July 10, 2016

MY FRIENDS, WILL THESE BIRTH PANGS CONTINUE?

“……..I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me” 2 Tim. 1:11-12 (ESV) Second Timothy was probably written when Paul was in a Roman prison “abandoned by all but a few friends and facing imminent death,” imminent meaning likely to occur at any moment. My friends, what has become imminent in our life in regards to our Salvation. Is it imminent that the boisterous waves of our life take us under to where we no longer hear the cries of those we should be helping.

Paul in His second epistle to Timothy is not thinking of self because He realizes what time he has left must not be spent in an attitude of profound hopelessness and discouragement. And as we look “forward to a home yet to come,” and as we witness the constant bombardment of “breaking news,” false prophets, wars, lawlessness at an all-time high, as the love of mankind grows colder. It is imminent that grievous trouble and severe trials and suffering is only the “beginning of out birth pangs.”

The contractions will begin to move at a rapid pace like no human has ever seen before. More frequent and with far more pain until there will “be great tribulation (pressure, distress, oppression), such has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now.” Matt 24:21 (AMP) And as we approach the final days of this life’s history there will be a sharp contrast from a child of God and those who follow the forces of evil.

My friends, perilous times have just begun, But like Paul we know whom “we have believed” and through our faith and endurance our life at this point must only focus on producing positive result. So we cannot be ashamed of what we do for Christ.” Remember, God has placed us on this Journey. He directs our foot-steps and it is His mandate we are fulfilling as heirs to His kingdom.

So we must maintain our faith, even when we feel the waves are taking us under we must remember “afflictions do and will work very much for the good of our salvation through Christ because His love grace and “mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.” So we must pray daily for a commitment of faith, as Paul maintained while under such trying circumstances.

My friends, “Soon the night of trial and suffering would end, and then would dawn the glad morning of peace and perfect day. “The apostle [as we should be] was looking into the great beyond, not with uncertainty or dread, but with joyous hope and longing expectation. [And as we stand today at this place in time where “others who have no hope.”]

A child of God  must look up through the calm blue heaven of that summer day to the throne of the Eternal” (E. G.White) and realize because of our faith and endurance we have been washed with the blood of Jesus Christ and we are now “safe to save.” My friends, what happen to Paul on the road to Damascus we should all seek.

That light from above, that same voice of Christ telling us, “Arise go into the [community], and you will be told what you must do.” We must all seek. My friends, we cannot be ashamed of the gospel of Christ because, “whoever is ashamed of Christ and His words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and reward us for what we have done in his body, whether good or worthless.” 2 Luke 9:26 (NIV) Cor. 5:10 (ISV)

July 8, 2016

MY FRIENDS, DO WE UNDERSTAND WE ARE PRESUMPTUOUS CHRISTIANS?

As we define the word PRESUMPTUOUS in regards to our spiritual walk with God I think its safe to say it is the conduct of each of us who walks in the discipline and instruction of the Lord, we know right from wrong and that all sin is an abomination to the Lord no matter how small. But because Satan has redirected our focus, we now have a favorable opinion about sin. We have become PRESUMPTUOUS or a willful participant and unrepentant, which tells us we have become careless with God and his word and what our responsibilities are as a child of God.

Numbers 15:30-31 (NKJV) tells us, “but the person who does anything presumptuously……that one brings reproach on the Lord, and he shall be cut off from among his people. Because he has despised the word of the Lord, and have broken His commandments…….” So now its personal because its about you and I who willfully sin and “bring reproach on the one who gave it all for our salvation and It’s you and I who willfully break His commandments.

“There were times of this ignorance [of not knowing], when God winked; but now He commandeth all men every-where to repent:” because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness Acts 17:30-31 (NKJV) So to willfully sin is to ignore the light that shines from God onto our hearts where His Spirit is trying to lead us in “all truth and understanding.“ In addition, that PRESUMPTUOUS sin arises from our carelessness with God and his word and a willful disobedience in the context of the Spirit’s work in the world through Christ and His ministry.

Which then takes us to the abyss or the unpardonable or unforgivable sin which can never be forgiven, “either in this age or in the age to come” Matthew 12:32 (KJV) So now we walk away, but it’s not the Spirit that leaves us, but it’s Satan who has convinced us we have gone to far. But my friends Christ arm still reaches as He pleads “Come unto Me, all who labour [of soul and mind] and are heavy laden [with the burdens of sin], and I will give you rest.

[He is asking us to] Take His yoke and [submit to the discipline and training that will get us through that narrow gate and difficult road where only a few will find. but those few who do, will receive life eternal.”] And learn on Him; for He is meek and [humble] in heart: and we shall find rest unto our souls. For Christ yoke is easy, and His burden is light [for all who truly love the lord and will delight to do His will wherever He may lead]” Matt 11:28-29 (KJV paraphrased)

My friends David ask God in Ps. 19:13 (NKJV) Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins Let them not have dominion [or power]over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgressions.” My friends, Remember we are not dealing with “flesh and blood” but against “the rulers of the darkness of this world” we of ourselves have no power to say no to sin and to “forsake all others.”

Our power can only come through our faith and endurance which can only come from our prayers and supplication as we study God’s word and seek His Spirit daily. But if we are PRESUMPTUOUS and allow Satan to keep our focus on the things of this world then we must understand “God’s Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days are numbered and one day soon the Son of Man is coming at an hour that we do not expect.” My friends will we be ready?

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.