Archives for December 2014

Dec. 20, 2014

MY FRIENDS, ON OUR JOURNEY TO THE PROMISE LAND, WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO REST?

I started yesterday on a eight hour journey, and I have to say I have been driving close to fifty years and it was the first time that I can remember, having to place all of my focus and energy on keeping awake rather then on how I was driving and I must say it is a very difficult process but sometimes it is necessary, but not wise.

“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.”

It is amazing, they all went to sleep, but Christ only labeled five of them foolish. For me yesterday, it would not have been wise for me to sleep at least not while I was driving so the question we must ask ourselves as we move closer to Christ soon return when is the appropriate time to rest,  Nelson Mandela tells us “I have walked that long road to freedom.

I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come.

But I can rest only for a moment, for with freedom comes responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not yet ended.” I love that quote because it tells us that we can rest at times. And yesterday I did manage to pull over at times to rest, but it was only for a moment because I realized it could only be for a moment for the journey had not ended there were many more miles to Go.

My friends we have a responsibility a mandate set before us by God and each hill we cross over on this journey we are on, as a child of God we must realize there are many more hills to go until we can hear Christ Himself 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!”

Our journey will not be complete My friends until Christ says it is complete. in addition, there is a freedom that comes with being a chosen vessel for God, and with that freedom, as time and prophecy continues to move faster than ever, the world seeks hope, and the freedom of knowing Christ as our personal Savior,  our responsibility is to point the world towards the source of all of their hope, righteousness and life eternal.

Soon the “midnight cry [will be heard]: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps…..” but only five were prepared to meet the bridegroom, only five even though rested for a while were anointed with the power of God’s Spirit. “And when the bridegroom came, were able to go in with all the redeemed  who endured and stayed focused as they awaited the arrival of the groom;

“And the door was shut…and “afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!” And my friends, the saddest words that will ever be repeated, will be the words Christ will say to those who never allowed the transforming power of His Spirit to change their lives. “But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.” Therefore my friends “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” Matt 25:1-13 (NJJV)  And never forget, our rest must only come in the loving arms of our savior as we await the bridegrooms arrival.

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

DEC. 18, 2014

MY FRIENDS, HAVE YOU ALLOWED YOUR SPIRITUAL IMMUNE SYSTEM TO BE COMPROMISED?

To function properly, our immune system must detect a wide variety of outside agents that distinguish them from our organism’s own healthy tissue.

As we move closer and closer to Christ soon return, our spiritual immune system is compromised more and more by the things of this world as we allow a wide variety of outside agents to enter our lives. But my friends essential to our Salvation, we must die daily.

In addition we “have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” Gal. 2:20 (NKJV)

As Humans what we digest daily in our Mind, and Body becomes a part of us, so if we digest a lie daily we become consumed by that lie and our immune system is compromised and it becomes the central part of who we are and what we do.

Remember my friends to function properly with the saving power of Christ, our spiritual immune system must be able to detect all abnormal condition that Satan attempts to spread in our lives. Most of the time they are in the form of mental images which becomes the blueprint, of how we live our lives from day to day.

In today’s society it is usually in the form of  the TV and  internet. Between our work schedules, families and church, our minds are already in overload. And then Satan brings one more element into the picture, which he calls a relaxing evening doing nothing, at least nothing spiritually.

As pilgrims on our journey to the promise land, we must allow the Master to have full control through His Word and Spirit and once we allow this to happen, we will never be “given over to strong delusions, believing a lie.”

Remember “wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matt 7:13-14 (NKJV) My friend, life seemed not so complicated before we allowed Christ to enter our life.

A time when the flesh ran rampant with no limits, or boundaries. Life and what we did from day to day was never problematic when we were on that train bound for perdition. And then one day, we had a Damascus Road Experience. A radical change took place.

We became a Child of God, a new creature. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) But like cancer that goes into remission or is in a stage of “Dormancy, where they survive in a quiescent state while waiting for appropriate environmental conditions to begin proliferation again.”

Also, Satan waits He knows what we like, what suits our fancy and what it will take for us to  migrate back to our old ways. For we all recognize that the law is holy and good but we are carnal from within, bound under the sin of the flesh, only satisfied when it is controlled by the forces of evil.

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

In the 21 century it’s what we watch, what we read, what we listen too, and who we allow into our lives. Paul’s discovery as should be ours is that every time we try to do good, evil is always present! No matter what we want to do for the Lord, especially in spreading the good news of the gospel.

Friends again, the curtain has been pulled back, prophecy is being fulfilled before our eyes, as time moves faster than ever before in the direction of our Saviors second coming. In addition, finishing the course is a must if we seek heaven as our new home. So today stay focus, and endure while never allowing our spiritual immune system to be compromised?

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

Dec. 16, 2014

MY FRIENDS, THERE IS HOPE IN PROPHECY IF YOU BELIEVE?

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, ….And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” Rev 21:1-4 (NASB)

My friends, our hope lies in prophecy “and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain;”

In addition, God “changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.” Daniel 2:21 (NIV) remaining in Daniel 2, the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar has a dream, and only Daniel can interpret it.

In this Dream God gives His pilgrims a road-map of history and prophecy, from beginning generations, to his kingdom starting with Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, and then in Daniel 2:44 (NASB) it tells us “In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed.

In addition, that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever.” My friends this is why prophecy is so important, as we search the scriptures for answers.

Prophecy gives us hope, history and prophecy in God’s word are mirror images until we get to the ending of the story and God’s word tells us His kingdom will endure forever where as history has a different ending.

The road to the future leads us smack into the wall. We simply ricochet off the alternatives that destiny offers. Our survival is no more than a question of 25 50 or perhaps 100 years.” (Jacques Cousteau) history gives no hope but my friends our hope lies in our faith to believe in God’s word and prophecy.

In addition, the end of the story continues, it never ends it “endures forever” throughout the senseless ages of eternity. But like the three Hebrew Boys, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who knew where their hope came from, when asked to bow down to a golden image but refuse, we must also seek that same hope.

The king then tells them you will immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?” my friends when trials come into our life and there seems to be no hope, seek hope in the fulfillment of God’s prophecy in God’s word, it has never been wrong, because we serve an Omniscience: all knowing God.

“O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods” Daniel 3:16-16 (NKJV)

But if not, they knew prophecy and my friends if you continue to read Daniel 3, you will see the Son of God came from His throne above and walk with them, in the midst of that fiery furnace. And He will also walk with each of us in every situation and circumstances of our life on our way to that land that will endure forever.

My friends I hear the sound of a mighty rushing wind and it’s closer now than it’s ever been. I can almost hear the trumpet as Gabriel sounds the call at the midnight cry we’ll be going home. My friends Don’t allow the god of this world to keep you from, that land that will endure forever and when you get there I want to introduce you to all of my love one’s, and I will be happy to meet yours.

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

Dec. 15, 2014

MY FRIENDS, “THEREFORE BE YE ALSO READY: FOR IN SUCH AN HOUR AS YE THINK NOT THE SON OF MAN COMETH”

As a teenager living in my parents’ house, they went out of town to Alabama. for 10 days, to what our Church calls Camp meeting, a little over 100 miles from our home. So I decided to have the party of parties and it went on for days and in every part of the house, including my parents bedroom.

Never thought about cleaning up, I still have a few days, plenty of time. Well my father came back in town early, why, I can only guess, But I figure like Moses when he went up into Mount Sinai to talk to God. And the Israelite s threw their big party and God told Moses.

Go down at once, for your people, whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. Ex. 32:7 (NASV) So I will let you all figure out the ending too that, of many, not so good episodes in my life.

In Matt. 24:44 (KJV) Christ tells us, “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” But as Pilgrims passing through on this journey to the promise land we should always be ready, always prepared minus the burden of the material things of this world that would hinder our movements.

Luke 21:25-26 (NASV) tells us “There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”

My friends, Prophecy is being fulfilled, time is moving rapidly “Therefore be ye also ready” There are signs in the religious world “See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.” Matt. 24:4-5(NASV)

Jim Jones, David Koresh, Hare Krishna. Marshall Applewhite of Heaven’s Gate to name a few “Therefore be ye also ready.” Signs in the political and ecological world “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.

But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. Matt 4:7-8 (NASV)“Therefore be ye also ready” signs in the economic classes “It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure!

Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.” James 5:3-4 (NASV) “Therefore be ye also ready”

My friends The theme of the Bible is Jesus and how He died to save men The plan of salvation assures us He’s coming back again Are you ready for Jesus to come? Are you faithful in all that you do? Have you fought a good fight? Have you stood for the right? Have others seen Jesus in you?

Are you ready to stand in your place? Are you ready to look in His face? Can you look up and say, “This is My Lord!” Are you ready for Jesus to come? Don’t cling to the world and its treasure This earth will soon pass away Oh, give Him your love without measure, He’s calling you today!

I love the part of that song that says, The theme of the Bible is Jesus and how He died to save men, Yes God’s word is our road-map on this journey, it “is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Heb.4:12 (NIV)

But, the god of this world keeps our minds fixated and manipulated by the 20 billion dollar entertainment industry. So now our god becomes the government and corporate advertisers. And once that happens, we then lose sight of Christ saving grace and His second coming.

So remember as in the days on Noah “God’s Spirit shall not always strive with man” “So Therefore be ye also ready for in such an hour as ye think not the son of man will come.”

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

Dec. 14, 2014

MY FRIENDS, FOURTH DOWN AND ONE, TIME IS RUNNING OUT, WHAT DO YOU DO?

My friends, If you are a child of God “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, [who] declare the praises of Him who called [each of His children] out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

We are now in the fourth quarter, fourth down and one yard to go with only a few seconds left on the clock. But it’s very personal because it’s our game to lose, simply because on our team we have the all knowing, all powerful, Omnipresence creator calling the plays, so how do we blow the game right here at the end.

What mistakes could we make to fumble or give the game away, as the world watches on the sideline. “A comprehensive demographic study of more than 200 countries finds that there are 2.18 billion Christians of all ages around the world, representing nearly a third of the estimated 2010 global population of 6.9 billion.”

But like Gideon in Judges 7 who started out with 22,000 when it came down to who has the faith and endurance to finish the course and carry their cross across the finish line, ended up with only 300.

In addition, out of the 2.18 billion Christians, what percentage are willing to give it all to the Master and endure till the end and finish the course, while at the same time recruiting others to join the winning team of all God’s children, who believes in the saving power of Christ.

My friends each of us are included into that overall data of 2.18 billion Christians, but to finish the course here at the end we must be unique, even when it comes to other Christians while allowing self to die daily.

“The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared.” Matt 13:24-26 (LKJV)

So we must be more then a follower of Christ in name only our uniqueness comes about in allowing God’s Spirit to transform and take control. Christ tells us in Matt. 16:24 (NIV) “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

Now, close your eyes and picture our Savior carrying that cross along  Via Dolorosa Road to Calvary and walk in those same footsteps, try and feel a small portion of what He went through for our Salvation. In addition, this let’s us know the play caller knows how to win, so He helps us to be conquerors also.

“Consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons [and daughters],

“My son [and daughter], do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, Nor faint when you are reproved by Him; For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He scourges every son [or Daughter] whom He receives.”

It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons [and Daughter]; for what son [or Daughter] is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons [and Daughter.]” Heb. 12 3:8 (NASB)

My friends, time is running out, our God is giving us a chance to make this last play, it’s personal, will we read the playbook, God’s word and allow his Spirit to tell us how the Son of God finished and conquered.

Or are we allowing the god of this world to call this final play for us. Before you answer that I need to remind you the game has already been won, we just need to accept the results and follow the game plan, which is given our all to the Master, For victory “is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 (KJV)

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

MY FRIENDS, “IS IT POSSIBLE TO SET STANDARDS IN OUR LIFE WE CANNOT REACH”?

My friends “is it possible to sets standards in our life, that it is impossible to reach, without God’s forgiving and empowering grace”. Let’s just name a few, appetite, unmarriedal sex, gossip, unwise use of time, which for most people, the use of unwise time comes from sitting in front of the TV for hours.

unwise use of our money and resources, and my favorite, our “socially acceptable sins” But if we are not dying to self daily as we allow God’s Spirit to take full control, we will never become conquerors and the god of this world wins and we lose.

In listening to all of the money making televangelist, no one talks about the sacrifices we all have to make in order to make it into God’s kingdom. All of our rewards seems to be feeling good about self as we gain all of our rewards here on earth, which in the long run, advances their cause.

It’s as if transformation, faith, endurance only has to do with what we get on this earth, because once you are saved your obligation for seeking God’s presence for salvation is set, but James 12:1 tells us Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” and endurance to get that crown of life, takes a lifetime of sacrifice for God’s needs, not ours.

My friends, I say all of this because I see no one talking about that place Christ went too, to prepare for the redeemed and what it is going to take to get there. I just heard a minister on TV say “prepare for the benefit,” “this thing comes with benefits” “it’s all about benefits”

A seed of provision into God’s house, will reap a harvest of provisions in your house, which will reap miracles” “this is the moment that things turn around in your life.” But my friends I am here to tell you today that benefits provisions, and miracles are great attributes but as we now enter the threshold of the promise land they must all be in conjunction with the Spirit of God, in getting us across the threshold into the promise land and not some earthly paradise.

Paul tells us in Romans 8:17 (NKJV) “that we are God’s children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” In His Kingdom and my friends that kingdom is above not on this earth.

“The kingdom of heaven is of a higher order than any earthly kingdom. Whether we shall have a higher position or a lower position, will not be determined by our rank, wealth, or education, but by the character of the obedience rendered to the word of God. The character which we now manifest is deciding our future destiny.

The happiness of heaven will be found by conforming to the will of God, and if men become members of the royal family in heaven, it will be because heaven has begun with them on earth.

They have cherished the mind of Christ, and when the call comes, “Child, come up higher,” the righteous will take every grace, every precious, sanctified ability, into the courts above, and exchange earth for heaven.

God knows who are the loyal and true subjects of His kingdom on earth, and those who do His will upon earth as it is done in heaven, will be made the members of the royal family above.” (E. G. White Above Earthly Kingdoms God’s Amazing Grace pp 58)

So today each of our sins are a high priority no matter how small or insignificant we may think they are, or large and out of control they have become. The standard is set and “our God stands at the door and knocks” because He knows He is the only one that can give us the power to overcome our weaknesses for “in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”

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

MY FRIENDS, THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD IS IT ALL ABOUT US?

The Greatest Story Ever Told, a 1965 American epic film produced and directed by George Stevens. It is a retelling of the story of Jesus Christ, from the Nativity through the Resurrection. What could top such an epic, to a child of God.

The incarnation of the Son of God, who assumes human form in the person of Jesus Christ and becomes both God and man, walking among us 33 years before He is executed by his own ancestry on a cruel cross. But in three day He rises from the grave only to return to reign in His heavenly abode.

While at the same time He prepares to return to earth one day and gather up all His faithful followers dead and alive, and take them back to live with him throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity. Yes my friends our finite minds with limitation on how far out imaginations goes, that does sound like the greatest story Ever Told, or will ever be told.

But once again it become personal, so let’s go back in time, to a mother and father and a child “born in sin and shaped in iniquity” “What is man [or woman], that he can be pure? Or he who is born of a woman, that he can be righteous?

Behold, God puts no trust in his holy ones, and the heavens are not pure in his sight; how much less one who is abominable and corrupt, a man who drinks injustice like water!” Job 15:14-16 (NKJV) And that my friends, became our mission statement, the mark of sin that we assumed from birth for “we are abominable and corrupt, who drinks injustice like water!”

But if you are a child of God, who seeks His presence every waking moment, as you look back over your life, you will see The Greatest Story Ever Told is when Christ took a sinner like you and I and transformed our life from being the wretched persons we were, to the one who recognizes and believes through our faith in God and His word that His grace is sufficient because of what Christ did on Calvary.

And we can say without a doubt that, Lord, we are going to trust you totally and place all of our confidence, hopes and dreams of eternity exclusively,  on what You did and continues to do, for our Salvation.

My friends There can be no greater story, because it continues to play out each day of our lives but our God knows our story very well because He plays a leading role, as His arm reaches as far as we are, to save, while  allowing us to fall prostrate in heartfelt humiliation and say.

“I stand accused. There’s a list a mile long of all my sins, of everything that I’ve done wrong. I’m so ashamed there’s nowhere left for me to hide, this is the day I must answer for my life, my fate is in the Judge’s hands. But then He turns to me and says I know you, I love you, I gave My life to save you. Love paid the price for mercy, My verdict, not guilty!!! (Not guilty, Mandisa)

As man’s sins abounds greater and greater each day, He looks at our hearts He knows the struggles the trials the heartache of the greatest story that each of us could ever tell, our own. But he also sees the repentance, restoration and revival that He has brought about in our life through His Spirit.

In addition, He says to His Father with no reservation, “these are your children, they are heirs and co-heirs with myself, because they have shared in My sufferings in order that they could share in My glory.” Romans 8:17 (Paraphrased)

And they are not guilty, their reward awaits them. So friends don’t give up, the ending of this story await us and it will be played out in the ceaseless ages of eternity. But there is still a few days of work to be done for the “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.”

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