Scriptures for America

January 5, 2009

In tonight’s SFAW broadcast we will be replaying last Saturday’s (Jan. 3, 2009) Coffee with the Radio Ranch Wranglers

by Pastor Gene Applegate

Proverbs 3: 9-10 (New American Standard Bible)

^{9 “}Honor the LORD from your wealth and from the first of all your produce; ¹⁰So your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine.”

This promise was given to the children of Israel. They were basically farmers and herdsmen. Today, many of us make our living in other ways. The message of this scripture is the same for all of us.

God has made covenant with his people concerning financial supply in abundance. He has declared that we should bring the first fruits unto him as a tithe. The word tithe means 10%. So then, the first 10% of our increase really belongs to God.

Just as with every other promise that God has given us, we must do our part if we want to benefit from the covenant that he has made with us.

Many Christians are caught up in the bondage of poverty, never having enough to meet their needs. This is really a tragedy. God has made provision and given us a formula that we might prosper. He simply wants us to put Him first. If we do, he will make that 90% actually go farther and produce more than the 100%.

Because we honor him with the fruit of our labors, he honors us with the added provision. Malachi 3:9-10 makes it very plain. “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.”

Isn’t it strange that we will gamble on an increase of a few percentage points in any number of varied investments and will not trust God to prosper us? Let us honor the Lord with our wealth, the first fruits of what we produce. God will make the remainder go farther than the original sum if we put him first.

God always keeps his word. He even says to test him in this matter. He wants to prove to his people that his promises true. He will bless our obedience.

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, I really do want your blessing. I want to trust you to meet my needs. Father, sometimes I have a hard time believing that you can increase my tangible assets. I want to be obedient to you and claim your covenant of blessing for your people with tangible provision. I pray in Jesus name. Amen.

by Pastor Gene Applegate

John 8:12 New American Standard Bible

¹² Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.“

There is a light for brighter and more illuminating than the sun which brings the dawning of each new day.

That light is the spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ. It illuminates our inward being with the beauty of spiritual purity and wholesome intellect. Our soul is restored to fellowship and communion with our Heavenly Father. We’re able to see and understand the marvelous workings of God. Revelation knowledge of God’s direction and purpose for our life becomes very real. We are to glorify Him.

Just as Adam walked in the Garden of Eden and fellowshipped with God, we, his children can walk in the radiating power of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. His light allows the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth. He covers us with his protection, reveals his perfect will, giving strength and support for our daily responsibilities.

We must follow Christ. The light of Jesus penetrates the bewildering blur of confusion produced by the darkness of this world. It transforms blind confusion into the brilliant radiance of understanding. We can see the truth and walk in liberty and holiness before God. The chains of darkness are broken.

Let us draw near unto the Lord. Let us follow him closely. Surely, his word will sustain us. His spirit will renew us and we shall walk in the light of life that is given to all who have been redeemed. Light always breaks through the darkness.

Rejoice and be glad, for this is the day that the Lord has made!

Prayer:

Thank you, Father, for giving me the Light of the World. I was caught in the chains of darkness and abound of sin. You gave me Jesus, your only begotten son to set me free. I want to follow Him and walk more perfectly in his radiant light. I pray in the name of Jesus, my Redeemer. Amen.

by Pastor Gene Applegate

Matthew 10: 29-31 New American Standard Bible

²⁹“Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. ³⁰“But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹“So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.”

Sometimes we face the day with that worrisome feeling that all is not well. An inner fear lurks within. The unrest that it brings affects everything that happens throughout the day.

We become uncertain and insecure as we dwell upon those feelings. Such emotions lead us to a feeling of unworthiness, causing us to doubt our ability and value in the sight of God. In turn, we become fearful, convincing ourselves that we’re not worthy for God to come to our rescue.

Jesus said: “Fear not them that can kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul, but fear him who is able to destroy both the body and soul.”(Matthew 10:28)

To illustrate how important we are to the Heavenly Father, he used a parable about sparrows. Though it took two of them to have the value of one penny, He declared that God sees each one of them when they fall to the ground. Even the sparrow is important enough to demand God’s attention.

Jesus continued his teaching by declaring that God sees and numbers every hair upon our head. This implies that God not only knows the number of them, but is aware of their absence when we lose them. He concludes his instruction by telling us that we are more important than many sparrows. There is no reason for us to fear.

Surely, if God is concerned about the sparrow, he will certainly care for his own children. We must remember that we are the sons of God. He has demonstrated his desire and ability to protect and provide for us throughout the scriptures. There is no need to fear. We are important to Him. God is always in control.

Prayer:

Dear God, sometimes I forget that I am not alone. I know that you’re always with me. I want to depend upon you to always meet my needs and protect me from my enemies. Let your Holy Spirit reminded me of your presence. I want to remember that I am very valuable to you. Increase my faith. Help me to remove my fear and trust totally in you. I pray in Jesus name, Amen.

by Pastor Gene Applegate

Matthew 11:28 (New American Standard Bible)

²⁸“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”

True rest is almost impossible to find because we live in a world of such chaotic confusion and pressure.

We look forward with expectancy to a few days off work or that special trip. We are sure that a change in scenery will bring us the quiet solace that we need. After fulfilling the recreational experience that we believed would renew us, we return to our normal schedule more exhausted than before.

This becomes a hectic unending cycle. Eventually, we come to the conclusion that there is no hope or escape from daily exhaustion. Not true! Our cause is just. Our method is wrong. While there are certain benefits to the recreational experience, they are very temporary and short lived.

We, as the Sons of God have been given yet another covenant from the Lord, Jesus Christ. He says, “Just come to me, if you’re weary and loaded down with care.”

There is an inner peace and quiet rest that God has provided for his children. No matter how great the storm or how heavy the burden, our precious Lord provides deep spiritual relief to body, soul and spirit of those who serve him.

Jesus declared that he has given us peace in a dimension far beyond what the world has to offer. John 14: 27 reads: ²⁷“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. He has wonderful rest and comfort to give us. He will lighten our load, ease our stress, and renew our spirit.

Let us be encouraged to seek the Lord for the peace that passes all understanding. He will miraculously renew us by his spirit each time we come to him with our heavy load. We can begin each day with determination to trust our blessed Redeemer and bathe ourselves in His refreshing waters of renewal.

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, I know that I cannot find peace and rest in the recreational methods of the world. I claim my right to come into your wonderful presence and receive the promise of your Word. I know that You are the source of true peace and rest. Renew my spirit and refresh my body for the day at hand, in Jesus name I pray. Amen.

January 1, 2009

Tonight Pastor Peters will deliver a special first of the year broadcast.

by Pastor Gene Applegate

Deuteronomy 8:11 New American Standard Bible

¹¹“Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes which I am commanding you today;

God admonished the children of Israel concerning obedience to his commandments. They often forsook the Lord. Their disobedience was commonplace among them. Rebellion against his restraints brought great hardship upon them, yet, they constantly resisted his ordinances and statues. Their hardness of heart brought constant discipline.

It is important that we learn from their example. Just as surely as their disobedience brought God’s judgment upon them, our rebellion will bring his heavy hand of discipline upon us. We cannot escape the conditions of blessing that he established for his children.

Obedience produces blessing and prosperity. Disobedience always brings heartache and defeat. There is no middle ground. No compromise.

Our carnal nature constantly rebels against the statues of God. We become self willed and obstinate. Our preoccupation to satisfy our own desire robs us of God’s blessing.

Let this be the day that we turn to the Lord, determined to live by his word, overcoming our sinful nature. Just as surely as we keep His commandments, we shall also have his blessing. Surely God desires to prosper his people. Oh, that we might learn to live in his promised blessing. Let us turn from a sinful ways and walk and his abundance.

Prayer:

Oh, dear God, how wonderful are your ways! Surely, you are holy and righteous. I acknowledge that your commandments are perfect and pure. I know that you have given them to me for my benefit. Help me, Father, to crucify my carnal nature and clothe myself in your righteousness through Jesus Christ, my redeemer. As your son, I want my life to bring joy and happiness to you. Let your Holy Spirit always direct my path. I want to always walk under your protection and covering. Thank you Father, for your loving guidance. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, my redeemer. Amen.

December 31, 2008

Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting.

by Pastor Gene Applegate

Psalm 27:5 New American Standard Bible

⁵ For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle;

In the secret place of His tent He will hide me;

He will lift me up on a rock.

What a wonderful promise!

All of us face moments of great difficulty and trouble from time to time.

When the enemy begins to press in upon us from every side and we feel overwhelmed, we can run to the covering of our precious Heavenly Father.

Very few have faced the constant onslaught and attacks of the devil as often as David. It seems that he was constantly under attack.

He had learned the secret of survival and freedom from fear through his continual fellowship with God. His ability to run into the presence of the Lord allowed him to stand strong in faith. He knew the keeping power of our Heavenly Father.

Surely, trouble will come to all of us. It is the business of the devil to constantly attack and oppress the sons of God. He constantly oppresses those who serve the Lord, but he cannot defeat us. We belong to the Kingdom of God and we are covered by his covenant.

We, too, can rest assured that when the day of trouble comes, we will not be overwhelmed or defeated. God has a great pavilion of protection for those who serve him. We can call upon his name and run to him for shelter.

He will take us into the secret chambers of his tabernacle far beyond the reach of our enemies. He will remove our feet from the quagmire of uncertainty and fear. He will set us upon the Rock of ages, Christ Jesus our Redeemer.

Let us rejoice! Nothing can harm us this day. We are protected and preserved by the great arm of Almighty God. We shall abide in the inner chambers of His wonderful presence, far from the seething tentacles of our oppressors.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I have been overwhelmed by the attack of the enemy many times. I cannot stand against him in my own strength. I am coming to you for help. Please cover me and hide me far from the enemies reach. Help me to abide in the inner chambers of your tabernacle every moment of the day. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

December 30, 2008

In tonight’s broadcast Pastor Peters will be discussing what group was the most responsible for Barack Obama getting elected. The very group that did not vote for or want him elected.