Jan 25, 2016

MY FRIENDS, THE SPIRIT WORKS HARD FOR OUR SALVATION ARE WE RESPONDING?

“Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? James 4:4-5 (NKJV)

Let me get this straight. Becoming a friend of the world makes ourselves an enemy of God” because the Spirit inside us, yearns jealously or is passionate about who our allegiance is towards.

My friends, as one who seeks God’s Spirit daily I can only imagine the work that the Holy Spirit goes through at transforming our character into the image of Christ and then for us to go out and give our allegiance to an enemy of God, there is no explanation needed even with our finite minds as to why He yearns jealously.

“The Spirit is [also] zealous because He knows what potential we have and what we can become. He is vigilant because He knows how to lead us out of the quandary, the dead-end situations we are in, the difficult circumstances we face, into the fullness of our God-ordained future.

The Holy Spirit is not jealous of us; He is jealous for us to be all that the Father has destined for us.” (David Patterson Ministries, The Holy Spirit Is Jealous,) One of the precepts of God, it tells us “thou shalt have no other gods before me……,nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God……” Ex. 20:3-6 (NKJV)

Remember my friends The Holy Spirits also restores us into the likeness of Christ, He also “empower us “ “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Act 1:8 (NKJV)

“He will comfort and encourage us” “If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” John 14:14-21 (NKJV) “He will also guide and reveal things to us” “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” John 16:13 (NKJV)

My friends how many “breaking news” of the day must occur in our life time to understand that we are at the threshold of the promise land, and it is Gods Spirit we must seek daily if our goal is to cross over into 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 (KJV) Remember my friends, this place that no mind created of God and with our limited intelligence could ever imagine, we have now become recipients and heirs of this place and joint heirs with His Son.

But we must also have the faith, endurance and passion to want to live there, which then allows self to die through God’s Spirit which then allows Him to transform our character into a Character that Christ can then say with no reservation, they are my children.

And they are “safe to save” and as we leave this foreign country and cross over into God’s kingdom it is at that point we then hand Christ our Cross that we have carried as His disciple for “a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give [us] at that day: and not to [us] only, but unto all that love his appearing.” 2 Tim. 4:8 (KJV)

Jan. 23, 2016

MY FRIENDS, ARE WE A SLAVE ON THE AUCTION BLOCK AND DON’T KNOW IT?

“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you.” Malachi 3:7 (KJV) “But if the erring one persistently refuses to heed the voice that calls him with pitying, tender love, he will at last be left in darkness.

The heart that has long slighted God’s mercy, becomes hardened in sin, and is no longer susceptible to the influence of the grace of God. Fearful will be the doom of that soul of whom the pleading Saviour shall finally declare, he “is joined to idols: let him alone.” Hosea 4:17 (KJV)” (E.G. White. Patriarchs and Prophets p 165)

Many from week to week practice the attributes of being a Christian, but we fail to hold ourselves accountable for the truth that we profess to others. We agree with the message we’ve known from our youth and we claim to love the Lord but we never learn to fear the Lord.

We have grown accustom to our on rhetoric while ignoring Gods Spirit telling us, “whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21(NIV)

God’s Word must be a part of every thought, activity, conversation, and motive, of our life, until our lifestyle magnifies Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Christ must take full control. Sometimes change is painful because we are so use to doing it our way, but God has told us In His Word what we need to do to have a total Transformation.

But if we choose not too focus on the sound of His voice, one day that voice will become faint and incoherent, then it will become harder and harder to seek what we do not hear above the clear sound of the god of this world who we have become accustomed to listening too.

But Christ still calls, He never leaves nor forsake His lost sheep. But we make the choice to turn away and “wander down some pointless road to nowhere with our salvation” determined by the god of this world, and then he begins to make our decisions for us and we then become addicts, with our drug of choice being sin.

Harriet Tubman the “African-American abolitionist, humanitarian, who during the American Civil War, was a Union spy. Born into slavery, Tubman escaped and subsequently made about thirteen missions to rescue approximately seventy enslaved families and friends, using the network of antislavery activists and safe houses known as the Underground Railroad.

She is quoted as saying” “I freed a thousand slaves, I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves.” Today the world is at its worst “but God’s grace still pleads at the Auction block for all sinners that are bound by “sin and shaped in iniquity.”

So please remember, Jesus love has done it all, and only when we actually allow that love to penetrate every fiber of our being, as we give it all to the Master along with telling the world what God has done in our lives will we be free.

My friends we must never forget we have been bought with a price by the blood of Jesus Christ. So we must allow Him to set us free as we fall on our knees in total admonition and say, “all to Jesus, I surrender.

Humbly at His feet I bow, Worldly pleasures all forsaken; Take me, Jesus, take me now. All to Jesus I surrender, Make me, Savior, wholly Thine; Let me feel Thy Holy Spirit, Truly know that Thou art mine.

Every excuse we may give as the reason we cannot serve Christ, was challenged and answered at Calvary.

Jan 22, 2016

MY FRIENDS, WE MUST BE CONVICTED BY OUR CONSCIENCE!!

The Jewish elect brings a woman to Christ that was accused of adultery, claiming she had been caught in the act. So my friends what were there real motive. “The question was then asked Teacher, what do you think her punishment should be.

Now Moses, in the law Commanded she be stoned. But the reaction of Christ was swift and to the point, He stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, ignoring all of her accusers. But persistent, they continued to ask.

He then raised Himself up and said, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard Him and saw the writing, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one.

And now Jesus and the woman was left alone. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you? She said, “No one, Lord.”

And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” John 8:1-11 (NKJV) My friend’s do you ever wonder what Christ was writing with his finger on the ground. The more popular understanding is, it was the sins of all the accusers.

But as I focus on what actually took place I find myself thinking, He could have just as well outlined a picture of the cross that he would soon carry on His back to Calvary for the sins of the world.

Or maybe he thought of his home in heaven that he had left on our behalf, and begin to draw some of the beauty of paradise, maybe the tree of life or the streets of gold. Or maybe He just wrote the words, “My Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come thy will be done, here on earth as it is in heaven.”

My friends, we can’t say for certain what was written with those hands that would eventually be nailed to the cross, the same hands that created the world in six days. The hands that reaches no matter how far we have drifted away to rescue us from the clutches of Satan.

As a child of God, I don’t believe He needed to take the time to write the sins on the ground of her accusers. But like the text tells us, “those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, left out one by one.”

In other words their conviction I could only imagine was driven by their conscious which can only occur in the presence of Christ. A conviction that heals our sin sick souls that  begins with “You hypocrites, you are completely forgetful of the time that you yourself have erred.

So, it is only when you are willing to suffer yourself, if need be in order to help your erring brothers and sister that you can “see clearly” and be of any help.” So Their conviction as ours must be personal once in the presence of Christ as we say, I’ve been changed, Healed, Freed, and Delivered.

I’ve found joy, Peace, Grace and now I’ve been changed In the presence of the lord, and right now is the moment, today is the day That I have waited for and I won’t let it pass me by because I won’t go back, to the way it used to be Before Christ presence came and changed [my life]. (William McDowell, I Want Go Back)

Every excuse we may give as the reason we cannot serve Christ, was challenged and answered at Calvary.

Jan. 19, 2016

MY FRIENDS, WHO CONTROLS THE CONSCIENCE OF A CHILD OF GOD?

“For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, that you may be made complete.” 2 Cor. 13:8-9 (NKJV)

“Truth as is in Jesus Christ, the truth of salvation, as set forth in the word of God.” “And this Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 (NKJV)

So now my friends, we have looked at truth and how it deals with our salvation. But the question we must ask and where we must place our focus today is, who controls truth in a child of God? Is it Jesus Christ who is presented before us in the word of God?

Or is it in the god of this world who has said in his heart: “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;….I will be like the Most High.” Isaiah 14:13-15 (NKJV) And once He has become like the most High He has promised “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”

Things meaning “broken hearts, wars and rumors of wars: nation rising against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: famines, pestilences, earthquakes, in divers places, which is only the beginning of birth pangs as iniquity abounds, and the love of many continues to wax cold.”

Now let’s look at the word Conscience; which by definition is the inner sense of what is right or wrong in one’s conduct or motives, impelling one toward right action” My friends once again who controls our conscience?

And who  in our life is deciding right or wrong?  And who decides within us to read God’s word, our Sabbath or Sunday school lesson, or watch Empire, Scandal or House wives of Atlanta on our TV’s sets?

The question was asked who controls our Conscience, but what we must understand about ourselves is “every person has free choice. Free to obey or disobey the Natural Laws [or the laws of God].

Our choice determines the consequences [and where our destination lays. And nobody ever did, or ever will, escape the consequences of his choices [which is life or death].” (Alfred A. Montapert)

But My friends because of the love our God has for us along with His grace, we will never be forced to choose life over death. But each day He does knock and pleads for us to make the right decision. Decisions to love the Lord our God, and walk in His ways, and keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments.

[Because He wants] we His Children] to live more abundant lives in this foreign land. But we must also listen to God’s voice  and not be drawn away from Him by the things of this world, as we worship other gods, and serve them.

But if we will allow self to die and live our life through Jesus Christ then we shall be blessed as we travel on this Journey to a ” A land “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard. Nor have entered into the heart of man [or woman] the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” Deu. 30:15-16 (NKJV) 1 Cor. 2:9 (NKJV)

Every excuse we may give as the reason we cannot serve Christ, was challenged and answered at Calvary.

Jan 16, 2016

MY FRIENDS, MIRACLES STILL HAPPEN!!

We must never cease to realize that our Salvation is only possible because of God’s “amazing grace. My friends it’s personal today because “I’ve had trials, test, heartaches, and pains I’ve prayed and I praised, and at times it seems like nothing had changed.

But Still I will trust God’s sovereign tear. [“and if He never does anything else for me I still believe in miracles.”] No way, can I explain how things change at his command. But, I still believe miracles happen.

And If you ever need a miracle, just believe that he can do it. If you ever need a miracle, just have faith” (Stephanie Dotson – Miracles Still Happen) Because they do still happen we just have to believe that our Savior the One that wakes us up each day also raised the dead.

And He also made the blind to see and the lame to walk and the deaf to hear and the dumb to talk, before we can believe He can take care of every situation and circumstances in our life. And that is why we must go before our Lord and Savior with humility as we cry out in admiration to the one who gave it all for our Salvation.

“So who am I, that you call me by my name, and count me as one of your sons and daughters” “Heir to your throne and joint Heir with your Son who gave it all so that His brothers and Sisters may share our whole life with Him. Even throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity.

Oh what an amazing feeling we must feel as Gods chosen to be called by name. And what is so great about that is, it’s personal. And my faith lies in the fact that God, “being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ by grace [we] have been saved.

And [He] raised us up with Him, and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; Eph. 2:4-8 (NKJV)

But my friends, we must still “be sober, and vigilant; because our adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV) So his objective is to get us away from the Shepard.

“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” Romans 8:36 (KJV) But we have a Savior who personally “seeks the lost” a Savior that will “never leave nor forsake His Chosen” But we must stay prayed up as we keep our eyes focused on Christ.

“The author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb. 12:2 (NKJV) And one day there will be one final miracle if we believe and endure and it is called “a new heaven and a new earth.”

But we must stand still and recognize the voice of God as He leads us on our Journey to the promise land. A place “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man or [woman] The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Cor. 2:9 (NKJV)

Every excuse we may give as the reason we cannot serve Christ, was challenged and answered at Calvary.

Jan. 15, 2015

MY FRIENDS, ARE YOU STILL WAITING IN FAITH FOR AN ANSWER?

It’s personal, because the season is changing and we must make sure we are “laying aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us [beginning with self], as we run with patience the race that is set before us. “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

And those He predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. So Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall.” Heb. 12:1 (KJV) Romans 8:29-30 (KJV) 2 Peter 1:10 (KJV)

So first we must “let go of every single dream of this world as we lay each one down at our Saviors feet as we take up our cross and follow Christ. Yes my friends, the journey becomes weary at times and today we need just our Saviors comfort and with that comfort we will know our God is by our side.

And “when the mountains are not moved, that we are needing Him to move. When He doesn’t part the waters we are trying to walk through. When we don’t get the answers we are looking for as we cry out to God where are you today.”

We will still trust in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who died on the cross so that we would get through each day on our journey to the promise land. The three Hebrew boys told the king.

If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up!” Oh what faith!!

James 1:2-4 (KJV) tells us “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of our faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that we may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” Perfect results, complete, lacking in nothing.

Those words tells us our faith is “steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” My friends before Christ comes for the second time. Our goal of living through the ceaseless ages of eternity in a place “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for those who love Him.”1 Cor. 2:9 (NKJV)

Must be based totally on our faith and endurance. And each day we must ask ourselves what have we done or will do before the day is over to affirm that faith needed to take us to the next level on this journey.

Remember with greater faith comes greater grace. There need never said of us oh “You of little faith, “why did you doubt?” But we must understand God allows the storms of our life to build strong characters for His kingdom.

That is when the terrain gets rough and we just don’t understand why. But remember, God is preparing us to be “safe to save” for His kingdom because He is the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and now sits at the right hand of the throne of God, [preparing to bring us home soon] Heb. 12:2 (NKJV)

Every excuse we may give as the reason we cannot serve Christ, was challenged and answered at Calvary.