I awoke early one morning recently to the words “put the flaps down.”  The words were just hovering in the air above my head.  I quickly remembered watching an episode of” Modern  Marvels” about a Boeing 727 that crashed in Texas years ago because the pilots forgot to put the flaps down on the wings before they attempted to take off.  I got up out of bed and began to ask God what significance this procedure has that He needed to wake me to share it with me?  I looked up the purpose of “putting the flaps down” on Google and found that the flaps give lift to the plane so it can achieve the proper flying altitude.  O.K. God…what does that have to do with me?  “Putting the flaps down” is a procedure that lifts the plane vertically so it can fly!  “Putting the flaps down” lifts me from the place I am at to a higher place.  “Putting the flaps down can get me from the place I am at to a new level.

What is “putting the flaps down” in my life look like?  To a pilot it is one of many procedures he or she does in order to have a successful take-off and the flaps stay down until the plane reaches cruising altitude. 

What are some of the many procedures that God asks of us?

__repent of our sins
__pray
__read His Word
__meditate on His Word
__apply His Word

The “Modern  Marvels” story about the airplane crash concluded with the findings that the pilots had failed to follow the procedures they had been taught to properly prepare the plane for take-off.  Because of heavy traffic that day their pre-flight check list was interrupted by a long wait on the runway.  They got distracted and broke procedure by not completing the important routine.  Because of not following procedure many people lost their lives that day!

Bottom line:  PUT THE FLAPS DOWN!  Do what the Lord asks in order that we may achieve vertical lift from the situations that lie ahead of us!

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”  Matthew 26:41

In the process of researching just what “put the flaps down” means I read an article that concluded that modern airplanes should all have a better warning system that would keep a plane from attempting to take off if it flaps were not in the down position.  Somehow I believe God had me write this article for someone to read who might be on life’s runway attempting to take flight without properly going through God’s checklist.

Lord I pray for this individual or individuals that they may seek and find your will concerning the choices they are making and you will guide them as to what and how to do what you want in order that whatever they do they will be successful in it in …Jesus Name!
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My notes from Sunday’s Message:
Scriptures are taken from the New International Version of the Bible

Colossians 1:3-14
…For he rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. IN WHOM WE HAVE REDEMPTION, THE FORGIVNESS OF SINS.

Ephesians 1:3-14
…In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with his riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. …

John 5:16-30
…I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can only do what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.

Matthew 28:20
Then Jesus came to them and said. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to OBEY everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of this age.”

Repent:
Repentance is not merely a change of mind but a radical change in one’s life as a whole that especially involves forsaking sin and turning or returning to God.

Sin separates us from the Father.

Righteousness > being right with God

Romans 3:22-26
Righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.  There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.  God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.  He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

1 Peter 2:21-25
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example,that you should follow in his steps. He committed no sin and no deceit was found in his mouth… (continue reading)

1 John 2:1-6 …but if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense --Jesus

Isaiah 59:1
Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.  But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.  For your hands are stained with blood, your fingers with guilt.  Your lips have spoken lies, and your tongue mutters wicked things.
No one calls for justice; no one pleads his case with integrity.
(continue reading)

The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins…

2 Corinthians 6:17
Therefore come out from them* and be separate,
Touch no unclean thing,
And I will be a Father to you,
And you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.
*them > the false teachers presenting another gospel

2 Corinthians 7:10
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.  See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done.

Invitation prayer:

Lord Jesus,
I recognize that I need you in my life.
Thank you for accepting me just as I am.
I confess my sins to you and ask for your forgiveness.
I receive you as my personal Lord and Savior.
And I commit to putting you first in my life.
In the Name of Jesus Christ!
Amen.
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