Archives for June 2016

June 16, 2016

MY FRIENDS, HOW MANY MORE TEARS AND SLEEPLESS NIGHTS?

Its personal my friends because if you are a child of God we all yearn or have a passion that starts with our tears and sleepless nights and ends with that personal relationship with God that says our journey to the promise land is worth every trial and tribulation of our life. And our healing comes from those same tears and sleepless nights, and the fact in knowing God loves us and “He will never leave nor forsake us.”

In addition, along with the many tears we shed and the thousands of sleepless nights we go through in our life, looking back we can say they have always been God’s grace and mercies in disguise, because the trials of this life and the tears we shed tell us there will be a better day if through our faith we can endure until God says “it is finished.”

William Miller who is credited with beginning the mid-nineteenth century religious movement that was known as the Millerites, makes a statement that says, “I have fixed my mind on another time, and here I mean to stand until God gives me more light, and that is today, today, and today, until He comes, and I see him for whom my soul yearns. “For whom my soul yearns” through the many tears and sleepless nights our soul seeks His presence. “Our soul yearns,” for the mind, character, and Spirit of God.

“Our soul yearns” to have the humility of a child who still needs comfort in knowing that “God keeps a count of our tossing’s [throughout the night as he puts our] tears in His bottle, [while] recording them in His book” Ps 56:8 (KJV paraphrased) But my friends, above and beyond everything else our soul must yearn for the moment when Christ Himself  “will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Rev. 21:4 (ESV)

And that is why we must “fix our mind” on Christ second coming as we completely eliminate self and Set “our heart on the things above, [and] not on the things on this earth.” And if we have decided to serve God and make a total commitment to Him, through our tears and sleepless nights we must tell ourselves we are no longer lost sheep, but we are vessels of God, set apart as disciples with our on cross to bear for the one who gave it all for our salvation.

We are also a-part of “A FEW” who will finish up the work of God for “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers ARE FEW.” Luke 10:2 (NIV) And we are a-part of  an elect group ”who will travel that narrow and difficult path that leads the way to [everlasting] life, and [we are a-part of only] “A FEW” who will find it.” Matt. 7:13-14 (NKJV) And we are a-part of  a few that will “go through great tribulation, and wash our robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Rev. 7:14 (NKJV)

But through it all, what gives us the most comfort is knowing that our tears and the thousand of sleepless nights and all of the trials and tribulations of this world, that we have fulfilled God’s mandate and preached the gospel into all the world and that we are not only a-part of “A FEW” but, a great multitude which no one could number.

[And part of that number were souls we brought to Christ] of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, as we all stood before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in [our] hands, and [still crying my friends, and] with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” Rev. 7:9-10 (NKJV)

June 14, 2016

MY FRIENDS, HIS LOVE IS SO MUCH STRONGER THEN WHATEVER TROUBLES US!!

Mountains, Storms, Rough terrains, deep valleys, all adjectives that define difficult times in our life, whether death of a love one or a sickness that the doctors have told us was incurable. A son our daughter that have taken another direction in their life other than the Christian values they were taught while growing up, financial and work related problems. My friends, where does the list end. And since it is our personal season and our personal journey we ask why?

And once we ask ourselves that question we must look to God for answers. And His reply will sound something like this; “faith that does not transform you, will do you little good” because without it we  “sorrow as others which have no hope.” But through your faith “It doesn’t matter what you face, My love will conquer every situation and circumstances of your life. Yes my friends, God’s love tells us to “be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (ESV)

But, that promise as with all of God’s promises are conditional, which says there are terms and those terms are based on the time frame He has given us during this short probationary period we have from birth to death to allow the Spirit of God to transform our lives so that when we see Him face to face it will be as one looking in the mirror and His glory will be our glory and His scars will be our scares because we “came out of great tribulation [and have many scars to present before Christ that we received from carrying our cross.

In addition, many stars will be in our crowns that says I served a risen savior while on earth and have many souls to present to the Master.” So whatever our storm may be, if we love God as He loves us and keep His commandments then we can say with no reservation that we are being refined in the flames of this worlds afflictions but, it’s all right because His love is stronger than our “light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,” 2 Cor 4:17 (NKJV)

Consistent with this, because of that love “nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of Christ.” So we cannot become complacent at the power of Satan to keep our minds focused away from the love of God. So we must dissociate ourselves from the things of this world that do not center our attention on Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Friends, if we are serious about our Salvation there must be a deep passion from within, a passion through God’s word and Spirit that penetrates from within and then out onto the front lines of the battle field.

And as ambassadors to God’s kingdom, our passion and God’s light from above must transcend to a dying world as we walk through those streets of gold in God’s Kingdom and pave the way to the promise land with a shared vision to others in the final days of this life’s history. Yes our God has entrusted us with His message of love that begins with the fact that He “so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that who so ever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 (KJV)  And a Son, that while we were yet sinners, died for us.

MY FRIENDS, WE HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED BECAUSE “MULTITUDES ARE PERISHING WITHIN REACH OF ABUNDANT HELP”

October 30, 1974, one of the greatest fights in the history of boxing took place in Kinshasa Zaire, “The Rumble in the Jungle.” It pitted a 28 year old Foreman who seemed an overwhelming favorite against the 32-year old Muhammad Ali. After being stripped of his license and title in 1967, once again was given a chance to fight for the world championship. Ali had told everyone that he had a secret plan for Foreman. A plan strategy Ali later dubbed the rope-a-dope.

As a result, Foreman spent his energy throughout the fight throwing punches that either did not hit Ali or were deflected in a way that made it difficult for Foreman to hit Ali at all. As the fight drew into the eighth round, Foreman’s punching and defense became ineffective as the strain of throwing so many wild shots took its toll. The fight showed that Ali was capable of taking a punch and highlighted his tactical genius, as Foreman struck Ali with hundreds of thunderous blows, to no effect.

No one, least of all Foreman, anticipated that Ali would do what he did, which was to demonstrate so passionately his burning belief in his own ability to meet and master any other man on any terms. My friends, Six thousand years ago Satan thought he had stripped Christ of all rights to call this world His domain saying in his heart ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God… I will be like the Most High. Isa. 14:13,14 (KJV) But God told us all, He had a plan for man’s salvation, and the victory would be won, not in Kinshasa Zaire, but on a site called Calvary.

And no matter how many thunderous blows Satan would throw, they would be of no effect. How this was done, God’s word gives a step by step account of the tactical genius of our all knowing, all powerful, omnipresence God, along with the challenges we face from the same foe, which is Satan? The plan was to give the world His only begotten Son, so that “who so ever would believe in Him would not parish but have life everlasting” John 3:16 (KJV)

“As Christ was dying on the cross He “saw how deep is the hold of sin upon the human heart,[and] 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) My friends, the challenge to us today is, do we have the passion to serve? as “multitudes perish within reach of our help”

In addition, somewhere deep down inside of us, does God’s spirit continued to let us know our responsibility? And once we know our responsibility do we fall on our knees in humility and a contrite heart as we ask for forgiveness for all of Gods precious time we have wasted as we cry out, Dear God, “not my will but, thy will be done”? My friends, it must become personal as we realize the sacrifices made for our salvation.

In addition, We must never forget that Christ the victor, now reigns in the heavenly courts, advocating on our behalf and it is up to us, heirs to His kingdom and joint heirs with His Son to understand God’s plan for our life because we have been given an awesome responsibility. And friends, that responsibility is, go with a burning passion into all the world and become witnesses because, “multitudes are perishing within reach of abundant help.”

June 8, 2016

MY FRIENDS, IF VICTORY IS OUR PASSION WE MUST FINISH STRONG!

A passion to “FINISH STRONG and not grow weary or fainthearted”  must become God’s elect, mission statement, in our final stretch to the promise land today. Our desire, our goals, our passion, our focus, our faith, our endurance, our prayers, and the never ending study of God’s word, must never waiver. To finish strong will be very grueling, but we must  never forget that this race was won on Calvary. We just have to believe and trust God that He is in control of our destiny if we will only give it all to Him as we allow self  to die daily.

It can never be about us, we must pull the field around behind us, by first keeping everyone encouraged and focused by, Modeling the way and Inspiring a shared vision with passion as we remind the rest of the field, that once we cross that finish line with torch in hand, no matter what place you come in at, if you have faith, and believe, and stay focused, and study the course which is the word of God, we will all receive the ultimate prize life eternal.

For we must never forget Phil. 3:14 (KJV) “Press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” So today as we stand at the crossroad between life and death, one pointing to our Savior Jesus Christ and eternal life and the other pointing towards a path bound for perdition. Grace still abounds, as Christ seeks with a passion our time and a personal relationship with Him.

My friends the reality is, Christ left the first time telling us “I will go and prepare a place for you and I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:3 (KJV) But only if you believe and finish strong. Endurance, is defined as the ability or strength to continue or last especially “despite fatigue, stress, or other adverse conditions.”

And those other adverse conditions are the day in, and day out barrage of assaults from the “principalities and powers, and the rulers of the darkness of this world.” My friends the final season is upon us when God will say, “He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.” And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” Rev. 22:11-12 (NKJV)

And then in (v,14-15) Christ tells us what those rewards are “Blessed are those who do His commandments, [and not nine out of ten but all of His commandments, will] have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates and into the city. But, [“all who entered that wide gate and traveled that wide road that lead to destruction, and there are many who decided to travel that road instead of the narrow road that lead to life eternal.

There reward is outside the gates of God’s kingdom] “with the dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.” FINISH STRONG” my friends, Christ needs faithful workers today who will endure to the end, and as we put those two powerful words “FINISH STRONG” in the context of our journey and our salvation, soon we will cry out as Christ enters the clouds above “Worthy is the lamb” that asked us to bear our cross and follow Him.