MAY 25, 2016

MY FRIENDS, DO WE REALLY NEED GOD EVERY HOUR?

“I need thee every hour, most gracious Lord; no tender voice like thine can peace afford. Consistent with this, I need you to always be nearby; because then temptations lose their power when thou art nigh.” My friends, it’s very personal because it is every hour of my life that I must be concerned with before I can cry out “Lord not my will but thy will be done.” And it is I that must have no reservation that “greater is he that is in me, than he that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4 (KJV)

Because at one time in my life and I think I can speak for most of us, we just did not understand that we had options between right and wrong, good and evil, black and white. Because self was the controlling factor in our life not the blood of Jesus Christ. But my friends, when we were sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore, very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more.

It was at that point, the Master of the sea heard our despairing cry,” and He left His throne thinking about you and I and how fragile we were as we continued to sink. Oh the cry of the righteous, our Savior always hears because His grace and mercy never ceases. “They are new every morning.” And one day soon because of His faithfulness, all who believed and endured to the end will be able to live in His kingdom throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity.

Oh what love and that my friends, is why we need our Lord and Savior in our life every hour of every day and if He is, then we will begin to look at the world we live in and the things of this world and understand as Christ understood in Matt. 24 when He says “lawlessness will abound, and the love of many will grow cold.” Meaning “every intent of the thoughts of man’s heart will only continually become evil.” As before the flood.

“But one day soon “all sinners will be destroyed; [and] there will be no future for the wicked.” Ps. 37:38 (NIV)  But my friends, as Gods children and heirs to His kingdom we have a urgent message, a mandate from God because He “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……

There are many who have never had an opportunity to hear the special truths [for such a time as this.]…. 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 [between good and evil.] The decree is not to be urged upon the people blindly. Everyone is to have sufficient light to make his [or her] decision intelligently.” (E.G. White. The final warning: The Great Controversy)

And the most intelligent decision for all who seek life eternal is to enter “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) And we can only have a shared vision and a passion to deliver this message to the world if, we see the importance of Christ His word and His Spirit being in our life every hour, every minute and every second of the day.

May 22, 2016

MY FRIENDS, IS GOD THE SAME YESTERDAY AND TODAY AND WILL HE BE THE SAME TOMORROW?

In 1 Corinthians 1:18, the Bible tells us that the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but the power of God to [a faithful few who continually endure, along with a passion to serve]” 1 Corinthians 1:18 (KJV). Friends, I need you to understand that God is not only a God from Genesis to revelation, but is a God of yesterday today and tomorrow in each of our lives personally if we believe.

Yesterday, we could have been a David telling Goliath; “we only need one weapon against the forces of evil and it is the name of the Lord. And He will deliver His faithful because “He never slumbers nor sleeps” therefore, He will never forsake us,  and we can tell the world that the Lord does not save with sword and spear, for the battle is the Lord’s. [And with prayer and supplication, through His Spirit victory is ours, says the Lord]……. ”1 Sam. 45-46 (NKJV) Ps. 121:4 (KJV)

And today my friends, our faith may have been shaken because of various situation or circumstances Satan has brought into our life. But like the three Hebrew boys who tells king Nebuchadnezzar “ God will deliver us from the burning fiery furnace or the trials and tribulations of this world,……..But if not, let it be known to [the world],….that we will not serve another god, or put the things of this world before the true God. And because our Faith may be shaken but never compromised, today, with no reservation we know the God we serve, will always be our refuge, and no evil shall ever befall us….For He shall give His angels charge over our lives. Daniel 3:17-24 (NKJV) Ps 91:9-11 (NKJV)

And tomorrow we may have to become a Daniel who because of His faith and the God He served was persecuted and then cast into the den of lions….And because of Daniel’s faith, the same king who threw Daniel in the lions den is now praying and fasting and making supplications before God to deliver Daniel from the lions den. And He did. My friends God changes lives when others witness what God will do for us.

And this same God, if  we will serve continually, will deliver us from that roaring lion Satan, who will not be able to hurt us because we are God’s children.  My friends we serve an on time God who just yesterday we proved to the world that the battle is not ours but the Lord’s, and today the same forces of evil that tried to prevail didn’t because our faith remained steadfast as we told all who would listen; even if our God does not deliver us right away, we will let it be known to everyone that we will not serve other gods nor the things of this world.

And tomorrow because we have continued to hold on to the promises of God and His will for our lives we now tell our story about that mountain we have asked to ‘Move from here to there,’ and it did because nothing is impossible for us if we serve “a risen Savior.” And one day soon, we will be called up to meet Christ in the clouds and Christ will personally  say to His faithful who endured.

Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things yesterday and today and now tomorrow and forever Enter into this 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)

May 21, 2016

MY FRIENDS, ARE YOU PREPARED TO GO FORWARD WHERE CHRIST LEADS?

As faithful warriors, we must possess the single main trait to succeed in the rigorous training session for the final conflict, as we “deny self and take up our cross daily and follow Christ [wherever He leads] as His disciples.” Luke 9:23 (NIV) The final words, to a warrior for God simply says “Do you have what it takes to give it all to the Master because “you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” Mark 13:13 (KJV)

So we must be “prepared through our faith to pass through scenes that will severely test our confidence in God [but] when we see no way to advance, when the “Red Sea” is before us and the pursuing army behind, that [is when] God will bid us to “go forward.” (E. G. White Testimonies for the Church) “For our light affliction, which [will be, only for a moment,] is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” 2 Cor. 4:17 (NKJV)

So we must “go forward” as we walk step by step in the path Christ marks out for His faithful. Trials will come, but we must “go forward.” That is why my friends our faith must not waver in these minor afflictions we face today because God knows what lies ahead for all who “go forward” as we allow our lives to be “crucified with Christ while at the same time self-dies as we allow Christ to take full control.”

So God now prepares His heirs and joint heirs with His Son “for something we cannot handle right now. But, He’s providing us with what we will need through His Spirit to carry out the next matter in our life,” because our trials now are only “the beginning of sorrows, because one day “there will be great tribulation, such have never been since the beginning of the world until this time, or ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.” Matt. 24:21-22 (NKJV)

“But he [or she] who endures to the end shall be saved.” So my friends, we must trust in the lord with all our heart, while never leaning on our own understanding as we acknowledge Him as our Lord and Savior and surrender our all as He guides us on this straight and narrow path across the finish line as conquers into the promise land. But, we can only trust, what we have become accustomed to placing our faith and trust in.

For “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” Romans 10:17 (NKJV) So today, focus on an unparalleled time in our life that today we are not prepared for, unparalleled implying; “unequaled or unmatched, peerless, unprecedented. But we must not become complacent for “we no not the hour or day, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Matt 24:36 (NIV)

That is why we must continue to prepare our faith to be unparalleled, also meaning “unequaled, unmatched, peerless and unprecedented,” because it will be the hardest Season we will ever experience but one day God will say “it is finished” and “the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” [If we believe]1 Thess. 4:16-17 (NKJV)

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.