July 7, 2016

MY FRIENDS, WHAT IS IT THAT WE JUST CAN’T LET GO OF?

As I watched the fourth of July come and go, I realize how much we are consumed with occurrences and special events in our life that have nothing to do with this journey God has placed us on. If we go to Matt. 19:28-29 (NKJV) which are the last two verses of that chapter. In (v,28) Christ tells His disciples; when the Son of man sits on the throne of His Glory if you have followed me you will also be seated there with me on twelve thrones.

And then in (v, 29) Christ speaks directly to you and I. “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.” So my friends, “for His namesake” we must “Forsake all others. And the message remains the same two thousand years later. Deny self, let go and take up our cross and follow [Christ wherever He leads].” Matt. 16:24 (NIV)

In today’s society “to forsake all others and follow Christ seems unimaginable because we just can’t let go. If we go through the entire Chapter of Matt 19 Christ starts by talking about marriage and divorce then He teaches on celibacy, then He blesses the little Children, then He counsels the Rich Young Ruler, who keeps all the commandments, but then Christ ask Him in (v,21,22) “to go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”

In verses 23-26 the narrative continues when Christ says to His disciples “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” Who then my friends? And what must we let go of? And is it possible in the 21st century? Jesus answer is plain and simple “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

In other words, Deny self and “forsake all others,” carry your cross and follow me can only be accomplished through Christ. Because if Christ is not who we wake up and go to be with each day “our adversary the devil, [who goes about] as a roaring lion,…[will] devour” [everyone who claims to be a child of God] 1 Peter 5:8 (KJV) We must understand Satan desires is to compete with Christ for our undivided attention as he attempts to monopolize our heart away from where Christ is leading and how far Christ hand is willing to reach to save us.

So now since its personal we must ask ourselves, what side of this great controversy between good and evil are we on. Because “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. We cannot serve God and [Satan].” Luke 16:13 (NKJV)

So if what Satan has to offer us in this world we can’t let go of, then the “gate is broad and there are many who will be on that same road which leads to destruction. But if our desire is to let go and “forsake all others” and carry our cross and be a disciple for Christ than, “narrow is the gate and difficult is this road and there are few who will find it. but those few who do, will receive life eternal.”

July 4, 2016

MY FRIENDS, WHAT IS SO IMPORTANT GOD WOULD SEND ANGELS TO WARN US?

“When God sends to men warnings so important that they are represented as proclaimed by holy angels flying in the midst of heaven, He requires every person endowed with reasoning powers to heed the message. The fearful judgments denounced against the worship of the beast and his image (Revelation 14:9-11), should lead all to a diligent study of the prophecies to learn what the mark of the beast is, and how they are to avoid receiving it. But the masses of the people turn away their ears from hearing the truth and are turned unto fables.” (E. G. White The Great Controversy pp 594)

Fables are defined as “a story not founded on fact” My friends we cannot pick and choose what prophecy we will accept as fact and which one’s we will not. That is why we cannot pick and choose which commandment is appropriate for us to live by and which ones are not. “For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished” Matt. 5:18 (NIV)

So we tell ourselves; It’s wrong to steal and commit adultery, but every now and then we must bear false witness or lie, that is an acceptable sin to God. And that seventh day Sabbath surely that law was done away with at the cross, so it shouldn’t even be in the hand written commandments of God. “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” 2 Tim. 4:3 (NIV)

My friends, when it is all said and done, it’s not God that made a few mistakes in His word, but “our limited knowledge and wisdom of what’s in God’s word. And Instead of praying and asking God for “all truth and understanding,” we merely want to skim over what seems to make sense to us, and everything else we allow others to define the difference between fact and fiction for us. So my friends “we have no [knowledge, because we ask [for no knowledge from God.]”

So as children of God and heirs to His kingdom and joint heirs with His Son Jesus Christ we must “Search the scriptures; for in them we think we have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” John 5:39 (KJV) So once again if “God sends to men [and women] warnings so important that they are represented as proclaimed by holy angels flying in the midst of heaven.” This is what we must be seeking daily, and that is a true knowledge of God’s word and not what Lucious, Cookie, Jamal, and Hakeem are doing on Empire from week to week.

My friends, we must “be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God……….” 2 Peter 3:1-5 (KJV)

But were it not for grace, where would we all be? Probably “wandering down some pointless road to nowhere” trying to figure out our own Salvation. But our God is “long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” [as we study to show ourselves approved unto God”] 2 Peter 3:9 (KJV)

July 1, 2016

MY FRIENDS, WHAT IS OUR HEART TELLING US TODAY?

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it. [Or who can change it, except the one who made it?] Jer. 17:9 (NKJV) Deceitful my friends, above all things and desperately wicked. In others words the heart is barren unproductive, infertile, unfruitful, and incapable of producing any positive results. And since we were “shapen in iniquity; and in sin did [our] mother conceive [us]. We of ourselves are incapable of producing any real positive change.

But, It must become personal as we study God’s  word  and understand this controversy between good and evil” and what it means to our Salvation. Of all the gifts given to mankind non in my opinion is greater then the Holy Spirit because without God’s Spirit how do we even understand and appreciate God’s other free gift, which is grace. John 16:7-11 (ESV Paraphrased tells us) Christ told His disciples before He left this world. It was to our advantage that we understand the importance of why He had to go.

But we must also understand He would never “leave us nor forsake us” but He would send us a Helper and a Comforter to point the way to a perfect and righteous heart. He would also “convict us concerning all that was an abomination to God, because the principalities, and powers, and rulers of the darkness of this world would never allow us to believe all that was done for our salvation on Calvary without the Comforter to guide us in all truth and understanding.

And He will also urge us to accept the righteousness of Christ because “we do not have a High Priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet he did not sin.” Heb. 3:15 (NIV)  And He will convict us to understand that the“ vindication of the divine character of Christ at the cross assured that Satan who “said in His heart I will be like the most High” would be brought to trial.”

And not only Satan but all who followed him and did as we pleased, and in our heart, we became complacent and unconcerned about giving our heart to Christ but said instead “where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” 2 Peter 3:4 (KJV) My friends, nothing in this world should be more important than our Salvation.

Remember, “he who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of [salvation]. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of [salvation]. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of [salvation]……” Matt. 10:37-39 (NKJV). Today Christ knocks at the door of our heart. And beyond the noise of this world we must here the knock and the pleading of Christ for us to “give up our flight” and “forsake all others” and give it all to Him and not only our heart but our time talents and money.

Remember my friends, He also told His disciples in John 14:1-4 (ESV) “our hearts must not be troubled of all of the “breaking news ” in our world today, but focus on His words that in [His] Father’s house are many mansions that He has gone to prepare for us. And once He goes, He will return and He will take all of His faithful who endured to the end] to that same place” to live in His presence, throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity.

June 29, 2016

MY FRIENDS, IS THERE REALLY HOPE?

As a child of God we can say without any reservation, we are war weary and utterly exhausted and drained of strength, energy, and we are greatly fatigue, by this prolonged conflict from within that rages daily. Paul explains it this way “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.” Romans 7:18-20 (NKJV)

In addition, this battle continues, and to wave the white flag means defeat, which means to live as one who has no hope. But my friends, Calvary tells us, hope and victory lies within us, and along with that hope and victory, is the promise that “we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Rom 8:37 (ESV) And we can [also] do all things through him who strengthens us.” Phil. 4;13 (ESV)

And because Christ love is unconditional, nothing shall separate us from Him? [Not] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword (KJV) And each Day as self-dies and we are “crucified with Christ.” our life can no longer be about what we want, or our desires of the flesh, but what God wants and His will for our lives. Remember, “the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” 1 John 2:17 (NKJV)

“There are many whose hearts are aching under a load of care because they seek to reach the world’s standard. They have chosen its service, accepted its perplexities, adopted its customs. Thus their character is marred, and their life made a weariness. In order to gratify ambition and worldly desires, they wound the conscience, and bring upon themselves an additional burden of remorse.

The continual worry is wearing out the life forces. Our Lord desires them to lay aside this yoke of bondage. . . . He bids them seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and His promise is that all things needful to them for this life shall be added. (Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 330.) My friends we can’t keep telling ourselves, I will let this conflict from within remain, so we continue to set “our mind on things below, not on things above.” So we continue “to live as one who has no hope”

That is why we must allow God’s Spirit to penetrate the unknown places of our life that we have never allowed him to go before, and don’t let Him leave until we can say as Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith [and I have endured].” And now “there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 2 Tim 4:8 (NKJV)

So today, it becomes crucial my friends, that we  “forsake all others” and seek God’s presence with a passion in prayer and in His word, and if we listen real close, out of the darkness one voice will signal something quite different from the voices of this world, because it is the same voice that rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm,” [that will give us hope] Mark 4:39 (KJV)

MY FRIENDS, ARE WE GOD’S VOICE CALLING IN THE WILDERNESS FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS?

A Wilderness is defined as a wild and uncultivated region…..inhabited mostly by wild animals. But in the context of “The Great Controversy” we will look at an uncultivated region as this wicked world we live in unprepared for “the great tribulation, a time never witness by any man before. [Before being since the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth up until today, June 27, 2016, no, nor ever shall be.] ”

And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” Matt 24:2-22 (NKJV) And the wild animals in this wilderness, we can say with no reservation are “human beings” totally controlled, not by God, but by principalities, and powers and the rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places.” Eph. 6:12 (KJV)

My friends, the directions God is leading us is unclear at times, but because we know God loves us we must do whatever it takes to be His voice CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS to all who are sinking deep in sin far from the peaceful and loving arms of our Savior. That is why our focus must remain on Calvary and what was done for our Salvation and why it is crucial that we are the voice of God.

Remember Satan is defeated so we “will not have to fight this battle. [but] Position ourselves, [and] stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with us. O [faithful servants of the most High God.] Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with us.”2 Chronicles 20:17 (NKJV) So my friends let’s seek Gods Spirit and presence daily in this wilderness experience and “even If we ascend to heaven, [remember our God is] there!

And If we make our bed in Sheol, [remember our God is there! And If we take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there [our God will be] because His hand shall lead us, and [His] right hand shall hold us.” Ps. 139 1:10 (ESV Paraphrased) And my friends that promise tells us, we must not fear being God’s VOICE CALLING IN THE WILDERNESS FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS, because our God “will never leave nor forsake us.”

But, there are still mountains to climb and the storms may only have just begun, but, “God never said it would be easy He only said “The Lord is on our side; [we must] not fear, what can man do unto [us if God is on our side?] Ps. 118:6 (KJV) Oh the promises of God that we must hold on to if our plans are to finish God’s mandate here on earth and live throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity in Gods holy kingdom.

So let’s ask ourselves today, what is it about this wilderness experience that has us afraid to forsake everything in this world that is detrimental to our salvation and give it all to the Master. Remember “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. “ 2 Tim 1:7 (NKJV)

So we must move out and become “a voice of one, calling out, Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness [remove the obstacles]; Make straight and smooth in the desert a highway for our God [who will soon send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other,] Is. 40:3 (AMP)