March 28, 2017

MY FRIENDS, ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THAT NARROW GATE?

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matt. 7:13-14 (NKJV) My friends, we cannot negotiate with Christ about our salvation, because “God is not human, that He should lie, [and He is] not a human being, that He should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act?  Does he promise and not fulfill? Numbers 23:19 (NIV)

No and No! Therefore, we cannot be afraid to “call sin by it’s right name,” which is any and all abominations against God. The problem is, man along with the help of the principalities, and powers, and the rulers of the darkness of this world, determines what constitutes as an abomination to God.

So with Satan’s help we then begin to call evil good, and good evil; [as his strategic plans for our destruction shows us how to] substitute darkness for light and light for darkness;….. Is. 5:20 (AMP) My friends there is no grey areas that determines our entrance into the kingdom of God, only a total commitment and God’s love grace and mercy.

Today, we must accept the principles of God as the only road on this journey that takes us to life eternal. And to deviate from that, only takes us through that wide gate that leads to destruction. So if we have a passion to serve and give it all to Christ, “the place to begin” is through that door. And Christ tells us in John 10:9-10 (NKJV) I am the door.

If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” For the thief [which represents Satan, only comes] to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. [But Jesus Christ our redeemer] comes that [you and I] may have life, and that [we] may have it more abundantly.”

But, we must understand the dimensions of that door is strait, and narrow, and the road is narrow because “through it may pass only that which is essential to the journey along the way. (SDA Bible Commentary) Essential meaning only our character which has died “in Christ, [and now we are] a new creature; the old things [in our life have] passed away; [and] behold, all things have become new” 2 cor. 5:17 (KJV)

And few find it because very few are willing to seek that narrow path with a passion, because we “desire heaven, and yet we turn away because of the conditions laid down” and the passion it takes to continue, which is to die daily and live our life through Christ. So in spite of all that God has done and is willing to continue to do for us, many are just not willing to make a full commitment and give Him our all.

“It will be a tragedy to get to that day we have waited for” all our life, and realize all we have accumulated and accomplished along with Satan’s “promises of  “all this I will give you, if you will bow down and worship me.” Matt. 4:9 (NIV) “could not compare to life eternal and that place “eye have not seen nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Cor. 2:9 (NASB)

March 27, 2017

MY FRIENDS, IS OPPORTUNITY PASSING US BY?

Ten spies, spread among all the Israelite’s a bad report about the promise land. They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size….we seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them……That night all the community raised their voices and wept aloud…..If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword?

Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. It would be better for us to go back to Egypt?” And they said to each other, let’s choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” My friends, the majority ruled. Remember this is a theocracy where God was there ruler. God brought them out of Egypt where they were in bondage for 400 years.

God parted the red sea as He lead them to the promise land. But they allowed their opportunity to pass for them to enter the promise land. The majority ruled and only two spies out of the twelve knew the power of God and recognize all He had done for them said: “The land we explored is exceedingly good.

If the Lord is pleased with us, he will allow us to conquer this land that flows with milk and honey, He will give it to us. Only don’t rebel against the Lord or be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them…..Num. 14:32-33, Num. 14:1-9 (NIV)

So now everyone from 20 years up except Caleb and Joshua entered the promise land forty years later. Opportunity passed everyone else because they did not recognize the power of God and what He was willing to do for His children. My friends, today let’s count our many blessings and miracles God has performed in our life from this short probationary period from birth to today.

But, we still allow Satan to choose our destination and where we will spend eternity. As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. He heard the crowd going by, he asked what’s happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by. ”He cryed out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” [My friends this is an example of someone who did not allow the majority to rule or the opportunity of knowing Jesus, and the opportunity to be healed physically and spiritually pass him by.]

Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. Luke 18:35-40 (NIV) My friends, are we allowing the opportunity of salvation and life eternal pass us by because the majority rules and the things of this world seem more appealing than a relationship with Christ and life eternal.

The road to the kingdom is a narrow road, but Christ paved the way on Calvary for us to finish the course. If that is our desire, we first have to be disciples of Christ as we carry our cross, we also have to make disciples for Christ as we serve and take the good news throughout the world and then the end will come.

March 26, 2017

MY FRIENDS, WHERE IS YOUR DESTINATION?

“God’s Spirit will be poured out on all of God’s Children and His sons and daughters will prophesy, the old will dream dreams, and the young will see visions.” And we will hear The Spirit whisper urgent! Urgent! what you are going to do, to finish God’s work “you must do quickly [without delay].” My friends, we have a probationary period from birth to death, so during that time period again I must say “Conflict after conflict must be waged against hereditary tendencies.

In addition, we must criticize ourselves closely, [while] not allowing one unfavorable trait to remain uncorrected [in our lives.]” (E. G. White) And like Judas, if there is a delay as we tell ourselves we have time, the outcome and our destination will be like Judas. “After [he had taken] the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly [without delay].” John 13:27 (AMP) And His destination was, “a state of final spiritual ruin,” (Perdition).

My friends, it’s our choice, too allow God’s Spirit to enter our life and take full control or allow the principalities and powers and the rulers of the darkness of this world” to take control. But whatever our decision, “we must do quickly and [without delay.]” With eleven, the three-and-a-half-year trial period was a success, with Judas it failed.

Remember our Father did not give his only begotten Son, to die at Calvary for us to be like some experimental rat that eventually gets exterminated. But the plan of salvation was designed for us “to prosper and not to harm [us.] But to give us hope and a future, [throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity] Jer. 29:11 (KJV)

I can remember trying to get from New York City to upstate New York to pick up a car in the shop that had broken down on my wife a week or two earlier. I started out early one morning to my destination. First the city bus, then the train that took me to the end of the line. Then I took another bus that took me so far, then I thumbed and walked and thumbed until I saw a cab that took me to my location, oh the joy of the arrival!!

What a journey from one destination to the next. But I survived the journey, I did not stop until I had reached my goal. Friends, what is your destination and how far are you planning to go. If you feel comfortable where you are spiritually then you need to re-examine what you really have a passion for, the things of this world or eternal life.

When Judas, became a disciple his destination was centered on being a part of a movement that would overtake the Roman government and bring Him fame and fortune and a high position in the new government. “But then “after the devil had already prompted Judas, to betray Jesus…..the disciples had eaten Then Christ begin to pour water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him………

”Truly I tell you, [Christ says] no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” John 13:16 (KJV) My friends, to serve others was not Judas destination, what about you and I where is our destination.

March 22, 2017

MY FRIENDS, THE INTIMACY AND PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP OF A WHISPER!

Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear the day before Saul came, saying, “Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him commander over My people Israel, that he may save My people from the hand of the Philistines; for I have looked upon My people, because their cry has come to Me. ”So when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said to him, “There he is, the man of whom I spoke to you. This one shall reign over My people.” 1 Sam. 9:15-17 (NKJV)

In a private setting, God whispering in one’s ear, telling His friend “in a free, familiar and friendly way,” as a secret from our best friend, that only we have been told. This is the “Spirit of God communicating His divine will to the one He has created in His image.

The Eternal, “forming man of the dust of the ground, breathing into our nostrils the breath of life; and [then whispering in our ear, [“This is the way walk in it”] Gen 2:7 (KJV) My friends, the more time we spend intimately with God and His Word and Spirit, the easier it is to distinguish His whisper from what “appears to be right, but in the end only leads to death.” Prov. 14:12 (NIV)

Employees, at airports are trained to recognize counterfeit ID’s by studying genuine ID’s so closely from various states, and countries, that it will be unimaginable not to recognized a fake one, simply because they have studied diligently the real from the fake.

And we should also as Christians, and children of God be so familiar with God’s Word, and His whispers that each time God speaks to us as He guides us on this journey He has placed us on, we will be absolutely clear that it is God’s whisper we hear and not the enemy.

And in so doing, it will verify in our mind any and all, truth from error. And like Samuel we will know with full assurance who we are responding to as we say “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.” And to have developed such a personal relationship with God tells us we have spent time with Christ in our war room.

That state of mind, that special place where strategy and policy is developed and implemented against the enemy and where “our cry has come to God” personally. One of Christ war rooms was out in the open air at, mount of olives, while “kneeling down and praying.

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” Luke 22:41-44 (NIV)

My friends, it is God’s Spirit that Strengthens us in our battle with the forces of evil as He whispers, “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of [the enemy]; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” Deut. 31:6 (NKJV) In addition, today we must hold on to that promise while serving Christ on the front lines of the battle field, as we go out “making disciples of all nations in all the world as a testimony, and then the end will come.

March 14, 2017

MY FRIENDS, IS THERE CIVIL WAR FROM WITHIN?

Civil war is defined as: war between political factions or regions within the same country or nations. In the context of our salvation, it is war within ourselves. Christ tells the Pharisees after casting out a demon from a man possessed by the “rulers of the darkness of this world.” Matt. 12:22-29 (NASB), when  they heard what Christ had done, instead of realizing who Christ was, and what He meant to not only there lives, but to all mankind, they hardened their hearts and said, “this man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of demons.”

Knowing their thoughts Jesus said, “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out?

For this reason, they will be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. Matt 12:22-29 (NASB)

My friends, if there’s civil war within nations or war within ourselves, we only become more weaken by self’s efforts in trying to accomplish something only God’s Spirit can accomplish. Remember Satan is at war with Christ not with self, the one who said “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”

So if self is battling self we will fall like Satan who will soon have his demise. But if we have allowed self to die and Christ to live through His word and Spirit within us then we will win the battle over self. Satan through Adam claimed this world as His, and we were captive like slaves at an auction.

But Christ paid a price for our freedom on Calvary. But because of self, we have become accustomed to listening to our on rhetoric while ignoring Gods Spirit telling us, “whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21(NIV)

My friends, he who binds a strong man “must of necessity be stronger” then the “strong man” and only God who is All-powerful, All-knowledgeable, Omnipresence meaning: if allowed, God’s power and presence can be in my heart and your heart and in the man and women’s heart in China or Russia and within anyone else in this vast population of 7 billion who have surrendered to self and allowed him to be presence in their life.

“And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more] glory, which comes from the Lord, [who is] the Spirit.” 2 Cor. 3:18 (AMP)

Once again, We desire heaven, with all our heart and soul and yet we “turn away because of the conditions laid down. Think of what it means to say “No” to Christ.” (E.G. White, Desire-of-Ages p 523) And think what it means to say to Christ, I am to busy to allow you into my life today, maybe later? I first must see if Satan has a more acceptable alternative.

March 11, 2017

MY FRIENDS, WE MUST BE JUST AS DETERMINE AS HE IS!!

Effective, fervent prayer, three words tells us we must have a passion about what we are petitioning God for. A passion of hope that a family member or friend will be healed when we lay prostrate before the great physician and say Lord not my will but thou will. A passion of understanding all Scriptures “breathed out by God [because they are] profitable for [our] teaching, [and] reproof, for correction, and for [our] training in righteousness, [so that all of God’s children] may be competent, equipped for every good work. 2 Tim 3:16-17 (KJV)

A passion for direction, from the Good Shepherd as we cry out in total admonition, to you only can I turn to, for I know, “love never gives up, never loses faith, it is always hopeful, and endures through [every situation and circumstance.]” 1Corinthians 13:7 (KJV)

My friends, we must remain just as determine as the enemy, “though the ship is battered and the sails torn, we must still fall on our knees, and in “spite of the storm, we must face the raging sea.” We are no longer children, and most of our dreams have been sweep away like “grains of sand on the seashore.”

But, we must face the storms of complacency, doubt and procrastination as we wrestle with God daily until we have overcome. We live in a hostile world, but with God’s Spirit within us we must serve while going forth because we possess the power through God’s Spirit to smote in the camp of the [enemy] a hundred and eighty five thousand “principalities and rulers of the darkness of this world,” but if only for one, Christ died for that one.

Remember, God never gave up on us. He reached as far into the abyss and there we were, just imagine how many of the enemy He had to smote just to get you and I to safety, back into His loving arms where we belonged. Now our passion must be to serve God, where-ever that takes us.

The price was paid to get us to safety. So every day we must “pledge Allegiance” to the One who paid that price, therefore [we must] glorify God in our [mind and body which are God’s.] 1 Corinthians 6:20 (KJV) Remember we must be just as determine as the enemy.

My friends, The power is ours, God’s promise remains, if we ”have faith as small as a mustard seed, [we] can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for [us].”Matt. 17:20 (NIV) today Christ calls us to His purpose as we are drawn to Him. “Not by might not by power But by the Spirit of God” we must “run this race until we see His face.” And one day soon when this race is over we will live in the glory of His grace throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity.

If we woke up today God has given you and I a fresh start so we cannot fear the journey for God has not given us a “spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” So as determine as the Enemy to destroy us we must be just as determine to see Christ face. Heaven is ours, the conditions remain the same, the road is still narrow and only a few will travel it. But “think of what it means to say no to God”