Archives for April 2016

April 30, 2016

MY FRIENDS, HAVE YOU DWELT LONG ENOUGH AT THIS MOUNTAIN?

“Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the men of Israel to arms, 32,000 headed the call. But God told him it was to many, they would only claim victory for themselves instead of recognizing that it was God. Then Gideon ask if anyone “trembles with fear” or were concern about home and family can leave. 22,000 returned Home leaving only 10,000 Luke 14:26 (KJV)

If you are chosen by God If you are a part of the elect, the original 32, 000 God has developed our course and each obstacle is there for a reason because “before He formed us in the womb He knew us, before we were born He set us apart;”  Jer. 1:5 (KJV) “Our heavenly Father measures and weighs every trial before He permits it to come upon the believer.

He considers the circumstances and the strength of the one who is to stand under the proving and test of God, and He never permits the temptations to be greater than the capacity of resistance. If the soul is overborne, the person overpowered, this can never be charged to God, … but the one tempted was not vigilant and prayerful and did not appropriate by faith the provisions God had abundantly in store for him. (E.G. White, Our High Calling, p 323)

“No temptation [regardless of its source] has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience….but God is faithful [to His word—He is compassionate and trustworthy], and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability [to resist],but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” 1 Cor. 10:13 (AMP) My friends, our sins  are not categorized from one to ten with ten being the worst of the worst sins.

But God’s makes a way of escape for all that is an abomination in His sight. Acts 20:24 states “But I count my life of no value to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.” “You have dwelt long enough at this mountain. Turn and take your journey” Deu. 1:6 (KJV)

The Lord telling The Israelite’s, that mountain in front of you, is the only thing that stands between you and the promise land. I have given you all you need to get there, now its all about your faith and endurance. My friends with you and I He gave the ultimate price, His Son to follow if we are willing to take up our cross and follow Him. to a place eye nave not seen or ear heard or entered into the heart of man or woman the things prepared for all who love Him 1 Cor, 2:9 (KJV)

But it must become a real destination not some fable that starts off in our finite minds, a land far far away? Christ death on the cross and our salvation must also be a real event. There must also be a passion from within that says all to Jesus I surrender as we serve Him with a passion daily. “I can’t begin to comprehend what kind of grace would take the place of all my sins?

But it will my friends, through our faith and endurance. But grace will not abound forever, Christ is coming soon! And His reward is with Him and He will give to each person according to what they have done……And blessed are those who have wash their robes in the blood of Christ, because it is only those who have, that will eat from the tree of life as they enter through the gates into the city Rev. 22:12-14 (NKJV)

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

April 29, 2016

MY FRIENDS, GOD NEEDS SPECIAL FORCES TODAY WHO ARE WILLING TO SERVE!

God needs a dedicated “Special Operations” unit of men and women who are willing to use unconventional methods and resources. Their operations may be performed independently of or in conjunction with others in all military operations. But there must be a passion to serve. The primary goal is to seek out and assist God’s Spirit in locating souls for the kingdom, because no one on our watch must be left behind.

And because “of the increase of wickedness, and the love of many that have grown cold,” there must be new, unconventional, breathtaking and awe- inspiring methods used that will not adversely affect the overall strategic outcome of God’s plan but will save many souls that are sinking deep in sin who do not realize that there is only one name on the battle field given among men and woman by which they may be saved.” And that name is Jesus Christ. Acts 4:12 (NKJV)

My friend, we have very little time left to achieve our goals and saturate the battle field with the grace of God. Because soon the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. And then everyone else who have [“come out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb,] who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. “ 1 Thess. 4:16-17, (NKJV) Rev. 7:14 (KJV)

My friends we live in a world that the god of it has said “I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” Is. 14:14 (KJV) So his goal is that “all will sin, and fall short of the [love, grace, mercy and] glory of God.” Rom. 3:23 (NIV) So we can no longer sit and wait for the coming of Christ. God has given His chosen an awesome responsibility.

We are in unchartered territory and cannot delay any longer because many are “like lost sheep without a shepherd and they wander aimlessly with a feeling of no hope and as Christ disciples, He is challenging us to move out and serve because “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” Matt. 9:36-37 (NKJV) And if you are one of the few, you must step out on Faith, knowing Christ “will never leave nor forsake us, out on the battle field. ”

My friends, in the service of God there need be no despondency, no wavering, no fear. The Lord will more than fulfill the highest expectations of those who put their trust in Him. He will give them the wisdom that their varied necessities demand.” (E.G. White, Prophets and Kings, p 387) So we need only to step out in Faith with a passion to serve and one day soon Christ will say to His faithful “you have fought the good fight, you have finished the race, and have kept the faith,”

And Finally, there is laid up for you the crown of righteousness, which [I] the Lord, the righteous Judge, will [now] give to you…, and not to you only but also to all who have [prepared for my] appearing.” 2 Tim. 4:7-8 (NKJV) Remember, success as a Christian for Christ is our willingness to carry our cross across the finish line as we yield ourselves to the cause of God on the front lines of the battle field because every excuse we my come up with for the reason we cannot do God’s will and serve, was challenged and answered at Calvary.

April 26, 2016

MY FRIENDS, IT’S PERSONAL WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS JUST SING THESE SEVEN SONGS!!!!

“God sent His son, they called Him Jesus; He came to love, heal and forgive; He lived and died to buy my pardon, and now a empty grave proves my Savior lives! And because He lives life is worth the living!” And when  Life is easy, when I’m up on the mountain and I’ve got a peace of mind, sometimes things happen my friends, and thing change for the worse, and I lay exhausted on the field of Battle and life seems so uncertain, and the terrain is treacherous, deceptive unstable and insecure, in the valley.

But I don’t lose faith but continue to endure, for I realize I am never alone For the God on the mountain, is still the God in the valley, so when things go wrong, he’ll make them right even if  I don’t hear that still small voice. But, let it be known I am still not going to serve the god of this world.

And I can say this because ever “since I met this blessed Savior, Since He cleansed and made me whole, I will never cease to praise His name, because He touched me, Oh He touched me, And oh the joy that floods my soul! And now “my sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought! My sin, not in part but the whole, Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more because I believe in a hill called mount Calvary I believe whatever the cost and when time has surrendered and earth is no more I’ll still cling to the old rugged cross.

And I believe that this life with its great mysteries will someday come to an end. But faith will conquer the darkness and death and will lead His faithful at last to my friend, Jesus Christ who was slain on the cross and has the power to change lives today, for He changed me completely, a new life is mine and that is why by the cross I will stay.

But, then at the threshold of the promise land, in my heart I felt the battle was still raging from within because not all prisoners of war had come home,  but I must say, these were battlefields of my own making, and then I heard that still small voice whisper to me that the war had been won and that the king of the ages Had fought all my battles for me and that victory was mine for the claiming and then I praised his name, because I was set free.

And at that moment, I look up, The King is coming!! I just heard the trumpet sounding and now his face I see, Praise God He’s coming for me Happy faces line the hallway Those whose lives have been redeemed Broken homes that He has mended Those from prison He’s set free, Little children and the aged Hand in hand stand all aglow, who were crippled broken ruined Clad in garments white as snow.

I can hear the chariots rumble I can see the marching throng And the flurry of God’s trumpets spell the end of sin and wrong, Regal robes are now unfolding Heaven’s grandstands all in place Heaven’s choir is now assembled Start to sing Amazing Grace the King is coming, the King is coming, Praise God He’s coming for me. (The Gaither Band, He Lives, God on the Mountain, He Touched Me, It is well with my soul, I Believe In A Hill Called Mount Calvary,The King Is Coming, It is finished)

April 26, 2016

MY FRIENDS, ARE WE SLAVES AND DON’T KNOW IT?

“When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it, then you will know which way to go, ….” Joshua 3:1-4 (KJV) This was the directions from Israel’s new leader Joshua, who replaced Moses in leading the Children of Israel to the promise land. He was Chosen, because he had been this way before and he knew where he was going.

So today my friends as God’s Chosen, the journey we are now traveling to the promise land stands on the other side of our trials that we must encounter as this controversy continues between Good and evil. But Christ, knows the rough terrain and the rocky roads we must travel and what delicate steps we must take to follow in His footsteps.

Christ tells us, “the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.” Rev. 3:21 (NIV) But we must believe that we can defeat Satan. But only through Christ who traveled this same journey we travel is it possible. In Luke 8:26-39 (NKJV) Christ arrived at the country of the Gerasenes.

As he stepped on land, a man who had many demons in him and lived in the tombs saw Jesus and fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? “I beg you, do not torment me” for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man who was bound and a slave to Satan ……..Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered him.

My friends, we must now ask ourselves how many times do we have to turn our back on God before Satan takes full control by making us an offer we cannot refuse which makes the things of this world look much more appealing than life eternal? And once we allow Satan to manipulate our journey we then become a slave to sin with many Legions occupying our life.

Remember, if we do not occupy our minds with Gods word and Spirit but only with the things of this world. Even though at one time in our life we had given our life over to Christ and served Him faithfully. If we become complacent and quit allowing God’s Spirit to transform our life through His word. We then allow self and the forces of evil to “return and when they enter our life again, they will find it swept and put in order but not occupied.

My friends, we must understand when our life is not occupied with the things above only the things of this earth. Then Satan will brings in [“Legions of demons to enter our life and dwell within us, and our life now becomes worse than the first time we allowed Christ to take control” Luke 11:23-26 (NKJV) Harriet Tubman the “African-American abolitionist, during the American Civil War, was a Union spy.

Born into slavery, Tubman rescued approximately seventy enslaved families and friends, using the network the “Underground Railroad.”  She is quoted as saying” “I freed a thousand slaves, I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves.” My friends do we understand we are slaves. But Christ knows the way to freedom and life eternal if we will only “lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, Heb. 12:1 (NKJV)

April 23, 2016

MY FRIENDS, ARE WE DOING SOMETHING BREATHTAKING AND AWE-INSPIRING?

Abraham Lincoln had the great misfortune of being at the forefront of our nation during it’s most troubled times. Our great country had split in two between the North and South. The war had claimed the lives of many soldiers and in the midst of the war, Lincoln’s own son died. The President was then literally brought to his knees. In midweek, Lincoln did what he often did during those trying times, he found refuge at a church in Washington.

The minister opened the Scriptures and taught from God’s Word. And when he finished, the president stood quietly, and began to leave. His aide asked, “What did you think of the sermon, Mr. President?” Lincoln said, “I thought the sermon was eloquently delivered but he failed…because he did not ask of us something Great and awe-inspiring.”

In the midst of the constant death and turmoil, even Lincoln understood that when you listen to Gods voice, you should expect the Lord to call His Children to go beyond the ordinary and do something breathtaking and awe-inspiring. Psalm 99:1-3 (KJV) tells me My “Lord reigns, let the nations tremble; he sits enthroned between the cherubim, let the earth shake. Great is the Lord in Zion; he is exalted over all the nations. Let them praise your great and awesome name he is holy.”

My friends if you have lived long enough you have probably seen it all and by the grace of God most of us have managed to survive with only minor visible scars that we have been in a war zone daily with the enemy. But my friends, before that great day of Christ return, it must become personal as we look back on where God has brought us and focus as high above as our finite minds will take us.

And as we look down the smaller the world below get’s until it is no longer relevant, only the presence of God which we are now seeking. Consistent with this, we realize below is a “world where every intent of the thoughts of the heart of man is evil continually.” So there is nothing we miss or want to return too. And  then, their stands the countenance of God.

And as the tears roll down our cheeks all we can say is, “Lord, how long shall the wicked exult? They pour out their arrogant words; all the evildoers boast. They crush your people, O Lord, and afflict your heritage. They kill the widow and the sojourner, and murder the fatherless….”Psalm 94:3-7 (ESV)

So then God challenges us to return and do something higher than what we ever imagine was possible. He tells us to go beyond the ordinary, He then reminds us, if you “have the faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” Matt. 17:20 (KJV)

The preacher Lincoln listened to that day failed to challenge His congregation. When the Israelite’s left Egypt, Exodus 19:4 (KJV) tells us God said to His chosen people,  “You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. But then God asks them to do something breathtaking and awe-inspiring God asks them for a commitment.

My friends, God is also asking His chosen today in the midst of “such a time as this” to do something breathtaking and awe-inspiring in His Name. He is telling us to remember, if we say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ it will move, because nothing will be impossible in God’s name.”

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

April 21, 2016

MY FRIENDS, WHY DO WE CONTINUE TO ASK, WHEN IS CHRIST SECOND COMING?”

“…..“Let not your heart be troubled; if you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I [now] go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

Then Thomas the doubter ask “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Then Jesus answers the question. “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” Then Phillip becomes concerned and ask “Lord, show us the Father, and [that will be] sufficient for us.”

Then Jesus answers Him “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? John 14:1-9 (NKJV) My friends, do we doubt as the disciples when we ask, is Christ second coming near. Remember, Christ has told us in Matt. 24, “the sun will be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall.

He also prophesied of; wars and rumors of wars, and nations rising up against nation, and kingdoms against kingdoms. In addition, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places and the many false prophets that will deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” And then, this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

And His warning continues for all doubters, “as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” Matt. 24:38 (NKJV) April 15, 1912 the Titanic Departs from Belfast headed to America with 2,233 souls on board, disaster strikes, 1,530 were lost 713 survived.

You had the first class who consisted of the rich and aristocracy of society. in second class you have those who had achieved success and money through work, people in trades such a miners, teachers and clerks. In third class you have poor families immigrating to the United States. In addition, you had 900 crew members.

So the ranged of passengers went from the richest to the poorest with a wide array of reasons why each took this particular voyage. In addition, the ship was designed so that the various social and economic classes never had to meet nor mix while on board. My friends Let’s make it personal and look at our own salvation because at the end of the day there will only be those who are lost and those who will be saved.

In addition, there will be no economic cultural or gender distinctions between the lost and saved, only those whose robes have been washed in the blood of Christ and can look back and tell our story of how we got over as we enter “that place 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 Cor. 2:9 (KJV)