Feb 23, 2017

MY FRIENDS, HOW MANY ARE ACCUSED OF DERELICTION OF DUTY?

In the context of our salvation what that implies is “a soldier in the army of God who is guilty of neglect of duty and has willfully refused to perform his or her duties (or follow a given order) or is unable to act in accordance to God’s will, either they are asleep, or their focus has been taken off of the things above, onto the things of this world and now we are unable to perform our duties satisfactory. “We are neither cold nor hot….

And because we are only lukewarm…..God wants to spue us out of His mouth.” Rev 3:14-16 (KJV) My friends, have we fallen asleep while on duty? Or do we just not care? Or do we justify our attitude by convincing ourselves, “where is this ‘coming’ He promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as [usual,] since the beginning of creation.” 2 Peter 3:4 (NIV)

My friends, serving Christ has only become a distressing chore because doing God’s will is no longer a deed of love simply for what was done for us on Calvary. Matt. 25:14-30 (NIV) The narrative begins: “A man goes on a journey, called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.

To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey………..The man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.

The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master, he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more. “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!……. “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master, he said, you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more………. “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!

Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. I was afraid so I hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you His master replied, You wicked, lazy servant!……….”

My friends, that’s as far as we need to go with that narrative, “you wicked and lazy servant.” Not my words but Christ. The one who soon would walk the Via Dolorosa to Calvary to die for each of our sins even before they became sins. “Many whom God has qualified to do excellent work accomplish very little, because they attempt little.

Thousands pass through life as if they had no definite object for which to live, [and] no standard to reach [My friends it is called DERELICTION OF DUTY.] Such will obtain a reward proportionate to their works.]” (E.G. White, Christ Object Lessons p 331)

So, today, ask ourselves. what do we really have to look forward to at Christ soon return, because He is coming back for a “chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession.” Now ask ourselves another question, do we fit into that category? Or have we incapacitated ourselves in such a way into the fabric of this world that we cannot give God our all?

Feb. 21, 2017

MY FRIENDS, WE MUST SEEK WITH A PASSION A NAME CHANGE!!

“We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed……..When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 1 Cor 15:51-54 (NIV) We shall all be changed how sweet the sound. But, my friends, “our traits of character [we] cherish in life will not be changed by death or by the resurrection [or if we are alive when He enters those clouds].

[We] will come up from the grave with the same disposition [we] manifested in our home and in society. Jesus does not change the character at His coming. The work of transformation must be done now. Our daily lives are determining our destiny. Defects of character must be repented of and overcome through the grace of Christ, and a symmetrical character must be formed while in this probationary state [from birth to death], that we may be fitted for the mansions above.” (E.G. White, Character Development)

My friends, it is a process that starts at birth. Peter tells us in 2 Peter 1:5-7 to “make every effort to add to our faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.”

Sanctification, A process starting with our faith that God is able to do all things through His Spirit and that Conflict from within that is waged on our character by the forces of evil against our “hereditary tendencies” to sin, the Spirit if we believe begins to convict, instruct, restore, and empower us daily into the image of the one who “will ascend from heaven, with a loud command” for the redeemed.

And our reward will be with Him and “He will give to each person according to what they have done,” or not done. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ).

And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter which means Rock). John. 1:40-42 (NIV) Only our Creator Christ through His word and Spirit can change self  which represents the things of this world to a name fit for His pure and holy kingdom.

And each day the process of a name change allows the “passion of Christ” to take us beyond where we were the day before spiritually. Now my friends, in the Silence of your war room where you encounter a peace of mind in the presence of God each day. Seek a silence that is not just the absence of sound but a stillness that takes us right into the presence of God in the throne room where our Savior abides.

And then pause! Now let’s ask ourselves, how far are we away from a complete Character Change where Christ tells us “not guilty,” your name is now chosen by Me. You are now a royal priesthood, holy, God’s special possession, you may now declare the praises of My Name who called My faithful out of darkness into My wonderful light,” [throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity]” 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

Feb. 20, 2016

MY FRIENDS, ONLY A MIRACLE WILL DO AT TIMES!

Daniel 3:14-18 “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image which I have set up? Now let’s go over this again, when you hear the sound of music, fall down and worship the image which I have made, But understand if you do not, you shall be thrown into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and what god will rescue you out of my hands?” O Nebuchadnezzar, we don’t have to ponder this matter.

If it be so, our God whom we serve will deliver us from the fiery furnace, and from thine hand. But if not, understand this, we will still not serve your god, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. My friends, Sometimes God allows things to get so far out of control in our life, only an extraordinary event or supernatural occurrence must happen in-order to change the situation.

There are seven thousand promises in God’s word and at times, none of them seem to apply. The Psalmist says, “In the day of my trouble I [desperately] sought the Lord; In the night my hand was stretched out [in prayer and supplication] without weariness; [But] My soul refused to be comforted.” Ps 77:2 (AMP)

My friends, have we reach that point, where the music is playing, the fiery furnace is seven times hotter than usual, and only a supernatural intervention can change the circumstances. The doctor has diagnosed you with stage four cancer. Your only form of transportation will cost three thousand dollars to repair and you only have three dollars.

This list is as long as those seven thousand promises in God’s word so let’s go to John 11:1-45 (KJV) (v, 3) “Lord, behold, Lazarus whom You love is sick.” (v, 6) When Jesus heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. (v,17) When Jesus and His disciples finally arrives, Lazarus had died and had been in the tomb four days.

(v, 37) Some skeptics responded, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?” (v, 40) “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. (v, 42) And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.”

(v,43) Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” Five days, Christ waited as the body was decaying. But, Christ knew that a miracle must occur to convince some, and still others would never believe. Friends, God’s delay only prepares us, for what we are not ready to go through today.

Remember, God is greater than all of our situations. But, even the miracle of Calvary, because of one’s lack of studying God’s word and seeking His Spirit will never understand such love. Joseph was sold into slavery as a teenager, ridiculed, rejected, and finally spent two years in jail.

But His faith was steadfast, unmovable and always abounding in the Lord, and at forty years old he became second in line to the throne in Egypt. Oh what a miracle. Remember, our salvation will take the miracle of transformation of our character from a supernatural power to get us into the promise land. But are we willing to “forsake all others.” and give Christ our all.

Feb. 17, 2017

MY FRIENDS, ARE WE READY FOR JESUS TO COME TODAY?

“Every athlete who [goes into training and] competes in the games is disciplined and exercises self-control in all things. They do it to win a crown that withers, but we [do it to receive] an imperishable [crown that cannot wither]. Therefore [you and] I do not run without a definite goal; [we cannot] thrash around like one beating the air [just shadow boxing]. But [like a boxer] we strictly discipline our body and make it our slave, so that, after we have preached [the gospel] to others, we ourselves will not somehow be disqualified [as unfit for service].” 1 Cor 9:26-27 (AMP)

My friends that text tells us if we are disciples of Christ who seeks the presence of God daily, as we carry out His commission to present the good news to those who have lost hope. We must be discipline steadfast unmovable spiritually in all areas of our life and forever abounding towards the one who gave it all for our salvation.

“A large proportion of all the infirmities that afflict the human family are the results of their own wrong habits, because of their willing ignorance or their disregard of the light which God has given in relation to the laws of their being.” It is not possible for us to glorify God” [and man.] (E.G. White, Confrontation, p61-62)

So we must ask ourselves, if serving the Lord seems undesirable to us personally, then we must choose today whom we will serve, whether the rulers, and authorities of the evil powers of this dark world” or the “Invisible God and creator of the heavens and the earth. My friends remember we cannot serve “without a definite goal; or thrash around like one beating the air, just shadow boxing.”

We must have a purpose and that purpose must be a shared vision that keeps us focused on a fixed destination, God kingdom. And unless we are daily advancing while discipline our mind and body we will not finish the course. 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 disqualified to continue the race, and made to move to the side with the onlookers. And that is the same way with where God is trying to take us. So, if we have not studied God’s word, and allowed His Spirit to Guide us in all truth and understanding which gives us a passion to seek God’s presence daily. We will never finish, and our destination will never become a reality so we must then move to the side with the onlookers.

Because a lack of preparation and faith will keep us frightened and ill prepared to continue the course. One day “there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now and never to be equaled again. “If those days are not cut short, no one will survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.” Matt 24:21-22 (NIV)

My friends, unless God intervenes all will be destroyed. But the question we must ask ourselves how far are we from being an “elect,” or how far is our character from the image of God. “Time is passing-swiftly. The hours, days, seasons, and years are moving as if watching the blur of a speeding train pass by.” My friends Are we ready?

Feb. 16, 2017

MY FRIENDS, HIS LIGHT WILL LEAD US ON A STRAIGHT PATH?

Paul McCartney’s hit song the long and winding road; “tells us It’s a sad song, because it’s  about the unattainable; the door you never quite reach. A road that you never quite get to the end of.” But my friends, Christ tells us the road to life eternal is attainable and we can reach it when we submit ourselves completely to Christ will, because at that point “the heart is [then]united with His heart, [our] will is merged into His will, [our] mind becomes one with His mind, [and our] thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life.

This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness. Then as the Lord looks upon us He sees, not the fig-leaf garment, not the nakedness and deformity of sin, but His own robe of righteousness, which is perfect obedience to the law of Jehovah.” (E.G. White, High Spiritual State Attainable)

And that law of love and grace will keep us from falling, [and it also present us] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. Jude 24 (KJV) My friends, wouldn’t it be amazing if we could travel without interruption on this Journey God has placed us on.

Because there are times when it seems we will never reach that place God is trying to take us. But, our failures are not from the lack of what Christ has done for us and continues to do through His Spirit. Remember the sacrifice made at Calvary where God gave his only Begotten Son to save you and I.

That sacrifice, “clearly shows and proves God’s love in that while we were still sinners, He gave His only Begotten Son to die for us.” But there are times when we ignore Calvary and wander blindly in a totally opposite direction from God’s plan.

But our God does not forsake us He tells us in Isaiah 42:16 (KJV) “I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.”

My friends, our life is laid out before God, He see’s every valley created by unwise choices that we have made throughout our life. But as long as our focus stays on the Journey Christ tells us “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 (KJV)

Light has always been a symbol of the presence of God who we should seek daily from His word and Spirit. Remember “in the beginning “God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness” Gen 1:3 (KJV) and throughout His word He leads His children with that same light.

But also throughout His word his Children along with His anointed kings and patriarchs and prophets also at times got off course. But like our Bible heroes who stayed focused on God and the journey, in the midst of the confusion of what we are witnessing in our world today, we must also stay focused on where God is leading as we “forsake all others,” which allows the light of God’s presence to lead us into “His path of righteousness for His name sake” which then leads us into His kingdom.

Feb. 12, 2017

MY FRIENDS, I AM A LIVING TESTIMONY GOD RESTORES!!

“He restores my mind, and with His healing hands, I’m made whole He makes my life complete My reunion is so sweet I’m a living testimony that God restores” (Darwin Hobbs, God restores) Yes my friends God restores, But something I heard in church yesterday, someone stated “if you can’t spend twenty four hours with God” in these last days of the History of mankind “when many false prophets [are] appearing and deceiving many people.

[And] the increase of wickedness [has abounded to astronomical levels], while the love of most grows colder and colder” Matt. 24:1-13 (KJV) “How can we spend an eternity in the presence of a pure and holy God” the end of (v,13) states “but the one who stands firm to the end will be save.”

In the context of our salvation firm would mean “securely fixed in place, steadfast not unwavering, about if it is God, or god we serve. My friends, eternity is a long time, it’s never ending. Isaiah 66:23 (KJV) tells us “From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come and bow down before me,” says the Lord.”

My friends, it is time we begin to question, are we truly preparing for eternity. Just to say God restored me, are only void or ineffectual words with not much substance if restoration does not take us to another level, because, “this to will pass” in this ever-changing world we live in.

So restoration, must be about a daily encounter we have with the invisible God that tells us “miracles still happen,” and now that I have found who He is, and what His will for my life is, nothing else in this world matters. For Paul it was on the Damascus Road, “For one hundred and twenty disciples it happen when they spent ten days in the upper room and they received the promise of the Holy Spirit.”

“When Christ took human nature upon Him, He bound humanity to Himself by a tie of love that can never be broken by” [“death nor life, neither angels nor demons, our fears for today or our worries about tomorrow. Not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. Rom. 8:38-39 (NLT)] (White, Steps to Christ, p 72-73) But self can. Yes, it’s our choice that decides to make that separation.

Our choice that says, I am a willing testimony that Christ restores, but I am still not willing to enter daily “through that small gate and [walk that] narrow road that leads to life, that only a few are willing to find. My friends “The final movements” of what is taken place in our world today “will be rapid ones” and restoration must be daily.

Seeking God’s presence and His will for our life through His word and Spirit must never be optional. “At this time a living testimony is to be borne in the lives of God’s professing people, so that the world may see that in this age when evil reigns on every side, there is yet a people who are laying aside their will and are seeking to do God’s will.

In addition, a people in whose hearts and lives the law of God is written” (White, In heavenly places p 347) And this can only happen if our time with Christ on this earth is only and extension of our time with Him throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity.

Feb. 11, 2017

MY FRIENDS, THERE IS ONLY ONE NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES!

I lift my hands in total adoration to the one “[who] humbled himself by becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross! Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, [and one day that ] name Jesus, every knee [will] bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.” Phil. 2:8-10 (NIV) Consistent with that my friends, “there is salvation in no other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 (KJV)

Isaiah 9:6 calls Him “Wonderful Counselor,” Jeremiah 23:5,6 calls Him “ the righteous Branch” Habakkuk 3:13 calls Him “Your anointed,” David in Psalm 2:2 calls Him the “Anointed One” Zechariah 3:8 calls Him the “Branch” Malachi 3:1 calls Him “Messenger of the Covenant” Micah 5:2 calls Him “Ruler” Matthew 1:21 and 23 calls Him “Jesus” and “Emanuel” John 1:1-4 Calls Him the “Word.”

But my friends, I don’t know about you but personally I call Him Friend, the only friend that in spite of my situations and circumstances in my life, my friend has always been there. And many times, I lost sight of where in my life my Friend was, but He never lost sight of where on this journey I was. And as far into the abyss I went, His arm seems to have always reached just as far to rescue me.

That is why I can say there is no friend like Him and no name can touch My heart quite like His does. And if I search for all eternity I would still come up with the same conclusion, there is “no other name given among men, whereby I can be saved.” And throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity we will find there is still no name under heaven given among men that made life eternal possible but One?

My friends, today it must become personal as you ask yourself what does that name mean to me? And, am I willing to “forsake all others” so that my entire life is centered around that one name as we allow God’s Spirit to change our life and character into the likeness of the one who holds that name? As we focus on that name we must also understand it is only an individual who walks daily in the presence of God.

And who has a passion that burns from within, and whose heart is fixed to serve God, will understand as His disciples we are to carry His mandate forward. And every word and act must be to focus attention on that One name as possessing that “vital power” by which those who have lost hope may fine it. 

And all who “are sinking deep in sin far from the peaceful shore” through the light that shines within us from that One name they may be saved. And “each day we must improve every opportunity that lie within our reach through God’s Spirit along with a shared vision that one day soon Christ will raise those same hands that were pierced at Calvary, as He opens the gates to the New Jerusalem.

And we, the redeemed will then realize “heaven is cheap enough” and also we, Hairs to His kingdom, also at that point realize, that one name is who we have become because we “have come out of great tribulation; and have washed [our] robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” Rev. 7:14 (NIV)

Feb 10, 2017

MY FRIENDS, DOES IT PAY TO SERVE THE LORD?

“Yes!! It pays, every step of the way.” Though the pathway to glory may sometimes be dreary, oh the joy from within from serving God. Paul describes His Joy. “Five times he received forty stripes minus one. Three times beaten with rods, once stoned, three times shipwrecked, exposed to danger from bandits, from his own countrymen, from the Gentiles. Danger in the city and wilderness. Often unable to sleep, hungry and thirsty. Often exposed in the cold without adequate clothing. In addition, besides the external things, there is the daily inescapable pressure of my concern for all the churches.” 2 Cor. 11:24-28 (AMP)

And “to keep Paul from becoming conceited, he was given a thorn in his flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment him. And three times he pleaded with the Lord to take it away. But he said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Cor. 12:7-9 (NIV)

Oh, the passion to receive such power, that is why it pays to serve God. Paul’s last days on earth was spent in a gloomy dungeon accused by his own countrymen and the Romans of instigating the most terrible of crimes along with the burning of Rome. But when “God’s power is made perfect in our weaknesses nothing can separate us from God.

Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, our fears for today or our worries about tomorrow. Not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. Rom. 8:38-39 (NLT) So Like Christ, His Master, a homeless wanderer who stood before Pilot. Paul, God’s representative stands before Nero and how can a “capricious, licentious tyrants understand or appreciate the character and motives” of God and His children.

Paul, was commissioned to stand before governors and kings and the sons of Israel,” that he may bear Christ name. Acts 9:15 (KJV). The truth was presented, and for a moment the invitation of mercy and grace was extended to Nero. Remember my friends, Christ died for all. But Like Pilot the door of repentance for Nero closed forever.

One of Paul’s last letters stated “I am…being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” 2 Tim 4:6-8 (NIV)

Paul’s life soon ended at the guillotine. My friends, it does pay to serve Christ. Paul had joy from within because in his weakness Christ love and power rested within Him and now there is in store for Paul the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to him soon, along with all who are willing to follow Christ even into a fiery furnace.

And like the three Hebrew boys with passion we must also believe “the God we serve is able to deliver us. But even if he does not, we want the world to know, we will not serve your gods” My friends, it pays to serve the Lord because He is greater than all of our circumstances and one day our reward will be eternal life.

Feb. 7, 2017

MY FRIENDS, NOW ARE WE IN A POSITION TO REASON WITH GOD?

“We are God’s children NOW, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him because we shall see Him as he is.” 1 John 3:2 (ESV) The adverb NOW or “at our present time or moment” in the context of our relationship with Christ speaks to our imperfect character NOW. And any hope of beholding Him beyond NOW must become an incentive not to “pass through this probationary period from birth to death as if we had no definite goals “for which to live, and no standard to reach.”

Standard, being those moral and ethical habits we live and stand by through God’s Word and Spirt. Isaiah 1:18, (KJV) states “Come NOW, let’s reason together, saith the Lord” which tells us a personal God sends out a gracious “invitation” to reason with the great I Am. His love, grace, and mercy gives us the opportunity to come before the Creator of all the universe and state our case.

But, in our finite minds, if we think we have a defense for not submitting completely to the will of God, it is to “our advantage” that we first “forsake all others” as we allow His word and Spirit to Change us into the image of His only Begotten Son who He personally gave to mankind so that “whoever believe in Him shall not parish, but receive life-eternal”

Consistent with this, is the fact that God’s only begotten Son “our Advocate, Jesus Christ the righteous one” stands with outstretched arms with the marks of the nails that were driven in His hands as He tells the Father for them I died. And though their sins were as scarlet, they are NOW white as snow; though they were once red like crimson, they are NOW as wool.”

And, “[in this time of imperfection] we see in a mirror dimly [a blurred reflection, a riddle, an enigma], but then [when the time of perfection comes we will see reality] face to face. [Now] we know in part [just in fragments], but then we will know fully, just as we have been fully known [by God].” And NOW there remain: faith [abiding trust in God and His promises], hope [confident expectation of eternal salvation], love [unselfish love for others growing out of God’s love for us]…..1 Cor. 13:11-13 (AMP)

NOW, look deep within self and see how far we are from the purity and glory of God. And ask, if Christ came today would “we hide ourselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains” while crying out, fall on me, NOW, “hide me from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath [has] come;” [and I am not ready. My friends,] “who shall be able to stand”? Rev 6:15-17 (KJV)

And who, when Christ appears “shall be like him because we shall see him as he is” in all of His glory, holiness and purity? NOW, let’s reason with God by falling on our knees, crying out in repentance, “not my will, but thou will be done.” Then, when Christ enter those clouds He can NOW say to His faithful, “well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: [NOW] enter into the joy of thy lord.” Matt 25:23 (KJV)