Archives for January 2016

MY FRIENDS, THE BRIDEGROOM HAS BEEN DELAYED NOW WHAT?

Jan. 8, 2016

MY FRIENDS, THE BRIDEGROOM HAS BEEN DELAYED NOW WHAT?

bd2b87030f2490440a8834328cf4912f“Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Then God sends a message. The earth will be destroyed by water in 120 years so prepare.

My friends, so long to wait, what would you have done. So the antediluvian’s salvation depended upon them believing God’s message. But it was rejected and the Spirit of God was withdrawn and all but Noah “who had found “grace in the eyes of the Lord” and his family were saved.

And then God gave the world “His only Begotten Son that who so-ever believes in him may have life eternal” But God knew many would not accept the plan of Salvation. even His chosen, many will be “destroyed for lack of knowledge” because they rejected God’s word and saving grace.

And Christ, while on this earth, looked down through the final Days of the History of man and the same power that warned the antediluvian’s in the days of Noah, also gives a warning to noahs-ark-POSTyou and I who are living in the 21st century.

“Through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.” 2 Peer 6:3-7 (NASV)

But my friends, this is a choice we make of our on choosing which only occurs when we reject God’s precepts and His warnings that are found in His word, “so it is then that God withdraws His Spirit and leaves all who rejects His love and grace to the deceptions that they each love on this earth.”

e1a6ebc4919a43e22db666a0cf98ed08I can’t say it enough. “narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life eternal, and there will be only a few who will find or even try and find it.” Matt. 7:14 (NKJV) And it has nothing do with the road being unattainable only difficult.

But His word tells us there is no “temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Cor. 10:13 (NIV)

But many will reject the pleadings of Christ to allow the transforming power of God’s Spirit to take complete control of their lives. My friends 2,000 years and we still wait on Christ second.

And even though God is “long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV) God’s warning jesu15bis still “For we are fully aware that the day of the Lord” will come “In just a little while, for he who is coming will come and will not delay.” Heb. 10:37 (NIV)

And during this time when we all should be searching the scriptures and praying as we take the good news to our family, friends, love-one’s, neighbors, coworkers and a world lost in sin. many have decided to slumber and sleep.

But “at midnight, a cry will be heard: “Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out and meet Him. And all who decided to enter the narrow gate though difficult, through their faith endured, and now wait too hear well done thou good and faithful servant.

But to the foolish who said His coming is delayed, many things on that wide road that leads to destruction I still must discover will not be ready. Then the door will be shut” never to be open again.

 

Every excuse we may give as the reason we cannot serve Christ, was challenged and answered at Calvary.

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MY FRIENDS, IF WE FAIL IN OUR TEST AND TRIAL WE ARE DISOBEDIENT TO THE VOICE OF GOD!

Jan. 5, 2016

MY FRIENDS, IF WE FAIL IN OUR TEST AND TRIAL WE ARE DISOBEDIENT TO THE VOICE OF GOD!

60sec17“He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. Is. 53:5 (NKJV) My friends, What the first Adam failed to do was accomplished at Calvary.

“For a period of time Christ was on probation. He took humanity on Himself, to stand the test and trial which the first Adam failed to endure. Had He failed in His test and trial, He would have been disobedient to the voice of God, and the world would have been lost (E.G. White Signs of the Times, 5/10/1899).

The fate of the world was being decided and I can only imagine demons were asking Satan what’s happening will you still be the god of this world as they witness Christ dying. Not understanding because Christ endured the cross that the highest position Satan would now hold would be prince of a lost world.

A world where he had no power except what the second Adam gives him. Christ dies, angels are searching the parapets of heaven for answers. The Jewish elect and the Roman officialsurl who condemned Christ to die have disobeyed God’s voice, never realizing even they had a chance for salvation because of the second Adams endurance and victory at the cross.

Satan’s character is revealed. Up until Christ death he had hidden what his true intent was, even the holy angels had not understood the course he took or why. But now the plan of redemption was complete the character of God was revealed to all mankind and love and honor is established and will be from that point on throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity.

Just-Passing-Through-300x225So now my friends, as disciples and children of God, are we focused on our goal, life eternal? And  is the word of God our road map to how we live our life? And are we praying without ceasing and allowing self to die in Christ each day  as we allow His Spirit to transform us into Christ image?

We must ask ourselves these questions because if we fail in our test and trial on this Journey Christ has placed us on, only tells God we have not used Christ as our example thus ignoring His voice and where He is trying to lead. So our choice then becomes that “wide gate with the broad road that leads to destruction that many will enter through.”

But we are guaranteed and protected from the penalty of sin, if and only if, we are willing to give it all to Master and endure until the end like Christ. But we must also understand that this earth is not our home and that we are only aliens.

Aliens who are “desiring a better country, that is, a heavenly one, where God is not ashamed to be called our God, in a place He has prepared for the redeemed a [“place Eye has not seen, 16e263ce45673c650f9dbf62b4deb139nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man”] Heb. 11:16 (NKJV)

So please, let’s continue to listen for God’s voice as we spread the good news through out the world, never giving up, enduring through it all until the race is over and Christ can say “well done good and faithful servant” as we cross that finish line.

And then, on one accord, in adoration, throughout the heavenly courts, we will all give God the praise, glory and honor, forever realizing, without Satan telling us otherwise, the Love grace and mercy that was employed for our salvation.

 

Every excuse we may give as the reason we cannot serve Christ, was challenged and answered at Calvary.

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MY FRIENDS, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE ONE DAY OUR CROSS WILL BE REPLACED WITH WINGS

Jan. 4, 2016

MY FRIENDS, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE ONE DAY OUR CROSS WILL BE REPLACED WITH WINGS

My friends the Mercy and grace of God has laid out a direction for our lives, a Road map that leads to Calvary which places before us the heavy load and responsibility of our own cross that cost_of_discipleship1we must carry, here at the threshold of the promise land.

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Matt. 16:24 (NIV) So many situations, and circumstances each day try and keep us from conquering the rough side of the Mountain and troubled seas especially while trying to carry a cross at the same time we climb.

But our God’s promises tells us “to be strong and of good courage, and not too fear or be afraid; for the Lord our God, He is the One who goes with us. He will not leave  nor forsake [His Chosen.]” on our journey to the promise land.” Deut. 31:6 (KJV)

And as we enter those pearly gates I can only imagine Christ with outstretched hands telling us I will take that now as he replaces our cross with the wings of angels, and a “white robe which is a symbol of purity which our Character is now.

And as pure as the one who Gave it all for our Salvation because 1 John 3:2 (NKJV) tells us “it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that Jesus’ when He is revealed, wecarrying-the-cross-300x200 shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”

And a palm branch is then placed in our hands “which in Israel was a symbol of national liberation and blessing, and attended the First Coming of the King to Jerusalem” Jesus Christ. John 12:13 (NIV)

And I can only imagine in the case of the redeemed, it represents our liberation from the god of this world, a liberation for all eternity, and at Christ second coming He then places a Crown on our head that represents the suffering of times past.

Conquerors_500As we remember the promises of His word while on earth that states. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake.

Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matt 5:10-12 (NKJV) And now we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

For (we were persuaded while on this earth) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, (nor anything that was ever created was) able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom. 8:38 (NKJV)

That my friends is why we must have a vision that gives each of us something to work towards but it must become a passion. A passion to give up everything Man on topthat is not in accordance with God’s will, and His precepts.

Friends, now is the time to turn our life completely over to God’s Spirit as we seek His presence, while He transforms our Character in the very likeness of our Savior while preparing us for our new home.

remember friends, “Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear [our]sins, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” Heb. 9:28 (NIV) who believed and endured.

 

Every excuse we may give as the reason we cannot serve Christ, was challenged and answered at Calvary.

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MY FRIENDS, SOMETIMES IT WILL TAKE A MOUNTAIN ARE WE PREPARED?

Jan. 3, 2015

MY FRIENDS, SOMETIMES IT WILL TAKE A MOUNTAIN ARE WE PREPARED?

Forgive me, Jesus I thought I could control Whatever life would throw my way But this I will admit Has brought me to my knees I need you Lord and I’m not ashamed to say Sometimes it mountains-herotakes a mountain Sometimes a troubled sea Sometimes it takes a desert To get a hold of me.

Your Love is so much stronger Then whatever troubles me Sometimes it takes a mountain To trust you and believe.” (Gaither Vocal Band – Sometimes It Takes A Mountain) My friends sometimes it takes a mountain to even show one of God’s elect, one of God’s Children, one of God’s chosen, how much we need our Savior.

That is why we must admit some situations brings us to our knees more than others and those troubled waters may not always be money problems or family issues sometimes it might just ZZ5_Wavesbe to others insignificant, but a mountain in our life, one that God has created just for our Character.

Because my friends at times we lose our focus or take it off kilter just a fraction. Oh but our God is the one who while on Calvary knew what it would take to get a hold of us, so He said in 2016 I’m going to have to take them to another level.

but before that happens, it’s going to take a mountain or a troubled sea or maybe just a desert To get a hold of my child and tell them “I know the thoughts that I think toward you [my child],…thoughts of peace, and not of evil, [because He wants to give to each of us] an expected end.”

A end that  “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.” Jer.29:11 (KJV) 1Cor 2:9 (KJV) Arnold Palmer tells a story that I have told before but is appropriate as we begin our new year.

imgres“It was the final hole of the 1961 Masters tournament, and he had a one-stroke lead and had just hit a very satisfying tee shot. He felt he was in pretty good shape. As he approached the ball, he saw an old friend standing at the edge of the gallery.

He motioned him over, stuck out his hand and said, “Congratulations.” he took his hand and shook it, but as soon as he did, he knew he had lost his focus. And so, he went on to lose the Masters.”

My friends God is telling us today, I need to get a hold of you I need you to stay focused and find out my will for you and understand these mountains and troubled seas are just my way of telling you My grace and love is sufficient if you will give Me your all.

But, Christ must become our focal point until He “descends from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rises Second-Coming-of-Jesus_iconfirst: Then we which are alive and remain.

[Those who stayed focused to the end through our faith and endurance] shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.” And so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thess. 4:16-17 (KJV)

So friends, our mountains, troubled seas and deserts are all about what it is going to take to make sure, we as God’s chosen listens to that still small voice that will guide us every step of the way on our journey to the promise land.

 

Every excuse we may give as the reason we cannot serve Christ, was challenged and answered at Calvary.

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MY FRIENDS, IS THE POWER OF SATAN RELEVANT IN THE 21ST CENTURY?

Jan. 2, 2016

MY FRIENDS, IS THE POWER OF SATAN RELEVANT IN THE  21ST CENTURY?

Then that voice, richer than any music that ever fell on mortal ear, is heard, saying: “Your conflict is ended.” “Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the lightstock-115919-jesus-extending-his-hand-as-an-invitation-to-follow-him-7453687a-a58b-48b7-a320-75149fa186a0foundation of the world.”

Now is fulfilled the Saviour’s prayer for His disciples: “I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am.” “Faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” Jude 24 (KJV)

“Faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” My friends with that promise why do we ever talk of the power of Satan? To a child of God, Satan and the forces of evil must be only relevant in the past tense because if we serve a risen Savor then “it is no longer [you or] I who lives.

[in other words Satan is no longer a factor in our lives, but only Christ who now lives in us]; and the life which [we used to live when the god of this world abounded supreme] in our fleshGUILTY [we] live by faith in the Son of God, who loved each of us and gave Himself up for [our Salvation.]” Gal 2:20 (KJV paraphrased)

And then my friends, when it is all over “the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire this is the second death, the lake of fire.” Rev. 20:13-14 (KJV)

imgres18My friends, Satan sentence can’t be overturned. It was final when Christ said “it is finished” on Calvary, which also meant that our sentence of death was overturned if we believe and endure. So we cannot allow the god of this world to blind our minds to what the plan of Salvation was all about which was Satan and the fairness of God’s law, and Satan lost His case with no appeal given.

That is why we must study and pray daily as we seek the “Spirit who will guide us into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.” John 13:6 (NIV)

That is the power we must speak and focus on because that power gives us the power that far exceeds any created being who for some reason thought he could “ascend above the heights of the clouds; and be like the most High.”

And if we allow one created being, Satan, to reign supreme in our lives who are also created beings, then we also begin to feel like we can “ascend above the heights of the clouds; and be like the most High.

Yes my friends, Satan has us thinking what we see with our eyes, hear with our ears and the places we go that are an abomination to God that we place above God and His law are right prophetic-wordand just, “But they only lead to death.”

And that is the limitations of Satan’s power which in the end will cause so many who gives him so much credit for his power to became his slave and enter that wide gate that has such a broad path.

That is also such an easy path to travel that leads only to destruction and eternal loss, and there are many who will enter through it. Because they refused to believe in the power of The Son of God whose power gives us Salvation and life eternal.

 

Every excuse we may give as the reason we cannot serve Christ, was challenged and answered at Calvary.

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MY FRIENDS, IT’S A NEW YEAR NOW WHAT?

Jan. 1, 2016

MY FRIENDS, IT’S A NEW YEAR NOW WHAT?

Nick-Fleming-Art-in-Action-2011-9890-Nick-Fleming-1800x1200My friends, Success in 2016 will only come from finishing the course Christ sets before us. We cannot loose the desire to move ahead by forever escalating Christ in our life. He must always be the focal point of our existence.

In addition, we must forever “look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV)

Our lives are like an artist canvas and each stroke of the brush takes us to another level on our journey to the Promise land with our Savior shaping us into the character of his abiding love, while using a mixture of His blood, along with His love, grace and mercy as the medium.

“In art, the hand can never execute anything higher than the heart can imagine.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson) So the question we must ask ourselves, How far in 2016 will we allow our heartVision2016banner to move where Christ has been trying to take us? Remember 2017 or even tomorrow is not promised to anyone?

And what is our vision in regards to our Salvation and finishing up Christ mandate? Remember Satan is a strategists, he knows every area of our life we are weak in and he knows the areas that will cause us to lose our vision and our desire for God’s kingdom.

In addition, 2016 must be the year every area of our life is “crucified with Christ; [as we allow self to die completely, while understanding once self dies then] it is no longer [you or] I who lives, but Christ living in us; and the life which [we] now live in the flesh [we] live by faith in the Son of God, who loved each of us and gave Himself up for [our Salvation.]” Gal 2:20 (KJV)

imgresIn 2016 we must also seek the presence of God with our finite minds and recognize Him as our Creator, the all-knowing, all-powerful, “unlimited in nature and ability to be everywhere at all times.”

And once we recognize that, we then begin to understand, there is no limit to what our God can do as we lay it all at the feet of Christ and say not my will but thy will be done. Health issues, not my will but thy will be done.

Family issues or a child whose life is completely contrary to the Christian up-bringing they received at home, not my will but thy will be done. Gossip, lying, adultery, fornication, homosexuality the list is infinite and the many resources God gives us to overcome and conquer, is also infinite.

But we must lay it at the feet of Christ, grab hold of our faith and cry out with heartfelt sincerity and repentance, not my will but thy will be done. As His Chosen, we must maintain aSecond-Coming-of-Jesus_icon willingness to subject our small and insignificant Minds and desires to the greater goal of carrying our cross for Christ  as we approach the end of this controversy between good and evil.

In addition, once we understand it is not about us. God’s will takes over. Paul tells us in Rom 6:11-14 (NKJV) “In the same way, look upon yourselves as dead to the appeal and power of sin but alive to God through Christ Jesus our Lord.

My friends, heaven is our destination and as the stroke of the blood of Christ continues to finish our life’s picture, sin can never be our master, as we are forever being renewed through Christ, even throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity.

 

Every excuse we may give as the reason we cannot serve Christ, was challenged and answered at Calvary.

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