Archives for November 2013

Nov. 20, 2013

MY FRIENDS, SATAN DESIRES TO SIFT YOU AS WHEAT!!!

Luke 22:31-32 And the Lord said,“Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.  But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

Sifting wheat during Christ days was a two stage process. The first step in the process of sifting wheat is to loosen the chaff from the edible grain, which is called threshing. To do this is to spread the wheat onto a floor made from stone, or concrete and to beat it with a flail.

The next step is called winnowing, where the loosened chaff is removed from the grain, by throwing the grain in the air, where the lighter chaff would be blown off by even a decent breeze. The heavier grains would fall back to the ground below where they were thrown, then gathered and prepared for the market.

My friends is it not obvious as we study Gods word that there are boundaries, and protocol, even Satan as a created being like you and I must abide by in GOD’S UNIVERSE. And what is so amazing is if Satan knows this why have we allowed ourselves to “fall short of the glory of God” as we move closer into the final stretch of our journey that Christ has placed us on.

So my main point I need you to focus on today is, if God does allow us to be SIFTED AS WHEAT BY SATAN it is only to strengthen our fragile faith for “He’s preparing His Children for something we cannot handle right now, He’s making us ready Just because He loves us, while providing what we need To carry out the final phase of this journey”

Because God knows our character, and like Peter his only objective is to make us stronger through adversity, and afflictions and the day to day trials of our life. Yes my friends sometimes our Father loosens His reigns just enough to allow our faith to take hold because He knows “WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD….”Heb 11:6

“But we must also tell ourselves “If God is for us who can be against us” the problem is when our passion to watch, and pray becomes obsolete as we begin to allow the affairs of this world to have more of an influence over our life, then God, and His plan that we take the good news of Salvation to a fallen world.

And once we allow that to happen we then lose focus on our Eternal Salvation. My friends there is a spiritual warfare that is being fought over our souls daily. SIFTING becomes part of that process where our character, like the wheat has to be rid of all its coarser, and impure particles.

But it’s part of the purification process that must take place to secure a character like Christ. So GOD ALLOWS SATAN TO SIFT HIS CHILDREN. So today I need you to understand what I am learning each day about this great controversy.

Satan does play a factor in our Salvation, in that as Satan tries to crush and destroy us through his SIFTING PROCESS, and our faith holds firm. Christ can then present us to His father as His Children, who are “a Brand Plucked From the Fire?”

And my friends please don’t worry about SATAN” SIFTING PROCESS for “There hath no temptation taken hold of you but such as is common to man. But God is faithful; He will not suffer you to be tempted beyond that which ye are able to bear, but with the temptation will also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Cor 10:13

OH MY GOD WHAT A WONDERFUL GOD WE SERVE. And the part I really love the most is when my faith has passed the test, and MY GOD can then brag on His faithful and say “Hast thou considered MY CHOSEN, that there is none like HIM, OR HER in the earth, a perfect and an upright MAN OR WOMAN, one that feareth God,  and shuns evil?

MY FRIENDS  time will run out one day soon. In Judges 21:25 it tells us In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. As we look at the world today it is just about at that point. And so I am  going to be frankly honest with you today.

If Satan is not SIFTING YOU AS WHEAT, PLEASE MY FRIENDS FALL ON YOUR KNEES  NOW, AND PLACE IT ALL BEFORE THE LORD UNTIL GOD HEARS YOU, AND YOU CAN HERE GOD say“I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.” Isaiah 41:13 For I know SATAN DESIRES TO SIFT YOU AS WHEAT But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail.

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

Nov. 19, 2013

I AM REDEEMED!!!

Isaiah 43:1-2 But now the Lord who created you, O Israel, says: Don’t be afraid, for I have REDEEMED you; I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up—the flames will not consume you.

It was almost 1:00 in the morning when the phone rang. Dr. Leo Winters, the highly acclaimed Chicago surgeon, was abruptly awakened. There had been an accident and his skill hands were needed for immediate surgery.

The quickest route happened to be through a rather tough area, but with time being a critical factor, it was worth the risk. At one of the stoplights his door was yanked open by a man with a gray hat and a dirty flannel shirt. “I got to have your car!”

the man screamed, pulling him from his seat. Winters tried to explain the gravity of the situation but the man would not listen. When the doctor was finally able to get a taxi to the hospital over an hour had elapsed and it was to late as the patient had passed away 30 minutes earlier.

The nurse told him that the father of the victim had gone to the chapel wondering why the doctor never came. Dr. Winters walked hurriedly to get to the chapel and when he entered he saw the father… he was wearing a gray hat and dirty flannel shirt. (J. Utley)

Tragically the man in the gray hat, and dirty flannel shirt, had terminated the one chance he had in saving his son’s life. My friends How, many times, in our life do we terminate or eliminate the saving grace of our Savior from our lives. My friends  He knocks daily,

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Rev. 3:20 Yes my friends we terminate our relationship with Christ most of the time because our schedules, and time does not fit within Christ spiritual agenda for us.

But when does REDEMPTION becomes a passion that burns from within. yes when do you say to yourself and God ” Your Word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones.”  John 5:24 tells us Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation…

Eph 1:4-7 also tells us “FOR HE CHOOSE US IN HIM BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD TO BE HOLY AND BLAMELESS IN HIS SIGHT he predestined us for adoption to SONSHIP through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have REDEMPTION through his blood…”

”Predestined to SONSHIP through JESUS CHRIST.” As I focus on that text today, it tells me when we give our life totally over to Christ and allow Him to transforms us into His Character. It will be like having a complete blood transfusion.

Yes our defiled, and tainted  blood will be completely purged of all impure elements, and then completely saturated with the saving, pure, and holy blood of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. OH MY GOD!!! Like the Prisoner who has spent years in jail and then through the process of modern technology his DNA does not match what was found at the crime scene.

And now he is found innocent of all transgressions that were brought against him. He is a free man. My friends Satan has brought charges against us before our God. But our God has claimed us as His SONSHIP, HIS CHOSEN, REDEEMED BY THE BLOOD OF HIS SON JESUS CHRIST.

I can picture God telling Satan you do remember my only Begotten Son don’t you, my only Son who defeated you at Calvary. Yes Satan He still has the scars on His Hands and feet, The imprint of that sphere is still in His side, the indentation from the crown of thorns is still on His brow. But Satan He now wears a golden crown of victory over you, and Satan my children will also ware crowns of victory one day very soon. My friends “Praise God from whom all blessings flow.”

“Seems like all I can see was the struggle Haunted by ghosts that lived in my past Bound up in shackles of all my failures Wondering how long is this gonna last. Then You look at this prisoner and said to me “son Stop fighting a fight that’s already been won” BECAUSE YOU ARE REDEEMED. (Big Daddy Weave)

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

Nov. 18, 2013

GOD KNOW’S MY STORY, SO MY WORSHIP IS FOR REAL!!!

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.  Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.  Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.  Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.  For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:1-5

Today my friends lets allow God’s Spirit to direct our thought’s, as we focus on our life and where we came from because each of us have traveled  different roads to get to where we are today, but by the grace of God as we close the final chapters of this life, our ending will be the same, ETERNAL LIFE through our faith, and Gods free gift, Salvation.

So tell yourselves today GOD KNOW’S MY STORY, SO MY WORSHIP, IS FOR REAL!!! My praise is genuine, for I know how far his hands reached to pull me from Satans influence. Yes my friends my tears are real, my pain and hurt is real, my scares are real, so that tells me MY WORSHIP IS REAL.

As we look back over our life, while praising His name we can’t help but say MY WORSHIP IS FOR REAL. Praising God is what I do best, because He has never left me or forsaken me or placed me in time out for my behavior.

He has done what seemed like the impossible, and performed miracles, and cast out demons, and fought battles, and healed my broken heart, and cured my diseases, and protected me, and watched over my life in places that even today I say to myself, HMMMM did I really go there.

So we all can praise His name today, and say with no reservations GOD KNOW’S MY STORY, SO MY WORSHIP IS FOR REAL!!! because we wake up daily, and see with our eyes the sun rising, we can hear the birds singing with our ears, we have two legs to stand up in church service and wave our hands as the praise team sings.

Yes my friends, our health and strength is not what it used to be, but all of that will change soon, at God’s appearing in the clouds one day to take the redeemed back home with Him. My friends today we all can truly say WE ARE BLESSED AND HIGHLY FAVORED by our Lord and Savior who gave it all for us.

1 Peter 2:9 tells us We “are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may DECLARE THE PRAISES of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Phill 1:6

So today if you are a child of God you can say with no skepticism GOD KNOW’S MY STORY, SO MY WORSHIP IS FOR REAL!!! Exodus 14:11-12,22,27 tells us They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness?…For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. My friends Like the Egyptians, sometimes we forget where God has brought us from, and where He plans on taking us which is to the promise land.

”And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. “So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal course when the Israelites were across.

And the Lord threw the Egyptians into the midst of the sea, Never to be seen again. So today as we look back and wonder how I got over, like the Israelites, our steps were ordered by God, “For the Master of the sea, heard our despairing cry, From the waters He lifted me, now safe am I. Love lifted me.”

“Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto Jehovah, saying, I will sing unto Jehovah, for he hath triumphed gloriously: The horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. Jehovah is my strength and song, And he is become my salvation: This is my God, and I will praise him; My father’s God, and I will exalt him. Exodus 15:1-2 my friends our God is due all the praise, honor, and glory today because HE KNOWS OUR STORY, SO OUR WORSHIP, IS FOR REAL!!!

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

Nov. 18, 2013

GOD KNOW’S MY STORY, SO MY WORSHIP IS FOR REAL!!!

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.  Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.  Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.  Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.  For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:1-5

Today my friends lets allow God’s Spirit to direct our thought’s, as we focus on our life and where we came from because each of us have traveled  different roads to get to where we are today, but by the grace of God as we close the final chapters of this life, our ending will be the same, ETERNAL LIFE through our faith, and Gods free gift, Salvation.

So tell yourselves today GOD KNOW’S MY STORY, SO MY WORSHIP, IS FOR REAL!!! My praise is genuine, for I know how far his hands reached to pull me from Satans influence. Yes my friends my tears are real, my pain and hurt is real, my scares are real, so that tells me MY WORSHIP IS REAL.

As we look back over our life, while praising His name we can’t help but say MY WORSHIP IS FOR REAL. Praising God is what I do best, because He has never left me or forsaken me or placed me in time out for my behavior.

He has done what seemed like the impossible, and performed miracles, and cast out demons, and fought battles, and healed my broken heart, and cured my diseases, and protected me, and watched over my life in places that even today I say to myself, HMMMM did I really go there.

So we all can praise His name today, and say with no reservations GOD KNOW’S MY STORY, SO MY WORSHIP IS FOR REAL!!! because we wake up daily, and see with our eyes the sun rising, we can hear the birds singing with our ears, we have two legs to stand up in church service and wave our hands as the praise team sings.

Yes my friends, our health and strength is not what it used to be, but all of that will change soon, at God’s appearing in the clouds one day to take the redeemed back home with Him. My friends today we all can truly say WE ARE BLESSED AND HIGHLY FAVORED by our Lord and Savior who gave it all for us.

1 Peter 2:9 tells us We “are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may DECLARE THE PRAISES of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Phill 1:6

So today if you are a child of God you can say with no skepticism GOD KNOW’S MY STORY, SO MY WORSHIP IS FOR REAL!!! Exodus 14:11-12,22,27 tells us They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness?…For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. My friends Like the Egyptians, sometimes we forget where God has brought us from, and where He plans on taking us which is to the promise land.

”And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. “So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal course when the Israelites were across.

And the Lord threw the Egyptians into the midst of the sea, Never to be seen again. So today as we look back and wonder how I got over, like the Israelites, our steps were ordered by God, “For the Master of the sea, heard our despairing cry, From the waters He lifted me, now safe am I. Love lifted me.”

“Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto Jehovah, saying, I will sing unto Jehovah, for he hath triumphed gloriously: The horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. Jehovah is my strength and song, And he is become my salvation: This is my God, and I will praise him; My father’s God, and I will exalt him. Exodus 15:1-2 my friends our God is due all the praise, honor, and glory today because HE KNOWS OUR STORY, SO OUR WORSHIP, IS FOR REAL!!!

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

Nov. 17, 2013

DISTRACTIONS, AND THE PATH TO ETERNITY!!!

1 Corinthians 9:24-25 Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain. And every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

Distractions: that which distracts, divides the attention, or prevents concentration

Golf immortal Arnold Palmer recalls a lesson about staying focus: It was the final hole of the 1961 Masters tournament, and I had a one-stroke lead and had just hit a very satisfying tee shot. I felt I was in pretty good shape. As I approached my ball, I saw an old friend standing at the edge of the gallery. He motioned me over, stuck out his hand and said, “Congratulations.” I took his hand and shook it, but as soon as I did, I knew I had lost my focus. On my next two shots, I hit the ball into a sand trap, then put it over the edge of the green. I missed a putt and lost the Masters. You don’t forget a mistake like that; you just learn from it and become determined that you will never do that again. I haven’t in the 30 years since.

My friends as a Child of God living in the 21^st century it is a real spiritual challenge  focusing on VICTORY. As we look at the chaos and confusing of the world we live in there should be no doubt in one’s mind that we are in the final stretch of our race to the finish line.

So each of us through God’s word and Spirit should have only one focal point and that is finishing the course and receiving the gold. Nothing else should have a component into  receiving our crown and victory reward from our Savior.

That is why we should never let the things of this world divide our attention or cause us to loose concentration on our goal, which is God’s pure and holy kingdom. One hand shake, and the words, Congratulations, from a friend Caused Arnold Palmer to loose focus and loose the Masters in 1961.

My friends what will our distractions be each day to keep us from searching the scriptures as we seek the anointing of God’s Spirit which will sustain the power from within to carry us across the finish line as we begin to focus upon our Goal which is Salvation.

As A Christian our Focus should be Jesus Christ and Him Crucified. Nothing else should define This Race or journey that each of us are on to the finish line. Paul tells us in Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

also he says in Colossians 2:6 -8 “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”

When we as Christians remain Focused we then surrender our all to the Master,  and once that happens it all becomes about trusting and having faith in a God that has done it all for our Salvation. So By given our all to God, it takes the focal Point off of self, and what we may want, and places it upon the blood of Jesus Christ.

And to Totally Surrender  it all to the Master is not the most outstanding way to live, it is the only way to live, If we want to make heaven our home. Because nothing else matters as a Christians. Because all other pathways will lead to defeat and in the end, and then destruction.

Hebrews 12:2 says “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” My friends Christ never distracted from his Goal which was the cross.

Satan failed in every way possible in drawing Christ attention from “His father who art in Heaven” to the things of this world. But Christ forever prayed without ceasing, while allowing His knowledge of the scriptures to defeat the enemy in every situation and Circumstances.

And because he stayed focus and undistracted he finish the course that will allow us to finish, and sit at the banquet table of the redeemed one day soon. “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps.” 1Peter 2:21

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

Nov. 16, 2013

THERE SHOULD BE NOTHING ELSE TO SAY!!!

Before the invention of electricity. A certain medieval minister announced he would be preaching next Sunday evening on “The Love of God.” As the shadows fell and the light ceased to come in through the church windows, the congregation gathered. In the darkness of the podium, the minister lighted a candle and carried it to the back wall where the picture of Christ on the cross hung. First of all, he illumined the crown of thorns, next, the two wounded hands and feet, then the marks of the spear wound. In the hush that fell on the congregation, he blew out the candle and left the podium. THERE SHOULD BE NOTHING ELSE TO SAY (Author unknown).

My friends let’s close our eyes and  focus on Jesus Christ as we follow him from the upper room where He laid aside His royal crown and robe as He placed Himself in the form of a humble servant, girded Himself, and perform a servant’s duty.

Then to the garden of Gethsemane. As His thoughts go back to “When in conflict with men who were inspired by the very spirit of Satan, He could say, “He that sent Me is with Me: the Father hath not left Me alone; for I do always those things that please Him.” John 8:29.

But now He seemed to be shut out from the light of God’s sustaining presence. Now He was numbered with the transgressors. The guilt of fallen humanity He must bear. Upon Him who knew no sin must be laid the iniquity of us all.

So dreadful does sin appear to Him, so great is the weight of guilt which He must bear, that He is tempted to fear it will shut Him out forever from His Father’s love.” (E. G. White Desire of Ages) THERE SHOULD BE NOTHING ELSE TO SAY.

But then the betrayal by one of His own Disciples for a mere 30 pieces of silver. The scrutiny before Annas who was the head of the officiating priestly family, and then we travel through the Court of Caiaphas the High Priest as he was asked

“I adjure Thee by the living God, that Thou tell us whether Thou be the Christ, the Son of God.” as He answered, “Thou hast said.” “Nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”

with that statement  charges of blasphemy or claiming to be God were brought before him, as He is slap and spat upon and “brought as a lamb to the slaughter,”  my friends THERE SHOULD BE NOTHING ELSE TO SAY.

But He is then led through the roman halls of justice as the Jewish rabble rang out crucify Him Crucify him as He is scourged in the sight of the multitude, clothed in purple, and  a crown of thorns, placed on His Head as the rabble taunt and salute Him, Hail, King of the Jews.

Oh what sorrow He felt, as Creator of the universe  led “as a lamb to the slaughter,” THERE SHOULD BE NOTHING ELSE TO SAY. But  then down The Via Dolorosa,  the path that Jesus walked, carrying his cross, on the way to Calvary to die not only for the sins of those who crucified Him, but the sins of all humanity.

“Suddenly the gloom lifted from the cross and in clear, trumpet like tones that seemed to resound throughout creation, Jesus cried, “It is finished.” “Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit.” A light encircled the cross, and the face of the Savior shone with a glory like the sun. He then bowed His head upon His breast, and died. (E. G. White) THERE SHOULD BE NOTHING ELSE TO SAY.

But My friends how far did those out stretched arms on the cross reach to rescue each of us today. How deep in sin had you gone when He pulled you to the shores of safety into His loving arms. how long had he pleaded with us through His Spirit before we heard His voice say.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matt.11:28 My friends it has been 2,000 years since the crucifixion of Christ. Each of us are familiar with the path Jesus walked to save us.

Now it is our responsibility to go out and tell the world  the good new of Christ soon return. And one day soon, as the saved witness our Savior enter the clouds to come take us home together. “ it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Is. 25:9 and as we wait in awe and adoration to be called up in the clouds with our Savior, THERE SHOULD BE NOTHING ELSE TO SAY IN THIS WORLD.

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

Nov. 15, 2013

AT YOUR CROSSROAD!!!

CROSSROAD: The literal definition of CROSSROAD a “point where two roads meet,” but more often the word is used in a metaphorical way, to mean a situation, or circumstances that requires a choice that takes us down a path that we either want to go down, or may have some reservations in taken.

Or it could be a life changing decision, do I go to college or take my chances in The Armed forces. But today my friends as vessels chosen by God, we are going to use  CROSSROADS as a CRITICAL, or CRISIS point in each of our lives.

As Christ second coming in our lifetime is becoming more of a reality than ever before, since He left the first time telling us “I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:3

Many of our decisions from day to day are trivial and irrelevant, but some are life-changing. But The most critical decision we will ever make in this short period of probation, from birth to death that we have been given is our relationship with Jesus.

Because that decision determines our ETERNAL DESTINY. And it is when we get to that CROSSROAD is when Christ personally through His Spirit bids us to follow Him for Mark 8:34-35 tells us “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.”

And it is at that SAME CROSSROAD when Satan and his forces also makes his presentation “All this I will give you,’ …’if you will bow down and worship me.” But our response must be as our Saviors when Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only” ‘ ” (Matthew 4:8-10).

So today as you stand at your CROSSROAD there are two signs, one pointing to our Savior Jesus Christ and eternal life and the other is pointing toward a path bound for perdition. But the choice is ours. God’s Spirit will not force us to choose Jesus Christ and eternal life.

But my friends choosing our Savior can be personally painful and difficult at times, because to choose Christ we will have to carry the cross that he carried. And as we carry that cross it confronts ungodly attitudes, carnal living, and selfish motives from within that we must eliminate from our life.

But what is good about carrying that cross is, it keeps us in line with what Jesus wants’ to do in our lives. The secret of true obedience is having a close and personal relationship with God. Any other attempts to do otherwise will only amount to failure at our CROSSROAD, and takes us away from the saving grace of Christ to the road to perdition.

But once we have that AT THE CROSSROADS EXPERIENCE. We must  inject a passion that we seek daily in the abiding fellowship and love of Jesus Christ, but my friends this can only come about in Studying God’s Word while allowing a full and complete transformation from our life to the Character of Christ.

But the main point I would like to make with you today is the GOODNESS OF CHRIST,  in reaching as far as he did to pull us to Him when we were sinking deep in sin to bring us to OUR CROSSROAD which allowed us to focus on God’s saving grace, and the promises in His Word which states.

“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.” Rev 22:12-14

Remember God’s Word is like a mirror to our lives. As we get to our CROSSROAD but we must realize as we look into that mirror, how far short we have fallen from the glory and purity of God and of the high standard set for us by Christ, IN FOLLOWING HIM TO THE CROSS.

So my friends if you have not got to YOUR CROSSROADS  and made a decision for Christ. time is running out Matthew tells us in Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate….and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. But THE GOOD NEWS my friends is “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,”and God will make it possible if we have faith and endure till the end.” OF YOUR CROSSROAD.

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

Nov. 14, 2013

WHO ME, FEAR GOD, WHY SHOULD I?

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Prov. 1:7

WHO ME, FEAR GOD, WHY SHOULD I? Six thousands years and man still rejects the idea that there is one greater then our finite being, beginning with Cain the first generation to deny the necessity to fear God. Jude 1:9-12 tells us

“The Lord rebuke you.” But these men mock and curse at anything they do not understand, and like animals, they do whatever they feel like, thereby ruining their souls. Woe upon them! For they follow the example of Cain who killed his brother; and like Balaam…”

And then you have Pharaoh who witnessed the power of God but still was unwilling to honor God, while allowing his entire country to be destroyed rather then acknowledge someone far more superior then what his eyes had ever seen.

And then we have the WHO ME, FEAR GOD, WHY SHOULD I? religious elect who had the privilege of  Emmanuel “God with us.” Right in there presence. And they still crucified the son of God. Oh what arrogance. Now let’s move to 2013.

We now come too the the 21st century WHO ME, FEAR GOD, WHY SHOULD I? Rapper Kanye West who mocks our Savior by wearing a crown of thorns on his head for his CD cover,

and then if that is not enough brings someone on stage to imitate Christ as he bows and curses while the audience goes wild with excitement. WHO ME, FEAR GOD, WHY SHOULD I? as Satan tells him, there is no condemnation for not fearing an unseen deity.

But Solomon the wisest man to ever live tells us in Ecc.12:13 “the fear of God is the “whole duty of man.”  But why would A lustful, lecherous, lascivious, libidinous, concupiscent. Carnal, and sensual, generation who has allowed Satan to determine there destiny FEAR GOD AND GIVE HIM ALL THE GLORY AND HONOR.

The closer we get to Christ soon coming, as Children of God, we seem to have misunderstood ourselves the meaning of “FEAR GOD AND GIVE HIM ALL THE GLORY AND HONOR” As we seem to only honor God in front of the TV, or at the mall or just gossiping on the phone.

So my friends on a scale from 1 to 10 where ten being the highest, where does your fear factor fall in the eyes of God, are you able to say daily “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. Ecc. 12:13

or, can you say “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of my knowledge…”Pro. 1:7. So friends, If we do not allow ourselves to die daily and let God take control. We also like Pharaoh, and Kanye West seem to be making the same statement. WHO ME, FEAR GOD, WHY SHOULD I?

When we fear God, there should be a passion from within telling us that what man refers to as fear, we as God’s Children refer to as love, and respect for our Creator, and what sacrifice was taken on our behalf on Calvary.

My friends to fear God should be a badge of honor or attitude we walk around with that says I fear a Crucified Savior who gave it all for me. and this attitude of love and respect is why I obey His precepts, as I also tell the world about the good news of the gospel so they will also love, and fear God.

And my prayer each day is that my faith will grow as I endure to the end through Christ. So if fearing God means that I will give it all to the Master then I am willing to give Him my all as I carry the  cross that He places before me.

Because it was the cross that he carried for me which will allow me to live throughout eternity with Him in His kingdom Yes my friends the fear of the Lord is not the opposite of love. It is a  Synonym of love. And as I look over my life from where I came.

I now know how far His arms reached out to rescue me From the clutches of Satan And so my only desire is to die daily as I let Christ live out His life in me. So if  fear is the definition of what I owe to my savior then that is how I define fear today.

Every attempt to destroy the character of Christ from those who do not fear God has failed. His critics die each day as they await there judgment before a unchanging God. “For one day we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,” 2 Cor 5:10 But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children Psalm 103:17

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

Nov. 13, 2013

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: THE SPIRIT INDEED IS WILLING, BUT THE FLESH IS WEAK!!! Matt. 26:41

Romans 7:17-25   So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out….So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being,  but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members…

My friend, life seemed not so complicated before we allowed Christ to enter our life. a time when the flesh ran rampant with no limits, or boundaries. Fornication, adultery, lies, stealing, unhealthy eating habits, and the list goes on were never problematic when we were on that train bound for perdition.

And then one day, yes we had a Damascus Road Experience. A radical change took place. We became a Child of God, and it is by His grace, and love that we became a new creature. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

And with most of us having no physical signs that we had been in a war zone. But now the real war begins the controversy within us rages on. It may not be adultery, but it’s lust, it may not be stealing, but the idea of paying tithe becomes complicated at bill time.

So now what, the flesh still wants to control. But my friends remember we belong to God now. We must never fill we have reached the final frontier and begin to feel fatigue and battle driven “for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”

But the flesh will always have a natural inclination for attacks. So Satan waits for the opportune time. Luke 11:21-22, Says, even a strong man cannot protect his house if someone stronger comes along.“For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world.

So our heartfelt words each day must be “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2:20)

So my friends the armor of Christ, we should never be without, otherwise you find yourself completely vulnerable to Satan. Or, to use Jesus analogy from Luke 11, you cleaned your house, but never took the time to fill it.

So you allowed it to be re-occupied by the evil that you once drove out because you have not filled the house totally with Christ righteousness and love through His Word and Spirit. My friends Dying daily means just that, a daily surrender of self as Christ takes full control.

in Romans 7 Paul presents his personal struggles with the flesh of the body, and how hard it is to control the rage of sin from within. For we all recognize that the law is holy and good but we are carnal from within, bound under the sin of the flesh.

Only satisfied when it is controlled by the forces of evil. So as A Christian the battle rages daily so the flesh must die along with self daily. My friends we must be honest with ourselves today, as Paul was in his time. Our members will always weaken by outside factors if we allow them too.

In the 21 century it’s what we watch on TV, and the Internet, what we read, what we listen too, and who we allow into our lives. Paul’s discovery as should be ours is that every time we try to do good, evil is always present!

No matter what we want to do for the Lord especially in spreading the good news of the gospel, sin will present an plan. But thank God for the victory of the flesh for Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:56–58  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

My friends again, the road to the Kingdom is a narrow road, that few will succeed in finishing the course, if Christ is not the foundation and focal point of there lives. So today stay focus, and endure, For Christ is coming soon, bringing His  reward with Him to repay each of us according to our deeds.

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

Nov. 12,2013

AN UPPER ROOM EXPERIENCE WITH JESUS

“Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.” John 17:24

My friends our lives will never be transformed if somehow we are only consumed by the atmosphere of fellowship in a beautiful worship service at church, or if time permits we may be compelled to feed the homeless, or visited the sick.

No my friends, only AN UPPER ROOM EXPERIENCE can transform us. Which is a personal and heartfelt experience with Christ and His Holy Spirit that takes us on a Journey that leads to a total commitment to Christ and His will for what He wants to accomplished through us as His chosen vessel.

So “Stay always within the boundaries where God’s love can reach and bless you, wait patiently for the eternal life that our Lord Jesus Christ in his mercy is going to give you.” Jude 1:21 As you seek His presence in AN UPPER ROOM EXPERIENCE.

My friends I hope today we all seek such an experience for our “Lord, has searched each of us and  He knows each of us personally! “He knows when we sit down and when we rise up; He discerns our thoughts from afar… He searches out our path He is acquainted with all of our ways.”

So as a Child of God let’s also search out our Saviors path, and get acquainted with all of His ways Today in AN UPPER ROOM EXPERIENCE  for he is more than our Savior He is also our friend.

“Oh what a friend we have in Jesus all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer IN THE UPPER ROOM. For knowing Christ personally IN THE UPPER ROOM is what transforms our life in preparation for God’s kingdom.

And we must also remember that this EXPERIENCE is never about location, but about the EXPERIENCE, one receives JUST BEING IN THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST. It could be in the “hiding places on the MOUNTAINSIDE,  as we seek His face, and the sound of  His voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely. Song of Solomon 2:14,

Or Your EXPERIENCE WITH CHRIST could be in the solitude of a room at Home “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matt. 6:6,

Or maybe just a quiet solitude location in your church when no one is around, or maybe just driving your car late one night down a lonely road, or sometimes your EXPERIENCE WITH CHRIST can be as simple as laying across your bed as you take your countenance to a place only AN UPPER ROOM EXPERIENCE WITH JESUS can take you.

For “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 1 Cor 3:16  So my friends THE UPPER ROOM EXPERIENCE WITH CHRIST are those places, and times in our life when, and where we seek  a heartfelt encounter with the presence of God or just the thought of  Him in your life will

“lead you besides the still waters. As He restores your soul; as He leads you in the paths of righteousness.” Like Christ disciples we all have different agenda’s as to why we seek an UPPER ROOM EXPERIENCE WITH JESUS.

But whatever our agenda may be, once we do have that SPECIAL EXPERIENCE WITH CHRIST, each of us will know without a doubt that we have been with the Master For “In the upper room with Jesus Sitting at his nail-scarred feet.

Oh what A rich and full communion and Fellowship so divine and sweet. For it is a place for all the weak and weary A place where we all may find real peace In the UPPER ROOM EXPERIENCE WITH JESUS  where all of our cares and heartaches cease”

today as we look at prophecy being fulfilled right before our eyes We need the things only the UPPER ROOM can provide. The hope, grace, mercy and the assurance from the Good Shepherd  that states in His Word “the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones Ps. 37:28 “for you understand my thoughts from afar. And with all my ways you are familiar”

“And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house…” My God that MIGHTY RUSHING WIND, which was the OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS WHAT I SEEK FROM YOUR PRESENCE IN MY UPPER ROOM TODAY

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY