Morning Moments

"From the Negev he (Abram) went from place to place unntil he came to Bethhel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the Lord."

Here we find Abram at the altar again, but this time it was an Altar of Growth because it involved struggle. By the way it is only though struggles that character is built in our lives. Read Genesis 13 and consider:

1. The Fight -"strife" - Is this consistent with the love and leadership of the Lord? Family conflict is the most crushing kind. It is often the way the devil seeks to throw the "knock out" punch with the man of God. Take out the leader and the followers flee. Oh, how many times have I stood to preach with a restless heart because of family struggles. How rosy the preacher and his family are suppose to be - picture perfect! NOT! There are struggles with time, finances, sex, children JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. Tell me you have no such struggles and I will tell you that you are no man sent from God! Get REAL! That is why God has recorded all these events in His Word, so that we might see that these were "men of like passion as we, BUT they prayed" Now that is God's record about Elijah. Super sainted preachers make God sick! Untouchable! Unapproachable! Unreal! So clear your head and understand that if you serve God you WILL struggle and you will fight the devil till your dying breath. AMEN!

Lot wanted the best, so Abram took the rest. I began preaching as a young college student two weeks after I was saved and within 5 months, I was student pastoring. Some of the other guys had it easy. The churches took good care of them and paid them pretty well. Not so with me!

I had a church member who was very wealthy and when he dropped a hundred in the plate everyone knew from whom it came. My wife and I were living in that old country house about 35 miles from the church. On the church property was a little house that was maybe six or seven hundred square feet. This wealthy man thought that I needed to live on the "church field", in that little house. This guy was 6'10" and I was 5'9", so he towered over me. I said to him, "I'll tell you what, my friend, You move into that little shack and let my wife and I move into your three story mansion:) Remember it's not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog. I said, "I am here to go to school first and foremost." He never mentioned it again. Remember, we are talking about struggles: $50 a week, a pregnant wife, and a full load at school. I did not complain then and I am not complaining now. He and I became very good friends when he saw that I would stand my ground respectfully. Men of God should be CONFIDENT, but not arrogant. (to be continued)

2, The Famine - "Abram went down..."
3. The Fear
4. The Falsehood
5. The Fury
6. The Flight