Sep. 30, 2015

MY FRIENDS, IT’S PERSONAL, “ARE YOU ONE OF THE WORSHIPERS”?

“Are you the one“ who will forsake all, and follow after Christ? “Are you the one“ who will walk by faith and empowerment and not by sight? “Are you the one”, with a pure heart, who will hunger and thirst after righteousness?

“Are you the one” who will diligently hearken to the Word of God?” (Alvin Slaughter) Today It’s personal, so just wave your hands in the air as you feel yourself being filled by the anointing of God’s Spirit.

My friends, “the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23-26 (KJV)

It’s personal today, so let it all out as you feel the Spirit from within while asking yourself, “am I one of the Worshipers” The Father is seeking for those who will suffer for His sake? “Am I one of the worshipers” who will gladly give everything I’ve got, to finish up His work here on earth?

“Am I one of the Worshipers” Who will wake up every morning and Cry out, Lord not my will, but thy will be done, so please use me and make me an instrument?  My friends, today it’s all about you and your relationship with God.

So empty yourself today of every “weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset you” then fill it with God’s Spirit as you look back at where God has bought you from, to where you are. My friends this is your Journey and God is looking for you to repeat to others what you feel, and what He has done in your life.

So stay focused and continue to ask yourself “am I one of the Worshipers.” “And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree” Rev 7:1 (KNV)

That is grace my friends, in spite of all of the chaos that is going on all around you, God’s grace still abounds and “His mercy, endures forever” and if you “are one of the Worshipers” then “forever” will last throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity.

But you have to make it personal, because God is a personal God. So today you have to say, Jesus Christ died for my sins, so what am I going to do in return? “Christ is asking me to be one of His disciple, so what will I do?

Christ is looking for me to give my all to Him. so what will I do? He is looking for me to come after Him, and deny myself, and take up my cross, and follow Him, so what will I do? Matt 16:24 (KJV, Paraphrased)

My friends, God has already taken care of the restoration of a new earth. John tells us in Rev. 21:1 (KJV) And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away.”

So now through God’s Spirit we must take care of the restoration of our Character as we allow self to die and then we can live our life through Christ, and once we have allowed this to happen, we are “safe to save” So it is all about you and I and the choices we will make today and if we make the right one, then “we are  one of the Worshipers.”

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

Sep. 29, 2015

MY FRIENDS, WHY IS DEATH SO APPEALING?

“The woman said unto the serpent…….the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.” Gen. 3:4-6 (KJV)

My friends, what is it about death that is so appealing over life. “God is not a man, that he should lie;……hath He said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” Num. 23:19 (KJV)

So when God tells us “the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 6:23 (KJV) Why, in spite of that warning, subconsciously death becomes more appealing then life?

My friends, this is a personal fight we have with self each day. Paul says “For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.” Rom. 7:15-17 (NKJV)

Today it has to become very personal, because we all struggle with these issues that are so hard to eliminate from our character, those things which continues to allow self to become a factor in our salvation.

In other words, every day is a daily struggle as we climb up the mountain of life. President Mandela stated “I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.

I have taken a moment here to rest,…to look back on the distance I have come. But I can only rest for a moment” for our Journey has not ended because self has not been eliminated completely from our character.

My friends, as God’s chosen we don’t have a moment to rest, For Christ tells us “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.” Rev. 22:12 (NIV)

So we must stay focus and endure until we have overcome the accuser of the brethren in every area of our life. And we can only do that “by the blood of the Lamb,” and by His word and our testimony of faith.

In addition, as heirs to God’s kingdom we must stand firm, even if faced with death. Remember we must carry our own cross because when it is all over, our testimony as to how “we got over” becomes our personal road to Calvary and beyond.

Satan knows he has but a short time, so now there is an all-out assault by “whatever means necessary” to get us to fall, but stand firm and “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and ‘your neighbor as yourself….. do this and you will live, [throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity]” Luke 10:27-28 (NKJV)

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

Sep. 27, 2015

MY FRIENDS. THE POWER OF PRAYER, ARE WE USING IT?

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him,” Matt. 4:1-3 (NKJV) Our Savior Begins His ministry in prayer.

He knew, for the next three years what challenges in having to wrestle…. against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age……” [that He would encounter.] Eph. 6:12 (NKJV) But through prayer he also knew “No weapon formed against Him would prosper.”

And if the creator of the universe knew this, how is it we feel we can fight the enemy without prayer, in fact to succeed there must be prayer without ceasing. My friends the Lord spent forty days in prayer and fasting, because He knew the areas Satan would attack him on.

Remember Satan is a stagiest He had studied Christ from birth, he had already said in His heart “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;…….I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.” Is. 14:13-14 (NKJV)

Now is his chance, I will defeat Christ in my world I am the god hear, for I am king of this territory, this is where I have others bowing down to me. My friends this is a real war that is being played out in front of us. Christ was victorious, but  how do you handle such a foe.

Remember the victor receives Salvation, or is defeated along with Satan and receives their just reward. Victory requires Prayer warriors who prays constantly and not even on our knees can it be all about us. Petitioning God must be about His needs and His will for our lives.

Consistent with this, when Christ time had come and He saw Calvary ahead of Him “He knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”

Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.  And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Luke 22:41-44 (NKJV)

My friends, oh The Human frailties of our Savior, remember the weight of all mankind and their sin was on His shoulders. “Our Savior identified Himself with our needs and weakness, in that He became a suppliant, a petitioner, seeking from His Father fresh supplies of strength, that He might come forth braced for duty and trial.

He is our example in all things. He is a brother in our infirmities, “in all points tempted like as we are;” but as the sinless one His nature recoiled from evil; He endured struggles and torture of soul in a world of sin. His humanity made prayer a necessity and a privilege.” (E.G. White The Privilege of Prayer pp 93-94)

My friends, God is finishing up His work here on earth, Satan also knows prophecy, He’s had over six thousands years to put into place all the destruction, devastation and mayhem that is being played out as Christ second coming approaches.

Using Christ life as our example in how He lived His life especially His prayer life is the only way we will be able to say “through it all” “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 2 Tim 4:7-8 (NKJV)

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

Sep. 26, 2015

MY FRIENDS, WE ARE WITHIN REACH, WHAT IS YOUR DECISION?

“In My Father’s house are many mansions;” also when you enter “twelve gates [are] twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, transparent as glass.”

But even though I try to explain what is being prepared for you “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” And I [am now preparing this place for you but] I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” And even though Salvation and life eternal is free if you believe.

I “will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, [ I ] will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.” John 14:2-3 (NKJV), 2 Cor. 2:9 (NKJV), Rev 21:21 (ESV), and Romans 2:6-8 (ESV)

My friends we are within reach, or at the point of entry to the “promise land.” All that is required now is to hold on to our faith, endure, and eliminate self from our life as we carry out Christ commission and take the good news to all.

From Egypt to Canaan, the direct route was about 250 miles about a month Journey. But God needed to prepare Israel for the promise Land Remember they had been in slavery four hundred years.

So from the time they left Egypt “on the 14th day of the first month, this means they had been traveling one year, one month and one week, since leaving Egypt. (57 weeks)” And then within reach of the promise land their unbelief kept them from entering.

“So millions died in the wilderness just within reach of their destiny, so what does that say about us, six thousand years to prepare. Are we ready? “And now the Lord of glory was dying, a ransom for the race. In yielding up His precious life, Christ was not upheld by triumphant joy.

All was oppressive gloom. It was not the dread of death that weighed upon Him. It was not the pain and ignominy of the cross that caused His inexpressible agony. Christ was the prince of sufferers; but His suffering was from a sense of the malignity of sin, a knowledge that through familiarity with evil, man had become blinded to its enormity.

Christ saw how deep is the hold of sin upon the human heart, how few would be willing to break from its power. He knew that without help from God, humanity must perish, and He saw multitudes perishing within reach of abundant help.”(E. G. White, Desire of Ages pp 752-753)

Multitudes are perishing within reach, and not only multitude but God’s chosen who have decided to “Set there affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Col 3:2 (KJV)

My friends, God’s grace is still extended to each of us today but, we must decide to let self completely die and give it all to the Master as we “Enter by 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) Difficult my friends, not impossible. We make it difficult, God makes it possible if we just believe that “He is the way the truth and the life.

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

Sep 25, 2015

MY FRIENDS, THE BATTLE RAGES ON, SO CONTINUE TO STAND FIRM!!

“Free, I long to be free. I long for the day I’ll believe That all you say you see in me is true. That’s hard for me to do, It’s hard for me to die to myself and Entrust my life to someone else. So come empty me out because I’m no good without You inside of me, so come and fill my soul with strength to carry on. (Avalon. Come and Fill My Heart)

My friends, the road has been long and rugged. And to a Christian, winter seems like the only season of the year. But my friends, this story is not over, the seasons are changing but we want notice the change until Gabriel blows his horn.

Oh the daily emotional pain, distress of broken hearts and human efforts that forever seem ineffective. These are sometimes the feelings of God’s chosen vessel, His elect who at times looks at life and says “It really is difficult to let self completely die and entrust our life to someone else.”

But my friends, we cannot allow the pain and heartache of our life to gain the mastery over our faith and where God is taking us. A few days ago I spoke of “Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite, one of the three mighty warriors of David and how they were fighting the Philistines, but then David’s troops retreated.

But David and Eleazar took their stand in the middle of the field and defended it and they struck the Philistines down and the Lord brought about a great victory.” 1 Chron. 11:12-14 (NIV) King David’s troops fled, the text tells us.

I would hope they did not realize their King was still in the middle of the battle? And then you asked yourself, why didn’t they? This was their king they left in the middle of the battle? In addition, why did David and Eleazar continued to fight? I can’t say why His troops retreated. But with David, it was all about His faith.

He knew the field he was defending was God’s, he also knew the power of God. He just needed to hold on to that faith and stand firm. And like David, we have a field to defend also and that field is our families, friends, love-ones, co-workers and our communities and if we stand firm, the Lord will bring about a great victory like He did for David and Eleazar.

We are in the middle of this battle, as we try and defend God’s field, many of the troops God has put to sleep, but some have just fled like David’s troops at the thought of what is required to stay until God gives us the victory. But we are God’s chosen, we must stand firm.

My friends, we are closer than we have ever been before. Victory is assured, if we believe and endure. Yes it’s difficult to die to self and turn our life completely over to Christ. But my friends, there is salvation in no other, “for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 (NKJV)

“All that Christ was to the disciples, He desires to be to His children today; for in that last prayer, with the little band of disciples gathered about Him, He said, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word.” John 17:20. (E. G. White, Steps To Christ pp 75) Key words my friends “believe on me through their word”

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

Sep. 22, 2015

MY FRIENDS, WHAT SEPARATES THE WORLD AND A CHRISTIAN? THE GOOD NEWS AND A VISION!!

“350 years ago a shipload of travelers landed on the coast of America. They established a town site. And elected a town government. After being there awhile the town government made plans to build a road five miles westward into the wilderness.

But the people protested because they thought it was a waste of public funds to build a road five miles westward into a wilderness. Why is the question they asked? Here were people who had the vision to see three thousand miles across an ocean and overcame great hardships to get there.

But were not able to see five miles into the wilderness,” (Lynn Anderson) simply because they had lost their vision to go any further. Friends what about you as a child of God. We have come this far by faith. Do we have a clear vision to continue?

And if we do continue, do we have a vision as to the direction we must travel to finish this journey, as a chosen vessel of God? And have we lost sight of Christ and His promises in His word? My friends soon “the bridegroom cometh and those who will be ready will go in with him to the marriage feast; and the doors will be shut.”

So, “Where there is no vision the people perish” prov. 29:18 (KJV) And if you are a child of God, and you know that the only thing that separates the world from you is the good news of the gospel and a vision, then we must respond immediately.

Starting with taking the good news to a world who has no vision, therefore has no hope because Satan is destroying lives by whatever means necessary because we have not responded to their needs and shared our vision of a God who gave his only begotten Son on Calvary so that all who believe and endure may live in that city, called Glory, throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity.

A city whose “wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, clear as glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every jewel; the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.

And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, transparent as glass.” Rev. 21:18-21 (ESV) but before we can share that vision, there must be a passion from within us that radiates the light of our Savior through us, out into the world.

But we must seek diligently this power, because it is a great time to be alive and to have been chosen by God to finish up His work before He comes but, we must also realize if we are a vessel of God and He has given us a vision, along with that vision comes an awesome responsibility.

Martin Luther King Jr. says it best when he said “Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality.” In other words what separates the world and a Christian is the good news and a vision and as God’s chosen we must proclaim them both.

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