DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE 49-53 (end)

© By Danna Shirley

#49 - CROWNS

The Bible speaks of several crowns . . . crowns that we can receive one day. 

Crown Imperishable   1 Corinthians 9:24-27

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”

RUN THE RACE

Crown of Rejoicing   1 Thessalonians 2:19-20

“For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy.”

IN HIS PRESENCE

Crown of Righteousness   2 Timothy 4:5-8

“But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT - FINISH THE RACE - KEEP THE FAITH

Crown of Life   James 1:12

“Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”

RESIST TEMPTATION

Crown of Glory   1 Peter 5:2-4

“Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.”

BE A SERVANT

The last crown guarantees our receiving of the first crowns . . .

Crown of Thorns   Matthew 27:29-31

“When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.”

CRUCIFIED FOR US!!!

Props:  One crown to represent first references or five crowns to represent each reference and then a crown of thorns. 

#50 - ARE YOU DRIFTING

“But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.”  (Matthew 14:24)

Have you ever tasted of the good things of God? Have you experienced His presence in a profound way?

I go through spells of hungering after and drawing close to Him in study, worship, prayer, and church attendance . . . and at other times I am too easily distracted by meaningless activities, television, computer nonsense, and just a good afternoon nap.

I go from being totally blessed by God’s presence to beating myself up because I have drifted away.

How quickly and easily we let the contrariness of the wind toss us around in our daily living...

     . . . distracting us from doing what we wish

            . . . tempting us to do those things that are unsought.

Don’t let yourself be tossed by the waves and the wind to drift through your spiritual life unmoored and unanchored. Set an objective to regularly spend time with God . . .

     . . . in prayer

           . . . in reading the Word and studying the scriptures

                 . . . in meditation

                       . . . in fellowship with other believers.

Remain moored to Jesus and delight yourself in Him . . . and . . . His delight in you will be reflected back as your special blessing.

Prop:  Driftwood.

#51 - DISCIPLINE

 “Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”  (Hebrews 12:11)

I recently lost twenty-five pounds through a weight loss program. I was thrilled as the ounces and then pounds began to slip away from my frame. It seemed easy to avoid those foods that had tempted me in the past because I was seeing great results and I was encouraged as my clothes size went down.

When I reached my goal, I thought it would be easy again for me to maintain my weight because I had been on an eating plan which I felt I could continue. Wrong!

The process it took to reach my goal was also the process it would take to maintain my goal. I had begun to add my favorite foods back into my diet and I quickly gained back five pounds.

Discipline! It doesn’t seem to be joyful for the present but painful. If victorious, however, it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness because we are trained by it!

I began to appreciate the DISCIPLINE that I had learned in my eating habits and realized quickly that my training was a gift and not a punishment. 

Props:  Bathroom scales.

#52 - PLANTING and WATERING

“So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.”  (1 Corinthians 3:7)

I had a reunion recently with two friends that I had known in Japan. Dot drove from Florida to meet me in Mississippi and then we drove to San Antonio to stay with Hope and do some sight-seeing of the Alamo and the River Walk . . . and to catch up on our lives.

As we were walking from the parking lot, another lady fell in step behind us and asked which way to the river. We told her we were going in that direction and asked her to join us. Her name was Kathy. Throughout the day we shared our faith and did not reduce any of our conversation about our love for God.

The last stop of the day was a Mexican souvenir market.  Kathy and I sat down to rest as Dot and Hope continued to walk the path of small shops. She asked questions about heaven and I answered what I could.  Just as I was beginning to come to the end of my knowledge, Hope appeared beside me. I motioned for her to take my place and said, “You’re up!” She continued with “the rest of the story.”

Before we all parted, we were able to pray with Kathy and assure her that the day was no accident but it had been orchestrated by God for her benefit. I planted, Hope watered, but it is God who gives the increase. This is as it should be, God is in control . . . but don’t miss His divine appointments!

Props:  A plant and watering can.                                                                                   

#53 - IN CONCLUSION . . .

If you do not know this Jesus of Whom I speak, I encourage you to get to know Him. There is only one way . . .

YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN!!!

So how do you do that?

You acknowledge your need for God . . . Why? Because you’re lost without Him. You’ve followed your own desires (sin) and gone your own way down many wrong paths. You have reached the end of yourself and have no place else to go and no one else to turn to . . . EXCEPT TO GOD! He’s waiting for you . . . truly waiting for your sincere outcry. 

It’s a win-win situation . . . SO ACKNOWLEDGE HIM!!!

Romans 3:23

Believe that He has provided the help you need—A SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST . . . Because God loves you so much and knew that you needed someone to stand in your place to “save you” from your sins, He sent Jesus, His only Son, Whom He also loves so much, to die on a bloody cross just for you . . . individual and precious you . . . fearfully and wonderfully made you. He paid the price over 2,000 years ago just for this day to arrive . . . for you! Today is your born-again birthday.

It’s a win-win situation . . . SO BELIEVE IN HIM!!!

John 3:16

Confess your sins and repent of your sins . . . He already knows them anyway but He wants you to realize your state of sin and your total need to surrender to Him and be cleansed from all unrighteousness. List them if it helps so you can confess them one by one. Then tear up the paper into little pieces and burn them. Know that they are ALL covered under the blood of Jesus Christ and are scattered as far as the east is from the west, to be remembered no more.

To repent means to change one’s mind . . . turn around . . . and go in a different direction. Get serious once and for all. Confession and repentance are like a cleansing bath in the most peaceful and beautiful pool of refreshing waters. You jump in with all of your sins (black, dirty, grimy, gunky,  smelly)  and  you  come out squeaky clean, white  as  snow, with  a  feeling  of  being renewed, refreshed, restored, and forgiven . . . a feeling that you never want to go away. As you continually confess your sins, God continually forgives you of your sins . . . day by day.

 It’s a win-win situation . . . SO CONFESS AND REPENT OF YOUR SINS!!!

1 John 1:9-10

Receive Jesus into your heart . . . that’s all you have to do. You will then have clean hands and a pure heart before God and you will desire to follow after the things of God. You will have forsaken your old ways and the stubbornness that led you down that path to destruction and now you have surrendered yourself into God’s hands and His plan for your life. Ask Him to come in and take up residence in you. 

Now you can pray this prayer with all sincerity . . .

“I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that my Heavenly Father sent Him to purchase me out of my sins through the blood He shed on the cross, that His blood has saved me from my sins, has forgiven me of my sins, and has ushered me into eternal life with Him in heaven. I receive Jesus Christ NOW as my Lord and Savior.” 

 It’s a win-win situation . . . SO RECEIVE CHRIST INTO YOUR HEART TODAY!!!

John 1:12

Walk the walk and talk the talk . . . it’s not a game. You can’t live your life one minute for God and the next minute in the world. You can’t speak of the good things of God and then blame Him for the bad. You go to God at all times for all things. It’s a continual daily walk and the things that will keep you strong in the Lord are to . . .

          . . . pray every day (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

          . . . read God’s Word every day and obey it (2 Timothy 2:15)

          . . . witness for Christ through words and deeds (Acts 1:8)

          . . . trust God for every need in your life—spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, 

                financial, and social (Mt 6:26-34)

          . . . confess your sins on a daily basis (1 John 1:9-10)

          . . . attend church and be in fellowship with other believers (Hebrews 10:25)

          . . . be baptized in the Holy Spirit to receive power (Acts 1:8)

The results are that as you draw closer and closer to Jesus, you will walk in the fruit of the Spirit . . . love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)

. . . and you will find grace, mercy, hope, guidance, direction, health, protection, prosperity, friendships, etc. 

 It’s a win-win situation . . . SO BE CHRIST-LIKE IN THOUGHT, WORD, AND DEED!!!

Romans 6:4

God didn’t promise you a rose garden . . . but He did promise that He would never leave you nor forsake you. You are in this world so you have to live with all the death, destruction, disaster, and disease that you hear about every day. You won’t escape until you make “The Great Escape,” when Jesus comes to take you home to be with Him in heaven.

But while you are here, He’ll give you the grace and power to get you through each day. He wants to use you to make a difference in the lives around you. Sometimes the very thing that you may see as a tragedy in your life, God will use for good . . . in your life and in someone else’s life, too. Oh, the joy you’ll experience when you see how God moves in mysterious ways His wonders to perform. 

It’s a win-win situation . . . SO TRUST AND OBEY!!!

2 Timothy 1:12

THAT’S IT!!! That’s all you have to do to be saved, born again, redeemed.

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved,

you and your household.” (Acts 16:30-31)

And the adventure begins . . .

Now you can live and be satisfied right there . . . but there is more if you want more!

You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you . . .and you shall be a witness for God. What is this power? It is called the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and Jesus is the Baptizer. If you want more of Him, just ask. He will fill you up with rivers of living water on the inside until it overflows out of your belly and through your mouth to touch the world around you. He desires to use you in a mighty way. 

You will receive this gift . . .

. . . to witness for Christ to the world around you (Acts 1:8)

. . . to be an intercessory prayer warrior over those things God will lay on your heart 

      (Romans 8:26-27)

. . . to be built up in your faith (1 Corinthians 14:4)

It’s a win-win situation . . . SO BE BAPTIZED IN THE HOLY SPIRIT!!!  

Matthew 3:11 

DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE 41-48

© By Danna Shirley

#41 - HOW IS YOUR SOIL

 “Listen!  Behold, a sower went out to sow. And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it. (Mark 4:3-4)

Meaning: “. . . Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.”  (Mark 4:15)

“Some [seed] fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away.” (Mark 4:5-6)

Meaning:  “. . . when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time…when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble.” (Mark 4:16-17)

“And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop.” (Mark 4:7)

Meaning:  “. . . they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.” (Mark 18-19)

“But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” (Mark 4:8)

Meaning:  “. . . these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” (Mark 4:20)

The SEED is the WORD OF GOD . . .

YOU are the SOIL . . .

Do you find yourself as soil by the wayside? Then Satan tries to come and take the Word from your heart!

Do you find yourself as stony ground? Then the Word can take no root in you and you stumble!

Do you find yourself surrounded by thorns? Then the cares of the world and worldly desires have choked the Word!

But when you find yourself as good ground, you can produce a crop yielding one-hundred times more!

Take particular note of the effect on the seed by the wayside versus all the other seed. The seed by the wayside was devoured by the birds (Satan) before it ever took root, but all the other seed was lost due to the condition of the soil (heart of man).

How much of our own crop production is our responsibility and how much is to be laid at the feet of others? A certain amount belongs to the “sower” who sows the seed, but the soil is responsible for its own rich, fertile, fruitful condition. 

Are we fallow ground or will we cultivate our soil to receive God’s Word and produce a fruitful crop? 

Only we can know the condition of our own soil (heart) and only we can cultivate it and prepare it for the planting of the Word.

Props: Use four shallow pans each representing the wayside, thorns, stony ground, and good ground. Have each containing what you might consider the wayside, thorns, stones, good soil, etc. Choose four people to come up and try to plant in each of the pans. Demonstrate how difficult it is in the first three pans and how easy it is in the good soil. Show the result of how the Word will or will not survive in each type of soil.                     

#42 - HEARTCRY

“Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”  (Psalm 119:11)

Psalm 119 encourages us to keep God’s Ways, Commands, Statutes, Precepts, and Ordinances. These are not requests; these are directives.

Here are just a few: Blessed are those . . .

   . . . who keep His testimonies (v 2)

   . . . walk in His ways (v 3)

   . . . keep His precepts diligently (v 4)

   . . . keep His statutes (v 5)

   . . . look into all His commandments (v 6)

   . . . learn His righteous judgments (v 7)

   . . . take heed according to His Word (v 9)

   . . . not wander from His commandments (v 10)

   . . . teach His statutes (v 12)

   . . . meditate on His precepts and contemplate His ways (v 15)

   . . . delight in His statutes; forget not His Word (v 16)

   . . . and the list goes on and on . . .

First you must have God’s Word hidden in your heart! His Word guides and directs your footsteps so that you do not stumble and fall.

God’s Word is for all of us at all times . . .

     . . . sometimes, however, He gives a particular Word

     . . . to a particular person

     . . . for a particular time.

Don’t miss what He wants to tell you . . .BE IN HIS WORD!

Props: A heart (either a Valentine, a heart-shaped balloon, a cutout poster of a heart, etc).

#43 - KEYS

 “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”  (Matthew 16:19 KJV)

I had my purse stolen recently. I didn’t realize how much I depended on the contents until everything was gone. Of course the thief took pictures of my husband and granddaughter (irreplaceable) and cash and checkbook (replaceable) but an unexpected loss was my set of keys.  I had no car keys to even drive home.

Technology is great until you must have your car towed to a dealership and hooked up to their computer before a new set of keys can be programmed . . . and I had to do that for my car AND my truck! I also had all the locks changed on my house! A necessity due to the thief having my address as well. 

MY KEYS . . . limited . . . for transportation and security purposes!

But God’s keys are spiritual. They reach into Heaven to lock and unlock, to bind and loose. 

God gives us His “keys” and instructs us that we can bind whatsoever and loose whatsoever. 

GOD’s KEYS . . . limitless . . . for binding the assignment of the enemy against us and loosing the power of God for us!

Props:  Set of keys.

#44 - IT ONLY TAKES A SPARK

 “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry, He will baptize you with the HOLY SPIRT and FIRE.”  (Matthew 3:11)

A spark, though often thought of as very insignificant, can and has brought life and death to a variety of situations and people.

 

It was a spark of sorts that caused the great Chicago fire. 

It is a spark that determines whether your car will start each morning. 

A spark in a darkened room can bring light into an otherwise frightening or very dreary experience. 

Jesus desires to baptize us with the Holy Spirit and Fire . . . to ignite the spark within us and set us on fire for Him . . . WHY? Because He warns us that if we are lukewarm, neither cold nor hot, He will vomit us out of His mouth (Revelation 3:16).

Desire to be red hot and aglow for God . . .

. . . let the SPARK of God set you on fire. 

Let the FIRE of God lead you into His will . . .

. . . let God be glorified in all you say and do!

Props:  It would be helpful to be in a dark or unlit room. Use a candle lighter or matches and every time you say the word spark or light or red hot or aglow, strike a match and expound on Jesus baptizing us with the Holy Spirit and Fire. Point out the darkness of the room and then the spark (God’s presence) that brings light to the room.

#45 - ROCKS

 “Then, as He [Jesus] was drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying: ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!’ And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, ‘Teacher, rebuke your disciples.’ But He answered and said to them, ‘I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.’”  (Luke 19:37-40)

I am so thankful that I don’t have to have the most beautiful voice in the world in order to please God . . . to sing praises unto Him. I can lift up my song and my hands in the sanctuary and praise His Holy Name. I choose to do this in surrender.

Now if I were to look at the people standing around me, fearful of what they might think of my unashamed chorus, concerned about their judgment of my open expression of love and worship, and I were to quench my spirit from praising God, I would be most miserable.

WHY?

Because if I do not raise my voice in praise to God, He can easily raise up stones to praise Him. Aren’t I am better than a stone! 

Props:  Pile of stones.

#46 - CHOSEN INSTRUMENT

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light . . .”  (1 Peter 2:9)

Every one of us is a solo individual . . . chosen by God and precious in His sight. How beautiful we would sound if we proclaimed our praises unto Him . . . together?

Consider the sound of a solo performance by . . .

     . . . a piano or organ

           . . . a trombone or a trumpet

                 . . . a clarinet or a flute

                       . . . or a DRUM!                

How beautiful! Then compare that solo performance to the sound of a symphony orchestra. 

We may be just one note in God’s symphony but we are a chosen instrument to play that one note. Every note we play for Him is important. Every instrument in His orchestra is chosen.

He tells us we are CHOSEN, ROYAL, HOLY, SPECIAL, and CALLED to proclaim praises unto Him . . . whether it is as a solo performance or in an orchestra.

WE ARE CALLED . . . WE ARE HIS!!!

Props:  An instrument. If possible, have someone play one instrument and then all the praise team together.

#47 - COME GO TO THE HOUSE

“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. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”  (John 14:2-3)

As a newlywed and a Yankee just entering my husband’s southern family, there were many expressions I was hearing for the first time. One of them was,

“Ya’ll come and go to the house with me!”

I didn’t understand the invitation because the visitor had been with us all afternoon and was now inviting us to go with him to his house . . . strange! I learned it meant that he didn’t want the visit to end even though he had to go home . . .

“Come go with me!”

That is Christ’s invitation to all of mankind as well. He is preparing a home for us in heaven and even though He is our Resident Visitor (Colossians 1:27) here on earth, He wants us to . . .

Come and go to the house (mansion) with Him.

Are you preparing yourself to go just as He is preparing a place to receive you? Don’t be left behind!

Prop:  Dollhouse. Possibly develop a scenario with two dolls.

#48 - SURRENDER

 “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”  (1 Peter 5:6)

God does not delight in making us humble . . .

     . . . He instructs us to humble ourselves

           . . . freely, willingly, voluntarily,

                  . . . eagerly, cheerfully, enthusiastically.

                                                                                                     

We can be a pretty stubborn people, however. So proud that the phrase “humble yourself” tends to make us resistant. If we let pride rise up in us to the point of handling our cares alone and don’t allow God to exalt us out of them, then He may put us in a situation where we are made to be humble and that, dear one, can be humiliating.

Do we want to obey the scripture that instructs us to humble ourselves?

OR

Do we want to fall under the scripture that warns . . .

“Pride goes before destruction . . .”  (Proverbs 16:18).

God desires that we humbly come to Him casting our cares upon Him because if our pride gets in His way, He will remove it.

Therefore, humble yourself and say to Him . . . “I surrender all!”

Prop:  White flag.

DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE 33-40

© By Danna Shirley

#33 - BOXES

“. . . that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

(Ephesians 3:17-19)  

That is quite a feat . . . and quite a quest…to comprehend the love of Christ. The scriptures tell us that being rooted and grounded in love we can know the love of Christ.

Another thing to comprehend is not just the love of Christ but--   

     . . . the width of His love

           . . .the length of His love

                . . . the depth of His love

                      . . . the height of His love

These dimensions describe a box! Some people and some denominations try to put Christ in a box by laying down rules and regulations that cannot be found in scripture . . . or they may disregard things that are scriptural as not being true for today.

When the Word tells us, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8), then how can anything that He said or did be considered not true for today?

As you read and study the Word of God, let Him break out of the box of your thinking. He wants you to be filled with all of His fullness. He has no limitations so don’t limit Him in your life.

Props:  Box                                                                     

#34 - GOD GIVES GIFTS

 “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them…” (Romans 12:6)

There are several areas of giftedness in the human arena. If a child is athletic or musical or vocal, we encourage practice to develop these gifts. Not only to become proficient in them, but also for the pleasure they bring to others.

Our Heavenly Father also encourages us to use our spiritual gifts . . .

Gifts listed in Romans 12:6-8

     Prophecy (foretell*)

     Ministry (compassionate love and service)

     Teaching (instruction)

     Exhortation (encouragement)

     Giving (share, impart)

     Leading (administration)

     Mercy (compassion)

Gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

     Word of Wisdom (knowledge to regulate circumstances)

     Word of Knowledge (clear and exact)

     Faith (truth in the Gospel)

     Healing (to make whole)

     Miracles (mighty power inherent in Christ)

     Prophecy (foretell*)

     Discernment (distinguish)

     Tongues (language as a result of supernatural intervention)

     Interpretation of Tongues (translation)

Gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 

     Tongues (language as a result of supernatural intervention)

     Prophecy (foretell*)

     Knowledge (clear and exact)

     Faith (truth in the Gospel)

     Giving (nourish, supply)

(* not to be confused with fortunetelling)

Gifts listed in Ephesians 4:8 and 11

     Apostles (ambassadors)

     Prophets (one to whom God reveals His purposes)

     Evangelists (declarer of the Good News)

     Pastors (shepherd of the flock)

     Teachers (instructors)

Gifts listed in 1 Peter 4:8-9

     Charity (love)

     Hospitality (fondness toward guests)

As Christians, we all have some degree of giftedness. God will open doors of opportunity for us to use them and He encourages us to use them . . . to bring us pleasure, as well as pleasure to the recipient.

Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you . . . for God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:6-7)

As I get older and my life changes, I have found that my gifts sometimes shift from an area of strength to one of weakness. God moves us to different places and plants us in different arenas so that we can either be a blessing or receive a blessing. It may be for a lifetime or just for a season in our life, but wherever we are planted, we are to use our God-given gifts for Him.

“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God . . . that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”  (1 Peter 4:10-11)

Props:  Gift boxes or gift bags. If you have a small audience, you may want to give each of them a small token gift as a remembrance; such as a bookmark or a scripture card.

#35 - WAKE UP CALL

 “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” (Ecc 3:1)

He has made everything beautiful in its time.” (Ecc 3:11)

Have you ever wondered why God allows things to happen, when and for what purpose? Our days are in His hands, His timetable, His design! He knows the end from the beginning!

Season (in Hebrew) means an appointed occasion; time . . .

. . . birth and birthdays

       . . . church and school

             . . . programs and plays

                   . . . sports and music lessons

                         . . . first love and first broken heart

                                . . . college and career

                                      . . . marriage

                                            . . . aging and passing away

                                                  . . . birth and birthdays . . .

LIFE GOES ON!!!

Everyone gets the same . . .

. . . 24 hours in a day

      . . . 7 days a week      

            . . . 52 weeks a year

                  . . . for a lifetime.

Have you received your wake up call from Jesus? In whichever season of life you may find yourself, use it to the fullest for God’s glory, for . . .

“He has made everything beautiful in its time.”

Props:  Alarm clock that can be well seen.

#36 - A PIECE OF THE PIE

 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  Against such there is no law.”  (Galatians 5:22-23)

What makes a delicious pie? I guess it would be the ingredients but they must be added in the proper amounts and sometimes added at the proper time. Too much sugar . . . too sweet; not enough milk . . . too thick; too little flour . . . too soupy! 

God’s ingredient list might look something like this:

                        Apples             for      Joy

                        Peaches           for      Peace

                        Pears                for      Longsuffering

                        Bananas           for      Kindness

                        Oranges           for      Goodness

                        Grapes             for      Faithfulness

                        Berries             for      Gentleness

                        Kiwi                  for      Self-control

All the fruit should be perfectly blended, then baked in the pie shell called LOVE . . . because . . .

 The greatest of these is LOVE . . . (1 Corinthians 13:13)

LOVE never fails . . . (1 Corinthians 13:8)

We might ask ourselves, “How many pieces of God’s Fruit of the Spirit pie am I serving to others today?” Be generous!

Props: Bring a cooked pie crust and each of the above fruit (or whatever fruit you desire) already cut up. Add to the pie crust as you speak. Explain how love holds them all together.

#37 - JESUS IS THE TAP ROOT

 “Thus also faith by itself,  if it does not have works is dead.”  (James 2:17)

“But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?”  (Js 2:20)

“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”  (Js 2:26)

I have learned it is very significant when the scriptures repeat something twice; but when they speak of it three times, we are to SIT UP and TAKE NOTICE!

Why does God emphasize the need for “works” three times in our text? The church needs workers . . . it’s a given fact!  Everyone is needed and must work together to keep the church and the ministries within the church operating. Who keeps it all running smoothly? Who keeps everyone doing the work they are gifted and talented and called to do?

Tap Root: A primary root that grows vertically downward and gives off small lateral roots; the central element in a line of growth or development.

JESUS CHRIST . . . Our Tap Root!

 Props:  Display a plant that has a good healthy root system and describe each of your church’s ministries (Sunday School, Children’s Church, Youth, Men’s and Women’s ministries; as well as kitchen, nursery, usher/greeter, custodian, etc.) as a branch off of the Tap Root (Jesus). Even someone who brings a glass of water to the pastor’s podium is in ministry (Mark 9:41).

#38 - TOUR OF DUTY

“For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it. When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, ‘I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!’”  (Luke 7:8-9)

Our military personnel are given orders and are taught to be obedient without question. They are totally in the will of their superiors. They don’t have the “big picture” of the battle but if they are obedient to their personal assignment, there is victory  . . . for the soldier and for everyone else in the battle.

As Christians, we face our enemy (Satan) every day. We also need the same . . .

     . . . great faith

     . . . obedience to our commander (God, Jesus, Holy Spirit)

     . . . immersion into our personal assignment (God’s will)

     . . . spirit of patriotism (commitment) . . .

to ‘go’ and ‘come’ and ‘do’ . . .

We may not get medals we can wear on our chest, or frame, or hang on a wall but when we get to the end of our Tour of Duty, our Commander will say,

“Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.”  (Matthew 25:21)

Props:  A medal or ribbon

#39 - TREASURE

 “…lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  (Matthew 6:20-21)

Treasures on earth can be . . .

     . . . art, riches, fame

           . . . home, cars, profession

                 . . . children, fashion, beauty

Treasures on earth will

     . . . rot and rust

           . . . people will disobey and disappoint

                 . . . failures will come

        . . . the mountaintop will plummet into the sea. 

Treasures on earth will be a burdensome weight needing continual attention.

 Treasures in Heaven can be

     . . . ministry accomplishments

           . . . witnessing to the lost (planting/watering the Word)

                 . . . raising godly children (physical and spiritual)

                       . . . teaching and evangelizing

                             . . . leading someone to Christ

Treasures in Heaven are a deposit in eternity!

Where is your heart?

In the world or looking upward to Heaven!

Props:  A treasure chest or a fancy jewelry box.

#40 - TEACUP

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees; hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”  (Matthew 23:27-28)

I’m sure we’ve all met someone who was very attractive, having that beautiful outward appearance. However, as we got to know them better, we realized they were not very good-hearted. Their pleasant appearance did not overshadow their true inner person.

Then there are others we’ve met that may not be so attractive in appearance, however, once we got to know them, we realized the goodness of their heart. It was easy to look beyond appearance and take pleasure in knowing their inner person.

Consider this . . .

It is not very attractive to be ostentatious and neglect the inner man.

            The inner man is attractive regardless of the outward appearance.

Props: One beautiful teacup and saucer filled with mud or dirt; a mug filled with spiced tea. Demonstrate that it’s not the cup that’s desirable but what’s inside the cup that attracts people to it.