Archives for September 2014

Sep. 20, 2014

MY FRIENDS, ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE SOUND OF GODS VOICE?

Moses; The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend Exodus 33:11 (KJV)

Samuel; ”Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling Samuel. So Eli told Samuel, if He calls you again, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel laid down. God speaks again, and in a vision tells Samuel that he will become the voice through whom he would speak to his people. Sam 3:8-11(KJV)

Paul; He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Acts 9:4-6 (KJV)

Just a few in God’s word who we can say, directly or indirectly heard the voice of God. But in the 21^st century, fast pace, got to have it now society, learning to clearly distinguish God’s voice as the prophets of old would probably guarantee most of the world an easy path to Gods pure and holy kingdom.

If we can have the wisdom of God’s actual voice to guide and protect. Our lives would probably be radically transformed by just listening to the voice of God, as He directs us through life.

Yes the worst situation or circumstances that we as Christians may encounter from day to day, would be one word away from the Lord responding to us as we respond to our children. I believe if we could here God’s actual voice, there would be a total turnaround of our lives.

Friends, imagine any problem you might encounter, one face to face word from the Lord will instantly deliver you. Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word and my servant will be healed. Matt 8:6-8 (KJV)

Today We may not always hear the voice of our Lord and Savior. But the Good Shepherd always here’s our voice. In addition we must be able to distinguish The Good Shepherds voice form the god of this world “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27 (KJV)

Those who hear God’s voice are those who walk in the footsteps of God, and have been saved by the transforming power of His love and grace through faith. His faithful, who comes when He calls and follow’s His mandate because they know He will not lead them astray.

A Chinese boy who wanted to learn about the precious stone jade. So he went to study with a talented old teacher. This gentle man put a piece of the precious stone into his hand and told him to hold it tight. Then he began to talk of philosophy, men, women, the sun and almost everything under it except what the young man wanted to learn about which was the precious stone jade.

After an hour he took back the stone and sent the boy home. The procedure was repeated for several weeks. The boy became frustrated. When would he learn about the jade? But he was too polite, however, to question the wisdom of his venerable teacher.

Then one day, when the old man put a stone into his hands, the boy cried out instinctively, ‘That’s not a jade, that’s a counterfeit!’ The more time we spend intimately with God and His Word, the easier it is to distinguish His voice and His leading in our lives, from the forces of evil, a counterfeit.

My friends while God is God and He speaks to us as He chooses, His primarily source of communication is through His Word, and Spirit, and if we have a sincere, and a contrite and heartfelt prayer life, while applying through faith, what we read in God’s Word, we will never get it wrong, it will be absolutely clear that when we here the good Shepard’s voice it will verify in our minds, any, and all, truth from error.

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

Sep. 19, 2014

MY FRIENDS, BREAKING NEWS!! GOD’S ARMOR WE SHOULD NEVER BE WITHOUT!!

THE IMMUNE SYSTEM is a system within our body that detect a wide variety of agents, from viruses to parasitic worms, and distinguish them from the organism’s own healthy tissue.

Our SPIRITUAL IMMUNE SYSTEM also must detect a wide variety of evil agents and parasites that tries to penetrate through the armor of God. in addition when “we begin to sink deep in sin Far from the peaceful shore,”

But It was Love that reaches out no matter how far we have strayed from the good shepherd. But the longer we allow Satan to control our lives the harder it is to return, because sin is contagious, scandalous, and repulsive, but Satan will give us the impression this is what we thought we always wanted.

But the Child of God who never grasped fully onto the loving arms of Christ and allowed a transformation to take place through God’s Spirit is usually lead astray. Forced by Satan to go as far as possible until we are completely submerged.

In addition, Sin will always take you farther than you ever thought you would go as it slowly takes control of your mind. Remember the forces of evil have no intentions of ever letting you go.

If we allow Satan one moment of our time, while never becoming aware of the plea’s of God’s Holy Spirit and the saving power of the cross, our stay will literally last a life time. Satan as the “god of this world” has the legitimate right to influence and harass us, if we allow him access to our lives.

‘That’s why it is important to #1. (know who we are in Christ.) John 1:12 “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” #2. (Our rights and privileges.)  Psalm 8:4-6.

“What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And you have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; you have put all things under his feet.”

And last but not least #3 (What power, and authority do we have as Gods children against Satan.) 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

yes the attire is different but we must never forget that we are soldiers who are forever on the battle field for Christ, but God will not force us to put on His armor, yes it looks out of place but as a child of God we are unique, when we walk in a room everyone should see you are different.

Around our waist is the belt of truth, our upper attire is covered with a breastplate of righteousness, and our shoes are the preparation of the gospel of peace. We also are holding a shield of faith, with which we will be able to quench all the fiery darts of Satan. In addition, we are wearing a helmet of salvation, and around our waist a sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Also what makes us unique we are always praying in the Spirit. Our attire is what makes us different from the world because we  have the power through Christ and His Word and Spirit to demolish any, and all arguments, and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God.

As “heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ” it is important to always pray without ceasing, for ourselves and others we love, who maybe blinded by the stronghold of Satan and can’t recognize the forces of evil to get free.

As Christians and believers in Jesus Christ and Him crucified, we have the power through Christ to take authority over the enemy. By calling out His name as Peter. “When he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him. Matt 14:30-31. Remember Our Lord and Savior has proclaim liberty to all who are held captive by Satan. If we will believe and endure.

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

Sep. 16, 2014

MY FRIENDS, YOU CAN ONLY FIND GENUINE REST IN CHRIST

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Cor. 12:9 (ESV)

“There should be a hiding place where we seek Christ daily” because sometimes we have to go there, sometimes at the end of the day our only comfort comes  from Christ and being in His Presence. I talk to my friend today, I even went across town to get comfort from Big mamma because my best friend who was my mother now waits on the Lord to wake her.

But its just not the same. So we find that hiding place. Because  “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him….” Heb. 4:13 (NIV) and as he enters our space the aroma of God penetrates our presence oh the awe-inspiring presence of God just when you need Him.

You try and fight back the tears  as you feel the warmth of the Master as He tells you Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matt. ll:28-29 (ESV)

In the Philippines a story is told of a local pastor use the following parable to illustrate Christ’s offer of rest and the response of people who won’t give it all to the Master. The driver of a wagon was on his way to the market when he overtook an old man carrying a heavy load over his head.

Taking compassion, the driver stopped and invited the old man to ride in the wagon. Gratefully he accepted and climbed in the back. After a few minutes, the driver turned to see how the man was doing. To his surprise, he found him still straining under the heavy weight over his head, for he had not taken the burden off his shoulders.

My friends when we go into that HIDING PLACE we must go in with the attitude that everything will be placed at the feet of Jesus, nothing will be held back. My friends I am tired, but I also know that my only relief comes from God.

“what has a man [or woman from all the toil and striving of heart with which [they] toil beneath the sun? For all [of our days] are full of sorrow, and [our] work is a vexation. Even in the night [our] heart does not rest. Ecclesiastes 2:22-23(ESV)

But in God our “soul, [does] find rest [where our] hope comes from.” Ps. 62:5 (NIV) And as we prepare our life for God’s pure and holy kingdom we must continue to allow Christ to comfort us and take the burdens of life off of our shoulders.

In addition “there hath no temptation [or burden] taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Cor. 10:13 (KJV)

To each of God’s children who seeks His kingdom daily “Jesus is exclusive and inclusive at the same time the narrow way and the Savior of the entire world the only way of salvation, yet available for all.” When the cares of this world seems to heavy to bear.

For God’s grace, shown most perfectly in Jesus Christ, is exactly what everyone needs, especially in that special hiding place when it seems we cannot take it any more. Our only comfort comes from giving it to the one who gave it all for my Salvation, “as He takes our burdens [and] makes [us] lie down in green pastures; [as] He leads [us] beside the still waters [as] He restores [our] soul.”

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

Sep. 13, 2014

NEVER OCCURRED, AT THIS POINT OF OUR LIFE WE WOULD BE DOING THIS? I IMAGINE THAT’S HOW GOD LOOKS AT OUR LIFE ALSO!!

Isn’t it amazing how the course of our lives, how changes occur from childhood to adult, where you once had “questions of a thousand dreams” which has disintegrated into just one, and that one you are still chasing, never seeming to get it right.

So now you tell yourself, IT NEVER OCCURRED AT THIS POINT OF MY LIFE I WOULD BE DOING THIS? My friends as “God’s vessel of clay [how many times were we] marred in the hand of the potter [because Satan told us he had a better way];

So He [re-made us again and again] into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make.” Jer.18:4 (PSV)) And thank God he is not finished with us yet, because like us, God always INTENDED FOR US TO BE farther along, ON OUR JOURNEY.

But if we will “focus our mind on things above, [and] not on things on this earth” Col. 3:2 (NKJV) and hold firm to our faith and endure till the end, the Lord will fulfill his purpose for [all His Children, because His] steadfast love, endures forever.

[And He will] not forsake the work of His hands.” [for He is] confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; Ps. 138:8, Phil 1:6 (PSV) In addition, everything we do must center around our Salvation and the effort we place on finishing this Journey Christ has placed us on.

In addition, God is looking for utility workers to enter the battle field, willing to get into the trenches and get it done for our Savior. The time for laying out a blueprint for our life has passed, whatever we haven’t done for ourselves up until this point is secondary.

A story is told about the American Civil War, General Stonewall Jackson who needed to get all of his supplies and wagons across a river. After telling his engineers to plan and build a bridge so his army could cross, he called his wagon master in to tell him that it was urgent the wagon train cross the river as soon as possible.

The wagon master started gathering all the logs, rocks and fence rails he could find and he managed to build a bridge. Long before day light General Jackson was told by his wagon master all the wagons and artillery had crossed the river.

General Jackson asked what where his engineers doing? The wagon master’s only reply was that they were in their tent drawing up plans for a bridge. My friends all of the planning was done before the foundation of the world.

“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love” Eph. 1:4 (NIV) and the climax was Calvary “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 (NKJV)

And now, Satan wants the world to think the battle continues, but my friends God’s word tells us “After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, “I am thirsty……” Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “IT IS FINISHED!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.” John 19:28-30 (ASV)

So the only thing left, is for His faithful to tell the world the war IS FINISHED because “the living one [Christ]. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.” Rev. 1:18 (ESV)

And now my friends let’s all finish God’s mandate as we look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb. 12:2 (ESV)

In addition, one day soon, He will wipe away every tear from [our] eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things [will] have passed away.” and AT THAT POINT IN ETERNITY, WE WILL BE DOING WHAT GOD HAD ALWAYS PLANNED FOR OUR LIVES.

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

Sep. 12, 2014

MOVING TOWARDS GOD’S PRESENCE WITH ALL YOUR HEART!!

Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.” And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Ex 33:13-14 (NKJV)

My friends, today, it becomes all about seeking the presence of God, because in his PRESENCE the weak becomes strong and we can only know the power that He holds in being in His PRESENCE when we truly see how deep our weakness goes and the power of His strength that begins to take control when we seek our Savior daily.

In addition, Jeremiah tells us “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jer. 29:13 (ESV) And what if we do seek  God with all of our heart and we still don’t get a response. Friends, at times it will seem the hardest part Is waiting In the middle of the storm.

If we could just feel His arms around us as His presence penetrates every fiber of our being and at that moment we realize that even the waiting is okay because their is even peace that comes In waiting when our wait becomes all about being in the presence of Christ.

A story I’ve told before becomes appropriate as I look at our savior and what being in the PRESENCE of the Good Shepherd means to everyone whose “citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;” Plil. 3:20 (ASV)

A certain medieval pastor announced he would be preaching next week instead of a morning service it would be right before sundown and the topic would be “The Love of God.” Electricity was not invented so everyone knew the church would be dark but no questions were asked.

When the next Sabbath came and the shadows fell and the light ceased to come in through the church windows, the congregation gathered. In the darkness of the altar, the pastor lighted a candle and carried it to the backdrop of the sanctuary which depicted the scene at Calvary.

First, he illumined the crown of thorns on His head, next, His two wounded hands and feet, then the mark of the spear wound in his side. In the hush that fell, he blew out the candle and left the church. There was nothing else to say. That my friends is what we must seek each and every day.

Because once it becomes all about Calvary the wait is worth it if that is what God is asking us to do, because in the turmoil of our world today, the father of confusion has taken this controversy to a whole new level because he knows his days are numbered.

So God is preparing us for what lies ahead and where the god of this world will try and take us. Consistent with this, Christ does not want us to be like the five foolish virgins without enough oil to finish our journey so He needs us to “Be strong and courageous.

[And] not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord our God [will be with us] in every situation and circumstances of our life as long as our desire is to never leave his presence. Joshua 1:9 (PSV) Oh what a friend we have in Jesus, if we believe in the transforming power of God’s Spirit.

In addition, we also need to ask with a sincere and contrite heart, and then God’s Spirit will take us right to the throne room where Christ is now mediating on our behalf and as He holds us in his bosom while at the same time He will tell the Father this is your child this is who you sent me to die for on Calvary.

And at that moment it becomes personal, because its all about me and the changes that occurs in my life for being in His presence because in “His presence [He] makes known to [His Children] the path of life; in [His] presence there is fullness of joy; [and] at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Ps. 16:11 (ESV)

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

Aug. 11, 2014

MY FRIENDS, HOWEVER YOU DEFINE ARMAGEDDON, JUST STAY AWAKE!!!

My friends Satan wants us to believe it’s all too complicated. All of our lives ARMAGEDDON has been the mystery word along with the boogy man that scholars have tried to explain, the boogy man we know is a myth, but ARMAGEDDON, God’s Word tells us, this is where the final battle will be fought between the forces of good and evil.

“BEHOLD, I AM COMING AS A THIEF. BLESSED IS HE WHO WATCHES, AND KEEPS HIS GARMENTS, LEST HE WALK NAKED AND THEY SEE HIS SHAME. And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.

Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth.

Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath.” Revelation 16:15-19 (NKJV)

listening to all the commentators, politicians and soothsayers after the President’s speech last night the whole idea from everyone who had an opinion, was to put fear into the listeners but “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)

In addition, a child of God must “Set our minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” [and not what’s going on in the Middle East] Colossians 3:2 (ESV) for if you are a part of a body of believers you are looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.

If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.  Instead, they were 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 [all of His Children who believe and endure until the end]. Heb. 11:10-16 (NIV)

My friends ARMAGEDDON is not a myth because it is in God’s Word, but the “secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law. Deut. 29:29 (NIV)

“The battle of Armageddon will be fought. AND THAT DAY MUST FIND NONE OF US SLEEPING. WIDE AWAKE WE MUST BE, as wise virgins having oil in our vessels with our lamps. The power of the Holy Ghost must be upon us and the Captain of the Lord’s host will stand at the head of the angels of heaven to direct the battle.” (E. G. White selected messages book 3, page 426)

If there is only one thing that you take away from this devotional today I want it to be the quote “AND THAT DAY MUST FIND NONE OF US SLEEPING. WIDE AWAKE WE MUST BE with full body armor on, even when we are asleep, for Satan must not gain the victory even over our dreams.

Time move’s on as we still try and decide whether we want to get the I phone 6 or wait to see what the reviews say before we purchase. My friends the reviews are in from God’s word and “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.” Rev.1:3 (NIV)

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

Sep. 10, 2014

MY FRIENDS, ARE YOU ASHAMED TO SAY I BELIEVE?

I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes……… Romans 1:16 (NKJV) My friends, do we embrace the word of God and His message as we go about our daily routines? Do we wrap our Savior around our shoulders like a shawl?

Or are we ashamed of bringing Christ to the forefront of our life because God’s word is  like trying to say little red riding hood and the big bad wolf really happen? As we read the Bible, we are suddenly thrust into a world which seems out of touch with the reality of what we as humans consider real or believable.

So how do we explain to others that God’s word is what we base every fiber of our existence and faith on, and how we live our life by grace daily. In this complex computer generated  world we live in, how do we bring God’s Word too life and make it real to others.

A world where we try an explain faith and the concept that the world was created in seven days, a world where seas part and millions of people walk across on dry ground, a world where a teenager kills a giant with a slingshot and a stone, and three men are thrown into a furnace of fire, and do not get burned.

But the most ridiculous sounding of all the stories in this world we call, His holy Word is the myth about God himself, who reincarnates His Son into a woman’s body who lives a sinless life here on earth for 33 years while performing many miracles and at the same time He, proclaims the good news of the gospel.

In addition, the Jewish nation, His own ancestry, kills Him by Crucifixion because they said he claimed to be the Son of God, but after 3 days, He miraculously raises Himself from the grave and He does all of this for our sins so that we can receive salvation if we believe such a story.

And that’s the story we ask other’s to believe and base their entire life on and if they do believe, one day soon all believers will go to live with Christ in a far away place in the sky called heaven where no one will ever die and sin will no longer exist.

My friends, I just repeated to you, the good news of the gospel, but it must become real to us as it transforms our lives, if we expect it to become real to a generation where God does not exist. The adulterous, lying, stealing, gossiping, murderous, covertness, greedy generation.

Oh! what a wonderful message to proclaim as you begin to tell how our loving Savior lifted you up and brought you to Safety in His loving, caring and merciful arms. “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword.”

In addition, millions of martyrs died so that God’s word can be proclaimed, who experienced the transforming power of the holy Spirit in their lives, and just wanted to proclaim this good news of what Christ had done for them to others.

My Friends, we will never be able to convict the unrighteous, only God’s Spirit can do that, but God has set a mandate before each who do believe. Time is running out, decisions by all, must be made soon “For angels are standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth”

“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” But if serving the LORD [and spreading the good news of the gospel] seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.”

For “whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after [Christ], cannot be [His] disciple.” Like 14:27 (NIV) my friends the clock is ticking, Behold, [Christ will] come as a thief and blessed is he that watcheth….” Rev 16:15 (KJV) and is ready to here Christ say “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” Matt. 25:23 (NIV)

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