Aug. 14, 2014

MY FRIENDS, THE WAR FROM WITHIN, WHO WILL ULTIMATELY WIN?

“For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate…..” Rom 7:15 (NASV) “For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.

For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.” Romans 7:18-20 (NIV)

As God’s child, I can say with no reservation, I am war weary and utterly exhausted and depressed by the war that goes on from within my life each day. In addition, each day if our desire is life eternal in God’s kingdom the battles continues.

There is no waving a white flag because surrender in the wake of this conflict, means destruction. So the battle must continue, that is why Paul tells us that each Day we must be “crucified with Christ.”

Christ must also have total access to every area of our life, what we see, what we hear, where we go, what we say, even what we think  “and the life we now live in the flesh we have to live by faith in the Son of God, who loves us so much. His word tells us that His love for us is so powerful and He demonstrated this “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

So as that conflict continues from within, His love continues. “There are many whose hearts are aching under a load of care because they seek to reach the world’s standard. They have chosen its service, accepted its perplexities, and adopted its customs…..

Our Lord desires them to lay aside this yoke of bondage. . . . He bids them seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and His promise is that all things needful to them for this life shall be added. (Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 330.)

James tells us, Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?  You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain.

You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” James 4:1-3 (NKJV)

My friends, even though, those battles seem to continue to rage in our lives each day, and even though, sometimes “what we are doing, we do not understand; for we are not practicing what we would like to do, but we are doing the very thing we hate.

Somehow, we must allow God’s Spirit to penetrate the unknown places of our life we have never allowed him to go before, and don’t let Him leave until we can say as Paul,

“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)

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

Aug. 8, 2015

MY FRIENDS, IS GOD’S MESSAGE STILL ALIVE, OR IS IT OBSOLETE?

There have forever been two classes among those who profess to be followers of Christ. While one class studies the Savior’s life as they seek His presence, and Spirit’s transforming power to change there Character like the character of Christ. The other class turns there back on God’s word as it exposes truth and error.

So my friends, is God’s message obsolete in the 21^st century, got to have it now society. Heb. 4:12 (KJV) tells us “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

This warning is sobering, if the message is obsolete because the world is closer than ever before in witnessing the return of Christ second coming. There has never been a time as now where getting the good news to a dying world is more urgent.

Remember this controversy begin in Eden where Satan convinced Adam and Eve to disbelieve God. Where he said “You will not certainly die,”…… “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:4-5 (KJV)

That statement introduced a foreign spirit from Satan to all mankind and now we have reached the time the Bible calls “the last days” when all mankind, good and bad will recognize that Gods way, was the right way from the beginning.

And now God’s prophecy says “Babylon is fallen,” its  forces of evil are falling, the powerful economic systems that have degraded the poor is now falling, the strongly entrenched and popular religions, who did not follow God’s precepts in His word are falling.

In addition, the extremists who have influenced the masses against their Creator and His people will now fall. Isaiah tells us “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” Is. 40:8 (NKJV)

Christ tells us Himself “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” Matt. 24:35 (NKJV) So my friends how could this message possible fade away or become obsolete when “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” John 1:1-3 (NKJV) So if you have faith and endure, the only thing that would make God’s word obsolete comes only from the fools [who] says in his heart, “There is no God.”

“[for] They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.” Ps. 14:1-3 (NKJV)

So that text explains why many that travel that wide road to destruction feels God’s word is obsolete because “even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” 2 Cor. 4:3-4 (NKJV)

Webster tells us obsolete means “no longer in general use, discarded or outmoded.” No my friends God’s messagee is not obsolete, but it is the standard by which we will enter the Promise land and live throughout eternity in that land  “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of manThe things which God has prepared for those who love Him” 1 Cor 2:9 (NKJV)

So friends stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

Aug 8, 2015

MY FRIENDS, GOD HAS CHOSEN US, SO HOW ARE WE RESPONDING?

If our desire is to live throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity, then I can say with no reservation that we are chosen, set apart by God, to finish His work here on earth. And with that desire comes a commitment, as we inspire others to be the man or women God created us to be.

For we are chosen vessels [before God], to bear [His name] before a world “sinking deeper and deeper into sin.” In addition, we must tell the world, as Christ ambassadors, about the good news of the gospel, Christ mandate for us, in the 21^st century.

Just think how great it is living during this time and being right in the middle of this “great controversy” between good and evil chosen by God as His faithful warriors, who has taken up our cross as we finish up His work.

It should be so clear to all who seeks God’s presence daily, why Satan is so determine that God’s chosen, falls in all areas of our life. The obvious is, The world is no more ready to heed the message for this time than The antediluvian generation did before the flood.

“Come when it may, the day of God will come unawares to the ungodly. When life is going on in its unvarying round; when men are absorbed in pleasure, in business, in traffic, in money-making.

In addition, when religious leaders are magnifying the world’s progress and enlightenment, and the people are lulled in a false security–then, as the midnight thief steals within the unguarded dwelling, so shall sudden destruction come upon the careless and ungodly, “and they shall not escape.” (E.G. White, The Great Controversy pp 38)

So Satan’s tactic is to bring about the fall of God’s chosen in the area of appetite, marriage, gossip, dishonesty, adultery, homosexuality, covertness, other gods, entertainment, and “socially acceptable sins.” Which only names a few.

But what God is seeking today are those who are willing to stay strong in every area of our life as we eliminate self, and then go on the front line of our communities with only the cross, Gods word and His Spirit as a counterattack against Satan which the “objective is to negate or thwart the advantage gained by the enemy in the lives of those who have lost hope.

The specific objectives typically is to regain lost ground” as we destroy the very presence of the enemy as we prepare family first and then the world for Christ second coming. Today I can say, the best is yet to come in spite of what we encounter from day to day in this relentless battle Satan, and His forces are waging in his vicious and maddening pursuit for each and everyone’s soul that allows the god of this world entry into their mind and body.

As a child of the King we must settle for nothing less than all of the promises in God’s word as we put off the old man or woman, and put on the whole armor of God “for such a time as this.”

So my friends, remember what lies ahead for all of God’s faithful who endures to the end, for John was allowed to see 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)

And my friends it all happens in a 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)

So friends stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

Aug. 5, 2014

MY FRIENDS, THERE IS A DEVELOPMENTAL PROCESS CAN WE GET THROUGH IT?

My friends, love, faith, endurance and humility, some main requirements to finish God’s developmental process and live with Him one day in His pure and holy kingdom and receive life eternal.

And each of us must be “confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in [us] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil 1:6 (KJV) That promise my friends was not conditional on whether it rained or snowed when you were expecting sunshine.

The road to salvation is not open for debate, that is why it is a very narrow road, and only a few will find it. Conditions are tough, “If any man [or woman] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Matt. 16:24 (KKV)

“The Romans forced convicted criminals to carry their own crosses to the place they would be crucified, while facing ridicule along the way to death.” And today, that ridicule are the trials and tribulation on this journey God has placed us on.

The developmental process for our journey to the kingdom is the main deciding factor, because if we fail at the starting point, how do we get to the end of this process where self is completely diminished and Christ lives out His life through us even to the point of death.

For “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Gal 2:20 (KJV)

“All true obedience my friends must have a passion from within that our Savior “will so identify Himself with our thoughts and aims, so blend our hearts and minds into conformity to His will, that when obeying Him we shall be but carrying out our own impulses.

The will, refined and sanctified, will find its highest delight in doing His service. When we know God as it is our privilege to know Him, our life will be a life of continual obedience. Through an appreciation of the character of Christ, through communion with God, sin will become hateful to us. (E.G.White)

That tells us what we watch with our eyes, and what we hear with our ears, and what comes out of our mouth, and where our feet takes us from day to day are main characteristics in our developmental process to the promise land.

My friends remember “No weapon formed against you shall prosper,” because  God will never “leave or forsake” his true and faithful warriors. That is why we must never give up until the developmental process is over and we are victorious while remaining focused on our example, Jesus Christ.

Acts 20:24 (KJV) states “But I count my life of no value to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.” This my friends is where we end this process with the words, “I count my life of no value to myself, so that I may finish my course, and the ministry of Christ”

And then after we “have fought a good fight, and  finished our course, and kept our faith” Finally, there is laid up for [the redeemed] the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to all of His faithful at His appearing.” 2 cor. 4:7-8 (NKJV)

As we enter 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)

So friends stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

Aug. 3, 2015

MY FRIENDS, ARE YOUR EARS ATTUNED TO THE VOICE OF GOD?

Attuned, is to bring into accord, or as one in harmony, to responding to the voice of God. 1 Sam.1:3-13 (NKJV) tells us, “And the word of the Lord was rare in those days;…..But, from his bed Samuel heard a voice calling out to him.

Twice he went to Eli and ask him if he had called, and Eli said no. On the third time the Lord called, “Samuel”! Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; ”Eli then realized that the Lord was calling Samuel.

So Eli told Samuel, if He calls you again, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel laid down. God speaks again, and in a vision tells Samuel that he will become the voice through whom he would speak to his people.

Learning to clearly distinguish God’s voice as the prophets of old would probably guarantee most of the world an easy path to Gods pure and holy kingdom. Also, if we could have the wisdom of Gods actual voice to guide and protect us.

Our lives would radically be transformed by reciprocating to the voice of the Master, as He directs us through every situation and circumstances or the very worst that we as Christians may encounter from day to day.

Consistent with this, we would be one word away from the Lord responding to us as we respond to our children Matthew 7:9-11(KJV) tells us “……If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

But first, we must understand what method God is using to train our hearts to respond to His need “for such a time as this” and when I say His needs, I am referring to the needs of the harvest and those who live from day to day with no hope, those whose spiritual compass forever points away from Christ instead of towards Him.

Christ tells us “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” John 10:27 (KJV) Those who hear God’s voice are those who walk in the footsteps of God, and who have been saved by the transforming power of His love and grace through faith.

These are the sheep who hear and recognize His voice, who comes when He calls and follow Him wherever He goes because His Children know, the more time we spend intimately in the presence of God and His Word, the easier it is to distinguish His voice and His leading in our lives from the god of this world and the direction to perdition he attempts to lead us.

Employees at an airport are trained to recognize counterfeit ID’s by studying genuine id’s so closely from various States, and Countries, that it will be unimaginable not to recognize a fake one, simply because they have studied diligently the real from the fake.

In addition, we, as heirs to God’s kingdom should be so familiar with God’s Word and voice that when God does speak to us or directs us as we study His word, it will be absolutely clear that it is God’s voice who we here.

And in so doing, it will verify in our minds, any, and all, truth from error as we stand at the threshold of the promise land preparing to enter a 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)

So friends stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

JULY 30, 2015

MY FRIENDS, HAVE WE NOTICED, THE FAUCET NEVER STOPS RUNNING?

“He was there all the time Waiting patiently in line Never again will I search for a fake rainbows end, Now that I’ve found the answer my life is just starting to rhyme Sharing each new day with Him is a breath of fresh life. Oh what I’ve missed He’s been waiting right here all the time.”

My friends, have you looked in your pantry at times and said to yourself, there is no water in the house? You then, get into your car, head to the store to purchase some. Yesterday I discovered no water in the house before I rode my bike.

But still, I started out riding, then after a distance, it dawned on me, there was an abundant supply of water at the house, if I would have only turned on the faucet. It was there all the time just waiting to be turned on.

“Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” John 7:38 (ESV) The world sometimes has us forgetting where our true source of life really comes from.

Throughout our life we have searched for answers too so many of our problems. only to find out, Christ our problem solver, is there all the time. For “He is the way, the truth and the life No one comes to the Father except through Him.”

Luke 15:8-9 (NKJV) tells us.“What woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!”

My friends, if we remain focused on that coin today, it was always there, but the woman managed to lose it because of her carelessness. This is the same way we lose sight of the Master. The world has us so consumed with the cares and affairs of this world that we loose sight of the presence of our Savior, who is always there.

In addition, He “Stands at the door [of our heart], knocking, [pleading] if any man [or woman] hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Rev. 3:20 (KJV)

But it is unlikely we will ever hear God’s voice, if His chosen does not, “humble ourselves, and pray, and seek God’s face, and turn from our wicked ways” 2 Chron. 7:14 (KJV)  So we must remember our Savior is always there.

Waiting patiently in line, behind all what the god of this world has told  us is more important than our Salvation. But, love, grace and mercy has him still waiting, in spite of our focus on the things of this earth.

But once we have allowed self to die, and our life becomes all about Jesus Christ and His will for us. He begins to prepare our hearts for a 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, like the woman who had lost the coin, went and called her friends and neighbors, to let them know she had found her coin. We are to also let the world know this precious gift called eternal life that we have found as we tell them, the good news of the gospel and how they may also obtain it.

So friends stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY