Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

But beware of men; for they will hand you over to their councils and flog you in their synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me. When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. For it is not you who will be speaking, it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Matthew 10

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

My brothers and sisters in Christ, many times we were sick or in trouble and called out to Jesus to heal us, and when he hears and answers our prayers, we forget to say, ‘Thank you, Jesus!’ No matter how simple the situation may be, we must always get in the habit of saying ‘Thank you, Lord!’ We must not be like the other nine lepers who were healed; but forgot to thank the healer. I have learned to say ‘Thank you, Lord, in advance, and wait.

It takes great faith, a little humility, and the willingness of God, to heal us from whatever ails us. My brothers and sisters in Christ, are you faithful enough, humble enough, to ask God to heal you this morning, and believe that he is willing and able to heal you? Let us be like that leper, who knelt before Jesus and said, “Lord if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Know that whatever God wills he does; nothing could be added to it, and nothing could be taken away from it. Believe in your heart that he is willing and able.

 “O Jesus, I have promised, to serve thee to the end; be thou forever near me, my Master and my friend; I shall not fear the battle if thou art by my side, nor wander from the pathway, if thou wilt be my guide.”

My brothers and sisters in Christ, it does not matter where or when we serve the Lord, but how we serve the Lord and our willingness to answer his call. I could remember when God called me into his service, I was reluctant, I found every excuse as to why I could not do what he asked. But my mother’s words of wisdom to me were, “If God is asking you to do something, know that he has already equipped you, for whom God calls he prepares”. Since I answered the call to serve him, time would not allow me to tell you, all that the Lord has asked of me, and how he led me all the way. To God be the glory!

My brothers and sisters in Christ, where you are right now, you may be casting your nets but not bringing in any good catch. Know that who we are following and where we are casting our nets are equally important. If we are casting our nets and we are not winning any souls for God, it is time to pull up anchor, change direction, and follow Jesus, who will make us successful fishers of men.

What an awesome God we serve! “God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?” Lord, we are so thankful that you never deal with us as we deserve. We change like changing years, but you change not. To God be the glory!

Teach me Your way, O Lord, that I may walk in Your truth. Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name. I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore. Psalm 86