June 8, 2014

MY FRIENDS, “THE BATTLE IS WON ON OUR KNEES”

“WHEN YOU SEEK ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART, I WILL BE FOUND BY YOU” For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 29:11-14  

MY FRIENDS, “THE BATTLE IS WON ON OUR KNEES,” “CONSISTENT WITH THIS, WHEN WE SEEK GOD WITH ALL OF OUR HEART, I WILL BE FOUND BY YOU” I can make this statement with full assurance because my God “He sees the master plan the finish product after He has molded us into His likeness.

In addition, that is why He holds the future of each of our lives in His hands. “So don’t live as those who have no hope;” “because our hope is found in Jesus Christ, but we must first believe that there is “no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 (NIV)

As a Child of the King the present is as far as we can see no mater how many plans we make for our future, life constantly changes sometimes for, sometimes against us. But God is different because He is God He sees the future and the direction we are going and where we will end up if His Spirit is not guiding our foot steps.

“Like a tapestry, He’s constantly weaving our character to someday be like His So that we can be “safe to save” and live with Him throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity. Remember “THE BATTLE IS WON ON OUR KNEES, God does not play “hide and seek” with our Salvation “WHEN WE SEEK GOD WITH ALL OF OUR HEART, I WILL BE FOUND BY YOU”

He knows His Sheep when they call because He knows we “are dependent upon Him not only for temporal blessings, but for grace and strength to keep us from falling under the power of temptation. We daily need the Bread of Life to give us spiritual strength and vigor, just as much as we need food to sustain our physical strength and give us firm muscles.

We are compassed with weakness and infirmities, doubts and temptations; but we can come to Jesus in our need, and He will not turn us away empty. He invites, “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” This is no doubtful, uncertain promise, but a positive one.” (Prevailing Prayer Ellen G. White) “

Christ as man, above all others, “seems to be least comforted by God, at His greatest need Jesus pleaded three times for God to “Take this cup from me ” but as our example Christ Humanity did not allow Him to see pass the Grave, but “our father which art in heaven” did, Christ faith like ours had to be stretched to the limit.

In addition, the rejection, Spit upon, , the slaps, beatings, nails, crown of thorns must be felt as we would feel. Christ has asked us to also take up that Cross, but  it must become a passion we seek daily because once we accept, THE CUP BECOMES OURS, even if asked to sacrifice our life for the Master.

The only difference will be Christ took our sins upon himself and those sins will be left at Calvary if we believe. Friends “if our prayers are sometimes granted, beyond all hope and probability, We had better not draw hasty conclusions to our own advantage or power. If we were stronger, we might be less tenderly treated.

If we were braver, we might be sent, with far less help, to defend far more desperate posts in the great battle.” (Philip Yancey, Zondervan, p. 208.) Between good and evil. Like a child our Savior knows how to guide our growth. So stay on your KNEES THAT IS WHERE “THE BATTLE IS WON, CONSISTENT WITH THIS, “WHEN WE SEEK GOD WITH ALL OF OUR HEART, I WILL BE FOUND BY YOU”

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

“A RISING TIDE LIFTS ALL BOATS”

TIDE: the periodic rise and fall of the waters of the ocean, produced by the attraction of the moon and sun, or SON as in my only BEGOTTEN SON or the SON OF THE LIVING GOD and what “A RISING TIDE LIFTS ALL BOATS” means to us personally and the Awe of being in the presence of the SON OF GOD and how that will LIFT us to places I don’t believe we have the words to explain.

So today let’s focus as we allow the SON OF GOD to LIFT us to an overwhelming feeling of being in His Presence, a feeling that tells us this is what I must feel and where I must take my life every moment of my life if I truly seek the kingdom of God and to have such a feeling we must begin to un-clutter or THROW OFF EVERYTHING THAT HINDERS and the sin that so easily entangles.

And let us run with perseverance THE RACE MARKED OUT FOR US, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and PERFECTER OF FAITH. For the joy set before Him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. CONSIDER HIM WHO ENDURED such opposition from sinners, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT GROW WEARY AND LOSE HEART.” Heb. 12:1-3(NKJV)

THE RACE MARKED OUT FOR US That is where I need you to focus today and then look at your life, look back maybe at a death of a love one or an illness that has taken you places you did not know you would ever go or a pregnant teenage daughter or a son on drugs or in jail, or maybe just a Child or family member who has no desire to know the same God you know and the list goes on.

Now that you have made it personal tell yourself this is THE RACE OR JOURNEY MARKED OUT FOR ME, SO THAT I WILL NOT GROW WEARY AND LOSE HEART.” “So now it is well with my soul” as I continue until the day of my Saviors appearing and then I will see my Saviors Face and allow Him to wipe the last tears from my eyes with the same hands that were pierced on Calvary so that I could live with Him throughout eternity.

My friends we must continue to allow God to transform us and that change is not retroactive on the fact that you are a good person and visit the sick and feed the homeless each week but it is a process that takes a lifetime and as we allow the SON OF GOD to LIFT us to a level that places us in His presence daily and prepares us for His kingdom.

Consistent with this, we begin to LIFT our family, friends, love one’s neighbors, co-workers, and a world that has lost it spiritual compass. “We are in a race daily either for the kingdom of God or Perdition so if we seek God’s kingdom then we must not forget this is THE RACE, OR JOURNEY MARKED OUT FOR US and the prize is life eternal.

The fairy tale Alice in Wonderland. In a conversation between Alice and the Cheshire Cat, Alice asked, “Would you tell me please, which way I ought to go from here?” “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the cat. “I don’t much care where,” said Alice. “Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the cat.

Meanwhile, as a child of God where do you want to go and have you figured out how to get there and do you even care the choice is yours Christ waits. But “IF THE ANGELS COULD PULL BACK THE CURTAIN” and we could see how close the god of this world and all who follow Him are to reaching their cup of indignation and God standing up saying IT IS FINISHED we would all tremble and weep before God in repentance.

My friends soon we want have to say “LORD HOW LONG” because He will be appearing, through the clouds above to come and “give to each according to their works.” But today grace and mercy is still with us. So friends I ask you HOW LONG BEFORE YOU ALLOW HIM TO LIFT YOU.

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

MY FRIENDS, “THUS FAR THE LORD HAS HELPED US”

Today let’s focus on 1 Samuel 7 (NKJV) Samuel at this time is Judge over Israel. Israel had just got the ark back from the Philistines who wanted no parts of it. They had retrieved it after defeating the Israeli army, a disastrous lesson for both sides. first Israel realize it was not the ark or an object that had the power to defeat one’s enemies and then the Philistines who thought that it had some great magical power that could be used in their behalf.

So now you have both the philistines and Israel being punish for not knowing who God is and what His capabilities are. You can understand the Philistines being complacent about who God is, they had never known God that was Israel’s responsibility to teach them about the only true God which they had failed to do, but what about God’s chosen what was there excuse. But once again we witness the grace, mercy and love of God and how far he is willing to reach and save us.

1 Samuel 7:3 (ESV) tells us Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” Oh what our God will do to save us no mater what we have done or how far we have drifted away from Him.

Israel had went as far as worshiping the same fake gods that they had defeated when they first entered the promise land. My friends once we make it to our final destination, there will forever be only one “King eternal, immortal, invisible, wise God, (who we will give praise) honour and glory too for ever and ever.” 1 Tim 1:17 (ESV) Then the philistines heard that Israel had gathered together and was praying to the God who they thought they had defeated once before, not knowing they had only defeated men on the battle field not God Himself.

1 Samuel 7:7-10 (ESV) tells us Now when the Philistines heard that the people of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the people of Israel heard of it, they were afraid of the Philistines. And the people of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to the Lord our God for us, that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines.” Samuel then offers a sacrifice to the lord.

As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel. But the Lord thundered with a mighty sound that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were defeated before Israel. My friends it is such a simple thing to serve God 1 Samuel 7:12 (NKJV) then tells us “Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, “THUS FAR THE LORD HAS HELPED US.”

My friends “THUS FAR THE LORD HAS HELPED US.” if you Build a good, solid and secure foundation deep in your heart, based on God’s truth in His word and at the same time completely surrender your will to the Master then God will fight all of our battles and give us what we ask. “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:13 (NIV)

Isaiah says also in Isaiah 66:2 (ESV) “Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the Lord. “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.” We should strive daily to be like Jesus even after preaching all day to the masses, Jesus would leave to pray. His life was sustained by His time with His Father. So should ours be the same, as we walk daily in the path and righteousness of our Lord and Savior. God chose us to become like His Son, so that His Son would be the firstborn with many brothers and sisters (Romans 8:29)

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

June 4, 2014

AT THE CROSSROADS, DECISIONS, DECISIONS, DECISIONS!!!

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Matt 7:13-14 (ESV)

Many of our decisions from day to day are trivial and irrelevant, but some are life-changing. But The most critical decision we will ever make in this short period of probation, from birth to death that we have been given, is our relationship with Christ.

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.” Matt. 16:24 (NIV) And it is at our CROSSROADS where Satan makes his presentation “All this I will give you,’ …’if you will bow down and worship me.”

So today the signs, are pointing but in opposite directions, one points to Jesus Christ and eternal life and the other is pointing toward a path bound for perdition. God’s Spirit will not force us to choose the more difficult path which leads to life eternal. DECISIONS, DECISIONS, if I just wait a few years things will get better I am almost out of school.

I will be getting married next month and then I will have a husband or wife to help me make that decision, or maybe  you just got that big promotion at work and things are really looking up. But my friends all of that is irrelevant when it comes to our salvation and the choices we need to make at this moment.

“After 14 years of studying the Bible, William Miller (1782-1849)–a U.S. revivalist who predicted the second coming and earned a large but temporary following of  50,000-100,000–became convinced that Christ would return in 1843. When Miller announced April 3 as the day, some disciples went to mountaintops, hoping for a head start to heaven.

Others were in graveyards, planning to ascend in reunion with their departed loved ones. Philadelphia society ladies clustered together outside town to avoid entering God’s kingdom amid the common herd. When April 4 dawned as usual the Millerites were disillusioned, but they took heart.

Their leader had predicted a range of dates for Christ’s return. They still had until March 21, 1844. The devout continued to make ready, but again they were disappointed. A third date–October 22, 1844–was set, but it also passed. (Today in the Word, MBI, December 20, 1991.)

So by all accounts it seems we don’t really have to make any drastic decisions right now about our salvation. It has been a subject for debate for thousands of years, God will understand if I wait. My friends I don’t think Christ will ever give us a pass about our Salvation.

Paul tells us “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, YET WITHOUT SIN.”Heb 4:15-16 those three words tells us that what God understand is He made a sacrifice on Calvary so now your CROSSROAD DECISIONS must be all about our choice to live a life centered on our Savior’s needs not ours.

“He stands at the door of our heart and knocks” You are AT THE CROSSROADS and He knocks. You may even turn your back on Him because you just have to many exciting things that you have planned but He still knocks. The main point is God loves us and He is reaching as far as he can to pull us to Him as we stand at  OUR CROSSROAD and focus on God’s saving grace, and the promises in His Word.

Also choosing our Savior can be personally painful and difficult at times, because at our CROSSROAD if  the path we choose is Christ then we will also have to carry the cross that he carried. And as we carry that cross it confronts ungodly attitudes, carnal living, and selfish motives from within that we must eliminate from our life. But THE GOOD NEWS my friends is “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,”and God will make it possible if we have faith and endure till the end.”SALVATION AND LIFE ETERNAL IS OURS

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

June 3, 2014

“THE JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES BEGINS BENEATH ONE’S FEET”

“Even the longest journey must begin where you stand” along with the issues you hold dear to your heart and the master you chose to follow, for “no man, or woman can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other;……” Matt. 6:24 (KJV)

So my friends God has placed each of us on a JOURNEY but our Salvation is not dependent on when we start but our PASSION FOR THE JOURNEY and the end result. God has chosen each of us for a purpose, we “are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, THAT YOU MAY DECLARE THE PRAISES OF HIM who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

Today let’s first focus on the words THAT YOU MAY DECLARE THE PRAISES OF HIM. This JOURNEY also has another component to it. John 15:16 (NIV) tells us “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might GO AND BEAR FRUIT, fruit that will last and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.”

The words, GO AND BEAR FRUIT is where I also need you to focus on today because the question was asked Christ over 2000 years ago “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” and Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40 (NIV)

Consistent with this, we show our Love for God when we serve Him and DECLARE OUR PRAISES TO HIM  but it must become a PASSION that drives us to follow the good Sheppard in whatever direction he may lead us for God chooses our Journey, but it is our responsibility to follow and while on this journey He has placed us on we will also BEAR FRUIT.

The Journey is not about us it is all about PRAISING GOD and BEARING FRUIT along the way. These are the greatest of God’s precepts with LOVE as the foundation for “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” John 14:15 (NKJV)

“Love is the basis of godliness. Whatever the profession, no man has pure love to God unless he has unselfish love for his brother. But we can never come into possession of this spirit by trying to love others. What is needed is the love of Christ in the heart. When self is merged in Christ, love springs forth spontaneously. The completeness of Christ is attained when the impulse to help and bless others springs constantly from within–when the sunshine of heaven fill the heart and is revealed in the countenance.” (E. G. White COL pp 384)

My friends The Journey is long and tough But we must continue. “The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” 1 John 2:17 (NIV) but you must believe in God’s promises for Christ tells us “Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. John 6:47 (NIV)

The god of this world will make sure the journey is not easy and the closer we get to Christ second coming that road will begin to get narrower, Satan will begin to put more problems that he creates in our life, money problems, health problems, marital problems, children problems, sexual problems and the list goes on.

Matt.7:13-14 (NIV) tells us to “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” But the story does not end there.

This my friends is how it all ends for God has prepared a place 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.” 1 Cor. 2:19 (NIV) But only for His Children “that shall ENDURE THIS JOURNEY until the end,”  then “we shall be saved.” Matthew 24:13 (KJV) and receive life eternal. THE END!!!!!!!!!!

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

June 1, 2014

MY FRIENDS WHAT IS YOUR TESTIMONY?

My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge. With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come; I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone. O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come. Ps. 71:15-18 (ESV)

Today we are going to focus on Luke 8 as we try and  formulate OUR OWN TESTIMONY “for such a time as this” we first begin in verse 27 where Christ is coming off of a boat with his disciples where they had just witness Jesus power in controlling the elements.

Verse 23 tells us “But as they sailed Jesus fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; as the boat filled with water and they felt they were in jeopardy, they came to Jesus, and awoke him, saying, Master, Master, we perish. And he awoke, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.

And he said unto them, where is your faith? My friends the first stage of YOUR TESTIMONY involves your faith and how you exemplify your faith in every situation and circumstances no matter if the sun is shining or the storm is raging our faith must never waver, we must always trust God and what He has and what He will do for us.

And being afraid they marveled, saying one to another, who then is this, that he commandeth even the winds and the water, and they obey him. The next step in YOUR TESTIMONY if you are a Child of God is knowing and recognizing the PRESENCE of Christ who is always with us so you must always “be strong and courageous.

Do not be afraid or terrified of (anything,) for the LORD your God goes with you; “He will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deut. 31:6 (NKJV) Arriving at their destination they step off of the boat and a certain man who lives among the tombs and is possessed by demons sees Christ as he falls down and cries out.

“What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most High God? I beseech thee, torment me not.” As He was crying Jesus was already in the process of transforming a soul to be a soldier in the army of the most high God. The third part of YOUR TESTIMONY is to know God has already solved our problems no matter how far we have turned our back on Him.

For He wants us to know ”These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye may have peace. In the world ye have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (ASV) and the demons came out from the man but what is so great about this individual, when the rabble came out to witness what was going on they “found the man, from whom the demons were gone out, sitting, clothed and in his right mind, at the feet of Jesus: and they were afraid.”

The next illustration of OUR TESTIMONY. once the transformation takes place and you find Jesus once again. Study His word, forever Sitting at the feet of Christ, never leaving for “you were dead but now you are alive again, you were lost but now you are found.” The rabble were very upset because they had lost some swine in the process of Christ casting out demons from the gentleman. So they ask him to leave there presence. Once again someone not recognizing being in the presence of God, big mistake.

“The man from whom the demons were now gone ask Christ if he could follow Him: but Jesus sent him away, saying, Return to thy house, and declare how great things God hath done for thee. And he went his way, publishing throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done for him.” The last and final part of OUR TESTIMONY is to tell everyone about what God has done for you as you spread the good news of Christ soon return.

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

May 31, 2014

“NOTHING CAN DIM THE LIGHT THAT SHINES FROM WITHIN”

“At the age of eight, while living with her mother, Angelou was sexually abused and raped by her mother’s boyfriend, a man named Freeman. She told her brother, who told the rest of their family. Freeman was found guilty but was jailed for only one day.

Four days after his release, he was murdered, probably by Angelou’s uncles. Angelou became mute for almost five years, believing, as she stated, “I thought, my voice killed him; I killed that man, because I told his name. And then I thought I would never speak again, because my voice would kill anyone.” (Wikipedia)

Friends we know how that story plays out if you have followed the life of Ms. Angelou. What an awe inspiring life, one of  faith, determination and endurance picking herself up under insurmountable circumstances grabbing God by the hand and moving forward and upward.

That inner light, that vision from within which keeps us motivated that wakes us up daily by the hand of God and tells us the world awaits even though at times we would like to lay there and close our eyes until life changes on our behalf.

But God “never said it would be easy But in the end through Christ if we are faithful, victory awaits because Jesus defeated all of our enemies before this battle began over our Salvation. In addition the impossible, the unmovable, that mountain that seems like we will never get over is God’s only chance To work a miracle in each of us because we are being tried in the flames of our day to day challenges that Christ allows the god of this world to carry us through.

That faith and endurance seems at times like a fleeting dream that you are forever trying to keep up with. But God’s promises are sure and complete for His faithful so let’s all keep fighting. The finish line has not been moved “but about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Matt 24:36 (ESV)

So our Father knows when this race will be over, so hold on, the end is near, prophecies are being fulfilled my friends “the Lord goes (before each of us). He will be with (us); he will not leave (us) or forsake (us). Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deut. 31:8 (ESV) We are a Child of God we all have THE LIGHT THAT SHINES FROM WITHIN for it is the light of God

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” David, a 2-year old with leukemia, was taken by his mother, Deborah, to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, to see Dr. John Truman who specializes in treating children with cancer and various blood diseases.

Dr. Truman’s prognosis was devastating: “He has a 50-50 chance.” The countless clinic visits, the blood tests, the intravenous drugs but David never cried and although his friends in the clinic had to hurt him and stick needles in him, he hustled in ahead of his mother with a smile, sure of the welcome he always got.

When he was three, David had to have a spinal tap a painful procedure at any age. It was explained to him that, because he was sick, Dr. Truman had to do something to make him better. “If it hurts, remember it’s because he loves you,” Deborah said.

The procedure was horrendous. It took three nurses to hold David still, while he yelled and sobbed and struggled. When it was almost over, the tiny boy, soaked in sweat and tears, looked up at the doctor and gasped, “THANK YOU, Dr. Truman, FOR MY HURTING.” (Monica Dickens, Miracles of Courage, 1985) and a Child of God’s words must also be THANK YOU GOD FOR MY HURTING”

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing… (and) Blessed is the man (and woman) who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:2-12 (ESV)

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

May 30, 2014

“GO INTO ALL THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL.”

“GO INTO ALL THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL.” My friends where does your “INTO ALL THE WORLD” begin and end  “According to the first chapter of Acts, 120 believers met in the upper room on the day of Pentecost. This is a ratio of 1 Christian to approximately every 500,000 to 580,000 people in the empire at that time in History.

From a human standpoint, Jesus’ command TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE WORLD seemed unthinkable. The Christian church exploded in growth. Tens of thousands were converted. The message of Jesus’ love was carried to the remotest parts of the empire.

(This shows each of us who are committed to serving God, the power of God, when we as Christian’s take up the banner for Christ) Because in a few generations Christianity had invaded nearly every level of society even in the remote provinces. “(Mark Finley)

And this was actually done without the Social Media or Hashtag if you love Jesus. In addition, millions died so a world could receive the good news of Christ Salvation. Persecution of the Christians started with the Emperor Nero in the summer of AD 64.

At that time Christians were a small underground rag tag group among the slaves and poor people, making them the perfect scapegoat, Nero blamed the fire of Rome on them, and ordered all Christians to be persecuted. Persecution lasted for years but Christianity continued to grow so Satan devised a plan and a union was eventually formed between Christianity and paganism.

But thank God many Christians chose to die before they would deny their Lord. So the millions who endured through it all came to be called MARTYRS, which means “WITNESSES.” As God’s chosen witnesses “for such a time as this” what is our responsibilities in each of our own UNIQUE WORLDS Matt. 25:13 tells us “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”

Where I need you to focus today my friends is what are our duties as we are watching and praying for Christ soon return. A story is told about the duke of Wellington who was once present where a party of Christian men were discussing the possibility of success in a missionary effort among the heathen.

They appealed to the duke to say whether in his judgment such efforts were likely to prove successful, proportionate to the cost, the old soldier replied: “Gentlemen, what are your marching orders, Success he said, is not the question for you to discuss. If I read your orders, they run thus, ‘GO YE INTO ALL THE WORLD, and preach the gospel to every creature.’ Gentlemen, obey your marching orders.’

So as we are watching and waiting for our Saviors second coming our marching orders from God is GO! GO to your friends! GO to your family,!GO to your love one’s! GO to your neighbors! GO to your co-workers and GO to the world and tell them of the good news of Christ soon return and the conditions upon which they may return to His kingdom with Him when He returns.

But you will never have a passion to serve Christ if you have not allowed Christ to transform your Character to serve as He served. As Christians, we all need to come to terms with the actuality that Satan still exists and he is as strong as ever.

But my friends the story does not end with victory through the god of this world. But it ends only through our faith and endurance and the grace and love of Christ who gave it all for our salvation, and he, or she whose heart is fixed to serve God and will always find the opportunity to be a witness for Him. in addition, the more we can focus on the character and love of Christ the more we come to realize that we must follow Him all the way to Calvary by being A humble servant to others as we carry out Christ mandate TO CARRY HIS GOSPEL INTO ALL THE WORLD.

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY