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Fear Not, October 5, 2020

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.

¹⁸The people trembled with fear when they heard the thunder and the trumpet and saw the lightning and the smoke coming from the mountain. They stood a long way off ¹⁹and said to Moses, “If you speak to us, we will listen. But don’t let God speak to us, or we will die!”

²⁰“Don’t be afraid!” Moses replied. “God has come only to test you, so that by obeying him you won’t sin.” ²¹But when Moses went near the thick cloud where God was, the people stayed a long way off. (Exodus 20:18-20 CEV)

What is it about us? We mock God in so many ways, but when he shows up, we tremble with fear. It happened with Adam and Eve when they recognized their disobedience. The Israelites trembled at the foot of Mount Sinai, where God gave his direction for living in harmony. It happens today when he shows up in extraordinary ways.

God invited his people to witness the giving of the law, but they wanted to listen only to Moses’ voice, not to the voice of God. “Let God speak to Moses and tell us what he said, but don’t let us hear the voice of God, or we’ll die!” How sad that we fail to accept God’s invitation to come into his presence and learn at his feet.

Of course, when we do, we risk everything. We learn that we indeed live in sin. We discover our shortcomings and how far we fall from the perfection of a holy God. We find ourselves falling on our face as Isaiah or Peter or John and declaring our sin to him. The sin he already knows, but we see fully uncovered in the light of His holiness. But isn’t that what we want? Shouldn’t we prefer those faults exposed so God can take care of them instead of them dragging us down? Shouldn’t our greatest desire be God’s intervention in our lives to rid us of those things that oppose him so that we can stand blameless in his presence?

I sometimes think the Israelites failure to accept God’s initial invitation to climb the mountain with Moses and find themselves from that point prohibited from even touching the mountain started their path to exile and destruction. I wonder what would have happened if they had gone up the trail and listen to God’s instructions. I wonder how they would have reacted to his commands differently if, instead of listening to God’s words through Moses, they heard those commands from God’s voice.

Perhaps the thunderous voice, the fire, and smoke accompanying God’s presence as he spoke might have made the impact necessary for them to follow his guidance. Perhaps, if the people experienced God’s presence the way Moses did, they would recognize the incredible privilege of hearing him speak to them and the risk they took in not following him. Perhaps, the Israelites would have fulfilled their mission as God’s light to the world and blessed the rest of the nations as he had desired from the beginning.

Then Jesus came and again invited us into his presence. After his resurrection, he appeared to many with the command repeated more often than any other throughout God’s word, “Don’t be afraid.” He wants us to come near to him. He wants us to enjoy an intimate relationship with God. Jesus knows that entering the presence of God can cause fear when we recognize our sin, but he gave his life as the atonement for our sin. We do not need to fear his presence. He is a God of love and mercy, demonstrated through his actions as Messiah.

Our problem today, we fail to get close enough to God to see through the smoke and get past the thunderous voice and know the intimacy of the Father. We stand off at a distance, as did the Israelites, instead of drawing near to him. When we do, we find the gentle hand of a loving God, ready to save us from ourselves. We see him ready to help us in our time of need. We find the Abba, Father side of God, instead of the wrathful, lightning bolt side.

How do we come near to God today, though? We don’t see the Old Testament’s dramatic events in which he covered the mountain tops with thunder and fire. We don’t see him in a pillar of cloud and fire, leading the way ahead. So how do we find him?

The answer lies in prayerfully reading his word. Let the words of the scripture, especially those of Jesus, show you who God is. The Old Testament points to the coming Messiah. The Gospels show Jesus fulfills that role. The Acts and the Epistles show what happens when people follow Jesus’ teachings and let his spirit guide their lives. His word is fresh every day. He gives new insights to life and what he wants to do in and through you as you study and examine his word.

Then exercise just a modicum of faith in Jesus, believing him to be Messiah, God’s Son, the one who gave himself for your sin. Ask him to forgive you for your disobedience toward him and ask him into your life. Allow him to be master of your life. Open your heart and mind to him, and he will direct you as you journey through life. He will let you know him. He will not be a stranger to you. But it does take that first step of faith believing he is who he says he is.

Awe replaces fear. A desire to know more of him grows in you. You begin to see others how God sees them for who they can become rather who they are now. Your love for others expands as you recognize God’s love for you and them. You recognize the image of God in all humanity, not just in what used to be your favorite parts of the world. Jesus will lead you on the most exciting journey you can imagine.

So, what will it be? Stand in fear at the bottom of the mountain? Or join the crowds who have gone before you following the one who takes away all fear? It’s your choice. He gives us the free will to make it. He’s ready and willing to have you join his kingdom if you are willing.

You can find me at richardagee.com. I also invite you to join us at San Antonio First Church of the Nazarene on West Avenue in San Antonio to hear more Bible-based teaching. You can find out more about my church at SAF.church. Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed it, tell a friend. If you didn’t, send me an email and let me know how better to reach out to those around you. Until next week, may God richly bless you as you venture into His story each day.

Fear of Tomorrow, March 30, 2020

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.

We are in the middle of Lent. We are also in the middle of an event no one probably imagined possible in our lifetime – a global pandemic. We had the Swine Flu that swept flu years ago, and it was terrible. But certainly didn’t seem to be on the catastrophic order this coronavirus appears to be taking us.

People are afraid. You can see it in the blank stares of those you meet. You see it in the panic-stricken faces of the shoppers who can’t find the staples necessary to meet the needs of the week. You see it in the faces of the officials who try to bring calm to the cities and states across the country when they don’t have answers or solutions, and they know it.

The pandemic seemed to be out there somewhere when we first heard about the numbers in China and on the cruise ship stuck in Japan. Then we heard the report of the nursing home in Washington, and it began to worry us just a bit. Next, the stories blossomed in Italy, France, Spain, and the rest of Europe. Then New York City became the epicenter for our country, and fear began to grip the nation.

How do we handle all of this? Where do we go from here? How could God let this happen to our nation?

I wish I had answers to all the questions, but I don’t. There are some things I do know, however. God is just the same today as he was when we faced the Swine Flu pandemic and the Spanish Flu pandemic and the Black Plague pandemic and all the other pandemics that have swept through the world. He has not changed. Where is he? Still in the hearts and lives of those who believe and follow him.

Does that make us less susceptible to the outcomes that will occur because of what might happen in the next weeks and months because of these new events? No. Christians will suffer along with the rest of humanity. But we can feel God’s love and share it with those around us. We can face the days ahead with courage, knowing that God is still on the throne and will not forsake us.

One of the passages from yesterday’s lectionary was from one of David’s most famous psalms. In it, he tells God and us, “though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”

This virus we face is undoubtedly an evil little bug. It infects others before you know you have it. It seeks out the most vulnerable in the population and wreaks havoc on their system. It invades cities and states and societies indiscriminately. It causes us to give up the thing we need most in times like this, the comfort of human touch and face to face relationships.

God remains, though. He tells us he is ever-present in times of need. I’m not sure how many will reach out to him during this crisis time, but my hope is we will use it as an opportunity to share his love with those around us. Find peace in the middle of all the chaos and fear. Understand that he is the answer to our current dilemma.

Another of the passages from the lectionary spoke of the raising of Lazarus from the dead. By the time Mary and Martha’s messenger reached Jesus, Lazarus was already dead, but the disciples and the messenger didn’t know it. Jesus delayed going to Mary and Martha for their sake and ours. When he finally told the disciples they would go to Bethany to Mary and Martha’s house; the disciples were confused. Why would Jesus wait until Lazarus was dead to go? Why wouldn’t he go and heal him before he died?

We know Jesus had a plan. He wept for Mary and Martha. For their unrelenting love for their brother. For their grief in his death. For their unbelief in his power as the giver of life. Jesus had the stone removed from the tomb, called Lazarus to come out of the grave, and to everyone’s astonishment, the dead man walked out alive.

Jesus demonstrated his resurrection power in calling Lazarus out of the tomb. He had already done it with his touch on the young man at the funeral in Cain and the centurion’s daughter and Jason’s daughter. This incident wasn’t the first time Jesus raised someone from the dead, but it was the first time it wasn’t the same day they died that he brought them back to life.

Burials happened within twenty-four hours in Jesus’ day. The heat of the middle east sun meant a corpse began to smell pretty quickly. The custom was when a person died, they were immediately wrapped in linen clothes embedded with spices and then lain to rest within a day. So all that Jesus raised before had not yet been buried. Until Lazarus. He had been in the tomb for four days.

God gives us that same resurrection power through his Spirit living in us. Can we make it through this current crisis? With his resurrection power in us, we can enjoy the peace he brings. We can know his presence in our hearts. We can share the love he shares with us. We can extend his grace to those around us. We can live with the assurance that the valley of the shadow of death does not need to frighten us because he is with us.

Might we suffer as the pandemic progresses? We might. Will things get worse in the days ahead? They probably will. Can we endure through it all? Yes, we can. God’s resurrection power can help us through the worst of times, giving us his peace in the most turbulent times.

As we get locked into our homes to avoid the spread of the virus, spend time with God. Let his scriptures and his spirit comfort you. Learn more about him and let his words encourage you.

Don’t be afraid to face your giants, June 4, 2018

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Today we want to talk about another obstacle in the way of overcoming those giants in our lives. Last week we discovered you should never try to tackle Goliath alone, but go into the valley with God by your side. It’s also good to have a mentor, a friend, and a church along with you to conquer those giants that come your way.

There is an old saying that goes something like this, “People are more comfortable with the devil they know than with the angel they don’t know.” What does it mean? People will stay in a bad situation, stick with bad habits, continue down the same destructive path because they are comfortable with it. Even though they see what might be a better way, they still hold on to what they know instead of taking a chance with something they don’t know. It’s pretty amazing just how hard we push against change in our lives.

That was true of those warriors in the Valley of Elah who listen to the Philistine, Goliath, challenge them each day. For forty days, Goliath marched down the hillside and stood in the valley with his armor bearers. He dared anyone to come fight him. The Israeli warrior cowered in their tents. They knew Goliath’s reputation and feared what would happen to them if they went into that valley. It was called “Death Valley” for a reason. They all just knew that if you went into that place, you wouldn’t come out again.

Fear of the unknown or fear trapped in their imagination captured them and froze their feet to the ground. They listened to that giant of a man roar his blasphemies against God and did nothing. They were afraid. They pictured themselves looking up into the eyes of that nine foot monster and couldn’t see their blood turned to ice. Who could possibly fight this guy?

But something happened after 40 days of the same old pattern. Goliath comes out, shouts his challenge, the Israelite warriors hide behind anything they can find, Goliath finally gets tired of waiting, and he climbs back up the hillside to wait until the next morning to do it all over again. The soldiers got used to the ritual and probably got to the point that when they saw the first glimmer of sunlight reflecting off Goliath’s helmet from the top of the hill, they hightailed it to the back forty to wait until he left. Fear.

In some ways you can’t blame them, I guess. I know I wouldn’t want to take on a nine foot monster in a fighting match. He was trained as a warrior. He had the reach, the weapons, every advantage you could think of except one. God was on David’s side.

So Jesse’s youngest son sees what’s going on. He’s too young to join the army. He’s only there to deliver some lunch to his brothers. Get a little news to take back home so his mom and dad will know their kids are still alive and doing well against their lifelong enemies, the Philistines. David went with no intention of joining the fight. He was just a shepherd. All he had was a sling. Coming from Bethlehem, he was pretty good with it, but still… A sling against a spear doesn’t sound like very good odds.

Was David afraid? You know, I want to think he had a few butterflies in his stomach as he reached into that stream and pulled out five stones. David knew God was with him, though. David knew how to use that sling. Elsewhere in God’s word, it tells us that the Benjamites could hit a hair with one of those slings. That’s pretty good. And considering that David could attack Goliath from the length of a football field with his sling and he had to be closer to the 20 yard line for Goliath’s spear to be as effective a weapon, David had a little bit of an edge from a distance. He had to hit Goliath in the space around his eyes, though. Everything else would be covered and the stone would bruise, but not kill on impact.

David marches out onto the field after refusing to take Saul’s armor. We sometimes think David was a puny little kid since the Bible tells us Saul’s armor didn’t fit. That’s not the picture I get of David, though. He killed a lion and a bear with his bare hands. I think the armor didn’t fit because Saul was head and shoulders taller than any of the other men present at his coronation. Saul stood out in a crowd. His armor was too big for everyone there.

The most important part of this story in relation to Goliath and fear, though, is that whatever fear David might have had as he looked at this monster of a man, he set it aside and trusted God. David believed God would help him vindicate his name against the blasphemous outpouring that came from this heathen. David believed God could take his fear and turn it into enough adrenaline to help him conquer this undefeated champion of his enemies. He pushed past the fear of what he knew and dared to launch into the unknown.

That’s exactly what we have to do with the Goliaths we face in our life. I don’t know what your Goliath is, but I expect you are like 99% of everyone else who faces Goliath. I expect there is that little bit of fear that asks what happens when I let go of this and let God have it? What will God ask of me? What will happen? How will my life change? What will other people think? What if God can’t break through the problem? (Yeah, right! Let me tell you, it’s not God that can’t fix it. He’s God! We are the problem, not him!)

The best way to attack those giants in our life is to act just like David. Don’t let those giants taunt you with their blasphemy. You will undoubtedly hear some voice in your head tell you that you can’t win the battle. It’s too hard. You can’t possibly overcome. You will hear the same tired excuses Goliath yelled at the Israelites across that Death Valley. But David refused to listen to Goliath. He refused to give in to his fear. He refused to let the giant dictate his moves, but instead listened to the voice of God.

I think it was God that prompted him to pick up five stones instead of one. He only needed one to defeat Goliath. David knew that and God knew it. So why five? Finish reading the stories of David’s battles and you’ll find Goliath had four brothers. David was ready to take on all of them if necessary. Fear. Sure. Enough to stop him from doing what God told him to do? No way. David knew God was bigger than any problem or any giant he came against. He was ready.

Are there times you will be afraid? You are not human if you don’t experience that emotion every so often. But we don’t have to let it cripple us. We can remember that God is for us, so who can be against us. Nothing can defeat us, because nothing can defeat him. He proved it a couple of millennium ago when he decided he didn’t want to stay dead. We can borrow his strength and his power to push through the fear the world tries to stir up and we can win against our Goliaths. Be like David today.

You can find me at richardagee.com. I also invite you to join us at San Antonio First Church of the Nazarene on West Avenue in San Antonio to hear more Bible based teaching. You can find out more about my church at SAF.church. Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed it, tell a friend. If you didn’t, send me an email and let me know how better to reach out to those around you. Until next week, may God richly bless you as you venture into His story each day.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved. In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

What do you do with fear? (Revelation 1:17-20), May 11, 2017

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Franklin D. Roosevelt is famed with saying, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” But how well do we do that?
Scripture
1. Revelation 1:17-20
2. The One: This is not the time for fear; I am the First and the Last, and I am the living One. I entered the realm of the dead; but see, I am alive now and for all the ages—even ages to come. Amen. I possess the keys to open the prison of death and hades.

Now write down all you have seen—all that is and all that will be. Regarding the mystery of the seven stars you saw in My right hand and of the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the heavenly messengers who preside over the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches themselves.

Devotional
1. Fear is rampant in our society
  1. Fear of physical harm
    1. Terrorists
    2. Robbers, murderers, assault
  2. Fear of disease
    1. Cancer
    2. Heart disease
    3. Diabetes
    4. Communicable diseases
  3. Fear of failure
    1. Work
    2. Relationships
    3. Life
  4. Fear of death
2. What do we do with fear?
  1. Wikipedia – Fear is a feeling induced by perceived danger or threat that occurs in certain types of organisms, which causes a change in metabolic and organ functions and ultimately a change in behavior, such as fleeing, hiding, or freezing from perceived traumatic events. Fear in human beings may occur in response to a specific stimulus occurring in the present, or in anticipation or expectation of a future threat perceived as a risk to body or life. The fear response arises from the perception of danger leading to confrontation with or escape from/avoiding the threat (also known as the fight-or-flight response), which in extreme cases of fear (horror and terror) can be a freeze response or paralysis.
  2. We all experience it as a natural emotion, but Roosevelt tells us we have nothing to fear but fear
  3. Jesus tells us now is not the time to fear
  4. He has already conquered the thing we fear most – death
  5. He holds the keys to the prison of death
3. Follow Him and He can release us from that prison
  1. Knowing He holds the keys to the worst that can happen to us
  2. We do not need to be afraid
  3. Our greatest failure is overcome by the one who holds the solution to our biggest problem – death
  4. He takes us through the veil to life everlasting
  5. There really is nothing to fear – not even fear
4. Go show a little courage
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

Can a leopard change his spots? (Acts 9:10-16), May 7, 2017

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
How hard is it to believe someone can change their ways? Particularly someone who has been a really bad character?
Scripture
1. Acts 9:10-16
2. The Lord: Ananias.

Ananias: Here I am, Lord.

The Lord: Get up and go to Straight Boulevard. Go to the house of Judas, and inquire about a man from Tarsus, Saul by name. He is praying to Me at this very instant. He has had a vision—a vision of a man by your name who will come, lay hands on him, and heal his eyesight.

Ananias: Lord, I know whom You’re talking about. I’ve heard rumors about this fellow. He’s an evil man and has caused great harm for Your special people in Jerusalem. I’ve heard that he has been authorized by the religious authorities to come here and chain everyone who associates with Your name.

The Lord: Yes, but you must go! I have chosen him to be My instrument to bring My name far and wide—to outsiders, to kings, and to the people of Israel as well. I have much to show him, including how much he must suffer for My name.

Devotional
1. It’s really hard to put your trust in someone who has lost your trust, isn’t it?
  1. Convicts difficulty in getting jobs
  2. Embezzlers never trusted
  3. Those who have wronged you never brought into the inner circle or even into friendships
  4. Always afraid they will repeat their actions and you’ll get hurt again
2. Jesus comes to Ananias and tells him to reach out to Saul of Tarsus
  1. Ananias knows Saul’s reputation
  2. Knows he has authority to arrest followers and knows their destination after arrest
  3. Ananias knows Saul cannot be trusted because of his previous actions
  4. Jesus says go and teach him
  5. What do you do?
3. You do what Jesus tells you to do!
  1. Might be hard for us to believe people can change but..
  2. Think about the change he made in you
  3. If he can change you, can’t he change the one you don’t want to trust?
  4. Can’t He transform the redeemed?
  5. That’s what He told Ananias and that’s what He tells us
4. So you’ve been burned by someone who says they are born again and they proved they were not by their actions
  1. Some things to think about
  2. God doesn’t expect us to put someone back into their place of greatest temptation, that would be foolish for them and us
    1. Don’t send alcoholics into a bar
    2. Don’t give embezzlers positions as treasurer
    3. Don’t put temptations in front of those who you know succumb to those temptations
    4. But use their skills
  3. Still, befriend, encourage, teach, help as new members of God’s kingdom
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

Times of trouble (John 16:31-33), April 14, 2017

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Have you ever thought what times of trouble means? If you think back, I believe every generation thinks they lived in times of trouble. But look at where we are today!
Scripture
1. John 16:31-33
2. Jesus: So you believe now? Be aware that a time is coming when you will be scattered like seeds. You will return to your own way, and I will be left alone. But I will not be alone, because the Father will be with Me. I have told you these things so that you will be whole and at peace. In this world, you will be plagued with times of trouble, but you need not fear; I have triumphed over this corrupt world order.
Devotional
1. I started with a question, what does times of trouble mean?
  1. For disciples: expectation of arrest, abuse, execution
  2. For early Christians: separation from families, torture and martyrdom
  3. During middle ages: crusades, kings and lords abusing power
  4. Industrial revolution: included machinery of war and weapons that killed from great distance; homes broken as men went off to work
  5. Early 20th Century: prohibition, roaring twenties, smoky back rooms where more than just illegal drinking happened, rise of the mobs
  6. World War I and II atrocities with chemical warfare; introduction of air power and short range missiles,
  7. 60’s and 70’s: flower power, drugs, sexual promiscuity
  8. 80’s and 90’s: energy crisis, financial crises, double digit inflation,
  9. 2000: Y2K, doomsday prophecies,
  10. Today: crime, finance, sexual promiscuity, drugs, terrorism, wars, religious jihad
2. Christians are an easy target for the blame
  1. We don’t retaliate
  2. We don’t apologize
  3. We predict things will get worse, not better until Jesus returns
  4. We embrace suffering because Jesus embraced suffering
  5. World doesn’t understand and so blames us for things that go wrong
3. We are in times of trouble, but…
  1. We need not fear
  2. Why? With everything that is going on, why shouldn’t we fear?
  3. The answer is Jesus has already triumphed over this corrupt world order.
4. What does it mean that Jesus has triumphed?
  1. Satan tried his hardest to defeat Him
  2. Threw the worst fear possible at Jesus, death
  3. Death is a predator with humans as it’s prey
  4. Jesus overcame death proving it with His resurrection
  5. We don’t need to fear because He has triumphed over the greatest fear we as humans have – death
  6. If He has already done that and lives in us, we have at our disposal the power of the resurrection that helps us face the worst Satan can throw at us
5. Will we have trouble? Yes. Do we need to fear that trouble? No.
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

Guns and peace just don’t mix (John 14:25-27), April 2, 2017

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
How many guns give you peace? Guns are debated a lot in this country. Is one or two a good number? How about 13 million? Actually, guns have nothing to do with peace or fear. But they are interesting to talk about.
Scripture
1. John 14:25-27
2. Jesus: I have spoken these words while I am here with you. The Father is sending a great Helper, the Holy Spirit, in My name to teach you everything and to remind you of all I have said to you. My peace is the legacy I leave to you. I don’t give gifts like those of this world. Do not let your heart be troubled or fearful.
Devotional
1. As I read Jesus words today, “Do not let your heart be troubled or fearful.” I thought about how fearful our nation remains. We seem to be scared of everything. Sometimes for good reason with all the talk of terrorists and crime rates and road rage and general violence going on everywhere.
  1. Last available statistics from the Department of Justice Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosive
  2. Interesting they put all those things under the same department, things that are all equally deadly to our population
  3. 9 million firearms manufactured in the US 2015
  4. 3.9 million imported into the US in 2015
  5. 13 million brand new firearms floating around the country in the hands of mostly responsible, but some pretty irresponsible people
  6. I’m one of those holders of firearms, think I’m responsible
  7. Never the gun that kills, but the person that holds it
2. Weapons don’t bring peace
  1. Instruments of destruction
  2. Provide an easier means of taking life
  3. Able to do so without getting as personal as with a club or bare hands
  4. Just pull the trigger and with a rifle, may never see their eyes or the expression on their face
  5. Comedian on the Internet
    1. Wanted to buy a defensive gun for protection
    2. Not one of those that killers and robbers use
3. Jesus brings peace
  1. Gives gifts unlike the world
  2. Promises a legacy of peace
  3. Inner peace
  4. Will never stop the wars between nations or between fellow human beings until He returns
  5. Holy Spirit beings personal peace in the turmoil of life
  6. Circumstances don’t dictate our states of mind or emotional distress
4. Jesus gives peace the world cannot understand or receive because the world doesn’t know Him
  1. I still like shooting my guns
  2. But my peace comes from the legacy Jesus gives, not from the legacy of the wild west
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

Stay in the light (John 12:35-36), March 19, 2017

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Have you ever been in absolute, total darkness. It’s hard to find those spots today, but when you do, they can be pretty scary.
Scripture
1. John 12:35-36
2. Jesus: Light is among you, but very soon it will flicker out. Walk as you have the light, and then the darkness will not surround you. Those who walk in darkness don’t know where they are going. While the light is with you, believe in the light; and you will be reborn as sons and daughters of the light.
Devotional
1. Growing up in central Tennessee or central Kentucky, you know about Mammoth Cave. It’s named after the discovery of the Mammoth skeleton found in its caverns deep under the earth.
  1. System goes on for miles
  2. Popular tourist attraction
  3. Beautiful natural sculptures from millennia of stalactite and stalagmite formation
  4. Evolution of insects, fish and frogs without sight
  5. Every tour stops deep underground to demonstrate real darkness
  6. All lights extinguished for a few moments with no light anywhere
  7. Shocked by the total absence of light
2. Few places you can go without some light visible
  1. Light pollution from cities makes night training difficult for military
  2. Observatories find it more difficult to search the stars for the same reason
  3. Use to be able to point out many more constellations and clearly see the Milky Way
  4. Light floods our skies 24 hours a day because of the man-made devices we employ
  5. We despise darkness
3. Darkness means
  1. Can’t navigate
  2. Can’t avoid hidden danger
  3. Can’t distinguish friend or foe visually – sense we rely on the most
  4. Fear
4. Many live in spiritual darkness and don’t know how to escape it
  1. Swallowed in fear
  2. Know there is danger, but don’t know how to avoid it
  3. Sense the evil in the darkness but run headlong into it because there is no way to recognize the right path in the darkness
  4. Need light to show the way
5. Jesus says He is the light
  1. He lights our way
  2. He says when we believe in Him, His spirit will live in us and we become sons and daughters of the light, His light will shine in and through us to light the path before us
  3. Might not see the whole journey,
  4. Might only be the next step
  5. But will never be in darkness if Jesus is living in you
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

The fear of public speaking (John 10:25-30), March 7, 2017

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Today’s Podcast

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
So what’s the greatest fear you face? Many say it’s speaking in front of a crowd. I’m not so sure that’s right, though.
Scripture
1. John 10:25-30
2. Jesus: I have told you, and you do not believe. The works I am doing in My Father’s name tell the truth about Me. You do not listen; you lack faith because you are not My sheep. My sheep respond as they hear My voice; I know them intimately, and they follow Me. I give them a life that is unceasing, and death will not have the last word. Nothing or no one can steal them from My hand. My Father has given the flock to Me, and He is superior to all beings and things. No one is powerful enough to snatch the flock from My Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.
Devotional
1. Studies say that people are more afraid of speaking in front of a crowd than they are of dying.
  1. Might be true until people actually face death
  2. We really don’t know what lies beyond that last breath, that last heartbeat
  3. Something inside us tells us there is more than just the few years we have in these mortal bodies
  4. We want to have assurances of the next step after we pass from this life to whatever we face next
2. Some want us to think there is nothing beyond this life
  1. Our heart tells us that is not true
  2. God’s word tells us it’s not true, too
  3. If we listen to Him we can find out something about what is next
  4. He tells us something of heaven
  5. Feast with Him
  6. No darkness, God is light
3. We only get there through Him
  1. Some don’t want to believe that either
  2. Everything people try to disprove turns out to be right in God’s word
  3. Why would we think Jesus’ words about the way to God to be any different?
  4. Listen to what He has to say
  5. Pay attention to the sound of His voice in your heart and do what He says
  6. Ignore the other voices that vie for your attention and focus on the words Jesus tells you
  7. He is the Good Shepherd and takes care of His sheep. He will do what is best for those under His care. That means us if you have accepted Him as the Lord of your life
4. Death doesn’t have to be the most frightening thing you face. Let speaking in front of a crowd scare you more than anything else. He will walk with us through that shadow that separates us from the next step that takes us into eternity
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

Jesus calms our fears (John 6:20), February 3, 2017

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Today’s Podcast

Subscribe in: iTunes|Download

Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
My kids had a few nightmares when they were little. I would come to their rescue and calm their fears. Jesus calms our fears but in a much greater way. Today we hear one story of how he did it.
Scripture
1. John 6:20
2. Jesus (to the disciples): I am the One. Don’t be afraid.
Devotional
1. I remember when my kids were little, they would sometimes have nightmares in the middle of the night. I would hear them cry out and I would go to their room to see what was wrong. Sometimes they would see monsters in the shadows or they would just know that someone was peering in the window just waiting to come in and get them.
  1. My presence calmed them
  2. My voice let them know they were protected
  3. My assurance took away their fear
2. Grandkids spend the night and do the same
  1. Same thing happens
  2. Simple explanation and presence takes away fear
3. Disciples found themselves alone in a storm
  1. Real danger this time
  2. Not their imagination
  3. Expected to drown in the storm
4. Jesus comes walking calmly to their side
  1. His presence calms their fears
  2. His voice gives assurance that all will be okay
  3. He lets them know He will protect them from the storm
5. We face storms in life
  1. He will come and bring assurance to us the same way He did for His disciples
  2. We must listen above the wail of the storm
  3. We can trust Him to bring calm to the trouble waters in our lives
  4. We do not need to be afraid
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”