Six Again

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A man was sitting on the edge of the bed, watching his wife, who was looking at herself in the mirror. He began pondering what he should get here for Christmas. They were pretty well off so she didn’t really need anything she had everything she could want. He finally asked her what she'd like to have for her Christmas. 'I'd like to be six again', she replied, still looking in the mirror. On Christmas morning, he arose early, made her a nice big bowl of Lucky Charms cereal, and then took her to Six Flags theme park. He had spared no expense. He had arranged for a private opening of the park. What a day! He put her on every ride in the park; the Death Slide, the Wall of Fear, the Screaming Roller Coaster, everything there was. And no lines. Five hours later they staggered out of the theme park. Her head was reeling and her stomach felt upside down. He then took her to a McDonald's where he ordered her a Happy Meal with extra fries and a chocolate shake. Then it was off to a movie, popcorn, a soda pop, and her favorite  candy, M&M's. What a fantastic gift! Finally she wobbled home with her husband and collapsed into bed exhausted. He leaned over his wife with a big smile and lovingly asked, 'Well Dear, what was it like being six again?" Her eyes slowly opened and her expression suddenly changed. ''I meant my dress size!!!"

What do you get the person who has everything?

When I was six years old, my family lived in Dover, England. As Christmas was approaching we received a big box sent by family back home in the states. One of the items that came out of that big box was a U.S. Army pedal car for me. It was a great christmas because I thought that was the greatest Christmas gift possible.

Matt 7:9-12 "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Message on a Christmas Card - "If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator.  If our greatest need had been for reformation, God would have sent us an innovator.  If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist.  But since our greatest need was forgiveness, God sent us a Savior."

I.          If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an Educator.

a. Matt 5:1 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them,

b. Matt 11:1 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.

c. Mark 2:13-14 Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them.

A chaplain who was ministering to a seriously wounded soldier was requested by the dying man to write a letter to his former Sunday school teacher.  "Tell her I died a Christian because of what she taught me in that class in church.  The memory of her earnest pleas and the warmth of her love as she asked us to accept Jesus has stayed with me.  Tell her I'll meet her in Heaven."  The message was sent, and some time later the chaplain received this reply: "May God forgive me.  Just last month I resigned my position and abandoned my Sunday school pupils because I felt my work had been fruitless.  How I regret my impatience and lack of faith!  I shall ask my pastor to let me go back to teaching.  I have learned that when one sows for God, the reaping is both sure and blessed!"

II.       If our greatest need had been reformation, God would have sent us an innovator.

Matt 9:16-17 "No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. 17 Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved."

Rom 6:4-11 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Have some of your carefully created castles been washed away? Mine have. Several times along my life's journey, I had nowhere to turn except into my heavenly Father's arms. There I remained quiet, soaking up his love for as long as I needed. Then I saw his hand begin a new creation for my life, a new direction, a new service for him and his kingdom. Waves need not always destroy. We must allow our heavenly Father to use them to redirect our lives.

III.    If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist.

Matt 6:24 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money .

Matt 25:14-30  "Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15 To one he gave five talents of money , to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17 So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18 But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money . 19 "After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.' 21 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. come and share your master's happiness!' 22 "The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.' 23 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' 24 "Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.' 26 "His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28 "'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

If a man runs after money, he's money-mad; if he keeps it, he's a capitalist; if he spends it, he's a playboy; if he doesn't try to get it, he lacks ambition. If he gets it without working for it, he's a parasite; and if he accumulates it after a lifetime of hard work, people call him a fool who never got anything out of life.

God solves the problem …

      … everything we have comes from Him and so belongs to Him. He only asks us to give a small portion back to Him!

IV.    But our greatest need was for forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior

a. Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

b. Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

c.  Rom 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

d. John 3:16-18 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.

e.  Mark 2:10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins “

Each year in Washington, D.C., someone rents a hall, hires an orchestra, and advertises a sing-along production of Handel's Messiah. People stand in line to get tickets. The choir numbers five thousand. They pay for the privilege of singing Messiah. Of course, it is always a privilege to sing of the Christ or to speak of the Christ. Why do we not take advantage of our opportunities to do it?

Early Christians wisely decided to celebrate the birth of Christ on a day that was already a recognized holiday, December 25. Celebrating on this day would keep them from suspicion and danger. The Romans called December 25 "The Birthday of the Unconquered SUN" because it was so close to December 21, the winter solstice. For Christians it became "The Birthday of the Unconquered SON."

Mary Had a Little Lamb!

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Mary Had a Little Lamb

Sarah Joseph Hale (1830)

Mary had a little lamb,

Its fleece was white as snow--

Everywhere that Mary went,

The lamb was sure to go.

……………..

Mary Had a Little Lamb

author unknown

Mary had a little Lamb,

He was born on Christmas day.

She laid him in a manger bed

To sleep upon the hay.--

Angels filled the night-time sky

And they began to sing.

Shepherds heard them all proclaim

The birthday of a King.--

Wise men saw a blazing star

Up in the sky that night.

They followed it until they found

The King of love and light.--

Mary had a little Lamb,

But He wasn't hers, you know,

He was the very Son of God,

The One who loves us so.--

The Father of this little Lamb

Loved the world so much

That He sent his only Son to earth

So we could feel His touch.--

He came to give us joy and peace

And take away our sin.

So when He knocks on your heart's door, Be sure to let Him in.--

Why do I love this precious Lamb?

What can the reason be?

The answer is quite plain to see,

It's because He first loved me!

Luke 1:26-33 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."  29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."

I.          The Lamb of God!

Not all my prayers nor sighs nor tears, Can ease my awful load.    Thy work alone, O Christ, Can ease this weight of sin; Thy blood alone, O Lamb of God, Can give me peace within.

John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

John 1:35-37 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!" 37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.

a. The Unblemished Lamb

1 Peter 1:18-21 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

b. The Passover Lamb

The price of lambs varies from season to season and farmers listen to the radio farm reports to learn the current price of lambs. The Lamb of God remains priceless, his values never changing. "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold ... but with the precious blood of Christ"

1 Cor 5:7 For Christ, our Passover lamb , has been sacrificed.

c. The Lamb of Peace

Jesus Christ exhibited a divine paradox of the lion and the lamb. He was the Lion in majesty, rebuking the winds and demons. He was the Lamb in meekness, "who when he was reviled, reviled not again." He was the Lion in power, raising the dead. He was the Lamb in patience who was "brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth." He was the Lion in authority, "Ye have heard that it hath been said ... but I say unto you." He was the Lamb in gentleness, "Suffer the little children to come unto me." -   Oswald Chambers

Isa 11:5-9 Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. 6 The wolf will live with the lamb , the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. 7 The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. 8 The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest. 9 They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD

d. The Silent Lamb

Acts 8:32-35 The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth."   34 The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?" 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

God’s Lamb - See the Lamb and the Lion. The Lamb says: simplicity, meekness, white fleece, smallness, innocence, purity, helplessness, submission to sacrifice. The Lion says: strength, size, golden mane, grandeur, courage, untamed power. How paradoxical that both images speak of Christ! Neither is a perfect image; each symbolizes different characteristics of the same infinite Person.

II.       The Lamb of Sacrifice

Under the Old Testament system, every worshiper had to bring his own lamb. If he had no lamb, he had to buy a lamb. He could not borrow a lamb. No one could give him a lamb. He had to provide his own lamb. In the New Testament everything is reversed. God provides the Lamb!

Gen 22:6-8 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, "Father?" "Yes, my son?" Abraham replied. "The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" 8 Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together.

a.Throughout the Old Testament, there was requirement for a sacrificial offering to be made to God.

b. Under the OT law there was a process through which the people would find symbolic forgiveness of their sins

c.  The Sin offering Lamb

Lev 4:32-33 "'If he brings a lamb as his sin offering, he is to bring a female without defect. 33 He is to lay his hand on its head and slaughter it for a sin offering at the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered.

d. The purifying lamb

Rev 7:14-17 And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb . 15 Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

There's a line in the Old Testament written by Isaiah that tells the result of God's gamble, Isaiah 53:6: "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way." Although God has a right to own us because he created us, he gave us the option of freedom, and we all left. We chose sin and did not love him as he wanted to be loved. In response, he chose to send out his own son to look for us, to hunt us down, to find and redeem us at a terrible cost--the cost of his own life. … A shepherd notches the ear of a lamb born to his flock and has rightful ownership. That lamb deliberately walks away. The shepherd searches near and far to get that lamb back. A long time later, he finds not a baby lamb but a grown sheep for sale at an animal auction. The shepherd recognizes his mark on that sheep's ear. He goes to the auctioneer and says, "I can see the mark. That sheep is mine." The auctioneer says, "Listen, you must bid and pay just like anybody else." The shepherd bids and pays an outrageous price, far above any reasonable market value in order to get his lamb. He now has a double right to own this sheep: from birth, from redemption. God has a right to own us as creator and because he has paid the blood of his own Son--an outrageous price far above our market value--in order to redeem us back again. -- Leith Anderson, "The Lord Is My Shepherd,

III.    The Victorious lamb

Rev 12:11 "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. 11 They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

a. The Wedded Lamb

O for a closer walk with God,

   A calm and heavenly frame,

   A light to shine upon the road

   That leads me to the Lamb!

Rev 19:6-9 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. 8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) 9 Then the angel said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb !'" And he added, "These are the true words of God."

b. The Shining lamb

God is holy with an absolute holiness that knows no degrees. There is a holiness which he shares with angels and seraphim in heaven and with redeemed men here on earth as their preparation for heaven. This holiness God imparts to his children. He shares it with them through the blood of the Lamb, he requires holiness of them.

Rev 21:22-23 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.

c. The Worthy Lamb

The Christian faith engages the profoundest problems the human mind can entertain and solves them completely and simply by pointing to the Lamb of God. - A. W. Tozer

Rev 5:11-13 In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb , who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" 13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!"

What can I give him,

   Poor as I am?

   If I were a shepherd,

   I would bring a lamb;

   If I were a wise man,

   I would do my part;

   Yet what I can I give him-I give Him my  heart.

The Out House

Audio Link

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The Bugg House - In Albuquerque there is a house called the Bugg house. Every Christmas they would decorate there house and yard with over 1,000,000 Christmas lights. People would come from all over town to see their home. The common question was have you seen the Bugg House?

There's a family with an odd name. It's the OUT family, and I mean there is a house full of them in the Bible.

Like all families, there are some good and some bad kin that happens to carry the family name.

This family is named the OUT Family and they live in the OUT House.  

Matthew 7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. [22] Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' [23] Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

I.          There's Shut Out.

a. Genesis 6:14-17 So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out. [15] This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high. [16] Make a roof for it and finish the ark to within 18 inches of the top. Put a door in the side of the ark and make lower, middle and upper decks. [17] I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish.

b. God told Noah to build and ark, and put a door in the side, so that those that would not enter by the door would be shut out.

c. ONLY THOSE WHO ENTER BY THE DOOR WILL BE ALLOWED IN!

d. John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

e.  Rev. 3:7-8 "To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. [8] I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

f.   The Ten Virgins

g.  Matt 25:1-13 "At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 "At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' 7 "Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' 9 "'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' 10 "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 11 "Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!' 12 "But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.' 13 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

h.Oh my friend, Jesus is coming! I pray that you will not wind up a SHUT OUT!

I wonder when Noah’s neighbors started getting worried. Was it when it first started to sprinkle? Maybe it was when the water got knee deep that they decided they might see if they could catch a ride with Noah. I can picture them in waist deep water beating on the side of the ark yelling “Let me in … Let me in!” But Noah didn’t close the door of the ark. God did. God closed Noah into the ark and at the same time God closed a lost mankind out of the ark!

Don’t let yourself be shut out of God’s Salvation.

II.       There's Hide Out.

a. Genesis 3:8-10 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. [9] But the Lord God called to the man, "Where are you?" [10] He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."

b. Adam and Eve were hiding out from God.

c.  Numbers 32:23 "But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the Lord; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.

d. People have tried to Hide Out from God for a long time but He always finds them!

                                 i.    Achan tried it and was caught.

                               ii.    David tried it and was caught.

                            iii.    Annanias and Sapphira got caught.

e. They not only hid OUT, but were found OUT!

f.   What is done in the dark will be seen in the light!

When we were kids, we used to play Hide and Seek. Whoever was it would count to 50 while all the rest would go hide. Then whoever was it would try to find everyone. The last one found was it for the next round. Can you imagine playing Hide and seek with Superman. … Remember he has x-ray vision. That would take the fun out of the game because he could see you no matter where you hid. That’s what we do when we try to hide from God!

III.    There's Went Out

a. Cain killed Abel and God dealt with him…

b. Genesis 4:13-14 Cain said to the Lord, "My punishment is more than I can bear. [14] Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me."

c. Cain went out from the presence of the LORD. Cain was full of hate, and murdered his brother.

d. No wonder he felt separated from God….

e. But Why have you gone out?

f.   Judas Iscariot went out from the Lord because he betrayed Jesus to the Roman guards.

g. The prodigal went out because of his own greed.

h.I have known folks just like these.

i.   I would never have expected them to have "went out" from the Lord's service.

j.   Why have You gone out?

k. If you have gone out please come home today.

Some times we allow things to get between us and God. When I was a teenager, we lived next to a pine forest. Close to our house was an unusual sight.  Someone had discarded an old bucket. The bucket had a hole in the bottom of it. A pine tree seed from a pine cone had fallen inside the bucket. The seed took root and began to grow. As the sprout became a tree it grew up through the bottomless bucket. When I found it, the tree was about 30 feet tall and completely surrounded by the intact sides of the bucket. To survive the tree had to overcome that which would hinder it. So must we!

IV.    There's Sell Out

a. Genesis 25:29-34 Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. [30] He said to Jacob, "Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I'm famished!" (That is why he was also called Edom.) [31] Jacob replied, "First sell me your birthright."  [32] "Look, I am about to die," Esau said. "What good is the birthright to me?"  [33] But Jacob said, "Swear to me first." So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. [34] Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.

b. Esau sold his birthright for beans.

c.  Some have sold out for a lot less than that!

d. Judas sold out for thirty pieces of silver.

e. Some have sold out for pleasure and popularity.

f.   Don’t be a sell out!

g. What is your salvation worth to you?

V.        There's Drop Out

a. Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

b. These folks did run well when they started, but dropped out.

c.  I have seen people drop out of the race; I mean giants. Great leaders.

d. Churches have preached a “Cheap” salvation.

e. Oh it’s easy to fool people… just say that you have been saved … never mind that there was no change in your life. Never mind that you still do the things you did before.

f.   No wonder that when Satan applies the heat, people drop out!

VI.    There's Holding Out

a. It's dangerous to hold out on God.

b. Just ask Annanias and Sapphira

c.  Acts 5:1-11 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. [2] With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet. [3] Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? [4] Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God."     [5] When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. [6] Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. [7] About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. [8] Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?" "Yes," she said, "that is the price." [9] Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also."  [10] At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. [11] Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

d. Holding out puts you under the curse of God 

VII. There's Fall Out

a. These fall out from fainting. 

b. Proverbs 24:10 If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength!

c.   Acts 20:7-9 On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. [8] There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. [9] Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead.

d.   Eutychus fell out because he was getting more out of the world than he was in the church.

The following letter was found in a baking-power can wired to the handle of an old pump that offered the only hope of drinking water on a very long and seldom-used trail across Nevada's Desert: "This pump is all right as of June 1932. I put a new sucker washer into it and it ought to last five years. But the washer dries out and the pump has got to be primed. Under the white rock I buried a bottle of water, out of the sun and cork end up. There's enough water in it to prime the pump, but not if you drink some first. Pour about one-fourth and let her soak to wet the leather. Then pour in the rest medium fast and pump like crazy. You'll git water. The well has never run dry. Have faith. When you git watered up, fill the bottle and put it back like you found it for the next feller. (signed) Desert Pete. P.S. Don't go drinking the water first. Prime the pump with it and you'll git all you can hold."