Give It All You've Got

By Tony V. Hammack

Abundant Life Today Media
	Podcast: Play in New Window | Download To watch the video, click here.

These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio or video.   After you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then (Eph. 6:13, 14) Give it all You've Got!

Specifically the passage is talking about attacks from principalities, powers, and forces of darkness in the heavenly realms. When the day of evil comes, stand!

You know, this passage from Ephesians 6:13,14 reflects how I feel at times. When you've done everything you know to do, to the best of “your ability,” then all you can do is stand.

We rest in the finished work of Christ but the Lord is still calling us to obedience. If the Lord asks us to do something we want to do it with as much excellence, vigor and zeal we can muster based on the amount of grace we've received.

Enthusiasm – from Greek enthousiasmos "divine inspiration, be inspired or possessed by God. So when we do things under the direction of the Lord we should do them with fervor.

If nobody does anything, nothing will get done. ~Tony Hammack

This is a little story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought that Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done

Ecclesiastes 9:10a
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might,

Might – bodily strength, the power, energy, or intensity of which one is capable.


This passage is cast in the light of “the fragility/brevity of life”. We only have so much time to work so why not give it all we've got!

Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,

Heart – the emotional or moral as distinguished from the intellectual nature. The seat of passion and emotion. One's innermost character, feelings, or inclinations.

This passage is cast in the light of “who are you working for?” We all can identify with working for someone you don't like, trying to do as little as possible to just draw a paycheck of some kind. However the paradigm in the kingdom is different. We're to work like we're working for the King of King's and Lord of Lord's!

Working very hard forces a result. Either you will have success from your hard work or you will realize “this isn't for me”.  If we don't work with all our heart/might we may meander through years of our lives not fulfilling the plans and purposes of God.

Proverbs 16:3
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.

We don't need to spend our lives chasing our tails or working toward a goal of self gratification. Our efforts should be approved by Jesus. What we strive for should be under the umbrella of his will. When we do this I believe he will establish our plans. Why do we do what we do?

The motive of the heart is a very hidden issue however the Lord knows every motive of the heart. (1 Corinthians 4:5) He can reveal to us our motives and give us grace to change them if that is His will.

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” ~Theodore Roosevelt

1 Corinthians 10:31b
whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) and Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) If you can't be with us in person please visit via internet video on Jubilee T.V. If you live in Batesville please tune into KBAP 88.1 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.
Jubilee Family Church45 Thunderbird Dr. Batesville, AR 72501 (870) 793-9124
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The Love of God For His People

By Tony V. Hammack

Abundant Life Today Media
	Podcast: Play in New Window | Download To watch the video, click here.

These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio or video.

The Character of God

I believe the best way I can comprehend the character of God is by describing him as multifaceted When you think of a jewel you think of cuts and imagine on each cut you see the same jewel but because the angle has changed you see a whole different arrangement of light. In the same way God has many different facets to his personality.

Isaiah 55:9
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

1 Corinthians 2:9,10
However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” the things God has prepared for those who love him— 10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

I believe God reveals his nature through his word and he anoints this information to our emotions by revelation. Once God has our hearts, he has us.

This spoken voice of God to our hearts is what should cause us to be arranged in the body. Every person hearing from God, obeying, working in their place of calling. God is a great administrator. Sometimes we have a hard time discerning the voice of God and must make time for this.

Jesus Christ is PERFECT THEOLOGY. When you've seen the son you've seen the father.

The facet of God's Character that I sense the most when I'm in his presences is his great love for me.

He sings over me Zephaniah 3:17 - The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”

Isaiah 65:19
I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more.

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

If Christ would die for me when I was a sinner, how much more do you think he loves me now that I'm righteous because of his grace?

1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

If you think God is waiting to wack you in the head with a hammer you will have a hard time being sanctified. God is loving and expecting you to rise above personl sin, rise above disobedience, conquer fear, and become the person of God he's called you to be. I believe he will believe in you until you die.

Romans 2:4
Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

It is the kindness of God that leads to changes in thinking and changes in behavior. We must be able to experience his kindness or repentance will be elusive at best.

The T.V. Show touched by an Angel would always conclude with one or more angels manifesting themselves to the people with a message of God's great love for mankind.

John 3:16,17
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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. God is not wanting to condemn anyone! His will is that not one person would perish but all would come to repentance. His desire means he's extending kindness to humanity at this time because God made the human heart, he knows what causes it to change. It's the revelation of God's great kindness to us.

This parable is often called the parable of the prodigal son however It more appropriately could be called the parable of the loving father.

Luke 15:11-32

• Longing
• Looking
• Running
• Hugging
• Kissing Father

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) and Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) If you can't be with us in person please visit via internet video on Jubilee T.V. If you live in Batesville please tune into KBAP 88.1 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.

Jubilee Family Church45 Thunderbird Dr. Batesville, AR 72501 (870) 793-9124
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If God, through his prophets says, "Live!" you will Live!

By Tony V. Hammack

Abundant Life Today Media
	Podcast: Play in New Window | Download To watch the video, click here.

These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio or video.

No Matter How Bad Things May Look, If God says, “Live”, you will live!

The Nation of Israel had forsaken God and was in exile. God, because of his namesake was planning on bringing Israel back to their covenant land. God instructed his prophet to speak to this exiled people symbolized by a valley of dead dry bones.

Today, in our nation, when we look out over the spiritual landscape things seem to be going the wrong direction. However, if we have the word of the Lord and declare it, I believe our nation will turn around.

Ezekiel 37:1-14
The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. 3 He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.”

4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”

7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.

9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.

11 Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel.

13 Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’”

1. Even though obvious circumstances look bad, the Word of God trumps all “realities”.

The obvious answer to God's question in verse 3 is “NO!” but the prophet knows his God and answers based on the fact that “all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27)

In our lives and in our time, I believe that God's word trumps all realities. Things can look bad, even dead, even very dead, and the Word of God when released will bring the reality that God has ordained for an individual, Church fellowship, or Nation.

In verses 4-6 we see God telling Ezekiel to prophecy breath into the dead, dry bones.

Sometimes God may ask you to do something that is irrational in your own mind. However, if you are sure that you are hearing the Lord you must obey the direction the Lord is leading you. Declaring life into dry bones is not the most rational thing for a person to do but if God says to do it you should obey.

Conversely, if God does not tell you to prophecy to dry bones it would be best not to. Presumption and our own human will is not what this passage is about. It's about a prophet hearing the voice of God and declaring a heavenly reality into the realm of the Earth.

Timing plays a critical role in how God is dealing with individuals and nations. When Israel was under judgment the word of the Lord was “you are going off into captivity”. Now after being in captivity, the word is “you are going to live again”. Prophetic people need to be just that. Not prophesying the will of their own heart. They must find the heart of God.

In Jeremiah 28 we see a prophetic show down of sorts where Jeremiah, the true prophetic man of God, prophecies what modern day people might call “doom and gloom”. Hananiah on the other hand prophecies a return to peace and prosperity.

Jeremiah simply “goes his way” after Hananiah prophecies his lies but hears a word from the Lord and returns saying, something like Hananiah's words would be great if they were from the Lord but because he's prophesied his own thoughts he will die within one year. The prophet is to be judged by the accuracy of his words.

Obedience predicates the manifestation

As Ezekiel prophecies in obedience to the word of the Lord, organization begins to replace chaos. It starts with a rattling sound. Admittedly not very impressive at first but it's the beginning of something very impressive.

After the bones become organized tendons and flesh appear on the bones. The bodies get covered with skin but there is not breath in the bodies.

In Genesis we see a similar process and in Acts Chapter 2 we see some similarities.

When God creates something he often starts with a spoken word.

You and I due to the nature of God in us have power in our words to bring life or bring death. Proverbs 18:21

One day a group of scientists got together and decided that man had come a long way and no longer needed God. So they picked one scientist to go and tell Him that they were done with Him. The scientist walked up to God and said, "God, we've decided that we no longer need you. We're to the point that we can clone people and do many miraculous things, so why don't you just go on and get lost." God listened very patiently and kindly to the man and after the scientist was done talking, God said, "Very well, how about this, let's say we have a man making contest." To which the scientist replied, "OK, great!" But God added, "Now, we're going to do this just like I did back in the old days with Adam." The scientist said, "Sure, no problem" and bent down and grabbed himself a handful of dirt. God just looked at him and said, "No, no, no. You go get your own dirt!"

In Ezekiel 37:9-10 Ezekiel is instructed to prophecy to the breath. So in obedience to the word he does it. When the breath comes into the people they stand to their feet like a vast army. An army speaks of organization, rank, file, and purpose.

In verse 11 we get a glimpse into the attitude of the Israelite people. They have a meditation of the heart and it goes something like this. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ Gloom, despair and agony on me!

What the Israelites are saying is true but God want's to shift their reality by returning them to their land and giving them hope again. The change can't happen unless someone begins to declare the heavenly reality. Ezekiel is the Man of God who in faith declares the Word of the Lord.

In verse 13 we see God's motive in doing everything he's going to do. Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord

We need to see the manifestations of God in our generation if people in our time are to come to know the Lord.

   

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) and Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) If you can't be with us in person please visit via internet video on Jubilee T.V. If you live in Batesville please tune into KBAP 88.1 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.


Jubilee Family Church45 Thunderbird Dr. Batesville, AR 72501 (870) 793-9124
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The Most Illogical Conclusion to the Question: Who is Jesus?

By Tony V. Hammack
 

As far as I can understand, the majority of non Christian world religions and some cults, conclude that Jesus Christ was a historic figure at least but some elevate Jesus to the status of "Good Person" or "Accurate Prophet" or "Good Teacher" or "Healer" or some other title you'd place upon a very gifted or kind hearted human being.

As I was reading my Bible today I came across a passage in John 10:33 where Jesus, was about to be stoned for blasphemy.   John 10:33 says, "We are not stoning you for any good work," they replied, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God."

My Bible tells me that the contemporary listeners of Jesus understood him to be making distinct claims to DEITY.  If Jesus wanted to refute the accusation he easily could've said, "Hey wait a minute guys, I'm a man just like you, I never said or tried to imply I'm divine."  However these words are not found in scripture.  Amazingly enough Jesus is also worshiped by people who are on the receiving end of miracles but it's never recorded in scripture that he told the people to stop, like the apostles do and angels do in other places in scripture.    Now this is critically important because Jesus makes claims to deity it dispels the idea that Jesus was just a good person or just a prophet or just a nice teacher or whatever other illogical conclusion a person would want to draw concerning his identity.

Let's explore the idea of someone making distinctive claims to deity in modern times.  Suppose your neighbor walks over to you and says, "Hey come over here, I've got something to tell you."  You walk over and he whispers in your ear, "God and I are one!",  "When you've seen me you've seen the father".  Now, you have a choice to make.  Is your neighbor telling you the truth or is he not?  If he is you should stop what you are doing and worship him on the spot but if he isn't you could not conclude any longer that your neighbor is a "good person".  Let's explore what you must conclude if he's not telling the truth.

#1 He's a liar!  So if your neighbor tells you he's equal with God and he knows in his own mind he's not, that makes him a liar.  Now on the scale of lies this is one of the worst kind of lies a person could tell.  So he knows he's not the way to salvation but knowingly leads others astray from the truth.  This is the worst kind of lie because it's devilish in nature.  Your neighbor could lead thousands or perhaps millions away from the truth by concocting this hoax on humanity.  So your neighbor can't be considered a good person if he makes distinct claims to deity knowing he's not.

#2 He's a lunatic!  So if you travel down to your local mental institution you may find people who are mentally ill who claim to be God.  Now in their defense they are convinced in their own minds that they really are.  Unfortunately one wouldn't consider a person with this level of mental illness a "good person".  Perhaps they were a victim of some horrific crime that damaged their mental capacities to perceive reality or maybe they have a genetic predisposition for this kind of thinking.  Perhaps they are suffering from a demonic presence.  We don't really know but we know one thing.  This person is not capable of leading in a good way nor is this person someone most of us would "follow", because there will be other components to their mental illness that make them hard to coexist with let alone die for. 

So let's review our two choices for the person who decides to make claims to deity but isn't.  #1 Liar: Not just a little white lie kind of liar but a hoax on humanity kind of liar, someone who should be put into the worst kind of liar category.  #2 Lunatic: A person who really believes they are God (and isn't) is crazy.  And not just a little crazy, very crazy.

#3 He's Lord and God! So looking at the manuscript authority of the New Testament, and the teaching, life, miracles, resurrection and ascension of Jesus; one, who's logical, must conclude that Jesus claims to deity are substantiated by his words, attitude and actions.  The only logical conclusion for who Jesus is, is who he said he was.  Jesus is who the Pharisees understood him to be claiming to be.  If you can't draw this conclusion for yourself, for whatever reason (your eyes are closed or blinded by some other ideology) then please don't make the idiotic statement that "Jesus was JUST a good person".  "Jesus was JUST a prophet". or "Jesus was JUST a good teacher".

 
Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) and Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) If you can't be with us in person please visit via internet video on Jubilee T.V. If you live in Batesville please tune into KBAP 88.1 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.

Jubilee Family Church
45 Thunderbird Dr.
Batesville, AR 72501

(870) 793-9124

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Peace on Earth - One Pastor's Response to the Sandy Hook Shooting

By Tony V. Hammack

Abundant Life Today Media
	Podcast: Play in New Window | Download To watch the video, click here.

 These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio or video.    Scriptural Basis:
Luke 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Genesis 6:13 So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth.
Matthew 24:37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.  
Mark 13:7 Says When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.

Introduction:  We know we live in a volatile environment where wars can start in various places in the world. These things can be alarming especially if you are serving or have loved ones serving in our military. Today however I want to speak on the shooting in Connecticut and what I believe will happen and how we as God's people should respond. Our First response should be found in Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. As painful as it can be I believe the Lord has called us to be empathetic to other people's loss and suffering.

Empathy - the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another.

Once we move through this phase of understanding I believe the next logical step is to start to think, “How can we prevent something like this from happening again?” There are two basic ways to control someone's behavior.

Creating External Controls & Fostering Internal Controls

External Controls are modifying the environment of an individual or society limiting their choices by external restrictions. Putting someone in prison would be an example of applying an external control to a person who has trouble meeting societal standards for co-existing.

Internal Controls are modifying the environment of an individual or society giving them freedom but instilling in the individuals in that society an internal code of conduct that prevents them from engaging in anti-social behavior.

Let's explore the success or failure of external controls related to the shooting in Connecticut. The first thing folks seem to think about is gun control.

The Second Amendment:  I want to touch briefly on the 2nd amendment and then we'll move right along. I would define gun control under the category of external controls. The Constitution of the United States of America is the highest legal document and has the highest authority in our country. A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. A Militia is a body of citizens organized for military service From the checks and balances in our government and the founders leaving the tyranny of a monarchy it's clearly understood that they knew what Jeremiah knew (Jer. 17:9) The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? William Pitt said, "Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it" (Speech to the UK house of Lords 1770) A more familiar quote that sums up what I believe our founders felt is dated from 1887 and is from Lord Acton. "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." So when talking about the 2nd amendment we're not just talking about the right to hunt or defend our homes against burglars or our country against an invasion. The spirit of the 2nd amendment was to equip the citizenry with enough military might to fight against the governments military should that government turn tyrannical. So if we want to get real, right now in our country it would be next to impossible for our citizenry to stand a chance against our military in open combat because military weaponry and technology has developed to very effective levels. In 1791 a 1,000 man army with muskets vs. 1,000 guys with muskets was a relatively even fight. Today A guy out in the woods with a 30-06 against an AC-130 specter gunship wouldn't stand much of a chance. So when gun control folks start talking about restricting the size of the clips and the type of rifles we're allowed to own it's really an infringement on our 2nd amendment rights. To me a better approach in the gun control realm would be better training for people who buy guns and certain safety requirements for gun owners. It should be difficult for someone to steal your guns and people should have to exhibit a certain level of competency before being allowed to purchase a gun. We could take some time to compare the gun laws and rules as well as the gun related deaths in various countries like Japan as well as Switzerland but that would go beyond the scope of what I feel is appropriate for a Sunday morning.

Let's focus in on the internal controls. I believe when a person has a relationship with Christ the Holy Spirit begins to convict that person of their sin. This sin can be challenged by the Holy Spirit at the thought level. If you have your thought life in check, you will never have to commit an act of sin ever again. John 16:8 The Holy Spirit can prevent crime when a person has a relationship with Him. The Spirit of the Lord will speak to a person clarifying what's right and wrong coupled with the Word.

Human behavior is not a simple subject and there are obviously many factors that go into driving our decisions but one thing we can all do is introduce someone to Christ and open the door for the Holy Spirit to begin his work of revealing God's ways to a person.

One other thing we can do is sign a petition I've written. Unfortunately this petition did not reach the threshold requirements the Obama administration required to release a statement about it. This petition would've let our lawmakers know that we, as American citizens, as Christians, believe prayer is important and faculty initiated voluntary student prayer (like what we had before 1963) is a move in the right direction to begin to rebuild the damaged moral fabric of our country.

Let's continue to pray for national revival.

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) and Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) If you can't be with us in person please visit via internet video on Jubilee T.V. If you live in Batesville please tune into KBAP 88.1 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.

Jubilee Family Church
45 Thunderbird Dr.
Batesville, AR 72501

(870) 793-9124

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