Author: Samuel Burger

11/4/24 Devotion

What is Gossip?

A gossiper is a person who has privileged information about people and proceeds to reveal that information to those who have no business knowing it.

The Bible tells us in Proverbs 26:20:

“Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.”

Whenever we are tempted to gossip or entertain gossip from someone else, we must be cautious. We must have conversations that are productive and helpful, not divisive and judgmental.

Someone shared a story with me about another person who called him and wanted to know the details about another person’s marital issues. He said, “You called the wrong person. I’m not going to talk about it.”

Although it’s important to help people who reach out to us, we must be careful of repeating things to others, especially if it has nothing to do with them. If you request prayer for someone, be careful of the words you say because what you share may not be permissive. It’s best to be short as possible.

Additionally, be careful of oversharing with too many people. Although you need transparency and authenticity in your relationships, you must understand that a public platform is not the place to do that. Information can be twisted, and unfortunately, some may leverage that information for their selfish desires.

Father, I pray all of us will use wisdom in our relationships and guard against gossip that is unproductive. Help us Lord to respect the privacy of others and be courteous in our dealings. Help us to pray for them. If we have an ought against anyone, help us go to the source instead of everyone else. In Jesus name, Amen.

8/25/24 Devotion

Part of our mission at Chestuee is to reach the lost. As a result, we want God’s church to grow in numbers. We desire healthy growth that is conversion growth.

Sometimes leaving a church to go to another church is a good thing, especially if they are preaching heresy. Or of the family or individual has to move out of town because of career change. However, God’s church doesn’t actually grow through transfer growth.

For example, a fisherman does not drive his boat to another man’s boat and ask for his fish that is already caught. It would defeat the purpose of fishing.

We ought to seek conversion growth that leads to continual discipleship. Conversion growth is not the same as transfer growth. It’s important that we remember that.

Not all transfer growth is bad. However, some transfer growth can consist of bitter people who bring unresolved issues to another church. They are often looking for a church that fits their preferences and style rather than a place to serve. When you look for another church, make sure it’s the right reason.

The point is that we ought to be focused on reaching those far from God.

8/18/24 Devotion

Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him. (Matthew 4:19-20)

Peter and Andrew were casting their net into the sea when Jesus called them to follow Him. These professional fishermen dropped what they were doing to follow Christ. They were still going to fish but they were going to be fishers of men.

Soul-winning is a worthy endeavor. In fact, it’s a command from God rooted in the Great Commission. Bringing someone to Christ is a calling for all believers in Christ.

The call of Christ is the same for us today. We are called to persuade others by the help of the Holy Spirit. It’s not by coercion or manipulation but by a passionate intent to win others to Christ.

Let’s go fishing!

8/11/24 Devotion

Joshua 1:8

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

“How to succeed and be prosperous”

For context, Moses has died, who was the leader of the Hebrew people. God has appointed Joshua to lead the people into the promised land. There would be formidable enemies and difficulties, but God gave Joshua commands and promises that would help them in this conquest and keep them from idolatry. If Joshua is going to succeed and be prosperous, he will need to trust and obey God.

If we are going to see prosperity and success, it will be associated with the word of God. As we memorize and meditate on the commands and promises of God, they are impressed on our hearts to affect our behavior. The word of God is living and mighty in operation (Hebrews 4:12).

As we begin to immerse ourselves into God’s word, we will be successful and prosperous. We will become more like Christ in our thoughts, attitude, and behavior. But let’s not forget that meditation and obedience to the word of God will always keep us from going left or right—it keeps us aligned with God’s will. Obeying God is true success and prosperity.

8/4/24 Devotion

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.” Matthew 28:19-20

“Four commands and a promise”

Today’s verses reveal the delegated responsibility of the church of Jesus Christ. Christ, who completed His perfect work through His birth, life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension has elected the church to steward His ministry under His sovereign rule.

1. He commands us to go. We are called to go into society and culture with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our Lord has called us to be outward focused. We are sent just like Christ was sent by the Father to save people from their sins. We must promote a mindset that reaches others rather than focusing on church invitation alone.

2. He commands us to make disciples. We are called to train others to do the work of the ministry and to be a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ. Each believer is to help others grow spiritually through knowledge and obedience of the word of God. We must engage with one another and stir one another to good works.

3. He commands us to baptize disciples. Baptism is water immersion symbolic and representative of the work of Christ. It is a reflection of our saving position in Him.

4. He commands us to teach others to obey the commands of Christ. The thrust of this command is to propel other disciples into lifelong obedience to God. It’s not just teaching the Bible; it’s teaching them how to obey the Bible. Discipleship is fully engaging with the call of God in service to others and the spiritual disciplines such as prayer and evangelism.

5. He gives us the promise of His eternal presence. Through the power of God’s presence, we can accomplish the mission set before us. We are not on our own. God is with us to change the hearts of others and bring into repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

All of us should pray to be committed and obedient disciples. This is the work of each individual—to help others become more like Christ and train them to help others become more like Christ.

“Father, help us cooperate together to make disciples for you. Help us rightly divide the word of truth so that others may know you and they will, in turn, help others to know you. Help us Holy Spirit, in Jesus name. Amen

7/28/24 Devotion

Revelation 19:1

“After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God!”

“Seeing things from a different perspective”

Today’s verse reveals to us the reasons we worship God. The kingdom of the Antichrist is destroyed and righteous judgment has already been poured out. God has judged true and righteously (Rev. 19:2). The host of heaven joins together to praise God.

In fact, there is a command given which is called “Hallelujah!” Four times this word is used in this passage of Scripture and it is not mentioned anywhere else. It seems that it is a special word reserved for such a special time when God will set up His kingdom here on earth and the elimination of the presence of sin. The word simply means “an adoring exclamation.” This word is so special that it contains the name of God. We worship God for three reasons:

1. Because of who He is (Verse 1, 6, 11, 13, 16)

2. Because of what He has done (Verse 2).

3. Because of what He will do (Verse 3, 15, 20, 21).

The Cherohala Skyway provides a wonderful view. Me and my wife have taken a few trips up there and the sunset is great. It’s a view that you can’t have when you are below the mountain. That’s what worship does. When we worship, we have a larger view of the work of God. We tend to see things a little differently because we are worshipping God. When we worship, we are on a higher plane. We have a different perspective. So let’s remember to offer a Hallelujah to our God.

7/21/24 Devotion

Romans 3:23

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

This week’s verse reminds us that we have sinned and continue to fall short of the glory of God. This verse ought to produce two things in us.

1. Humility

As sinful beings, our tendency is to break all of God’s commandments. Paul said that “There is none righteous, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10). “There is none who does good, no, not one.” (Romans 3:12c). God, in His love, sent His Son to die for our sins and to accept us into His kingdom. This ought to humble us because God accepts us not just as we are, but in spite of what we are.

Another reason why this verse teaches us to be humble—we are no better than anyone else. Therefore, we should be poor in spirit (Matthew 5:3) and be like the tax collector in Luke 18:13–“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’”.

2. Thankfulness

We ought to be thankful for God’s law that exposes our inability to achieve our own righteousness. No matter how hard we try. We are not saved by keeping the law. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are accepted and changed.

The high standard of the law has subjected us to sin. But praise be to God, grace came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17). Now, the Holy Spirit lives through us, who are born again, to accomplish His will. (John 3:7.)

Let’s remember to remain humble and boast in the work of Jesus Christ. Let’s keep a heart of gratitude for God who changed us and saved us according to the power of His love and might. He still loves us and works through us in spite of our flaws and failures.

7/14/24 Devotion

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:12)

“The Danger of Pride”

Our verse for today reveals to us the danger of pride. Proverbs 16:18 states, “Pride goes before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” We might could say that pride is the root of the works of the flesh. Pride is more than an action, it’s a stance or a condition of opposition toward God.

This was a primary issue with the Corinthian church to whom Paul is writing. There were factions within the church and they placed prominence to spiritual gifts rather than love (1 Corinthians 1:10; 13:1-3). The church was leaning toward trust in themselves rather than selfless service to God and others.

Thus, Paul gives an Old Testament example of the children of Israel in the same chapter of today’s verse. They had too much confidence in themselves. As a result, they fell in the wilderness and succumbed to idol worship.

All of us are not immune to temptation and we must be on guard against the lures of the world and our tendency to obey the lusts of the flesh. We must remain humble and take heed to God and fully rely on Him in prayer so that we will not fall like the children of Israel did in the wilderness.

7/7/24 Devotion

And on her forehead a name was written:

MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT,
THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS
AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS
OF THE EARTH. (Revelation 17:5)

“One Way, Not Many Ways”

The Bible predicts a formation of a one world religion that will coexist with the future Antichrist. All religions will form into one religion and will become the basis for unification. The basis of unification will not be political and economical. Everyone will unify under the deception of Satan and the Antichrist.

Babylon began in Genesis chapter 11 with the Tower of Babel and religions were formed out of the mother who is Babylon. In the end, all the descendants, that is, religions, will come back to the mother who is the source of all spiritual adultery and idolatry.

The whole reason for this syncretistic religion is to usurp the authority of God and to steal worship from God. The Bible teaches us that this one world religion will be destroyed by the Antichrist Himself and will attempt to form the eighth world empire to oppose God (Revelation 17:11). The result will be that the Lamb of God will not allow this to happen and will set up the kingdom of God which will be no end (Daniel 2:44; Revelation 17:14).

Although the name described in our weekly verse is not specific, it is descriptive of the global religion that will deceive the masses. Let’s be reminded today there is only one way to heaven (John 14:6). Jesus described it as the narrow way (Matthew 7:14). The exclusivity of salvation through Jesus Christ is the only way to eternal life. All we need to do is admit we are sinners, believe in Jesus Christ, and confess our sins to Him and ask Him to save us.

6/30/24 Devotion

Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”

Jesus said to him, “I am the way,the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:5-6)

Jesus makes a bold claim in response to Thomas’ question. The question demonstrates what everyone is asking. The question may not be asked with the exact words of Thomas, but the question reflects the deep longing of each individual. All of us have a God-sized hole in our soul that only God the Father can fill.

We have tried to fill the God-sized hole with worldly pleasures, other religions, and even with others. Let’s face it: there is no substitute that can satisfy the deep longing of the human soul.

Jesus is the Way to a personal relationship with God the Father. He is the Truth about God the Father. He is the Giver of eternal life. Only a life submitted to Christ and the purposes of God can bring peace and hope to the restless soul.

“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” Saint Augustine

Pastor Samuel

6/23/24 Devotion

“How to overcome temptation”

“Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41

Our Lord gave us an effective way to overcome temptation. Our verse for this week encourages us to watch and pray so that we will not fall into temptation. All of us are tempted in this life. Our flesh is weak and pulls us away from what is most important—a life of ongoing prayer. The key is to cultivate an ongoing relationship with God through watchful praying.

For context, Christ was close to facing the greatest trial ever known in history—His total suffering for the sins of the world. The disciples who were with Christ fell asleep as He was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. Christ took the opportunity to teach the disciples to be vigilant and sober. Our Lord who was about to go through the most excruciating experience ever known in history, took the time to teach His disciples to always watch and pray.

Let’s learn from Christ who took the time to teach us a spiritual principle to overcome temptation. If we are to walk in victory, we must follow our Lord’s example. We must learn the discipline of relational prayer that will keep us awake from the lures of the many temptations we face everyday.

Other verses for meditation.

-1 Corinthians 16:13
-Colossians 4:2
-Thessalonians 5:6
-1 Peter 5:8

6/16/24 Devotion

Genesis 1:27-28 (http://biblehub.com/genesis/1-27.htm)
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

The purpose of the family is to reflect the purpose of God in the world. What is the purpose of God in the world? The purpose of God is to save the lost and disciple the saved. The purpose of the family is to make disciples of one another. It’s not only the responsibility of the church but of parents.

Today’s verses reminds us that family serves as a picture of missions. When raising our family, we should keep the perspective of missions. Missions do not start in another country or even in our community, it begins with a focus on discipling our family.

As we are following the command of procreation, let’s not forget the value and responsibility of training our children and honoring our covenantal commitment to our spouse. Fulfilling the Great Commission begins with our first priority, marriage and family.

Although we have needs met through marriage and family, the purpose runs deeper. Marriage and family are missional mechanisms through which the character of God is reflected as a witness to others and our family becomes the primary focus of discipleship and training. They are even channels for our sanctification and spiritual growth. When someone asks you why you have a family and why you married your spouse, bring it
back to the purpose God originated.

Pastor Samuel

6/9/24 Devotion

John 14:3

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

The Scriptures are peppered with an overall theme of the second coming of Christ. This week’s verse brings awakening to the present and hope for the future.

The second coming brings awakening to the fact of how we live. Are we living in light of the second coming? Are we serving Christ and others? Are we loving others with our words and actions? Are we sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ? The more we focus on the promise of Christ’s return, the more we yield to the motivation of the Holy Spirit to live in obedience.

The second coming of Christ also gives us hope for the future. When Christ returns, He will make all things new. When Christ descended the first time, He died for our sins and was raised for our justification. The first coming dealt with paying the penalty for sin and the second coming deals with the removal of the sin’s presence.

I heard a story of a small town who got news that their town would eventually be flooded out of existence due to the construction of a hydroelectric dam. The town was falling apart between the announcement and until the day when it was flooded. One asked a resident, “Why aren’t the residents keeping this town up?” The resident replied, “Where there is no faith in the future, there is no work in the present.”

Forgiveness – Samuel Burger – April 14, 2019

Marriage: Discussing Your Spiritual Beliefs – Samuel Burger – 3/4/19

Our view of spirituality greatly influences the way we live. This is an important discussion for to have together.

-Are our spiritual beliefs compatible?

2 Cor. 6:14-16. This can be applied to marriage.

  1. What do you think about God?

Can you Define Christianity? Can you Define what it means to be saved? Christianity is the belief that God has spoken through the prophets and scriptures that Jesus Christ is the prophesied Messiah who would pay the penalty for our sins and forgive us.

Many people come to adulthood never exploring their own spiritual belief system. Lots of people call themselves Christian because they were raised in a Christian home. If you cannot be open and honest about your spiritual beliefs before marriage, you are not likely to do so after marriage and your spiritual beliefs will become a source of conflict.

  1. Explore each other’s beliefs

To marry simply because you are in love and to ignore your spiritual differences are signs of immaturity. Explore!

  1. What kind of “Christian?”

There are different levels of commitment among Christians. Christmas, Easter only. For some, they attend church on a regular basis. For some, it’s a weekly event. Some live in close community with the church and are deeply involved. Many Christians serve the community and are deeply involved in ministry. There are Christians who view themselves as having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. They even have a daily devotional. So it’s important to know what kind of Christian you are dating. Questions to ask:

-What is their level of commitment and involvement in the Christian community?

-How important is their faith to them?

-What kind of impact does their faith have on their personal life?

It’s obvious that a Easter-Christmas Christian is very different from a daily “quiet time” Christian.

For some, Christianity is just a religion; something you just do on Sunday and has little relevance to how you live your life. But to others, Christianity is your life. So you’ve got to have a strong spiritual foundation.
For a lot of couples, they just assume that this area will take care of itself after marriage. It’s possible to be so “in love” that you ignore the huge differences in your spiritual views.

Your spiritual beliefs are often accompanied by strong emotions and deeply held convictions. These beliefs will affect the way you approach life. Make sure you explore the foundation of spiritual compatibility before you make the commitment to marriage, after this you can spend time together as a couple and have fun as well, maybe with toys from these Womanizer OG reviews online.

Practical Discussion:

-What are the basic spiritual beliefs of your parents?

-Where are you in your spiritual journey? Have you accepted, rejected, or modified the spiritual beliefs that you were taught as a child?

-What are your basic beliefs about God?

-What spiritual organizations are you affiliated with? How active is your involvement?

-How do your spiritual beliefs affect your lifestyle?

-Do you think you hold enough in common to build spiritual intimacy in your marriage?

Pastor Samuel

3/21/17 – The Principle of Faithfulness – Samuel Burger

“The Principle of Faithfulness”

Joel Prusak was an employee at the ice cream chain Dairy Queen. One day, as he was serving customers their food, he noticed that a blind man had dropped a twenty-dollar bill on the floor. A lady standing in line quietly bent down and put the twenty dollars into her own pocket. Young Joey Prusak approached the lady, asking her to give the twenty-dollar bill back to the blind man. She refused, quite aggressively, claiming it was her own. And then Joey did something very generous. Quietly, he opened up his own wallet and handed the blind man a twenty-dollar bill of his own. The man took the money gratefully, and the Dairy Queen resumed normal business.

A customer in line observed the whole episode and sent an e-mail to the Dairy Queen management, informing them of Joey’s act of generosity. The DQ management then posted about it on Facebook, and the event went viral. A couple of days later, Joey received a call from the billionaire Warren Buffet, a big investor in Dairy Queen. He thanked Joey for showing such integrity and asked him to come to the next Dairy Queen investors’ meeting. As Joey was an employee and representative of Dairy Queen, Buffet wanted him to be there as an integral part of the fabric of the organization.

Joey’s act of generosity inspired thousands of people to believe that they, too, could do something small to impact the world for good. It was a small act—with a huge impact. And so it is with God. He takes our small acts of obedience or kindness or goodness and multiplies them for his good, and ours. So don’t wait until you can do big things; start small. Sometimes small seeds grow into large trees, and sometimes they fail to thrive.[1]

The Bible says in Luke 16:10, “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.” If you want more you must be faithful in little. This principle of faithfulness can work for anyone.

  • If we are faithful with giving God will bring increase
  • If we are faithful with integrity God will bring increase
  • If we are faithful with ministry God will bring increase
  • If we are faithful with prayer God will bring increase

Our persistence and diligence toward God’s will in our lives will always bring reward. Never underestimate a small act of integrity and faithfulness. Do this:

  1. Be faithful where you are currently.
  2. Don’t complain.
  3. Always keep in mind promotion will manifest soon
  4. In everything you do, do it as to the Lord. (Colossians 3:23-24)

Don’t put the cart before the horse. Follow God’s way and serve faithfully in whatever He has called you to do. Nothing is ever small when it is done for the Lord.

[1] [Ken Costa, Know Your Why, (Thomas Nelson, 2016)]

1/25/17 – The Power of Serving – Samuel Burger

The Power of Serving
I once read about a person who falsely claimed he was a soldier in the army while wearing a deceased soldier’s uniform. However, a true soldier called him out on the inconsistencies of his uniform. The soldier yelled, “Stolen Valor,” a reference to the Stolen Valor Act, a law passed making anyone caught reaping tangible benefits from impersonating a service member subject to federal criminal charges. 

The problem with this person is that he wanted status over service. It was only a matter of time before he got caught. He wanted the servant’s position but not the servant’s attitude. There are people who want recognition and reward instead of humility and submission. Are you serving to get a position or are you serving because of God’s rightful position in your life? 
Jesus stated His mission in Matthew 20:28. “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
We are to be marked by servanthood. Here are three signs you have a servant’s heart:
1.       You serve selflessly. Matthew 20:20-22 reads, “Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.” But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to Him, “We are able.” Did you notice the reason behind this request was a desire for personal advancement? We must serve without expectations.
2.       You serve submissively. Matthew 20:23 reads, “So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.” Jesus totally committed to the Father’s will. He was ready to serve all the way to the cross.
3.       You serve sacrificially. Jesus gave His life and we are to pick up our cross and follow Him. This is the definition of greatness and leadership.
Leonard Bernstein, the celebrated orchestra conductor, was once asked, “What is the hardest instrument to play?” Without a moment’s hesitation he replied, “Second fiddle. I can always get plenty of first violinists. But to find one who plays second violin with as much enthusiasm, or second French horn, or second flute, now that’s a problem! And yet if no one plays second, we have no harmony.”[1]
Perhaps we could find harmony by serving one another? Don’t you think?

[1] Ben Patterson, “A Faith Like Mary’s,” Preaching Today, Tape No. 87.

1/23/17 – Breakup To Breakthrough – Samuel Burger

You’ve got to have a breakup before you can have a breakthrough. These are the words the Lord gave me today. Our breakthrough is dependent upon our decision to breakup with what holds us back spiritually.

A breakthrough is the work of God manifesting a miracle or deliverance in a person’s life. However, we must make the decision to completely breakup with whatever is holding us back.

God wants us to breakup with old habits, old sins and old alliances. God only moves through a surrendered and committed heart. God says, “I want a relationship with you but if you refuse to breakup with unbelief there won’t be a breakthrough.”

I have found that people give up right before their breakthrough. They get tired of praying and serving God because they think their breakthrough is out of reach. It reminds me of the parable of the sower. In Mark chapter 4, Jesus refers to the seed as the word of God and the sower is the one who plants the word of God. The soil is about the receptivity of the word of God. In verse 16-17 Jesus says, “These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately they receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure for only a time. Afterwards, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble.”

There are people who give up when the least amount of trouble comes their way. You’ve got to keep going strong until you’ve gotten a breakthrough. Paul said in Galatians 6:9, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

The harvest is your breakthrough. If you keep planting and nurturing the seed you will see the seed breakthrough the ground and get a harvest!

That’s why you’ve got to keep on giving, praying and worshipping! You’ve got to keep on keeping on!

Breakup with what’s holding you back and press toward your breakthrough. It was Jacob who wrestled with a Man in Genesis 32:24-26. Jacob told Him, “I will not let you go unless you bless me!”

Jacob was blessed. Some of you are letting go to soon! You need to press through the crowd like the woman who had the issue of blood (Luke 8:43-48). She was determined to get to Jesus.

God says, “Because you won’t breakup with old thinking you can’t discern the doors of opportunity I put in your lap.” You can’t think the same way and get different results.

It’s time to breakup! You’ve been in bondage with negativity and drama too long! Some of you may have a boyfriend or girlfriend that’s keeping you back spiritually. If they don’t want God or His family then breakup. Your breakthrough is right around the corner!

The moment you breakup with what displeases God will be the start of your breakthrough! Glory to God! You must make a decisive commitment. God will move for those who let Him.

You’ve got to breakup before you breakthrough.

1/11/17 – Priorities – Sam Burger

Priorities

If you have your priorities in order you’ll see the will of God flow in your life. The Bible teaches about priorities. God admonishes us to seek Him first and things will come together in our lives. We have all at one time or another put the cart before the horse. In other words, we tried to make things happen in our own efforts by seeking other things first. 

I was reading preaching magazine and came upon this letter about priorities written by a pastor. 

“In 1988, Greg Simmons, a brilliant young businessman whose ideas helped revolutionize American life insurance, flew to New York to make a presentation to Board members of AT&T. It was a deal with a commission potential worth more than one million dollars. At the last minute, the AT&T CEO was delayed. He requested that Greg make his proposal the following day. Greg politely explained that was not possible. ‘Tomorrow,’ he said, ‘is my daughter’s fifth birthday. I promised her I’d be at her party.’ 

“For Greg Simmons, his daughter’s birthday party was more important than a million-dollar deal. I wonder how many big-time CEOs have played second fiddle to a little girl’s birthday party. I also wonder if Greg had any idea he would die in a mountain fall a few months later. 

“Priorities! At the time, some people said Greg’s priorities were all out of whack. But when you stop and think about it, none of us knows when we might attend the last birthday party for someone whose love we value beyond price. I was Greg’s pastor. He was my best friend. His example of well-placed priorities taught me a lesson I hope I never forget!”

I hope this is a lesson for us too. Let’s always be mindful of what is important and valuable. What’s your priorities? 

1/7/17 – Prophetic Declaration – Samuel Burger

Prophetic Declaration

Have you ever heard of the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel chapter 37? This factual story amazes me because of the intensity Ezekiel must’ve felt. He’s in a valley surrounded by bones of individuals and God asks him if those bones can live. The prophet said, “O Lord God, You know.”

Then God asks Ezekiel to prophesy to those bones. So He speaks directly to the dry bones word for word on what God told him to say. As Ezekiel was making a prophetic declaration, there was a noise and a rattling. The bones came  together and the skin covered them. Finally, at God’s command, Ezekiel prophetically declared that there would be breath in those bodies. Then what happened?

They stood on their feet and lived.

What was the point of this supernatural act? God was giving Ezekiel a concrete example of how He will restore Israel to their land after they have been saying, “Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off.”

However, there was a link between Ezekiel’s prophetic declaration and the will of God. Prophecy is simply proclaiming God’s kingdom will in the earth. Prophetic declaration is so powerful that Jesus mentioned it in Mark 11:23-25. Solomon said that death and life are in the power of the tongue. Your words have creative power and when you match your words to God’s words there is a shift in the spiritual atmosphere.

Your breakthrough deliverance is found between God’s word and your prophetic declaration. As sons of God, we not only have asking power but affirming power. We must affirm what God has already did through prophesying.

Your miracle isn’t just around the corner. It’s actually in your mouth.

Everyday people are prophesying but it’s not always for God. Just take a listen to your co-workers, family and friends. Many people prophesy what Satan wants by complaining, etc. Listen to what they are saying. Pray for them. Equally important, pray for yourself!

As one minister put it, “Nothing ever happens in the kingdom without declaration.” It doesn’t matter who you are you can use your words to bring heaven’s reality into the earth!!! Go ahead and prophesy. Believe and confess the promises of God.

9/22/16 – Already – Samuel Burger

“Already”

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3)

   1. The Father already blessed us

John Flavel gives a great illustration he heard on justification. I think it is a great illustration on what it means to be already blessed in Christ Jesus.

“My friend Dr. Roy Gustafson has the finest illustration of justification I have ever heard. It seems that there was a man in England who put his Rolls-Royce on a boat and went across to the continent to go on a holiday. While he was driving around Europe, something happened to the motor of his car. He cabled the Rolls-Royce people back in England and asked, “I’m having trouble with my car; what do you suggest I do?” Well, the Rolls-Royce people flew a mechanic over! The mechanic repaired the car and flew back to England and left the man to continue his holiday. As you can imagine, the fellow was wondering, “How much is this going to cost me?” So when he got back to England, he wrote the people a letter and asked how much he owed them. He received a letter from the office that read: “Dear Sir: There is no record anywhere in our files that anything ever went wrong with a Rolls-Royce.” That is justification.”

As believers, we aren’t trying to get something from God but have already received from God. We need to agree with Him through our words of faith that every spiritual blessing is already ours in Christ Jesus.  

In regards to blessing the Father for what He has done Charles Spurgeon makes this statement:

“We are not sitting here, and groaning, and crying, and fretting, and worrying, and questioning our own salvation. He has blessed us; and therefore we will bless him. If you think little of what God has done for you, you will do very little for him; but if you have a great notion of his great mercy to you, you will be greatly grateful to your gracious God.” Praise God!

   2. The Father already blessed us with every spiritual blessing

I don’t know how many spiritual blessings there are but I know justification is one mighty blessing! All you Bible scholars try to think of every spiritual blessing you can think of at this moment. If you did God still has more left! Thank the Lord for temporal blessings but we thank Him even more for endless spiritual blessings

   3. The Father already blessed us in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus

The location of our blessings is in Christ who is in heaven. The Holy Spirit came down and dwells in us so these spiritual blessings will bear witness in our hearts. The Holy Spirit has awakened us to the “already.” We should live daily in the “already.” If we never live in the “already” we will never live successfully in the present. We will never have confidence for the future if we don’t understand the “already.” We aren’t trying to get to heaven, we have “already” received heaven as a down-payment of our inheritance He “already” gave us. Many hardships and many difficulties from the flesh and the enemy but we always live in the “already.” Praise the Lord!  

 

8/9/16 – God Helps You Obey Him – Samuel Burger

Genesis 22:1-19
God Helps Us Obey Him

Introduction:

Have you been through a test before? Did you doubt that you could make it through the test? I’m sure you are no stranger to difficulty but what if I told you that God can provide you with the means necessary for you to obey Him through the tests of life? If you rely upon His word and trust Him, you will find His provision. There are times when God tests us but He provides us with the strength necessary to get through it and rewards us at the end of the test. We will find in this chapter of how God dealt with Abraham. We will discover that God’s dealing with Abraham is similar in how God deals with us as believers. If you look at Abraham, you will find the same principle of testing in your own life. I pray that this message will give you an understanding of how God wants to help you through the tests of life. We see that in the first verse that…
1.       The Test of Obedience V1-12

Abraham is tested by God. As believers, we experience testing times in our lives. The purpose of these trials is to confirm our faith. In James 1:2-3, James writes, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” The trying or testing of our faith gives us patience. What does patience mean? Patience is the quality of forbearance and self-control which shows itself particularly in a willingness to wait upon God and his will. Abraham is passing the test because he is prepared by the promises of God and the promises of God has prepared Him for this particular test. What was the main promise God gave Abraham? We can read the promise given to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3. It reads, “Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” Abraham knew that God cannot lie as Numbers 23:19 and Titus 1:2 tell us. Abraham had faith in God’s character. Abraham lived by the promises of God and not by what he naturally saw. The Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:7 that we are to live by faith and not by sight. Paul writes in Hebrews 11:8 on Abraham’s faithful obedience, “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.”He also mentions Abraham’s faith offering up Isaac in Hebrews 11:17-19, “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.” Abraham’s faith was rooted in what God had told him beforehand and not in what he saw. He was patient because he knew God was able to raise Isaac up from the dead. It was through Isaac that the Seed would be born in order to provide redemption.

         This particular point in Abraham’s life is a representation of the tests we go through as believers. We know God doesn’t tempt anyone because James 1:13 says, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:” God will never tempt us to do wrong but He tests us as believers to do right. Peter also had something to say about testing in 1 Peter 4:12-13, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” So don’t think the tests are given to disprove you but to prove your faith.

However, God not only tests us but He allows us to be tempted. Notice I said, “Allowed.” God doesn’t tempt us but He allows temptation. Look at the example of Job in Job 1:6-12, “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.” Biblically speaking, God tests us and He allows temptation to come to us. He doesn’t tempt us to do evil.

          Warren Wiersbe shares wisdom on testing and temptation. “Learn to distinguish between trials and temptations. Temptations come from our desires within us (James 1:12-16), while trials come from the Lord who has a special purpose to fulfill. Temptations are used by the Devil to bring out the worst in us, but trials are used by the Holy Spirit to bring out the best in us.”
2.       The Provision of Obedience V13-14
 
At the end of the test, Abraham discovers God is Jehovah-Jireh, meaning, “The Lord Will Provide.” You’ll always discover a new aspect of God at the end of the test. Instead of Isaac being sacrificed, God provided a ram in his place. Isn’t it refreshing to know that the Lamb of God took our place? Jesus became the substitutionary sacrifice to redeem us. As the ram became the substitute so did Jesus become our substitute to redeem us from the power of sin, death and the grave. Hebrews 5:8 states, “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.” His obedience is our salvation and He learned obedience through suffering. Obviously, this is a type of what is to come. As Abraham offered his only son on Mount Moriah so did God send His only Son on Mount Calvary which is the same mountain range. Abraham seen the whole picture. He got a glimpse of the redemptive plan of God. Friends, God will provide you with the strength to obey His will. He will give you the strength to live in total surrender to His plan if you will trust in Him like Abraham did. If God can provide the sacrifice necessary to save you then He can provide you with the strength necessary to obey Him. His provision is always linked to obedience.
I read a story of Dr. Robert Schindler and his wife. They founded a mission hospital associated with radio station ELWA in Monrovia, Liberia. In their book Mission Possible they wrote, “For us, it was a continued exercise of faith that we would have the right drugs and supplies at the right time. We recall how much we counted on our X-ray machine, something we take for granted [at home]. We even had the opportunity to get an extra one when a friend of ours, a doctor with the U.S. Embassy, asked if we could use a portable X-ray machine. But then as the months dragged out, we knew it must be lost at sea. Then one day our big X-ray machine stopped working. We found it was a major problem which would take several months to fix. But that very afternoon, the ELWA truck pulled up to the hospital with a huge crate from port. You guessed it—it was the portable X-ray machine! We plugged it in, and it worked! We didn’t lose a day for X-rays.” If you are on mission from God He will provide you with the means necessary to carry out His will. He did it for Abraham and Jesus and he will do it for you. The Lord will always provide for you. Your willingness to obey during the test will always be met by the provision of our sovereign God.
3.       The Reward of Obedience V15-19
Also, God desires to reward those who are obedient to Him. Abraham was rewarded according to verse 18. It states, “And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.” If we obey His voice, we will see the reward. Abraham was willing to choose God over anything else. Friends, God knows what is best for you and if you live in total surrender to God’s will for your life you will never lose. Even though the command from God seemed illogical, Abraham obeyed. The trials you go through is never wasted because the reward is greater than the trial. 1 Peter 5:10 states, “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” Job 23:10 harmonizes with this truth, “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Today, we have the blessing of Abraham according to Galatians 3:13-14, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” If we live by faith alone we can receive all God has for us through Jesus Christ.
William Cowper wrote a hymn called, “The Lord Will Provide.”
The saints should never be dismay’d,
Nor sink in hopeless fear;
For when they least expect His aid,
The Saviour will appear.This Abraham found: he raised the knife;
God saw, and said, “Forbear!
Yon ram shall yield his meaner life;
Behold the victim there.”Once David seem’d Saul’s certain prey;
But hark! the foe’s at hand;
Saul turns his arms another way,
To save the invaded land.When Jonah sunk beneath the wave,
He thought to rise no more;
But God prepared a fish to save,
And bear him to the shore.Blest proofs of power and grace divine,
That meet us in His Word!
May every deep-felt care of mine
Be trusted with the Lord.Wait for His seasonable aid,
And though it tarry, wait;
The promise may be long delay’d,
But cannot come too late.

Application:
Will you heed the call to salvation? God’s provision is stronger than any problem of sin. Are you worried? God has the answer. Are you paralyzed by fear? God has the answer. God is calling you sinner. What about those who are called to labor in the ministry? Are you still holding onto doubt? If God called you to it don’t you think He can provide you with His confidence? Don’t ignore the call of God. Obey like Abraham and you won’t lose. Surrender all to Him. Will you say, “Here I am” like Abraham? The provision is here and all you have to do is call upon Jesus to save you. Obey the call to salvation and the command to obey Him. You won’t lose. God will help you. Whatever situation you are in God will help you. He provides what you need but you need to place faith in Him. Come to the Provider. Let Him save you and use you as his willing vessel. Jehovah-Jireh can give you the strength obey Him if you trust in Him. Whatever the case, God provides.

8/2/16 – Follow Through – Samuel Burger

Follow Through

I remember playing basketball and my friends would tell me to follow through on my goal-shooting. They said if I would learn to follow through I would have a better chance scoring. The “follow-through” is all about continuing your arm movement after the ball is thrown. I played a better game because of it. My scoring was consistent because I didn’t let go of the ball too soon. I followed through.

When we are not confident in what God has called us to do or we halfway trust Him; we don’t follow through. We let go too soon. We give up too soon. Consider the Scriptures urging us to be consistent.

    • “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”
  • “Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.”
  • “So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.”
  • “As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.”
  • “Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart.”
  • “So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.”

Imagine being in Noah’s shoes. Noah was told to build a big boat because God was going to send a flood. Judgement was coming because God saw the earth was corrupt and filled with violence. Noah did everything God told him to do. God actually told Noah that he alone was righteous. Noah lead his family and was consistent in the will of God. His consistent relationship with God allowed him to follow through.

Abraham and Sarah were considerably old when Sarah gave birth to Isaac. However, Abraham didn’t waver at the promise of God. It was through Isaac that Jesus would be born. Abraham cooperated with the redemptive plan of God before Jesus was ever born. Jesus said, “Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad.” Abraham was consistent.

Daniel kept praying after the Babylonian government decreed no one could pray to Daniel’s God. Daniel followed through and he reaped a harvest of blessings. Daniel was consistent and intentional with his relationship with God.

Jesus followed through with the Father’s will by taking our sins and giving us His righteousness. If we follow His example, then we will reap an untold harvest of blessings.

 

7/27/16 – Who Are You Living For? – Samuel Burger

“Who Are You Living For?”

Out of the 26,639 people who completed the 2016 Boston Marathon, 72-year-old Fran Drozdz finished 26,639th. Dead last. The roaring crowds and official coronations had departed. Workers were still tearing down the stands and barricades when she crossed the finish line at 8:45 p.m.

But the real story is not her last place finish; it’s about who she was running for. Drozdz has run in more than 75 marathons throughout her life, and she ran the Boston Marathon this year for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Her husband, who is currently battling cancer himself (for the third time), met her with a medal at the finish line. He had called the police earlier in the day, thinking his wife might have gotten lost or hurt. As one media outlet reported, “It turns out this race’s ‘loser’ is quite the winner.”

Who are you living for?

  • Job?
  • Self?
  • Others?
  • Popularity?

In the end, only what is done for Christ will last. Where are your priorities? What do you deem important? Are you living in complete abandon to the will of God?

No one likes to finish in last place. In any sport, last place is an embarrassment to most. However, in the journey with God, last place isn’t an embarrassment. It’s a joy. If I know I’m running for Christ, then that’s the only thing that matters. Jesus said, “The first shall be last and the last shall be first.” It doesn’t matter how fast you get there. It only matters who you’re running for when you get there. I love the Scripture:

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

It’s about endurance and if you keep your eye on Jesus you will find He has His reward with Him to give you. After all, He is the Author and the Finisher of our faith. Who are you living for?

7/15/16 – Point Makers and Difference Makers – Samuel Burger

“Point Makers And Difference Makers”

There is a time for making a point but there’s also balance. I’ve found that making a point about an issue doesn’t really make a difference unless you’re willing to do something. With all social media outlets, there are a barrage of opinions but it seems those opinions never leave the digital into the real.

Many people are guilty of this but I’d like to confess I’ve been guilty of this before. I would tell others what to do and how they should do it but I really didn’t take any action. I convinced myself that I was taking action but in reality I wasn’t. It’s kind of like the fans in the stands who criticizes the coach. The fans have never coached a day in their life yet they are experts. I have sorely fell short of this in my life. So how can we make a difference instead of being obsessive about making our point?

  1. Take Action. Do something. Too much analysis leads to paralysis. A minister never ministered unless he or she did something to obey the Lord. God moves through people who move.
  2. Become The Solution Of Your Point. Alright, you’ve made your point many times on FaceBook and to your friends. Have you done anything about it? I preached a message recently on “Being the Church.” I mentioned that we can state the problem repeatedly or we can be the church. You only get what you put into it. If you’re tired of the church not being the church then be the church. It’s very simple. Nobody else will be the solution to your point unless you put the energy in being the solution also.
  3. Your Idea Needs Implementation. You’ve got a bunch of ideas but for some reason they are never implemented. It’s either you don’t have time or you just have fear. Regardless of the reason, you will have to learn how to utilize the idea into something that’s practical.

Have you ever met people that talked a really long time? Have you seen people that was ready to pour out their problems to you only to have you listen to them while they have no desire to do anything about it? It’s amazing what happens when you decide to stop talking about it and do it. That’s what you call results. It’s good to plan and be deliberate before making life-changing decisions but don’t put off what God is telling you to do today. Be daring. Be bold. Be obedient.

Let your life make God’s point through the Spirit!