Life Hacks, part 3

Intro

Hack Definition - makes you say, “this simple action makes life better, I wish had been doing that a long time ago, gaining some power through knowledge

go to youtube and type in life hacks . . . get some pretty good ideas (cleaning, working with pets, cooking)

we are starting 2022 with spiritual life hacks to make our year go better, be more fruitful

first week we discussed fasting, last week we discussed approaching prayer by focusing on “the very next step”

Today’s spiritual life hack, is also simple, and a lot of you have already started, so let’s dive into it

2 Chronicles 15:7 NASB95

7 “But you, be strong and do not lose courage, for there is reward for your work.”

But you

these are the words of a prophet named Azariah to a King named Asa

this prophet accounts how others did not follow God, and there were dark times because of it, and to King Asa he says. . . but you

“but you” means that you can be different from those others

you don’t have to be like them

you can be different and make a difference

King Asa you do not have to be like your grandfather, Rehoboam, who did evil . . . , or your father, Abijah, who also did evil, . . . “but you”, King Asa, don’t have to go down that same path

all of us in here, have a “but you”

every family has a history of something negative, but there can be a “but you “

every culture has some things that are just plain wrong, but you . . .

everyone at your job might act a certain way, but you . . .

everyone at your school does these certain things, but you

a lot of people who carry the name Christian, don’t act like a Christian, but you

but you don’t have to go down the same path

this is not the spiritual like hack, but we need to realize that we can be different and make a difference

and the first part of being different, making a difference is . . .

Be strong

it take strength to follow the Lord

strength of commitment, character

strong mindset, strong faith

you have to be strong and brave because you often go against the grain

you have to face trials that others will not face

you are often given orders to face off against overwhelming odds

so you must be strong

it takes strength to bless others when they do you wrong

it takes strength to even talk like a Christian is supposed to talk

only the strongest can control that tongue, and many times not say what you want to say

Indeed, the Bible describes us has soldiers, when it says take on the whole armor of God, and soldiers are expected to be strong, be brave, be courageous

so this prophet says, be strong . . .

but this is not the spiritual life hack either, because many of us are pretty good at summoning courage at the start, or at the beginning

on fire, when God first saves us

full of faith when God first calls us

feel like we can take on the world at the beginning

our commitment is firm at the outset

our minds are made up and our hearts are fixed at the start of the journey

and now here is the life hack . . .

and do not lose courage

NIV says be strong and do not give up

These translations fit because when this verse was spoken to King Asa, he had already shown strength and courage

if you read chapter 14, you will see that King Asa demonstrated courage and had already put away a lot of idolatry in his country

removed foreign altars and high places

commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers

that meant going against the establishment, trends, what’s popular

that meant messing with people’s money

that takes courage

Also, a huge army, with about as twice as many men as Asa’s army came out against him.

But Asa did not just give in to fear, or run and hide

Asa took courage and called upon the Lord God, and went out to meet them in battle, and God gave him a huge victory

Asa has demonstrated faith in God, trust in God . . . he has been strong, he has been courageous

and it is after this battle that the prophet meets him and says, be strong and do not lose courage

in other words, the prophet is saying, “this is just the beginning: be strong and stay strong . . . be courageous and do not lose that courage

that’s the hack . . . stay strong . . . don’t lose courage . . . don’t give up

in other words . . . KEEP ON KEEPING ON

I told you it was simple and that a lot of you have already started

2022 will be more fruitful if you keep on keeping on

more things will work out if you keep on keeping on

you will see more changes if you keep on keeping on

more blessings will manifest, if you keep on keeping on

prophet is encouraging the king to be courageous over the long haul

This is so important, because the passage of time brings test and trials, and though we are strong and courageous at the start, we often lose courage as time passes on

I am excited about adding fasting to my prayer, but by week 4

I am all in on using more “next step” prayers, but by month 2

I am on fire about the building fund, but in year 3

At this very moment, I am committed to serve the Lord like never before, but so many things came up in my life, that by summertime . . . I’m back to half stepping

I am excited about working in the ministry of my church, but church folk made me mad, let me down, and by the end of the year, I can’t take it anymore

we start strong, but we lose our strength

we start off with courage, but we lose our courage

but the hack is be strong and do not lose courage . . . .KEEP ON KEEPING ON

for there is reward for your work

your labor will not be in vain

so many rewards come from just staying with it . . . so often you don’t have to do something outrageous, or make this huge life change . . . just whatever happens, stick with the Lord . . and there is reward for your work

In the Bible, Joseph is a good example

He had big dreams . . . and there seemed no way to make them come to pass

And he did not make a lot of bold moves, he just stuck with the task before him (very next step), he would just keep on keeping on

First, apparently he was a faithful worker, enough so that his father trusted in him to check on his brothers

but his brothers turned on him and sold him into slavery, and yet he remained a faithful worker for an Egyptian officer named Potiphar, “I’ll just be a faithful worker here too”

and eventually he was elevated into running the entire household

but then he was lied on by Potiphar’s wife, and sent to jail

and even there he just kept right on, and became a faithful inmate

so much so that he was elevated to being the head prisoner

and when a fellow inmate came to him with his dreams, Joseph didn’t say, “my dreams have been crushed, I’m certainly not going to help you with yours” . . .be he remained faithful and helped another man with his dream

and when that man got out of jail, it was him who recommended Joseph to meet the king of Egypt, and next thing you know . . . Joseph is running Egypt, 2nd in command

and guess what, he was faithful in that job, and got the opportunity to save his whole family

and we can see that God used the fact that Joseph would just keep on keeping on, to bring him success

he kept on working hard

he kept on being honest

he kept on being faithful to God (he told Potiphar’s wife, “I can’t sin against God)

and there was reward for his work

That’s what keep on keeping on looks like, but let me show you the opposite.

after hearing the words of the prophet, Asa was encouraged, and made some more reforms (he has that “be strong” down)

restored the altar of the Lord

held a great assembly in Jerusalem to worship the Lord and make an oath to serve Him

he even removed his own grandmother from her office as Queen Mother because she had made statue to a false god

gave donations to the temple

he’s doing it, on fire for the Lord, he has courage

and God gave his kingdom, peace until the 35th year of Asa’s reign

but in year thirty-six trouble came. The enemy surrounded them an prevented anyone from going out or coming into Judah

and here is his opportunity to keep on keeping on . . . remain strong

here is the opportunity to trust in God again, believe in God again, depend on God again, call on God again, to keep his courage

but instead of keeping his courage, instead of going to God again. . . Asa went to one of his enemies for help, paid them to help

Why do we have such a hard time believing God multiple times?

What’s your limit on believing God? How many problems do you think God can solve? . . . 3 problems, 7 problems

or is it years? Believe God for 5 years, 10 years . . . .

let me drop some knowledge: You can believe God more than one time

trust God . . . . have faith in God . . . more than once

young children inherently understand this concept, they will say “mom/dad I’m hungry every single day . . . multiple times per day”

and keep coming back, and keep coming back

because they believe that the parent is willing and able to provide food each and every time

so why can’t we trust our heavenly Father more than one time

and just keep coming back to God, and coming back again . . .Jehovah Jireh

Father I need this, I need that

Father I am in this bad situation, please rescue me

Father, now I am in another bad situation, rescue me again

Father I need clothes, food, shelter, healing, money, protection, wisdom, favor

with each situation, keep trusting in God, don’t lose courage . . . there is reward for your

work when you keep on keeping on

I think that sometimes the problem might be, that we like Asa, cannot handle prosperity

Asa had peace for 35 years, and when war came again he wasn’t spiritually ready

maybe he lost sight of the one responsible for that peace (God), and thought that his skills as a leader had kept them at peace

maybe he didn’t pray as much because things were going so good

but whatever the reason, God handled a war type problem years ago, and he should have trusted God to do it again

some of you are facing some problems, you haven’t faced in a while, God solved them weeks ago, months ago, years ago . . . but now they’re back

money has been ok, but now things are a little shaky

health has been ok, but the last report was not so good

family relationships have been good, but now there’s a lot of tension

remember that if God did it before, he can do it again,

Well Asa went to his enemy for help, and it served as a temporary fix (like most short cuts)

but a prophet named Hanani spoke against what he had done.

you relied on your enemy, when you could have been defeating your enemy

reminded Asa, were you not in a bad situation when that other large army attacked? Did not God help you?

Then he said this . . .

2 Chronicles 16:9 NASB95

9 “For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars.”

God is searching for people to strongly support.

God is looking for opportunities to step in and show out

God is looking to reward people

Who will he support? Who will he reward? Those who are completely His.

completely . . . What’s one of the best ways to tell who is completely with you?

The passage of time, doing what is right over the long haul

those that keep on keeping on, come what may . . .

King Asa, your short cut got out you out of this one war, but now you will have other wars for the rest of your reign

Asa got mad, and threw him in jail, even start oppressing people, then got some type of foot disease, and was so mad about the whole situation, that he refused to seek the Lord for help

if he had only kept on keeping on, if only his heart completely belonged to God

yet, some might think . . .

completely is a big word!

Following God completely sounds real hard. Do I have to be perfect?

What if I slip up over the long haul?

What if I make a mistake or two?

This doesn’t sound like a hack, it just sounds hard

No, keep on keeping on doesn’t mean that you never fall short. It means that if you mess up, if you fall, you get back up and keep on . . . keeping on

you dust yourself off and keep going

God understand, Proverbs says,

Proverbs 24:16 NASB95

16 For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, But the wicked stumble in time of calamity.

the main issue was that when Asa’s fell down, he didn’t get back up . . . he didn’t keep on keeping on . . .

When he heard the prophet’s words, he should have repented and got back up again, got back on the right track, ask for mercy, he should have humbled himself (like King David)

but instead, he threw the prophet in jail, and oppressed people, wouldn’t pray for healing

The Bible calls him a good king, but he missed out on some blessings, some rewards

defeating his enemies and having continued peace for his kingdom

healing for his feet . . . and no telling what else he missed out on

and all he had to do was believe and trust God again . . . .that’s the Life Hack: Keep on keeping on!

Life Hack: Keep on keeping on!

continue to trust God, walk in his ways, do what the Word of God says, when times get rough, trust in God again

when you fall short, get back up again and keep on keeping on!

and as Christians, we know that Jesus kept on keeping on for our sake

so we can keep on keeping on for his sake

betrayed, lied on, mocked, hit, spat upon, whipped, a crown of thorns on his head

had to carry a rugged cross, nailed to the cross, made fun of some more . . . be he kept keeping on . . .

he didn’t come down from the cross when he could have, he just kept on keeping on

he found time to make sure that his mother would be taken care of, kept on . . .

found time to save the soul of a criminal who has also being crucified, kept on . . .

still ministering . . . some of you are going through it right now . . . keep on ministering

and Jesus kept on, all the way to death . . . until he finally said “it is finished” and his work was completed

but their was reward for his work: he rose from the dead! And empowered his disciples

there is no more famous name on the planet than Jesus

and right now, he is seated at the right hand of the Father

and he is coming back, and one day every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess

because he knew to keep on keeping on

and if he would die for us, certainly we can live for him, and keep on keeping on . . . all the way to our finish line

encourage your courage today, and . . .

stay with God

don’t give up

don’t give in

keep working

keep giving

keep praying

keep praising

keep serving

keep trusting

keep believing

keep asking

finish the race because there is reward for your work

in 2022 and beyond, keep on keeping on!

Pastoral Remarks

Explain Calendars

Gospel Bags - Sis. Crayton - list will be sent out this week

Thanks to Bro. Jones for preparing flower bed

Thanks to Sis. West for beautiful board in the hallway

keep each other in prayer