Joy

Some of my friends (I'm thinking of you, Ben.) know that one of my favorite Bible verses is Psalm chapter 16 verse 11:

"In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

It occurred to me yesterday that I am always in His presence since it is recorded in Hebrews chapter 13 that He said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."  And that is really, really good news!

Pile on top of this more good news as it says in Nehemiah chapter 8, "The joy of the LORD is your strength!"  Yes, let the weak say I am strong!

OK, I am always in His presence even if I am not always aware of it!  And so are you!  That gives me great joy!

Larry Carroll

Commitment

Helen and I are committed to each other, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health.  And I'm so glad she stayed with me through it all.  For indeed, some of it has been for worse, for poorer, in sickness.  And yes, I stayed with Helen all through these years, too, 57 years, and happily, with no end in sight.

We were committed to each other, but the wedding ceremony made it official and made it really real to us.

As believers, we are committed to Jesus Christ, and He is to us.  There is a ceremony that makes it official: baptism.  Just today I heard yet again the price some people pay by getting baptized and making it official.  That price is death in some cultures.

In the Bible, in the book of Acts, when people were converted (became believers) they quickly wanted to be, and were, baptized.

When we baptized people long ago we used to sing, 'I have decided to follow Jesus, (repeat), (repeat again), no turning back, no turning back.

You know I'm sure, that commitment works both ways.  The believer is committed to the LORD, but think about this, the LORD is committed to the believer, which includes right now!  In fact, His commitment to us makes our commitment to another person possible.

Let me tell you what a wonderful thing commitment is for the long haul.  Those of you that are married know.

Larry Carroll

The Power Of Weakness

The Power Of Weakness

Now that's a strange concept isn't it, the power of weakness.  But what comes to mind is this:

Second Corinthians 12:9,10:

 And He (Jesus) said to me (Paul), “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

We also read in Scripture this:

First Corinthians 2:3-5:

I (Paul) was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.

And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive/enticing words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,

that your faith should not be/rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Now, if we look to Jesus Christ as an example here, we see the perfect example of weakness on the cross.  You know He didn't want to die here like this, but He submitted to Father God.  And what a victory it was, since it totally broke the power of Satan over us.  That's called the power of the cross.  It's the power of weakness.

But Jesus didn't always act in a weak manner, did He.  When He drove the money changers out of the Temple, He was not acting weakly.  So, is this being inconsistent?  Yes.  Well, what was the controlling factor in His life?

John 5:19:

Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.

And similarly, John 12:49:

 For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.

So we see Jesus was completely and continually filled with, baptized in, and led by the Holy Spirit.  And we can be, too.  I want to be, every day.

Hallelujah!  Jesus!!

Larry Carroll

Everything in Moderation

08 November 2022

 It is commonly said, "Everything in moderation".  Really?  I don't think so.

Jesus said, "And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength."  This is a command.  DO IT WITH ALL YOUR HEART!!

On the other end of the scale, should we engage in just a moderate amount of sin?  A moderate amount of theft, a moderate amount of adultery, or a moderate amount of deception?  Of course not!

Well, where is this appropriate?  How about putting a moderate amount of food on your Thanksgiving dinner plate?  (Oh dear, now I'm meddling!  Alas!)

Larry Carroll

Trouble

Any relationship based on the attitude of "What's in it for me?" will fall apart quickly.  We know this intuitively.  We can picture someone relating to us this way and we see that person as a leech, trying to get from us as much as he can.  Not good.  We want out.

This is also true of a relationship with Father God.  Do people want to relate to Him just for what they can get out of it?  Say, for example, a ticket to heaven?  Why?  Just because it's better than hell?  (Well, yes it is.)  But if you can't relate to the Lord God now, then what are you going to do when you are looking at Him face to face in His kingdom?

OK, that's all good, but that's not where I'm going.

Rather, let's address a situation in which a believer is offended or hurt. He reacts.  He's angry.  He may say, "Hey, I thought my God would make things better for me."  (All better even?)

But the scripture says in John chapter 16 verse 33, " In the world you will have tribulation".  And we also know by experience that this is true.

Well then, what are all the promises of God, written in His Word, all about?  Is my life just driven by random chance, sometimes I win, sometimes I lose, even though I work hard?

Or is He truly a Good Shepherd?

Well, let's look at John chapter 16 verse 33 again.  It says:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  (NIV)

Again:

"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”  (NLT)

This is Jesus talking here.

You know, there is a lot in this relationship that benefits me now!  The Lord God has filled me with His Spirit, and because the Spirit lives in me I can:

Forgive - and that's really huge!

Rejoice in the LORD no matter what - and that's huge, too!

Not worry (when I turn my eyes upon Jesus and keep looking at Him.)

Trust Him for my sustenance and comfort.

Let me add one more thing.  In Matthew chapter 13 there is the parable of the sower that sowed good seed in different soils.  Only one of the four soils was profitable.  So:

Don't let the enemy steal your life in the Spirit.

Don't let trouble poison your life in the Spirit.

Don't let circumstances deceive you with different prizes.

Hallelujah!  Jesus!!

Blessings,

Larry Carroll

Rejoice In His Presence

So I will not glory or boast in His presence, but instead, I will REJOICE in His presence!  I will rejoice in His grace, His mercy, His peace, His love, His goodness, His salvation!  Hallelujah!

First Corinthians chapter 1, verses 26 through 29:

26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 

27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;  [He chose David over Goliath or Saul]

28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,

29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.

Jesus!!

Larry Carroll

The Greatest, The Servant Of All

 

"The greatest among you shall be your servant."

We read this in Matthew chapter 23 verse 11.

So, who is the greatest of all?  Well, you know, you learned it in Sunday School.  Yes, Jesus is the greatest of all.  So, He must be the servant of all.

And He demonstrated His servanthood mindset when He washed the disciples' feet in John chapter 13.  They had a hard time receiving it, as expressed by Peter, and we would too, I suspect.

Now Jesus is the same, yesterday and today and forever.  Right?  It says so in Hebrews chapter 13 verse 8.

Therefore, He is your servant, too, isn't He?  So what are you worried about?

And we want to be like Him.  Do you know why?  Because we have been filled with His Holy Spirit.  (Well, I hope you have been filled with His Holy Spirit.)

Hallelujah!  Jesus!!

Larry Carroll

Holiness

Holiness is beautiful, clean, pure, and glorious, and therefore is so very, very attractive.  And you can be holy, clean, pure!  Yes, you can.  You can be transformed.  Yes, you can!  Cry out to Jesus to make you holy, clean, and pure. 

And yes, people often come to Jesus because they have a need He can fulfill.  But then, some get close and see His beauty, His glory, and the beauty of His holiness, experience His love and discover He is altogether lovely.  Oh yes, He is altogether lovely.  Really.  And so, we fall in love with Him. 

Hallelujah!  Jesus!!

Larry Carroll

Rejoice In The LORD Always

First Thessalonians chapter 5:
16 Rejoice always
17 pray without ceasing,
18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Somewhere around 1970, my father‘s friend was killed as a pedestrian walking in the street. A car hit her at night.

Her husband told my dad, "Larry, (that’s my father's name, too) I’m not thankful that my wife was killed."  My dad said the scripture doesn’t say give thanks FOR all things, it says IN everything give thanks.

OK, is this just double talk, trying to make the scripture fit reality?  (And not too well, either.)

No, we do not give thanks because our loved ones die, or misfortunes come upon us.  That's crazy!  Instead, we rejoice IN THE LORD, as it says in Philippians chapter 4.  Why?  Because He is here with us and going through it with us, feeling the pain with us.  He has revealed Himself to us, He has revealed His love and His goodness to us, and we won't let go of it, ever!

Philippians chapter 4 verse 4 "Rejoice in the LORD ALWAYS and again I say rejoice."  "Always" always includes right now!  Right?

Do you think Paul and Silas were thankful for the stripes and the wounds and being locked up in the Philippian prison?  No, they were not!  But they were rejoicing in the LORD and singing praises because He was with them, even in the prison!  They knew and were focused on His great love for them, for He had previously revealed His love and goodness.  Find this in Acts chapter 16.

A few years later, in 1978, my family had the opportunity to do this very same thing!  We gave thanks to the LORD for His goodness in all things, even when my brother died at age 14.  We were not thankful that my brother died; we grieved, but we were thankful that the LORD was with us.  He never left us.  He said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face.
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace!

Jesus!!  Hallelujah!

Larry Carroll

Book of Job

The Book of Job

I am now reading in the book of Job, and what I see is the three friends who sat with Job in silence for seven days! When they finally started to speak, they had good things to share, at least to start.  They were all very wise, and I mean that in a good way.

However, what they had to share with Job was inappropriate, wrong, and hurtful!

If we are not led by the Spirit, the Holy Spirit, we will mess up, too. I know by experience, alas.

But God...

Hallelujah!  He redeems, He comforts, He gives beauty for ashes to those who mourn!  So we have hope!  And we praise Him!  Hallelujah!

Let me say that yet again - Hallelujah!!

Larry Carroll

ASK!

 

Ask!

We are free to ask our Father in Heaven for all sorts of things.  And we should!  This is where we start, asking for personal requests where we can see answers!

However, what could we ask that would be really significant - really, really significant!?

Solomon was told to "Ask!  What shall I give you?" In First Kings 3.
And he asked well, for he asked for wisdom to take care of his people.  And he received it!

Ahaz was told to ask in Isaiah 7, but he said, "I will not ask..." which wearied both the Lord God and Isaiah, too.  This led to a prophecy of the virgin conceiving and bearing a Son, Jesus.

Then in Matthew 7, verses 7 and 8, Jesus promises that if we ask we will receive:
7 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

In John 15, verses 7 and 8, Jesus said:
 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

In John 16, verses 23 and 24:
23 “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.
24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

Hey, this is Jesus speaking here.  Do you believe Him?

So I, Larry, asked Him, "What should I ask?"  Wisdom, as Solomon asked for sounds good, not just for me, but for all believers.  That could lead to revival!  Wonderful!

But we can do even better than that, as good as it is!

 Ask the LORD to pour out His Spirit on all flesh, as He said He would do in Acts 2 verse 17. 
Note: He said 'all'.  As they say, all means all.

Yes, join me in asking for a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit, On All Flesh!!  Hallelujah!

Larry Carroll