May 20, 2016

MY FRIENDS, WE MUST DEVELOP UNRESTRICTED DEPENDENCE ON CHRIST?

“Without faith it is impossible to please God. because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Heb 11:6 (KJV)

Christ Is calling His Children to the point of unrestricted and unrestrained dependence on Him. In addition, He continually allows what is humanly impossible to become totally possible through Him If we will only claim His promises through our faith and “weather the storm” of doubt Satan attacks us with daily. And  as Christians, we must each day determine with certainty that our “steps are directed by the Lord. So, How then can anyone understand their own way? Prov. 20:24 (NIV)

My friends, “The obstacles that hinder our progress will never disappear before a halting, doubting spirit. Those who defer obedience till every shadow of uncertainty disappears and there remains no risk of failure or defeat will never obey at all. Unbelief whispers, “Let us wait till the obstructions are removed, and we can see our way clearly;” but faith courageously urges an advance, hoping all things, believing all things.” (E.G. White Patriarchs and Prophets PP 290)

And as our eyes are stayed on Christ, we begin to “walk by faith, and not by sight,” because “faith doesn’t necessarily know where it’s going, but it does know who’s leading.” And with Christ guiding our footsteps we want become complacent that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Eph. 6:12 (NKJV)

“The story is told of a student who had a good friend in graduate school who was blind. When he arrived he was given a tour by a campus representative. His friends, also walked various routes with him to help him get acclimated with the campus and town. He then begin to navigate his surroundings by cane and not a service dog. Within days he was on his own. How this was possible he explained; he counted his steps, as he “mapped” various soundscapes in his mind, which allowed him to tell his position by echoes and non-echoes as he became familiar with street crossings, stairwells, etc.”

As Christian we must also take A spiritual attitude of discernment, using the Blind student as our example and how he got from destination to destination, using Christ as our Guide. However faith in itself is not blind; because it is based on God’s promises in the Scriptures, and our personal experiences in walking with God every day. But what becomes sightless is the millions of ways that our God has to provide for His Children, and what way He will use at any particular time in our lives.

My friends, each step in our life has been “ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in His way.” oh what assurance in knowing God delighteth to lead and guide a sinner like you and I as our faith takes control and we map our steps backward to see where God has brought us as we go forward to our final destination; that place “Eye have not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Cor. 2:9 (NKJV)

My friends we can never forget that Jesus is “the author and finisher of our faith” which only means He has predictability throughout His word and my life and that His “steadfast love never ceases;  and his mercies never comes to an end; [because] they are new every morning; great is His faithfulness.” Lam. 3:22-23 (ESV) 

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A LETTER TO OUR FRIENDS

On the mountain in the valley as we wait in our secret places of the God Almighty we will trust in the name of the Lord as we cry out “Lord please receive this sacrifice of praise” because you have always been our shield and our shelter, even when we closed our ears to your voice. But now we ask that you cover each of your Soldiers beneath the shadow of Your wings “and receive this sacrifice of praise” ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-FIVE THOUSAND SOULS FOR YOUR KINGDOM!!

“As the teachings of spiritualism are accepted by the churches, the restraint imposed upon the carnal heart is removed, and the profession of religion will become a cloak to conceal the basest iniquity. A belief in spiritual manifestations opens the door to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, and thus the influence of evil angels will be felt in the churches. Of Babylon, at the time brought to view in this prophecy, it is declared: “Her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.” Revelation 18:5.

She has filled up the measure of her guilt, and destruction is about to fall upon her. But [My friends], God still has a people in Babylon; and before the visitation of His judgments these faithful ones must be called out, that they partake not of her sins and “receive not of her plagues.” Hence the movement symbolized by the angel coming down from heaven, lightening the earth with his glory and crying mightily with a strong voice, announcing the sins of Babylon. In connection with his message the call is heard: “Come out of her, My people.”

My friends, [“My People,” being the souls we seek on the battle field that God will place before us who make up the one hundred and eighty-five thousand plus souls.] These announcements, uniting with the third angel’s message, constitute the final warning to be given to the inhabitants of the earth. But not one is made to suffer the wrath of God until the truth has been brought home to his [or her] mind and conscience, and has been rejected. There are many who have never had an opportunity to hear the special truths for this time.

The obligation of the fourth commandment has never been set before them in its true light. He who reads every heart and tries every motive will leave none who desire a knowledge of the truth, to be deceived as to the issues of the controversy. The decree is not to be urged upon the people blindly. Everyone is to have sufficient light to make his decision intelligently. (E.G. White. The final warning: The Great Controversy) My friends, I now need you to think, Breathtaking and Awe-Inspiring, because our God is an all Powerful, Breathtaking and Awe-Inspiring God.

America has three hundred and twenty million people living here. There will be 120 dedicated soldiers who will solicit other dedicated soldiers. 120 divided by 320 million equals about 2.5 million people. Now our goal is one hundred and eighty-five thousand souls out of those 320 million. 185,000 (souls) divided by 120 (soldiers) equals about 1,550 souls per soldier. “My friends from a human standpoint Jesus message” to come out of Babylon “for such a time as this” seems unthinkable from a human standpoint for such a small number of soldiers.

But “the Roman Empire in the first century had approximately sixty to seventy million people. 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. From a human standpoint, Jesus’ command to preach the gospel to the world seemed unthinkable” [at the time. But today you have 2.2 billion Christians through-out the world. My friends there is no limit on what God will do if we believe] (Mark Finley)

My friends it’s all about being on one accord we all need to have the same shared vision and passion for souls. If there is any doubt about your commitment or passion, God has another plan for you, it is just not this one. I have solicited each of you because I know your desire to finish up God’s mandate in our life time. but I need everyone to understand what you may be giving up for this commitment to God and what He is asking of you today because with this commitment comes great responsibility like you have never imaging God can achieve through each of us but you must believe.

And when it is all over “we can only imagine what it will be like when we walk by His side? We can only imagine what our eyes will see when His face is before us and we are surrounded by His Glory? My friends, can you imagine what will our hearts feel? I just wonder, will we dance for our Jesus, or will we just be in awe of Him and be still? Or will we just stand in His Presence or to our knees will we fall? Will we sing hallelujah or will we be able to speak at all? We can only imagine.”

But what we will not have to imagine is Christ saying to His faithful servants “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful in bringing to my kingdom 185,000 plus souls, now I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.” Matt. 25:21

Sincerely Your Friends In Christ, Michael Paschal and Cecil Jackson

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May 18, 2016

MY FRIENDS, THERE IS ONLY ONE, BUT WE MUST BELIEVE!

Miracles still happen my friends, and “There’s no way, that we can explain how things change at His command,” but we just have to believe when His word tells us, ”He said to the woman, “woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” And She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” John 8:10-11 (NKJV)

And we have to believe another woman begin Crawling, hyperventilating with anxiety to reach the Master. Oh what passion we all must seek, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so [our] soul pants for you, my God.” Ps. 42:1 (NIV) “If I could just “touch His Hem [she tells herself], I shall be made well.” Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.

And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him looked around to see her who had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.” Mark 5:28-34 (NKJV)

Immediately my friends, not when the Master had finish healing her neighbor down the street of cancer. “My past has been erased with just one touch from You. My clouds, my rain, my pain has changed Your blood has made me new oh Lamb, so true I surrender to You.” My friends, we can search a life time for that touch of total peace and happiness.

But only when we surrender our all will we feel that passion to be in the presence of the one who gave it all for our salvation and once self is destroyed and we begin to live our life through Christ then we realize that only “One” has the power to say “I do not condemn you, your sins are forgiven now “Go and sin no more.” And only “One” knows, because of one’s faith we can say with no reservation that we, “serve a risen Savior.”

And because we serve a risen Savior we now have direct communication with “our Father which art in heaven.” Matt. 6:9 (NKJV) Yes my friends, all who believe can say “our Father” and we can say that with full assurance because “the Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” Romans 8:16-18 (NKJV)

My friends, only “One” can tell us “if indeed we suffer with Him, we also will be glorified together with Him because nothing on this earth from the standpoint of our faith and “in light of eternity,” no pain, suffering, heartache, trials and no tribulation are compared with the glory which shall be revealed in that place “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Cor. 2:9 (NKJV)

And only “One” will say one day soon to His faithful servants who have endured “Blessed are those who [did My] commandments, [now you] have the right to the tree of life, [now come and] enter through the gates and into [My city] and to life eternal.

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May 17, 2016

MY FRIENDS, THE PROSPERITY OF THE WICKED IS ONLY FOR A MOMENT SALVATION IS ETERNAL

“But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked….. Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end.” Ps. 73:2-3 (NKJV) David tells us he almost slipped, because his focus went from the presence of God, to being fixated on the things of this world. And at this point, we must all enter the “sanctuary of God.”

This is where His presence is. And this is where our passion must remain. “As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God.” Ps. 42:1 (NKJV) My friends, the world has so much to offer and its “way seems right to a man [or woman] But its end is the way of death. Prov. 14:12 (NKJV) Trying to stay focused “on things above, not on things on the earth” is a feat that can only be accomplished if we keep our eyes on the one who gave it all for our salvation.

Because once our focus is shifted on self, this is when “we stumbled and our steps begin to slip” towards perdition. Remember “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Eph. 6:12 (NIV) And this great controversy is over our souls and the battle rages daily within us.

Isaiah in Is. 3:10-11(NIV) is a warning that tells us “the righteous, it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds. Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them they will be paid back for what their hands have done.” So we must look where God has brought us from and where this journey will take us. In addition, our faith must tell us, the Good Shepherd is our fortress against the god of this world and his attempt to lead us away from His presence.

Satan will keep us thinking, the world owes us, so we must continue to pursue after what it offers as we begin to acquire more things that one day will “pass away, and the lust thereof….” 1 John 2:17 (ASV)  My friends, let’s look at the fate of the wicked. There were only eight saved after Noah had preached for one hundred and twenty years. Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed even after Abraham pleads to the Lord “Suppose ten should be found there?”

God responds, “I will not destroy it for the sake of ten. Oh the grace of God. But, not even ten were found “and when the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, “Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.” Abraham pleaded, “if only ten,” but, there were only three. Lot’s wife almost made it, but her feet stumbled and slipped towards the abyss.

She was “envious of the boastful and the prosperity of the wicked.” In addition, we have to have a passion to be a disciple of Christ and be one of the few who will make up God’s kingdom. But even the few John says; “will make up a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,” Rev 7:9 (NKJV) My friends, don’s give it all up because we envy the prosperity of the wicked, remember Salvation is eternal.

May 14, 2016

MY FRIENDS HOW DOES A CHRISTIAN DEFINE CONFUSION?

Confusion is defined as; “disorder; upheaval; turmoil; chaos or a lack of clearness” I am sure I can find a few more adjectives to define what we as a country and a world are facing each day we wake up. As I look at the world we live in I can say with no reservation that we have gone beyond Matt. 24, and entered a dark hole or an abyss type of situation that we will never recover from until God says.

“He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be” Rev. 21:11-12 (NKJV) I can only imagine when our all-knowing, all-powerful, Omnipresence God looked down through the centuries and saw history repeat itself.

And once again, “as in the days before the flood, [when mankind] was eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, when “the wickedness of man and woman was great on the earth, and that every imagination or intent of the thoughts of his heart were only evil continually.” Gen. 6:5 (AMP) And He knew that His ministry on earth was to find disciples and to start a movement that took Him from where He stood down the road Via Dolorosa to His journey’s final destination, the cross where our debt was paid.

Then from the cross to the grave and from the grave to where He now intercedes on our behalf. And now my friends it is time we lift Him high and tell the world that we serve a risen Savior. A world that is lost in the confusion of “breaking new.” Lost in the confusion “of wars and rumors of wars.” Lost in the confusion of nations rising against nations, and kingdoms against kingdoms.

Lost in the confusion of famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. Lost in the confusion of many false Christ telling us I am the Good Shephard. “But as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matt 24:27 (NKJV) Lost in the confusion of “false prophets, showing great signs and wonders” but my friends “to the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Is. 8:20 (NKJV)

In addition, our Savior wants us to understand, it is the father of confusion, Satan, that creates the “disorder; upheaval; turmoil; chaos or a lack of clearness” that we find in our world today and that my friends is why it has become confusing to distinguished between the “wide road that leads to destruction that many will travel. And the narrow way which leads to life eternal that few will find.

And few will find, because Satan has allowed many to confuse the purity of God with the forces of evil and now we have no problem calling evil good, and good evil; and interchanging the darkness of this word with the wonderful light that shines from the portals of God’s pure and holy kingdom. But my friends, the good news is, grace still abounds.

Which let’s God’s faithful know, we still have options to choose between that place, “eye have not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”1 Cor. 2:9 (NKJV) Or total confusion and perdition, “prepared for the devil and his angels.”

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May 14, 2016

MY FRIENDS, ARE WE SQUANDERING OUR PRECIOUS TIME AWAY?

The Bible gives no endorsement to idleness. It is the greatest curse that afflicts our world. Time squandered can never be recovered. We cannot call back even one moment. The only way in which we can redeem our time is by making the most of that which remains, by being co-workers with God in His great plan of redemption. In him who does this, a transformation of character takes place. He becomes a son of God, a member of the royal family, a child of the heavenly King. He is fitted to be the companion of the angels.” (Ellen G. White Christ’s Object Lessons)

So today my friends. we must make it personal because the days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years,” Ps. 90:10 (NKJV) which tells us, we are running out of time. In addition, if we manage to squander those seventy or eighty years away on self how could we possible handle eternity where life never ends.

Using Christ as our example, who was always serving the needs of others, His earthly ministry, was only spent praying, teaching, helping, healing and interacting daily with men and women from every social, educational, and economic class. And this was done so that they would realize the never ending Love of His father that gave His Only Begotten Son, and a Son who was willing to sacrifice His own life so that all may be saved.

My friends His agenda was always based on His ministry. Now it becomes personal because if our desire is to spend eternity in that place “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Cor. 2:9 (NKJV) Then we must ask ourselves what exactly is our mission or what has God placed upon our hearts to accomplish through Him today?

Or have we even asked, knowing we will get a response since, “The harvest is plentiful, and the workers are few.” Luke 10:2 (NIV) And so we know if we ask, that requires a commitment and today we have to take our dog to the vet. And tomorrow, what excuse will we give to the one who gave it all for our Salvation.

My friends, where is our passion in becoming co-workers with Christ out on the front lines of the battle field where a world continues to sink deeper and deeper into sin. Where iniquity continues to abound higher and higher and the love of many continues to wax colder and colder. We must understand if we are seeking God’s kingdom our time must not be centered on self.

Our passion to serve must transcend into an urgency to serve as we look at the closeness of Christ soon return. Remember friends, there is nothing in us, or of ourselves by which we can influence others for good, or use our time wisely because we are all shapen in iniquity; and in sin did our mother conceive us Ps. 51:5 (KJV) So we must realize our helplessness and our need of God’s holy Spirit to guide us in how we spend our time in serving Christ, as we become chosen vessels.

In addition, we also become faithful steward’s of our time talents and money that God has given us. My friends, “Life is too solemn to be absorbed in temporal and earthly matters in a treadmill of care and anxiety for the things that are but an atom in comparison with the things of eternal interest. Yet God has called us to serve Him” (E.G. White) My friends oh what an Honor!! What an honor!!

May 13, 2016

MY FRIENDS, DO WE THINK LIKE THE POSTMODERN SOCIETY?

My friends, there is a rise in thinking in today’s society called Postmodernism. It claims there are no moral absolutes, that truth is whatever you believe it to be. Live and let live. The problem is, they try and combine a little truth, with a little error “it rejects absolute moral truth” which tells us there is evil and good in our world. And The Bible is totally accurate in all of its promises and precepts.

And Satan is not symbolic but a real being or force of evil who was banished from heaven because of his desire to be like the Most High. And that a person cannot earn their way into Heaven by being good or doing good works. And Christians do have a responsibility to share their faith with the world. In addition, Jesus did not sin while on this earth, which He then becomes our example. But Postmodernist believe, what is right or wrong is relative to the situation and not to what is in God’s word.

If I am married and want to have an affair, the situation dictates weather it is right or wrong not the fact that God says “thou should not commit adultery” so in reality, we can use this same way of thinking for all ten of God’s precepts “whatever feels good mentality” not spiritually and there is no limitation on the choices we make because those choices are all about self.

So now there is no absolute truth. No thus says the Lord. Only spiritual confusion. So How can we ever be willing to take up our cross for Christ whose ideas are absolute and never changes. He “is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Heb. 13:8 (NIV) So now Satan mixes a little truth with a little error because, Postmodernist are still willing to help the needed, visit the sick, feed the hungry and give donation for world peace and animal rights.

But,“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.” Then Christ says; I was hungry and you gave Me food;….thirsty and you gave Me drink.

I was a stranger and you took Me in;…naked and you clothed Me;…sick and you visited Me;…in prison and you came to Me. But the righteous ask, ‘Lord, when did You see me do all of these things. Then Christ says “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” Matt. 25:31-46 (NLJV)

It’s now personal, because we have to look within ourselves and say, if I have done all of this, what could possibly keep me out of God’s kingdom. My friends it is all about our relationship with Christ. Christ says if you love me, Love meaning that Agape love which is that kind of love Jesus Christ has for his Father and for you and I.

Which is, Selfless, Sacrificial and unconditional. Christ tells us if you love me you will keep my commandments unconditionally and be willing to Sacrifice everything even our lives for His ministry and this can only be done if self is completely destroyed and we now live our life through the life of Christ and his will for us.

Every excuse we may give as the reason we cannot serve Christ, was challenged and answered at Calvary.