Archives for February 2017

Feb. 11, 2017

MY FRIENDS, THERE IS ONLY ONE NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES!

I lift my hands in total adoration to the one “[who] humbled himself by becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross! Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, [and one day that ] name Jesus, every knee [will] bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.” Phil. 2:8-10 (NIV) Consistent with that my friends, “there is salvation in no other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 (KJV)

Isaiah 9:6 calls Him “Wonderful Counselor,” Jeremiah 23:5,6 calls Him “ the righteous Branch” Habakkuk 3:13 calls Him “Your anointed,” David in Psalm 2:2 calls Him the “Anointed One” Zechariah 3:8 calls Him the “Branch” Malachi 3:1 calls Him “Messenger of the Covenant” Micah 5:2 calls Him “Ruler” Matthew 1:21 and 23 calls Him “Jesus” and “Emanuel” John 1:1-4 Calls Him the “Word.”

But my friends, I don’t know about you but personally I call Him Friend, the only friend that in spite of my situations and circumstances in my life, my friend has always been there. And many times, I lost sight of where in my life my Friend was, but He never lost sight of where on this journey I was. And as far into the abyss I went, His arm seems to have always reached just as far to rescue me.

That is why I can say there is no friend like Him and no name can touch My heart quite like His does. And if I search for all eternity I would still come up with the same conclusion, there is “no other name given among men, whereby I can be saved.” And throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity we will find there is still no name under heaven given among men that made life eternal possible but One?

My friends, today it must become personal as you ask yourself what does that name mean to me? And, am I willing to “forsake all others” so that my entire life is centered around that one name as we allow God’s Spirit to change our life and character into the likeness of the one who holds that name? As we focus on that name we must also understand it is only an individual who walks daily in the presence of God.

And who has a passion that burns from within, and whose heart is fixed to serve God, will understand as His disciples we are to carry His mandate forward. And every word and act must be to focus attention on that One name as possessing that “vital power” by which those who have lost hope may fine it. 

And all who “are sinking deep in sin far from the peaceful shore” through the light that shines within us from that One name they may be saved. And “each day we must improve every opportunity that lie within our reach through God’s Spirit along with a shared vision that one day soon Christ will raise those same hands that were pierced at Calvary, as He opens the gates to the New Jerusalem.

And we, the redeemed will then realize “heaven is cheap enough” and also we, Hairs to His kingdom, also at that point realize, that one name is who we have become because we “have come out of great tribulation; and have washed [our] robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” Rev. 7:14 (NIV)

Feb 10, 2017

MY FRIENDS, DOES IT PAY TO SERVE THE LORD?

“Yes!! It pays, every step of the way.” Though the pathway to glory may sometimes be dreary, oh the joy from within from serving God. Paul describes His Joy. “Five times he received forty stripes minus one. Three times beaten with rods, once stoned, three times shipwrecked, exposed to danger from bandits, from his own countrymen, from the Gentiles. Danger in the city and wilderness. Often unable to sleep, hungry and thirsty. Often exposed in the cold without adequate clothing. In addition, besides the external things, there is the daily inescapable pressure of my concern for all the churches.” 2 Cor. 11:24-28 (AMP)

And “to keep Paul from becoming conceited, he was given a thorn in his flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment him. And three times he pleaded with the Lord to take it away. But he said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Cor. 12:7-9 (NIV)

Oh, the passion to receive such power, that is why it pays to serve God. Paul’s last days on earth was spent in a gloomy dungeon accused by his own countrymen and the Romans of instigating the most terrible of crimes along with the burning of Rome. But when “God’s power is made perfect in our weaknesses nothing can separate us from God.

Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, our fears for today or our worries about tomorrow. Not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. Rom. 8:38-39 (NLT) So Like Christ, His Master, a homeless wanderer who stood before Pilot. Paul, God’s representative stands before Nero and how can a “capricious, licentious tyrants understand or appreciate the character and motives” of God and His children.

Paul, was commissioned to stand before governors and kings and the sons of Israel,” that he may bear Christ name. Acts 9:15 (KJV). The truth was presented, and for a moment the invitation of mercy and grace was extended to Nero. Remember my friends, Christ died for all. But Like Pilot the door of repentance for Nero closed forever.

One of Paul’s last letters stated “I am…being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” 2 Tim 4:6-8 (NIV)

Paul’s life soon ended at the guillotine. My friends, it does pay to serve Christ. Paul had joy from within because in his weakness Christ love and power rested within Him and now there is in store for Paul the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to him soon, along with all who are willing to follow Christ even into a fiery furnace.

And like the three Hebrew boys with passion we must also believe “the God we serve is able to deliver us. But even if he does not, we want the world to know, we will not serve your gods” My friends, it pays to serve the Lord because He is greater than all of our circumstances and one day our reward will be eternal life.

Feb. 7, 2017

MY FRIENDS, NOW ARE WE IN A POSITION TO REASON WITH GOD?

“We are God’s children NOW, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him because we shall see Him as he is.” 1 John 3:2 (ESV) The adverb NOW or “at our present time or moment” in the context of our relationship with Christ speaks to our imperfect character NOW. And any hope of beholding Him beyond NOW must become an incentive not to “pass through this probationary period from birth to death as if we had no definite goals “for which to live, and no standard to reach.”

Standard, being those moral and ethical habits we live and stand by through God’s Word and Spirt. Isaiah 1:18, (KJV) states “Come NOW, let’s reason together, saith the Lord” which tells us a personal God sends out a gracious “invitation” to reason with the great I Am. His love, grace, and mercy gives us the opportunity to come before the Creator of all the universe and state our case.

But, in our finite minds, if we think we have a defense for not submitting completely to the will of God, it is to “our advantage” that we first “forsake all others” as we allow His word and Spirit to Change us into the image of His only Begotten Son who He personally gave to mankind so that “whoever believe in Him shall not parish, but receive life-eternal”

Consistent with this, is the fact that God’s only begotten Son “our Advocate, Jesus Christ the righteous one” stands with outstretched arms with the marks of the nails that were driven in His hands as He tells the Father for them I died. And though their sins were as scarlet, they are NOW white as snow; though they were once red like crimson, they are NOW as wool.”

And, “[in this time of imperfection] we see in a mirror dimly [a blurred reflection, a riddle, an enigma], but then [when the time of perfection comes we will see reality] face to face. [Now] we know in part [just in fragments], but then we will know fully, just as we have been fully known [by God].” And NOW there remain: faith [abiding trust in God and His promises], hope [confident expectation of eternal salvation], love [unselfish love for others growing out of God’s love for us]…..1 Cor. 13:11-13 (AMP)

NOW, look deep within self and see how far we are from the purity and glory of God. And ask, if Christ came today would “we hide ourselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains” while crying out, fall on me, NOW, “hide me from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath [has] come;” [and I am not ready. My friends,] “who shall be able to stand”? Rev 6:15-17 (KJV)

And who, when Christ appears “shall be like him because we shall see him as he is” in all of His glory, holiness and purity? NOW, let’s reason with God by falling on our knees, crying out in repentance, “not my will, but thou will be done.” Then, when Christ enter those clouds He can NOW say to His faithful, “well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: [NOW] enter into the joy of thy lord.” Matt 25:23 (KJV)

Feb. 2, 2017

MY FRIENDS, SLVATION IS BASED ON THE FACT, WE DIE DAILY!!!

Paul told the Corinthian’s, “I affirm, [or state positively] brethren, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.” 1 Cor. 15:31 (NASB) My friends we are at the very threshold of the promise land and the forces of evil have mounted attacks on God’s people at insurmountable levels that you and I will never defeat if we do not make an assertive, aggressive, self-assured, positive and dogmatic effort through prayer and supplication while seeking God’s Spirit through His word to die daily.

Remember we do not “fight against flesh and blood.” In addition, “time seems to be accelerating. The hours, days, seasons, and years appear to fly by faster than ever before…..One week seems to run into the next. It’s as if we’re watching the blur of a speeding train pass by. (Jim Tetlow, Author of 101 Last Days Prophecies)

In the parable of the fig tree Christ gives us this warning: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ Luke 13:6-9 (ESV)

My friends the signs of the weather we are quick to read, a mother’s due date for the birth of a child we are most certain about. But what about the daily signs of Christ soon coming. “When you see all these things [taking place], know for certain that He is near, right at the door.” Matt 24:33 (AMP)

Christ is “seeking fruit” from us but, “He has found none.” My friends, we were once young and now we are old, yet we have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.” Ps 37:25 (NIV) And yet, when or Savior who gave it all for our Salvation and provides for us daily, knocks, we ignore His pleading.

Along with the opportunity to live in a place “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for [you and I who say we love Him.]” 1 Cor. 2:9-10 (KJV) We are barren, and it is not that we are incapable of producing fruit, but the “rulers of the darkness of this world” have made us an offer, “bow down and worship me, [and the world will be ours]” Matt.4:9 (KJV)

My friends, Christ our example, the same offer was made to Him and His words were, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.” So who and what are we serving that is keeping self from dyeing daily. The parable of the fig tree ends with Christ telling us.

“Sir, let the tree alone this year, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.” Luke 13:6-9 (ESV) God’s love, grace and mercy allows us to determine our own fate therefore, “wide is the gate and broad the way that leads to destruction and many will travel it. But “narrow is the gate and difficult the way which leads to life eternal, and few [are just not willing] to find it” Matt 7:13-14 (KJV)

Feb. 1, 2017

MY FRIENDS, DOES A RISEN SAVIOR ABIDE WITHIN OUR HEART?

“Sir, we remembered that when He was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise [from the dead].’ Therefore, give orders to have the tomb made secure and safeguarded until the third day, otherwise His disciples may come and steal Him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last deception [the reporting of His resurrection] will be worse than the first, [the reporting that He is the Messiah].”

Pilate then said, “You have a guard [of soldiers]; go [with them], make the tomb as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure, and along with [stationing] a guard of soldiers [to be on watch] they set a seal on the stone.” Matt 27:63-66 (AMP) And behold there was a great earthquake and the angel of the Lord descended from heaven and rolled back the stone from the tomb,” Matt. 28:2 (KJV)

And “That Deceiver” “or Imposter” as the Jewish elders and priest called Him, did rise from the grave. But to give credit to an empty tomb they still alleged that the disciples stole Christ body, paying large sums of money to those soldiers who laid watch to say the disciples stole Jesus body while they slept.

My friends, each day through God’s Spirit we must allow Him to take us beyond where we were the day before spiritually. If not, we become as the Jewish leaders who referred to Christ as an “Imposter.” Not capable of bringing about a change in our lives. But my friends, by beholding Jesus, as the only name, His death and His resurrection as our only avenue towards salvation, He than lives within our heart as the Holy Spirit carries on the work of transformation.

“And the believer [then] advances from grace to grace, from strength to strength, from character to character as [You and I then begin to] conform to the image of Christ, until in spiritual growth [we] attain unto the measure of the full stature in Christ. (E.G. White, Selected Messages, bk. 1, p 395) And that my friends, is when sin is eliminated from our life and we are then set free from the idea of Christ as an “imposter” incapable of making significant changes in our life.

And now, as Christ disciples we must not be afraid to carry our cross to wherever Christ leads as we tell the world, we serve a risen Savior and He lives within us, and He can also live within you if you believe. We as God’s children, cannot keep Christ in the tomb of our own complacency and unwillingness to change while allowing self to live within us instead of Christ.

Because one day soon Christ will come as a thief  to take only those who believe He lives, and who have allowed His Spirit to convict, instruct, restore, and empower each of us into the image of the one who will ascend from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and the trumpet call of God, as the dead in Christ rises first.

And then After that, [the righteous] who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” [He lives]1 Thess. 4:16-18 (NIV)