To listen to the radio version, click here.
To search archives, click here.
Apples of Gold
Radio Script for June 11, 2009
“How Are Your Supply Lines?”
Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.
The owner of the radio station sells books, and now my daughter is helping ship them.
We ship them in a special box, and I asked her the other day if we still had plenty of them.
She didn’t know.
Okay, so what will happen when she runs out?
Well the shipping of books will come to a screeching halt while we wait for the new supply of boxes to arrive.
This is just a tiny example of the importance of supply lines.
Have you ever walked into a store with a certain product in mind only to find the shelf empty? That means the supply line was broken somewhere.
And it really doesn’t matter where it was broken. It could be that the factory workers went on strike. It could be that the truck broke down. Or it could be that the back of the store is full of them but the workers haven’t brought them out yet.
If you think about it, it’s amazing it doesn’t happen more often because there are so many places a supply line can break down
Now it’s not that big of a deal when you have to buy generic yogurt instead of Dannon.
But what happens when a soldier runs out of ammunition? Or gas? Or food?
I remember reading about Germany’s supply line in World War II when they invaded Russia. The country was so big and the climate so bad that the Germans just couldn’t maintain the supply line.
Now get this. There are also supply lines in our spiritual life. And we must tend to them because believe me, there is an enemy trying to break them.
Over the years I have seen many broken spiritual supply lines. These people end up dropping out of church, or their church attendance is sketchy. They don’t go to prayer meetings or Bible studies. They are more interested in J-Lo than Jesus.
But they are Christians. They are saved. Deep down they really do want to walk with God, but here’s the problem. Their supply lines.
If you don’t maintain strong supply lines, you will be a weak Christian. You will struggle along with little or no victory because you just can’t do it without the supplies.
Jesus taught about this in John 15. Jesus is our supplier. We can accomplish everything God destined us to accomplish as long as we stay connected to Jesus. But apart from Him we can do nothing.
So here is what we need. We need proper supply lines in order to receive what Jesus will supply.
Listen to this phrase Jesus used in John 15:7 – “If…my words remain in you…”
So this is one thing we need a supply line for – the word of the Lord.
This is an absolutely critical supply line! And now let me tell you how this works in my life.
First of all, my core supply line of the Word of God comes through Bible memorization. I usually memorize one new verse each weekday. This gives me an abundant supply of the Word – to meditate on it, to live it, and to watch it come alive in my life.
Second, I do a lot of Bible reading and Bible study. The Word of God is truly a foundation in my life. To me it is a supply line that I can’t live without.
Third, I listen to a lot of Bible teaching, with Christian radio being the biggest source, followed by the internet.
And fourth, I attend church services faithfully.
Now that may sound really weird that church comes in fourth, but think about it. We only have church services twice a week, and many churches only once. If that’s all the Word you’re receiving, then your supply line is thin.
Jesus said His words must remain in us, and the way to do that is by having healthy supply lines of the Word into our life.
There are many other supply lines we could look it. I think prayer is an important supply line. Fellowship with other believers. Teaming up with other Christians for good deeds. Having what we need to love our neighbor. Providing for evangelism. There’s even a supply line of giving, as odd as that may sound.
So this is your call today, to examine your spiritual supply lines. Are you receiving from the Lord all that He has for you, or are your supply lines inefficient or even broken?
Remember what Jesus said. Apart from Him we can do nothing.
We desperately need the Lord at all times, in all ways.
So let’s do all we can to open wide those spiritual supply lines.
Comments?
E-mail me: dougapple@wave94.com.
May God bless you today! With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.
© 2009 The Arrow’s Tip
To subscribe to your own daily “Apples of Gold” e-mail, write dougapple@wave94.com.
If you want to be removed from this e-mail list, simply click reply and type UNSUBSCRIBE on the subject line.
If you want to catch “Apples of Gold” in its original audio format, go to www.wave94.com
To search through the large archive of past articles, go here: http://www.wave94.com/modules.php?name=Stories_Archive
If you have trouble reaching me at my main e-mail address, try this one: douglas_apple@msn.com
(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)
Why “The Arrow’s Tip”? Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold. Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.” I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.
Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL 32315
(850) 926-8000
-vi-
No comments:
Post a Comment