Archives for October 2015

Oct. 20, 2015

MY FRIENDS, IN THE WAR ROOM THE STRATEGY IS BEING LAID OUT!!

My friends the war room, from which the controversy between good and evil is being directed, and the strategy is being laid out for our salvation. Soldiers are needed, but it is all voluntary, your reward comes when God says “it is finished.”

But first we must understand, it is more than just to say I’ll go. It is even more than carrying a cross  and praying without ceasing but don’t get me wrong, those attributes are very important, but with commitment comes a much greater responsibility. In addition, it is even more than just to say, I have a new heart, I’m ready to serve.

“A new heart.” [We do not really] know what it means. [We] look for a special change to take place in [our] feelings. This [we] term conversion. Over this error thousands have stumbled to ruin, not understanding the expression, “Ye must be born again.” …..

When Jesus speaks of the new heart, He means the mind, the life, the whole being. To have a change of heart is to withdraw the affections from the world, and fasten them upon Christ. To have a new heart is to have a new mind, new purposes, new motives.

What is the sign of a new heart?—a changed life. There is a daily, hourly dying to selfishness and pride…..The religion of Christ is to take possession of the whole being, and give force and power to all our faculties, renovating, cleansing, and refining.

It manifests itself without parade, and high-sounding words, but is shown in an upright and unselfish life.” (E.G. White Sons and Daughters of God pp 100) “Softly and tenderly Jesus is pleading for workers and the question we must ask ourselves is, why should we linger and heed not His [love, grace and] mercies?”

My friend inside the war room are also the “Special Forces,” who made heaven and earth. A Father, who gave His only Begotten Son and a Son who gave it all for our salvation, even dying on the cross. And also there is the Spirit of God who was also there from the beginning.

He was there when “the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. His responsibility was to move upon the face of the waters. And then God said “let there be light: and there was light.” Gen. 1:2 (KJV)

And it is this same Spirit, who moves within the dark places of our Hearts, who seeks us to give it all to the Master. My friends it’s personal now, our responsibility is to go out on the front lines, but is has to be a personal decision, because the front lines is where we are needed, where the battle is raging and chaos is everywhere.

But to go out, is to say I give my heart. My time. My talents and money to thee, because you gave your all for me on Calvary. My friends now is not the time to lose focus, nothing in this world is worth losing our Salvation for.

Satan gave it all up for death. Now he is asking you to do the same. “All of this I will give you,” he says, “if you will only bow down and worship me.” And my friends what Satan is not telling you, is that all of this, is only death.

“But the gift of God, is eternal life” in a place “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Cor. 2:9 (KJV)

Oct. 19, 2015

MY FRIEND, NEVER STOP PRESSING TOWARDS THE MARK FOR THE PRIZE.

My friends, I can truly say Paul is the ultimate example of someone who Satan had somehow placed him on the path of destruction without his knowledge. But by God’s grace, love and mercy through the power of His Spirit Paul was transformed from Saul a worker of iniquity to Paul.

A man “who never stop pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil 3:14 (KJV) In other words, some days he did not take time off from focusing on his salvation, to saying, you know, I think I will gossip or tell a few lies today.

Or maybe I will covet my neighbor’s house or maybe I will serve another god by using all of God’s precious time by sitting in front of the TV instead of studying God’s word and serving Him, or maybe I will curse and take the Lords name in vain if I get mad at someone or something.

My friends, Satan never takes a day off from tempting us into losing our soul salvation, and neither should we in putting on the whole armor of God, that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities.

And against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Eph. 6:11-13 (NKJV)

My friends, we must never stop pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God. And if we do happen to fall we must pick ourselves up and continue “pressing toward the mark for the prize,” our salvation and God’s kingdom and life eternal.

Remember, once Paul allowed his life to be completely saturated with Jesus Christ and Him Crucified, he never looked back on the life he lived before Christ came into his life and that must be how we live our lives as we follow the example of Paul which keeps our focus on Christ.

Consistent with this, once his life was transformed, from that point on he had only one passion and that was to serve God, carry his cross, and take the good news to a world that was sinking deep in sin far from the saving power of their Savior.

To serve as Paul served and suffer for Christ sake, every fiber of our being has to be completely saturated with the power, love, grace and mercy that could only come from Christ. Oh the passion of Paul to serve a risen Savior, what we all as Children of God should strive for as the passion of Christ becomes our passion.

The Damascus road experience, the experience of transformation through Christ, and his word and Spirit was the mission statement that Paul exemplified to the world “follow my example as I follow the example of Christ.”

But his overall message “was to never take your eyes off of the prize” which was Jesus Christ and life eternal. In addition, “we are therefore Christ’s ambassadors” in this world and we represent the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, and as ambassadors, we must “never stop pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Because, “He who began a good work in [us] will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil. 1:6 (NIV)

My Friends, where there is no vision, the people perish…..Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)

Oct 18, 2015

MY FRIENDS, EACH MORNING NEW MERCIES WE SEE, AS HE LOOKS BEYOND OUR FAULTS.

“Amazing grace shall always be my song of praise, for it was grace that brought my liberty; I do not know just why He came to love me so, He looked beyond my fault and saw my need. I shall forever life mine eyes to Calvary, to view the cross where Jesus died for me, how marvelous the grace that caught my falling soul; He looked beyond my fault and saw my need.”

That is what you call unconditional love. “He looked beyond our fault and saw our need.”  “Great is Thy faithfulness,” O God my Father, There is no shadow of turning with Thee;Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.“Great is Thy faithfulness!”

“Great is Thy faithfulness!” Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—“Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord, unto me!  My friends that is God’s promise and if we Have faith and endure that promise will continue throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity.

In addition, thirty thousand years or one hundred thousand years from today we will still be able to say, Morning by morning new mercies I see because on Calvary “He looked beyond our fault and saw our need.”

My friends, make it personal, and share the vision, one hundred thousand years from today seems inconceivable, but it is only inconceivable if we have lost our focus, and allowed the god of this world to dictate our future.

There is a song that says. Some of us think it is all right to still do our thing, and love the Lord at the same time, and then it goes on to say in so many words there is no either, or. You have to be black or white no shades of grey will do, for no man can serve two masters.

For either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth…….

Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matt. 6:24-34 (NASB)

Within those text it also says, Look at the birds of the air, they are being taken care of. Are you not worth much more than they?….. Also observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin.

My friends if your desire is God’s kingdom, just stay focused. He is not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. Each morning new grace and mercies from Christ tells us, “the cross upon which Jesus died Is a shelter in which we can hide.

And its grace so free is sufficient for me and deep is its fountain as wide as the sea. Though millions have come, there’s still room for one. Though millions have found him a friend and have turned from the sins they have sinned. The Savior still waits to open the gates and welcome a sinner before it’s too late.”

My Friends, where there is no vision, the people perish…..Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)

Oct.17, 2015

MY FRIENDS, ARE YOU ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN GODS LOVE?

Jesus demonstrates His love in so many ways for His children. “If every one of them were written down, “I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” John 21:25 (NIV)

Now my friends what about our deeds and how we reciprocate unconditional love for all that has been done for our Salvation. John says in 1 John 2:5 (NKJV)”But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them.” This is how we know we are in him:”

Now let’s Focus on how we live our lives from day to day asking ourselves the question, do we live by God’s word or has the god of this world occupied or time to such an extent that God only becomes a factor in our life when we have a family crises?

But if our desire is to live throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity with our Savior we must love as God loves. Today I can tell you because of my faith and what that means to me and hope your faith tells you the same, there is only one way to really love God and give as He gives.

First we must ask God’s Spirit to give us understanding of God’s word as we study diligently while transforming our Character into the image of Christ and that is the beginning of a firm foundation in knowing and loving Christ, one that will be laid deep into our heart and through our faith in God and His Word.

“The dominant theme in Scripture is simple: God is love.” (Burton) God is also Omnipotent having unlimited power, with such power He could have easily erased humanity from existence and called it “Part I” of a two Part experiment and started “Part II” with the hope of a better outcome.

But instead He chose grace mercy and love. My friends our Salvation is pure unadulterated and simple, and it’s called love that  forgets self and knows no danger through Christ and never counts the cost of sacrificing.

“Many waters cannot quench love, Nor will rivers overflow it” Song of Solomon 8:7 (NASB) Paul tells us in Ephesians 3:17-19 (NKJV) “So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith that you, being rooted and grounded in love.

And you may also have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

My friends, focus today on the words “rooted and grounded in love” because only when we are completely transformed in the image of God can we experience true love. The love that “surpasses all understanding” and at that point, is when we will be willing to give it all to the Master.

Remember, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” [or anything else this world has to offer] Matt 10:37 (KJV)

A thought provoking text, so read it again carefully, and then ask yourself the question. God will say it is finished soon, how close am I too being ready to see Him face to face and say “Lo, this is our God; [that] I have waited for and [loved more than anything in this world that I now leave behind] and He will save us and we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.” Is. 25:9 (KJV Paraphrased)

My Friends, where there is no vision, the people perish…..Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)

Oct. 16, 2015

MY FRIENDS, MOVE OUT, NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO LOOSE OUR FOCUS!!!

At sixty four years old, I can say throughout life I have lost my focus at times and gotten off tract from the direction I was headed. But today my focus is life eternal as I try and serve Christ on the front lines of the battle field.

My friends, today we have to make it personal, because each of us in this maze we call life, always seems to lose focus on where we are headed and how we are going to get there, because the road we travel may have a few rough areas, and we then loose our focus. But now is not the time.

“The Bridegroom is due to arrive at any moment” and our Savior is counting on each of us along with all we have shared our vision with, of His appearing to be in that number, that great multitude, which no man could number.

A multitude of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, standing before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in our hands;” Rev. 7:9 (KJV) 6000 years of God’s chosen, together at the same time.

His chosen, “which came out of great tribulation, and have washed our robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Rev. 7:14 (KJV) and now we have earned the right to be “heirs to God’s kingdom and joint heirs with His only Begotten Son.

And no matter how we have lived our lives, or how many times we wondered in other directions, the redeemed remained focused, because we realized there was “no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” And that was Jesus Christ.

My friends, we can count the months as days now. For every door now opened, every pathway cleared thank you Lord For every one of our needs, You’ve already supplied, I praise You  Yet there is one thing my soul longs for Is to worship You face to face.

This must be our earnest prayer, this must be our earnest plea…..where we can witness all of His glory…In that place of sweet communion. [This must be our focus] ”(Daryl Coley, Beyond the Veil) My friends, our focus is to be where our Savior resides.

And one day the veil of this world will be removed and we will see Him in all His glory. But there is still work to be done. A lot of us have a problem seeing that vision as we move throughout our life.

“And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it.” Ex. 14:15 (NKJV) I have no doubt that is what the Lord is saying to each of us.

“Why do you cry to Me? The harvest is plentiful, just “move out in faith.” My friends do not lose your focus because you have not heard His voice, and then allowed the god of this world to occupy your time. Just “move out,” God’s promises don’t change. “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” Rom 11:29 (KJV)

We just have to have faith, endure and stay focused on each promise in God’s word. So today we need to stop between our steps to refocus on where we are in relation to this world and our walk with the Lord which enable us to see Christ face more clearly before moving on, because now is not the time to lose or focus!! Our salvation depends on it.

My Friends, where there is no vision, the people perish…..Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)

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Oct. 14, 2015

MY FRIENDS, IN TURBULENT WATERS, WILL YOUR ANCHOR HOLD?

“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:11-13 (ESV)

My friends, what is the purpose of an anchor in turbulent waters? Today let’s call the anchor our faith. Which as a Child of God will prevent each of us from drifting out to sea or into the cares of this world due to the turbulent waters and currents, or the god of this world leading us astray.

A popular misconception is that the anchor itself acts as the main weight to “secure” the ship in its position. On an anchoring run, the ship would lay the anchor together with a length of its iron cables which we will call the Holy Spirit. The length to be released would depend on factors such as the depth of the water etc.

So it is not the weight of the anchor, but the weight of the huge iron cables connected to the anchor that “secures” the ship or secures our mind and body into the loving arms of Christ. The Anchor’s weight does play a role, but it is mainly used to grip or hook the iron cables to the seabed.

My friends this is where I need you to focus today. The word faith, and the fact, in order for the word itself  to have some meaning, we must first be connected to God, through His Spirit. He must have complete control.

In addition, if that anchor, or our faith ever breaks away from God’s Spirit, then Faith  becomes only a meaningless word with no value except to lay dormant at the bottom of the ocean, or in a world that has but a short time to exist.

I speak of Faith a lot because it is the only way if we are connected to God’s Spirit to survive in turbulent waters, and Finish this journey. So many of God’s Children fill that they still have mountains in this world they need to climb. But my friends that mountain is only worth climbing if we are doing it for Christ.

We are too close to Christ second coming for any decision to be made in our life without us asking the questions how this will benefit my Lord and Savior. Remember “only what we do for Christ will last” everything else is futile and void.

My friends, as Heirs to God’s kingdom and joint heirs with Christ, we must believe that a resurrected Christ has conquered death, and therefore He lives. And because He lives we will always have access to His love, grace, mercy and power to lead  and guide his Children into the promise land.

As we trust his word to guide us in all that we do each day, please, keep trusting even when at times it seems all you do is pray to God To take the storm away, but instead of it going away when we think it should, all we hear Him say is, My grace.

Yes, My grace is sufficient. But friends, if we have faith and endure, and allow God’s Spirit to stay attached to us and our Savior through God’s word, even in turbulent waters it is all we need, to make it to the promise land.

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

Oct. 13, 2015

MY FRIENDS, WE WIN BATTLES BY PROCLAIMING WHO GOD IS!!!

“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.” 2 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV)

My friends, as we travel this Journey God has placed us on do we allow the world to define who we are because we are not uniquely different? Never representing the only living God? Remember as God’s chosen, we must proclaim His name daily to the world.

Peter tells us in 1 peter 2:9 “ (JKV) “you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

Which tells us we can never forget what God has done for us when we were sinking deep in darkness, far from the peaceful shore, very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more, But the Master of the sea, heard our despairing cry.“

And now because of what He has done in our life and on Calvary we must “proclaim the excellencies of him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light” To proclaim God is “to indicate or make known publicly or openly who God is.”

But how can we proclaim God, if we are no different than the world in how we live our life? My friends the world can only define us if we are not defining who you are through God. First we must define, why is this road God has placed us on, so straight and narrow?

And why, is the road we travel so vastly different from the wide road others are seeking? And only when others can see Christ in us and ask those questions, is when we can define who we are and who we live our life for.

And then at that point we can “proclaim the excellencies of him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light.” But our character must be uniquely different from the world.

And we cannot be conformed to this world, but we are constantly being transformed by the renewing of our mind, that we may prove, what is that good and acceptable, and the perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2 (NKJV)

There must also be a passion for the journey which places us on the front line of the battle field. In Samuel 17 (KJV) king Saul and the men of Israel were allowing the Philistine army and there champion Goliath to define who they were.

David had entered the camp of Israel and as he was talking to the soldiers. All the men of Israel, when they saw Goliath, fled from him and were dreadfully afraid. But David, only a youth, but also a man after “God’s on heart” knew he could not let this uncircumcised Philistines define who He was and who he represented.

So my friends, David goes to the front line of the battle field. I will define and defend who God’s is, not this uncircumcised Philistines. And his words before He killed Goliath were “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin.

But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts. My friends that is how we win battles, by allowing God to fight them for us as we “proclaim the excellencies of him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

My Friends, where there is no vision, the people perish…..Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)

Oct. 11, 2015

MY FRIENDS, WHAT MAY BE KNOWN OF GOD IS MANIFESTED IN US, BY GOD

“The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to the” Romans 1:16-19 (NKJV)

My friend, those text tells us refusing to study God’s word and serve Him, because we have more pressing issues is no excuse, “because what may be known of God is manifest in [each of us]” so we are without excuse and one day soon.

“This 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) and the end tells us, all that God has implemented into our finite minds that we have not done, will end.

John tells us, “and behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” Rev. 22:12 (NKJV) It’s personal, because each man and woman makes their own decision how they serve God.

The question we must ask ourselves, is it only when it’s convenient in our busy schedule of watching TV and gossiping on our cell phones? My friends, this whole Subject of Salvation get’s deep after you study the scriptures and realize Salvation is a free gift of God.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Eph. 2:8-9 (ESV) So our Savior paid the price for our Salvation through His blood on Calvary.”

And then Col. 2:6-7 (NKJV) tells us “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.”

“So Walk in Him,” Those words I need you to focus on today, which tell us to follow Christ in all of our affairs and live our life like Christ live it while on this earth. Christ himself tells us “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” Matt. 16:24 (NKJV)

Remember my friends, “Christ was the prince of sufferers; but His suffering [on the cross] was from a sense of the malignity of sin, a knowledge that through familiarity with evil, man had become blinded to its enormity.

Christ saw how deep is the hold of sin upon the human heart, how few would be willing to break from its power. He knew that without help from God, humanity must perish, and He saw multitudes perishing within reach of abundant help.”(E. G. White, Desire of Ages pp 752-753)

“within reach of abundant help.” My friends within reach tells us grace still abounds for each of us if we will accept it. So it’s all about denying ourselves of what we think is acceptable in the sight of God, because God is the only one that can make that decision.

But we must seek Him with a passion daily so that we may hear His voice and know “what God has manifested in us.” The road to our Salvation is Narrow and only a few will have a desire to travel it but if you do.

Our reward will be a place “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man” 1 Cor. 2:9 (NKJV) And my friends, it will be our home 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