2 Minute Take Away

That Was Yesterday…

Posted on by Rob Collins in 2 Minute Take Away

that was yesterday slide

I was looking at a flyer that had been sent to me in regards to a youth “lock in” where I would be speaking. The flyer stated that I would be speaking at midnight. It was later that day when I  was sitting at the table eating lunch when I felt the Holy Spirit say, “Midnight signifies the beginning of a brand new day!” My mind immediately leaped to the Scripture in Acts 16 where it tells the story of Paul and Silas being thrown into prison. The story begins with verse 16 and ends with verse 31. However, almost ‘smack dab’ in the middle of the story; 7 verses from the beginning dialogue and 8 verses from the conclusion, is verse 23. It reads, “And at Midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to God.”  There it was, the word “Midnight“, it wasn’t just the darkest hour of the night, it was the beginning of a brand new day.

Midnight is a turning point, it denotes the beginning of a new day. Paul sang praises to God at midnight and the circumstances changed for everyone. The prison doors were opened and the chains fell off. He decided to praise past the problems of yesterday. At midnight it was the beginning of a new day. Paul was beaten and put in prison but because he sang praises to God at midnight, that was yesterday! It doesn’t matter what happened yesterday, at Midnight it’s a new day! You can pronounce the problems of yesterday or you can proclaim the praises of God today. Midnight is the darkest hour, but it is also the beginning of a new day. Just praise God and speak of your problems by saying, yeah, but that was yesterday!

Paul’s experiences that had led to his jail sentence were yesterday’s news at midnight. When Paul began singing praises to God at midnight He was saying to himself and everyone around him, “that was yesterday!” Paul could have focused on the problems of yesterday, but instead he determined to focus on the promises of tomorrow. The annoying girl… that was yesterday! The accusations… that was yesterday! The unfair trail… that was yesterday! The beating with wooden rods on his back… that was yesterday! The stocks, cuffs and chains… that was yesterday! Paul would have missed the Philippian Jailer’s salvation and baptism if he would have chosen to focus on yesterday instead of praising God at Midnight. Think about the discouraging disappoints of any day and remember at midnight, “That was Yesterday!” Don’t miss what could happen today, because of what happened yesterday! Focus on the promises of today, not the problems of yesterday.

The Greatest of These…

Posted on by Rob Collins in 2 Minute Take Away, Blog, Messages, Videos

Click Text for Short Video Clip: the greatest is love

When you say nothing at all…

Do you ever feel like your words are not being heard? Have you ever felt like what you say isn’t making a difference? Whether you speak or whether you are silent; both must be done in love. We should all have a desire to speak the truth, but even the truth has to be spoken in love! However when we are silent most of the time it is done for manipulation through pouting. In Luke 19 Zacchaeus climbs a tree to see Jesus. When Jesus looks up and sees him He tells him to come down because He needs to go to his house today.

Zacchaeus was a crooked tax collector who cheated people out of money. Jesus knew it and Zacchaeus knew it, but nothing was ever spoken. And without one word “spoken” he repents and the fruit is restitution. He not only says he was wrong he tells Jesus he will give back with interests what he has stolen from the people.

Jesus never said a word about what Zacchaeus should or shouldn’t do or for that matter what he had  or hadn’t done. Zacchaeus repented without Jesus saying a word!  Moved by the audacity of Jesus’ undeserved love and acceptance, Zacchaeus publicly repented of his acts of corruption and vowed to make restitution for them, and held a feast at his house. I want you to know love is a two way street. Jesus received Zacchaeus just the way he was but Zacchaeus received Jesus into his home. Love has to be given, but it also must be received.

There is a lot of talk about law and love, grace and truth, love and grace. I want you to note Jesus never said anything about Zacchaeus’ wrongdoings but Jesus also never tried too justify what he had done as being ok. Jesus never said, “Thats o.k. Zacchaeus you don’t have to give back what you have taken.” No. He allowed him freedom but He also allowed him the opportunity to repent and be changed. It’s both! Love and grace, law and love, grace and truth.

Sometimes love speaks, sometimes love is silent, sometimes love presents the truth, but no matter how our actions are displayed it should always be done in love! If your words or silence are not done in love they will sound like a “*clanging cymbal” to the person who is receiving them. (*I Corinthians 13)

The way to know your speaking more “truth” than “love”:

1. When you want to prove your point more than resolve the issue.

2. When you want to be heard more than you want to hear.

3. When you want to be right more than you want a resolve.

4. When your ego is more important than the person’s need.

5. When you listen but don’t hear.

6. When your wrong but don’t recognize it.

7. When you are in the wrong but don’t admit it.

8. When you say the wrong thing at the wrong time in the wrong way.

9. When you talk so much people don’t value what you do say when you say something worth hearing.

10. When you consider how you feel more than how others feel.

Many of us speak the truth, but not in love. We speak more truth than love. Speak the truth, but do so in love. Say what you mean and mean what you say, but don’t be mean!