Archives for January 2014

Jan. 11, 2014

MY FRIENDS, HAVE YOU ALLOWED GOD’S SPIRIT TO TAKE YOU TO THIS POINT ON YOUR JOURNEY?

“The Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27

My friends Christ says Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. John 16:7 Paul says in Romans 8  how the Spirit intercedes on our behalf, as He follows Christ in working for our Salvation here on earth.

Verses 2 tells us “because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” And He does this in conjunction with  the Son who had condemned sin in the sinful state as a human. verse 4 says the Spirit intercedes by giving God’s faithful Children the power to fulfill the “righteous requirement of Gods holy Precepts.”

verses 5 -11, He transforms our life because “if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because He lives in us.”

verses 12 -13 tells us once we are transformed through God’s Spirit “we have an obligation but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For we will die”…. but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body you will live”

verses 14 -16 tells us the “Spirit you received brought about your adoption to SONSHIP…  For the “Spirit himself testifies” on our behalf “with our spirit that we are GOD”S CHILDREN.”

verse 17 -19 speaks of our obligation and the beauty of what lies ahead if we are faithful “Now if we are children, then we are heirs heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.” But my friends let me interject here HAVE YOU ALLOWED THE SPIRIT TO TAKE YOU TO THIS POINT ON YOUR JOURNEY if not it is time to RE-EVALUATE YOUR PRIORITIES.

And now verse 20-25 “…….. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the FIRSTFRUITS of the SPIRIT, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to SONSHIP, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?  But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”

Yes my friends we wait  patiently for Christ to come and take us home. But as we wait we also have a commission from God to spread the good news of the gospel to those without hope, and bound for perdition.

verse 26-27  as the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For Paul tells us in 2 Cor. 12:9 “for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Or when we are humble and come before the Lord with Prayer and supplication. My friends God’s Spirit speaks Daily to the Father on our behalf. He knows our needs, but as sinful humans, we know not how to petition our needs to a pure and Holy God.  And he is able to do this because He knows the  character we have allowed him to transform. He knows our needs because we have allowed Him to walk with us daily. And He knows our trials and pains because we have decided to ENDURE and take up the cross of Jesus. And most important HE KNOWS THE FATHER, AND HIS LOVE AND DESIRE TO SAVE US FROM SIN. because He was also there from the beginning “AND THE SPIRIT OF GOD WAS HOVERING OVER THE FACE OF THE WATERS.” Gen 1:2

My friends a lot has been done and is continuing to be done for our Salvation BUT HAVE YOU ALLOWED THE SPIRIT TO TAKE YOU TO THIS POINT ON YOUR JOURNEY, if not it is time to RE-EVALUATE YOUR PRIORITIES.

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

Jan 10, 2914

GRACE MY FRIENDS, SIMPLE GRACE, HOW SWEET THE SOUND!!

“The Ten Commandments were given so that all could see the extent of their failure to obey God’s laws. But the more we see our sinfulness, the more we see God’s abounding GRACE forgiving us.” Romans 5:20 (Living Bible)

My friends GRACE, the unearned Favor of God. In Wikipedia, grace is defined as a theological term present in many religions. It has been defined as the divine influence which operates in humans to regenerate and sanctify, to inspire virtuous impulses, and to impart strength to endure trial and resist temptation and as an individual virtue or excellence of divine origin.

I love the part that says to impart strength to endure trial and resist temptation. It’s amazing what happens when man tries to define Salvation they seem to always conveniently leave the name of Jesus Christ out of the mix. But if you are a Child of God we all know “there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (except Jesus Christ.) Acts 4:12

As we move closer and closer to the second coming of Christ it seems like even among Christians, we are beginning to make GRACE and it’s importance to our Salvation secondary in our life. Oh it’s only a free gift we tell ourselves, we can lay it aside like our Christmas decorations bringing it out only when needed.

In a speech made in 1863, Abraham Lincoln said, “We have been the receipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prospertiy; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God.

We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us” A prophet in his own time.

Paul says in Ephesians 2:8-10. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Friends God’s Grace still extends to each of us, but are we squandering this precious gift by allowing the god of this world to make you think you can put off your Salvation until it is more convenient to your lifestyle and the “Socially acceptable Sins” that you have become accustomed to enjoying.

The world is deteriorating before our eyes. God is still extending His GRACE to each of us because He knows the war was won on Calvary. But the battle is still being waged and fought over the Mind and Body of His Children, but my friends only you can decide the outcome.

Christ will soon come to take those who have taken advantage of this grace period by studying His word as you allow the Spirit to transform your Character. Paul states in Romans 5:17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.”

GRACE MY FRIENDS, SIMPLE GRACE, OH HOW SWEET THE SOUND!! Jesus Christ, came from His beautiful home in heaven to this wicked universe and died on a cruel cross so that His grace and our Faith in the name of Jesus Christ and Him crucified would be sufficient for our salvation if we accept it.

But it is our choice my friends. LIFE CANNOT GO ON AS USUAL, the PASSION of CHRIST and our PASSION about our relationship with Christ and His will for our life must become top priority in our life before family, friends, love one’s, and even the Church, once again if  “ANGELS COULD PULL BACK THE CURTAIN and you could see how close grace is from being eliminated from this world you would fall on your knees today in heartfelt prayer supplications, and repentance while asking God what must I do to be saved. GRACE MY FRIENDS  SIMPLE GRACE

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

Jan. 9, 2014

MY FRIENDS, DO YOU KNOW THE GOD YOU SERVE?

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deu.31:8

My friends in Daniel 1 after the besiege of  Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, that the king spoke unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes; CHILDREN in whom was no blemish, into the kings palace to be taught the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.

Most bible scholars believe Daniel and His three companions Shadrach Mishael and Abed-Nego were between the ages of 14 to 16. This my friends is the age they resolved not to defile themselves with the royal food and wine. because MY FRIENDS, THEY KNEW THE GOD THEY SERVE!

Then in Daniel 2 Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled. So GOD”S CHOSEN “for such a time as this” Daniel went in as God’s representative of Faith, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that HE WOULD show the king the interpretation of his dream.

My friends this is where I need you to focus, DANIELS FAITH STATEMENT when he said “HE WOULD SHOW THE KING THE INTERPRETATION.” Not I think,or might be able to but HE WOULD. And my friends he could say this because HE KNEW THE GOD HE SERVED.

Yes my friends He knew PERSONALLY the source of his FAITH, WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE Daniel 2:17-21 tells us “Then Daniel went and made the thing known to his three companions: That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret.

THEN WAS THE SECRET REVEALED UNTO DANIEL IN A KNIGHT VISION. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven…..Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:…….”

And after his prayer of praise and thanksgiving to His Creator for answering his prayers. In verses 26-28 when Daniel went before the king, the king ask Daniel was he able to interpret the dream. “And Daniel answered…The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king; BUT THERE IS A GOD IN HEAVEN….”

My friends Daniel and His three companions KNEW THE GOD THEY SERVED and what he would do for them, because they had a close, and personal relationship with Him each day. And then later these same three companions of Daniel stated in Daniel 3:16-18 to this same King before he throws them into a fiery furnace for not bowing down to a man made statue. They tell the king, If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

BUT IF NOT, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. My friends they KNEW THE GOD THEY SERVED. Oh what FAITH we all should have. And then we go to Daniel 6. Daniel who is probably in his nineties by now, who is now working for Darius king of the Medes.

BUT IS STILL SERVING THE KING OF THE UNIVERSE. And because of a plot by some of the kings advisers, Daniel is thrown into a DEN OF LIONS. Oh the hate of Satan, and some who do not serve God, towards GOD”S FAITHFUL.

BUT because the king saw God in Daniel, and my friends sometimes if you really KNOW THE GOD YOU SERVE. Christ in you may be the only God others will ever see. So the king himself gives a FAITH STATEMENT when he says in Daniel 6:16 “THY GOD WHOM THY SERVEST CONTINUALLY, HE WILL DELIVER THEE.

Now my friends that is the definition of spreading the good news of the gospel to others. The last point I need you to focus on today is the words “THY GOD WHOM THY SERVEST CONTINUALLY” as in ALL THE TIME not just when it is convenient, or when there is a tragedy, or only when there are trials in your life but CONTINUALLY studying Gods Word, CONTINUALLY seeking His Spirit, CONTINUALLY dying daily, CONTINUALLY praying without ceasing, CONTINUALLY enduring through FAITH until Christ comes and he will say to all WHO KNOW AND SERVE HIM enter into my Kingdom. 

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

Jan. 8, 2014

SEATED WITH THE KING, THIS IS OUR DESTINY

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ by grace you have been saved, and raised us up with Him, and SEATED US WITH HIM IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST JESUS, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; Eph. 2:4-8

My friends this is just WHERE WE BELONG, THIS IS OUR DESTINY, SEATED WITH THE KING “….So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.  For, “In just a little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay.” Heb. 10:35-37

My friends we must never cease to realize that our Salvation is only  possible because of God’s “AMAZING GRACE, OH HOW SWEET THE SOUND” so WHO AM I THAT YOU CALL ME BY MY NAME, AND YOU COUNT ME AS ONE OF YOUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS. Oh the amazing feeling as Gods chosen to be called by name, and what’s so great about that is, it now becomes personal.

And my faith lies in the fact that “He counteth the number of the stars; He calleth them all by their names.” Ps 147:4 And how much more for his Children created in His image. But we are also sheep, not knowing our way back to the Good Shepherd when we are lost.

Remember Satan’s only concern is to get us away from the Shepard and destroy. “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” Romans 8:36 “even if only one goes astray, he leaveth the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray”My friends not only GRACE are we offered, but we have A Savior who personally “came to seek and to save the lost” so that we may be SEATED WITH THE KING one day.

I remember as a kid probably no more then 13 or 14. A friend and myself decided to run away from school aka. home. Of course we had done something that we had gotten punished for, from my mother who was the Principle of the school, and of course I knew for me the punishment would continue when I got home and my father got  hold of me.

So off we went. Of course I was following someone I had no business being a friend with, but that is another story for another day. It was in the cold of the winter and we roamed the streets of course with no where to go. So like kids we got tired  and cold.

So about 1 oclock in the morning we go back to the school and break in so we could have a warm place to lay our head for the night but wouldn’t you know it my parents knew exactly where to come looking for me and they knew the place in the school we would even be hiding, which was under the baptismal pool. HOW DID THEY KNOW.

And HOW DOES CHRIST KNOW WHEN, WHERE, AND AT WHAT TIME TO COME LOOKING FOR US, My friends it was all about the LOVE OF PARENTS who just knows. And also “In this the LOVE OF GOD was made manifest among us, that GOD SENT HIS ONLY SON into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is LOVE, not that we have LOVED GOD but that HE LOVED US and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:9-10 OH SUCH LOVE.

So my Friends as Children of God our focus should only be on Jesus Christ, and what He has done, and continues to do daily for our Salvation. Nothing else should define this journey that God has placed each of us on. So if our Goal is the kingdom of God, then we must never loose sight of Christ and what He endured on The Via Dolorosa, the road Jesus walked from the place of Pontius Pilate’s sentencing, to Golgotha,“On a hill far away” TO SAVE YOU AND I SO THAT WE MAY ONE DAY SOON BE SEATED WITH THE KING. MY FRIENDS THIS MUST BE OUR GOAL, BECAUSE THIS IS OUR DESTINY IF WE BELIEVE.

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

Dec. 7, 2014

USING OUR TIME WITH THE WISDOM AND “ADMONITION OF THE LORD”

“Life is too solemn to be absorbed in temporal and earthly matters, in a treadmill of care and anxiety for the things that are but an atom in comparison with the things of eternal interest. The Bible gives no endorsement to idleness. It is the greatest curse that afflicts our world. TIME squandered can never be recovered. We cannot call back even one moment. The only way in which we can redeem our TIME is by making the most of that which remains, by being co-workers with God in His great plan of redemption. In him who does this, a transformation of character takes place. He becomes a son of God, a member of the royal family, a child of the heavenly King. He is fitted to be the companion of the angels.” (Ellen G. White Christ’s Object Lessons)

My Friends! As we move closer and closer to the second coming of our Savior, Satan will somehow be at the forefront of prioritizing our TIME in such a subtle, cunning and unsuspecting way that John 3:30 which states “HE MUST INCREASE, BUT I MUST DECREASE” begins to take on a whole new meaning that says, MY TIME MUST INCREASE, AND HIS TIME MUST DECREASE.

My friends I say that because in our fast paced 21^st century agenda our relationship with God, sometimes becomes secondary. We complain daily about never enough TIME, I wish there were more hours in the day! But our problem is not that we don’t have enough TIME, but that we are not allowing God’s Spirit to guide us into accomplishing within our TIME frame, what is more important to God which should be our no. 1 priority.

My friends we must begin to recognize the urgency in God’s agenda, in regards to the closeness of His second coming, and what must our passion be, with what TIME we have left. Remember my friends we only have a short TIME of probation given us on this earth “The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.” Psalms 90:10

If we are God’s Children, and we have allowed Gods Spirit and Word to transform our Character in the likeness of Christ than our TIME should only be valued in relationship to what God wants done in our lives on this Journey he has placed us on.

And if that is not the criteria in how we value our TIME, than we must re-evaluate how serious we are about our Salvation and eternal life. Jesus as our example never created such a hectic schedule that He lost sight of what His mission was as He approached Calvary, which was doing the work of His Father.

In His 33 years on this earth as He carried out His earthly ministry, Jesus spent TIME praying, teaching, helping, healing and interacting daily with men and women from every social, educational, and economic class. So like Christ Their must be a passion for the use of our TIME and how we share the love of  “Our Father which art in heaven”, as we spread the good news of the gospel to a world that has lost hope.

Our love for God is absolute when we remain focused and make our TIME spent in spreading the good news of the gospel a passion that transcends into an urgency for the amount of  TIME we have left on this earth. Psalms 90:12 teaches us “to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

Satin is at his best when he can utilize our TIME for his agenda., and when this happens we rob God by taking His precious TIME and squandering it away on things that are not eternal. Malachi 3:8-9 tells me “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee?

John Maxwell summarized for us this powerful lesson on sacrifice when he writes: “Giving is the highest level of living.” Perhaps you have instead heard it said that “to live is to give”. If this is true, and Christ made painfully clear He believes it is, what does it say about the extent to which you or I are really living and using our TIME? our mission as Christians is “to love God absolutely and love others sacrificially.” Isn’t that what Christ epitomized upon the cross? What His death and pro-offered salvation were given for, that we may live likewise as our focus forever remains STEWARD’S OF GOD’S TIME!!!

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

“NO WONDER THEY CALL HIM SAVIOR, JESUS THE LAMB OF GOD”

“He laid aside all the heavenly glory to be God’s word in the image of man All to show me that grace, faith and mercy Was the mystery and wonder of eternity’s plan? And then He carried my sin onto Calvary And clearly having no guilt of His own He was nailed to a cross of my making But He used it to bridge ore’ the void to God’s throne. NO WONDER THEY CALL HIM SAVIOR, JESUS THE LAMB OF GOD. I WASN’T THERE, WHEN THE EARTH WAS CREATED SO, I’VE NO PROOF THAT HE HUNG EVERY STAR, BUT I KNOW WHAT MY LIFE WAS WITHOUT HIM AND THE JOY THAT WAS MINE WHEN HE RESCUED MY HEART.” (Larnelle Harris)

Such awe inspiring words, But today friends I want you to Focus on the PASSION OF THE CROSS, and the words “ KNOW WHAT MY LIFE WAS WITHOUT HIM, AND THE JOY THAT WAS MINE WHEN HE RESCUED MY HEART.”

As we look back over our lives every situation, circumstances, and time is unique for each of us when we allowed the arm of the Good Shepherd to REACH, some farther then others, and rescue us from the clutches of Satan. And now you ask Him.

Continue to “Put your hand out and steady me since I’ve chosen to live by your counsel. I’m homesick God for your salvation; I love it when you show yourself! Invigorate my soul so I can praise you well, use your decrees to put iron in my soul. And should I wander off again like a lost sheep, seek me! I’LL RECOGNIZE THE SOUND OF YOUR VOICE.” Psalm 119:169-176(The Message)

I can recalled my first triathlon  practicing every day for several months. My weakness was swimming, so most of my concentration went into pool time. But my big mistake was not practicing in open water. Race day came my Daughter and I left for the beech early in anticipation for our first triathlon.

Well the swimming is the first sage of the race followed by biking, then running. Well as I looked out over the vast amount of water that I would have to conquer first, a little voice told me Hmm! Pool, open water, not quite the same but off to the races I can do this.

Well about 20 meters into a 800 meter swim that same voice told me YOU AN’T going to make it there is no bottom to this water. At that moment I raised my hand for the little boat to come RESCUE me. How embarrassing, out of maybe 1200 participants I was the only one who wasn’t prepared  to finish the race because if  you don’t complete one stage you can’t continue the race.

I was determined to get it right so the next year I did FINISH. My friends that is the same way with sin when we move into a world that we are unprepared to handle because we have not girded our loins with truth, and put on the breastplate of righteousness; and covered our feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace , and held on to the shield of faith and the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God and with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons.

FAITH, SPIRIT, WORD OF GOD, AND PRAYER IN ALL SEASONS are key words my friends. What a price our Savior paid for each of us to be prepared for His second coming. Oh the grace, mercy and the PASSION OF CHRIST, to continue to RESCUE us, just when we need Him the most.

God has, and He will continue to “RESCUE us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,” Col. 1:13 Paul also tells us in Galatians 1:3-4 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to RESCUE us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.”

So my friends it’s the will of the Father that His Son the GOOD SHEPHERD RESCUES HIS LOST SHEEP because we are also His children, made in the very image of God, and that gives us the same DNA as His only Begotten Son, if we believe. What a wonderful feeling. But we can also choose not to be RESCUED while sinking deep in sin. But my friends God never leaves us, we are the one’s who decides to leave Him. NO WONDER THEY CALL HIM SAVIOR, JESUS THE LAMB OF GOD

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

Jan 4, 2014

MY FRIENDS, THE FINAL CHAPTER IS BEING WRITTEN, SOON YOUR REWARD!!

MY friends Satan has had close to six thousand years to study prophecy. he knew over two thousand years ago that all foresight, predictions and warnings by the prophets before Christ, terminated on the cross when Christ repeated, just three words IT IS FINISHED, and everything from that point terminated as far as any charges he was attempting to make against the heavenly body.

In other words, his STATUE OF LIMITATION had run out. And this is where God concludes, to everyone who believes in the name of Jesus and the power of the cross, that THE WAR IS OVER. I can picture, Satan and all the forces of evil totally shocked, and amazed! You see, this is the platform into which Jesus is moving.

You can say the life of Jesus was a three act drama. The first 30 years of His life, act 1, is in preparation for the last three which is act 2, and the final act, act three, which will take place when He leaves the heavenly courts, to come and get his faithful children.

The first chapter has been written, The second chapter came to a climax on the cross, when he said “IT IS FINISHED” The FINAL CHAPTER began at His resurrection, and will end very soon. 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 says “for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night….”.

As the FINAL CHAPTER played out I can only imagine demons asking Satan what’s happening, what have you got us into, as they see Jesus dying on the cross. Oh the terror Satan must have felt with no answer, knowing the PRINCE OF PEACE had brought the battle to the place that he claimed as His dominion, and won.

My friends He won, not with a legion of angels, or with weapons of mass destruction. Friends he won only with the POWER OF LOVE. Oh my God this same Love is what stands with the same bruises and scares that He received at Calvary before the Father and states on behalf of all who believe.

FATHER “NO PRISONER CAN BE LEFT BEFIND”. Satan before Calvary had so hidden himself with such duplicity and deceit that even the holy Angels had not understood the course he took or why. But now the redemption and salvation of man is guaranteed for all who seeks God’s presence. His love and honor is established and will remain throughout eternity.

But my friends in this FINAL CHAPTER there are still individual battles taken place over the souls of many, as Satan’s time runs out. Christ is now advocating, and mediating on our behalf, and  if our faith holds firm and we ENDURE while continuing to DIE DAILY as we allow the POWER of GOD”S WORD and SPIRIT to TRANSFORM our CHARACTER into the CHARACTER of CHRIST then our salvation is sealed.

But my friends Remember a transformation of Character means doing the will of Christ, and His will for us today is to take the good news of the gospel to a world marred in sin. Every excuse in word and action, with every element of fear and faithlessness to witness for Christ was challenged and answered on the cross.

Like Christ who forever stayed focused on His goal, which was the cross, and our salvation. So each individual who has decided to endure till the end is placed in various situations, and circumstances, with chosen duties that will be unique to the times in which they live, and the various conditions under which we as Christians are placed in order to tell everyone about Christ and His soon coming.

as Christians we have A responsibility, because it is only an individual who has walked in the presence of God, and who has a passion that burns within, and whose heart is fixed to serve God, will always find the opportunity to be a witness for Him, because the more we can focus on the character and love of Christ the more we come to realize that we have to follow our Savior all the way to Calvary by being A humble servant to others as we carry out Christ mandate to go into all the world and tell everyone of His love, grace, and mercy. And one day soon Jesus will raise those same hands that were pierced at Calvary, as he opens the pearly gates to the New Jerusalem for the redeemed to enter as He says to His children “You have washed your robes in My blood, endured and held firm to my LAW OF LOVE. NOW ENTER, AND RECEIVE YOUR REWARD

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

Jan 3. 2014

SPIRITUAL CHANGES ON THE INSIDE, RESULT IN A RARE BEAUTY ON THE OUTSIDE!!!

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2

My friends, let’s focus on  SELF today as we ask ourselves the question. Suppose each day as we move through all of life’s challenges, and as the world views us, they only see the BEAUTY and Character of Christ, and His Fruits of the Spirit which are “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

And if that is not the picture we portray to others,  then what must we do to bring about a CHANGE in our life so only the BEAUTY OF THE SON WILL SHINE through us. Webster’s definition of Change is “something different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone:”

And friends if  we seek the kingdom of God our CHARACTER MUST NOT BE LEFT ALONG. Most of us seeks change but in most cases we are incapable to make it happen, because it would involved a “Spiritual transformation, or restructuring our lives around the three R’S revival, Renovation and restoration, which is Humanly impossible as long as the god of this world exist.

So as we travel on this Journey to the promise land God has placed His chosen on, we must admit not to ourselves but to God that a CHANGE must take place in our lives 2 Cor. 5:17 tells us Therefore, if anyone is IN CHRIST, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians which should be our heartfelt prayer to the GOOD SHEPHERD each day “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling…..” Eph. 1:16-18

My friends that text is telling each of us to PRAY FOR THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND REVELATION IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR THAT WE MAY ALL KNOW WHAT CHANGE HE SEES NEEDED IN OUR LIVES, as we allow His Spirit to make those CHANGES.

And friends as Children of God SELF can not tell you what it takes for SELF to die as we allow our lives to change in the image of Christ, only God’s Spirit can do that. As I look at the world we live in today the only thing that should be CHANGELESS is our Passion for Christ in our lives and our passion to finish up the work of the MASTER as we spread the Good News of the Gospel  to a world marred in sin.

My friends God has a purpose and a plan for each of our lives “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jer 29:11 And in order for Him to accomplished this He must be able to use us in all situations and circumstances that He sees fit to end this great controversy between good and evil.

And this can not happen if we have not allowed SPIRITUAL CHANGES ON THE INSIDE, TO RESULT IN A RARE BEAUTY ON THE OUTSIDE. So today priorities your values, making Christ No. 1 and sometimes that requires a change and in most cases a drastic change.

And CHANGE brought about by the Spirit gives us direct access to the throne room, in the presence of God who then gives us His will for our lives as he prepares us for the Journey ahead as we move closer and closer to the promise land “Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Cor. 4:16-18 And only SPIRITUAL CHANGES ON THE INSIDE THAT HAVE RESULTED IN A RARE BEAUTY ON THE OUTSIDE prepares us for ETERNITY

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

Jan 2, 2014

“HOW SHALL WE ESCAPE IF WE NEGLECT SUCH A GREAT SALVATION?

“HOW SHALL WE ESCAPE IF WE NEGLECT SUCH A GREAT SALVATION? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. Heb 2:3-4

My friends today let’s follow the plan of SALVATION in Heb 2:3-18 FOR ALL WHO BELIEVE and who are “longing for a better country a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”

“What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? You made him for a LITTLE WHILE lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet.” Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control……..”

And if you are a CHILD OF GOD, and  believes such a plan for our Salvation exist then you believe that THE PRINCE OF PEACE “SUFFERED DEATH, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” and friends this becomes possible through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit and God’s Word.

Jesus tells us Himself in John 16:7-8 “The Helper will come….”if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment…” and my friends SALVATION becomes possible ONLY THROUGH CHRIST “for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Cor 5:17

“That is why he is not ashamed to call us brothers, and sisters” “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Behold, I and the children God has given me.” Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil.” and “deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.”

and this was done for each of us my friend who believe in the POWER OF THE CROSS and believe that “we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. Who took off His robe of “DIVINITY AND PUT ON HUMANITY”so that He might become a merciful and faithful High Priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”

“For because He Himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted” and Heb. 4:15 tells us For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

And my friends “my favorite faith statement always comes back to justification:” “Thank you Father, that despite awareness of my own sinfulness and humanity today, as I look at the cross, I’m just in awe of the fact that you see me just as perfectly righteous as Jesus, because though He knew no sin, He permitted Himself to be made sin on my behalf and to suffer the death that I deserve.” 2 Cor. 5:21 Heb. 2:9 (Bill Liversidge)

My friends so much done on our behalf and then Christ tells us in Luke 20:35-36 35 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.”

My friends “HOW SHALL WE ESCAPE IF WE NEGLECT SUCH A GREAT SALVATION? Hebrews 2 describe the ultimate power and scope of the plan of salvation, and it is beyond the finite mind of man to comprehend, if  through our Faith we have not allowed God’s Spirit to transform His Faithful into the MIND and CHARACTER of the originator of such a plan.

For there is no other NAME, NOT BUDDHA, MUHAMMAD, HINDUISM, NEW AGE AND THE LIST GOES ON where by we can received ETERNAL LIFE, EXCEPT THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED SO MY FRIENDS “HOW SHALL WE ESCAPE IF WE NEGLECT SUCH A GREAT SALVATION?

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