done filling his people.

The Greek word filled (plēthō) is to be fulfilled. To accomplish fullness. This filling was signified by the Holy Spirit’s baptizing with fire (Luke 3:16; Joel 2:28-29). When God fills something, he consumes it.

The more this nation unravels in moral depravity and lawlessness, God is going to show that he is still on control. Each time in the book of acts that individuals were filled, persecution preceded it and followed after it.

So, when a person is born again, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in that person’s life (1 Corinthians 6:19). If a person does not have the Holy Spirit, then he does not belong to Christ (Romans 8:9).

When things get really horrible in this country, the religious and unbelievers will not be able to cope from all the lawlessness. Marshall law could be coming sooner than people think. (2 Timothy 3:1-9; 2 Peter 3:3-7).

Matthew chapter 24 represents what great perfection is coming upon this nation. But God never forgets about his people. He is going to fill them once again (Acts 2:16-21). There will also be new creations during this time. (Matthew 3:10-11; 2 Corinthians 5:17).

My friends, no matter how many Christians are martyred during evil chaotic times, the Lord will gather them home and fill his saints who remain on this earth with amazing power. Jesus still remains undefeated against evil.

But this great filling just didn’t start during and after Jesus walked on this earth, it also took place in the Old Testament. God has always wanted to be close to his creation.

God commanded Moses to put together a sanctuary so he could be closer to his creation. Notice that word “sanctuary.” It is the Hebrew word (miqdâsh). It is described as a consecrated thing or place. A palace sanctuary.

It is a hallowed holy place. A sacred place of sanctuary. A holy place. It reminds me of the opposite visual places in our cities that are referred to as sanctuary cities. Sadly, many lose their lives there.

These cities are the complete opposite of what God considers “sanctuary.” In God’s sanctuary there is the fruit of the Spirit. In God’s sanctuary there is new life and healing. God commanded the tabernacle was to be his dwelling place among Israel (Exodus 25:8-9).

God’s presence at Sinai emphasize the distance required between God and his people (Exodus 19:9-13). However, through the tabernacle, God brings his holy presence right into the midst of his people. God’s glory cloud fills the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34–38).

Even after the transgression of Adam and Eve (sin entering everything), God already had a plan to rescue his people. (Genesis 3:15). When God came down during Moses’ time, only one location has been described as holy, Mount Sinai (Genesis 3:5; 19:23).

However, near the end of the book of Exodus, God’s glory has entered the midst of the people, but the people couldn’t enter the midst of God’s glory. Why? Because the overpowering sense of his presence leaves room for nothing else.


34} “Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35} And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.” (Exodus 40:34-35 KJV).

God’s presence was then behind the curtain of the tabernacle. God’s glory and presence always strives to interact with those who know him as “The great I am.” We must always remember that God is Holy.

God will never reduce his glory for sinful humanity. 
“For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore

e sons of Jacob are not consumed.” (Malachi 3:6 KJV). “Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God. (Leviticus 20:7; 1 Peter 1:15-16 KJV).

Almost 500 years later Solomon built the Temple, which replaced the Tabernacle as the central place of worship (2 Chronicles 5:13-14). Notice, God always shows up when his saints worship him in Spirit and truth. (John 4:23-24).

You cannot worship God with irreverence and expect that God will move throughout the congregation. God will never fill flesh that tries to gain access to him in a flippantly manner.

When God’s holiness is not respected disastrous results take place. (Leviticus (10:1-3; 2 Samuel 6:6-8). Eli had two sons who were evil. They had no regard for the Lord. Here’s just a short sequence of what happened to them.

 

1) Hophni and Phinehas: First, we are told that Eli’s sons took a three-pronged fork and ate whatever meat they brought out of the pot when sacrificing an animal (Leviticus 7:30–34).

2) Eli’s sons were sleeping with the women who were dedicated to the service of the tabernacle (1 Samuel 2:22). This was against God’s law forbidding adultery (Exodus 20:14).

3) A man of God came to Eli and revealed that judgment would come upon Eli’s sons for their actions. (1 Samuel 2:34). They both died on the same day.

How tragic it is when parents’ children pass away before they do. It’s heartbreaking to lose one child, but two. Eli’s sons thought their position could place them in God’s presence and do anything they wanted.

Eli’s sons must have thought their name recognition and titles could protect them. They took the ark to battle the Philistines and were killed. (1 Samuel 4:10–11).

Eli, after hearing the news of his sons, fell backward from his seat, broke his neck, and died on the same day. How tragic and sad. Then the pregnant wife of Phinehas heard the news.

She went into labor and died while giving birth (1 Samuel 4:19–21). God’s children should never play around with his presence. It seems rebellion can have a domino effect when we disregard God’s holiness.

Sadly, some churches are run this way today. I know of a woman who was a member of a church that seem to turn a blind eye to transgressions that were happening in the church.

It seems the pastor was trying to start a relationship with this woman while be married. After a while of his advances, she decided to confront the pastor’s wife. To her surprise, she was shocked that the pastor’s wife already knew.

She told the woman, “Oh, sweetheart, you’re not telling me anything I don’t already know.” “He’s been doing this for a long time with other women.” She also told the woman that they had a good thing going at the church, so, she really didn’t care.

“Do you suppose this church has any holiness in it?” “Do you think the Holy Spirit has been grieved and left after the first affair was not delt with?” By the way, the son of Phinehas’ wife survived. His name was “Ichabod.” Meaning “The glory has departed.”

How much glory is still in our churches when we allow all manner of moral decay inside it? When churches live like (Romans 1:18-32) and (Galatians 5:16-21) and (Jeremiah 7:8-20),
they are soon to be labeled “Ichabod.”

Jesus did not stand for it also. (Matthew 21:12-13). Still, God desires to be with us and fill us if we will obey and follow him (Jeremiah 7:23). But today, will our nation be like the next verses? (Jeremiah 7:24-35).

The temple would soon be destroyed that Solomon built. Again, God shows his abundant grace and mercy. The Temple was rebuilt in approximately 515 BC.

God’s glory returned in even greater splendor about five centuries later when Jesus Christ, his Son, entered it and taught. When Jesus was crucified, God’s glory again left the Temple.

However, God no longer needed a physical building after Jesus rose from the dead. God’s temple is now his church, the body of believers. Imagine, after all this rebellion we keep heaping on his holiness, he still wants us.

Tears should be filling our eyes with repentance. I stand guilty and raise my hand first that I have trampled on the blood of Jesus for sins I committed in the past. But that same blood can also wash away my sins. (1 John 1:7-9; Matthew 26:28; Revelation 1:5-8).

If we will trust God and allow him to love us, he will fill us with his many blessings (Ezekiel 11:17-23; Jeremiah 31:28,33-34). God would write his law on his people’s hearts rather than on tablets of stone, as he had done with the Ten Commandments.

God wants his church to be filled with joy unspeakable. Tears of joy are going to be held in his hands and in his heart. (Ezra 3:9-13). We see this same glory in the face of our Lord and Savior. (John 1:14).

Before we close for the day, let’s look one last time again at the Old Testament patriarchs. I’m amazed at how their hearts were towards God without any inward help. As the Bible says, we all are truly without any excuses. (Romans 1:20).

Again, believers in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were not yet filled with the Holy Spirit. They were like my earlier attempts of getting at my mother’s great pies so I could be filled with that delicious flavor (Smile).

God’s presence would certainly come upon them, but not permanently indwell them. In (Numbers 11:16-1724-29) we discover that the Holy Spirit was upon Moses and a portion of the Spirit was taken from Moses and placed upon the seventy elders who ministered with him.

In (Numbers 24:1-4) we discover that the Holy Spirit was upon a false prophet called Balaam (2 Peter 2:15; Revelation 2:14). The Holy Spirit came upon Samson to do extraordinary exploits. (Judges 13:25; 14:6,19; 15:14).

The Spirit of God came upon the prophet Isaiah. (Isaiah 59:21). The Spirit of the Lord came upon Amasai and Jahaziel (1 Chronicles 12:18; 2 Chronicles 20:14).

Now let’s look at the New Testament again as we did earlier in the message. From the book of acts to 2023, it is clear that the Holy Spirit permanently dwells in every true believer (Romans 8:9, 11; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 12:13; Ephesians 1:13).

The Holy Spirit’s ministry to believers changed after Christ’s death and resurrection. The Holy Spirit dwelled within people in the New Testament. In Ephesians we are commanded to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:17-18).

We are also told to walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-23). The Greek word filled (plēroō) means to be to make replete, to cram and level up. To make full, to fill up, i.e. to fill to the full. To abound and furnish.

God never skims or cheats in filling those whom he loves. Those of you who love grocery shopping know that some items you purchase today (chips, crackers, etc.), are never filled for the money you spend.

Some of it is the product settling during shipment, other businesses may purposely skimp or reduce the amount but have us still pay an increased price. God never holds back from blessing and filling us with his goodness.

Know this my beloved friends, all authentic born-again believers are sealed and indwelt by the Holy Spirit at the point of their salvation. However, this filling or control by the Spirit can be hindered by sin.

Just like those half full bag of chips, if we continue in sin as Christians, we will quench the Spirit and the spiritual faucet will stop flowing (1 Thessalonians 5:19). The normal ministry of the Spirit is to fill us to reflect Jesus to a dying world. 

Many Holy Spirit filled ministries refer to it as “the anointing.” When God fills you with something he also equips you with something. Christians are given amazing tools while living in this dying world.

God equips his followers with armor to defeat the enemies conniving attacks. (Ephesians 6:10-18). This armor of defense helps to stop the demonic arrows from Satan’s demons against us. Some Christians think we are the minority in this nation. No beloved, we are the maturity. We have God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and his powerful angels. 

We are given a greater more powerful weapon (The sword of the Spirit), the word of God that Satan trembles when confronted with (James 4:7; Revelation 12:10-12; 20:10-15). Satan is no match against the Holy Spirit.

[Satan is constantly battling against all who are on the Lord’s side. We need supernatural power to defeat Satan, and God has provided this by giving us his Holy Spirit within us and his armor surrounding us.]

You cannot defeat the enemy with just your armor alone. Some churches try to defeat Satan with religiosity. They think programs alone will keep him at bay. They have prayer service meetings from 6:00 pm to 6:15 pm once a month.

This will make your church look and operate like the sons of Sceva in (Acts 19:13-16). You must allow the Holy Spirit to have control so your church can then take hold of the sword of the Spirit. (Ephesians 6:17-18).

If you are not reading the word of God, you will begin to atrophy those spiritual muscles you had when you were first saved by the Lord Jesus. The word of God is your spiritual nourishment to stay filled up at all times.

If I tried to eat my mother’s delicious pies without the filling, it would leave me empty, unsatisfied, and unfulfilled. The crust would only make me frustrated. Remember when the disciples tried to cast out the demon? (Matthew 17:14-21).

The disciples hadn’t learned to use faith wisely. They were still looking through a fleshly natural lens instead of seeing the young man’s need through a spiritual lens. They had the crust, but not the filling.

They would however experience this miraculous filling after Jesus ascended to the Father. Being filled with the Holy Spirit means that we submit to his authority, welcome his guidance, accept his correction, and live under his restraint.

[We must rely on his power, and allow him to unify us with other believers. Living by the Spirit does not mean having a casual, part-time relationship with him. We must fill our lives with the cleansing and invigorating love and power of the Holy Spirit.]

Those who do not repent and accept Jesus Christ as Lord are empty vessels awaiting destruction. Then again, I must correct myself, they are also filled. But they are filled with all manner of darkness. (Acts 13:6-12).

If you are an unbeliever reading this message, you don’t have to be filled with corruption and darkness. You don’t have to think about committing suicide. You don’t have to live in fear of the bad climate. You don’t have to be lost in the wrong identity.

You can get rid of all that sinful sludge, be emptied out, and be refilled with living power. Listen my friends, trouble is the inevitable by-product of sin entering the world, so you should not be surprised by it.

But along with the trouble comes the strength and wisdom of God to handle it. Remember beloved, trouble chases sinners, while blessings chase the righteous. (Proverbs 13:21).


 

🗣📢 Last words: God’s home is his people. If you are tired of feeling empty inside and living an unhealthy lifestyle, you can be restored with new vitality. God filling his tabernacle foreshadowed him filling our hearts.

Heaven touches earth when God dwells within us. Like my mother’s delicious pies, in God we can “Taste and see that the LORD is good” (Psalm 34:8). When we turn our hearts to God, he, by his Holy Spirit, builds into us desire to obey him (Revelation 21:1-3).

[God loves you dearly, and he has called you to be his very own people. God is looking for a personal relationship with each person he has created. He pursues us not to get something from us, but to give something wonderful to us.]

“Are you ready to live and not die? Then get filled with something eternal!”


 

🛐 Here’s a prayer you can pray to get filled with newness of life. “Heavenly Father, thank you for today’s message of being filled with the right substance. Lord, I’m that person who needs refurbished, renewed, and reignited.

Jesus, I’ve been told no one restores a life better than you. My life needs gutted out like one of those old houses you see with a shoot and trash container on the street.

I surrender my heart and life to you, so you can send your Holy Spirit to begin the cleanup and filling process in my life. Heavenly Father, I commit my way to you. I put my trust in you. I know you will act on my behalf.

Lord, heal my brokenness, and cleanse me from sin. Fill me with your precious Spirit. Make me a slave and bondservant to your righteousness. Lord, make me a dangerous soldier to the kingdom of darkness.

I love you and glorify you today, Lord. In you, I have liberty, freedom, and peace of heart. You are the breaker of chains in my life. Please fill me over and over again with your glorious presence. Guide and order all my steps Lord, in Jesus’ name, amen.”


❤ “If you would like to know Jesus as your Savior, pray now. Lord Jesus, I wish to know you, have a relationship with you, I wish to accept you in my heart, repent my sins, and have everlasting life. I believe in you and ask for your wisdom and guidance. In your name I pray. Amen.


*Help spread the word by sharing this web site and messages on your platform.

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”

Pastor Todd Boxley

Worship Center Ministry tjforlife.com

The Eyes Have It

Art work We see it by Christine Tyler

Jesus is coming soon

The Eyes Have It – repost of Pastor Todd’s sermon

Good morning, everyone. Welcome to “Try Jesus!” If this is your first time joining us, it’s great to have you with us. I would like to thank all the new members for joining “Try Jesus.” Also welcome those in Washington, Oregon, Pensacola, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Iowa.

Praise God! These are exciting and daunting times we live in. Did you know that true born-again believers hold God to his high standard of always doing things the right way?

Christians also believe his living word in spite of what they see going on in society. Someone once said, “God said it, I believe it, that settles it!” No wiggle room for doubt, is there?

So, today, September 10th, 2023 you can embrace and hold God to his word that says, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” (Luke 21:28 KJV).



These comforting encouraging words by Jesus are for those previous he spoke in verses 7-28. Even if things escalate and get worse, the true believer and follower of Jesus has God as his shield and buckler. (Psalm 91:4; Isaiah 41:10).

women wearing brown dress close up photography
People praying (Photo by Quintero on Pexels.com)


Let’s pray, “Heavenly Father, thank you for being our rock, our shelter and our protector. Lord, this morning we set our hearts on your presence. When we are afraid, sick, or in deep trouble, we live and rest in you.

Today Lord, I pray you’re Holy Spirit would boldly fill the lives of those seeking you. Help our hearts to be pliable so our sins can be confessed and not grieve and diminish the presence and voice of the Spirit.

Help us crave your presence and your word today. Help us grow in the fruit of the Spirit and walk closer with you today. Guide us through your words of promise. Let your will and promises be written in our hearts. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

How many of you have ever had to take a side during pleasant debates about where your family would go out to eat? Growing up in my family, it seems we were always taking a vote on which fast food place to eat at.

No matter the venue, it seems we were deciding where to go on a vote. My parents were the judge and jury as to where they would take us to have fun. They kept their sights on going from point “A to Z” and back home.

They never got frustrated from all the loud voices in the back of the car screaming about which place to take us. They would be creative by conjuring up different games to break any ties.

Voting by playing games like Rock, Paper, Scissors, left my wrist hurting. For some reason (which I can’t explain), I lost a whole lot more than I won. All that, just because I wanted to go to Pizza Hut instead of McDonald’s.

My parents would come up with new ways for us to vote each time they took us out for fun. Sometimes they would just ask us for a simple vote on two different places. It was simply an “I” or “Nay.” I guess that meant “Yes or No.”

When all the voices were cast (in a loud way. You know how kids are), my mother would say, “The “I,s” have it!” I still didn’t get it. I just wanted some pizza. I guess we can’t always have what we want.

Now that you’ve heard how important it is to keep peace by having your “I,s” in the right place, today’s message is about that very topic. No, not the “I,s” but “The eyes.” What a transition, huh?

I know, but I’m just trying to keep everyone interested (Smile). That’s why the Lord told us not to worry about what we would say, because he would reveal it to us in that very hour (Mark 13:11). So, I’m relying on the Holy Spirit’s help.

I also covet everyone’s prayers each week to say and write how the Lord directs me. Sometimes I just ask the Lord to open the eyes and ears of each heart and draw them to the truth.

In this case, God does want the eyes of our heart to be open. He wants us to see with clarity and discernment. But it takes spending time with God to achieve that spiritual twenty-twenty vision. You cannot get there by taking your eyes off of God.

During the pandemic, there were many people who were shedding many tears. The church cried out to God for mercy and healing. I stood in the gap for many who were separated from grandparents because of the virus.

I wonder how many tears have to fall before a person will surrender their heart to the Lordship of Christ? I used to see many tears from time to time growing up in a family with six siblings and two parents.

In previous sermons, many of the members probably know by now that my parents watched television. I realize some Christians do not watch television at all. I think that’s wonderful.

Since Jesus saved my life, I have to use wisdom about things I choose to watch. God certainly does not want me to fill my eyes up with things he disapproves of. But my parents would watch these game shows and their sports teams.

There was an occasion where my mother would watch a movie she referred to as a “tearjerker.” She would make sure she had those tissues nearby. The strange thing is, she would watch that movie more than once.

As a ten-year-old, at the time, I would wonder if she’s ok. Some people love to have a good cry. But is there such a thing as a good cry? When was the last time you cried about anything? Do you think there are people who have never cried?

My mother would refer to some people’s tears as “crocodile tears.” What are crocodile tears? Are they tears from a crocodile? In a medical since our eyes have tears that optometrist call Epiphora. 

Epiphora helps in producing watery eyes. Usually, tears lubricate and protect your eyes. However, this medical term meant nothing to my mother’s disposition when referring to one of her children crying crocodile tears.

My mother would call them fake tears. Sort of how actors do when playing a role in a movie. Crocodile tears refers to a person’s phony display of emotion. I can certainly remember crying those tears when I saw that switch coming.

Just hearing that swoosh sound in the air when I did something wrong that deserved punishment made me cry before my mother would administer that spanking. She would tell me, “Those crocodile tears are not going to help you.” (Smile).

Kids are great at knowing how to get those tears out really fast to maybe reduce the punishment that’s coming. (Smile). Some children are very coy at playing on their parents’ emotions. We can do many things with the eyes God gave us.

My sisters were great at rolling their eyes at you if you did something to make them angry. Siblings are good at shedding those tears to get another sibling in trouble.

I lost count at hearing those phony cries downstairs to my parents, “Mom Todd won’t stop bothering me!” Of course, I was totally innocent of all charges. (Smile). But as we open the living word of God, what does the Bible say about our eyes?

Well, let’s start with God’s eyes first. The Bible describes the eyes of God as being everywhere. Of course, God is Spirit (John 4:24). God does not have a physical body with eyes and ears, or arms and legs. His presence is his omniscience.

The word of God tells us,
“The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” (Proverbs 15:3 KJV). Also his word tells us, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” (Psalm 32:8 KJV).

The next two verses after verse 8 tell a different story for those who will not allow the eyes of God to guide them. (Psalm 32:9-10). God encourages us not to be stubborn like horses or mules that have to be controlled by bits and bridles.

Nothing and no one in heaven and on earth can escape being observed by the watchful, all-pervading eyes of the Lord. Adam and Eve were the first ones to try it, and things did not work out well for them.

With his eyes, God sees over the entire earth.
“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.” (2 Chronicles 16:9 KJV).

The Bible tells us that God is always paying attention to our needs (Philippians 4:19). He also hears our cry and desires to take care of us with care and gentleness (Psalm 34:15-19).

This great care was shown in evidence time after time. Many people look at God today and say “If God really cares, why is there so much suffered in the world? Why does he allow evil to continue?”

“Why are there more tears than smiles?” The answer is quite simple. Because the world has rejected God and his plan of salvation. It also depends on the prism of what lens you are looking through.

Obviously, I can’t answer all the questions as to why God allows certain things to take place in society. But I do know that evil and sin shall be done away with upon the return of Jesus.

Since God is omniscience, omnipotent, and omnipresent, he is in total control of everything on earth. The Bible tells us the earth is the Lord’s and it is his footstool (Psalm 24:1; Isaiah 66:1).

God’s knowledge is unlimited. Knowing that God is omniscient should encourage us to trust his will, his Word, and his timing through world events. Noah certainly understood and trusted the eyes of the Lord.


But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” (Genesis 6:8 KJV). God cares and keeps his eyes on the righteous at all times. He has every one if your hairs numbered (Matthew 10:29-31).

He keeps watch over the land and the steps you take. (Deuteronomy 11:11-12; Psalm 121:3-4). Our loving God has eyes that see us as his special treasure. We are also the apple of his eye. Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 32:9-12; Zechariah 2:8-9).

Believers are precious to God (Psalm 116:15); they are his very own children (Psalm 103:13). God saw you before you were born. (Jeremiah 1:5; Psalm 139:13-18). God’s eyes are greater than the far-reaching technology of man’s microscopes.


☆The Lord’s field of vision is omnidirectional and unrestricted. Nothing we do can be hidden or kept secret from him. Closed doors and locked chambers will not obscure his vision. He sees everything, including our sins (Hebrews 4:13; Psalm 11:4). ☆

The Bible also gives a descriptive view about our Lord and Savior through the eyes of John. (Revelation 1:12-20). Verse 14 says, “His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;” (Revelation 1:14 KJV).

Jesus has the same eyes as his Father. (John 14:8-10). How many of you can remember seeing your birth as you came into the world? Silly question, right? How many of you can remember the first tears you ever shed?

Did you know your eyes were not created for tears of sadness? The first time you see the word cry in the Bible is after the transgression of Adam and Eve (Genesis 4:10 KJV). And it so happens, this was blood crying out to God.

Imagine all the cries of blood that belong to the unborn that are aborted and throne away. I wonder if those who believe in abortion also carry the mindset, “Am I my unborn keeper?”

The Bible tells us that life is in the blood. The blood is still crying out today more than ever before in our nation. The Hebrew word crieth (tsâ‛aq) means to shriek. To cry, cry out, to call, cry for help.

Is it possible to cry without tears? I remember when my dad disciplined me one time for breaking something in the house. I tried to hide the item in the basement so he wouldn’t find it.

After the punishment, he gave me this look (with eyes of anger) and told me, “I better not see one tear drop fall from your face.” I was too afraid to cry outwardly, but I was sure crying on the inside.

Some of you may have grown up being taught that boys should never allow themselves to cry. That real boys and men should never cry. Today, men are certainly being robbed of their masculinity.

They are told that it’s wrong to carry an emotional soft side. Well, as usual the world’s experts are always wrong when standing next to the Lord Jesus Christ. Born-again men are real men who love Jesus. Do you think Jesus carried a rock hard exterior? I remember a pastor friend of mine told me, Christians should have thick skin but a soft heart. 

Before we look at the personality of Jesus, here’s a little truth about our eyes. Did you know before Adam and Eve sinned against God; they did not know what tears were? Just as they never saw rain, they never saw tears.

Tears usually imply sadness. Of course, God would use the eye ducts to later produce tears as a way of showing remorse for sins committed against him. But God will always attach outward emotions by looking inward at the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7).

How many of you can remember when the doctor gave you that first spank on your precious little bottom in the delivery room? Another silly question, right? For some maybe that was your only cry you evercried. However, I doubt it.

But did you know that when Christians are born again, they are spiritually babies in Christ? There is no initial spanking to make us put out that first cry like when we were in the delivery room. Christians no longer live under condemnation (Romans 8:1-10).

Jesus came to dry up those tears and give us eyes to see his salvation. And yet Jesus still understands our suffering while we are in these fleshly corrupt bodies. (Hebrews 4:15; Psalm 103:14-18).

Jesus understands the conditions of our eyes when sadness fills them. When our eyes swell up with tears, he’s there to console and comfort us. (Luke 7:37- 48; Psalm 56:8-9; Jeremiah 9:17-20). God knows every problem and sees every tear. God cares for us.

Jesus showed his deep loving care when Lazarus died towards the family and friends of Martha and Mary. 33} “When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,

34} And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. 35} Jesus wept. 36} Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!” (John 11:33-36 KJV). When Jesus saw the weeping and wailing, he, too, wept openly.

The personality and emotions of Jesus are front and center in his reaction to those filled with grief. In his life on earth he often expressed deep emotion, and we must never be afraid to reveal our true feelings to him.

He understands them, for he experienced them. Be honest, and don’t try to hide anything from your Savior. It reminds me of the song “He knows my name.” Do any of you remember the lyrics?

Here’s a reminder;
🎵 I have a maker, he formed my heart before even time began, my life was in his hands. He knows my name, he knows my every thought, he sees each tear that falls, and he hears me when I call. 🎵

For the believers that have cried out to God and saved up an ocean full of tears, God shall hold them in his hands and replace them with everlasting joy. In the Kingdom to come, we shall rejoice forever. Look and trust God’s promises.

5} “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6} He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” (Psalm 126:5-6).

There was a very old gospel song my grandmother used to play on the piano.
🎵 Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness, sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve; waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping, we shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves. 🎵

Whenever Jesus shows up, he sows the fruit of the Spirit. There is great rejoicing for those who live in the Spirit. “TRY JESUS” saints, be encouraged today by the living word of God.


5} “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. 6} And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.” (Psalm 30:5-6 KJV).

“For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:17 KJV).

3} “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

4} And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

5} And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.” (Revelation 21:3-5 KJV).

Just imagine when you get to heaven (after meeting Jesus) and see the clear beautiful eyes of Jeremiah the prophet. He was given the nickname, “The weeping prophet.” His eyes carried puddles of water praying for Israel.

(Jeremiah 9:1,17-18; 13:17; 14:17; 31:16; Lamentations 1:16; 2:11; 3:48). Jeremiah is no longer weeping but rejoicing. His eyes see the Savior sitting in glory and splendor on his throne. “Hallelujah! I’m ready to rejoice in tears!”

King Hezekiah also experienced the joy of the Lord’s touch on his life. Since Hezekiah did right in the eyes of the Lord, he added fifteen years to his life after Hezekiah received news to get his house in order (that he would die). (2 Kings 18:1-6; 20:1-3; 5-7).

God deeply cares for every aspect of our lives. Nothing is hidden when he sees the tears in our eyes. Jesus cares about our physical sight and our spiritual sight. He opened the eyes of many during his ministry on earth.

Did you know there are blind people whose eyes see better than many who have 20-20 vision? Why? Because physical sight alone cannot see the Kingdom of God.

Many blind born again believers have great spiritual sight. They carry great spiritual vision without seeing the devastating effects that sin has in this nation. What a blessing it will be for them, that the first pair of eyes they will see after death will be Jesus.

We had a young blind man named Chris at our church. He loved Jesus and would praise God enthusiastically during the worship service. I enjoy fellowship with him because he could see many things without seeing.

He had a keen spiritual insight into many things and people during the service. He would pray for people with an amazing discernment into their prayer concerns. God’s blessing was on his eyes and his life.

Jesus showed his power over blindness on many occasions. He healed someone with his own saliva as part of his healing miracle on someone who couldn’t see with his natural eyes (Mark 8:22-25).

He also healed another man’s physical sight, but later healed his spiritual sight. (John 9:5-7). Notice the progression of this man’s spiritual healing. (John 9:11, 17, 35-39). Do you see the spiritual growth coming to fruition?

First he referred to him as somebody named Jesus. He had heard about Jesus but didn’t know Jesus. Has that ever happened to you? Thinking just because your eyes see someone doesn’t mean you actually know them.

It was just the opposite for the eyes of the Pharisees and Sadducees. They thought they had clear vision concerning the law. But Jesus said they were blind. Sin keeps a life blind (John 9:40-41). They were blind leaders leading the blind (Matthew 15:12-15).

Many religious people make the claim of knowing Jesus, but do not having a living spiritual relationship with him. Their eyes are no different than the Pharisees and Sadducees (2 Corinthians 4:3-4; Revelation 3:17-19).

So, how do you view yourself with those precious eyes God has given you when you look in the mirror? Do you appreciate how the designer created you?

There are many people in our nation today that are confused and depressed about how they view themselves. They feel they are supposed to be a boy or a girl. They feel the need to identify as anything other than how God sees them.

Who do you suppose has sent this delusional attack against their minds? Again, they can read (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). The Good News is open and revealed to everyone, except to those who refuse to believe it. (John 1:4-9; 3:18-21).

Satan, “the god of this world,” works to deceive, and he has blinded those who don’t believe in Christ (2 Corinthians 11:14-15). The allure of money, power, and pleasure blinds people to the light of Christ’s Good News.

Those who reject Christ and prefer their own pursuits have unknowingly made Satan their god. When people turn away from the identity God has created them for, Satan uses their own eyes (The window of the soul) against them.

How many heartbreaking stories have you heard about women who look in the mirror and suffer from bulimia because they see something in the mirror they don’t love. Pray for them. God always sees them as his beautiful masterpiece.

Beauty will always be in the eyes of the beholder. God said after creating us in his image that we were “Very good!” (Genesis 1:27-31). Beloved, no matter how you may negatively see yourself, God sees you as his special treasure. (Psalm 139:13-18; Exodus 19:5).

I’ve always wondered how a big powerful God could align all the solar systems in place, place the sun in the exact location, create everything on the planet earth, but then make a mistake in applying gender to someone.

It just doesn’t add up. God has left too many truths, facts, and perfection in his word about creationism. When Jesus transforms any life by the Holy Spirit’s power, they are given eyes to see the Savior. (Psalm 33:18; Job 34:20-22; Proverbs 5:21; 1 Peter 3:12).

Please read aloud the last verse in (1 Peter 3:12). Notice the last sentence, …
“but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” In this world, we all weep and shed tears. (Ecclesiastes 3:4). But as I mentioned earlier, God shall wipe away the believer tears.

But the eyes of the wicked that have rejected the Lord and his salvation, shall continue to weep and cry after leaving this earth. (Matthew 8:11-12; 13:37-43; 49-50; 2 Peter 2:12-15).

[The Greek word weeping (klauthmos) means a weep of wailing and Lamentations. In the New Testament loud mourning and crying were customary when a person died (Mark 5:37-38).

The lack of such a reaction was the ultimate disgrace and sign of disrespect. Some people, usually women, made mourning a profession and would be paid by a dead person’s family to weep over the body.]

But those who reject Jesus and open their eyes in hell will suffer an eternity of weeping and tears of fire falling from their faces. However, there is good news while you may be reading or listening to this sermon.

You can take those eyes and turn tears and turn them into repentance with godly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:8-10). This is the approach Ezra took by setting the standard of what true repentance meant towards God (Ezra 10:1-3).

[His weeping brought others to the point of sorrow. My friends, the Bible does advocate tears. God made them for a reason. We are certainly to experience joy and happiness in this world, but scripture clearly also teaches that there is a time for tears.]


🗣📢 Last words: Jesus cried, and so can we. This world has plenty of pain, hurt, trouble, and toil. God gave us a way to combat those things, tears. We should not fear tears, because they can be a weapon used against Satan.

God sees your tears every day. God can use your repentant tears to bring healing. Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you.

The God who said, “Blessed are you who weep now” (Luke 6:21), will not reproach you for the tears you shed as you walk through the ruins of this broken nation. The concerned and compassionate eyes of the Lord are always on us, penetrating even our darkest night.

[Our tears can be seeds that will grow into a harvest of joy when we plant them in trust of God’s sovereign plan. God can always bring good out of tragedy. When burdened by sorrow, know that your times of grief will end and that you will again find joy.]

From the moment we are conceived and every day thereafter, he sees us. The Lord keeps his eyes on his children to protect and preserve them and lead them home. Set your eyes on heaven’s throne. (Colossians 3:1-3; Hebrews12:2).


“For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5 KJV). It’s time for your next spiritual eye examination. Make this one with Jesus!


📕 More salve for your eyes. Psalm 126:5; Psalm 6:6; Psalm 39:12; Psalm 42:3; Psalm 102:9; Psalm 119:136; 2 Kings 20:5; Lamentations 2:18; Luke 7:44; 2 Corinthians 2:4; Philippians 3:18;



🛐 Here’s a prayer you can pray to trade in those tired eyes of sin. “Heavenly Father, thank you for this timing message I needed to hear. My tears have been misplaced. Please remove the scales of darkness from my eyes.

I’ve been crying for far too long without any hope of things changing in my life. Lord, there’s so much pain, agony, grief, hurt, and loss around me. I just want things to be okay again; to be happy and for my life to be filled with joy.

Father, please help me to fix my eyes and heart right on Jesus, and on His face. Help me to gaze at Jesus without taking my eyes off him, no matter how many stormy waves assail me. And as I do, please give me peace, stability, and strength.

Fill me with joy again. Fill me with joy and peace in believing. Fill me with the fullness of joy that comes only from being in your presence, I ask, in Jesus’ name. Lord, I repent of my sins and anger towards you.

Work in me to turn my attention toward you in all things. I put my hope and my confidence in you right now. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. And it’s in Jesus’ lovely name I pray, amen.”



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“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”

Pastor Todd Boxley

Worship Center Ministry

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Drawing closer than close

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Photo of Waitress (by Piacquadio on Pexels.com)

Jesus is coming soon

Drawing closer than close – Sermon Repost by Pastor Todd Boxley

Good morning, everyone. Welcome to “Try Jesus!” If this is your first time joining us, it’s great to have you with us. I would like to thank all the new members for joining “Try Jesus.” Also welcome those in Texas, New Jersey, Colorado, Kansas, Maryland, and Arizona.

What a great week everyone. It is really awesome to see God’s people love above and beyond when calamity comes near, and when it is far away.  Even though things continue to look bleak, Jesus is still in control.

Let’s pray, “Heavenly Father, thank you for gathering hearts and minds together. Lord, we need your word to awaken our souls today. Lord, sometimes our hearts are like oil that hasn’t been changed after 3,000 miles.

The sludge and heaviness begins to weigh us down. But today Lord, we pray for your fresh anointing to revive, invigorate, inspire, and fill us this morning as the fresh dew that lays on the grass.

Father, because your word says that it’s your desire to send angels to separate the wheat from the tares and to burn off all unrighteousness, we invite you right now into the midst of your people.

Lord, this morning, baptize us again in fire. Let the hearts of your people burn brightly again for you. Purify us, refine us. Bring purity to the lost. Save them, Lord. Let a billion-soul harvest of souls come forth for your Kingdom.

Father, help us with your living message today. Help us to walk in you, the Spirit of God. Grow good fruit in our lives this morning. We cannot live out these things on our own. Bless your word today. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

I pray today’s message would help those that feel stuck in life. There are so many lonely people today that need lifted out of their well of emptiness. I grew up in a family where, at times it was very difficult to find any privacy or time to be alone.

Sometimes when the family would go shopping, I would ask my mom if I could stay home until they got back. It was so peaceful and quiet spending time with my favorite toy, book, or video game.

Some of you value time to get close, or closer to that object or personal touch from something or someone. Today, I’m going to ask you to look back aways to that relationship you wanted so desperately to cultivate, but it never took root.

I myself, can look back and see how much I miss my mom, who passed away in 2017. I guess you could say I grew up a mommas boy. I felt closer to my mom than my dad. Although I loved my dad, there seemed to be an armed length relationship between us.

The way we usually got a little closer, was if it involved talking about sports. I felt there were moments when I cringed instead of embracing the conversations we had. Drawing close to those you live under the same roof with can be tedious at times.

Many experts on the nuclear family (notice the word nuclear), would say it’s perfectly normal to sometimes push away from those you live with. Well, I actually spoken to many people who say they had very divisive relationships with their parents or siblings.

Even some of the older television shows like “The Brady Bunch, Little House on the Prairie, Growing Pains, The Waltons, Facts of Life, Happy Days, Different Strokes, Wonder Years, or Father knows best” seemed to portray families that had bonding close relationships.

But the realism or lack of realism did not resonate with many who tried to copy the shows day to day family experiences. I’m always so excited to hear individuals tell me about who they felt very close too growing up.

Of course some people had more than one person who was instrumental in helping to shape their lives into who they turned out to be. I always love to hear stories of people telling me they were closest to their grandparents.

I’ll never forget the time when me and about ten people stopped at a Chili’s restaurant after church. I’m not crazy about spicy food, but my daughter and her friends from church love it.

As we were seated, I always ask the waitress or waiter if there is anyone they would like for us to pray for after taking our order. I always ask for first name only to help them understand that I care about the whole of the person without knowing their last name.

Anyway, after asking the waitress if I good pray for anyone she loved, she stood there and started to cry. She has just spoken to her grandmother before she came to take our order.

Her grandmother was very ill, and she told us she was closer to her than anyone in her family. After telling her we would pray for her when she went to give our orders to the chefs, instead of leaving she stayed while I prayed for her grandmother.

I was surprised that she took hold of my hand after I finished praying and told me thank you. She felt like a tremendous burden was lifted off her shoulders because she had been depressed and disappointed all day at work.

As our food was being brought out to the ten of us, I noticed the waitress had come back with the manager, the franchise owner, and some the chefs. They began to tell me what kind of employee this waitress was.

She had won many employee of the month awards and the customers loved her. But the manager didn’t stop there. He looked at me and told that everything that was ordered was going to be free of charge.

The manager begin to share with me how much the waitress had been down about her grandmother. The waitress would talk about her grandmother all day long.

I remember telling everyone standing at our table that God has created us for fulfillment of sharing genuine oneness and closeness of love to those in our lives. I told them I would continue to pray for those who cared some much about this young waitress.

Again, I’m sure many of you have that favorite relative or friend that you seem to be inseparable from. You just enjoy being together with them. It seems time stands still when you are with them.

But sadly there are also many today still looking for that satisfying closeness in a relationship. We all remember the song “Looking for love in all the wrong places.” Some people will do anything to be liked or appreciated.

They crave this close bonding relationship with anybody that gives them some time. Did you know there are people who try to buy friendships? I never really listened to Freddy Mercury’s music from the band Queen.

Growing up as an elementary kid playing basketball, I did not know he was the one who played the “We will rock you, and “We are the champions” songs I heard playing in the gym during our game. I also didn’t know anything about his life.

But since I’ve been a Christian for some time now, one day I looked at his biography. I never knew his lifestyle. But I noticed he had written a song about finding somebody to love him.

Here are a few lyrics. Can anybody find me somebody to love?

🎵 Ooh, each morning I get up I die a little. Can barely stand on my feet
(Take a look at yourself). Take a look in the mirror and cry (and cry). Lord, what you’re doing to me? (Yeah, yeah).

I have spent all my years in believing you
But I just can’t get no relief, Lord
Somebody (somebody), ooh, somebody (somebody). Can anybody find me, somebody to love?
🎵



Do you think Mr. Mercury was looking for love in all the wrong places? Do you think Jesus wanted that lifestyle for him? When we try to love the world and this sinful flesh more than Jesus, it leaves us empty and still searching for that utopian closeness.

A person will never find closeness living in (Romans 1:18-32; Galatians 5:16-25; 1 John 2:15-19). Belief is more than a mental belief of knowing someone exists. Did you know you could live next door to your neighbor for 20 years and never know them?

You might know them to see them but never be close enough to them to have a living relationship with them. Could it be there are many people out there like Mr. Mercury saying I believe Jesus, but not let his living words impact or change their lives or lifestyles?

There is a void in every heart that was created and reserved for God and God alone. We also have an adversary (Satan) who wants to steal, kill, and destroy, and keep us from giving that void (our heart) to God (John 10:10; Matthew 13:19-22; 2 Corinthians 2:11).

There are so many people on the earth looking for closeness in anyway than can. I remember a friend who was kind to everyone at work. He approached you and gave you a big bear hug and call you his “little brother.”

But inside he was so terribly lonely. One day I trained him in a specific job he needed help with. The company asked me to evaluate his performance after he was done. While on our lunchbreak he shared with me a heart wrenching story.

It seems he was so lonely one evening that he went to his local bar and offered to buy everyone drinks. He was having so much fun (at least he thought). But there were other sets of eyes that were watching him.

After the last call was shouted, he decided to invite some of those people to his home to continue the drinking. He had even given people money to put in their gas tanks. But the evening turned very ugly.

After the so-called friends he had decided to raid his fridge and left suddenly, there still remained a few shady characters who he really didn’t know.

These bought and paid for strangers decided to attack Mr. Tony and ransacked his entire home. They left him with an injured skull and took all his cash, expensive jewelry, and other items they could carry out of his home.

After hearing this tragic story, I started to cry for him. I put my hand on his shoulder and ask God to heal his loneliness. I told him trying to buy friends will leave you empty and devalued.

I also invited him and encouraged him to come to my men’s meeting. I also asked him was there a church near his area that he would feel comfortable building close relationships with.

But because he couldn’t part with the night life, he told me he would continue to hang with only people at the bar and not take them to his beautiful home. I told him people don’t have to come to your home to hurt you.

Some of the people at his local bar already knew he was a soft touch to hit on. He sort of reminds me of the rich young ruler Jesus spoke about. Something important to remember as you read these passages.


17} “And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? 18} And Jesus said unto him,Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

19} Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. 20} And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

21} Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him,
One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

22} And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.” (Mark 10:17-22 KJV). Take a look at verse 21 again. Sometimes people gloss over how Jesus deeply cared about this man.

Jesus genuinely loved this man. The Greek word (agapaō) loved, is how Jesus felt about this man. Jesus had emotional care towards this man. He wholly welcomed and entertained his thoughts. He was fond of, and dearly loved him.

Yes, of course this story points to not allowing our possessions or money keep us from following Jesus. Why? Because if we are not following him faithfully, whatever we grasp tightly will eventually suffocate or choke our hearts.

Jesus wanted this man’s heart more than his great possessions. Has anyone ever wanted to be close to you just because you had financial wealth, a nice home, or maybe an expensive car?

Sometimes people will carry impure motives just to take advantage of your kindness. Someone once said, “keep your friends close and your enemies closer.” This happened to Joshua and things didn’t work out to well for him and Israel (Joshua 9:4).

Jesus reached out to this man wanting to build a loving intimate relationship with him. God also from the very beginning wanted a bonding relationship with his creation.

I don’t have enough space to illustrate through the entire word of God where he desired that the people, he created would be closer to him. Let’s look at a few instances where God wanted to be closer to his people.

Most of you already knows what it means to be close to someone. But where many fail is how to put that closeness to action. Many people think closeness is about how they want to make themselves feel.

But God shows us a better way to be close. After Moses brought the people out of Egypt, he gave them God’s commandments to the people. All that God did for Israel was up close and personal. God fought their enemies.


4} “But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day. 7} For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for?” (Deuteronomy 4:4,7 KJV).

God continued to stay close to Israel, leading them into the promised land. He showed them what his relationship is like by spending forty days and nights with Moses in the mountain.

Moses returned with the glory of God on his face. His relationship with God would grow closer. Moses would later ask God to show him all his glory. (Exodus 33:18-23).

Today, everyone who is in heaven with Jesus has this glory closeness on their face. God would later speak to his prophet Samuel about Saul being replaced. 

Samuel described this man as having a heart that would seek after God.
“But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.” (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22 KJV).

David would later write these words about his relationship with God during the time of jealousy from Saul who tried to take his life. David knew God would protect him from his enemies.

17} The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. 18} The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. 19} Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” (Psalm 34:17-19 KJV).

Notice verse 18. God promises to be “close to the brokenhearted.” When you are going through trials in your life, the best thing to do is draw close to God’s heart. He wants to be your source of power, courage, and wisdom. Helping you through your problems.

God continued this reaching out with love towards Israel, even though they continued to sin and reject him. But throughout the Old Testament, David’s words would testify of God’s loving kindness and presence towards us.


4} “Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5} Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalm 103:4-5 KJV).

The prophet Isaiah understood the comforting and closeness of God. (Isaiah 6:5-8). Before God could be up close and personal, Isaiah realized his sinfulness before God.

When one of the seraphim touched Isaiah’s lips with a burning coal, however, he told Isaiah that Isaiah’s sins were forgiven. The coal didn’t cleanse him; God did.

[Isaiah speaks more about the Messiah than any other Old Testament prophet. He describes the Messiah as both the suffering Servant and the sovereign Lord.]

The Lord is characterized by unfailing love throughout Scripture. God described himself to Moses this way: “Yahweh! The LORD! The God of compassion and mercy!”

[The painful cleansing process was necessary before Isaiah could fulfill the task to which God was calling him. Today, the cross is our “burning coal,” representing how Jesus’ death cleanses us.]

There are many people today who want to be close to Jesus but are unwilling to give up their worldly passions. They want Jesus (the hot coal) but want to keep their sinful lifestyle.

When the Holy God of Israel desires to be close to you, you must be cleansed as Isaiah was. Getting rid of sin opens the door of closeness. Letting God purify us may be painful, but we must be purified so that we can truly represent God, who is pure and holy.

As we keep moving and seeing the closeness of God from the

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Old Testament to the New Testament, Jeremiah (the weeping prophet) needed the closeness of God.

Have you ever needed someone to hold you close after losing a loved one or after a messy hurtful divorce? How about losing a son or daughter in the armed forces? Maybe you haven’t heard from your son or daughter who ran away from home?

It’s difficult to bring up painful stories that people carry for years and years with broken hearts. They try everything to alleviate the pain and stop the tears. Some end up hurting themselves because the love of their life was taken.

God really does understand the brokenhearted (Luke 4:18). He always has the perfect remedy for your sadness or loneliness. He’s called the greatest physician for good reason.

His love and words touch the human condition greater than any person on earth. If you need closeness, there is no better person than Jesus. That’s why the title of this site appeals to every age who needs someone to be close to them.

After you keep trying every prescribed thing that man offers you, why not “TRY JESUS!” Let’s continue with Jeremiah. The prophet Jeremiah was called of God. He prophesied about the coming Messiah who would establish a new covenant with his people.

[Jeremiah was poor and underwent severe deprivation to deliver his prophecies. He was rejected by many people. But he knew about the closeness of God. He lived a life of trust and obedience.]

The Lord revealed these words to Jeremiah how Israel would be restored after their Babylonian captivity.
3} The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore, with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

4} Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.” (Jeremiah 31:3-4 KJV).

“And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah 31:14 KJV).

“But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.” (Jeremiah 31:33 KJV).

Also verses 25-34. By reading these words from God, you can see and hear his consistency in wanting to be close to his people. God is an in your face, heart, and life type of God. He refuses to be in a distant relationship with people.

Have you ever heard of some married couples who seem to always need a break from each other? They plan separate events and hang out with friends more than each other.

Some will even take separate vacations from each other. Sometimes that can be a recipe for divided hearts and infiltration from outside forces. God desires to stay close, as in contact touching.

Have you ever seen two couples together that seem inseparable? Sometimes you only need a few moments of conversation to determine “these two were made for each other.” Now that is what closeness is all about.

David and Jonathan had such a relationship as close friends (1 Samuel 20:42). David and Jonathan had a friendship that made each a stronger person.

They trusted each other completely and were loyal to each above anyone else. They came from a common trust in God almighty. They also practiced what living agape really means (1 Samuel 18:
1-3).

The Hebrew word soul (nephesh) which is the breath, and that which breathes. It is the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man. This was knit (qâshar) together with David’s soul.

The friendship between the two men was tied and joined together. They were bound together with their minds and hearts. Sadly, many people have no one like this in their lives.

God’s friendship with us goes even deeper and forever eternal. It always is portrayed as steady and strong, the agape kind. God seeks our best; God loves us deeply. We should also know God as a friend.

He stays with us when all others leave. Wow! What an amazing God he is! As we move from the Old Testament to the New Testament, we see that God continued to seek after a broken world to restore a loving bonding relationship.

Once God sent his only son everything would be peachy creamy, right? (John 3:16). Jesus (just like his Father before him came desiring to be one with his people (Luke 4:18).

During his ministry, the Pharisees and Sadducees were always trying to find ways of discrediting Jesus and causing division among the people. They even tried to use the marriage relationship to trap him.

[But Jesus told the Pharisees, “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Matthew 19:6). Marriage is of God. He joined (Greek sunezeuksen, “yoked”) male and female together. It was brazen for anyone to pull them apart.]

From the very beginning of his ministry Jesus spoke about genuine love and unity to his followers. But just as Israel resisted, rejected, and were stiff neck towards God, many treated Jesus the same way.

The Bible says,
17} He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11} He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” (John 1:10-11 KJV).

Jesus loved his people so much, he wanted to take them in his arms and protect them like a hen would protect her chicks. But they wouldn’t allow him too (Matthew 23:37-39).

[Many times we feel wounded, outcast, lonely, or afraid and don’t know where to turn. We reject Jesus’ help because we’re not sure he can give us what we need. But who knows our needs better than our creator?]

Because they wouldn’t allow Jesus to be close to them, their house was left desolate. The Greek word desolate (erēmos) means to be lonesome. Not just in a physical sense but also in a spiritual sense. It’s to be in a solitary, lonely, uninhabited position.

Jesus doesn’t want us to be isolated and watch the enemy (Satan) destroy our lives. He’s not calling us to draw near for his own benefit. Just as husband and wives should be together in an unselfish relationship.

Paul told husbands to love their wives as Jesus loves his church. (Ephesians 5:
25-30). That’s what I call being close. The Christian marriage relationship is a visual representation of how close Jesus wants to be with us.

And nothing hurts more than when your spouse’s loving advances are rejected. I’m not just speaking about the advances in the bedroom. I’m speaking about being totally shut out emotionally.

It’s like hearing those words that businesses sometimes will use towards other business associates, “your services are no longer required.” Today, many are married in “name only.” Even though they live in the same house, they are like two ships that pass in the night.

Falling out of love with someone when the other person still feels a oneness connection is excruciating and painful to their heart. I know exactly how that felt as a teenager. I watched someone step on my heart with another person.

No one likes to be rejected and alone. The great thing about the Lord is, he’s in this closeness thing with you from beginning to end. Many women that found a living breathing relationship with Jesus was better than any relationship they had on earth.

They knew this is the man that would always love them, never cheat on them, never harm them, and never demean or slander them. Jesus is the man every woman should want. The Bible tells us to seek first the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33).

Paul spoke about this seeking in the book of Acts.
27} “That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: 28} For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.” (Acts 17:27-28 KJV). God created us to be with us, it’s that simple.

[God is revealed in his creation and is close to every one of us. But he is not trapped in his creation. God is transcendent. God is the Creator, not the creation. God is sovereign and in control, while at the same time he is close and personal.]

But as the people in Jesus’ day would reject his love and crucify him, he still continued to love them. In the Old Testament God’s power would come upon people. But Jesus told his disciples that there was coming a power that would be in them (Acts 1:
4-8).

This leads me to the most powerful way of all God would be close to us. Jesus loved his disciples very deeply. John was very much a part of that love (John 13:21-27). So much that he would breathe on them a foretaste of what was coming. (John 20:22). John, along with Peter and James were the inner three who were closest to Jesus. 

He told them of his impending death, and they were saddened by it (John 16:6,27). Previously Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father. But Jesus told him “When you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father.”

Jesus would further go on to say these powerful words to his disciples.
15} “If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16} And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

17} Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18} I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” (John 14:15-18 KJV).

The comforter and the Spirit of truth are names given to the Holy Spirit. It is he whom Jesus spoke about coming to live inside the disciples. This would take place on the day of Pentecost. He is called the Holy Spirit of promise.

This promise came to fruition in (Acts 2:
1-4). Today, the person of the Holy Spirit (he is a person, not some electrical force) lives with us and in us.  He teaches us. He reminds us of Jesus’ words.

[He convicts us of sin, shows us God’s righteousness, and announces God’s judgment on evil. He guides us into truth and gives insight into future events. He brings glory to Jesus.]

[The Holy Spirit has been active among people from the beginning of time, but after Pentecost, he came to live in all believers. Many people are unaware of the Holy Spirit’s activities.]

Especially those who are religious and not born-again (Romans 8:
9-11). But to those who understand Jesus’ words and the Spirit’s power, the Spirit gives a whole new way to look at life. The Holy Spirit lives within all who believe in Jesus Christ.

If you have not received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, then it doesn’t matter how much church attendance you have or read books on religion, you are not saved (Spiritually reborn).

First, you need to confess your sins and recognize that Jesus has already paid the price for your sin. Then you can receive God’s forgiveness who will remember your sin no more.

Then you can get on with the business of going to church and reading about God. But this time you will be led by the Spirit of God and not by religious devils. The Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth.

🗣📢 Last words: Before we close for the day, here are some practical ways to draw close to God. Which is simply coming closer to God spiritually.

1) Prayer: Talk to God every day. Not like you might talk to your pet or your television when your favorite team is losing. Schedule a time each day to spend time with God. The best way to draw closer to God is to listen to his voice.

Moses did it the right way, so did Jesus. (Exodus 24:18; 25:1; Mark 6:46; Mathew 6:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:17). If you’re not praying, you’re fainting. If you have time to worry, you have time to pray.

2) Read the Bible everyday: Soak yourself in the living pages of God’s Word. You can get really close to God by opening his word. Turn off the world at times so you can see God’s Word.

(2 Timothy 3:
16-17; Psalm 119:105; Matthew 4:4; Romans 15:4; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Timothy 4:13; 1 Peter 2:2; 2 Timothy 2:15).

3) Meditate on God’s Word: If you keep your mind on God, you won’t have to get rid of some of  the other garbage that Satan keeps trying to fill your mind with. (Psalm 1:
2-3; 37:31; 119:15,97-99; Job 22:22; Joshua 1:8).

4) Identify prompting from the Holy Spirit: Like a child learning to distinguish it’s mothers or fathers voice from other voices, listen for those deep prompts from inside your spirit.

As you grow in God you will be able to discern and know the difference and between his Spirit, Satan, and the world’s voices. (Luke 2:27; 1 John 4:
1-3; John 16:13; Romans 8:14-1726-27; Philippians 3:15).

5) Listen to worship music that Glorifies God: There is some much sound and noise in the world. Did you know God can discern between anointed music (that reaches his throne) secular music, and religious music?

True worship towards God involves him as the object of our worship. Some people think you can worship without God being a part of it. There’s a reason why God accepts Abel’s sacrifice and not Cain’s.

God always looks at the motives of the heart. Sometimes motives to worship God could be monetary. It could be worldly. We should always allow the Holy Spirit to direct us in the true worship of God.

(John 4:
23-24; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16-17; 1 Samuel 16:23; Psalm 9:2; 150:1-6; Jeremiah 31:4; Exodus 15:20; 2 Chronicles 5:13; Zephaniah 3:17).

6) Keep a daily gratitude list: Take time to thank God for all the things he has done and provided for you. If you can keep all those sticky notes on your fridge about the family activities, why not give God a nice sticky of thanks.

(Psalms 95:2; 
103:2-5107:1-3; Philippians 4:6-711-13; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Lamentations 3:22-24).

7) Intercede for others: Getting in the practice of telling others I got your back in prayer can be a huge encouragement for them. Prayer involving Intercession takes sacrifice on behalf of a life that’s hurting. Serious Intercession can also involve fasting.

(1 Timothy 2:
1-3; Jeremiah 7:16; 1 Samuel 12:23-25; Matthew 9:27-29; James 5:15-16; Job 16:21; Numbers 12:13; Nehemiah 1:4-11; Acts 7:6).

8) Connect with a small group: Sometimes less can be more. It’s always great to connect with like-minded people who are on the same journey as you.

Connecting with small groups can sometimes have an advantage over large groups because the intimacy can be more binding and create an accountability towards one another.

(2 Timothy 2:
2-3; Acts 2:42-47; Hebrews 10:24-25; 1 Corinthians 13:26; Ephesians 4:11-13). Getting involved in small groups can also help in learning to serve one another in needs that may be expressed.

God is the great changer of hearts, the lifter of attitudes. As you give him the things that darken your day, he can be the sunshine in your soul. When you turn to him and pray, he delights in lifting your hearts heaviness and giving you a spirit of gratefulness.

[The more you abide in God’s Word and in his presence, the more you will hear his voice and the more victorious and successful you will be in every area of life. The Word says God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him (Hebrews 11:6).]

“Come on everybody, get closer!”


📕 Here’s some more words to hold close to your heart. (Psalm 139:7-813-18145:18-20; Zephaniah 3:17).



🛐 Here’s a prayer you can pray to draw a little bit closer. “Heavenly Father, thank you for today’s uplifting message. Lord, I have been so alone lately. I have searched everywhere to find closeness from anyone that might love or care for me.

But each time I get pushed away. I have had many thoughts about ending my life because I feel as if no one wants me. But as I found this message today, Lord, I really want to stop trying to find love and closeness my way, and try your way.

Lord, please prepare my heart to receive your love. I need you and want to know you. Reveal any anxieties and worries I have not given to you and lead me to you. Cleanse my mind and my heart, Lord Jesus.

I learned today from “TRY JESUS” that
nothing can separate me from your love. Thank you for never giving up on me. Your word says when I call upon you, you hear me and save me. Lord, remind me of these truths today.

I have a broken and contrite spirit, remind me that you are close to me through this season. I know no matter what happens, my identity as your child never changes. You have chosen me, and you call me a “royal priesthood!”

Thank you, Jesus, that your work on the cross gives me an eternal identity. You have clothed me in a new, clean, and pure garment of salvation. I will praise your name forever. Even when you feel far away, you are close, in Jesus’ name, amen.” 





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Members of “TRY JESUS” The Body of Christ. Please remember to participate in the communion of our Lord. (1 Corinthians 11:
23-30).

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”

Pastor Todd Boxley

tjforlife.com

Worship Center Ministry

silhouette of cross

Consider the Cost

Consider The Cost – Repost of Pastor T. Boxley’s Sermon

consider the cost bible message
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com


Good morning, everyone. Welcome to “Try Jesus!” If this is your first time joining us, it’s great to have you with us. I would like to thank all the new members for joining “Try Jesus.” Also welcome those in New York, North Carolina, Arizona, California, Iowa, and Minnesota this week.

What a tremendous week of seeing God’s people turn out for last week’s message. The nation seems it has placed itself in a blender of destruction and continues to do everything backwards without common sense.

But God continues to build his church and navigate his born-again believers through this worldly maze of sin. We continue to be his workmanship running towards the glorious prize that awaits us (Philippians 3:14; 1 Corinthians 9:24; Ephesians 2:10).

Let’s bless the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. “Heavenly Father, thank you for gathering our hearts together in your wonderful presence. Lord, please give us a hunger and thirst to sit at your feet the way you gave Mary.

Open our understanding to receive the Holy Spirit’s presence in your word today. Lord, please enlighten our minds with truth, inflame our hearts with love. Inspire each will with courage, enrich our lives with service.

Lord, as we begin this new day, help us to engage your will with a reckless faith. Teach us to trust in you and help us grow in righteousness. Give us the courage to step out in faith today.

Fill our hearts with your spirit and let us speak your words with boldness. Order our steps today and keep us standing on your strong foundation, for you are our never-failing rock, in Jesus, mighty name, amen.”

It truly has been a remarkable week of seeing God touch hearts and lives. When people see devastation on the outside, they never realize the work God is doing on the inside.

Yes, we hear news all day long of people’s lives being hurt by lawlessness. We hear of tragic weather events. But as we continue to pray and intercede for those in Hawaii, we must remember there are broken lives right in own neighborhoods.

Sometimes we look back in our neighborhoods and think of yester years. How so? Let me put it this way, has there ever been a time in your life when you took a nostalgic walk and looked at how things were in the past?

Today, all of us can relate to the ridiculous way prices have risen on everyday goods we purchase. What were those famous words by Superman, “Up, up, and away!” It seems Inflation has taken hard owned money and caused it sprout wings.

Does it seem like you’re spending more monthly than a couple of years ago? When something starts to inflate our currency market, virtually everything consumers buy goes up. Food, houses, cars, clothes, toys, gasoline, etc.

Because of this swelling or ballooning in this country, eventually something is going to burst. It’s pretty amazing too that when the dam starts to break, the fingers always come out and start pointing blame.

The pointing always goes back to the previous leaders. Looking back to blame is never a good thing. The only time looking back is good is when it can be helpful in making things better. I love looking back at nostalgic things I can smile about.

For example, since we all have to drink water and eat food, what was your favorite food in the 70s, 80s, or 90s? I understand many young members of “Try Jesus” were not around to see these great prices (Smile).

But In 1970 a pound of bacon cost 95 cents, a dozen eggs cost 60 cents, bread was priced at 24 cents, 10 pounds of potatoes was 90 cents, coffee was 91 cents and a gallon of orange juice cost 86 cents.

In 1970 a gallon of gas cost 36 cents. Imagine how many times those families who loved fast food could go to McDonalds and get French Fries for  $0.26, a Big Mac for $0.65, and a Coke for $0.15. How times have changed.

Those of you who loved to dress to impress could buy clothing without putting a dent in your clothing account. You could go on vacation, take your family to an amusement park, and still come home with pennies to spare.

Again, looking back can bring memories of smiles and laughter and how lives are impacted from previous generations. But my mother would always say, there’s always someone that’s going to come and mess everything up.

She knew firsthand by watching her own children come and mess things up when the house was filled with smiles and laughter. This typically happened when we were playing a family board game and one of the family members decided to cheat while playing the game.

I realize looking back is not good for everyone. Many of you would rather forget about the past you thought was supposed to be fun and loving but was disgusting and hurtful. This is the world we all were born into.

But looking back can be good for everyone. It just depends on what you went back to look at. For example, if you good go back in time, what year and what thing would you be doing?

Let me give you the answer this way. If you went back for anything associated with the world, you would still be disappointed. Why? Because since the fall of humanity (transgression against God) everything has been corrupted.

Before we open the word of God (the Bible) today, please allow me to give you one more example of what looking back my look like visually. Even though it’s a fiction story, the “Back to the Future” trilogy movie series gave realism to looking back.

The movie stars teenager Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) who is blasted to 1955 in a DeLorean time machine created by the eccentric Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd). Notice the title again of the movie.

They find themselves mixed up in a time-shattering chain reaction that could vaporize their future and leave them trapped in the past. Nothing to get excited about, right?

When things finally get unraveled at the end of the third movie, you can hear Marty’s girlfriend ask Doc Brown a question about her blank paper.

Jennifer Parker: “Dr. Brown, I brought this note back from the future and now it’s erased.” Doc: “Of course it’s erased!”
Jennifer Parker: “But what does that mean?”

Doc: “It means your future hasn’t been written yet. No one’s has. Your future is whatever you make it. So, make it a good one, both of you. Marty McFly: We will, Doc.

Again, the movie title is “Back to the Future.” They went back in order to get to where, the future. Why? because every time they went back, the same mishaps that happened in the past still happen in the future.

Each time they considered the ramifications of disturbing something in the past, it could have devastating results in the future. Each time they tried to fix something, something else got messed up.

Now let’s bring the full realism into today’s message. And in order to do that, you must bring the creator of all things into the picture. The Bible tells this in (Genesis 1:1).



“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1 KJV). The Bible also gives us more information about Almighty God (John 1:1-4; 1 Corinthians 8:5-6; Genesis 1:26-27; Hebrews 1:1-2; Isaiah 44:24; Psalm 104:29-30; Ephesians 3:9).

Jesus, the God-man is the only source we can look forward towards eternal life.
16} “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

17} And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18} And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” (Colossians 1:16-18 KJV).

[Paul explained that all the thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities of both the spiritual and physical worlds were created by and are under the authority of Christ himself. This includes those who sit on seats of authority in our government.]

So, when we look at the physical world from any era without God in it, it always ends up in ruins. Yes, people like to carry titles like “The good ole days” or “Days gone by” to describe how things were in the past.

Looking back is ok if there’s something that’s just as good as it is in the future. Some might say, when I look back at meeting my spouse, it was good back then, and it’s even better now. Praise God! That’s something the Lord wants for your marriage.

But nothing on earth compares to a living relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus himself said,
37} “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

38} And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39} He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matthew 10:37-39 KJV).

His words tell us that loving anything more than God has empty value. Yes, husbands and wives should love each other. Yes, we should love our children and take care of those living gifts God gave to us.

We should even be good stewards over the things he has blessed us with. We just should not put any of these over our relationship with God. (Exodus 20:1-10; Deuteronomy 4:6-9).

Israel seemed to forget those powerful words God spoke to them about. The Bible tells us to set your affections on things above and not on the earth. (Colossians 3:1-3). Whenever Israel felt a little turbulent pressure, they wanted to run back to Egypt.

God had given Israel everything that needed. He met all their physical and spiritual needs. (Deuteronomy 29:2-6). And yet Israel kept looking back. So, how many times do you think Israel looked back?

Well, the answer can be found in (Numbers 14:20-24). Please remember my friends, the number of times in approximation is not as important as the condition of heart at the time of the offense.

God had spoken to them often about their rebellion, when there was a land flowing with milk and honey before their eyes ahead of them. Here’s God’s own words he spoke to Israel.


22} “Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;

23} Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it:

24} But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.” (Numbers 14:22-24 KJV).


Notice the Bible says Caleb had another spirit. You can read Caleb’s own words he spoke to Joshua in (Joshua 14:6-10). Caleb followed God with all his heart and was rewarded for his obedience. He was wholehearted in his commitment to obey God?

God isa forward-looking God. Israel’s rebellion reminds me of my own rebellion as a preteen. It involved me and my brothers. My parents had just seen a new house and were making plans for us to relocate.

Of course like any child having to move away from friends is very difficult. You’re going to miss all your friends at school. When we finally moved to our new house there were many boxes that needed to be carried to our rooms.

My dad had told us at least three times to carry our marked boxes to our rooms and unpack our stuff. We just sat there reading our comic books and thinking about the school we just left. From then on, all I remember is hearing this swoosh.

It was our dad swinging is belt against our bare legs. Too bad we had on our basketball shorts (Smile). I never jumped so high in my life off a recliner. My dad’s belt was able to swat six pairs of legs and not miss once.

I guess he was tired of hearing himself talk. He gave us a chore to do, and ignoring it caused us some needed discipline. The same applied to Israel as well. God had spoken time and time again, but Israel kept looking back.

The Lord had been persevering with his people through countless illustrations of rebellious behavior, which was testing him. (Numbers 14:26-35). God is so long suffering with us. But sometimes enough is enough.


This also happened in the land of Sodom and Gomorrah. God had given instruction to Lot and his family to flee the area because God had pronounced judgement and was going to destroy it.


“For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord ; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it.” (Genesis 19:13 KJV). God had promised to spare Sodom if only ten righteous people lived there (Genesis18:32).

But not even ten could be found, because the angels arrived to destroy the city. But you can see what happens when we get comfortable with corruption after a while. Sin is like blowing dust, it just sticks to everything.

When Lot tried to tell his family what was about to happen, his sons-in-law brushed him off and mocked as if to say, “Yeah right, whatever.” It’s bringing back memories of my poor thighs after disobeying my dad about moving the boxes.

But Lot’s family paid a much deeper price than my aching thighs. Because Lot lingered (as if to snuggle next to the abomination) The angels had to grab hold of his hands and his wife’s hands and the hands of his daughters. (Genesis 19:15-17).

The angels took outside the city limits and told them to not look back. But they should run to the mountains so they would not be consumed. It seems Lot just couldn’t get out of the way of himself.

Since the first choice he made with his uncle Abraham to choose which land he would take to choosing to run into a town named Zoar. But then after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah he was afraid and ran up into the mountains.

From there, things really take a disastrous turn in that gave with his two daughters who also reacted out of fear. (Genesis 19:30-38). Of course, in between that incident and the judgement of God, we cannot forget about Lot’s wife.

They were all told not to look back at the fire and brimstone destruction God was sending against Sodom and Gomorrah. What was so bad about looking at someone else’s demise?


“But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.” (Genesis 19:26 KJV). Do you think the punishment was too harsh? What did she want to see that was so important? Was she thinking about her two sons-in-law?

Only God knew what lied in her heart. Many times, looking back at the wrath and power of God can be detrimental to your life. When Lot’s wife turned back to look at the burning city of Sodom, it seemed she must have been clinging to the past.

She was unwilling to turn completely away. Maybe she was too connected to some of her friends’ lifestyles. Maybe she felt comfortable with sinful pleasures and relationships while trying to move forward with God?

[You can’t make progress with God as long as you are holding on to pieces of your old life. Jesus said it this way in
(Matthew 6:24), “No one can serve two masters.” Light and darkness can never be one together.]

We are told to choose this day whom you will serve. (Joshua 24:14-16). Jesus even told us to consider the cost of follow him (Luke 14:25-33). There were always multitudes of people following Jesus.

But what were their reasons for following him? Many had motives that benefited themselves and no one else. Following Jesus for selfish reasons leaves you with nothing.


26} “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27} And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26-27 KJV).

[Jesus made this statement to get the crowds to think through their enthusiasm for him. He encouraged those who were superficial either to go deeper or to turn back. Following Jesus means totally submitting to him perhaps even to the point of death.]

Jesus made it clear that if he is not Lord of all, then he is not Lord at all. When God fills the space of something he engulfs it. He wants to fill your heart with his presence and love.

Jesus told those who were following to count the cost. It’s always wise to consider what your plan is before implementing it.
“For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?” (Luke 14:28 KJV).

[When a builder doesn’t count the cost or estimates it inaccurately, the building may be left uncompleted. How many people do you know who started going to church but when the persecution got a little heavy, they went back to their worldly comfort zone.]

So, what is that cost in 2023? Christians may face loss of social status or wealth. They may have to give up control of their money, their time, or their careers. They may be hated, separated from their families, and even put to death.

The word “consider” (katanoeō) is found in 66 passages in the King James Version (KJV). It may be used in the Old Testament for a variety of Hebrew terms.

In (Luke 12:24), Jesus used the word consider in his parable to the crowds in regarding the dangers of laying up treasures of wealth. Consider means to observe fully. To behold, discover, remark, observe, understand. To consider attentively. To fix one’s eyes or mind upon something.

We are highly more valuable than the flying birds you see today. It’s important to know what God says about you in his word. Many times, people won’t consider becoming a true Christian because they feel they might have to give up things.

Solomon told his readers if you’re going to get something, then get understanding.
“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” (Proverbs 4:7 KJV).

If you’re not going to consider the gospel, and how it will affect you in the afterlife, you’ll just keep getting what you are getting on this side of life. Someone once said, “If you are doing what you are doing, you’ll keep getting what you are getting.”


🗣📢 Last words: Typically, in life, all things have a starting point, right? We start our day off making choices that either brighten our day or we make choices that can possibly darken our day and give a different outcome.

When we follow Jesus in faithful obedience to God from our hearts, this leads to genuine love for God and others. Jesus never gave excuses to those who reneged on their promises to follow him (Luke 9:57-61).


“And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62 KJV). The phrase, “The cross before me, the world behind me” is still effective today.

Following Jesus does not mean having a trouble-free life. We must carefully count the cost of becoming his disciples so that we will firmly hold to our faith and won’t be tempted later to turn back.

Your response to today’s message should be to consider how you might put the Lord to the test in your own life. True born-again believers read about the Lord’s faithfulness in the Bible. 

They have seen his faithfulness in their lives. Yet, when they encounter their next difficulty, do they show evidence of belief in him, a belief that knows they can trust him through the difficulty?

Remember my beloved friends, Christ has no equal and no rival. He is the Lord of all. Consider, and then move forward without hesitation toward the prize (Philippians 3:14; 1 Corinthians 9:24-25).


🛐 Here’s a prayer you can pray to surrender. “Heavenly Father, thank you for today’s message. Your word has turned my heart. Lord, take me by the right hand and lead me in paths of righteousness.

I find joy in following you, trying to place my feet in the footprints of my Father. I know there is a cost to discipleship. I’ll count the cost Lord, but when the cost is too great, I struggle.

You’re the only one that can fix me. Help me not to linger around people, places, or things that rob my joy and peace. Lord, the spirit is willing, but the flesh continues to show its rebellious ways.

Lord, my spirit doesn’t fear counting the cost of discipleship, but my flesh most certainly does. Counting the cost makes it real because you showed me how to face it. I know that the great reward in dying to self is you. You are my exceedingly great reward.

I know you want to be Lord of my life. I’ll count the cost, Lord. The cost of discipleship commands I die too self daily. But only if you’ll help me. I need your huge amounts of grace. I want to honor you with my life. I want to glorify your name.

Help me put aside all selfish ambitions to follow you wherever you may lead. Help me die to self, so I can see things through eternity’s lens. Lord, fill me up to overflowing with your love.

You have the love that impacts this hurting world. I identify with your cross, for your cross set me free. I need your strength to carry my own cross so that others may be set free, as well.

Jesus, help me to run this race well, to finally hear you say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Well done.” Until that time may others see you in me, In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.




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“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”
Pastor Todd Boxley Worship Center Ministry


Copyright © 2020-23 Worship Center Ministry. All Rights Reserved.

icon on arched wall of orthodox cathedral

Setting it Ablaze Again

Setting it ablaze again repost of Pastor Todd Boxley’s Sermon

statue of jesus christ on mount in evening
Photo of Jesus( by Athena on Pexels.com)


Good morning, everyone. Welcome to “Try Jesus!” If this is your first time joining us, it’s great to have you with us. I would like to thank all the new members for joining “Try Jesus.” Also welcome those in Iowa, Massachusetts, Missouri, South Carolina, Michigan, and Illinois this week.

It seems like the summer is moving at a fast pace this year. Soon, for many of us, we’ll begin to see the evidence that the fall season is upon us. Why does it seem the summer breezes by and “old man winter” tiptoes at a slow pace?

Even so, we praise the God of heaven for giving all things to richly enjoy. (1 Timothy 6:17; Genesis 8:22). We certainly serve a God who is awesome in everything he does.

Let’s bless the Lord in prayer and thankfulness. “Heavenly Father, we thank you for gathering hearts into your loving presence. This is the day you have made, help us to be glad and rejoice in it.

Lord, we gather to your word, because your word gives light in darkness and it understanding to the childlike mind. Lord, open our hearts to gain understanding of your truth this morning.

Teach us to choose only your way today so each step will lead us closer to you. Help us walk by your Holy Word and not our feelings. Help us to keep our hearts purified by and undivided by your Holy Spirit.

Protect us from our own careless thoughts, words, and actions. Your mercy and love covers us that way. Help us this morning to rest in your word, that says, “Great is your love toward us.”

That’s amazing! But what’s most amazing is that the Savior of the world would desire a few minutes with us this morning. May your living message today, accomplish that which you sent it to do, in Jesus’ name, amen.”



As I mentioned earlier, these summer months seem to whiz right by. Especially when you’re traveling and having fun. How many of you love those days of inviting friends over for some good ole barbecue grill day?

Better still, how many of you love to take hold of those grilling tongs and show off your master grilling skills? There are people who love the prep time to get everything set up before you release that great smell throughout your neighborhood.

I grew up being around grills all the time. I believe I shared the story about my dad being a master griller to all the “Try Jesus” members before. My dad was not only great at grilling, he would make his own grills.

He also was enthusiastic about being the first family member to arrive at our family reunion picnic each year. To this day, I still can’t figure out why he thought he had to get out there before the sun came up to get his grill fired up and ready to go.

Me and my brothers are a testament to getting woke at 5:00 am to pack up food, drinks, grill parts, volleyball nets, and other picnic items to get to the area before anyone else. I mean, everything else in the picnic area was still sleeping.

We woke up the birds, bugs, deer, and anything else that was sleeping (Smile). If we did see a car passing through or when relatives finally did start to trickle in, they knew it was us getting things set up because they could see the fire from the grills.

My dad’s first priority was to get that fire blazing hot just the way he wanted before he would throw on those expensive cuts of meats. Whatever meats you liked, my dad had it.

But when it comes to grilling it, you can buy whatever foods you want to grill, but if the fire and coals are not prepped correctly, your food won’t have that grilling first place contest taste.

My dad wanted that fire to burn that five-star quality burn on his meats. Again, I never understood as a youth what was so important about getting up so earlier to go out to the picnic area to hear nature still snoring.

By the time the other families started showing up, we were sleep with blankets on the picnic benches. I was too tired already to play softball, volleyball, basketball, or other activities.

I did, however, enjoy watching my dad get those fires burning in all those grills. He taught us about the dangers of fire and how it can hurt you. I’ve had a few singed hairs and fingers growing up.

Some of you love being around fires. Many of you may love going to bonfires or having firepits in your backyard while roasting S’mores. It can be peaceful and comfortable sitting around discussing fun memories.

Some of you may have government laws in your states forbidding residents to have grilling or have fires blazing in their back yards. Here in Pennsylvania, many counties allow you to have them as long as you follow the state guidelines of what you can burn.

Many states and nations have lost their ability to manage their fires properly. Look at all the fires we seem to keep allowing to burn out of control and threaten citizens and their homes.

Those Canadian fires were sending their smoke down to many states in our nation. I’ve always been amazed at how many citizens know how to properly work with fires in their backyard, trim their shrubbery, trim their trees, etc.

But it seems some of our states and other nations don’t know how to properly maintain forestry management to prevent forest fires. And yet, they are still playing those old “Smoky the Bear” commercials on TV.

I’m not a forest expert, but even I know if you don’t have a controlled burn to get rid of the dead trees and dead wood on the forest floor, you will have more chance of lightening strikes hitting dead wood, or some careless camper starting a fire.

“Only you can prevent forest fires.” I remember it from my parents. But as I think about fires that have burned and destroyed for hundreds of years, there are other fires from the past that were a good, no, great thing to have happen in history.



Fires have been around forever. The God of the Bible uses fires just as my dad did, but in a more powerful and majestic way. God uses fires to pronounce judgement and he uses fire to purify and renew.

Today, I want to dive into biblical teachings about Fire. The word “fire” occurs approximately 515 verses in the KJV bible. The first-time fire is mentioned is in (Genesis 19:24). Although God did send a vision to Abram that was a smoking firepot and a flaming torch.

This fire and smoke detailed God’s holiness, his zeal for righteousness, and his judgment on all the nations. The Last mention of the word fire is found in (Revelation 21:8).

God is using fire as judgement against all who reject his love gift (Jesus). This second death will be a spiritual death, meaning eternal torment. It is a permanent irreversible separation from God.

When the Bible speaks of fire in connection with Almighty God, it describes God as being a consuming fire.
“For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.” (Deuteronomy 4:24 KJV). God is a devouring fire.

God’s jealousy is pure and holy. His love for us is so great that he doesn’t want that love fractured when we try to have another god (idol) equal with him. He makes a strong, exclusive demand on us. We must treat only the Lord and no one else in all the universe as God.

Many people don’t understand the pure holiness of God. When Moses led the people out of Egypt to mount Sinai, the glory of God came down on the mount in a cloud.

But God’s glory is described this way by Moses,
“And the sight of the glory of the Lord was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.” (Exodus 24:17 KJV).

There was also instruction given to Moses by God that the people were to be prepared by Moses to meet the Lord before his glory came upon the mount. On the third day God’s glory covered the mount.

God told Moses to set up boundaries to the mount all the way to the base of the mount. God told Moses anyone who comes and touches the mount would be put to death.

Why? It’s not because God doesn’t love the people he delivered from Egypt, it’s because the holiness and purity of God will not allow sinful flesh in his presence. Whether it was man or beast, no one would live that touched the mount.


“And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.” (Exodus 19:18 KJV).

When God goes out, one of the elements accompanying his protocols is combustive “Holy Ghost Fire.” (Psalm 97:3). Please read aloud the first six verses of Psalm 97 to gain a visual perspective on the glory of God.

[The dark clouds that surround God symbolize his unapproachable holiness and the inability of people to find him on their own. If he were uncovered, no one could stand before his blazing holiness and glory.]

From the beginning of creation, we see God made all things good, including Fire. While Fire can be destructive and dangerous when misused, when used correctly, it can also be a tool for cooking, warmth, and light. 

My dad certainly knew how to use this fire at our family reunions, but I remember, however vaguely (being a youth) the times when my mother’s mother would talk to him about the power of Jesus.

Somethings my dad seemed to brush off. But the power and fire of God (his holiness) cannot be withstood. You either surrender to it or be destroyed by it. Dealing with God’s holiness is serious business.

# Even my mother (who wasn’t a grill master), would pass on her wisdom about being burned. How so? When I was in high school, I tried to date two girls at the same time.

I would invite them over at different times. They only knew each other in passing. But one day my mother wanted to have one of those serious talks with me when I came home from school.

She told me that she didn’t want to see me get hurt. She told me I was playing with fire with these two nice girls. She then showed me a candle with the wicks on both ends.

She then lit them and said if you keep trying to burn the candle on both ends, eventually you’re going to get burned. I sort of shrugged my shoulders and said, “ok mom.”

One month later, I was entertaining one of the girls on the porch. All of a sudden, I looked up the street, and saw the other girl walking down the street. I told the one girl I had to do something for my mom.

I ran upstairs and asked my mom to tell them both I couldn’t come outside because she put me to work. But my mom just gave me this look and held up the candle. She also said she was not going to lie for me..

The fire was coming and I was going to get burned. As one of the girls rang the doorbell, my mother answered and began to tell the girls that they should confront me.

I could hear her from upstairs. I said to myself, “What is she doing to me!” I then heard her call me downstairs. That was the slowest walk down a set of stairs in my life.

After I looked out the door, the mother finished talking with the girls and said “remember ladies, boys should never be dogs.” As I stepped outside, I smiled at both girls and before I could say hi, I felt this pain on the right side of my face.

Yes, the fire had come in the form of a swift slap across my face. I just stood there and took it. Both girls then walked away. I did learn a valuable lesson that day. My mother did console me.

By the way, the two girls ended up becoming best friends. My next date, months down the road would be a girl who went to a different high school. That’s because the two girls told the other girls in school I was a two timer.

Those words spread like fire throughout the school. Again, I learned this lesson the hard way, but I never got burned again. My parents had taught me there are many ways fire can hurt you. #

Abram was a parent just like my dad. He also handled fire, but in a more serious way. He would be willing to sacrifice his only son to God. God certainly did not approve of human sacrifice (Leviticus 20:1-5). He tested Abraham.

[God did not want Isaac to die, but he wanted Abraham to sacrifice Isaac in his heart so it would be clear that Abraham loved God more than he loved his promised and long-awaited son.]

God’s covenant with Abram was serious business. (Genesis 15:1,17,18). It represented an incredible promise from God and a huge responsibility for Abram. To confirm his promise, God gave Abram a sign, a smoking firepot, and a flaming torch.

The fire and smoke represent God’s holiness, his zeal for righteousness, and his judgment on all the nations. The United States doesn’t realize the dangers its leaders place on its citizens when they bulk, mock, and disregard the holiness of God and his laws.

I will speak more about the fire that is coming to this nation and the fire God wants to ignite in his church (his born-again believers) as we proceed further into the message.

Let’s look at other ways God was involved in showing his presence through fire. In the book of (Exodus 3:1-5) fire is a prominent fixture in the burning bush story.

God appeared to Moses in a bush that was burning but not getting consumed. Fire is also mentioned in (Exodus 13:21,22) when God used a pillar of fire at night to guide the Israelites through the wilderness.

Again God’s fire like everything he uses, is different than how we approach and use fire. Everything man uses without consulting God ends in failure. I know individuals who worked in plants handling heated metals by fire.

When safety Protocols and procedures were not followed correctly, disastrous results could harm personnel. There are countless stories of people being burned at work and in the home because people failed to respect and follow fire precautions.

This actually took place in the Bible involving two individuals that mishandled fire. In the book of Leviticus, a book that is filled with dedication to worship, redemption, cleansing, and service to God. Exodus is the foundation for cleansing, worship, and service in Leviticus.

The overwhelming message of Leviticus is the holiness of God.
“Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy.” (Leviticus 19:2 KJV).

Of course, the priests were chosen to carry the leadership role in Levitical ministry. Aaron and his sons were consecrated as priests. Here’s something to always consider when we take our eyes off following God’s laws.

Aaron’s two sons, Nadab and Abihu, offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them to offer. As a result, fire came out from the Lord and consumed them, and they died.

What was the “wrong kind of fire” that Nadab and Abihu offered before the Lord? The “wrong kind” of fire could be translated “foreign” fire (Psalms 44:20; 81:9), meaning “unholy” (Exodus 30:9) or even “pagan.”

Nadab and Abihu used fire from a source not approved by God (Numbers 3:4; 26:61). As leaders, they had a special responsibility to obey God. In their position, they could easily lead many people astray.

They simply failed to respect the power and holiness of God. Nadab and Abihu abused their office as priests in a flagrant act of disrespect to God, who had just reviewed with them precisely how they were to conduct worship.

There are other examples in the Bible where many were hurt or even died because they failed to realize God’s holy presence and follow his instructions. In your spare time read about Uzza (1 Corinthians 13:7-10).

David found out the hard way when he took a census of the people in Israel and Judah. (1 Chronicles 21:1-16). Why would God have a problem with counting your citizens?

God presented the opportunity of taking a census to David in order to confront David’s personal pride (2 Samuel 24:1). The Lord would deal with Israel’s disastrous national tendency to take pride in their own military strength rather than trusting in God’s protection.

Even complaining against God can cause repercussions. (Numbers 21:5-7). Peter found out what happens when we take our eyes off him (Matthew 14:28-31). When we fail to consult God, tragedies can take place. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God in all your planning.

Toying or playing around with God can be dangerous. Yes, his love covers and protects us, but his love also will discipline us (Psalm 118:18; 1 Corinthians 11:32; Hebrews 12:11).

Again, there are ways God uses fire and other resources to show his majestic glory. Fire is used to purify and consecrate the offerings and sacrifices made in the Tabernacle. God sent fire from heaven at least six times in the Bible.

A} Fire came down from heaven to consume the sacrifice that David offered on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite (1 Chronicles 21:26). Our God is awesome and Holy. His presence is pure and undefiled.

B} The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah: In (Genesis 19:24), God rained down fire and brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah, destroying them completely. Sins consequences can be deadly.

C} Elijah’s sacrifice on Mount Carmel: In (1 Kings 18:38). God was shaming the prophets of Baal, whose god sent no fire, and claiming his rightful title as Lord God of Israel.

D} The sacrifice of Solomon: (2 Chronicles 7:1).



God sent fire from heaven to consume the offering and to begin the fire that was to burn continuously under the altar of burnt offering (Leviticus 6:8-13).

[This perpetual fire symbolized God’s presence. God also sent fire when inaugurating the use of the Tabernacle (Leviticus 9:22-24). This was the real dedication of the Temple because only God’s purifying power can make something holy.]

E} During the end-times tribulation, the false prophet will cause fire to come down from heaven as a means of  deceiving people into worshiping the Antichrist (Revelation 13:13).

F} Also, at the end of the millenium, God promises that he will destroy the armies of Gog and Magog with fire from heaven (Revelation 20:9). God does not play around with fire, he always uses it perfectly.

Later on in the New Testament, fire is mentioned in the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:3), and with the judgment that will come at the end of the age for those who reject God (Revelation 20:14-15).

Before we close for this Sunday’s awesome message, here are a few more examples of God’s awesome power using fire to accomplish his will, purpose, and plan.

Job’s flocks: Job’s livestock were wiped out by fire that descended from heaven (Job 1:16). However, the earlier part of (Job 1:12) explains that although this was a direct attack from Satan, Satan was acting with God’s approval.

It was a tragedy that God permitted, and in the end, God received the glory. Job was blessed with even greater flocks on the other side of his tribulations (Job 42:12).

The destruction of the priests of Baal: In (2 Kings 1:10), King Ahaziah sent a captain and fifty men to arrest the prophet, Elijah. Elijah called down fire from heaven that consumed the captain and his men.

I do have a fire assignment for you today. You can consider it to be like practicing those fire drills you did when you were in elementary school. Just as fire drills in school are important, understanding God’s power and glory is important.

For all the scriptures we have looked at today, please place a capital “G” meaning, God used fire for good, or place a “J” meaning God used fire for judgement. Of course, some scriptures have already been explained. 

Please designate a “G” or “J” after reading this passage. (Revelation 20:14,15) This fire is described as the final destination for those who reject God’s ways.

(Acts 2:3,4) This verse says that on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles in the form of tongues of fire. Some people thought these people were drunk. Is this “G” or “J”?

(Matthew 3:11,12) John said that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. This looked ahead to Pentecost. When the Holy Spirit came upon the 120 in the upper room in the form of tongues of fire.

John’s words also symbolizes the purifying and cleansing work of the Holy Spirit in bringing God’s judgment on those who refuse to turn from their sins (Zechariah 13:9). Was this “G” or “J”?

☆ Read carefully, some verses could be a little tricky. Also please note, water baptism does not save anyone. John baptized people as a sign that they had asked God to forgive their sins and had decided to live as he wanted them to live.

Baptism was an outward sign of commitment. I’ve always told the congregation; baptism is an outward sign of an inward work already done by the Holy Spirit.

A long time ago an elderly lady told me about people who get baptized but have never been saved. She smiled at me and said, “Their just getting wet sweetheart, they go down a dry sinner and come up a wet one. You might as well just give them a bar of soap and a washcloth.”

Water baptism is something that’s done after the Holy Spirit has baptized you in newness of life. Infant or sprinkling of water baptism cannot save you. Just read about the thief on the cross. It’s better to have the fire, right?

Ok, back to your assignment. (1 Corinthians 3:13-15) God will determine whether each individual has been faithful to Jesus’ instructions. Good work will be rewarded; unfaithful or inferior work will be discounted. So, is this “G” or “J”? Be careful.

(Exodus 3:2-4) God appeared to Moses in a burning bush that was not consumed. I did touch on this verse earlier. Remember, God can choose from his unlimited resources to communicate with us as he chooses. Remember the donkey? Is this “G” or “J”?

(Hebrews 12:29) This verse tells us God as a consuming fire. There is a big difference between the flame of a candle and the roaring blast of a forest fire.

Many of you may know people who have experienced devastating house fires. Visual Memories are quickly erased. Nothing earthly can stand in the consuming fire of God. Is this “G” or “J”? Be careful.

(Exodus 13:21,22) God used a pillar of Fire to guide the Israelites by night. God gave the Hebrews a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire so they would know day and night that God was with them on their journey to the Promised Land. Is this “G” or “J”? This should be easy.

Did you know that Christians today have that same guidance? We may not be guided by fire or clouds, but we are his pilgrims being guided by his word (The Bible and his Holy Spirit). Some people try to follow God without neither.

(Malachi 3:2; 1 Peter 1:7) God is compared to a refiner’s fire purifying his people like gold and silver. Peter also speaks of testing our faith through trials as a refining process in which our faith is tested like gold in a fire. Is this “G” or “J”? Again, think it through.

Just some more information on this amazing process. I was close to people at a plant who were employed in refining metals. In refining metals, the raw metal ore is heated with fire until the metal melts.

The impurities separate from the liquid metal and rise to the surface. They are skimmed off, leaving the pure metal. Without this heating and melting, no purifying would occur. As the impurities are skimmed off the top, there is a reflection.

(Matthew 25:41) There is an eternal fire awaiting those who reject the good news, (Jesus Christ). Jesus said this fire was not made for humans but was prepared for the devil and his angels. God did not create humans to destroy them. Is this “G” or “J”?

Please remember my friends, Jesus loves you very much. He died so you could be with him forever. Please read these comforting scriptures (2 Peter 3:9; Luke 9:54-56; 1 Timothy 2:3-6; 1 John 2:2; 4:7-10; John 3:16,17; Romans 5:8).


There are more scriptures that point to God loving us and not creating us for destruction. Please do not follow or attend churches who teach Calvinistic fallacies. Their doctrinal teaching is subtle and very dangerous and hurtful.

Most people who sit in some churches don’t even realize their sitting in a church that teaches Calvinism. And most churches that teach it won’t say it from the pulpit because they would lose many members. (Calvin 
believed God alone knows who is elect (saved) and who isn’t.  And he believed through works one was saved. But, Calvin said, a moral life shows that a person is (probably) one of the elect. Calvin himself was intensely moral and energetic, and he impressed on others the need to work out their salvation – not to be saved but to show they are saved).

Also pride can be revealed by people who think God chose them but not you. Listen my friends, if you’re a Christian, you can witness to anyone, any place, anywhere.

“If you want mercy, you can have mercy. If you want salvation, you can have salvation. If you want to be saved, on the authority of God’s Word, you can be saved.” God certainly does not ordain some people to hell.

For more information on my stance on Calvinism please watch the video on the drop-down page “TJForLife” and click on Christianity vs Cults. In 2023 have you noticed there is an increase in moral depravity in our country?

Today’s message is not a message of trying to bring fear or cause many to have panic in their lives, but there is instability around the world. Have you noticed people are doing everything backwards?

Our nation today calls good evil and evil good. We’re trying to save the planet but can’t save people in communities. Instead of getting people off drugs, we legalize and give them to them so they can destroy themselves at a slower pace.

We are locking up things in our retail stores, but we unlock the jail cells so the repeaters can get out and repeat the same crimes. We tell our children they can’t drive a car until their 16, but we allow them to make choices about what body parts to remove.

Those with wealth lock up all they have and pay much armed security in their gated community. They say they are a sanctuary receiving state, but just don’t move into our upscale neighborhood. Today we face many challenges.

God sees all that this nation has turned too. Corruption and lawlessness are spreading like a raging fire. This sinful rage is engulfing all those who are unprotected from its singe of pain. Fire is painful.

There is more fire coming to this country and all over the world. I told a friend of mine that this message was being prepared about 4 days before the fires in Maui and Hawaii.

This is just another prelude into fires that are coming at a more rampant pace. The Lord has allowed this to happen so people understand that sinful widespread corruption is like giving oxygen to a smoldering flame.

Someone wrote that “Hawaii’s fire problem is due to the vast areas of unmanaged, nonnative grasslands from decades of declining agriculture.” When states suffer from unwise leadership shortcuts, the citizens bear the brunt of it.

Some experts pointed instead to years of poor forest and brush management, in addition to declining agriculture, in Hawaii as the primary cause for the devastating fires that happened.

Did you know that God has control over nature? Do you believe God would send disasters to nations? Have you ever tried to wake up a heavy sleeper? Sometimes you have to shake them a little bit to get their attention.

The more America ignores the voice of God and goes down the path of moral decay, the fires of judgment will increase. If America continues to act with hardness the way Pharoah did, the fires of judgement will only be more severe.

But where is the church in all of this fire? Where is their burning? What kind of burning is the church doing? What happened to the fire and brimstone preaching about sin and abomination lifestyles?

Has the church become lukewarm and snuggled up to untruthful doctrines and worldly programs? Some denominations have allowed corrupt Sodom and Gomorrah lifestyles in their congregations.

Where is the Acts Chapter 2 church? Where is the Pentecostal fire of the Holy Spirit? Has the fire been put out because there is no more oil to burn in the Christian’s Tabernacle (their spiritual body).

God is holy. He is not asleep while the nation is crumbling before his eyes. God is calling his church first to wash itself from the uncleanness of idols. What church are we behaving like in Revelation?


“And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; (Revelation 2:18 KJV).

Is the church in the United States like the Laodiceans? (Revelation 3:13-19). God saves us from sin, and he will save us from death. But everything temporal, worthless, sinful, imperfect, or destructive will be devoured by the fire of his wrath (Deuteronomy 4:24).

Only what is good, true, sacred, and righteous will remain. Authentic born-again Christians need not worry of the judgement fire coming in this nation. They will be safe like the three Hebrew boys Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3:18-25).


“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4 KJV).

@ This unknown leader of somewhere said it right. Until we as the true Church get tired of playing church, we will never break out of this dark wilderness we find ourselves groping in.

You have to get tired of it all. You’ve got to get tired of the rituals, the games, the carrying on, the group getaway retreats that leave us burned out and not fired up. And all the traditional junk. We need the fire of the Holy Ghost to bring a mighty change. @- unknown



🗣📢 Last words: Here’s the simple answer that the church first must grapple with. Putting out the fire of sin starts with the body of Christ. The church must lead the way in holiness living.

“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17 KJV).

First sin must be dealt with in the church. The church cannot be the Achan family of God. (Joshua 7:19-25). True worship and oneness with God begin as we confess our sin and accept Christ as the only one who can redeem us from sin and help us approach God.

God’s people are to worship him with their lives. God gave this nation purity laws (Leviticus chapters, 11–15). He also gave us rules for daily living concerning family, and responsibilities.

Also rules for sexual conduct, relationships, values, and personal conduct and even our vows (Leviticus chapters, 18–20; and 27). These instructions involve one’s holy walk with God.

Everyone will one day be baptized, either now by God’s Holy Spirit or later by the fire of his judgment. Are you on fire for God today? Do people see you burning? Or are you just a spark covered with ashes? Why not seek God and have your spiritual pilot reignited.


🛐 Here’s a prayer you can pray to get reignited by burning hand of God. “Heavenly Father, what a tremendous day of your word causing many to spiritually lay prostrate under your fervent heat.

This is the time when true worshipers will stand before you as vessels willing to be filled with fresh fire from the Holy Spirit. Lord, may your word be quick and powerful today, piercing even to the soul and spirit.

Lord, you know us inside and out. My thoughts, my words, my actions, my motives. Examine my heart to discover what I value most. O Lord, forgive me for my sinfulness and ignoring your words of repentance.

I’m sorry for making you an afterthought around my selfish schedule. Purify my heart so that the way I spend my time will reflect how much I value you. Set me on fire Lord. Light a fire!

Burn away the crud; burn away the hardness; burn away the immorality; burn away religion; burn away anything that hinders me from reflecting you. Cast Satan and his devils from my life.

Cause the broken and blind in this country to see your glorious work in me so they see your reflection and not me. I ask this today, in your Holy name, which is above all names, powers and authorities, the name of Jesus. Amen.”



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What else is there?

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Teens discussing the Bible found on Bible.com (Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com)

What else is there? Repost of Pastor Todd Boxley’s Sermon


Good morning, everyone. Welcome to “Try Jesus!” If this is your first time joining us, it’s great to have you with us. I would like to thank all the new members for joining “Try Jesus.” Also welcome those in Georgia, North Carolina, Florida, California, Michigan, and Arizona this week.

Have you ever made plans but those plans never worked out as you wanted? Even many people that are considered expert planners (weddings, land use, environmental protection, economic development, transportation, community design, and housing) can all have their conundrums.

But the plan God has for his church (born-again believers) will never be changed or altered in any way. Philippians 1:6; Psalm 18:30; 37:5; Isaiah 46:9-11; Jeremiah 29:11). God’s plan is irreversible.

Let’s pray, “Heavenly Father, thank you for gathering those around the country this morning. Lord, today’s a new day, a chance for a new start. Yesterday is gone and with it any regrets, mistakes, or failures we may have experienced.

It’s a good day to be glad and give you thanks. Thank you for showing your presence among these hearts today. Holy Spirit, please draw those hearts that are searching for newness in their lives. Help us to new opportunities to love, give, and be all that you want us to be, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

Have you ever heard someone say to you (or someone else), “What more do you want!” Or maybe someone approached you in conversation and said, “So, what else is new?” Some of you have been getting the “same ole, same ole, stuff.

Some of you get reports about your favorite sports team having another losing season. Your response, “So, what else is new?” Happens all the time, doesn’t it? Some have suggested that the answer to this question is out there to be discovered.

Some of you grew up asking a lot of questions about “What else is there?” Have you ever been bored with doing the same things over and over again? The human life is full of doing the same things on a daily routine basis.


I recall taking some teenagers from church on a yearly trip to Cedar Point amusement park. One year, there was one teen who hadn’t gone before. All teens who wanted to go needed to have a parent’s signed consent on the form.

There were about 15 teens that went. They all had never been there before. The three- and half-hour drive was great. There was great excitement and conversations about getting on rides and eating new kinds of food.

There were also at times I heard high pitched noises. My ears are still ringing (Smile). Just teasing everyone. Teens are a blessing from God. We all had to experience what teenagers go through.

Upon arriving at the resort hotel, instructions were given as to the time we would be leaving from our rooms to drive up to the entrance. When we walked through the gate I could the teens faces.

Their heads were turned everywhere, trying to decide what to do first. We then gathered in a circle just as we had done back at the hotel when we had a moment to pray.

We thanked God for traveling mercy and thankfulness for giving us this time to reflect his love and presence in such a beautiful place. After the teens decided who would ride together on what rides, I noticed one of the teens had a downward look on her face.

The more excited the other teens were, she seemed to look more disappointed. After the teens started to branch out a little bit, I asked her if everything was ok. At first, she just shrugged her shoulders, but I gently asked more questions about her feelings.

She finally said she felt like she does at home, bored and confused about how things would go rather than enjoying each moment as it came. She also wondered “What else is there to do in this place?”

Later I found out that she came from a home of verbal abuse and unhappy living arrangements. So, she basically brought all that emotional baggage from her home 3 1/2 hours away to the park.

I then began to pray for her that the Lord would release her spirit to see all that God had given us to enjoy. I asked the Lord to deliver her from any depression that was against her. I prayed that she would forgive those who hurt her.

Imagine not be able to see or feel good about all this stuff in the park built just for teenagers, and she couldn’t grasp any of it. Did you know there are hundreds and thousands of people of all ages who feel just like this teen felt?

Could you imagine feeling board in heaven? People who feel lost in life and do not believe in a Savior who loves them have nothing to look forward to. When Covid came, many people had nothing to cling too.

There were many who wallowed in fear and anxiety. Many could not cope because they didn’t have that “peace that passes all understanding that Jesus gave to his followers when Covid came.

There was an increase of suicides among the young teens and adults. Those who trusted more in their physicians than in God found out that no matter how many shots, boosters, or mask you wore, you could still get Covid.

When people feel the need to use all that the world has for them, crossing every “T” and doting every “I” of their life, and when it all fails, they then cry out in aspiration and confusion, “What else is there!!”I remember having a fellowship meal with a small group of Christians on New Years Eve after church. We were discussing how much fun it is living for Jesus. However, I remember two people feeling a little down.I waited for a few moments and asked why did they feel down. They said they felt they were missing all the fun on New Years Eve. I asked them what they considered fun. They said it seems like many people in the world have more options to do things than Christians do. I told them, “Maybe so, but there fun at the end of their life ends in a disastrous way without Jesus.They then asked me, “What else is there for us Christians to do?” Their anxiousness reminds me of the rich man who built greater barns for his crops. He wanted to enjoy the fruits of his labor apart from God (Luke 12:16-21). They also sounded like the people who were restless because Moses took to long to come down from the mountain while speaking with God.The people started to drink, play, and made an idol to worship. They had chosen the corrupt way of the other nations (Exodus 32:1-10). So, I encouraged my friends that there are many things’ Christians can do to have fun. I told them keep the cross before you, and the world behind you. I then asked them if they wanted to go bowling or skating after our meal.They had so much fun, they never spoke about feeling envious of those in the bars. God gives us the joy of the Lord! Many are still skeptical about Christianity. They carry questions such as, “What happens after death?” “Why do bad things happen to me?” “Why is there evil?” “If there is a God, why does he allow all this evil?” “Why don’t I have any peace?”

“God where are you?” “What is the future of the world?” “What happens when I die?” “I don’t feel that God loves me.” “Why does God allow suffering?” These are just a few of the questions many people in this nation ask concerning the existence of God.

Each question can be answered from the mouth of God, which comes from his living word, “The Bible!” God understands your questions better than you could try to explain them. Trusting God with an open heart is the key.

Since true born-again believing Christians have the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, they can cling with their heart that God’s Word tells them this;


“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27 KJV).

They can also rest in knowing that God will never leave them or forsake them. “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Hebrews 13:5 KJV).

Further still, God’s adopted children know nothing can separate them from his love. 35} “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

38} For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39} Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35,38-39 KJV).

The Christian’s God is forever faithful. (1 Thessalonians 5:24; Isaiah 41:10). God constantly watches over his people. We are his precious sheep and the apple of his eye. (John 10:11-16; Deuteronomy 32:10).

There’s no denying who God is.
5} “I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: 6} That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else.” (Isaiah 45:5-6 KJV).

I could go on all day in today’s message about how Christians stand on the foundational truth of Almighty God and his Word. As the world wonders about, they blindly try to save a world that is beyond saving (2 Peter 3:10-13).

Christians rest in Christ, passing through this sinful world as pilgrims going to their new home (Hebrews 11:13). Since Jesus has defeated sin and death, he has gone to prepare a place for his authentic born-again believers (The church).

Read these powerful truths he spoke about his children.
1} “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2} In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3} And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:1-3 KJV).

There is no mincing words from Jesus concerning his protection over us in life and in death that he has prepared us to be fit for his Kingdom. Those who doubt and disbelieve about “What else is there”, will be gravely disappointed when
hey see the King of kings, and Lord of lords in all his glory and splendor.

God has left enough evidence on the earth for all of us to see that he is without question the creator of all things. (Romans 1:18-32). The Bible tells everyone on this earth, that we are all without any excuses whether God exist.

God has left enough of his handprint all over his majestic earth. There are too many amazing creations to doubt what God has done. His presence fills the whole earth beholding the evil and the good (Proverbs 15:3).

But when people deny God’s existence, they do not know that there is another presence in the earth. He once was the highest Cherub. But in his rebellion, he was defeated and cast to the earth.

His name, Satan, Lucifer, is the enemy of God. Therefore, all of God’s creation became his enemy. That’s you and me. He is called the prince of the air (Ephesians 2:2).

Paul describes Satan, the devil, as “The commander of the powers in the unseen world.” Paul pictures Satan as ruling an evil spiritual kingdom, directing the demons and those who are against Christ and the rule of the Kingdom of God.

Therefore, Jesus Christ is the permanent ruler of the whole world; the devil is only the temporary ruler of the part of the world that chooses to follow him. Satan can only do to humans what God allows him to do.

Many people think God should have just eliminated him from the beginning. God does everything according to his own plan and timing. God was not surprised by Satan’s rebellion.

God gives every heart he creates a choice to believe in him or reject him. He never forces anyone to love him. Would you like to be forced to love someone? Satan has contaminated all human life through the rebellious seed of Adam and Eve.

Today his objective still remains the same. He comes to destroy all that God called good in his six days of creation (John 10:10). Satan carries a spiritual blindfold to keep people from coming to the knowledge of truth, Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:3-6; John 14:6).

I’m here today to encourage those who have been sitting on the spiritual fence of life for far too long. I’m praying that God would free your spiritual mind to believe by the faith he gives you, that there is something else besides this broken world.

God gave you a spirit. That spirit has eternal life. It never dies. Your body dies and returns to the ground. But your spirit will live forever. This is the real you. Your body is just the shell housing your spirit. Someone said to me, “Its living like a turtle, right Pastor Todd?” Yes.

But because our spirit is defiled and corrupt it cannot enter into God’s presence in the condition it is born in. That’s why Jesus told Nicodemus, you must be born-again (John 3:3-7).

Nicodemus undoubtedly would have been familiar with God’s promise to give a new heart and a new spirit to the faithful (Ezekiel 36:25,26). He was familiar with the Old Testament teaching.

You see my friends, all of us are born through water (physical birth) from the womb. But not all are spiritually reborn. You must realize and believe that his entrance to heaven requirements are repentance and spiritual rebirth.

Jesus’ Kingdom is personal, not national or ethnic. Your skin color has nothing to do with whether you enter heaven or not. Religion is also not a requirement to gain entrance into his Kingdom.

God is a personal God and the only way you can know him is through a personal relationship. Just joining a church is not enough. Even if you spent seven days a week in church and were not born-again, you still would end up in hell.

God wants us to live deliberately and to yield all control to him. Anything else is a cheap substitute. Nothing else fulfills us. Solomon all too well understood the “What else is there feelings.”


2} “Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. 3} What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? (Ecclesiastes 1:2,3 KJV). Many people feel restless and dissatisfied.

Paul ended up with the same feelings after meeting Jesus. Everything Paul had accumulated was there for all to see. He was a loyal Jew that never lost the Hebrew speech.

His reputation proceeded itself. He was a member of their strictest and the most self-disciplined sect. In his heart he had a burning zeal for what he thought was the cause of God. He had a record in Judaism in which no man could mark a fault.

But when Paul met Jesus, he wrote off all those accomplishments as nothing more than bad debts. He joyfully stated it this way,
7} “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

8} Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,” (Philippians 3:7,8 KJV).

Even the rest of his words were just as powerful. (Philippians 3:9-14; 20,21). David also, knowing and growing in his relationship with God could say, 13} “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.

14} I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. (Psalm 139:13,14 KJV). David continued his exuberance about Gods masterful way he made him (Psalm 139:13-18).

Before we close this morning, take a quick look at some examples of other ordinary individuals who seemed to have everything, but ultimately had nothing, that is until they met Jesus. Please read the following scriptures aloud in your group or to yourself.

The parable about two men. (Luke 18:10-14). Zacchæus and Jesus. (Luke 19:1-10). The young man who had everything (Matthew 19:16-24). He walked away from his what else is there opportunity.

Right after that incident, Peter and Jesus (Matthew 19:27-30). Peter after seeing the young man unwilling to give up all his stuff (which he ended up losing at his death anyway) wondered what him and disciples would have for given up everything to follow Jesus.

[As believers, our reward is God’s presence and power through his indwelling Holy Spirit. Later, when Jesus rules and the whole world is made new, we will be rewarded for our faith and service.]

You see my friends, while you consider “The what else is there” dialog with yourself, consider this. Read verses 28-30 aloud to yourself once again. Do You see? Do you understand? You don’t lose anything, but you gain everything.

It’s call eternal life. That’s everything for all time. What can you trade for that? Jesus assured the disciples that anyone who gives up something valuable for his sake will be repaid many times.

Maybe you have longed to be loved but cannot seem to find someone who loves you just for being you. What else is there for you? When you accept Jesus in your heart, you gain the larger family of believers. Get it? Don’t we all need more God?

Finally, Paul said it best.
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12 KJV).

Jesus is the “ELSE” that’s missing in your life. He’s the empty void in all your stuff. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (14:6 KJV).


🗣📢 Last words: Just remember this my friends, everywhere you’re searching for, where that something else might be other than Jesus, is futile. People continue to look for things in the wrong places.

All your objectives, directions, goals, strategies, methods, plans, and contingencies, are like grasping at straws while sinking in deep waters. You need a lifesaving hand like Peter had.

Jesus said it this way,
36} “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37} Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36,37 KJV).

Jesus spoke about the importance of a spiritual rebirth, saying that people enter the Kingdom not by living a better life but by receiving a new life from God. One day Jesus will return again to judge the world and abolish evil forever. (Revelation 21–22).

[Solomon challenged us to find true and lasting meaning in God alone. As you take a hard look at your life, as Solomon did his, you will see how important following God is over all other options. Nothing else ultimately matters.]

Ok, so is Jesus enough for you or do you have your eyes on something else? If it’s something else, you’ll never see it again once you leave this earth. Therefore, choose the other “What else there is, a new righteousness, a new relationship, a new reward, a NEW LIFE!”


🛐 Here’s a prayer you can pray for that “What else” you need. “Heavenly Father, thank you for today’s message of seeing my life in a more abundant way. Lord, I found out today, you are my life.

You have breathed into me the breath of life, and I have become a living being. My very existence and my being flow from you. In you I live and move and have my being. You are the vine, and I am a true branch of yours. Father, you have made me alive with Christ.

Lord, I learned and believe today that you are more than what I thought could fill my life. All the other things in my life were sinking sand. Lord, today I surrender all that I thought was my life support.

I learned today that turning from sin and giving my heart to you makes me new, whole, and complete. I am in Christ, and he is in me. I claim the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus now.

I stand against every black law of sin and death and every foul power of destruction aimed against me. By the authority of Jesus Christ, I bind and banish all forms of bondage and death against me.

I stand against all spirits, all witchcraft, all foul powers. I cancel all claims against me by the work of Jesus Christ.
I take my place in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and in his life.

For I have been raised with Christ to a new life. You now are the only “what else” in my life. I present my life to you, Jesus, to be filled with your life. I choose to live by the strength of Jesus Christ and by his mighty life. In Jesus’ name, amen.”


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Pastor Todd Boxley Worship Center Ministry

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Misplaced Priorities

Misplaced Priorities – by Pastor Todd Boxley

a burning house
Misplaced priorities. Once, a woman ran back to her burning home to get baseball tickets (Photo by Zvir on Pexels.com)


Good morning, everyone. Welcome to “Try Jesus!” If this is your first time joining us, it’s great to have you with us. I would like to thank all the new members for joining “Try Jesus.” Also welcome those in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Illinois, this week.

It seems we’re having a bit of a heatwave passing through the country. Summertime is a great time to get outdoors and meet new people. Yes, it’s hot but God is in complete control over nature.

God is always great at calming things, amen? He calms storms in nature and in us. Trust that God has the world in his hands. If he controls the world, then he also controls the climate, right?

It’s hard to see God at work if you’re an unbeliever. Why? Because you need spiritual eyes to see a spiritual God. Let’s pray, “Heavenly Father, thank you for gathering hearts and minds all over this country.

Lord, we begin today by giving you thanks. Thank you for the breath of life this morning. Your love endures forever, it never fails. Though there are many ways in which we have failed, we have not exceeded the supply of your mercy and grace.

We thank you for revealing yourself to us through your word in “Try Jesus.” As we open the Bible today, we pray that we would hear your voice. We ask that your Holy Spirit would be at work, opening our ears to hear and our hearts to receive your word.

May we be transformed into your likeness. Set us apart from the world’s chaotic system. Help us to stand on your strong foundation, who is Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.”

Have you ever been ready to do something important with your family and found out there was a slight delay because somebody forgot something? It happens all the time, right?

How many of you have been involved in weddings where you were relied upon to decorate the reception hall? When people get pressed into one time event proceedings it can bring pressure.

I’ve been in situations where taking time to make the right decision is vital to the well-being of those involved. “Hey! Men also need that Calgon take me away moment, or that Southwestern commercial where you just “Wanna get away.”

But let’s face it, there are times when we must choose a direction or take a stance that may not be popular with the masses. This can cause us stress at times and cause us to misplace vital priorities.

To misplace something means to put something in the wrong place. To temporarily have a mindset of forgetting where something may have been placed. Have you ever misplaced your car keys?

How about misplacing those eye readers you rely on day after day. Ever try to read someone’s Bible who has very small print? One of my friends had a very small print Bible and wanted to know what a particular passage meant.

I looked at his Bible asked him if he hung out with Bugs Bunny in the carrot patch. (Smile). He had excellent vision. I’m sure if he misplaced his Bible, he could find it with that telescopic vision (Smile).

We all may misplace things in our lives from time to time. But does it ever affect anyone close to you? Have you ever misplaced something that didn’t belong to you?

These can become important priorities that are crucial towards peaceful resolutions. Have you ever misplaced something important that belonged to your spouse? How much tension followed by your admission?

Did you know some people misplace their priorities around trust, confidence, or affection in an unwise manner. Is it easier to find your own stuff than finding someone’s stuff? We all may have heard someone say, “I can’t remember where I put my papers.”

Misplaced priorities can be seen as giving more priority to something that indeed should require less priority from you at that point in time. Misplacing priorities will, therefore, lead to one losing that priority which was supposed to be the most important.

We’ve all had moments when our priorities weren’t quite in line. But we should never dismiss them as trivial or not affecting others the way they might affect someone else.

There are some real mind boggling silly examples of misplaced priorities that people, having gone through them, have thought to themselves, “I must have been out of my mind to do this.”

For example, many of you love your cell phones, but would give it away if it meant saving your life. One man was given a choice by a robber. He chose to get shot instead of given up his phone.

Another man dropped his phone in an area surrounded by high electrical wires. Another man dropped his phone in the toilet and got his arm stuck. There are all kinds of misplaced priorities that people make that make you scratch your head.



Why would a woman run back into a burning house to get her baseball tickets? What about a woman who went shopping and left her 3-year-old child in the car? Of course, it was extremely hot that day.

Many of you have heard of tragic stories about leaving children in a car with the windows rolled up. The woman in this story locked her keys in the car. The police came and told her they would have to shatter one of the windows to get inside.

She didn’t want the police to damage her 1999 Lexus. She understood that her son needed to get out of the car, so she came up with a compromise. Drive over a mile to her home to get her spare set of keys.

Keep in mind that her son had been in the hot car for 15 to 20 minutes at this point. Children’s body temperatures rise faster than adults. Misplaced priority? What was she thinking? Think she needs prayer about what is important?

What about someone who assaulted another roommate over girl scout cookies? She came home from work and was all set for some mouthwatering cookies.

But her roommate had come home on her lunch break and thought the cookies were a gift. She failed to look at the receipt which she mistook for a note. When the other woman came home, she attacked her and viciously beat her.

Finally, a man preferred prison time over arguing with his wife. Wow! That must have been some real misplaced communication! How did this happen? The man got into trouble with the law on a dump truck violation.

When his court day arrived, the judge put him under house arrest for a number of days. After a few days of confinement in his home, the man got into too many arguments with his wife. 



His wife wanted more help with the kids since he wasn’t working. Eventually the arguing was too much. The man left his house and drove to the police station. He actually proposed prison to married life.

He violated his house arrest and immediately turned himself in because he didn’t want to be at home with his wife anymore. The police denied his request and sent him back home.

“Ok, “Try Jesus” female members, was this man a milk-toast husband or what?” All teasing and kidding aside, this marriage was in trouble long before the violation. The communication they once cherished was broken.

Priorities, priorities, priorities, where are yours centered today when it involves God in your life? What does God say about our priorities? What are the things that matter most in life, the true priorities of life?

Let’s look at how Jesus handled a priority compared to the ones above. Look in your Bible at (Luke 13:10-17). Here we find Jesus in the place where we were accustomed to finding him, doing the work his Father sent him to do.



The Bible tells us Jesus was teaching. He was the greatest teacher that ever lived on earth. He taught the truth of God to a broken creation, us. (Mark 12:29-31; Luke 4:18).

Jesus could set his sights on others because his priorities were in the right place. When dealing with others, Jesus would often get away to pray to his Father.

I would like to categorize some these priorities Jesus throughout his ministry. #1 Priority: Jesus put his relationship with his Father first.


“And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.” (Matthew 14:23 KJV).

Those silly examples of misplaced priorities above can become life endangering to those we say we love. Jesus gave us the example to follow. Some people will use interruptions as an excuse to get away from everyday priorities. Here are proven priorities. 

#1- To love God and to love others, and to do it with all you’ve got. When you sincerely love God, you will also love others. Don’t confuse what’s urgent with what’s important (Mark 12:29-31; Matthew 6:33).

#2- How much priority do you make in putting God first at the beginning of your day? Here’s how Joshua spoke about his relationship with God. God loves you so much, he gives you a choice how to respond to his love.


“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:14,15 KJV).

Jesus likened your priorities to treasures. “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Luke 12:34 KJV). Where do you put your time, money, and energy? What do you think about most? Are your priorities aligned with Jesus? (Exodus 20:3).

[If God is the center of your life, you will make your relationship with him your highest priority. You will long to spend time with him, to talk to him, to listen to him, to think often about him, to please him, and to obey his word.]

If you want love, peace, assurance, and sanity in your home, invite God into it. Some say, “Pastor Todd, we do put God first in our home, we read the picture frame on our wall every morning that says bless this house, then we go about our own business.”

Seems something is missing. Making God a high priority should demand more time than waving at a framed picture in your home on the way out the door. Seeking God means that your heart should yearn for him.

This takes time. God always looks at our heart in determining how much of himself is in there. He wants to see an image of himself in our hearts. This time you spend is stored up in heavenly realm. (Matthew 6:33; Colossians 1:4-6; 3:2).

#3- Some people set their priorities in a disorganized fashion. Some days they put God first, other days they put their doctor over God. Some married couples put each other over God. I knew of one couple, if the wife didn’t come to church, he wouldn’t come.


5} “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6} In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7} Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. (Proverbs 3:5-7 KJV).

There is no greater priority than to love and obey God and to accept Jesus’ gift of salvation. Seeking after God’s wisdom is the way to discern right priorities.

Just simply asking and inviting God first before you start your day is wise. (Deuteronomy 10:12,13; Jeremiah 35:15; 1 Kings 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:1; 1 Peter 4:8). Be intentional about priorities. Set them and tend to them first. You’ll have fulfillment.

#4- When you fail at keeping priorities: Doing things in life apart from God brings stress, and unstable consequences. Putting your own interests first (me, myself, and I) opens you up to failing achievements.

Time has not changed human nature. Most people still reject God’s way of living. When we Ignore God’s direction it leads to confusion and destruction. Anyone who has not submitted to God will end up doing whatever seems right to them at the time (Judges 17:5,6).

@
Some of you may remember a television show called “father knows best.” The show centered around the inter-personal relationships between loving parents and their children.

Each and every episode had a wholesome message such as “What’s more important, career or family?” It’s also about how to allow your children to choose their own path in life even if you don’t approve.

Theparents made mistakes as all parents do and so did the kids, but by the end of each episode, love prevailed, and their family was secure. @- TV Guide.
Don’t all families thrive better when love (boundaries for children) is set by inviting Jesus into it?

The foundation these parents stood on was love. It helped solidify their relationship. It helped them keep their priorities in order. How much more love will God pour into your life when you invite him in? (Matthew 7:7-11; 12:11, 12; Luke 11:9-13; 12:22-28; Romans 5:7-10; Hebrews 9:12-14).

Jesus came to fix broken out of order lives. Jesus had priorities that put the person first. The Pharisees and Sadducees (and religious leaders) had priorities for the people, but they were heavy, burdensome, and hurtful.

If you are using “Try Jesus” in a small group Bible study please read these scriptures aloud to your group. Jesus exposed the religious leaders for their empty words.


“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.” (Matthew 23:15 KJV).

Jesus mentions the word “woe” (ouai) eight times against the Pharisees and Sadducees in (Matthew 23:13-29). Which is an excamation of grief. This word is similar in some sense to exclamation. It is a sudden cry or remark, especially expressing surprise, anger, or pain.

The religious leaders had a form of godliness but denied the power thereof. There priorities were filled with rotten agendas (Matthew 23:33-35; 2 Timothy 3:5).

[Jesus accused the religious leaders of shutting the door to the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus made these stinging accusations because the leaders’ hunger for more power, money, and status had made them lose sight of God.]

Their blindness was spreading to the whole nation, preventing people from entering the Kingdom of Heaven. When priorities are selfish, those following will spread falsehoods throughout the community.

Myself and all teachers and leaders today shut the door to God’s Kingdom when they elevate their own priorities, desires, traditions, or ideas above the truths of God’s Word. Some churches actually make it harder to get to heaven with outlandish rules and legalism.

We must not become so involved in perfecting the practice of religion that we forget that God is concerned with mercy, real love, and forgiveness. Misleading priorities can bring an avalanche of sorry.

Bad priorities: The cause and effect:

They can cause others to miss the pathway to heaven. They can cause a failing relationship with a loving God. They can cause people to care more about man-made traditions and programs more than God.

They can cause leaders to cross every “T” and dot every “I.” Where as they should be caring about justice, mercy, and love. They can cause outward appearances to look the part while keeping corrupt things hidden from view.

They can cause leaders to act spiritual while covering up sinful deeds. They can cause pretentious learning curves for themselves and others, while keeping present behaviors that destroy the mind and soul.


The Pharisees and Sadducees were so fixated on their hard prioritized oppressive rules, they missed the real meaning centered around the person. They were more concerned about the iron clad Sabbath laws than the effects it had on the people.

Concerning Sabbath observance, the Mishnah lists 39 primary kinds of labor that were not allowed on that day. Once again, they focused on the letter of the Law and obeyed it with pride, but they missed the weightier things of God.

Their religion was external; their hearts were not transformed. Once again, they appear to obey God, but their hearts were far from him (Matthew 15:7–9; Isaiah 29:13).

Jesus’ Sermon on the mount emphasizes the true intent of the Law over the letter of the Law. The Pharisees and Sadducees emphasized the letter, completely missing its spirit. They cared more about prestige than truth.

Now, let’s go back and look at (Luke 13:10-17). Jesus knew it was the Sabbath before he approached this woman. Seven times Jesus healed people on the Sabbath.

[God created the Sabbath for our benefit; we are restored both physically and spiritually when we take time to rest and to focus on God. For the Pharisees, Sabbath rules had become more important than Sabbath rest.]

Over the centuries, the Jewish religious leaders had added rule after rule to God’s law. Jesus offered love and healing with the law; the religious leaders just offered more stringent rules. The religious viewed the Sabbath with a narrow lens. They sought strict obedience to rules over compassion.

[They saw healing as part of a doctor’s profession, and practicing one’s profession on the Sabbath was prohibited. The synagogue leader could not see beyond the law to Jesus’ compassion in healing this handicapped woman.]

This is still going on today in the year 2023. People are being hurt more by government laws and rules instead of dealing with the true symptoms. Every time we kick God out of something, destruction and pain comes.

Jesus shamed the leaders by pointing out their hypocrisy concerning this woman. They would untie their animals and care for them on the Sabbath, but they refused to rejoice when a human being was freed from Satan’s bondage on the Sabbath.

I see this on TV infomercials when they try to humanize animals and have organizations do everything to try and place animals on the same creative platform as humans. I love animals. God gave them to us to care for.

But God gave us dominion over them. Jesus did not shed his precious blood for animals. Animals were even sacrificed as an atonement for the people’s sins.

Today, we prioritize many things over the care of humans. We lock up produce to keep criminals from stealing merchandise, but we keep releasing the same individuals to commit the crimes over and over again.

We want to save animals but destroy babies. We want to legalize drugs, but we can’t figure out why communities are falling apart with people living on streets. Cities say they want to help people get off drugs, but supply crack vending machines on the street.

I wonder if anyone thought to put Bibles in the vending machines. We want our schools and children to be safe from gun shootings, but then we want to legalize gender affirming surgeries on children.

We say the mind of a youth doesn’t fully develop until age 24, but we insist that they can make life changing decisions about body parts and who they think they might be when they are minors.

We say we care about the planet, climate, and pollution but when the activists and protesters come to an event they trash the place they are pretending to care about.

We say we care about carbon footprints but we drive big SUVs and fly personal jets to world conferences that could be conducted on zoom. We say we care about society but treat them like cattle led to be slaughtered.

We say adultery is wrong, but we promote unhealthy lifestyles in front of our children. We call evil good and good evil in our society today. And we wonder why our priorities are backwards, upside-down, and failing?

If the nation loses it’s one nation under God cover and a healthy respect for who God is, why he created us, and what he wants us to accomplish, how can we learn from the source of all knowledge if we don’t respect his Word?

God wants us to have priorities that put his glory first and then seek the highest good of every individual we come in contact with. Solomon said it so brilliantly.


13} “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14} For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13,14; also, Psalm 69:5; James 1:27 KJV).

Satan, on the other hand, wants to bring disunity, insignificance, irrelevance, chaos, and destruction to every created life. He comes to steal, kill, and destroy all that God has purposed for his creation. Satan is the author of all the evil in this world.

The good news is that Jesus is more powerful than the devil and can defeat any plan he may bring against us, if we ask him to be Lord of our lives. When Jesus returns, he will put an end to death, disorder, and division forever.

Jesus did many things that people took umbrage with without understanding why he did it. He simply loves us more than petty rules that add stature to one’s life. He did these Sabbath miracles and received pushback for doing it.

Jesus sent a demon out of a man (Mark 1:21-28).

Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law (Mark 1:29-31).

Jesus healed a lame man by the pool of (Bethesda John 5:1-18).

Jesus healed a man with a deformed hand (Mark 3:1-6).

Jesus restored a crippled woman (Luke 13:10-17).

Jesus healed a man with swollen arms and legs (Luke 14:1-6).

Jesus healed a man born blind (John 9:1-16).

Politically, why do people say something is bad for people, but if they do it, they say this is good for the people? Does an “R” or a “D” next to the name matter more than the welfare of its citizens? When laws and rules are applied selfishly the people suffer.

Blind priorities can lead to blind loyalties. Over the centuries, the Jewish religious leaders had added rule after rule to God’s law. For example, God’s law said that the Sabbath is a day of rest (Exodus 20:10-11).

When Christians claim loyalty to God, it means more than just worshiping in church; it involves truly serving others. Keeping his priorities for us on the street called straight means letting your priorities become his (Colossians 2:6-7; Psalm 1:2-3).

When you’re priorities begin to fail, go back to God and reset yourself. It’s like resetting yourself at a track and field event. When you commit a false start, you reset yourself in the blocks. God is one who gives us many opportunities to refocus our priorities.


🗣📢 Last words: Our lives tend to skip from one urgent interruption to another. And all the while, we miss what is really important. When we fail to set priorities, we will stop doing what is right in God’s eyes (Judges 17:6).

How can we distinguish true priorities from apparent priorities, like a ringing phone? Don’t’ allow worldly distractions from Satan to water down what’s vitally important in keeping your priorities clear and in eyesight.

The Bible always sets your priorities in order from start to finish. (Philippians 1:6; Proverbs 3:6; 1 Corinthians 1:8; Romans 8:28-30; Titus 3:4-6).

Seek his will in all you do, and he will prioritize all he has for your life. You are always the apple of his eye. God is more dependable than the US Postal Priority Mail. SO, GET PRIORITIZED!



🛐 Here’s a plumbline prayer you can pray. “Heavenly Father, thank you for today’s message. I have procrastinated far too long. I need renewed priorities in my life. Lord, I come into agreement with your powerful name.

Whether I’m by myself or with others around me, you are in the midst of my life. I know you will answer my contrite heart. There is no distance from your Spirit and mine when I call your name.

Lord, open the eyes of my heart and help me consider the new priorities you will guide me in. I place all my priorities each day in your hands so you will be glorified in the decisions that are made.

Rearrange my daily priorities so I can rest in you and be flooded with your peace. Help me to have all things concerning you with proper balance. Help me invest in the present, but also in eternity.

Thank you Lord for the possessions you have given me to be a good steward over. They are temporary but used for Kingdom blessings. Help me to manage priorities for long life. May these resources you’ve given me help others.

Father, help me always organize with your wisdom. I want to invest wisely with your priorities so you will be pleased. I pray you help me to manage time wisely.

Lord, strengthen me to further your priorities that will further your Kingdom and outlast this earth. I decree and declare and receive everything you give in the wonderful and precious name of Jesus, my Lord, amen.”


*Help spread the word by sharing this web site and messages on your platform.

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”
Pastor Todd Boxley Worship Center Ministry tryjesus.com

photo of cathedral surrounded with plants under blue sky

Something In Common

shallow focus photography of brown wooden folding table with chairs
Have you ever set something down on a table that wobbled? (Photo by soyluoglu on Pexels.com)

Something in common

Repost of Pastor T. Boxley’s Sermon.


Good morning, everyone. Welcome to “Try Jesus!” If this is your first time joining us, it’s great to have you with us. I would like to thank all the new members for joining “Try Jesus.” Also welcome those in Alabama, Alaska, North Carolina, Tennessee, Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota this week.

Have you ever sat something down on a table that wobbled? The first place you usually look are the legs under the table. To keep everything on the table stable, you need to make sure the legs are sturdy.

Does it feel like many things in our nation today are on a wobbled stand? It doesn’t take much for things to fall when weight is placed on that wobbled weak leg. Without our God, our nation is destined to fall.

Let’s pray, “Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us your continued breath of life today. Thank you for gathering hearts and minds together. Lord, surround us with your powerful, life-changing presence.

Thank you Lord, that your foundation stands secure and immovable. Thank you for being our precious tested and tried cornerstone in Zion. Thank you for loving each of us and for calling us to walk with you. We come before you as we meet and declare our dependence on you.

Fill our hearts with your love. Open our understanding by the Spirit of truth. May the joy of the Lord be our strength today, may your living word resuscitate hearts today, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

How well do you get along with others when playing a board game, you don’t understand? Have you ever been caught in the middle of a disagreement on how people want the game to be played?

I’ve played some games (such as Monopoly) and others where people make up new rules as they go along. When there’s big debate conversations about the game as you’re playing, it takes the fun out of the game.

Doesn’t it seem that when you, family members, or friends get together for day of fun and laughter, there’s always that one or two individuals that come with controversy.

I’ve always thought that some people just like to “throw a fly in the ointment” to get dissension started before the fun gets underway. I been through this a number of times with friends and family.

I used to get together with two very close friends of mine on the weekend from time to time. We would plan out our schedule by eating at a fine restaurant.

Since one of my friends was a chef himself, we would usually let him decide which restaurant we would dine at. Everything would always be great, that is until our food was brought to our table.

Being that our friend was a chef, he had this insatiable habit to critique the food before we could even enjoy it. I and my other friend would tell him the food looked and tasted great. But he would call the waiter and have him reheat or recook his order.

Sometimes he would ask for the manager and tell him he wouldn’t pay for the meal because it wasn’t the right temperature. By the time me and my friend had received our dessert, my friend was still waiting on his perfect entrée to arrive.

Of course, by the time we got in the car to maybe go play some basketball, or go bowling, the day started to slip away. We were a little frustrated and sometimes just go back to my mother’s house where our other cars were parked.

My mother, who loved to see us always together, would always see us in debating conversations. She would explain to us that she’s never see so close friends seem like they have everything in common, but nothing in common.

She then gave us the nickname, “The three stooges.” We did have a lot if things in common, but at the end of the day, it seems we couldn’t agree on how it would start, or how it might end.

It’s been said that opposites attract one another. It’s also been said that opposites can compliment one another. When you started dating someone, did you look for things you had in common or things that were opposite from your personality makeup?

How different are you than your spouse? What about your friends or children? In regard to dating and marriage the Bible has something to say how Christians date on a common ground interest.

Spiritually they are not to be unequally yoked together. (1 Corinthians 6:15-20; 7: 39; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18). Many single Christians have tried to force or put together common interests that spiritually don’t work.

I’ve counseled some individuals who ran into serious problems because they married someone who wasn’t an authentic born-again believer. Some people think they can change people by forcing Christianity on them.

I told one woman who was dating an unbeliever to be careful because “if you marry him, it’s like getting the devil as your father-in-law.” There is never common ground between light and darkness.

There have been many well told stories of what can happen when you try to coerce someone into something they’re not ready to receive. It’s like forcing a piece from a puzzle into a place that doesn’t fit. How do you balance a difference?

Do your differences support each other’s weaknesses? I feel that no matter what side of seesaw opposite end you sit on, eventually you come to the middle to balance the whole in your lives.

Having common ground in life can be easy until it’s not easy. There needs to be agreement and peace mixed in that common ground. Have you ever jumped off a seesaw without thinking about the other person?

That quick fall to the ground comes without warning and causes discomfort in the end, (literally your end). People who are argumentative rarely think about meeting in the middle to bring about a peaceful resolution.

Common ground is not hard to find when you invite the one into it who always stands on Holy ground. God created us to have many things in common. Some are easily noticed. For example, we all have to eat, right?

Some love to get in the kitchen (like chefs) and mouth watering meals. Cooking meals together with loved ones and even friends can bring common ground enjoyment.

From special events to family gatherings, when you say everyone bring a covered dish, and food is on the menu, someone who loves food will say “I’m bringing an appetite!” (Smile).

Jesus knows all too well how much people love food as he blessed the food he gave and fed 4,000 and 5,000 people respectively. He also served his disciples with a delicious meal before getting to serious conversation. (John 6:1-14; 21:9-19; Matthew 15:32-39).

Of course, Jesus told those who came to him that it wasn’t the miracles and signs but the food that filled their bellies that kept some coming to him (John 6:26,27). Many people today still use food for the wrong reasons.

Many religions still use food to try and draw up attendance numbers in their congregations. They will also use it to help in financial endeavors for the church.

Another thing we all have in common is sleep. Everyone has to sleep at some time, right? I realize there are some people who suffer with some form of insomnia. I have a friend who used to call me for prayer because he couldn’t sleep.

Pray for people who suffer in this. The Bible says we can have peaceful rest and sleep in Jesus (Psalm 127:2). Of course, I sympathize and pray for common ground solutions for those who are married to those wives or husbands who snore (Smile).

We all have to live somewhere. There certainly is common ground in this area. Today, we see individuals in some cities living in tents. Some of these cities have adopted the name “sanctuary” for the homeless epidemic.

There is nothing sanctuary looking about these places. They do not have a utopian palace look to their surroundings. Jesus came to free people from the corrupt bondage that binds them in places like these.

Jesus came to tell us about a place he’s prepared for us that is anything like a tent to live in. (John 14:1-3). However, not everyone will end up living in these homes he has prepared for us. Some people will leave their tent to a much worse place with no dwelling.

Let’s move along briskly with some more things we have in common. We all tend to get sick. We all get old at some point. (At least most of us.) My testimony involves my niece dying at the age of seven. (Psalm 103:3; Proverbs 18:14).

Death of course is common to us all. (Hebrews 9:27). Many people try to block this event from their mind because it brings about thoughts of everything ending.

There is a finality to it. Many fear it because they can’t see life beyond it. Only Jesus can give us life beyond this one. (John 10:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Psalm 89:48; Hebrews 11:5).

We have commonality of all coming from parents. It is still a fact that all creation has come through the legs of a female (woman). No male on earth were given the parts to house an embryo. Satan is the architect behind perverted immoral lifestyles in our nation today.

We all come from the sinful seed of Adam and Eve. We did not originate from primates. (Romans 1:18-32; 5:8-12; 17-21). And because this seed of sin was spread from Adam and Eve, God’s love, righteousness, and holiness moved him to act on the sin spread. (Genesis 6:11-13).

Many people who do not know or understand how a Holy God could decide to wipeout an entire people. God’s purity cannot tolerate sin. If one speck of sin was allowed to enter his glorious home (heaven), everything would be corrupted.

But God saw something in his creation that would signify how much he loved them. Why? Because after the birth of Seth, his son’s name was Enos. Look at how God saw the heart of some men.

religious artwork
Photo of Jesus. God had a plan since the sin of Adam and Eve that Jesus would defeat Satan the originator and tempter of man. ( by Pixabay on Pexels.com)


25} “And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. 26} And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the Lord.” (Genesis 4:25-26 KJV).

So God still held his plan from the very beginning (Genesis 1:26-28; 3:14,15). Satan the originator and tempter of man had signified his own demise. (Isaiah 14:12-15). The blood of Jesus would defeat Satan forever.

Satan is a counterfeiter in that he tries to duplicate what God does, but it is to his own ruin. God and Satan have absolutely nothing in common. Light and darkness have no fellowship together.

Did you know there is a well-known religion that places Satan and Jesus as spirit brothers? That they were both created? Let me know if you can guess which religion teaches this erroneous lie.

Some people will say to me, “Pastor Todd, my siblings and I have a lot in common, blood is thicker than water.” My response is always the same. Yes, God gave us families to love and support one another.

But Jesus came to bring light in all families. Many of you have unsaved family members. Jesus is the prince of peace, but sometimes that peace is disturbed when someone in the family becomes an authentic born-again believer.

Jesus spoke these words about families.
34} “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35} For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36} And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.   37} He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38} And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:34-38 KJV).

When the glorious light of the gospel comes into families, that common unholy alliance becomes unsettled. Yes, we should strive for peace, but when light and darkness get together there can separating opinions.

When I first became a Christian (born-again) I knew my life was on a new common ground with Jesus. All the musical partying concerts me and my siblings went to together stopped. All the wild house parties stopped. All the girl chasing stopped.

They began to look at me differently. They would sometimes have negative debates with me about Jesus and sin. In so many ways I was seen as a fanatic. Did your coming to Jesus upset the common ground in your family?

Christian commitment may separate friends and loved ones. Jesus was not encouraging disobedience to parents or confrontation at home. Because some will follow him and some won’t, conflict will inevitably arise.

Family and friends may see our new faith as rejecting them personally, as we turn from our former beliefs, activities, and life choices. Sometimes they can resent your life being new. Joseph went through this with his family.

Love of family is important, but even this love can be self-serving and used as an excuse not to serve God or do his work. When you get saved your commitment to God should be your first priority.

Noah was one man who made a commitment to follow God. His common ground with the people that rain was coming changed their thoughts about him.

But when the floods came, God would preserve eight people on the ark. Noah, his wife, three sons, and their wives. This stands to reason we all came out that ark. There were a variety of nationalities that came from that ark.

Some people don’t understand how the races came to be. Just simply go and read the tower of Babel in (Genesis 11:5-9). The people had much in common then. The people chose to be a monument, but it was a monument to the people themselves rather than to God.

The people still had this ingrained common ground call sin. It would continue to sprout itself as time moved on. Our emotions came off that ark. We all have common emotions. We all laugh and cry.

We may all get angry at times. And when we get angry, we sometimes do things we shouldn’t. And why do we do all these things from A-Z? Because we are all sinners. (Romans 3:23). We all caught the sin sick cold from Adam.

Does that give us excuses or a way out of our sins? No. We are still held accountable for our own actions. It’s always easy to point blame away from ourselves. But God made it clear we are responsible for our own sins.

We will never stand at the throne of Jesus and turn and point and say he/ she made me do it. (Deuteronomy 24:16; Jeremiah 31:30, Ezekiel 18:18-32). People who end up in hell are not sent there because God chose them to go there.

God never sends anyone to hell; they send themselves there because they reject their only hope of redemption. It’s not God’s will that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9; Isaiah 1:18-20; Ezekiel 18:32; 33:11).

Again, many people who held on to their disbelief in God have much in common. They may have uttered words like, “I hate God! Jesus is not the only way, there’s nothing wrong with lying, adultery is ok, its ok to steal, we’re all gods, I love sinning.”

But there is a way to be on common ground with God. You don’t have to be eternally separated from God. All you have to do is repent, turn from sin, and tell God you’ve sinned and that you believe Jesus died for you.

Please read aloud in the Bible these verses (Romans 10:8-13). After sincerely praying “God, I’ve ruined my life. Please forgive me. Jesus, I believe you washed my sins away on the cross. Be my master and take me to heaven, thank you Lord, amen.”

If you just prayed this prayer sincerely, you now have something in common with those who are going to heaven. Some think this is too easy. They think they must earn their way to heaven by working long hours on the mission field.

They think they must feed a million people, or give a million dollars, maybe knock on a hundred doors. Reading the whole Bible. Never miss church attendance. Remember my friends, Jesus came to earth to do what we couldn’t do, save ourselves.

For those who try to reach God by choosing their own way to God, they are in for a startling surprise. Jesus spoke about man’s religious ways of seeking God (John 10:1-5). It is impossible to reach a Holy God by man-made religion.

Jesus said these powerful words over two thousand years ago.
21} “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.   22} Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23} And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:21-23 KJV).

🗣📢 Last words: Not everyone who talks about heaven belongs to God’s Kingdom. Jesus is more concerned about our walk than our talk. (Titus 3:3-5; Ephesians 2:8,9; Galatians 2:21; Romans 11:6; Romans 3:20-30; Ecclesiastes 3:1-11).

[Most religions prescribe specific duties that must be performed to place a  person on common ground with any god. Christianity uniquely teaches that no good deed we do will make us right with him. To be on his Holy common ground we must accept his redemption standards.

No amount of human achievement or progress in personal development will close the gap between God’s moral perfection and our imperfect daily performance. Doing good is important, but it will not earn us eternal life.]

Today, you get to choose. Don’t miss your opportunity to have something common with God. Jesus has nothing in common with the world. (John 7:7; 15:18-25; 1 John 2:15-17). Take heed by words God sends out daily (Joshua 24:14,15).


Common Ground- I accept Jesus on his Holy ground and ask him to be Lord of my life.

Uncommon Unholy Ground- I’ve thought about it and choose to go my own way. I think Christianity is all nonsense.

When this current earth is no longer here, there will be two judgments everyone will appear at. Believers will be at one Judgement and unbelievers will be at the other.

We all deserve to be at The Great White Throne Judgement, but God sent Jesus so we could choose life or death. The great thing about genuine love is, it doesn’t force you to accept it.

Jesus came as the God-man. He was God coming to love and live among his people. He offered himself up close and personal. (John 1:1-14; 8:24; 10:17,18, 30;  Colossians 1:14-20; Philippians 2:6-11).

Some people think they can get on common ground with God by accepting him but not his son. Or some say, “Yeah, I’ve read the Bible, and I like Jesus, but I don’t like the God of the Old Testament.” But they’re actually exactly the same. If you reject one you reject both.


GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGEMENT- Unbelievers common ground and meeting place at death. (Revelation 20:10-15; 21:8).

JUDGEMENT SEAT OF CHRIST- Believers common ground and meeting place at death. (John 5:24; 10:27-29; 2 Corinthians 5:8-11; Revelation 3:5; 22:14; James 1:12; 2 Timothy 4:8).


A long time ago someone asked the question, “What do I have to do to go to hell?” The other person simply stated, “Just don’t do anything and you’ll find yourself there.” There are no excuses in front of Jesus. (Philippians 2:9-11).

Common ground with God makes you stand on solid rock (Psalm 40:1-3). Today, if you want common ground move your heart to higher ground.


🛐 Here’s a prayer for getting your heart in common with God’s heart. “Heavenly Father, thank you for today’s message that made your word a lamp unto my heart and light on your narrow path.

Lord, Sometimes I think I’m on good common ground until it turns out to be quicksand from the enemy. Please help my heart and feet to stand on your promises so that all the other ground is sinking sand.

Each day you weigh my heart, and you know my intentions. Instead of my flesh being my internal guide, let your Spirit instruct me on the way that I should go. I pray that I become sensitive to hearing your instruction so that I know what to do.

Lord help me to live righteously with you and set apart from the world. Let your will be done in my life and let the plans that you have released in heaven, be aligned here on earth.

I pray that I understand your purpose for me so that I do not stray from it or forget it. Let my desires become aligned with your purpose so that I am not conflicted in my lifestyle. This is the prayer of my heart, in Jesus’ name, amen.”


*Help spread the word by sharing this web site and messages on your platform.


“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”
Pastor Todd Boxley Worship Center Ministry tjforlife.com


Make Up Your Mind

white and red house near road
Church Photo (by M Hardy on Pexels.com)

Make Up Your Mind
Reposting Sermon of PastorTodd Boxley


Good morning, everyone. Welcome to “Try Jesus!” If this is your first time joining us, it’s great to have you with us. I would like to thank all the new members for joining “Try Jesus.” Also welcome those in Washington, Maryland, Indiana, Vermont, New Hampshire, Missouri, and Indiana this week.

Have you ever been undecided about something? How long did it take you to come to your decision? Did it involve others? Did your decision cause division or conflict?

Since we are moving along through summer, many families are still undecided about where they will be vacationing. Have you ever gotten together with friends and had to decide where you would go to have a fun day?

I grew up in a family where we needed a judge and jury to help us decide where we would all go to have a fun day (Smile). Thank God we had parents who at times would tell us, “Just get in the car, and you’ll find out when we get there.”

Making up your mind can be exciting, or it can be frustrating. Have you ever told your spouse or children, “Make up your mind, we don’t have all day!” Have you ever waited on a family member or friend to decide which movie to attend?

What makes it so frustrating is, by the time you get to the theater, the movie has started. This undecided choosing leads to missing the previews and maybe figuring out the best time to go to the snack bar.

I have spoken to couples who couldn’t make up their mind whether they wanted to get married or stay single for another year. I remember a friend of mine who waited nine years to marry her boyfriend.

I remember asking her, “What are waiting to find out after nine years?” She told me he was unsure about settling down. I told her “Well, if his mind is still unstable after all these years, he’s probably not going to fully commit to the relationship.”

I believe there is a passage in the word of God that reads, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:8 KJV). Please read the previous verses to gain the full understanding of where today’s message is going (James 1:6,7).

I asked my friend who was hoping to marry this gentleman, “After nine years you should know everything about his decision making.” She told me he just has cold feet about getting closer. “Well if his feet are cold after nine years, how will it take for you to thaw them out once you’re married?”

Some people just can’t seem to make up their minds about issues that affect their decision making. Some people are heartbroken because they waited too late to make up their mind.

Many people start off their day with indecision. My mother used to use the word capricious. She would say some people are fickle. It’s hard to count on people who are always unstable.


Whenever our families would get together for picnics, we would choose which family members would bring certain items. There was one person who my mother thought was unreliable when it came to bringing the items we needed to the picnic.

Looking at some common causes for why people cannot make up their mind, I came across a medical term. It’s called Aboulomania. I had never heard of this before now.

It is defined as someone having indecision and an inability to, or difficulty in, making any kind of choice in a person’s daily life. This significantly affects functioning, specifically the ability to function socially, making it difficult to maintain family and personal relationships.

Could be this was my friend’s issue on her fiancé after dating him nine years to see if his mind was made up. Why do people wait unnecessarily at the last minute to make decisions? Why do people procrastinate?

In the scientific world psychological research suggests that once our minds are made up on important matters, changing them can be as difficult as stopping a train hurtling at full speed, even when there’s danger straight ahead.

Sometimes our decision making is like superglue. We resist facts and get stuck in neutral on most topics. Most of us have a strong drive to hold on to pre-existing beliefs and convictions, which keep us anchored in the world.

We can’t make up our minds because our minds are not anchored to anything concretely resembling facts and truth. In today’s society you can identify as being whatever you choose for that day. Many people’s minds are like ships lost at sea.



We’ve all heard the phrase “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.” The Bible has many things to say about our minds. Mind in the Hebrew (Leb) involves the heart, feelings, will, and intellect. (Numbers 16:28; Nehemiah 4:6).

Mind in the Greek (Nous) involves the intellect, the mind, in thought, feelings, and the will. (Romans 12:1,2). When our minds are focused on God, we seek after knowledge and wisdom
(Colossians 1:9,10; Proverbs 1:7; 4:7).

Today, your mind is in need of right thinking. This can be accomplished by focusing it on Jesus Christ. In doing so you learn unity, humility, joy, and peace. Right thinking also involves putting off and putting on. (Philippians 4:8; Colossians 3:5-11; Ephesians 4:17-24).

Unstable minds can never choose anything because their mind is not anchored to any truth. The gospel for wavering minds is the same way. Have you ever heard anyone say, “I’ll cross that bridge when I get to the other side.”

Many people feel they have plenty of time to make a decision on whether they want to accept what the Bible says about salvation. They forget that the Bible tells us tomorrow is never promised (Matthew 6:34; Proverbs 27:1; James 4:13-15).

Many people with undecided minds (wishy-washy) on the message of the cross and salvation are living on borrowed time. They have no idea of their future destination, people call the “afterlife.”

Many skeptics shout out the question “Why should I?” They put themselves on God’s time of grace. But like all things on this earth, time eventually runs out. Here’s the simple answer to those who don’t believe in God, Jesus, or life after death.




Time eventually runs out on your natural life. Everyone eventually dies and goes into the dirt and dust of the earth. However, everyone on earth has something called a soul. God created the soul with his own breath (Genesis 2:7).

Since God is eternal and has neither a beginning nor an ending. His breath gave everlasting life to Adam. The body is a lifeless shell until God brings it alive with his breath of life. The life you have comes from God’s Spirit.

God created the universe and the earth, and all the souls on the planet. (Psalm 24:1). It is God who chose to give us the mysterious and miraculous gift of life. But because one act of disobedience (sin), brought death (Adam’s seed), all people die (Genesis 2:16,17).

Some people may wonder, why would God place a tree in the garden and then forbid Adam to stay away from it? Because real love doesn’t use force to coerce someone to obey or follow you.

Would you want to marry someone who forced you into saying marriage vows and words “I do?” Your relationship would be doomed from the start. When two people come into a marital relationship, they do so mutually together.

God placed the two trees in the garden as an object lesson of choice, obedience, and genuine love. Today, I’m trying to make this message as simple as I can. This message is for those who are living an “Humpty Dumpty” lifestyle.

Many people know there’s a greater power than themselves, they just are reluctant to surrender their life to him. They sit on that wall of life listening to everyone who comes by while rolling closer to the edge of spiritual death for their soul.

Once the soul dies in an unregenerated state, there is no putting it back together (just like Humpty Dumpty). The soul continues to live after death. It will continue to think, speak, see, hear, get thirsty and remember everything.


The first time I saw this video about the fires of Hell, one pastor said some of his congregation came up to him and said, “Hey pastor, that video scared the hell out of me!” He said, “Great! Isn’t that the point.” If hell has not engulfed you, then heaven can fill you.

Your soul is the most important thing on this earth. Making up your mind about eternal life is not that difficult a choice once you realize what’s at stake. Jesus spoke a great deal about the soul and hell.

The problem is, no one ever thinks about his soul. That’s because we come into this world wrapped in sin and spiritual blindness. Satan works overtime to try to keep you from coming to the light of truth so your spiritual eyes will be open. (2 Corinthians 4:3-6; John 8:12; 9:39; 1 Corinthians 2:14; 1 John 2:11).

David said these words after his fall with Bathsheba.
“Behold, I was shaped in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Psalm 51:5 KJV). David didn’t use his sin as an excuse, he acknowledged how important his relationship was with God.

God forgave David, and their relationship was restored. People sometimes carry around great burdens of guilt thinking God won’t forgive them of what they’ve done. No sin is too great to be forgiven.
God can and will forgive you of any sin if you ask him to and turn from it. He will cleanse and purify you.

Please read aloud to yourself what God says about eradicating sin from your life. Jeremiah 31:31-34; Micah 7:19; Isaiah 1:18; Psalm 103:9-14). A sea of forgetfulness represents a place where our sins are sent very far away from us, so that they can no longer affect us.

Many people who have procrastinated on their own soul by rejecting their only hope of eternal life are weeping real tears from a place of torment from which there is no escape. God has been warning the world of this place since creation.



The plan of salvation is God’s choosing. There are not ten different religions or ten different books, or ten different steps to get to eternal life. Making up your mind about Christ is about surrendering your life to him.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6 KJV).

25} “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26} And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? (John 11:25, 26 KJV).

Jesus left heaven for broken people and those who may be straddling the fence of life (Luke 4:18-21). He isn’t just like another religious guy. He sits above Allah, Buddha, and the pope. Jesus created the universe and everything in it.

Please read the following verses aloud to your soul (John 1:1-5; 14:1-3;  Colossians 1:13-22). Because Jesus is God he is able to keep your soul from ending up in the lake of fire (Revelation 2:11; 19:20; 20:10-15).

Some people are deceived by other religions and Satan believing that we are all God’s children and that a loving God would never send anyone to hell. Please understand my beloved, God doesn’t send anyone to hell.

When people reject Jesus (the only source of redemption) they send themselves to hell. The narrow road is narrow but it’s still wide enough for all who receive Jesus to walk on it.

Earlier I spoke about Adam and the seed of sin passed on to us. So, by nature (flesh) we are Adam’s children not God’s. We are created by God but separated from him by sin (Romans 5:8-12; 17-21; Galatians 3:26-29).

[When we are joined with Jesus in (salvation) baptism, we put on his righteousness like new clothes (2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 4:23-24). We take up a new identity and a new nature.]

Someone once uttered the words “What have you got to lose?” Well, Jesus came along and said,
35} “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.

36} For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37} Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:35-37 KJV).

What deal can you make with someone who owns everything? God is the owner of every soul on earth. But because
of Adam’s sin seed passed on to us, we are therefore spiritually children of the devil (Romans 5:19; John 8:43-45; Ezekiel 18:4).

Every unbelieving soul is eventually going to face Jesus in Judgement. Those who die in their sins will stand before him at the Great White Throne Judgement. God’s books will be opened. (Revelation 20:15; 21:8).

True authentic born-again believers will not appear at the Great White Throne Judgement. Only unbelievers will appear before the Great White Throne judgement. Only Christians will stand at the Judgement seat of Christ. (Romans 14:10-12; 2 Corinthians 5:9,10; Revelation 22:12).

@The judgment seat of Christ involves a time in the future when believers will give an account of themselves to Christ. unbelievers. As Jesus taught in his parable, the king is going to return, at which time he will require an account from his servants (Luke 19:11–26). @

[While eternal life is a free gift given on the basis of God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8-9), each of us will still be judged by Christ. This judgment will reward us for how we have lived.

God’s gracious gift of salvation does not free us from the requirement of faithful obedience. All Christians must give an account on the Day of Judgment for how they have lived (see Matthew 16:27; Romans 14:10-12; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15).]

Jesus left heaven to come to sinful humanity simply because he loves us. (1 John 3:1; 4:9-11). He has presented the truth to me and you.
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6 KJV).

When Jesus came to this earth, he loved his creation, but they rejected him. There are still many today who hate Christianity and hate Jesus. But Jesus fulfilled his mission. He gave his life for them anyway. (John 3:16; 15:13, 25; Acts 20:28).




Today, for those of you sitting on the fence of your life, the only way to have assurance of eternal life is to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Romans 10:8-13). If you value life, then your soul is valuable to God.

Trust Jesus alone to save your soul. If you turn from sin and pray right now and ask Jesus to come into your heart and life, he will. This is the only way your soul can be saved from the lake of fire.

Some people think they have a lifetime to eat, drink, party, and live like there’s no tomorrow. Well that no tomorrow is coming, and it could be today. We just went through a pandemic where those who made plans for 2023 are no longer here.

This is not a message of fear for those teetering about their indecision whether to believe what the Bible says about heaven and hell. Your soul will live forever, but your destination will determine what you decide about Jesus.

Don’t think because it’s a free gift (salvation) you have time to accept it. You’re not even guaranteed the next ten minutes of your life. Many of you, I’m sure have received a phone call telling you your favorite relative has passed away.

You were filled with surprise and grieve because you had just seen them and they were the picture of health. The Bible speaks about trying to live past tomorrow (Proverbs 27:1; James 4:13-15; Matthew 6:33,34).

Don’t be fooled by what you might think is normal in the country as usual. Look around, things have changed drastically in the last 20-40 years. The world is not as safe as it used to be.

Jesus is still coming again. Yes, people will continue to hold on to a world that God says is going to be destroyed with a fervent heat. (2 Peter 3:10-13; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 1 Corinthians 15:50-53; John 5:28,29).

True believers know and understand this world is a temporary home. We shall live with Jesus in the new heaven and new earth. (John 14:1-4; Revelation 21:1-7). But God’s wrath is coming to all who rejected him. Revelation 3:10-13; 6:15-17; 16:1-16).

Great tribulation is coming. Jesus spoke about coming events (Matthew 24:21-27). If you don’t make up your mind and heart, Satan will make it up for you, but he’ll destroy your soul in the process (John 10:10; Revelation 14:9-11).

There is no middle or neutral ground when it comes to making up your mind about whether your soul is lost. You can trust Jesus right now for the sacrifice he made for your sins and receive his gift of salvation.

Many people today still scoff at God’s offer of eternal life and shout “Why should I?” Well, without Jesus you are spiritually dead inside. You might not think so, but Satan has blinded your spirit from seeing the truth that sets you free.

This same scenario played out with a man named King Agrippa. Paul had experienced his own deliverance in meeting Jesus. Beginning with a compliment to Agrippa, he told his testimony(story), including the resurrection of Jesus. Paul’s mission was to preach the Good News to the Gentiles. (Acts 26:1-23).

Paul was risking his life for a message that was offensive to the Jews and unbelievable to the Gentiles (1 Corinthians 1:23). Jesus had received the same response to his message (Mark 3:21; John 10:20).

When it comes to people hearing the truth, there’s always that one skeptic that destroys the moment when the seed of truth is ready to be planted. Thus was the case with a man named Festus (Acts 26:24).

Today many people reject God because the masses say Christians are crazy, fanatic, pushy, and lunatics. Being called a Jesus freak, I wear it as an honor to the Lord. King Agrippa heard Festus shout those words at Paul.

Going along with the in-crowd could keep your soul out of heaven. Agrippa responded to Paul’s presentation with a sarcastic remark. He sat on that teetering seesaw of life and death and without realizing it, chose death. (Acts 26:28).

There is no such thing as “I’m sort of a Christian” or I’m halfway a Christian. A woman I knew at church before becoming a pastor told me one day, “People who try to live on the fence, have one foot on a banana peel and the other foot in the grave.”

Paul made a personal appeal to which he hoped all his listeners would respond. Christians should always stick to the facts when sharing the gospel with an undecided mindset.

[During Paul’s time people were still alive who had heard Jesus and seen his miracles; the empty tomb could still be visited; and the Christian message was turning the world upside down (17:6).]

If you have loved ones who haven’t made up their minds about accepting Jesus as Lord, continue to love on them with compassion and respect. Real love never pushes or forces itself on anyone.

People will continue to reject and scoff at supernatural events and any assertion that there is only one absolute way of truth. For some people, the good news presents a risk that they may have to give up everything. 

They are afraid they will have to forfeit relationships, position, reputation, habits, and possessions in order to embrace a promise they can’t clearly see. This is why it is so hard for many to come to Jesus.

They think they will lose everything if they come to Jesus, but in reality, they will gain everything, eternal life. Paul said it best.
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21 KJV).

Paul understood what he lost and what he had gained in having a relationship with Jesus. 7} “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8} Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,” (Philippians 3:7,8 KJV).

Please read Paul’s powerful witness confirming his credentials and how they meant nothing to earn eternal life. (Philippians 3:4-14).

Paul showed that human achievements, no matter how impressive, cannot earn a person salvation and eternal life with God. After his conversion Paul found out that Jesus was the prize he lived for.

🗣📢 Last words: Remember my friends, you exist only because God made you, and you have special gifts only because God gave them to you. With God you are something valuable and unique.

Apart from God you are nothing. If you try to live without him, you will be abandoning the purpose for which you were made. The Bible says, “Now is the time of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Many people put off a decision for Christ, thinking that there will be a better time. But time eventually stops ticking in your heart. Death comes to all of us. Your opportunity to receive Jesus could be missed.

There is no better time than the present to receive God’s forgiveness. Don’t let anything hold you back from coming to Jesus. The gospel is so simple to receive that people think there must be more to receive forgiveness other than just repentance.

You don’t have to prove yourself to God and do works to show him you have earned eternity. Your works by itself cannot earn you salvation. Church attendance won’t grant you entrance.

Just saying repeated prayers, doing penance, giving large amounts of money will not grant you entrance into heaven. Many churches and denominations make the gospel complicated just like the Pharisees and Sadducees did with all their extra rules and legalism (Mark 10:17-22; John 3:3; Matthew 7:21-23).

God looks at humbled hearts who simply cry out to him and say “Lord be merciful to me, a sinner.” (Luke 18:13,14). Going to seminary, receiving many degrees to hang on your wall, having the most impressive credentials fall short of God’s holy standards (John 3:3).

Are you depending on Christian parents, church affiliation, or just being good to make you right with God? Credentials, accomplishments, or reputation cannot earn salvation. Salvation comes only through faith in Jesus.

If your life is half-full and half-empty at the same time, you could be putting your soul in danger. There’s no such life as a half-saved Christian life. The product of a growing relationship with God is getting and staying filled up with his amazing love (Ephesians 4:6; 5:18-21; Colossians 1:26-28).

Once you’ve made up your mind to give your heart to God, don’t dwell on your past. Instead, grow in the knowledge of God by concentrating on your relationship with him. Realize that you are forgiven, and then move on to a life of faith and obedience.

You got your mind made up? Ok then, look forward to the prize of heaven!

🛐 Here’s a prayer you can pray to make up your mind. “Heavenly Father, I get so confused about what I’m doing with my life. There are so many things pulling against my thoughts.

I want to believe in you, but I’m afraid of what others might think. I know you are alive, and I keep running into people who seem to be so alive and free in describing you. I want that realism of love in my life.

Lord, please break up the hard soil in my mind and heart. Forgive me of my sins. I don’t want any more walls blocking me from believing in you. Help me to choose you alone. I realize I cannot serve two masters in my mind.

I submit to the authority of the Holy Spirit, and I command you, spirits of double-mindedness, leave me now in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Lord, I repent for negative, unbelieving words that I have spoken over myself and my loved ones.

I declare the head of the serpent that caused spiritual Indecisiveness and deafness in my life be crushed according to (Genesis 3:15) in the name of Jesus. Lord, break the spirit of stupor and release clarity, focus, and healing in my divided mind. (Isaiah 26:3,4; 2 Corinthians 10:4,5).

Thank you Jesus for freeing my mind to choose your abundant life. (2 Timothy 1:7). Place a hunger in me for more of your presence. I have decided fully to follow you the rest of my life, in Jesus’ name, amen.”


#Here’s a homework assignment to get your brain filled up with spiritual nourishment. See if you find the answers to these questions. You’ll need a Bible to search for them.

1) Why should I pray? (Talk to God).

2) Why should I read the Bible?

3) Why should I go to church?

4) Why should I love other believers?

5) Why should I love my unsaved family members or friends and tell them about God’s love?



*Help spread the word by sharing this web site and messages on your platform.

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”
Pastor Todd Boxley Worship Center Ministry, TJforlife.com

The pathway to Church

Sharing Your Silence

group of children running in garden
Children Smiling. (Photo by Y Polat on Pexels.com)

Sharing Your Silence
Good morning, everyone. Welcome to “Try Jesus!” If this is your first time joining us, it’s great to have you with us. I would like to thank all the new members for joining “Try Jesus.” Also welcome those in Georgia, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, South Carolina, Indiana, and Ohio, this week.

Last Tuesday, many celebrated our nation’s independence, freedoms, and liberties. We also contribute these rights to those who stood and fought for these freedoms.

The evening culminates with a spectacular array of fireworks. At the end of the day, I thought about how all this compares to the illuminating presence of Almighty God.

His light is a beautiful divine radiant light that never fades or is extinguished. People will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. (Revelation 22:5).

The world’s fireworks lit up the sky for a few minutes but after the show is over the skies once again turned to darkness and smoke. Fireworks and the nations celebratory actions each year are fine.

However it pales considerably in the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Genesis 1:3; John 1:5; 8:12; Matthew 5:16). God’s glory shall never diminish or burn 🔥 out. This is the fire and work our nation needs, amen?

Let’s pray, “Heavenly Father, I thank you for gathering hearts with your burning fire, drawing them with your loving kindness. This is the day Lord that you have made, help us to be glad and rejoice in it.

Father, show us this morning how to pray that people’s eyes are opened so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the grip of Satan to the freedom of God.

Your word commands us to go into the world and let your light shine that the lost may see the works that are produced by the power of the Holy Spirit working in the lives of the body of Christ.

May the light of your word reach our families, our neighbors, our cities and beyond so that you alone will receive the glory! And when eyes are opened may they see and experience new life forever, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

Good morning, once again everyone. Today’s message is a difficult one to bring this morning. It’s hard because there are lives that have seen hard excruciating things come against themselves.

We may all know someone who has been excluded or abandoned by those they thought loved them. This message is difficult because there are some precious souls who have been silenced and buried in rejection.

Have you ever met someone (or maybe yourself) that was excluded during the childhood years? Have you ever tried to fit in, only to be rejected and sent back to your emotional shell?

Just about every child has some memory of being and feeling excluded in school, on the playground, and even at home. Many kids grow up with labels and nicknames that never wanted.

When you were growing up did you ever get left out of activities because other kids saw you as some kind of pariah? Being an outcast early in life is no fun to any kid. All of us start out with silly putty emotions. Our adolescent emotions get stretched daily.

Everyone just wants to fit in, right? We have enough personal problems without the masses telling us we are victims, and we should revolt and carry all these biases in our hearts. Many want individuals to stay divided.

However, many do not understand that you can’t separate something of the same origin. Blood is something that you can’t separate. There aren’t more blood rainbows you can pick and choose from.

We are one human race. If you read Acts chapter 17:24-31 with an open heart, you can see how we are all in this thing together called sin. And sin has nothing to do with skin color.

God accepts anyone who comes to him in repentance and faith. In 2023, people should get rid of any prejudice or bias that keeps them from sharing the Lord with others. Jesus welcomes all people into his Kingdom.

The people that rejected Jesus’ offer of salvation while alive and are in hell right now, are not concerned about how many nationalities are in pain and torment. They have actually come to the realization that Jesus was right.

All their preconceived fleshly thoughts of liberalism and no mercy towards the most venerable (the unborn), have kept them from coming to the knowledge of the truth (Jesus). (Romans 1:18-32; 2 Corinthians 4:3,4).

When we get filled up with pride, power, and pessimism, we inevitably are headed for a huge fall. If not on this side, then in the presence of the judge of all lives. (Proverbs 16:18; Revelation 20:10-15; 31:8; Matthew 7:21-23).

This is why it’s extremely important to present the love of Jesus to youthful hearts that have been hurt into deep silence. Did you know there are many people whose hurts are so deep that it keeps them from coming to church?

Shame is one emotion that Satan uses against people. Also, the church and leadership must be spiritually equipped to handle difficult cases of those silenced in pain by Satan. This takes a heart that will love on an individual until there is a victorious breakthrough.

I once knew a church who didn’t know how to handle a 35-year-old woman who was mentally 16 years old. They tried to place her in adult biblical studies and tried to buy her clothes she never would wear.

There intentions may have been in the right place, but without wisdom and spiritual insight they missed the mark. I suggested they first meet her where she is by just loving her.

I also suggested until God delivers her, it might be best to let her join those in the young adult youth studies group. Also, if she desires to wear junior miss clothes from the Gap instead of clothes from Macy’s for 40- to 50-year-old women, then allow her to do so.

As long as she’s still dressing modestly when coming to church, she might feel better about connecting with others. When love is stretched for the long duration of a life, it can produce beautiful fruit in their life.

However, when churches force through oppressive rules and regulations, it can have a negative effect on the spiritual growth of a person. Individuals who come into the church with serious emotional distressed lives must be handled gently.

How would you verbally work with someone who came to your church with suicidal tendencies? How would you handle an adult who cuts themselves? How would you handle a teenager who is severely depressed?

According to the *CDC, the rates of suicide, self-harm, anxiety and depression are up among adolescents. I have worked with all of these individuals. It can be heartbreaking. 

Sometimes you think there’s no progress being made. You stand in the spiritual gap for them and cry out to God for them to be set free. God does everything great and perfect in his timing.

He receives the glory in a way where more lives are blessed than expected. God sees the glorious outcome long before we understand his plan. He truly is an amazing God. I continuously find myself in awe of everything he does.

God cares very deeply about the vulnerable and mishandled lives of delicate souls. He supremely loves us all more than we will ever understand. We must seek God for spiritual discernment when dealing with crushed spirits.

When leaders in church misunderstand the delicate but serious emotional cases, they sometimes shun the very ones they are supposed to love. Love is supposed to cover a multitude of sins.

One female leader in a church was trying to help a young woman who had been sexually abused by her uncle. After a while, the leader through up her hands and said, “This woman is too weird, I don’t want to deal with her.” How sad.


Many have closed their ears to the silent cries of sex trafficking in this country, of which most are females. Anytime our youth are hurt, it can be a long arduous journey to their physical, mental, and spiritual recovery.



God desires all children to be introduced to his everlasting love and care. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Jeremiah 1:4-8; 29:11; Psalm 139:13-18; Mark 10:13-15). Jesus loves your children.

Many states have seen a sharp increase in children isolating themselves away from others. Many states have seen a huge increase in attempted suicide in the country.

When children feel abandoned and left out, they can be pulled into withdrawal and muzzled with hurt. But exclusion doesn’t stop as children grow into adults. Many adults suffer with loneliness and emotional withdrawal.

From work cliques to Facebook jibes, people of all ages exclude others from acceptance, love and affection, often for no discernible reason. Everyone wants and desires love. God instilled this want in every heart.

God’s redemption, by his grace, can heal the brokenness inside of every person when they cry out to the Lord. The power of God’s love toward the broken heart is enough to set them free. Jesus can heal to the very depth of your silence.

This message today is for those who fill like their life is in a deep well and there is no one around to draw them out. My beloved friends, the brokenness in your life is not beyond repair. Please read (Psalm 40:1-4) aloud to your own heart.

God sees your suffering, and he himself will rescue, restore, reconcile, and resurrect your life today. You have been ransomed and redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ (Revelation 5:9,10; 12:11; 1 Peter 1:18-20; Ephesians 1:7).

[God ransomed us from the tyranny of sin. He did this not with money, but with the precious blood of his own Son (Romans 6:6,7; 1 Corinthians 6:20; Colossians 2:13,14; Hebrews 9:12).]

The death Jesus died specifically for you gave two wonderful benefits to us, redemption and forgiveness.  Redemption pictures the price paid to gain freedom for a slave (Leviticus 25:47-54).

Jesus paid the price to release us from slavery to sin and its devastating consequences. You no longer have to stay quiet and hidden in a broken shelled life.

Jesus always went on the road others (religious folks) wouldn’t dare to walk on. (Luke 10:30-37). Jesus was not like others. He would pour out his love on those where it wasn’t expected, to society’s outcasts. Again, Jesus included the excluded.

Here are a few people Jesus helped out of broken silence.

1) Jesus cares for broken children: He cares for the abused child that nobody can hear, silenced in pain and alone in their room day after day. The disciples with Jesus saw them as a nuisance.

Many parents sometimes see their children as unwanted baggage. If you suffered for years as a child, today your liberty is here. (Matthew 18:1-6; 19:13-15; 2 Samuel 22:48-50; Psalm 91:4-6; Isaiah 49:25,26).

2) A sinful woman: (Luke 7:36-50). Jesus reaches a life with no details about her name, age, address, employment, etc. Only her character and reputation was revealed. She wasn’t even invited in the house.

[The sinful woman lavished tears, expensive perfume, and kisses on her Savior. In this story, the immoral but grateful woman and not the religious leader is the one whose sins are forgiven.]

The woman who carried an immoral lifestyle did all the things Simon should have been doing. She was excluded by the religious phonies but Jesus drew out of her heart repentance, tears, and faith to receive forgiveness.

Jesus can do the same today for battered women, wives, who are unloved, fearful, suicidal thoughts, lonely, and those silenced in their own homes.

He can do the same for men who lost their identity, manhood, employment, suicidal tendencies, and boldness. All you have to do is come to him. When you realize the depth of your sin, you can appreciate the complete forgiveness that God offers.

3) Woman with an issue of blood: last week I spoke about people who are worried about bothering God with their problems. But God is always concerned for us. He loves us and wants our attention (1 Peter 5:7).

The woman in (Mark 5:24-34) is a great example of many who will travel the world to find the answers to their broken life, but won’t turn to greatest physician on earth who is as close to them as their next heartbeat. This woman suffered for 12 years.

Getting close to Jesus must have seemed hopeless to this sick woman, but she didn’t give up and fought her way desperately through the crowd in order to touch his robe. As soon as she did, she was healed.

She had tried everything. She knew about being ritually unclean among others. (Leviticus 15:25-27) She was like those above, excluded from most social contact.

She desperately wanted Jesus to heal her, but she thought that her bleeding would cause Jesus to be unclean under Jewish law if she touched him. How caring the silenced can be. Even when they are ostracized, they still care about others.

[Sometimes we feel that our problems will keep us from God. But his love reaches through to us, no matter how impossible or terrible we think the situation is. We should never allow our fear or silence to keep us from approaching him.]

I remember a neighbor who used to live in my neighborhood. He owned 3 dogs and would isolate them from playing or interacting with each other. From time to time, I would come outside and see him verbally abusing one of them, and sometimes hitting them hard in the face.

But it seemed no matter how much he disciplined them, they wanted to wag their tails in happiness to greet him. I understand the reason behind their wonderful label, “Man’s best friend.” But there is someone who sticks closer.



Of course Jesus had many one-on-one conversations with those who voiced their concerns and burdens. He turned their misery into overflowing joy. Jesus wants us to be set free in him.

Today, many in the church have been callous to the hard cases (extreme broken lives) because it takes time, effort, and surrendered sacrifice on behalf of another soul.

Jesus crossed all social and economic barriers to deliver those imprisoned by the hard by-laws and legalistic rules the religious leaders placed on them. Jesus came to set free all who are abused physically and spiritually in the church.

16} “And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? 17} When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Mark 2:16,17 KJV).

Jesus calls all that are silenced and outcast and misunderstood to sit in his freedom and heavenly touch, to be restored and whole. God’s purpose is to restore man’s right standing with him by forgiving wickedness and remembering sins no more (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:12).

Before we close, I want to encourage the body of Christ to cry out with rent hearts and be renewed with spiritual eyesight to see and hear the silence of brokenness in our country.

Do not be afraid to suffer persecutions from the enemies canceling tactics. The body of Christ has already overcome the battle and won the victory. God has given us the harvest. It’s been said, “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.”

Many denominational churches have given in to the pressures from the outside to accept all manner of immoral lifestyles that God’s Word says is an abomination and sinful. The Holy Spirit will not be a part of unholy practices.

Today in America, Christians and Christ believing parents have been forced into silence, into compliance, and told that we must accept what science wants to do with our children’s gender. They tell us that we must deny truth, back down, and look the other way. Christians should never grow silent when following God and Jesus is frowned upon.

woman in blind fold
Satan wants to use the blind hearted to attack our God Given liberties( photo by E Rose on Pexels.com)



Satan wants to use the blind hearted to attack God given Christian liberties. Have you noticed there are never words against other religious groups that may object to making or distributing something that’s against their religion? This happens only to those in true Christianity.

So, my questions are for those today that feel they are being held captive. What are the things that are holding you? holding the people around you captive? What has enslaved you? Where are you bound?

Do you feel the weight, the weight of sin and brokenness, the weight of choices, of fear, of things that have been done to you? Bring all those things to the Lord. Do you feel life isn’t worth living anymore? But I encourage you, keep reading.

🗣📢 Last words: Whenever Jesus healed someone, he meant it; his focus was on that person, he engaged with them, he looked into their hearts, he gave them his full attention. He understands brokenness (Luke 4:18).

Jesus wants us to be whole and complete in him. (Philippians 1:6; Romans 8:29; Ephesians 2:10; Colossians 1:27,28). He has power and love to pull down every destructive obstacle in your life.

If your lost years have been loveless years, things in your life that are in desperate need of repair, God says, “Now is the time!” (Matthew 11:28-30; 2 Corinthians 6:2; Hebrews 3:15). Draw near to God, and he will certainly draw near to you.

When your problems become bigger than you, you need someone bigger than your problem. Only God can understand and fix your shattered life that you only can’t hold together. Get set free.

Here’s the spiritual blueprint to keep 📌 to your heart.

1) Get Restored: God has restoration power in his hands. There is nothing that seems broken to you that he can’t fix. Trust in his timing. Be ready to rejoice. (Joel 2:23-28; Acts 3:1-8; Ephesians 3:19-21). Invest your life in heavenly things (John 14:1-4; Matthew 6:19-21).

2) Get confirmed and secured: Trust in God’s spoken word over your circumstances. Allow Jesus to place your life on his foundation. (Acts 14:8-10; Psalm 119:106; Philippians 4:6-8; 2 Corinthians 6:2).

3) Get strengthened: God wants your life to live a strengthened and victorious life, not a weakened and defeated life. You can be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. You can be effective in your new walk with God (2 Chronicles 1:1; Ezra 1:5,6; Psalm 8:1,2; 138:1-3; Acts 16:5; Ephesians 3:16-21).

4) Get Establish: Where God guides, he will provide. God wants you to be a pillar on his foundation. He wants to rebuild you from the rubble destruction you lived under and cause you to stand in his new armor. (Psalm 7:8-11; Romans 1:11,12; 16:25-27; Colossians 2:6-8; 1 Peter 5:10; Galatians 2:9; Revelation 3:12).

My friend, the silent brokenness in your life that no one else may see is not beyond repair. God sees your suffering, and he himself will restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you. He is doing all these things even in your suffering.

It is sin that has brought all this pain and suffering. There’s no world without God. Broken dreams, broken bodies. The human ruins are everywhere. But God is still in the business of resurrecting lives and giving them a reason to remain silent no more.

Today, why not “Try Jesus” through life’s detours, diseases, delays and disappointments because he is on the journey with you, actively guiding you towards his plans for you. Be encouraged my friend, your brokenness has an end.

Now that your silence is no longer muzzled, you can shout and go tell it on every mountain.

🎶 Shout to the Lord all the earth, let us sing, power and majesty, praise to the King. Mountains bow down and the seas will roar, At the sound of your name, I sing for joy at the work of your hands, forever I’ll love you, forever I’ll stand, nothing compares to the promise I have in you. 🎶


🛐 Here’s a prayer because you want to be set free. “Heavenly Father, thank you for today’s message. It was meant just for me. Lord, I’m tired of this revolving door of pain and emptiness in my life.

I’ve tried everything but you. I surrender my heart and life to you. I turn from sin to your salvation. Please turn my brokenness and silence into unspeakable healing and joy.

Lord, break all generational curses of pride, rebellion, lust, poverty, witchcraft, idolatry, suicidal tendencies, cutting, destruction, failure, sickness, infirmity, fear, schizophrenia, and rejection.

Lord, break all past perversion, adultery, fornication, uncleanness, and immorality out of my sexual character. I renounce all spirits of confusion, forgetfulness, mind control, mental illness, double-mindedness, and fantasy, against my mind.

Lord, break anger, sadness, depression, discouragement, grief, bitterness, and unforgiveness from my heart. Take away false guilt, shame, and condemnation out of my conscience.

You are the God of all grace, my deliverer, my peace and my protector. I place all of myself into your hands. I place all these broken pieces at your spiritual altar. I await the beautiful transformation you will create. In Jesus’ name, amen.”


❤ “If you would like to know Jesus as your Savior, please read the drop-down page entitled “How to know Jesus.”


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“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”

Pastor Todd Boxley Worship Center Ministry

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