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12 Stone Pillars
The Message

This is where we will give a message from God's Word, talk to you about different subjects, and speak to you about how to live a Holy life for Jesus Christ and walk with Him daily.

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Wednesday, May 19, 2004
John 21:15-19 - "When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"

 
I had read this passage before but not too often. I can't remember the last time I heard it in a sermon. I know I probably have but I can not recall when and where at this present time. Recently, back in April, on Band Tour during Spring Break, it was Palm Sunday morning on the GBS bus and our band director/conductor Brother Wolf read this passage for our morning devotional that Palm Sunday morning. He said, "So many times we hold on to things, people, places, etc. so that we will not allow God to work in us. But Jesus said to Peter, "Lovest thou Me more than these?(The things or whatever he was holding on to)" I often wonder how many times does Jesus ask us the same thing- "Rob (or whoever) do you love Me more than these?" We may say yes, but then He'll ask a second time or a third time. The third time we sometimes get offended because we've said yes 3 times to God's same question He has asked us 3 times. But do we really love Him more than the things of this world?" Then he (Brother Wolf) prayed for us in tears he cried, "Lord help them to follow You whatever the cost." There were tears in my eyes too. The bus was quiet that morning after that prayer and after that devotional. It spoke to everyone. It spoke to my heart and I asked myself, "Rob, do you really love Jesus more than the things, cares, and thrills of this world?" I had never really asked myself that question before but that day and since then I have really thought about it. Do we really love God more than the things of this world? We can sometimes get so caught up in the thrills and desires of this world and get caught up in the business of ministry in this world that we miss the blessings God has instore for us and pretty soon we miss them because they flew right by us right in front of us and we didn't even see them because were too busy trying to please God with our motives, works, and actions. Jesus said, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." That doesn't just mean "the Top 10" if ya know what I mean. There are more commands from God in the Bible than we realize. We think it's just the 10 in Exodus. But there are more commands than that. This is one of them: Feed my lambs. Feed and take care of my sheep. We need to stop quarreling and fighting over the little petty things in this life that isn't even worth our time to argue and fuss and disagree with each other over. Our goal as Christians and brothers and sisters in Christ on this earth is not to see who can win the argument, but rather to win lost souls for Christ. After all, that is one of if not the most important reason why we are here-why we are still alive. God did not send His one and only Son into this world to try and change our minds and argue His way into our life and try and prove His point and try to win the argument. His main purpose was to love. I've once heard it said, that "the greatest thing in the world to do is to love and serve Jesus." That is so true!! That is our mission as a band is to not just get our point across to the audience whoever they may be, but to win lost souls for God and to see them get into Heaven safe and sound without any doubt or hesitation. Jeremiah 29:12-14 says, "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord." Matthew 6:33 says, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you." We need to follow Jesus Christ no matter what the cost because in the end it will be worth it all when we see Him and live and reign with Him forever. Just a little food for thought to think about and chew on.
God bless!!
12 Stone Pillars
 
Second message to the right!!

Thursday, May 20, 2004
Colossians 3:12-14 - "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."

WOW!! What a verse. I heard this passage of scripture in a sermon by Christian Attorney David Gibbs last Wednesday. He spoke on love. He told us all a story of how he went on an airplane at 6am in the morning (which most people including him can't even get up and move that early). He thought he was going on a great big airplane. Well he got inside and they had these small little dinky seats. He told the stewardess "Ma'am there is no way I'm getting into those seats." She said to him, "Well you could lose a little wait." And he was very offended and said back to her very harshly, "Well you could use a face job yourself." They parted separate ways not talking to each other. He told us that as he was storing his luggage on board in the upper compartment, a track fell out on the floor and God spoke to him and convicted him. He went back to the stewardess who was in tears and said, "Ma'am I want to apologize for what I said earlier. It was not very Christ-like and I want to say I'm sorry and hope you forgive me. Here please take this (and he handed her the track) it will speak to you more than I can." She said, "You're apologizing to me? In the 20 years I've been on this airplane no one has ever come up to me and apologized for anything. Thank you. That means a lot." Then the other stewardesses asked him if they could each have a track. Then the pilot called him up front and said to the stewardess, "Is this the man?" She said, "Yes it is." He said, "Could I have a track too?" Amazing. That message spoke to me and my heart and those around me. At the end of the service he asked us to bow our heads and close our eyes. He said, "I want to ask you a question. How many of you would say 'Brother Gibss that message was for me. I need to love people more and treat them with Christ-like love more often than I should." How many are like that? Could I see your hands? I want those of you who raised your hands (and I was one of them) to come up front to the altar and to the front rows and I want you to pray." And I did just that. I was in tears. I practically ran up to the altar. More than anything I want God to work in my life and I want to love others the way Jesus loved and still does love others. I want treat them with kindness even if they don't treat me with kindness. Easier said than done, but I want it to happen. He said a lot things that I wrote down and I want share those with you:

1) "The greatest acting is not in New York or Hollywood, it's in the church" - David Gibbs of the CLA (Christian Law Association)

2) "The heart always shows!" - David Gibbs of the CLA (Christian Law Association)

3) "If we want to change the world we have to change ourselves" - David Gibbs of the CLA (Christian Law Association)

4) "Meekness is realizing there is one God and we're not it" - David Gibbs of the CLA (Christian Law Association)

5) "Forgiveness is a command from God" - David Gibbs of the CLA (Christian Law Association)

He said there are 3 types of Love:

a) Aros - fleshly, feeling type of love, tingly feeling, physical, attraction - this kind is never used in the Bible.

b) Filio - love based on principle - this kind is not used in the Bible either.

c) Agape - the by product of God's spiritual love, unconditional love." This kind is in the Bible.

"Above all, put on LOVE." Agape love - you can always tell agape love when people start loving the unlovely.

WOW! What a powerful message from the Word of God/God's Word. As a band, we want to love and see others the same way Jesus sees others. We want to influence the world and preach the Gospel and message of salvation through Christ's Agape love. That is our mission, our goal, our purpose in life. "The greatest thing in the whole world is to love and serve Jesus." But we'll never be able to love Jesus unless we start loving others. Just another food for thought-something you to think about and chew on and take in and practice in our daily lives walking with the Lord.

In Christ,

12 Stones

Third message coming soon!!

Stay tuned!!

Third message coming soon!!!
 
Stay Tuned!!

God bless!!