Sep.7, 2016

MY FRIENDS, WE MUST SEEK GODS SPIRIT OUR LIVING HOPE!

“Your presence Lord there’s nothing that could ever compare or could ever come close because You are our living hope. So please, fill this atmosphere of our heart with Your Spirit, because that is what our hearts long for.”  Yes, my friends, our heart must long for the one who is in constant communication with the one who intercedes on our behalf before “Our Father.” And who makes Christ real in our life as He fills our soul with His presence.

He is our “Comforter and Counselor who Strengthens” us to endure as He leads us into all truth and understanding here on earth because He is “our living hope.” Therefore we must pray daily that “our living hope” with all His “quickening, recuperative, and transforming power, may fall like an electric shock on the palsy-stricken souls [of you and I.]

[Which then Causes] every nerve to thrill with new life, restoring the whole man [and woman] from [their] dead, earthly, sensual state to spiritual soundness. [We] will thus become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust; and in our souls will be reflected the image of Him by whose stripes [we] are healed” (E.G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p 267)

My friends, we must now look into our heart and ask God’s Spirit what is hindering a total access to our “living Hope.” Because I don’t believe where we are spiritually in our relationship with God is where we need to be. So it must become personal, because it is our contrite heart and our prayers that we are asking God’s Spirit to Search, and try us, and know [our] thoughts: And see if there [is] any wicked way in [us], and lead [us] in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24 (KJV)

And when self has been completely eradicated, it is at that point we move to the next level where God is leading because we can never stop developing or growing in Christ if heaven is our destination. Sanctification is a lifetime process that God’s Spirit takes us from level to level to level until the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God.

And the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord.” 1 Thess. 4:16-17 (KJV) And my friends it will not end there because it shall come to pass that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another. All flesh shall come to worship before Me,” says the Lord.” Isaiah 66:23-24 (NKJV)

All flesh, referring to the redeemed who “have conquered [Satan and self] and by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of [our] testimony, [we] loved not [our] lives even unto death.” Rev. 12:11 (ESV) So it all comes back to our faith and endurance to Go all the way with Christ as we allow His Spirit to lead us to the next level in our relationship with Christ.

And my friends that next level we must be prepared mentally and spiritually because that is the level we respond when Christ asked us to become a disciple “deny self,” “forsake all others” as we give our all to finish up His mandate here on earth as we take up our “cross daily, and follow Him. Daily my friends not when it is convenient within our schedule and time frame. But in accordance with God’s Spirit and Gods will and God’s time.

Sep. 6, 2016

MY FRIENDS, ARE WE THERE YET ARE WE THERE?

And all those who had believed [in Jesus as Savior] were together and had all things in common [considering their possessions to belong to the group as a whole] And they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing the proceeds with all [the other believers], as anyone had need. Day after day they met in the temple [area] continuing with one mind, and breaking bread in various private homes.

They were eating their meals together with joy and generous hearts, praising God continually, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord kept adding to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:44-47 (AMP) My friends, I am not quite there yet mentally. But the question we need to ask ourselves, if “all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” 2 Tim. 3:16 (NIV)

Then Acts 2:44-47 have been given to us for “instruction in righteousness.” And if we are not at that point in our Christian experience as we look at the world and recognize the direction we are going in, as a nation, and a world. At what point should we be focusing our heart in that direction. I would hope these devotionals would be a catalyst in our own mind.

One that begins to start a conversation as to where we need to be at, on our Christian experience, on this journey Christ has placed us on to the promise land. Where we are actually asked to give our all to finish up the work of the gospel before Christ soon return. A time right before that time He calls of great “distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be equaled again…….

And if those days are not cut short, no one will survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened…….and truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.” Matt. 24:21-34 (NIV) My friends God is preparing a people. God is preparing an attitude. God is preparing a movement that will finish up His mandate as the “Lord keeps adding to the number daily of those who are being saved” for His kingdom.

But first we must be “firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in our faith, just as [we] were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.” [So that self is no longer who we are but what we are in Christ, who gave His all so that we may live our life and live it more abundantly throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity] Col 2:7 (NASB)

But, my friends, “there are some who, instead of wisely improving present opportunities, are idly waiting for some special season of spiritual refreshing by which their ability to enlighten others will be greatly increased. They neglect present duties and privileges, and allow their light to burn dim……… But “those who are constantly receiving fresh supplies of grace, will have power proportionate to their daily need and their ability to use that power.

Instead of looking forward to some future time when, through a special endowment of spiritual power, they will receive a miraculous fitting up for soul winning, they are yielding themselves daily to God, that He may make them vessels meet for His use. Daily they are improving the opportunities for service that lie within their reach.

Daily they are witnessing for the Master wherever they may be, whether in some humble sphere of labor in the home, or in a public field of usefulness.”  [MY FRIENDS, ARE WE THERE YET ARE WE THERE?] (E.G. White, Acts of The Apostles p 53 and 55)

Sep. 5, 2016

MY FRIENDS, WE ARE WITHIN REACH NOW WHAT?

“It was not the pain and ignominy of the cross that caused His inexpressible agony. Christ was the prince of sufferers; but His suffering was from a sense of the malignity of sin, a knowledge that through familiarity with evil, man had become blinded to its enormity. Christ saw how deep is the hold of sin upon the human heart, 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, Desire of Ages p 752-753)

And today each of us are within “reach of abundant help.” But like Judas, who allowed pride and greed to keep his eyes focused on earthly things instead of a Savior that was about to lay down His Life So that not only Judas but all of mankind may have life and have it more abundantly.” Satan kept the pressure on Judas thirty pieces of silver to betray the Master, about six hundred dollars.

Christ had never offered him six hundred dollars and just look at all the work he had to do daily as His disciple. My friends don’t you see how our earthly decisions are being played out daily in this great controversy. But we are still within reach of abundant help we just have to choose wisely. Up until that point Judas was “within reach” he had not passed that boundary line, he still had an opportunity to repent.

For “……..the Lord is patient with you and I, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) So now Satan was in full control of Judas and Jesus recognize it, so His words were not only to Judas, but to the one who now controls Judas. “What you are about to do, do quickly.” John 13:27 (NIV) Because I have already seen you “fall like lightning from heaven” [You are a defeated foe.] Luke 10:18 (NKJV)

Satan never understood what lengths Christ would go through to demonstrate so passionately his desire to rescue mankind from the penalty of sin. For “rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:7-8 (KJV)

My friends, the narrative of our lives is still being played out, today we are within reach of where God is trying to take us. Remember Judas was in the very presence of that abundant help. It may not be six hundred dollars like it was with Judas, but what are we willing to give up life eternal for today. We have not passed that boundary line, God still stands at the door, of our heart and knocks. Remember Christ defeated Satan not only at Calvary but throughout His Life.

He knew His Father was within reach So He forever prayed and studied the scriptures. And through His Faith He endured. And even though Christ knew know sin, “not in word or deed or thought did he sin.” And that within itself is a mystery that goes beyond our finite minds.  But he took upon Himself the sins of us all.

He experienced the temptations we experience each day from the forces of evil, He “identified with the transgressors” He knows the strugles we go through in trying to resist, but “not in word or deed or thought did he sin.” And because He overcame and did not yield we are within reach of being just as perfectly righteous as Jesus in the sight of God and living throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity. Yes my friends“we are within reach.” Now what?

Sep. 4, 2016

MY FRIENDS, THE CHOICE IS OURS SO CHOOSE YE THIS DAY!!

“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” Jer. 29:11 (NIV) So why do we try and sabotage God’s plans. Sabotage being defined as “any undermining of a cause.” And in respect to our salvation it would be the cause of God to save us. I remember growing up playing football. Two team captains would flip a coin to be the first to choose for a team. The battle then begins for several hours until one team could claim victory.

My friends, those were some grueling battles, like true gladiators who were determine to win by whatever means necessary. Oh the joy of those memories. Today teams are being chosen. But there is only one team that is willing to win by whatever means necessary and that team is comprised of, “principalities, and powers, and the rulers of the darkness of this age, and spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

The other team has only one strategy for winning and that is love. But my friends it is our choice and our decision, but soon time will run out and it will be too late to choose. So “How long will we waver between two [teams] and two opinions? If the [Lord is God, the creator of the universe who has assured victory for all who believe and endure then you are welcome with outstretched arms, life eternal is ours.]

But if the god of this world and the forces of evil’s is more appealing then follow him to perdition.” Friends, we cannot wait to choose any longer, this is life and death decisions that must be made now if we seek God’s kingdom. In addition, God is knocking at our heart “for all to come into harmony with Himself [and]He will receive them if they will put away their evil actions.

By a union with the divine nature of Christ, they may escape the corrupting influences of this world. It is time for every one of us to decide whose side we are on. The agencies of Satan will work with every mind that will allow itself to be worked by him. But there are also heavenly agencies waiting to communicate the bright rays of the glory of God to all that are willing to receive Him. (Ellen G. White Comments, SDA Bible Commentary vol. 4, p 1153, 1154)

We must understand salvation which brings about winning and life eternal. There is no other, name under heaven given among men by which that can happen and that name is Jesus Christ. But my friends where I need you to focus on today is not only that name, but the power that is associated with that name which is God’s Spirit.

And as heirs and joint heirs with Christ who gave it all for us to win, we must seek God’s Spirit with a compelling since of passion and urgency as we move closer to Christ soon return. Because the Spirit “will guide us into all truth and understanding.” But we must recognize this power exist. And maybe that is why we fail to seek such power.

Because this power then brings about a sense of responsibility and a urgency that allows the Spirit to transform us into the image, and Character of Christ, which then requires self to die as we “forsake all others” and then give God our all. All meaning our time, talents, and money as we carry out His commission to spread the good news of the gospel to all the world. But once again, “choose ye this day whom you will serve”

Sep. 2, 2016

MY FRIENDS, IS LIFE FAIR TO A CHILD OF GOD?
Mrs. White tells us, “the faithful Job, in the day of his affliction and darkness, declared: “Let the day perish wherein I was born…..But ”From the depths of discouragement and despondency Job rose to the heights of implicit trust in the mercy and the saving power of God. Triumphantly he declared “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him: … He also shall be my salvation.” because “I know that my Redeemer liveth, And that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.

And though after my skin worms destroy this body, Yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, And mine eyes shall behold, and not another.” Luke 19:25-27 (KJV) Like Job ”From the depths of discouragement and despondency suffering and pain we must also  rise to the heights of implicit trust in the mercy and the saving power of God and Triumphantly we must declare with passion under any and all trying circumstances of life’s disappointments, “they who endures to the end shall be saved.” “Because my Redeemer liveth.”

My friends,  not just our suffering or pain but in defeating the enemy on the front lines of the battle field, because on the front lines is where our endurance will be tested because Satan knows once this gospel of the kingdom has been preached into all the world as a witness to all the nations, the end will come.” And sin and Satan will be no more. In (Luke 10:17-18) a short-term reconnaissance mission Christ sends out seventy on the front lines.

“They return with joy saying even the demons are subject to them in His name.” Then Christ says with excitement, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. That vision gave him the assurance that Satan was a conquered and broken foe and one day, sin and sinners would be no more. And with anticipation His focus returned to the mission which was to endure to the end when He could finally say “it is finished.”

And because it was finished, He has given us the authority and power to also trample on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt us.” Luke 10:17-19 (KV) And like Jacob to endure sometimes we have to wrestled with God all night and sometimes nights turn into days and maybe years before we receive that divine blessing we seek.

But my friends, God’s promises assure us that “those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Is. 40:31 (NKJV) So our challenge today is to focus on Calvary and realize Christ himself was not exempt from pain and suffering. “Jesus offered no immunity, no way out of the unfairness, but rather a way through it to the other side.

[So in the midst of our storm it is alright to ask] “was life ‘fair’ to Christ? [which then allows us to ask ourselves is it fair to His children who seek His kingdom? And if we are one of Gods children,] the cross [should] demolished for all time the basic assumption that life will be fair.” My friends, “Christ had a goal to point the world to his Father and show us how much he loves us.

The Cross of Christ may have overcome evil, but it did not overcome unfairness.” (Phillip Yancy, Dissappointment With God) And like Job our mission statement must be, “I know that my Redeemer lives…… Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another.” Oh how our heart should yearn for that moment.

Aug. 30, 2016

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

“The more [we] study the character of Christ, the more attractive will he appear to [us]. He will become as one near [us], in close companionship with [you and I]; and our affections will go out after him. If the mind is molded by the objects with which it has most to do, then to think of Jesus, to talk of him, will enable [us] to become like him in Spirit and character. [We] will reflect his image in that which is great and pure and spiritual.

[We] will have the mind of Christ, and He will send [us] forth to the world as his spiritual representative. He will be our only glory. [We] cannot affiliate with the world without becoming a partaker of its spirit, without becoming guilty of treason against the Lord who has bought you [and I]” [thus far by faith] (E.G. White, RH August 26, 1890, par. 2)

Treason my friends is defined as “the betrayal of a trust or confidence; breach of faith.” And like Judas we commit treason daily against our Savior, not with a kiss, but by allowing Satan to move our attention away from the love and grace of Christ to the things of this world. Six thousand years ago because of sin, “whoever, owing allegiance to [God], would wage war against [Him] by uniting with [His] enemy [Satan], and giving him their aid and allegiance in the Great controversy between good and evil, was guilty of treason. And the penalty was death.”

But, we have a Savior who looked beyond our breach of faith and saw what we could be through him, so He “bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds [we] were healed.” 1 Peter 2:24 (KJV) As we look at our life and then look at the life of Christ, we must thank God each day that He is not through with us yet.

And He “who began a good work in [each of us] will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in each of us.” Phil 1:6 (AMP) Oh the miracle our God has performed in our lives as He looked beyond our faults and saw we could be as “perfectly righteous as His Son once we “forsaked all others” and gave our all to Him.

And instead of death Christ made the decision to make the ultimate sacrifice to die in our stead so that if we choose”to forsake all others,” we will never be accused of treason again as we allow His Spirit to transform our character from being what we are, to the man and woman who recognizes and believes through our faith in God and His word, what Calvary meant for our salvation.

And through our faith and endurance we can say without a doubt that we are going to totally trust God in working out the plan for our life here on earth and throughout eternity. Because we understand it did not end at Calvary but continues in the heavenly sanctuary with Christ advocating to the Father on our behalf.

“And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate [who will intercede for us] with the Father: Jesus Christ the righteous [the upright, the just One, who conforms to the Father’s will in every way, purpose, thought, and action]. And He [that same Jesus] is the propitiation for our sins [the atoning sacrifice that holds back the wrath of God that would otherwise be directed at us because of our sinful nature…….] 1 John 2:1-2 (AMP)

Aug 28, 2016

MY FRIENDS, WE MAY BE BLAMELESS AND UPRIGHT BUT?

“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 as a child of God each day even though at times life hurts and it is safe to say at times life is horrendous, But our words must be, thank you God for my hurting, but Calvary tells me it’s all about your love for me.

My friends, each day we must “Count it all joy…when [we] meet trials of various kinds, for [we must understand] that the testing of our 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)

But what we must also understand is, the finish line has not been moved and the requirements to finish have remained the same for two thousand years. And that is whoever “endures to the end shall be saved. And 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.” Matt. 24:13-14 (NKJV)

And what is so amazing, God is allowing us to be co-workers with His Spirit in taking the good news of the gospel “to all the world.” My friends, the war is being fought daily over our character. So that mountain that seem at times 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.

Remember what God himself said about His Servant Job. “There is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” Job 1:8 (NKJV) But, God still tells Satan in (v,8) “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” And sometimes it is only our life that is “spared” Job 2:6 (NKJV) And only our faith and endurance will prepare us for such an encounter with the enemy.

But like Job, we must say with passion and with no reservation. “My Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” Job 19:25-27 (NKJV)