7 UPS

(Various Texts:)

I'M SURE THIS MORNING THAT MOST EVERYONE IS FAMILIAR WITH THE CLASSIC

SOFT DRINK "7UP." IT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR YEARS. I REMEMBER AS A CHILD THE

LITTLE GREEN BOTTLES THAT IT CAME IN. I RECALL THAT 7 UP CAME IN THE LITTLE

GREEN BOTTLES, AND THAT DR. ENUF CAME IN THE LITTLE BROWN BOTTLES. ACT-

UALLY DR. ENUF CAME OUT IN A GREEN BOTTLE WITH A PAPER LABEL ON IT. THAT

WAS THEIR FIRST BOTTLE THEY EVER PRODUCED! I HAVE ONE OF THOSE. IN FACT

I HAVE ONE OF EVERY DR. ENUF BOTTLE THAT WAS EVER PRODUCED BY TRI-CITY

BEVERAGE. I ALSO HAVE A COUPLE OF THE GREEN 7 UP BOTTLES AS WELL. I

REMEMBER DR. ENUF USED TO HAVE A COMMERCIAL ON TELEVISION. IT WAS AN

ANIMATED CARTOON LIKE COMMERCIAL WHERE EVERYONE TAKES OFF RUNNING

AND A LITTLE FELLOW ASKS THE QUESTION: "WHERE'D EVERYBODY GO?" A VOICE

WOULD THEN SAY, "THEY'VE GONE TO GET THEIR DR. ENUF, ONLY A DIME, OR A SIX

BOTTLE CARTON FOR FORTY NINE." THAT'S BEEN A WHILE BACK!

BUT I'M NOT REALLY HERE TO TALK ABOUT DR. ENUFS; I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT

7 UPS." THE SEVEN UPS THAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS NOT THE SOFT DRINK

HOWEVER. THE ONES I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS CAN ALL BE FOUND IN THE WORD

OF GOD. AFTER ALL, I AM A PREACHER AND NOT AN ADVERTISING MAN FOR A SOFT

DRINK COMPANY. THE FOLKS IN THE DRUG CULTURE TALKS ABOUT TAKING WHAT

THEY CALL "DOWNERS." I WANT TO TALK ABOUT US TAKING "UPPERS." I DON'T

MEAN "UPPER PLATES." SOME OF US HAVE THEM. GOT THEM IN OUR POCKETS,

MAYBE? I MEAN "UPPERS" IN RELATION TO THE WORD "UP." I HAVE 7 OF THEM

THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BRING OUT THAT ARE IN THE WORD OF GOD.

I WILL BE SKIPPING AROUND FROM BOOK TO BOOK AND VERSE TO VERSE, SO I WILL

MOVE RATHER QUICKLY THROUGH THE SCRIPTURES.

THE FIRST VERSE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO USE IS PSALM 118:24: IT TELLS US TO

HOW TO
"WAKE UP"

"THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HATH MADE, WE SHALL REJOICE AND
BE GLAD IN IT."

THIS IS A GREAT VERSE THAT EVERY CHRISTIAN WOULD DO WELL TO MEMORIZE.

IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR EVERY CHRISTIAN, UPON WAKING IN THE MORN-

ING OF EACH NEW DAY, TO RECITE THIS VERSE, REMEMBERING THAT THIS IS THE

DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE, WE SHALL BE GLAD AND REJOICE IN IT." WE REFER

TO SUNDAY AS "THE LORD'S DAY." IT IS, OF COURSE, BUT THE TRUTH IS, ACCORD-

ING TO THE PSALMIST, THAT EVERYDAY IS TO BE "THE LORD'S DAY." IT IS IN THE

SENSE THAT HE HAS MADE IT, AND WE SHOULD REJOICE IN THE FACT THAT HE DID!

SOMETIMES THE DEVIL SPOILS THE DAY WITH ALL THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS

THAT HE SENDS, BUT IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN, YOU HAVE SOMEONE WITH YOU WHO

IS ABLE TO OVERCOME ANYTHING THAT HE SENDS. AND IF YOU DON'T OVERCOME

THE PROBLEM; IF IT DOESN'T GO AWAY, THEN PERHAPS THE LORD HAS SOMETHING

THAT HE WANTS YOU TO LEARN FROM THE PROBLEM. WHEN WE START LOOKING

FOR A HIDDEN MEANING TO OUR PROBLEMS, AND START WANTING TO "READ BET-

WEEN THE LINES," THEN WE ARE READY TO START TURNING "STUMBLING BLOCKS"

INTO "STEPPING STONES." THAT'S HOW YOU DO IT!

THAT IS "WAKING UP" IN THE PHYSICAL SENSE. LET'S TALK ABOUT "WAKING UP"

IN THE "SPIRITUAL SENSE." THIS IS THE GREATEST NEED TODAY OF THE CHURCH:

WAKING UP FROM OUR APATHEY, OUR LETHARGY, AND OUR COMPLACENCY. IT IS

QUITE OFTEN SPOKEN TODAY THAT OUR COUNTRY NEEDS TO "WAKE UP" AND RE-

TURN TO IT'S GODLY HERITAGE. BUT HOW CAN WE EXPECT OUR NATION TO WAKE

UP SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING WHEN THE CHURCH ITSELF IS SOUND ASLEEP. IF PAUL

REVERE HAD WENT TO SLEEP ON THAT FATEFUL NIGHT IN BOSTON OF APRIL 18,

1775, WE MIGHT STILL BE FLYING THE BRITISH FLAG. BUT WHEN HE "SAW THE

LIGHT" FROM THE OLD NORTH CHURCH, HE TOOK OFF WARNING THE PEOPLE THAT

THE BRITISH WERE COMING, THAT THEY NEEDED TO BE ARMED AND READY TO

FIGHT, AND THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION BEGAN, AND SIX YEARS LATER, WE WERE

AN INDEPENDENT NATION! YOU REMEMBER THOSE CLASSIC LINES OF LONGFELLOW:

LISTEN MY CHILDREN AND YOU SHALL HEAR
OF THE MIDNIGHT RIDE OF PAUL REVERE,
ON THE EIGHTEENTH OF APRIL IN SEVENTY FIVE;
HARDLY A MAN IS NOW ALIVE
WHO REMEMBERS THAT FAMOUS DAY AND YEAR.

THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A FEW THAT REMEMBERED THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

WHEN LONGFELLOW PINNED THOSE LINES, BUT TODAY THERE IS NO ONE. IN FACT,

THERE IS NO ONE WHO REMEMBERS LONGFELLOW, AT LEAST THAT EVER SAW HIM IN

HIS LIFETIME. ALL THOSE FOLKS ARE LIKE LONGFELLOW; THEY ARE IN THE PAST.

BUT PAUL REVERE DID SEE THE SIGNAL LIGHT HANGING IN THE CHURCH, AND HE

REACTED ACCORDINGLY.

WE THE CHURCH, LIKE PAUL REVERE, HAVE "SEEN THE LIGHT" AS WELL, THE LIGHT

OF JESUS CHRIST, AND, HAVING SEEN THE LIGHT, WE HAVE BECOME THE LIGHT!

ACCORDING TO OUR LORD, WE HAVE "BECAME THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD!" WHY

ARE WE NOT IN THE SADDLE RIDING TO WARN THE WORLD OF THE COMING EVIL

OF OUR DAY AND AGE? PAUL REVERE WENT FROM TOWN TO TOWN CRYING "THE

BRITISH ARE COMING, THE BRITISH ARE COMING." WE AS CHRISTIANS HAVE A

SIMILAR MESSAGE, BUT IT IS TOO LATE NOW TO CRY "THE DEVIL IS COMING, THE

DEVIL IS COMING." HE'S ALREADY HERE! ALL YOU NEED DO IS LOOK AROUND

YOU TODAY. HE IS THE PRINCE OF THIS WORLD. HE ALWAYS HAS BEEN SINCE THE

GARDEN OF EDEN! HE HAS HIS KINGDOM IN THIS WORLD. THANK GOD OUR KING-

DOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD! WE HAVE SOMETHING BETTER TO LOOK FORWARD TO.

BUT, JUST AS PAUL REVERE SPREAD THE WARNING THAT "THE BRITISH ARE COM-

ING," WE NEED TO BE SPREADING THE WARNING THAT "THE LORD IS COMING." IT

SEEMS ALL TOO OFTEN THAT IS FORGOTTEN. HE'S COMING AGAIN. ACTS CHAP. 1

TELLS US THAT, AS WELL AS OTHER PLACES IN THE BIBLE.

YET, WE HAVE A SIMILAR MESSAGE TO PAUL REVERE'S IN ANOTHER WAY: WHERE

HE SAID THE "BRITISH ARE COMING," WE COULD SAY "THE BRUTISH ARE COMING."

BY THAT, THERE ARE "BRUTES" APLENTY TO GO AROUND TODAY. THERE ARE THE

BRUTES THAT ADVOCATE THE MURDER OF INNOCENT BABIES: THERE ARE BRUTES

THAT WOULD SCRAP GOD'S PLAN FOR MARRIAGE: THERE ARE BRUTES THAT WOULD

POLLUTE OUR SOCIETY WITH PORNOGRAPHIC FILTH: THERE ARE BRUTES THAT WILL

TRY TO REMOVE GOD'S NAME FROM OUR SOCIETY: THERE ARE BRUTES THAT ARE

TRYING TO TAKE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OUT OF OUR GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS:

THERE ARE BRUTES WHO ARE SITTING ON OUR NATIONS COURTS WEARING BLACK

ROBES AND SPEWING OUT ALL MANNERS OF EVIL JUDGEMENTS ON A POPULACE

THAT THEY SHOULD BE PROTECTING; AND SO ON AND SO FORTH, ETC: YES, THE

BRUTISH ARE COMING, AND FOR THE MOST PART, MANY OF THEM ARE ALREADY

HERE TODAY. PAUL REVERE HAD THE "BRITS" TO CONTEND WITH, AND WE HAVE

THE "BRUTES." HE HELPED TO START A REVOLUTION THAT EVENTUALLY WON OUT

OVER TYRANNY, WE STILL HAVE OUR BATTLE TO FIGHT.

WHEN WE WAKE UP, AND GET OUT OF BED, IT IS TIME TO

"DRESS UP."

TODAY, THERE IS A GREAT EMPHASIS ON "DRESSING UP." EASTER IS ALWAYS AN

INTERESTING TIME AT CHURCH BECAUSE OF ALL THE LADIES THAT COME TO

CHURCH IN THEIR NEW "EASTER ATTIRE." THAT HAS BEEN THE CUSTOM FOR YEARS!

IT REMINDS ME OF THAT OLD IRVING BERLIN SONG ABOUT THE "EASTER PARADE."

BUT REALLY, CLOTHES DON'T MAKE THE PERSON. TURN OVER TO I SAMUEL CHAP.

16 AND LETS READ VERSE 7. THIS IS IN RELATION TO KING SAUL. SAMUEL HAD BEEN

LAMENTING OVER KING SAUL, AND GOD TELLS HIM IN VERSE 7:

"BUT THE LORD SAID UNTO SAMUEL, LOOK NOT ON HIS COUNTENANCE,
OR ON THE HEIGHT OF HIS STATURE; BECAUSE I HAVE REFUSED HIM: FOR
THE LORD SEETH NOT AS MAN SEETH; FOR MAN LOOKETH ON THE OUTWARD
APPEARANCE, BUT THE LORD LOOKETH ON THE HEART."

BELOVED, WHEN GOD REFUSES YOU, IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW GOOD LOOKING YOU

ARE: IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW WEALTHY YOU ARE; OR HEALTHY YOU ARE: OR POP-

ULAR YOU ARE, OR EVEN HOW AVAILABLE YOU ARE: WHEN GOD GETS DONE WITH

YOU, YOU'RE THROUGH. EACH OF US, FOR THE MOST PART, KNOW SOMEONE THAT

GOD USED AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER, AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, HE REFUSED

THEM, AND THEY WERE NEVER INFLUENCIAL IN HIS CHURCH AGAIN. IT MIGHT HAVE

BEEN A TEACHER, AN ELDER, A DEACON, A MINISTER, OR WHAT HAVE YOU, BUT GOD

PUT THEM "OUT TO PASTURE" AND THEY WERE NEVER HEARD FROM AGAIN. AND

THE REASON THIS HAPPENS IS USUALLY DUE TO "PLAIN OLD SIN." JUST BECAUSE

WE LOOK GOOD ALL DRESSED UP IN OUR CHRISTIAN COSTUMES, IT DOESN'T MEAN

FOR A FACT THAT WE ARE WHAT WE CLAIM TO BE: NOT EVERYONE THAT SAYS

"LORD, LORD," WILL QUALIFY FOR AN ETERNITY IN HEAVEN. IT TAKES THE DOING OF

THE WILL OF THE FATHER TO QUALIFY.

IF YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW HOW TO DRESS UP AS A CHRISTIAN, YOU CAN FIND

THE "WARDROBE" TO WEAR OVER IN THE SIXTH CHAPTER OF EPHESIANS, WHERE

PAUL TALKS ABOUT THE PROPER ATTIRE OF THE CHRISTIAN: YOU REMEMBER WHAT

HE SAID WE WERE TO WEAR:

LOINS GIRT ABOUT WITH TRUTH,
THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
FEET SHOD WITH THE PREPERATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE,
THE SHIELD OF FAITH,
THE HELMIT OF SALVATION, &
THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT!

NOT NECESSARILY AN ATTRACTIVE OUTFIT TO THE WORLD, BUT NECESSARY NONE

THE LESS!

THE NEXT "UP" I WANT TO MENTION IS THE ONE THAT SAYS "SHUT UP." I KNOW

THAT SOUNDS CONTRADICTORY TO A LOT OF WHAT I HAVE BEEN PREACHING THE

PAST YEAR, AND I THINK OF COURSE THAT THE CHURCH HAS BEEN QUIET WHEN

WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN SPEAKING OUT, BUT THERE IS A TIME, WHEN WE AS THE

CHURCH SHOULD LITERALLY,

SHUT UP!

IN THE 13TH CHAPTER OF PROVERBS, WE FIND THESE WORDS:

"HE THAT KEEPETH HIS MOUTH KEEPETH HIS LIFE: BUT HE THAT
OPENETH WIDE HIS LIPS SHALL HAVE DESTRUCTION."

WE HAVE SEEN A GOOD EXAMPLE JUST THIS PAST WEEK OR TWO WHERE THAT

SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE RULE OF THE DAY. I AM REFERRING TO PRESIDENT

BUSH'S NEW NOMINEE FOR THE SUPREME COURT: AS SOON AS HARRIET MYERS

NAME WAS GIVEN, THERE AROSE A MIXED CRY FROM THE CONSERVATIVES OVER

HER QUALIFICATIONS. SOME, LIKE DOCTOR JAMES DOBSON CAME OUT IN SUPPORT

OF HER, AND OTHERS CAME OUT AGAINST HER. THEN THERE WAS THE "OLIVE

BRANCH CROWD" THAT SAID "LET'S WAIT AND SEE." PRESIDENT BUSH HIMSELF

SAID THAT HE HAD NEVER DISCUSSED HER VIEWS ON ABORTION AND THINGS OF

THAT NATURE, AND AT FIRST IT APPEARS TO BE VERY IRRESPONSIBLE TO PICK A

CANDIDATE FOR SUCH A POWERFUL POSITION AND NOT ASK THEM THEIR VIEWS,

BUT IF YOU KNOW THE PERSON AS WELL AS HE KNOWS HER, IT IS SAFE TO SAY

THAT YOU ALREADY KNOW THEIR VIEWS ON THE ISSUES THAT MATTER! THE FACT

THAT JOHN Q. PUBLIC DOESN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT HER MAY BE GOOD IN THE

SENCE THAT THEY CAN'T PICK APART HER PAST RECORD! SHE MAY BE THE PER-

FECT CANDIDATE TO ALLUDE THE BLOODHOUNDS OF THE LIBERAL LEFT. THE LES-

SON FOR US AS CHRISTIANS, IS THAT WHEN IT COMES TO CHARACTER ASSASINA-

TION, WE ARE TO REFRAIN FROM IT.

THE NEXT "UP" THAT I WANT US TO LOOK AT IS THE ONE THAT SAYS WE ARE TO

"LOOK UP!"

TURN OVER TO THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS: CHAPTER

4, VERSE 13:

"I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHICH STRENGTHENETH ME."

YOU SAY, "WHAT'S THAT GOT TO DO WITH LOOKING UP? WELL, IF YOU CAN DO ALL

THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHICH STRENGTHENETH YOU, YOU NEED NEVER LOOK

DOWN. IT IS REAL EASY TO GET THE PROPS KNOCKED OUT FROM UNDER YOU BY

THE DEVIL IF YOU WILL ALLOW HIM TO LOWER YOUR OWN SELF ESTEEM. OFTEN WE

FIND PEOPLE THAT HAVE ALLOWED THE DEVIL TO DO THAT, AND IT LEADS TO BAD

CIRCUMSTANCES EVERY TIME! THAT VERSE DOESN'T SAY, "I CAN DO SOME THINGS

THROUGH CHRIST WHICH STRENGTHENETH ME: NOR DOES IT SAY, "I CAN DO MOST

THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHICH STRENGTHENETH ME: IT SAYS "I CAN DO ALL

THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHICH STRENGTHENETH ME."

WHAT DOES HE MEAN BY THAT? DOES HE MEAN THAT YOU CAN JUMP OFF A SKY-

SCRAPER AND LAND ON YOUR FEET UNHURT, OR OUT OF AN AIRPLANE? THAT IS

SOME THING THAT A PERSON CAN DO! OR CATCH A BULLET IN YOUR HAND? I

DON'T THINK THAT THE LORD IS REFERING TO THAT TYPE OF SITUATION. WHAT HE

IS SAYING, THAT ANY PROJECT THAT WE ARE WILLING TO PUT IN GOD'S HAND, AND

BE SUBMISSIVE TO GOD'S WILL, CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED IF IT IS TURNED OVER TO

CHRIST IN FAITH. MOST EVERY CHRISTIAN CAN RELATE TO SOMETHING IN HIS OR

HER LIFE THAT THEY WERE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH, AND WHEN THEY TURNED

IT OVER TO THE LORD, IT WAS WORKED OUT FOR GOOD.

THE TROUBLE WITH MANY IN OUR LAND TODAY IS THAT INSTEAD OF "LOOKING UP

TO THE GOD OF HEAVEN," THEY ARE LOOKING DOWN IN LOFTY CONDESCENTION

ON THEIR FELLOW MAN AS THOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE JOB TO PRESIDE

AS GOD: WE SEE IT IN OUR UNIVERSITIES; LITTLE PROFESSORS THAT ARE DETER-

MINED TO SHAKE THE FAITH OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO LEAVE THE TEACHINGS OF

THE BIBLE FOR THE THEORIES OF DARWIN AND OTHERS: WE SEE IT IN THE WAY

THAT MAN HAS TAKEN OVER EVERYTHING IN HIS OWN MIND.

HAVE YOU BY CHANCE NOTICED THAT SINCE THE DAWNING OF THE TWENTY FIRST

CENTURY, WE HAVE BEEN HIT BY EVERY TYPE OF PLAGUE IMAGINABLE AS FAR AS

CATASTROPHES ARE CONCERNED. THIS YEAR, 2005, WE HAVE SEEN GREAT LOSSES

OF LIFE ALL OVER THE WORLD DUE TO FLOODS, EARTHQUAKES, STORMS, AND A

HOST OF OTHER THINGS, THAT IS UNPRECEDENTED. WHY, WITH ALL OUR BRAINS

AND INTELLIGENCE, DO WE SEE THAT HAPPENING, AND WHY CAN'T WE DO ANYTHING

ABOUT IT? AFTER ALL, WE ARE ALL KNOWING, ALL POWERFUL, AND ALL MIGHTY,

AREN'T WE? THE MAN-GOD OF TODAY SHOULD BE ABLE TO PREVENT ALL THESE

CALAMITIES. YEAH, RIGHT!

I CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER IF ALL THESE THINGS, (SO MANY OF THEM IN A ROW,) ARE

WARNINGS THAT GOD IS GIVING US, TELLING US TO REPENT? IF IT IS, WE'RE NOT

PAYING MUCH ATTENTION. WE NEED TO BE LOOKING UP.

AND, IT IS HIGH TIME WE "STAND UP" AND GET BUSY.

GALATIANS 6: 9 AND 10 TELLS US:

"AND LET US NOT BE WEARY IN WELL DOING: FOR IN DUE SEASON WE SHALL
REAP, IF WE FAINT NOT. AS WE HAVE THEREFORE OPPORTUNITY, LET US DO
GOOD UNTO ALL MEN, ESPECIALLY UNTO THEM WHO ARE OF THE HOUSE-HOLD OF FAITH."

BELOVED, THIS IS NO TIME TO REST ON OUR LAURELS. WE SHOULDN'T TIRE OUT IN

TRYING TO HELP OTHERS. WE SHOULD NEVER BECOME WEARY IN WELL DOING. WE

MUST ALWAYS STRIVE TO DO WELL FOR OUR LORD. MATTHEW HENRY SAID IN THAT

OLD VERNACULAR OF HIS DAY AND AGE,

"IT WILL NOT SUFFICE TO SAY OF THAT WHICH WAS ILL DONE,
THAT IT WAS WELL MEANT."

WE DO HAVE THE PROMISE THAT IF WE WILL CONTINUE TO LABOR FOR OUR LORD

JESUS CHRIST, WE WILL REAP A HARVEST, IF WE FAINT NOT.

THE MATURE CHRISTIAN WILL ALSO BE WILLING TO "REACH UP" TO RECEIVE THE

WISDOM THAT CAN ONLY COME FROM GOD! PROVERBS 3: 5 AND 6 SAYS:

"TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL THINE HEART, AND LEAN NOT UNTO THINE
OWN UNERSTANDING: IN ALL THY WAYS ACKNOWLEGE HIM, AND HE SHALL
DIRECT THY PATHS."

FOR THE AVERAGE CHRISTIAN, IT IS ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS THERE IS TO DO,

TO PUT COMPLETE TRUST IN THE LORD. WE TEND TO WANT TO LEAN AT LEAST

"A LITTLE" ON OUR OWN UNDERSTANDING. WE TEND TO TRY "WARMING UP THE

ALTER" BEFORE WE ASK GOD TO SET IT ON FIRE. NOT MANY OF US ARE LIKE OLE

ELIJAH WHO SOAKED HIS SACRIFICE IN WATER: WE ARE REACHING A TIME TODAY

WHEN I THINK THAT ONLY GOD WILL BE ABLE TO STREIGHTEN OUT THE MESS WE

HAVE GOTTEN OURSELVES INTO WORLD WIDE. GOD OFFERS HELP BUT MAN IS

TOO PROUD TO ACCEPT IT. ALL HE WANTS FROM US IS TO BE WORSHIPED FOR

WHO HE IS, BUT WE HAVE EVEN DENYED HIS EXISTANCE. IT IS AMAZING TO ME

THAT MANKIND, WHO CONSIDERS THEMSELVES SO SMART THESE DAYS, THAT

THEY CAN'T SEE THE CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH! ALL THESE PHD'S AND

DOCTORS OF THIS, AND MASTERS OF THAT, WHO TEACH IN OUR UNIVERSITIES,

EVERYDAY DENYING THE ONE WHO GAVE THEM THE INTELLIGENCE TO REASON

WITH. THEY ARE LIKE PYGMYS THAT SCOFF AT A GIANT!

MAN MUST BE WILLING TO "REACH UP" TO GOD. TO FAIL TO DO SO MAKES

ABOUT AS MUCH SENSE AS SOMEONE PULLING UP A CHAIR UNDER AN APPLE

TREE "WAITING" FOR ONE OF THE APPLES TO DROP OFF! SOMETIMES WE CAN

ACCOMPLISH MORE BY TAKING HOLD OF THE HAND OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER.

A LITTLE CHILD CAN CROSS A STREET BY ITSELF, BUT IT IS SAFER TO PUT ITS

HAND IN THE HANDS OF ITS FATHER AND BE LED ACROSS TO SAFETY.

THE SEVENTH "UP" THIS MORNING IS TO "LIFT UP." TO LIFT UP YOUR PETITIONS

TO GOD IN PRAYER: PHILIPPIANS 4:6 SAYS:

"BE CAREFUL FOR NOTHING; BUT IN EVERYTHING BY PRAYER AND SUP-
PLICATION WITH THANKSGIVING, LET YOUR REQUESTS BE MADE KNOWN
UNTO GOD."

PRAYER IS MUCH MORE THAN JUST GOING TO GOD WITH OUR "GROCERY LIST."

TOO OFTEN, WE APPROACH GOD LIKE A CHILD APPROACHING SANTA CLAUS IN

A DEPARTMENT STORE. BUT, GOD IS NOT SANTA CLAUS, NOR IS HE OUR NEIGH-

BORHOOD GROCER, HE IS OUR HEAVENLY FATHER. WE SHOULDN'T JUST WANT TO

TALK WITH HIM WHEN WE NEED SOMETHING. HE SEEKS TO BE RESPECTED FOR

WHO HE IS, AND HE DESERVES TO BE. IT IS COMPLETELY LUDICRIS TO DENY THE

EXISTANCE OF GOD. THE PSALMIST SAID:

"THE HEAVENS DECLARE THE GLORY OF GOD, AND THE FIRMAMENT
SHEWETH HIS HANDIWORK."

WITH THAT MUCH EVIDENCE, ONLY THE STUPID OF SOCIETY COULD MISS THE

EVIDENCE OF HIS EXISTANCE. SINCE GOD IS WHO HE SAYS HE IS, AND CAN DO

ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, WE AS CHRISTIANS SHOULD BE WILLING TO

LIFT UP OUR CARES; AND THE BURDENS WE BEAR; TO OUR GOD THROUGH OUR

PRAYERS.

LET'S REPEAT THE 7 "UPS" ONCE AGAIN. WE NEED TO

WAKE UP-----------PSALM 118:24
DRESS UP----------I SAMUEL 16:7
SHUT UP------------PROVERBS 13:3
LOOK UP------------PHILIPPIANS 4:13
STAND UP----------GALATIANS 6:9-10
REACH UP-----------PROVERBS 3:5-6
LIFT UP---------------PHILIPPIANS 4:6

NO DOUBT THERE ARE OTHERS THAT ONE COULD ADD TO THE LIST, BUT

"7 UPS" IS "DR. ENOUGH" FOR THE MOMENT.

LET ME ASK YOU THIS MORNING:

HAVE YOU EVER "WOKE UP" WITH THE REALIZATION THAT YOU NEED

A SAVIOUR, AND THEN DONE WHAT WAS NECESSARY FOR SALVATION?

HAVE YOU "DRESSED UP" IN THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD TO FIGHT FOR THE

CAUSE OF CHRIST; A TRUE SOLDIER IN THE ARMY OF THE LORD?

HAVE YOU "SHUT UP" AND BECAME QUIET ENOUGH THAT YOU COULD HEAR

THE "STILL, SMALL VOICE" OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD?

DO YOU "LOOK UP" TO GOD FOR THE NECESSITIES OF LIFE AS WELL AS THE

STRENGTH TO GO ON FROM DAY TO DAY?

ARE YOU WILLING TO "STAND UP" FOR GOD, FOR JESUS CHRIST, AND FOR THE

CHURCH, AND FOR ALL THAT IS MORAL, HONORABLE AND DECENT?

ARE YOU WILLING TO "REACH UP" TO THE HEAVENLY FATHER FOR THE DAILY

PROVISION THAT HE OFFERS AND ALL GOOD AND PERFECT GIFTS?

AND, FINALLY, ARE YOU WILLING TO LIFT UP IN PRAYER THOSE AROUND YOU

WHO NEED THE BLESSING OF GOD, AND ARE YOU READY TO PRAY FOR THE

LOST?

IF YOU ARE WILLING TO DO THE SEVEN "UPS" THIS MORNING, I HAVE ANOTHER

QUESTION FOR YOU: THAT IS "ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN? YOU SEE, IT TAKES A

CHRISTIAN TO BE QUALIFIED FOR THE THINGS THAT I HAVE MENTIONED TODAY.

SO, HAVE YOU REPENTED OF YOUR SINS, AND ARE YOU WILLING TO FORSAKE

THEM? HAVE YOU CONFESSED THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE

LIVING GOD, AND HAVE YOU TAKEN HIM TO BE THE LORD OF YOUR LIFE, AS WELL

AS YOUR SAVIOUR: HAVE YOU BEEN BAPTIZED FOR THE REMISSION OF YOUR

SINS, THE SPIRITUAL CLEANSING THAT MAKES YOU "WHITER THAN SNOW" AND

GIVES YOU THE INDWELLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AND, THEN, YOU WILL RISE

IN A "NEWNESS OF LIFE," AND LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE UNTIL YOUR DEATH.

THE ONE WHO IS FAITHFUL TIL THE END SHALL RECEIVE THE CROWN OF LIFE.

MAYBE, YOU HAVE DONE ALL THESE THINGS AND ARE LOOKING FOR A GOOD

CHURCH HOME. SANDY AND I CAN ATTEST THE FACT, THAT THIS IS A GOOD ONE.

PINECREST IS A CHURCH FILLED WITH LOVE AND CONCERN FOR OTHERS, AND

WE WOULD WELCOME YOU AND YOUR FAMILY TO BECOME A PART OF THE LORD'S

WORK HERE.

OR MAYBE YOU WOULD LIKE TO REDEDICATE YOUR LIFE TO THE SERVICE OF

CHRIST. WHATEVER YOU MAY FEEL LEAD TO DO THIS MORNING, IF YOU HAVE A

DECISION TO MAKE, WOULD YOU COME AS WE STAND AND SING OUR HYMN OF

INVITATION, NO._____________.

Br. C. R. Carrier