Frank's Bible Blog

Psalm 45-- Carry It or Watch Others Carry It: The Choice is Yours

It has marked the beginning of every Olympic Games since 1928.

The Olympic Torch lights a large cauldron during the opening ceremonies and the cauldron stays lit until the end of the games. Since 1936, the flame that ignites the cauldron originates in Greece and then is carried by relay to the Olympic stadium. Typically hundreds, even thousands, of people participate in the carrying and passing of the torch as it makes it way around the world before finally lighting the cauldron.

There are those individuals who get to be part of history--the passing of the flame to the next runner--and then there are the rest of us who just watch.

When I think of the Olympic Torch relay, I can't help but think of the Torch relay all of us are to take part in as followers of Christ.

In Psalm 45 we are prophetically introduced to Christ. We are told about His majesty, righteousness and might. We are given a sneak peak into His everlasting kingdom. Then the chapter concludes by saying "I will make Your name to be remembered in all generations; Therefore the people shall praise You forever and ever."

Just like the flame of the Olympic Torch is passed from one runner to the next, the Name of Jesus will be praised, exalted, and passed on from one generation to the next. But unlike the Olympic torch, which eventually is extinguished, the Name of Jesus will be remembered for eternity.

Think about that for a moment.

Since the resurrection of Christ different people have joined the relay to pass along Christ to the next generation. They have been part of an unbroken chain prophesied here in Psalms 45. Now, there were those in every generation who embraced Christ, but who failed to pass Him along to the next generation. They watched as others did, but they did not have that legacy for themselves.

They watched while others made history.

The question comes to us today: Will we watch or will we make history? Will we sit on the sofa while others in our generation proclaim the life-changing message of Jesus? Will we rest on the bench while our peers pass the torch to another generation? Or will we rise to the occasion and take our place in history by handing the Flame to those who will carry it the next leg?

Will we go into eternity knowing that we helped carry the Name, or will we go into eternity knowing we missed the opportunity to make a difference in our generation?

The choice is ours!

_________________________

Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 70-- Just as You Are

Growing up in church, we always sang the same two to three songs during the invitation--the time at the end of the sermon where the pastor invited those who needed to make a spiritual decision to come forward. One of those songs was Just As I Am, which also was a trademark of Billy Graham's crusade invitations and the title of his autobiography.

Just As I Am talks about a person coming to God just as he is--"without one plea." It is the song of a person who has gotten real with himself and with God. It is the anthem of those who recognize their great need and humbly admit they do not have the wherewithal to meet their need.

The attitude expressed in Just as I Am is the attitude that God expects from all of us on a daily basis. The reality is that many of us are just the opposite--prideful and unwilling to even admit that we have a need. Even though as believers we have admitted our need for a Savior, we can still allow pride to creep into our everyday living.

In Psalm 70 the psalmist made no pretensions about how great he was or how he could take care of any situation that arose. Instead he cried out, "I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and deliverer" (v5).

There is incredible power in that verse. Read it again.

Before anything could be accomplished, before David could see God's power, before Heaven would move, he had to come to God just as he was. He had to come to God with a humble admission that he had nothing to offer. He had to acknowledge his need.

When you and I reject pride, when we take off the masks and stop playing spiritual games, then we open up ourselves to realize God's deliverance. We place ourselves in a position where we can see God work. We are then ready to receive the rich blessings that our loving Father is ready to pour out on us.

Is it time for you to come to God just as you are?

_________________________

Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 45-- Carry It or Watch Others Carry It: The Choice is Yours

It has marked the beginning of every Olympic Games since 1928.

The Olympic Torch lights a large cauldron during the opening ceremonies and the cauldron stays lit until the end of the games.  Since 1936, the flame that ignites the cauldron originates in Greece and then is carried by relay to the Olympic stadium. Typically hundreds, even thousands, of people participate in the carrying and passing of the torch as it makes it way around the world before finally lighting the cauldron.

There are those individuals who get to be part of history--the passing of the flame to the next runner--and then there are the rest of us who just watch.

When I think of the Olympic Torch relay, I can't help but think of the Torch relay all of us are to take part in as followers of Christ.

In Psalm 45 we are prophetically introduced to Christ. We are told about His majesty, righteousness and might. We are given a sneak peak into His everlasting kingdom. Then the chapter concludes by saying "I will make Your name to be remembered in all generations; Therefore the people shall praise You forever and ever."

Just like the flame of the Olympic Torch is passed from one runner to the next, the Name of Jesus will be praised, exalted, and passed on from one generation to the next. But unlike the Olympic torch, which eventually is extinguished, the Name of Jesus will be remembered for eternity.

Think about that for a moment.

Since the resurrection of Christ different people have joined the relay to pass along Christ to the next generation. They have been part of an unbroken chain prophesied here in Psalms 45. Now, there were those in every generation who embraced Christ, but who failed to pass Him along to the next generation. They watched as others did, but they did not have that legacy for themselves.

They watched while others made history.

The question comes to us today: Will we watch or will we make history? Will we sit on the sofa while others in our generation proclaim the life-changing message of Jesus? Will we rest on the bench while our peers pass the torch to another generation? Or will we rise to the occasion and take our place in history by handing the Flame to those who will carry it the next leg?

Will we go into eternity knowing that we helped carry the Name, or will we go into eternity knowing we missed the opportunity to make a difference in our generation?

The choice is ours!

_________________________

Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Philippians 4-- Mind Games

Mental preparation is a much a key to successful athletes and teams as is physical preparation. As athletes mentally rehearse their opponents anticipated moves, they prepare themselves to act and react in ways that will hopefully gain an advantage. Sometimes players and coaches try to play mind games with their opponents--whether it is waiting to the last possible moment to list a particular player as injured or eligible, or by talking "trash" to the opposing side. Mental preparation is also important to victory in the Christian life, and Philippians 4 outlines a strategy. First, have an attitude of joy in the Lord, regardless of circumstances (v4). Second, exchange worry for prayer (vv6-7).Third, fill your thoughts with godly things--things that are noble, just, pure, lovely, positive, virtuous, etc. (v8). Fourth, consider ways that you can bless others (vv10-20). Finally, never forget that you "can do all things through Christ" who gives you strength (v13). Follow this strategy and you won't get caught up in the devil's mind games.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.