Nov. 15, 2015

MY FRIENDS, A VISION OF HOPE YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED FOR THIS PURPOSE!!

 As God’s chosen it is our responsibility to influence all towards a common goal. And that common goal is to help finish God’s agenda here on earth as we present a vision of hope through God’s word. This is the purpose we have been called for, everything else should be secondary, but centered around our Savior’s needs.

And we must move out and let the world know that God “knows the thoughts He thinks towards them, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give them a future and a hope.” Jer. 29:11(KJV) And to all “who accept the teachings of God’s word will not be wholly ignorant of what that hope is.

For “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 Corinthians 2:9 (KJV), Human language is inadequate to describe the reward of the righteous and it will be known only to those who behold it. Now my friends that is hope but it must become a shared hope and a shared vision.

In addition His word in our “heart must become like a fire, a fire shut up in our bones that we cannot hold in” and along with that fire the Lord will be with us like a mighty warrior if we believe and endure and give our all for His glory and honor.

My friends, this is Gods purpose, this is God’s plan for our life as we move out on the front lines of the battle field, and as God’s chosen and as we influence others to give their lives to Christ, self must continue to die daily as we carry out God’s commission by going into all the world and preach of a New home not of this earth.

We all have been strangers in a city or community at some point in our life. After a while we become comfortable. We adjust, as we begin to adapt and conform to the customs of our new surroundings. But scripture warns us not to become comfortable here on earth and we must warn others against adapting to the wicked conditions of this world also.

But as strangers, we must continue to influence others to seek Christ first, as we together make Christ our focal point on our journey to God’s kingdom because the Spirit of God is gradually giving man “over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.” Ps. 81:12 (NKJV)

So we must “work the works of him that (sent each of us), while it is day: for the night cometh, when no man or woman can work. John 9:4 (KJV) and each day as we look at the “breaking news” that surrounds us, we must ask God what is your will for me today?

Peter says it best in 1 Peter 2:21-25 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth;…….”

But as our influence and territory increases and our vision becomes more real the closer we get to Christ second coming. Salvation and life eternal must continue to be a passion from within as we become witnesses to all the world as a transformation process also becomes real to them through God’s Spirit

My Friends, where there is no vision, the people perish…..Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)

Nov. 14, 2015

MY FRIENDS, LET’S GO ON A JOURNEY, CHRIST TRANSFIGURATION!!

Matt. 16:13 (NKJV), you have Jesus coming into the region of Caesarea Philippi, asking His disciples, “Who do men say that I am?” and Peter the last to be ask, answers in verse 16. “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus responds in verse 17, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.” Peter is then praised, and told, one day He will do great things for the gospel of Christ.

Then He commands His disciples, “tell no one” His mission must remain silent. For I will “go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day” Matt. 16:21 (NKJV).

But Peter, the “political activist” wasn’t having it, “Never Lord.” he tells Christ, as if he could stop the plan of Salvation. After three years with the Master He nor any of the other disciples understood Christ real mission.

“Get behind Me, Satan! Jesus tells Peter, the same Peter only a few moments earlier had been praised by Christ as the future of the Christian church. “You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

I would imagine Christ humanity recognized how little the Disciples understood of His mission, so He tells them their mission. “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Matt. 16 :24-26 (KJV)

My friends, it’s all about the cross that we must carry which identifies our faith, endurance, loyalty and trials we will encounter on our way to the promise land. And friends, we will never enter without our cross in hand, because it’s a seal of loyalty, a privilege, bestowed on God’s faithful.

But it is also a responsibility of commitment and sacrifice as a soldier in Christ army. How long have we gotten up on Saturday or Sunday morning, telling ourselves we are blessed and howly favored as we enter the doors of the sanctuary.

Thinking somehow we have some special “endowment given to us by our Creator, that gives us certain unalienable Rights,” to His Spirit because we claim to know God with no signs of any actual transformation taken place in our life.

Beginning in Matt 17 Jesus takes the best of the best, Peter James and John with “Him on a high mountain by themselves; at this time He is transfigured before them.” transfigured meaning to “Change into another form” or to transform.

This is one of the occasions where divinity flashed forth through Jesus humanity, as the disciples witnessed this miraculous manifestation. But it was not until the day of Pentecost before the disciples realized this same power was also available to them.

And my friends, it is also available to us if we will allow God’s Spirit to take full control and transform our lives. Then the disciples recognize a heavenly visitation, Elijah and Moses who are sent to comfort Christ before His Crucifixion that must take place for all humanity.

Elijah and Moses now become “a type of the glorious kingdom in which the ransomed of all ages will be with Christ in glory; those who will see death like Moses and those who will not like Elijah.

My Friends, where there is no vision, the people perish…..Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)

Nov 12, 2015

MY FRIENDS, WE ARE JUST BEGINNING THERE IS A LATTER RAIN, NOW WHAT?

Yesterday I spoke of the early rain, But that is only the beginning for God’s chosen. “There must be no neglect of the grace represented by the former rain. Only those who are living up to the light they have, will they receive greater light.

Unless we are daily advancing in the exemplification of the active Christian virtues, we shall not recognize the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain. It may be falling on hearts all around us, but we shall not discern or receive it….

Here are “the times of refreshing” to which the apostle Peter looked forward when he said: “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and he shall send Jesus.” Acts 3:19, 20. ( E.G. White)

And that overall process starting with the early rain, only comes about when we have decided, not our will, but God’s will be done as we “lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us.

And let us run with endurance, the race that is set before us by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Because He is the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross……” Heb. 12:1-2 (KJV, paraphrased)

“and let us run with endurance.” My friends, our faith will be stretched to the limit which will require endurance. But if we fail at the start of this race we will never be given greater light to finish.

In triathlon competition, the swimming being the first event before bicycling and running, if you fail, and somehow are not able to finish the first leg of the race the swimming. You are then unqualified to continue the race, so you are made to move to the side with the onlookers.

And that is the same way with the Latter Rain if we have not studied God’s word, and allowed His Spirit to Guide us in all understanding. We will never finish the Journey to the promise land, because a lack of preparation and faith will keep us frightened and ill prepared to go any further.

Paul tells us in, 2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV) “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” to finish this race.” Daily He knocks at our heart to come in, are we listening?

Or have our focus been constantly on the things of this world instead of the presence of the Good Shepherd. Today let’s ask ourselves what keeps us from given it all to the Master? “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” 2 Chron. 16:9 (KJV)

My friends, it starts with our faith in Christ to guide us. For the latter rain is that power the Savior places within us through His Spirit to finish up His work in our life time. “In the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh. And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams” Acts 2:17 (KJV)

“For the latter rain will come, and the blessing of God will fill every soul that is purified from every defilement. It is our work today to yield our souls to Christ, that we may be fitted for the time of refreshing, the presence of the Lord, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit.”(E.G. White)

My Friends, where there is no vision, the people perish…..Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)

Nov. 11, 2015

MY FRIENDS, ARE WE SEEKING THE EARLY RAIN?

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; Acts 3:19 (KJV) My friends The times of refreshing. Those are the key words we as Christians must seek.

The Early Rain, God’s promises to His faithful ambassadors who will complete His commission in our lifetime. The Early Rain we must be praying diligently with heartfelt supplication daily as we allow the work of God’s Spirit to convict, instruct, restore, guide and empower every aspect of our lives before Christ second coming.

And Friends, all doubt must be erased that the Son of man will not “come at an hour when ye think not.” The question we must ask ourselves is, will I personally be A leading vessel for Christ during this time?

“The latter rain, ripening earth’s harvest, represents the spiritual grace that prepares the church for the coming of the Son of man. But unless the former rain has fallen, there will be no life; the green blade will not spring up.

Unless the early showers have done their work, the latter rain can bring no seed to perfection. There is to be “first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.” There must be a constant development of Christian virtue, a constant advancement in Christian experience.

This we should seek with intensity of desire, that we may adorn the doctrine of Christ our Savior.” (E.G.White) My friends today Christ is seeking a decision from the heirs to His kingdom, and joint heirs with His Son.

In addition, we can only make the right decision when we have allowed the transforming power through His Spirit to take full control of our life as we become passionate about spreading the good news as we proclaim how God’s presence has made a difference in our life, to our friends, families, love one’s, neighbors, co-workers and too a world lost in sin.

For it was only when the Disciples came together on one accord  through God’s Holy Spirit that allowed the day of Pentecost to happen. Acts 1:4 (KJV) tells us “On one occasion, while He was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.”

 Acts 1:12-15 (KJV) tells us further “Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying……They all joined together constantly in prayer….then Acts 2:1-4 (KJV) gives us the climax “

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost.

My friends as Children of the king. we must focus on the Journey. We all have our individual cross to bear and we can only bear it if we have allowed God’s Spirit to be poured out within our hearts and bodies until we are overflowing.

And then “There shall be showers of blessing: this is the promise of love; [and if we have faith and endure] There shall be seasons refreshing, Sent from the Savior above. Showers of blessing, Showers of blessing we need: Mercy-drops round us are falling, But for these showers we plead.”

My Friends, where there is no vision, the people perish…..Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)

Nov. 9, 2015

MY FRIENDS, WHAT IS GOD DOING TO GET OUR ATTENTION?

“There is a place I long to be In my Savior embrace where I am free From life’s [trials], where there’s rest and sweet communion, because Jesus has all that I need. For in His presence there is fullness of joy. At His right hand are pleasures forevermore. There is no place that I would rather be Than in the arms of Jesus my King.” (Daryl Coley)

“I long to be,” Nothing is more important than the embrace of our Savior as we wrap our arms around Him and say I have searched throughout my life and this is the only place where I find comfort and Joy, and that is only from the Masters touch.

My friends its personal, and I need each of us to focus on where we are in our relationship with God? Or where we would like to be. But whatever He means to each of His Children one day He must become real as we look back as far as we can go where pain became real.

For me, a puppy I lost as a child, oh the hurt I felt, but at that point, at that young age, God was letting me understand, it is the pain and disappointments of our life that gets our attention. Because it is when He has our attention is when we understand, He is all we need.

And He’ll do and use whatever it takes even the death of His Son on the cross to make us understand He is all we need. “Have you ever lost a loved one who you thought should still be here? Do you know what it feels like to be tangled up in fear? What if He’s somehow involved?

What if He’s speaking through it all? To tell us I love you” (Mandisa God speaking) My friends, what is it that God has to do to get our attention besides Calvary where our Salvation was paid for? And it is only through our faith, endurance and understanding that we realize, He is all we need that allows us to cry out daily, Lord not my will, but thy will be done.

My friends, we are broken, and we need to be fixed and it is only God’s grace and mercy that can repair what we can never do ourselves. But we must understand God will do whatever it takes to fix one of His broken vessels and “get our attention.”

Because He wants us to know it is not about the death of a puppy, or a love one that is no longer with us, or a job that you truly loved but have been told your services are no longer needed, or the cancer you have to deal with, or the Child who no longer knows God.

My friends, it’s personal, it’s your life, your story, your journey. But whatever our situation or circumstances is, we must understand, God is trying to save us. “Oh, that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night” for my friends, family, love one’s and the world.”

Not from where we have come from, but for what is in front of us that I know the chaos and the god of this world keeps us from focusing on. But God loves us so much, and whatever He is doing to get our attention, we must listen.

And tell ourselves, Christ said 2,000 years ago that He was going to prepare a place just for us and He will come back to get His faithful who have endured, and wherever He went, we will do whatever it takes to be there also.

My Friends, where there is no vision, the people perish…..Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)

Nov. 8, 2015

MY FRIENDS, CAN WE FIND OUR WAY BACK HOME?

Going back home is “a means to reconsider and reconfigure our strategy for living.” It is the element that calls for each of us to change directions. Like the Prodigal Son. (Dallas Willard) “When he came to his senses, he said, I will go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you…..

So he got up and went back home to his father. Luke 15:17-20 (KJV) The common element we have with sheep is the propensity to get lost and stray away from the path once we leave home.

Which then causes us to wonder aimlessly into self destruction until Satan has us believing there is no way back, we have gone too far into the abyss. Then our hope fades with each day we stay away.

It’s a difficult journey going back home. But we must set our mark on the prize which is life eternal. And then on that day we make it back home, the Father will repeat His words of love to us “He who was lost is now found and there is celebration in my household!”

That Is God. That’s the image of God that Jesus Christ gives us as our lives become restored into the image of God. To most, home is a wonderful place where we felt accepted and loved. But now, only a distance memory if sin continues to abound.

In addition, we no longer see the thin line between good, and evil, darkness and light, or the taste of bitter from what is sweet! Is 5:20 (NKJV) Take for instance in Genesis. Jacob running from a predicament that He created from his own self-interest and not God’s.

He leaves home and sets out on a Journey upon finding out his brother Esau wants to kill him. As he falls asleep one night, God reveals himself and assures Jacob of the same blessings that was promised to his ancestry before him.

But my friends, it was all about his faith. And many years later when Jacob decided to go back home, he was brought him face to face with God. This must also be our choice as we decide what must we do to be saved and our sincere and heartfelt passion to return to God.

And Jacob wrestles with God all night, that my friends was passion and a desire to seek God’s face as he told God “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” These words, was Jacob’s way of asking for forgiveness, and God’s continued blessings.

And we like Jacob, must hold on with a passion, until we hear God’s voice. But remember, sometimes that voice becomes hard to hear among the chaos of this world and the things Satan has placed in our way that causes us to forget our way back. So we must seek God with all our heart and soul.

But we must also “Ask and it will be given to us; we also must seek and we will find where God has been trying to lead us throughout our life; we must also knock and the door of God’s heart will be open.” Matt 7:7 (KJV)

And then one day soon there “will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of our God.” And like Jacob we can say, “I saw God face to face and my life was spared.” That my friends is the way to find our way back home. Oh what a wonderful God we serve.

My Friends, where there is no vision, the people perish…..Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)

Nov. 7, 2015

MY FRIENDS, WE MUST OVERCAME BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB!

“These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Rev. 7:14 (ESV)

“God grants men a probation in this world, that their principles may become firmly established in the right, thus precluding the possibility of sin in the future life, and so assuring the happiness and security of all. Through the atonement of the Son of God alone could power be given to man to establish him in righteousness, and make him a fit subject for heaven?

The blood of Christ is the eternal antidote for sin. The offensive character of sin is seen in what it cost the Son of God in humiliation, in suffering and death.” (E. G. White, What Was Secured by the Death of Christ)

My friends, the sacrifice for all mankind was a “vicarious sacrifice” meaning it was all “performed, exercised, received, and suffered” in our stead, for our salvation. So how does the blood and death of our Savior make the Dirt and mire of a sinner’s character a candidates for God’s pure and Holy Kingdom?

First, Christ death summarizes Christ infinite love and if our focus is on our salvation and not the chaos of this world, each day we will confront ungodly habits and motives and the desires of the flesh that Satan places before us as an alternative to salvation.

The secret of truly washing our robes in the blood of Christ is maintaining a passion to live our lives like Christ lived His while He was on this earth which requires a restoration, and transformation process.

Isaiah tells us “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. Isaiah 1:18 (ESV)

That text tells us, there are two opposing forces working against one another. Isaiah states “though your sins are like scarlet” but once we have been in the presence of Christ and once we stand in the atmosphere of his love, grace and mercy, we then see the purity and holiness of the red blood of Christ against the dark, reprehensible character of the dark sins in our life.

In addition, we then realize “How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” Heb. 9:14 (ESV)

Which tells us, if we devote our life to Christ the power of His blood transforms our life into the Character of Christ and then our sins are made pure, holy and “safe to save.” By the pure blood of Christ.

What a sacrifice that saved our life, yes the blood of Christ becomes victory for all who believe and endure. “Oh the blood, Crimson love Price of life’s demand shameful sin, placed on Him, the hope of every man.”

“God has assured us that however guilty we may have been in the past, however deep dyed our sin may have been it is possible to be restored to purity and holiness. This promise deals not only with the results of sin but with the sin itself, it can be eradicated and completely put out of the life.” (White)

But it requires a personal relationship with Christ that says. I will give you my all, because you gave me your all through the purity of your blood on Calvary. And one day soon my friends, because of the blood shed for us, we will live throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity in His holy presence.

My Friends, where there is no vision, the people perish…..Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)