LUKE

What a beautiful Sunday morning.  This is what we were hoping for last Sunday, but the LORD knew that had we had such a day, we could not contain the crowds.  It was amazing and we are still rejoicing in God's goodness.  This week, we have our Teen Explosion Youth Revival and we are anticipating God doing a great work in the lives of scores and scores of teenagers.  Pray about this with me.  Bro. Reno Likens is our guest and I know God is going to use him greatly. Today, I'm finishing up the last two chapters of Mark and into Luke, the beloved Physician.  Here are a few highlights: 1) GREAT PREACHING!  This great preaching is found in Luke chapter one.  It comes from Mary, the mother of our LORD.  In Luke 1:49-52, we read:  "For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.  "50"  And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.  "51"  He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.  "52"  He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree." I know that ladies are not preachers, but this is sure good preaching! 2) DESERT TRAINING- In Luke 1:80, it says: "And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel."  This is talking about John the Baptist.  I call this passage and passages like this.... Desert Training!  This is time spent alone with God.  Paul had three years he was in the desert, Moses spent almost 40 years in the desert before God used him.  Why the desert?  A place to be alone with God; a place to have God break and make you;  a place you humble yourself under the greatness of God and His majestic expanse of the desert..  (God looks Big, and you look small!)  Why not spend some "desert training" early in the mornings.... alone with God.  Your life will never be the same.  3) WHERE MY HEART IS- We live in a day when to talk about having a heart for God means you have one.  And, it you can be emotional while you talk about a heart for God, all the better.  But God's word gives us ways to know where our heart really is.  In Luke 12:34, it says: "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."  Now, this is not guessing where your heart is, it is telling you where your heart is and it is Jesus Christ who is doing the telling!  (I think He knows!)  How can one talk about having a heart for God and yet they do not fund the work of God?  Jesus said of the Pharisees: Matthew 15:8  "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me."  1 John 3:18  "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth." Well, hope you have a blessed day in Jesus Christ!!  Pastor Mike Mutchler