Archives for December 2014

Dec 31,2014

MY FRIENDS, THE END OR THE BEGINNING, IF WE SEEK GOD’S PRESENCE EVERYDAY MUST BE DEC. 31!!

What is it about the last day of the year that seems too inspire and motivate us to make changes in our life that we just didn’t allow too happen in the 364 days before today. I wonder if it was Dec. 31 when Paul has his life changing Damascus road experience.

Isn’t it amazing, he set’s out on a journey that was going in one direction towards perdition, but ends in another direction towards God’s kingdom. I would imagine, somewhere in the deep confines of his subconscious the Spirit of God had penetrated through a barrier that most of us never know exist until a life changing experience happens.

When Suddenly, like Paul a light appears and then “The wind blows…… You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.” But if you are a child of God who seeks His presence daily this is the experience of “everyone born of the Spirit.” John 3:8 (NIV)

For Paul he heard “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” for myself “I wasn’t there, when the earth was created, so I have 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 No wonder they call Him Savior” (Larnelle Harris)

I personally can say a life changing experience happened in my life on one particular Dec 31. but if you are a child of God usually, a Damascus road experience is not just one day, but a daily struggle of trials and tribulation, which changes you from within.

Consistent with this, some days no matter how hard we try to change, Satan reroutes our intentions, but think God for grace because without it, where would we all be. “Wandering down some pointless road to nowhere” My friends each year we can’t wait until Dec 31, to say starting tomorrow, I allow self to die.

If we allow that light of God’s presence to shine from heaven into our life today, if we are fortunate enough to hear that voice telling us, my friend, my vessel, my chosen heir and joint-heirs with Christ, “why do you persecute me?” by not allowing my Spirit to transform you into the image of my son who gave it all so that you may receive life eternal, then today, tomorrow and forever must be a beginning point for this journey Christ has placed us own as we focus on that ending destination when we will here, “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Matthew 25:23 (KJV) Paul tells us in Phil. 1:21 (KJV) For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.“

Acts 9:15 (KJV) tells us The Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. When you read Paul’s letters, you realize God knew, that Paul could be all things to all people.

Paul says in Phil. 3:7-8 (KJV) “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.”

My friends can God say the same about us? They are my chosen instruments they will proclaim My name to the world. I know they will endure to the end, even if it means death. Remember the forces of evil looks back over our life and accuses each of God’s chosen, of all of our mistakes and tells us we have gone to far to be saved.

But my Savior starts at Calvary, and takes us through the trials and tribulation of this life, and places us in His loving arms and guides and protects each of us daily. And my friends if we are faithful and endure, one Day in God’s pure and holy kingdom, each day will be the beginning of new challenges and experiences, without sin or Satan, that will last throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity.

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

Dec 30, 2014

MY FRIENDS, AS GOD’S CHOSEN VESSEL, ARE YOU HOT, COLD OR LUKEWARM?

One more day and a new year begins, 2015, as our focus stays on our eternal destination, as we continue to tell ourselves, we can no longer afford to “Have a form of godliness, but denying the power” 2 Tim 3:5 (NKJV) Christ will be here soon my friends, as wickedness increase and the love of most draws Cold with no hope of survival.

We as members of the body of Gods Church, God’s chosen vessels, who He has commissioned to finish His mandate ”to the ends of the earth.” we cannot allow our focus going into 2015 to be on materialism, consumerism, and I’ve got to have the latest, simply because it is the latest, instead of on, Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.

God speaks frankly, as he reveals to his church, insights into how this controversy ends. In revelations 3:14-16 (NKJV) He brings his 21^st century got to have it now society church to the forefront, as He tells “the angel of the church of  Laodicea’s too write.

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth!  You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!”

My friends, the purpose of the letter to Laodicea, is so that you and I as part of His church, may overcome, the influences of our world in the 21st century. But because of His love, grace and mercy, the letter also finished on a triumphant and victorious ending.

“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and set down with my Father in His throne.” So our prayer today must be that we will not become lukewarm, but we will have a burning passion to carry our cross and become a disciple for Christ.

Paul tells us in Colossians 2:6-8 (NKJV) “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.

…….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.” My friends, today it must become personal as we tell ourselves “I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold; I’d rather be His than have riches untold;

I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands; I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand. Or be held in sin’s dread sway; I’d rather have Jesus than anything This world affords today. I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause; I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause; I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame; I’d rather be true to His holy name”

As followers of Christ seeking life eternal, lukewarm, and mediocre cannot be an option about what God’s will is for our lives. There must be a passion that burns within our mind and body as we become witnesses to a world whose spiritual compass points to perdition.

Luke tells us in Luke 24:32 (KJV) When the two disciples of Christ on the road to Emmaus, realizing it was Christ they had spoken too. Said to one another “did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while he opened the scriptures to us?”

That word burn, meaning to be set, or consumed on fire. This is what God wants from each of his Children. If we are consumed with a burning passion to have an intimate relationship with God then everyone we talk to, or witness to, will also feel an exhilarating burn within their hearts.

And one day soon as we enter God’s pure and holy kingdom, angels will listen in, as we tell our love one’s who went before us how that consuming fire from God’s spirit burned within and allowed us to make it over.

And as we walk together in heaven on those streets of gold, we are eating from “the tree of life, which grows twelve different kinds of fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month” with “leaves of the tree for the healing of the nations.” Rev. 22:2 (NKJV)

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

Dec. 29, 2014

MY FRIENDS, LET’S FOCUS ON WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF OUR JOURNEY!!

We are down now to three days and a new year begins 2015 and I want each of us to continue as God’s children to think on the decisions that must be made in regards to our eternal destination. Once again, we can no longer afford to “Have a form of godliness, but denying the power” 2 Tim 3:5 (NKJV)

Christ will be here soon, So “From the fig tree learn its lesson; as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. Also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates.” Matt. 24:32 (NKJV)

Consistent with this Matt 24 allows us to see exactly what events will occur right before his coming as we ask ourselves, which of God’s prophecies have not been fulfilled. Surely it can’t be the one that says “some will come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.”

Hundreds my friends have attempted this, only to fall asleep as they await judgement and the words “Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.” Or the warning of “wars and rumors of wars and nations rising against nations.”

I think it would be safe to say, we have about thirty, ongoing conflicts or wars right at this moment. And surely, we all know famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places that occur constantly throughout our world each day.

In addition, need I mention the constant “Breaking news” of the iniquity of man and woman that abounds, as their love waxes colder and colder. But my friends, you do the research, I stand to be corrected if I am wrong. But if I am correct “all these are the beginning of sorrows.”

But let’s move beyond the terrible things we know and see each day and “think of the world that is to come, that shall never know the blight of sin and death; where the face of nature will no more wear the shadow of the curse.

Let your imagination picture the home of the saved, and remember that it will be more glorious than your brightest imagination can portray. In the varied gifts of God in nature we see but the faintest gleaming of His glory, It is written.

“Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9 (KJV) (E.G. White, Steps To Christ pp 86,87) My friends we cannot become comfortable, as we adjust and adapt to the customs of our surroundings.

If so, in time, we will begin to no longer feel like strangers in a foreign land. In addition, scripture warns us not to become comfortable here on this earth. For Jesus Christ is our only true source of comfort and security.

He gives us small portions of eternity as we travel this journey He has placed us on as He gives us the physical, mental, and spiritual strength to meet the challenges that confront us each day. As pilgrims, we must seek God’s presence, as life eternal is forever our focal point.

“For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.” Hebrews 13:14 (NKJV) And one day the small material possession we seek after on this earth, will not even be a memory as “God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Rev. 21:4 (NKJV)

So today let’s all ratcheted back, what we feel self has to have and focus only on what Christ will is for our life. Because what I don’t know about prophecy, that is mentioned in Matt 24, is the “gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matt 24:14 (NKJV)

So, the good news of the gospel we must continue, until all have heard, but Christ also tell us, if we become silent, the stones will cry out!” Luke 19:40 (KJV) “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh.” Mat. 24:44 (NKJV)

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

Dec. 28, 2014

MY FRIENDS, WE CAN NO LONGER MAKE ORDINARY, OUR NEW PERFECTION!!

Five days and a new year begins and as a child of God, decisions must be made in regards to our eternal destination. We can no longer afford to “Have a form of godliness, but denying the power” 2 Tim 3:5 (NKJV) Christ will be here soon.

Yesterday we went to Rev. 14:6-7 (NKJV) and spoke of our responsibility of carrying God’s everlasting Gospel to those who dwell on the earth, to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people” But first, we must ask ourselves are we ready to tell others about Christ, if our own lives are at an ordinary state of existence.

Consistent with this, have we made that life changing decision, that prepares our life for God’s pure and holy kingdom. The decision to put on the whole armor of God, “that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

…….As we gird our waist with truth, while putting on the breastplate of righteousness and placing on our feet the preparation of the gospel of peace. In addition, taking the shield of faith with which we will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one, as we take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

In addition, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” Eph. 6:10-18 (NJKV) And my friends, it all begins with a perfect relationship with God, as we seek his presence daily, while allowing self to die and God’s Spirit to take full control.

If we are God’s children, ordinary cannot be the new perfection. For ordinary; “is somewhat inferior or below average; mediocre.” But we are “heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;” and “as for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; He shields all who take refuge in him.” Rom. 8:17, Ps. 18:30 (NKJV)

And When our character is rooted in the presence of Christ, and continues to be rooted, it is an experience that lasts throughout our lives here on earth and will also carry us throughout the ceaseless ages of Eternity.

But perfection through Christ, that perfection which will take us not just too the threshold, but into the promise land, will require a type of faith that most have never experience before. Martyr John Huss: “When he had been fastened to the stake, and all was ready for the fire to be lighted, the martyr was once more exhorted to save himself by renouncing his errors.

“What errors,” said Huss, “shall I renounce? I know myself guilty of none. I call God to witness that all that I have written and preached has been with the view of rescuing souls from sin and perdition; and, therefore, most joyfully will I confirm with my blood that truth which I have written and preached.”

When the flames kindled about him, he began to sing, “Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me,” and so he continued till his voice was silenced forever.” Christ tells us If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Matt 16:23(NKJV)

James tells us to “count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” James 1:1-8 (NKJV)

My friends, we can no longer accept ordinary, as the new perfection. But like Christ “though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,” Heb. 5:8-9 (NKJV)

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

Dec, 26, 2014

MY FRIENDS, TO MOVE FORWARD TOWARDS THE PROMISE LAND, WE CANNOT BECOME STAGNANT!!

My friends have you ever noticed a creek or pond where stagnant water exist, “this type of standing or slow-flowing water only provides a breeding ground for many insects that can transmit diseases and other bacteria’s.”

This is the same with our mediocre or uninspired spiritual life. We go to church, because that is what is expected, but Sabbath or Sunday school is much to early, and Wednesday night prayer service interferes with our favorite TV show.

We make sure the big heritage family bible is on our coffee table, because that is what is expected, but reading it, we just can’t find the time. We visit our sick friends, because that is what is expected, but once again our time is limited on what and how much we can do for the Lord.

So now our Spiritual life becomes stagnant, with no movement, which then provides “a dwelling place of demons, and a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!”

On the outside we look great, but today we must look in the mirror and then look at the life of Christ and then ask ourselves how far have we really come and how far do we plan on going to eliminate self, and allow God’s Spirit to take full control.

My friends getting to the threshold of the promise land means nothing, if Christ meets us at the entrance and tells us “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” Matt. 7:23 (NKJV)

“As with life, so it is with growth. It is God who brings the bud to bloom and the flower to fruit. It is by His power that the seed develops, ” For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head.

But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” Mark 4:28-29 (NKJV) And Jesus bids us “consider the lilies how they grow.” Luke 12:27. The plants and flowers grow not by their own care or anxiety or effort, but by receiving that which God has furnished to minister to their life.

The child cannot, by any anxiety or power of its own, add to its stature. No more can you, by anxiety or effort of yourself, secure spiritual growth. The plant, the child, grows by receiving from its surroundings that which ministers to its life, air, sunshine, and food.

What these gifts of nature are to animal and plant, such is Christ to those who trust in Him. He is their “everlasting light,” “a sun and shield.” Isaiah 60:19; Psalm 84:11 (NKJV) He is the living water, “the Bread of God . . . which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.” John 6:33 (NKJV).

In the matchless gift of His Son, God has encircled the whole world with an atmosphere of grace as real as the air which circulates around the globe. All who choose to breathe this life-giving atmosphere will live and grow up to the stature of men and women in Christ Jesus. (E.G. White Steps to Christ pp. 67-68 Growing up into Christ)

My friends in a few days a new year begins, 2015, the grace of God is gradually being withdrawn from our world, stagnation can never be an option if our desire is God’s pure and holy kingdom and life eternal. So at this moment, if you took the time to read this devotional, Please take the time to fall on your knees in sincere and heartfelt prayer and cry out,

“Our Father which art in heaven” not my will but thou will be done not only today but every day, until I can see you face to face and here you say “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” Matt. 25:23 (KJV)

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

MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIENDS, TODAY DEC. 25, 2014, INTO THE WOODS IS WHAT OUR SAVIOR HAS BEEN REDUCED TO!

On AMC you get Christmas with the Duke, or John Wayne. On TNT you get a 24-hour-long Christmas Story marathon. On the Word channel, you get 24 hours of let’s make them feel good Christmas movies.

At the theaters you have nine movies coming out today, which none of them has anything to do with Christ and His birth, but where I need you to focus on today is the one titled “into the woods” which is about a witch that practices magic or sorcery to entertain those who are willing to be entertained with such foolishness.

And that my friends is about as far away from the birth of our Savior that we could possible get. But Satan, and Hollywood will bring in millions during the holidays, when our minds should be focused on the Birth of Christ.

And the fact that, “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) But once again the world is being turned into a nation of zombies who are manipulated by corporate advertisers.

And once again Sin and Satan’s desire that we all lose sight of Christ Birth, death and saving grace, while forgetting that life is too short to squander away in front of “In the woods.” Or anything else that does not point us to Christ and his soon return.

My friends, If you are a child of God, where is the outrage, why is there no marches, protest or laying down in front of traffic in the streets against a world that has placed our Savior on the auction block of our corporate world and sold him for commercial gain.

Why have we not come out and said  we cannot breathe because cooperate america has taken Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, a Balm in Gilead that heals our sin sick soul, the Creator of the Universe, the all Knowing, all powerful, Omnipresence being, and reduced Him to “In the woods”

And as Christians, why are we not telling the world, that Jesus saves and that He will return soon to take his faithful away from a world that has allowed their spiritual compass that should be pointing them to Calvary and life eternal, into the opposite direction that will only lead them to death and perdition.

My friends we must not forget “It is Satan’s work to talk of that which concerns himself, and he is delighted to have human beings talk of his power, and of his workings through the children of men…..But let us decide that this shall not be.

If we look constantly to Jesus and become daily learners of him, we shall become like him in character, (E. G. White RH May 7, 1908) as we let the world know that Satan is the father of all lies, who has reduced our Savior to a “witch that takes a childless baker and his wife with procuring magical items from classic fairy tales to reverse the curse put on their family tree.”

Which I am pretty sure The movie does not end by telling the truth, that Satan is the curse that has been put on all family trees by himself who said in his heart, “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;

I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.” Is. 14:13-14 (NKJV) My friends day and night the heavenly host “do not cease to say,

“holy, holy, holy is the lord God, the almighty, who was and who is and who is to come, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever Amen.”

And that My friends, is the place and the presence of the one we all who are faithful and endure to the end must seek daily as we enter into another year with more challenges, trials and many more mountains to climb. But keep your eyes focused upward “From where our help comes from, who is the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

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

Dec 24, 2014

MY FRIENDS, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE, SO COUNT THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP, AND RESPOND!!

“Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Then He said to another, “Follow Me. But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”

Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:57-62 (NKJV)

The above text, a disciple tells Christ “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go,” before counting the cost of discipleship. So Christ tells him and also each of His chosen vessels in the 21^st century who seeks his presence and kingdom.

We must lay aside every thought of worldly possessions. In addition, “the Son of Man [who is our example] had nowhere to lay His head.” Even though the “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests” So we must ask ourselves, How much are we willing to give up for discipleship.

In Matt.16:24 (NIV) Christ tells us “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Christ then ask another disciple to count the cost of discipleship and follow Him, then the disciple asked if he could be excused for a few days to go bury not just a love one, but the man who gave him life his father.

“Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” is Christ response. But the scriptures teaches us “The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures.” Prov. 30:17 (ESV)

So you have a mother telling her son come home bury your father and Christ saying “let the dead bury their own dead” My friends if we are God’s chosen vessel who seeks his kingdom, there can be no other option or excuse for neglecting discipleship and following Christ.

Another disciple is willing to follow Christ, but he needs time to socialize with his friends and family, and set his household affairs in order, but Christ tells him “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

My friends there are those who “have a form of godliness but denies its power.” Who continues to look back, before they made their life changing commitment for discipleship, looking at the way things were and all they have or had at one time.

But we must remember “wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who [will] go in by it.” Friends if we seek God’s kingdom, we must continue until we have completely crossed the threshold into the promise land and our savior tells us personally, “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) Luke 14:26 also tells us “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters–yes, even their own life–such a person cannot be my disciple.”

First of all we know hatred would “be contrary to the laws of God,” “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” 1 John 4:7-8 (NKJV)

But in life there are choices and options we make but only one choice that leads to God’s kingdom and life eternal and that is giving it all to the Master. So my friends today count the cost of discipleship and respond, time is of the essence!!

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