Mustang Missions Archives - Experience The Scriptures

November 20, 2022 by Chaplain Rick Brewer

To understand where this comparison comes from:

I started working at a Mercedes dealership on weekends when I was 13 with my Dad. They also had Volkswagen , Alfa Romeo and Sterling.
When I was 17, I took my electronics experience and started a small stereo and custom electronics business.
When I graduated high school I started working full time in the parts department.
From there I went to work for a small auto parts company until I went into the military.
When I came out of the Air Force I worked at One Stop Auto Parts while I went to Trinity Baptist College.
After that I moved over to AutoZone as a Store Manager while I attended Bright Light Baptist College.
Moving to Kentucky I worked on the Management team for BMW, Volkswagen, Oldsmobile and Honda earning the nations highest dealer level every year I worked there, achieved the top 2% customer satisfaction rating in the country and the highest auto certification available in the nation. I also attended Bible Believers Baptist Academy during this time.
When I started my own Advertising company I was also working as a Chaplain for both the Sheriff and Coroner’s offices, attending Chaplains school in Indiana
Moving to Florida to serve as Pastor I worked at Advanced Auto as a manager as well.

As you can see… my experience in the automotive industry and the ministry have literally gone hand in hand overlapping over 20 years.

Over the years working in the automotive industry I have seen so many mechanical failures due to a lack of maintenance.

It’s interesting that in my ministry, I noted the same. Having a well maintained car will extend the life of the car, as well as, increase it’s value and usefulness; having a well maintain spiritual life, is the same.

Today we are going to look at having a well maintained Christian life.

In order to know how to best maintain your car you must first read the owners manual.

2 Timothy 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

The Owners Manual is where you find the specifics for your car, written by those who designed and built the car. Too often people rely on the word of someone who sounds smart, but does not really know what the book actually says. Oil change? Depends who you ask: 3k, 5k, 10k, 15k? Tune up? Fluids like transmission, coolant, brake fluid, power steering, etc… everyone has an opinion; but opinions don’t matter if it’s contrary to the owners manual.

Psalms 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

Psalms 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Psalms 68:11 The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.

Titus 1:14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

Psalms 119:89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

Just like with cars, there are many opinions on how you might have a victorious Christian life. Some might say that church membership, praise and worship or spiritual ceremonies will make things better; however, would it not be better to read the Bible? The owners manual for the Christian? Written by the God that created us? People’s opinions change based on the day, but God’s world is never changing.

A well maintained car is inspected regularly

2 Corinthians 13:5a Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.

There are parts that wear faster and can lead to failure, but because they are not easily seen we often neglect them until it is too late. (Brakes, Coolant, Tires…)
That is why an inspection needs to be done on a regular basis to help reveal those problems before they lead to a break-down.
These inspections are done against a perfect comparison so that there is a point of measurement. (example: brake pads are measured against the thickness of a new pad.)

1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

When is the last time you inspected your heart? Have you grown to be closer to God today than yesterday? Are you running with optimal performance, or are you always riding the brake?

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Psalms 26:2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.

1 Thessalonians 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

Like a car, a good inspection or examination can reveal problems. Just like a mechanic has a perfect example to compare against, we as Christians have a perfect Saviour to measure ourselves by, to see where improvements must be made. You don’t see a mechanic making a comparison against car that is as old as yours… they measure it against a new one. Why would we compare ourselves to another sinner to determine our condition?

2 Corinthians 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

Changing the Oil

One of the things that can cause failure is when someone does not get the oil changed, without changing the oil components will get dry, create friction and cause failure.

Psalms 92:10b…I shall be anointed with fresh oil.

This lack of oil will cause a premature breakdown of the components causing them to fail quickly and… at times… catastrophically.

Oil in the Bible is a picture of the Holy Spirit. Often times in our Christian lives we have a lot of friction in our lives, because we didn’t get fresh oil. We must renew the oil to keep everything running smoothly…

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Psalms 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

2 Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

Without the renewing of the spirit, changing the oil… we will become weary, tired… worn out, components begin to fail.

2 Thessalonians 3:13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

Psalms 143:7 Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.

Luke 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Conclusion:

To have a well maintained Christian life we must first:

Read the Owners Manual
Examine ourselves
Change the oil.

Sometimes these things are difficult because you are not IN the Car… or IN Christ:

Colossians 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

February 9, 2018January 30, 2018 by Chaplain Rick Brewer

Everyone put their hands up like you’re driving, now check your mirrors, signal your change and let’s begin.

Living your life in the mirrors.

Ever complain about someone who was so caught up with what was behind them that they were not focused on where they were going.
Sometimes we as Christians live our lives in the mirrors, always looking back at the way it was, and not looking where we are going.
Some live their life in the mirrors because they can’t let go of their past…
Some live their life in the mirrors because they can’t see where they are going…

Jesus said:

Lu:9:62: And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Once we start down that Christian Road on a street called straight, we’re to keep the course, looking forward to the journey.

So quickly we forget:

2Co:5:17: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Ge:19:17: And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.

Ge:19:26: But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

Unless your driving a ’76 Datsun you probably have three mirrors on your car.

Living life in the mirrors we often look at what behind from different points of view.

If things are not going so well we might look in the right mirror at what is behind with a fondness to those good old days.
If things are going good we might look in the left mirror and see all those rough times and reflect on how far we’ve come.
If we look behind in the center rearview mirror at what’s behind we may see it from a Christian view point; we would remember just what God saved us from and become prideful for it.

But don’t misunderstand. You’re looking at the same thing; just from a different point of view.

Don’t let emotions of the day take your eyes off that road ahead!

When we live life in the mirrors we miss important signs along the way.

Turn here
Stop
Yield
Dangerous curve ahead…

Things in the mirror are closer than they appear:

Look at where you are right now. Can you see what God is doing?

2Peter:1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

Living Life in the mirrors sometimes creates a blind spot.

Job:23:8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:

9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:

We can become so fixed on the past that we can become blinded to what God has done for us, here, today.

2Peter:1:5: And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

There are those out there that live their life in the mirrors,

Never experiencing the blessings of growing as a Christian,
Never giving up their past.
Always looking back

There are people who claim salvation, but there is no new creature, no change to speak of.

Repentance from sin is a turning away, going a different direction

To stop looking back and to start looking forward.

Colossians:3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Titus:2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ

Let me encourage you this morning not to live your life in the mirrors.

Check your mirrors, signal your change, and let’s move forward for Chris

June 11, 2018November 1, 2017 by Chaplain Rick Brewer

Every year auto manufactures comes out with new models. They offer new features, refinements and performance enhancements; but they all tote one main thing… more horsepower. This may be achieved by putting in a larger engine, making re-engineering or adding external assists like a turbo or supercharger; as a Christian we should be the same.. not content with where we are but always looking to making things better.

The disciples made this plea to Jesus

Luke 17:5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

While there are many things in our lives we are to be content with… our walk with God shouldn’t be one of them. We should have a desire to be better Christians growing closer to God.

Where does your power come from?

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

So many Christians today do not realize the power they have access to. We live everyday based on the circumstances around us rather than the power we have from within. Continuing within our example: when I drive a car the power is not mine, but the car’s. I have access to this power when I am in the drivers seat. Just as a Christian; the power we have access to is not our own, but God’s… we just need to hit the accelerator.

Have you ever seen someone driving down the road? The have a Mustang or Corvette and they are driving slower than the posted speed limit, backing traffic up… You know they have access to some horsepower… they just won’t use it.
The same holds true to those who always say they can’t do the things of God.. and it is true that in their own power they don’t have the ability. As a Christian though we are not to do things in our power; but in God’s… Isn’t it time to downshift and put God’s power to work for you?

Isaiah 40:29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

How do I increase my Horsepower?

When is the last time you did a tune-up?

1. First step of any tune-up is to read the owners manual

Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

The Bible has everything we need to know to properly maintain our relationship with God. The trick is to read it. When I worked in the automotive industry the most frustrating calls I would receive were from owners who didn’t read their owners manual. As Christians the same holds true… we are not operating ourselves to maximum efficiency because we have not read our owners manual.

2 Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

2. Part of a good tune-up is to inspect your vehicle regularly.

2 Corinthians 13:5a Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.

Sometimes there are things that wear faster and can lead to failure but because they are not easily seen we often neglect them until it is too late. That is why an inspection needs to be done on a regular bases to help reveal those problems before they lead to a break-down. When is the last time you inspected your heart? Have you grown to be closer to God today than yesterday?

3. Finally… nothing feels better than a nice drive after it’s all cleaned up

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Yes… Leather conditioned, paint is shiny, interior is clean… that’s a great feeling. You just want to drop the top down and go for a cruise.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Our sin is gone, our soul is clean before all the world, we are showroom ready. But just as a new car can get dirty we don’t go out and get a new car… we get the new car CLEANED… 1 John 1:9 does not deal with someone that is lost but rather the saint that sins after they are saved. God said He is faithful to forgive and cleanse us, we simply need to ask. So get out the leather cleaner and get strutting, let all the world see what God has done for you.

Sometimes you get those who brag about having horsepower… but really it’s all show…

Jude 1:16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.

Conclusion

The disciples said “Lord, increase our faith” and through the scriptures we learn that:

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

You get more Horsepower by taking your car to see the mechanic regularly, keep it cleaned and tuned up… Just like as a Christian we need to come to church regularly, keep our hearts and minds clean, read our Bibles and pray.

Perhaps your not getting any horsepower because you’ve never taken the wheel.

Perhaps you’ve just sat in the car… but never turned the key. Let me invite you to take you for a test drive… learn how much horsepower you can have through Jesus Christ. Click Here