Nov. 6, 2015

MY FRIENDS, IF ANYONE IS IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATION

“The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;” 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 (ESV) In addition, no matter how far Satan has taken us. God waits.

“Not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 (ESV) And “when he came to himself, he said, I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.…….And he arose and came to his father.

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.” Luke 15:17-20 (NKJV) My friends, “but while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion.

Faith and our reconciliation to God, a God who’s love has no limits in-spite of how far we have drifted away. But “only in Christ can a sinner find acceptance with God (Phil 3:9 KJV) a safe and familiar place in the arms of Christ who tells us to “Abide in me, and I in you.

As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” John 15:4 (ESV) My friends, let’s ask ourselves what lays dormant in our heart that will take us away from the same place Satan has been barred for life from?

Remember Satan’s message remains the same I will be “like the Most High” With that message he was able to convince a third of the angels in heaven that he had a better way, no law of love would they ever have to keep, he would be there new god.

My friends, sounds familiar. But God says “Thou shalt have no other gods before me…..thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God,” Ex. 20:3-5 (NKJV) meaning God, and God along is who we give all of our time talents and money to.

Satan has made this world a complicated place to live where it seems there is no way of escape, only a continuation into the abyss where even the desire to escape become blurred. All these things [of the world] will he give us, if we will only fall down and worship him.

And Christ message to Satan must be ours “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” Matt. 4:10 (ESV) But my friends if we live by those words then the gate to the kingdom will be narrow and the way is hard that leads to Life Eternal and Gods Kingdom, and those who find it are few.”

But the reward my friends, life eternal in a place no eye has seen, nor ear has heard, nor has entered into the heart all that has been prepared for God’s faithful who will endure to the end. So our focus must be on Calvary and all that our Savior has done for us.

Time as we know it is about to end and God needs workers today who are willing to make a complete transformation of body and mind through His Spirit and word. But if we have other plans and we seek other gods, then the road that will be traveled, the gate will be wide and the way will be easy because it leads to destruction, and those who enter it are many.” Matt. 7:13-14 (ESV)

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

Dec. 3, 2015

MY FRIENDS, DO WE HAVE ITCHING EARS?

My friends, “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions. 

In addition, they will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry…. (2 Timothy 4:1-22)

Itching ears. “those who “will not endure sound doctrine,” …..Because of their perverted “lusts” these shallow-minded hearers “itch” for fanciful interpretations of Scripture with which to gratify their curiosity and personal “desires.” They are interested only in those portions of Scripture they can construe as promising them peace and security.

They neglect the stern demands of “sound doctrine,” which cut deep into a man’s soul. They have a superficial desire for religion, but only for so much of it as will not disturb the routine of their perverted lives.”(SDA, Bible Commentary pp348)

As we continue to look at the “breaking news” of the day I would hope we are forever on our knees as we search the scriptures daily while asking the Lord for directions and understanding. In addition, we must remember the  “parable of the fig tree.

When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh” Matt. 24:32 (KJV) His coming is near, and all prophecies about end time events are being fulfilled. But the question we must ask ourselves, are we seeking God’s presence and listening to His voice or do we have “itching ears”?

Are we only “interested in those “portions of Scripture that promise us peace and security,” sermons and ministers who only tell us  “Peace, peace! When there is no peace.” Our Savior has told us what to look for right before His second coming so our focus must be on “Lord what must I do to be saved”?

What is Your will for my life? And what must I do to keep from having “itching ears”? My friends we cannot fool God, He knows the sincerity of our hearts. So today He is asking us to give it all to him, not just a portion of our time, talents and money.

God needs our all, He needs us “to always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, and fulfill our ministry.” And ask God, what do you desire my ministry to be? Remember, we are all leaders in God’s army.

“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all” 1 Cor. 12:4:7 (NKJV)

Our Savior needs workers today, the Spirit is not here to entertained us but to guide us in all truth and understanding. Our only purpose is to serve Christ. In addition, as our faith, responsibility and endurance grows. Our reward will not be of this world.

But when we hear “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord and then.”

“God will wipe away all tears from our eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Matt. 25:21 (KJV) Rev. 21:4 (KJV)

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

Dec 2, 2015

MY FRIENDS, A REGIMENT OF ONE AND THE KING IS ALL WE NEED!!

We are Soldier’s for Christ, a Warrior and a team member. we serve those who seek hope, as we live out our Christian Values. We will always place the mission to spread the good news of the gospel and Christ soon return first and foremost in our life. We will never quit, or accept defeat.

We will never leave a fallen comrade for Satan to destroy. We are disciplined, and mentally tough, we are trained and proficient in our tasks to endure till the end. We will always maintain our arms which is “the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, and with our feet, fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

In addition we will take up the shield of faith, with which to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Also the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

And we will pray in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests…..” Eph. 6:14-18 (KJV) My interpretation of the U.S. Soldiers Creed, along with God’s Armor of protection.

Let’s focus today on David and his elite special forces of men called The three and the thirty in 1 Chron. 10:11-47 and 2 Samuel 23:8-39 (KJV). Oh to be among the elite, we each should aspire for, because they are unique in there skills and endurance. Josheb-basshebeth, killing 800 with a spear.

Shammah stranded in the middle of a field, held his ground while beating back an infantry of advancing Philistines. Eleazar, one of the three of the elite warriors, he was with David when they gathered at Pas Dammim for battle.

Everyone retreated, but the King and Eleazar who stood their ground and struck down the Philistines until Eleazar’s hand grew tired and froze to the sword. And the Lord brought about a great victory that day…. 2 Samuel 23:9-10

Here you have the Kings entire regiment retreating, except one, Eleazar who stands his ground with the king and fights until His Hand froze to the sword. And when the smoke cleared, only two men were standing, The king and Eleazar who was clinging to his sward for dear life.

Paul tells us part of the armor of God is the Sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. My friends as children of the king we must also cling to our sword as it becomes infused to every fiber of our mind and body.

In addition,  once this happens it’s no battle we cannot win with the King. My friends our world desperately seeks the Hope of a Savior, and most of the time it will only be an army of one, but with the Spirit of God Like Eleazar who would not leave the battle field even though deserted by others could still claim victory, even under insurmountable circumstances.

And because of his faith and endurance “The Lord brought about a great victory.” And He will do the same for us if we remember our allegiance is to the King as we give Him all the praise glory and honor.

As God’s chosen soldiers we must also have a  passion  for what we are fighting for, which is a victory for ourselves and for every soul that Satan has laid a claim to. This is our duty as a servant of the Most High “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” Matt. 28:19 (NIV)

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

MY FRIENDS, HOW DIFFERENT ARE WE FROM THE ONE WHO SAYS THERE IS NO GOD?

“Let our light so shine before men and women, that they will always see our good works, as we glorify our Father which is in heaven.” Matt. 5:16 (KJV) Or do we blend in with our surroundings like the Chameleon who changes with the environment.

The Color change signals a chameleon’s physiological condition and intentions to other chameleons, the darker colors indicate when they have decided to submit or “give up” in other words the enemy has now convinced us, compromise is a good, why should we be the odd person in the group. We only live once.

At that moment, we allow ourselves to be “tossed to and fro by the waves of doubt, carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness and deceitful schemes” of the enemy Ephesians 4:14 (ESV) and now the world seems more appealing then a relationship with God.

Nothing about our life should tell the world that this is our permanent residence and that we would compromise our Christian values for the things of this earth that will one pass away for what is prepared For God’s faithful in the earth made new.

A place no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man could ever imagined, the home God has prepared for those who love him” and have decided that we will keep all of His commandments, not just the one’s we feel want interfere with our life style.

Today let’s look back over our life and see where God has brought us from in each situation and circumstances and now it’s personal again. Because we can not go any farther until God becomes real to you and I as we continue to ask, who God is, and what He means to our life personally.

Remember we only have but a short period of probation, from birth to death in which to prepare for God’s kingdom. At birth The god of this world immediately begin to shift our brain activity from what Christ wants.

And then he begin to keep our focus on all the things of this world which is “associated with susceptibility, suggestibility and a unfocused state of mind which lacks the motivation of knowing, perceiving,” or remembering the things God deems beneficial for our salvation. So friends how different is that from the one who says there is no God?

It’s personal because our God is a personal God, And we must recognize today “we have all sinned and  falling short of the honor and glory of God” But the good news is, in spite of our failures at times and “all we can see is the struggles Haunted by the ghosts that lived in our past.”

Unlike the Chameleon who changes with the environment who submits or “gives up” We must decide we “will not be bought or sold; we will be ambassadors for God who in our inmost souls we will be  true and honest; who will not fear to call sin by its right name; whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole; who will stand for the right though the heavens fall.”(E.G. White)

My friends focus, and then ask yourself do my friends family love ones, co-workers, neighbor’s, and the world recognize a sharp contrast between one of God’s chosen and the world. And are the fruit of God’s Spirit firmly embedded into my life and is there a vast difference between my life and the one that “says in his heart, there is no god.”

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

Nov. 30, 2015

“LORD, SAVE US, WE PERISH.” MY FRIENDS, NEVER DID A SOUL UTTER THAT CRY UNHEEDED.

My friends, that statement I continue from yesterday’s devotional because it let’s us know the importance of our faith in these last days of “breaking news” where iniquity is abounding at astronomical levels, and the love of many waxes colder and colder as God prepares us for what is taken place in our world.

Today, I can say with no reservation that we are at the beginning of our “birth. Pangs” a time when we shall continue to see “the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet” and John the Revelator.

My friends that statement that Christ is making in Matt. 24 is telling each of His chosen, heirs to the kingdom of God and joint heirs with the one who will make sure as we cry out Lord, save us, we perish, does not go unheeded.

In addition, that cry will continue to be heeded until He enters the clouds above in preparation to “render to each one according to his deeds.” Eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good, seek for glory, honor, and immortality.

And to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath.” Romans 2:6-8 (NKJV)  So my friends we will each receive our just reward one day.

Christ has also warned us in Matt. 24 when you see all that is happening in the “breaking news” “Let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.”

That text is telling His children, we need to be downsizing not accumulating more. Our attitude must be if we seek God’s kingdom, it all belongs to God and God doesn’t need a new car if nothing is wrong with the one we have.

And God hasn’t told us to get a bigger house, because the man or woman who does not know God has nothing better to do with their money. God also has not told us to buy more and more clothes just because we have the money to do so.

My friends, Christ has an entire world He needs the good news to reach so believe me He doesn’t have the time to be entertained with us as we watch empire and dancing with the stars in front of our new 72” TV.

God needs our all today, not the “crumbs from the masters table.” This work has to be finished in our life time and he is asking for our time, talents and money to make that happen. “Give to God all that is God’s.”

Today He ask for our all. “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one.

To each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey to a far country…… After a long time the lord of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.” “For to everyone who has and values the blessings and gifts from God, and has used them wisely.

Because we can’t begin to imagine what was prepared for us when the Master went to that far country. Yes my friends, “eye have not seen nor ear has heard what was prepared for His faithful who endured” (Matt. 25:14-30 (NKJV)

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

MY FRIENDS, DO YOU HAVE PERFECT PEACE TODAY?

“Their cry arouses Jesus. As the lightning’s glare reveals Him, they see the peace of heaven in His face; they read in His glance self-forgetful tender love, and, their hearts turning to Him, cry, “Lord, save us: we perish.” Never did a soul utter that cry unheeded.

As the disciples grasp their oars to make a last effort, Jesus rises. He stands in the midst of His disciples, while the tempest rages, the waves break over them, and the lightning illuminates His countenance.

He lifts His hand, so often employed in deeds of mercy, and says to the angry sea, “Peace, be still.” (E.G. White Desire of Ages pp 335) Today My friends, close your eyes picture along with me a waterfall cascading down a rocky precipice.

Picture the beauty, in creation, when God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. Thus the heavens and the earth, was finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done and blessed that day, and He rested. Oh such blessed peace.

Picture the peace in our Savior’s countenance on Calvary when our Savior knew His work was complete and the blood of Jesus whispers peace from within, peace, perfect peace, to finish His fathers will on earth. “This is Peace, perfect peace, with sorrows surging round! On Jesus’ bosom naught but perfect calm is found.”

That my friends gives us somewhat of a picture of perfect peace. Jesus tells us in John 16:33 (ESV) I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have trials and tribulations in the midst of the “breaking news” of the day, But take heart He tells us.

I have overcome the world. Never forget there was also “Breaking news” in Jerusalem, it read like this in the Jerusalem Tribune “the people cried out today crucify Him, His blood be on us and on our children.

Then Barabbas was released to the rabble; and when  they had scourged the one who claims to be the Son oh God, they delivered Him to be crucified. Then all of heaven had it’s on “breaking news” and it went like this.

You now Know that all things are  now accomplished, that the Scripture are now fulfilled, your Lord and Master’s last words, but only for a moment, were  “I thirst!” My friends, this is the water of life Himself who thirst how is that possible.

“But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst, the water I give will become a spring of water welling up to eternal life” John 4:14 (NIV) So why does He thirst” Our Savior became the “breaking news” our example for “such a time as this” so that we may hold on and endure, so that we may receive life eternal in His kingdom.

“Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth.And after He received it He said, “It is finished!” bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.”John 19-:28-30 (NKJV)

Oh the beauty and peace of the “breaking news” that day as our redeemer obtained perfect peace, Our redeemer  who is the “way, the truth and life.” My friends, perfect peace to a child of God, is doing His will.

Peace is seeking His presence here on earth so that one day we will forever be in His presence in perfect peace, in a place “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man, [a place] 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.