Archives for September 2016

SEP. 27, 2016

MY FRIENDS, IF IT WAS JUST YOU, IF IT WAS JUST I, NOTHING CHANGES!!

The passion of Christ what does that mean to us personally. And if that passion did not exist where would we be? My friends, that is not a hard question to answer, “sinking deep in sin, Far from the peaceful shore, very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more.” But, “on the contrary,” “our Savior demonstrated his own love for us in this, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” While we were still sinking into the abyss He died for us and if it was only you or if it was only I nothing would have changed.

Because, He would have still left His holy kingdom to be humiliated, abused, slapped and spit upon. And He would have allowed the same Roman guards to scourge, drag and torture Him throughout the streets of Jerusalem while carrying a cross. And at Calvary He would have allowed the same spear to pierce him the same crown of thorns placed on His head, and the same nails to penetrate His outstretched feet and hands on that cruel cross. And yes, He would have done it all, just for you and I.

“If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?” Matt. 18:12 (KJV) Now that it’s personal, this is the one time we can allow self to take control of our heart as we realize the plan of salvation was about you and I.

John 3:16 (KJV) says it best, “for God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” So the plan of Salvation did not have a starting or a cut off point for souls. The plan say’s whoever believes? And Matt. 24:13 (KJV) continues to make it personal when Christ tells us personally, “he [or she] who endures to the end shall be saved.

Which also lets us know, even though Christ paid the price which makes it a free gift to us and even though “He went into the mountains, to seek only you and I that had gone astray” It is still our faith and it is still our endurance which tells us it is still our cross we must bear to obtain life eternal. And the more it becomes personal the more we can focus on the character of Christ.

And the more we can focus on the selfless, sacrificial and unconditional love which was demonstrated by not giving up, but staying focused and going all the way until He rose from the grave and Now sits before “our Father advocating on our behalf for the same you and I who have let Him down time and time again, tells us the more we should fall on our knees with a contrite heart while crying out, Lord “not my will but thy will be done.”

And with cross in hand, follow Him all the way to Calvary by being a humble servant to others. And one day soon a “great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, (will stand) before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands.” Rev. 7:9 (KJV)

“And on one accord, throughout the heavenly courts, giving God all the praise, glory and honor, for we will forever recognize, without Satan telling us otherwise, the Love grace and mercy employed in the salvation of mankind on this earth that were ready to parish, until God sent His only Begotten Son, to die for you, and to die for I.

Sep. 25, 2016

MY FRIENDS. DOES OUR REDEEMER LIVE?

Before the death of Christ, in the Jewish sanctuary there was the holy and the most holy compartments which represented the earthly dwelling place of God’s presence. A veil separated the two which signified Christ the only way to the Father. Upon the death of Christ at Calvary when His Fathers face was hidden from him because of the enormity of our sins that rested on His Son’s shoulders, Christ cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

My friends the veil became flesh and blood and lived among us, John 14:6 (KJV) Christ tells us, “no one comes to the Father except through me.” And it is God’s grace and our faith which assures us that our iniquities have not “separated us from God, to the point He has hidden his face so that he does not hear our pleas for help. If there ever was a time for soul searching and a contrite heart, it is now because beyond that veil which Christ represented tells us our redeemer lives.

But to believe our redeemer lives takes us to another level in our relationship with God because as we look at the world we live in, millions believe, and just as many don’t, and just as many live as though there was no hope and the tares live among the wheat and the false prophets live among us all but “God makes His sun to rise on the evil, and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matt.  5:45 (NKJV)

So even if we did believe, “Good! Even the demons believe…..” James 2:19 (NKJV) So how close are we to our Redeemer to know He lives? Because only when we carry our own Cross and walk down the Via Dolorosa and realize it was all about you and I, and at times we may feel the need to cry out “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani because we don’t feel God’s presence. But, if we have forsaken all others and given our all to Christ then we must believe our redeemer lives within our heart.

Which also tells us, He will never leave nor forsake us. But Satan places doubt in our heart. Remember doubt cost Adam and Eve their home in Eden. And one third of the Angles gave up their home in heaven because of doubt. My friends, doubt in regards to our salvation questions the legitimacy of God and the death and ressurection of His Son.

Now its personal, because we must decide if the things of this world are worth more then life eternal? in addition,  are we willing to give it all up because the god of this world has caused us to question the legitimacy of the price that was paid for our salvation.  Our redeemer will come soon and the separation ends because we shall see Him as He is and our Character will be just as pure as the one who enters those clouds.

But all who doubt or could never answer or felt it was not important enough to answer if their redeemer lives. He will come from heaven soon like a thief in the midnight hour “with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God,” [to get the redeemed] 1 Thess. 4:15-17 (NIV) And for ever-one else who did not “forsake this world for the glory of God, at that moment they will call to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who they see seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb [because to the lost, no He isn’t their Redeemer]”Rev 6:16 (ESV)

Sep. 23, 2016

MY FRIENDS, GOD IS UNLEASHING HIS POWER NOW WHAT?

“High atop the Andes Mountains, the rays of the sun strike ice, and a single drop of water forms. It begins to trace a hesitant course downward, gradually joining with other drops of water to become a steady stream. The stream gains speed and strength. Thousands of feet below and hundreds of miles later, what were once single drops have converged to become the mightiest river on earth: the Amazon. Flowing into the Atlantic Ocean at a rate of more than seven million cubic feet per second; the Amazon is more powerful than the next ten largest rivers in the world combined.” (David Platt, Radical Together)

My friends, let’s make it personal today. I need you to focus on the narrative as we allow ourselves to become transformed into that single drop of water, with the rays of the Son of God unleashing the power of His Holy Spirit upon us; as we become witnesses for God throughout our churches and throughout our communities, and our place of employment and “in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (KJV)

What is so awesome about the scenario is, you and I, are gradually joining with other drops of water to become a steady stream. And that is when it becomes a movement. My friends, God is unleashing His Spirit to all who are willing to take up our cross and become one of His disciples. And it is happening while we are sitting in front of our TV’s telling all who will listen, how much we are looking forward to Christ second coming.

When He will take us away from this crazy world. “But, on the contrary.” “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he [or she] who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.” Matt 7:21 (NASB) Now let’s look deep down inside of our heart and ask, are we doing the will of “our Father which art in heaven”?

Isn’t it ironic, three months from now as we begin to look over our life during the past quarter it suddenly will dawn on us that the god of this world has allow us to become so occupied with the things of this world that we no longer have any type of prayer life. And we no longer spend any more quality time in the presence of God just allowing Him to speak to us as a friend one on one.

My friends, what direction are we headed? We say we want life eternal in God’s kingdom but are we willing to give God our all to make it happen. It is not a complicated process. All that is required, each day we wake up, the first thing we do with passion Is cry out, “Lord not my will but thy will be done.” And please Create within me the desire to be that “single drop of water that begins to trace a hesitant course downward gradually joining with other drops of water to become a steady stream.”

Whose only desire is to do your will. Once again my friends, with such a desire comes with it great responsibilities for the Master as He leads us on this Journey. But one day 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. Then we 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)

Sep 21, 2013

MY FRIENDS, WHAT IF YOU HAD A DAMASCUS ROAD EXPERIENCE?

A public phenomenon, a light from heaven and the actual voice of God. Is that what is needed for us to make a complete change in our life. Like Paul on the Damascus road once God came into his life, his words were “Lord, what do You want me to do?” “And from that point forward, he never went back, to the way it used to be Before God’s presence came and changed” His life which was headed towards perdition. But through his faith and endurance he took up his cross and lived the rest of his life through Christ.

I would imagine, somewhere in the deep confines of his subconscious the Spirit of God had penetrated through a barrier that most of us never know exist until a life changing experience happens. When Suddenly, like Paul a light appears and then “The wind blows…… You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.” But if you are a child of God who seeks His presence daily this is the experience of “everyone born of the Spirit.” John 3:8 (NIV)

And we should all be able to say “I wasn’t there, when the earth was created, so I have no proof that He hung every star, but I know what my life was without Him and the joy that was mine when He rescued my heart No wonder they call Him Savior,
Jesus, the Lamb of God.” (Larnelle Harris) My friends, that Damascus road experience we must seek and be willing to accept the responsibilities that comes along with it because it is a process.

One where we will encounter daily struggles of trials and tribulation because the principalities, and powers, and rulers of the darkness of this world have made other plans for our life. And no matter how hard we try to change, Satan‘s plans for us is to reroute our intentions, and our desires and our passion to give it all to the Master, as he leads us to perdition.

My friends, if the light of God’s presence is shining on us today through His word and Spirit and that still small voice is saying, my chosen vessel, and heir and joint-heirs with My Son, “why do you persecute me” daily by not allowing my Spirit to transform you into the image of my Son who gave it all so that you may receive life eternal, “and have it more abundantly.” It is at that point our journey continues.

I say continue because we started this journey years ago, but we lost focus on our ending destination when we will here, “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Matthew 25:23 (KJV) But in-order to finish the course we must not give up but endure, and like Paul, The Lord said to Ananias, “Go!

This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to all. We must also be Christ chosen instrument. And as we read Paul’s letters, we also realize God knew, that Paul could be all things to all people. My friends what about you and I will we take up our cross and be all things to all people and be able to say like Paul “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.” Phil. 3:7-8 (KJV)

Sep. 20, 2016

MY FRIENDS, WILL YOU GIVE IT ALL TO GOD TODAY?

“I give myself away Lord so you can use me. Here I am here I stand Lord, my life is in your hands. Lord, I’m longing to see Your desires revealed in me Lord, So Take my heart Take my life as a living sacrifice all my dreams all my plans Lord I place them in your hands. My life is not my own, to you I belong “ (William Mcdowell, Give Myself Away) My heart, my dreams, my plans, my life. My friends, it all must be given to God today “In Judges 16 we know the narrative of Samson’s downfall.

Delilah convinces Samson to give her the secret of His strength. “No razor has ever come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaven, then my strength will leave me,…and I shall become like any other man.” She then lulled him to sleep and had someone to shave off the seven locks of his hair and when he awoke “he did not know that the Lord had departed from him.”

The narrative continues, Samson is captured, put in jail and his eyes put out. What a sad scenario to the strongest man who has ever lived. Now it becomes personal because many times in our life we are lulled to sleep by the things of this world which then causes us not to recognize the voice of God Calling us back to him. Many times before, Samson had violated his vows as a Nazirite, but why now has God’s departed from Samson?

My friends, God is all knowing, and if He knows how much we can bear, He also knows when we have crossed that line. It never was about the hair but about God’s blessings and grace. But God did not allow the story to end there because Samson was “brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” and our God’s promises says, when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 (KJV)

and sometimes we fall and we don’t know how to get up until we are in the “valley of the shadow of death” and that is when we cry out “Lord Here I am, my life is in your hands.” My friends, I can only imagine at some point while Samson was in prison He found God again. And that is where it becomes personal again, because it is our life that the god of this world consumes our undivided attention that should be spent praising and serving God.

And maybe God will have to bring us to our knees before we realize we were raised in “the nurture and admonition of the Lord” and he has always been our “rock and [our] fortress and [our] deliverer,” in every situation and circumstances of our life. My friends God did not leave Samson. He just removed His protection and blessings. Remember Job, just don’t kill him. Now we must ask, at this point in our life have we crossed that line?

Have we completely ignored God’s pleas to return to Him? Samson while in prison was given the opportunity to focus on all of his lost blessings throughout his life. But his final act was the sacrifice of his life to God as he killed more Philistines than he had killed in his entire life.” My friends God calls us today. If our desire is to follow Him we must take up our cross. But with that Cross comes responsibilities, but it also brings life eternal. Samson is in the Faith, hall of fame in Heb. 11:32 (KJV) and if we give God our all we will see him one day in the earth made new.

MY FRIENDS, CAN WE RECOGNIZE GODS VOICE WHEN HE CALLS?

As God’s children we must be willing to keep listening in the midst of the noise for Christ gentle whisper, please “follow me.” My friends, many like the rich young ruler that ask Christ, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Christ then tells him to keep all the commandments. His response was “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” Mark 10:17-21 (ESV) It seems the noise of his surroundings did not allow Him to focus on the one thing he lacked in his life to acquire eternal life because it was not conducive to what his own plans were. Christ saw something special in this young man. He saw a great asset to His ministry and the people he would touch through the light of His Spirit.

This young man was in the very presence of God and could not here his voice or respond to it because of the noise of his surroundings. Christ also knew His salvation would only come from following Him, where he would constantly here the Shepherds voice and recognize it at all times. Not all who came to Christ did He extend an invitation to personally follow Him.

The man who had been possessed with demons that Jesus cast out begged [Jesus] that he might be with him. And he did not permit him, but said, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you,” Mark 5:17-19 (ESV) Like the Rich young ruler Christ sees something special in all who will respond to His voice in these final days of earth’s history. That is why his voice in the midst of the noise of our daily life is pleading with us to respond and follow Him.

Samuel from his bed, heard the voice of God call out to him “Samuel! Samuel! And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.” 1 Sam. 3:10 (NKJV) The Lord spoke to Moses as one speaks to a friend, from the midst of the burning bush, God said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Ex. 3:4 (NKJV) Paul heard a voice on the Damascus Road call out, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”……..And Saul said “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Acts 9:3-6 (NKJV)

My friends, are we just not listening because God’s voice interferes with our plans right now. But God says in Jer. 29:11 (KJV) “I know the plans I have for you,……to give you a future and a hope,” But learning to clearly distinguish God’s voice as the prophets of old is not possible only because we have decided with that voice comes responsibilities we are just not willing to respond to right now.

But friends, only God’s children who walk in the footsteps of God, and die to self-daily and not when it is only convenient in our time, and now we live our life only through the voice of Christ as we cry out daily “not my will but thy will be done, will enter God’s kingdom.” But while God speaks to us as He chooses, His primarily source of communication is through His Word, and Spirit, and if we have a sincere, and a  heartfelt prayer life, while applying through our faith and endurance what we read daily in God’s word, we will never get it wrong when we here the good Shepard say follow me, because we will respond.