Monthly Meditations with Dr. Michael L. Hargett, Sr.

John 10:10 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I was listening to one of my favorite Gospel songs. "Faithful is Our God" The song says, “I’m reaching the harvest God promised me – Take back what the Devil stole from me and I rejoice today, for I can recover it all!” I love this song! I can listen to it all day everyday. It simply gets me ready for the spiritual warfare I face everyday. It is saying that as true believers and followers of Christ; We have the power to take back what God has blessed us with and Satin has stolen. We have the power to take back what we have given to Satin. We have the power to take back what he has stolen from us! You can take back your life! We have power over sin and it does not have to consume us! It is time to take it back! We have control over our finances; it is time to take it back! We have control ov

Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem . A friend of mine back in Virginia recently asked me why Christian folk are such hypocrites? Her co-worker who constantly preaches to her, and then she observes him in a constant state of sin. Lying, cheating, and steeling everyday. They work for a not for profit company and do a great deal of fund raising and phone solicitations. Her follow-up question to me was, “How can this guy preach and speak of God to the people we are calling while in the same breath he is lying to them about the company’s need for money?” My answer to her was that she does not see him in his prayer closest and perhaps he repents. Her next question to me was “Doesn’t God get sick and tired of fake repentance?” This question blew my mind. She put something in my spirit that I just had to take to God in prayer. God how much is enough for you? Where do you draw the line? Her qu

P roverbs 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. I recently saw an episode of the Dr. Phil show where he interviewed and counseled three mothers who where sick of being mothers. Each of these three women had children that had serious disabilities which required around the care. One of the them stated that her heart was no longer in it, and she just wanted to be free. Each of these women has been caring for their children for years and where becoming overwhelmed by the responsibilities of caring for their children. I began to wonder how many of us do things on a daily basis but our heart is not in it? How many of us come to church on Sunday morning and our heart is not in it? How many of us make an offering and our heart is not in it? How many of us are in a marriage and our heart is not in it? How many of us are caring for a parent, a sick spouse or child and our heart is not in it? If our hear

Isaiah 40:29-31 (NIV) "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." My wife and I were able to get away for the past few days for her 20th High School Reunion this Labor Day Holiday. We had a great time together, with no children, no work issues, and no cell phones! Yes, I even left my cell off (Majority of the time). She reminded me that it was time to rest and take some much needed time off from our busy schedules. We often hate to admit that we are getting older and must rest the natural to stay strong in the spirit. Prayer is essential to resting the spirit. Taking time out to talk and rest with God is just as important to me as eating and sleeping. I have a relationship with Jesus that needs to be nurtured and maintai

Ephesians 6:13 13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Many of us in the church easily give up during the time of adversity or when things do not go the way they expected or just having to deal with church folk. There are far too many Christians sitting at home because of something that happened to them or through them that caused them to be hurt in the church. Instead of waiting patiently in perseverance, they allowed others to discourage them and caused them to be weary of the church. That’s understandable, as Elder Leslie Larkins so elegantly preached on yesterday. The word she brought forth touched me. Her sermon came from Jeremiah 1:5-19. (Elder Larkins God used you on yesterday! I received that word! You were on fire and I loved the Kung Fu moves!) Nonetheless, Satan’s main focus in our lives is to keep unsaved folk unsaved and to keep save folk distracted. Especially after a long strugg

Jude 1:20-21 "But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God." Have you ever asked yourself, what is God’s will for my life? Most often we ask this question God in the midst of a storm. During a sickness, the death of a loved one, loss of employment, or whatever you may be going through. If you are facing a storm, hold your head up, pray for strength and go through it. That which does not kill you will only make you grow stronger in the spirit. This is the time when you can ”Build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God." Jude 1:20-21 I can not sit here and tell you what God’s plan is for your life, but I can tell you that he is the source of all that is good in your life and he is your strength and redeemer! Nevertheless, God will help you every step of the way. God will help you breathe my next breath. God will help y

Psalms 37:25 25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. When you are going through the trails and storms of life most times you feel as if you are in it all by yourself. This is especially true when you are a Christian, because we are charged to live by the spirit to not gratify the desires of a sinful nature. Many of you have been running for Jesus a long time. You have come a long ways from where you started from. The road hasn’t been easy. You have been through some difficult situations. You’ve been through some pretty turbulent storms along life’s road. But you can identify with what I am saying, “You have come too far from where I started from.” Nobody told you that the road would be easy. But look where you started from, and look where you are today! No matter what you are going through, I do not believe He brought you this far, just to leave you now! In the book of Exodus we find the children o

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Can you define friendship? Is a friend someone that tells you want you need to hear when you need to hear it? Is a friend you can take you problems to? Is a friend someone you can count on when you are going through a storm? Is a friend all of the above and more? Friendship is love isn’t it? My niece Tylasha found out that friends are not always what they claim to be. she had planned a surprise birthday party for my sister. When she began to call some of my sister’s closest friends to invite them, she was shocked by some of their responses. Most where excited about the occasion, others where pleased and exc

Luke 7:36-50 36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. 37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. 40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. 41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them bo