Oct 16, 2014

MY FRIENDS, WHAT MAKES THIS COURSE WORTH RUNNING?

Just the idea and willingness to subject our small and insignificant Mind, body and passions, to the greater goal of following Christ and telling others of the good news of Christ soon return, as we approach the end of this great controversy. Has the god of this world, told us, it’s just not worth it?

In addition, what gave Paul such a passion to serve God, and give it all for the glory of Christ. Paul states in Acts 20:24 (KKV) “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.”

Paul is now on his missionary journey as he feels the presence of God calling him to go to Jerusalem. But at every step on this journey he is being warned not to go. “On the next day we who were Paul’s companions departed and came to Caesarea, and……. a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.

When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.”

Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 21:7-13 (NKJV)

My friends, Paul at this point ON HIS COURSE had been crucified with Christ and [he] no longer lived, but Christ lived in [him]. The life [he now] lived in the body, [he totally] lived by faith in the Son of God, who [he knew] loved [him, because he had been] delivered over to death for [each of our] sins and was raised to life for our justification.” Gal. 2:20 (NKJV paraphrased) Romans 4:25(NIV)

So Paul knows he probably will be killed, but He also knows that Jerusalem is where God is sending him. A conscientious, and complete death to self. what man can do to the body is insufficient. Paul is no longer concerned with his life, because he gave everything to Christ long ago on the road to Damascus.

Consistent with this, Christ gave it back to him on Calvary. He is now following Gods mandate If it is Paul’s time to die then that is God’s will. Paul says, “MY LIFE IS OF NO VALUE TO ME”, Paul was focused and he endured. His whole life was centered on God and what his will for him was.

My friends, Success comes from FINISHING THE COURSE Christ sets for us. It must be all about Him and his will. I am dead in CHRIST, must forever be our response on this journey Christ has placed us on to the promise land.

Remember, It must be all about Him and his will. I am dead in CHRIST Paul says. you must tell yourself daily, the god of this world cannot hurt a dead man, or woman.

In addition, if you die in Christ, like Paul the life which [each of His children] now lives in the flesh [we now] live by faith in the Son of God, who loved us so much that He gave His life for us.” But I go back to the original question. WHAT MAKES THIS COURSE WORTH RUNNING.

Well my friends, as one created in the image of God as you, what I may tell you may not be conducive to what you want to hear. So I suggest If you seek God’s presence with a passion, then lay prostrate before God in heartfelt prayer and meditation.

And as long as it takes, stay where you are, and don’t get up, until you have heard that still small voice of God’s Spirit. and once you have heard it, tell him thank you, then get up, and don’t look back, until you see Christ appearing from the clouds above to take you to your new home in His kingdom and life eternal.

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

Oct. 15, 2014

MY FRIENDS, “LET’S PRESS ON TOWARD THE GOAL FOR THE PRIZE OF THE UPWARD CALL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS!!!”

“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.  Indeed, I COUNT EVERYTHING AS LOSS BECAUSE OF THE SURPASSING WORTH OF KNOWING CHRIST JESUS MY LORD.

For his sake I HAVE SUFFERED THE LOSS OF ALL THINGS AND COUNT THEM AS RUBBISH, IN ORDER THAT I MAY GAIN CHRIST and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith.

THAT I MAY KNOW HIM AND THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION, AND MAY SHARE HIS SUFFERINGS, BECOMING LIKE HIM IN HIS DEATH, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, BUT I PRESS ON TO MAKE IT MY OWN, BECAUSE CHRIST JESUS HAS MADE ME HIS OWN. Brothers [ans sisters], I do not consider that I have made it my own.

But one thing I do: FORGETTING WHAT LIES BEHIND AND STRAINING FORWARD TO WHAT LIES AHEAD, I PRESS ON TOWARD THE GOAL FOR THE PRIZE OF THE UPWARD CALL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS.

Let those of us who are mature think this way, AND IF IN ANYTHING YOU THINK OTHERWISE, GOD WILL REVEAL THAT ALSO TO YOU. ONLY LET US HOLD TRUE TO WHAT WE HAVE ATTAINED.” Philippians 3:7-17 (ESV)

So today My friends, let’s make it personal. So I look back, I go over my entire life, the bad times and the best of times, when I had nothing and when my cupboards were overflowing with all I wanted, or ever thought I would want.

But I COUNT EVERYTHING AS LOSS BECAUSE OF THE SURPASSING WORTH OF KNOWING CHRIST JESUS MY LORD. Yes, the god of this world has made me an offer. “All this I will give you,” he [tells me], if you will [only] bow down and worship me.” Matt 4:9 (NIV)

But I have decided to SUFFER THE LOSS OF ALL THINGS AND COUNT THEM AS RUBBISH, IN ORDER THAT I MAY GAIN CHRIST, not because of any set precepts that tells me to go this way or that way, but only because of my unadulterated faith that comes by knowing the One who gave it all up even His life.

In addition, He did  this so THAT I MAY KNOW HIM AND KNOW THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION. So I consider it a honor to SHARE IN HIS SUFFERINGS, and also BECOMING LIKE HIM IN HIS DEATH.

Oh How I lone to make this all a reality, but as I look at my life and compare it to the life of Christ, I do understand how far my imperfect life is from obtaining those ambitions. BUT I PRESS ON TO MAKE IT [ALL A REALITY].

Consistent with this, [He has made me His child], [and] heirs, heirs of God and co-heirs with [Himself], [so now I am willing to] share in his sufferings in order that [I] may also share in his glory.” Romans 8:17 (NIV)

So I will FORGET WHAT LIES BEHIND, and what the god of this world has offered in exchange for my soul, I only LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT LIES AHEAD and PRESS ON TOWARD THE GOAL FOR THE PRIZE OF THE UPWARD CALL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS.

And even though I have made this personal today, I also realize that I must take this mission statement of the good news of the Gospel to a world that has lost it’s spiritual compass and keep them and you also my friends in prayer until the day of God’s appearing when Christ will also make it personal as He says

‘Well done, Michael! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” Matt 25:23 (NIV) AND IF IN ANYTHING [ELSE WE MAY] THINK OTHERWISE, GOD WILL REVEAL THAT ALSO TO [US].

But until then, LET US HOLD TRUE TO WHAT WE HAVE ATTAINED. In addition, My friends [we] must work the works of him that [knocks at the door of our hearts], while it is day:[for] the night cometh, when no man can work.” John 9:4 (KJV)

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

Oct. 13, 2014

MY FRIENDS, “MANY ARE CALLED BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN”

“Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.” And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good.

So the wedding hall was filled with guests. “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’

And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness……For MANY ARE CALLED BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN.” Matt. 22:9-14 (ESV)

Such an insignificant matter, why would the King be so adamant about one’s attire, maybe they Just didn’t have the funds to buy what was required. My friends one day God would have heard our last excuse.

In addition, His faithful knows, the garment of righteousness is free. so the saddest words those who are clothe improperly will ever here is “I KNOW YOU NOT” Isaiah 61:10 (NKJV) tells us “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God;

For he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels” My friends, God loves us more then we can ever imagine, so He pleads.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Cor. 12:9 (ESV) He has made every effort humanly and Godly when He died on the cross, to provide us with the proper attire of His righteousness, My friends remember.

“What we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him” 1 John 3:2 (NKJV) fully clothe in the attire of His righteousness. And one Day He will be able to say about His faithful children.

These are the one’s “who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Rev. 7:14 (NIV) and they loved me enough to keep my commandments. “The man who came to the feast without a wedding garment represents the condition of many in our world today.

They profess to be Christians, and lay claim to the blessings and privileges of the gospel; yet they feel no need of a transformation of character. They have never felt true repentance for sin. They do not realize their need of Christ or exercise faith in Him.

They have not overcome their hereditary or cultivated tendencies to wrongdoing. Yet they think that they are good enough in themselves, and they rest upon their own merits instead of trusting in Christ. Hearers of the word, they come to the banquet, but they have not put on the robe of Christ’s righteousness.

The heavenly principles that distinguish those who are one with Christ from those who are one with the world have become almost indistinguishable. The professed followers of Christ are no longer a separate and peculiar people. The line of demarcation is indistinct.

The people are subordinating themselves to the world, to its practices, its customs, its selfishness.” (E. G. White Christ objects Lessons “Without a Wedding Garment”) My friends time and grace is running out, Probation will be over soon.

Revelation 21:6-7 (NKJV) John tells us  God will say one day “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.”

My friends, The call has gone out will you continue to allow the god of this world to be your tailor and fit you into his attire. MANY ARE CALLED BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN to wear the robe of Christ righteousness and one day soon, you will not have time to change.

Consistent with this, our God will “come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays AWAKE AND REMAINS CLOTHED [IN THE RIGHT ATIRE,] so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.” Rev 16:15 (ESV)

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

Oct. 12, 2014

MY FRIENDS, THE LORD ALMIGHTY SAY’S “RETURN TO ME, AND I WILL RETURN TO YOU!!”

”My friends, have you ever felt like you have strayed so far from God that you just don’t know where to start in returning to the one who gave it all for our salvation. Back to the one who waits patiently, as He tells us “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

No matter how far we have strayed, our God‘s hand will reach just that far to save us. Author Dallas Willard tells us, returning home gives us “a means to reconsider and reconfigure our strategy for living.

It is the element that calls for each of us to change directions”, like the Prodigal Son who “When he came to his senses, said, I will go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants. So he got up and went back HOME to his father.” Luke 15:17-20 (NKJV) The common element we have with sheep is the propensity to get lost and stray away from the path once we leave HOME.

The Devil then by circumstances that he created begins to steal away our joy and happiness thus, causing us to lose our balance and focus, which then causes us to wonder aimlessly into self-destruction until Satan has us believing we can’t go back HOME.

He tells us, Christ will not accept you, you have gone too far to go back HOME. Then your hope fades with each day that you stay away. But we must remember what Paul says in Rom 6:1-2 (NKJV) “as it is written, what shall we say? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be!”

My friends, It will be a difficult journey going back home. But set your mark on the prize which is eternal life in God’s pure and holy kingdom. And then on that day we make it back HOME, He will repeat His words of love to us “He who was lost is now found and there is celebration in my household!”

In addition,we must make it personal it has to be all about us right now for God tells us to “RETURN TO ME, DECLARES THE LORD ALMIGHTY, AND I WILL RETURN TO YOU.” Zech. 1:3 (NIV)

And once we have made it personal, the image we must never lose sight of no matter how far we have gone is the image of our father, who loved us so much that He gave his only Begotten Son so that we may never feel that we can’t go back to our Savior.

A Savior who was willing to leave His home in the royal domain of heaven just for our Salvation, as we allow our lives to become transformed into His image until we are completely back into the protection and love of the Master’s presence.

Remember my friends, Home is always a place where we fill accepted and loved. But now, only a distance memory when life was simple and good. But the good news is that when we cannot find our way back HOME, God will find a way to lead us back HOME to him.

A Shepherd will search for a lamb even in inclement weather that has strayed from the flock. If the lamb constantly strays, the Shepherd will search for that lamb, and then upon finding him will break its foreleg.

The Good Shepherd then put’s the lamb over his shoulder and carries it to safety and there nurture’s it back to health as He continues to love and protect it from outside evil elements that wants to harm him until its leg heals.

And when the lamb’s foreleg has healed it will stay close to the Shepherd realizing that the Shepherd is his provider and protector. It’s harsh, but the Shepherd’s correction of the lamb is out of His love and protection for his well-being.

In addition, in our own lives God allows situations and circumstances to break us. So that we may draw near to Him as the transforming power of His touch guides us on the right path back HOME to Him and LIFE ETERNAL

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

MY FRIENDS, YOU WILL NEVER KNOW WHO GOD IS, UNTIL YOU’VE COME THROUGH THE NIGHT, AND YOUR NAME IS CHANGED!!

“Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!…………And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” Gen 32:24-28 (NKJV)

The ultimate struggle between man and God, my friends “with no pain there is no gain.” Something we’ve probably heard most of our lives, with the propensity to make us stronger.

As we read this incredible story of man’s perseverance and determination to get through the night and then too receive that awesome reward, a new name that God has chose, is what this journey is all about. A created being took on the Great I AM and won?

Well my friends we also can win but it will take the pain of the struggle that will last through the night. I am sure God placed this event in the pages of the historical events of His Word, because He want’s us to focus on the struggles each of us will encounter through our short probationary period on this earth from birth to death.

Each day our problems moves up in a designated weight class and as we get older the main event always gets more and more dramatic, the trials more precise, Problems, situations, the injustice of life, a disobedient child, a drunkard husband, and the list goes on.

So now that I have placed each of us in the ring with God as our opponent. How can we win like Jacob. How can our names be changed and how can we “struggle with God and with man, and prevail.” First it takes preparation.

In addition, Jacob is going up against God, He knows only faith and endurance makes one a conqueror, we also cannot come to the fight, lacking in prayer and the study of God’s word, intemperate in our eating habits, or maybe just “having a form of godliness but denying its power”

“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 [a new name] to those who ask him!” Matt 7:11 (NKJV) And also we must never focus our attention on the timing of why we haven’t succeeded against God because a lack of patience is only a lack of faith remember Jacob fought all night.

2 Peter 3:9 tells us “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

It may come a time when the presence of God is veiled from our face, and it will only be our faith, and the promises of God that we have constantly studied in His word that will give us the strength to continue. But we can never stop until WE HAVE COME THROUGH THE NIGHT, AND OUR NAME HAS BEEN CHANGED.

Consistent with this, When God changes our name, it’s to establish a new identity or character, because once our name has been changed we “have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer [we] who live, but Christ lives in [us]; and the life which [we] now live in the flesh [we] live by faith in the Son of God, who loved [us] and gave Himself for [us].” Gal 3:20 (NKJV)

My friends, “all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons [and daughters]……” “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Romans 8:14:19 (ESV) WHEN OUR NAMED IS CHANGED IN GOD’S KINGDOM

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

Oct. 10, 2014

MY FRIENDS, “OUR GOD WILL FILL US WITH JOY IN HIS PRESENCE, WITH ETERNAL PLEASURES”!!!

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James1:2-4 (ESV)

“It’s one thing to stay faithful to God during trials; that is, to not lose your faith but to cling to the Lord, even in the worst times. But we are told to “rejoice” in our trials. Isn’t that asking too much? After all, at times it can be hard enough just to stay faithful in trials, but to rejoice in them?

Yet, that’s what we are told; how, then, can we learn to rejoice when rejoicing is the last thing we feel like doing?” (Clinton Wahlen)  Severe changes are mounting, life is emptied of most of our resources, hopes and ambitions are fading, and our first reaction of all of our anguish is to rejoice.

My friends, as Christians, victory in Christ must come about when we recognize that if our days are spent in the presence of the Lord, our PASSION must become an attitude, that just being in the presence of God instills into us.

PASSION is that powerful or compelling emotion that tells us God Saves a sinner like you and me. PASSION in knowing God is in control and “He will never leave us or forsake us. PASSION is ”singing because [we are] happy singing because [we are] free [and having faith in knowing] His eye is on the sparrow And [we] know he watches [over His faithful like you and me]”

but we must also understand that “Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we REJOICE IN HOPE OF THE GLORY OF GOD.

Not only that, but we REJOICE IN OUR SUFFERINGS, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Romans 5:2 -5 (ESV)

That verse tells us in every situation and circumstances of our life “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Psalm 30:5 (KJV) Death is painful it hurts I am a witness to the pain of death when someone dies you love.

But my friends, if they died in the Lord, in the morning the “Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thess. 4:16-17 (KJV) Oh what joy in knowing that promise along with all of God’s promises in the midst of the storms in our life.

“Ugandan bishop Festo Kivengere’s account of the 1973 execution by firing squad of three men from his diocese: February 10 began as a sad day for us in Kabale. People were commanded to come to the stadium and witness the execution.

Death permeated the atmosphere. I had permission from the authorities to speak to the men before they died, and two of my fellow ministers were with me. As we walked into the center of the stadium, I was wondering what to say.

How do you give the gospel to doomed men who are probably seething with rage? We approached, as they turned to look at us, what a sight! Their faces were all alight with an unmistakable glow and radiance.

Before we could say anything, one of them burst out: “Bishop, thank you for coming! I wanted to tell you. The day I was arrested, in my prison cell, I asked the Lord Jesus to come into my heart. He came in and forgave me all my sins! Heaven is now open, and there is nothing between me and my God!

Please when you see my wife and children, [tell them to rejoice, Jesus saves.]” (Ray Stamps) My friends that is where all of our joy comes from For our God makes known to [his children] “the path of life; HE WILL FILL US WITH, BECAUSE JOY IS IN HIS PRESENCE. Ps. 16:11 (PSV)

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

Oct. 9, 2014

MY FRIENDS, WORK TILL DAWN, FOR WE ARE APPRENTICE FOR OUR HEAVENLY ABODE!!

“Human language is inadequate to describe the reward of the righteous. It will be known only to those who behold it. No finite mind can comprehend the glory of the Paradise of God. In the Bible the inheritance of the saved is called “a country.” Hebrews 11:14-16. (NKJV)

There the heavenly Shepherd leads His flock to fountains of living waters. God’s people, so long pilgrims and wanderers, shall find a home. “My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, in heaven secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.”

“Violence shall no longer be heard in your land, neither wasting nor destruction within your borders; but you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise. “They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; . . . My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.” Isaiah 32:18; 60:18; 65:21, 22. (E.G. White Heaven, Great Controversy)

My friends as I look at the world today, I ask, what do I thrust for daily. My Savior say’s “whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:14 (NIV)

So today, I realize as long as I am on this earth death will eventually come to all. So today my focus shifts “to the giver of life” I now have only one passion and that is to set my mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth”

In addition, I “fixed my mind on another time” [and another place] and here I mean to stand until God gives me more light, and that is Today, TODAY, and TODAY, until He comes, and I see Him for whom my soul yearns.” (William Milller)

FOR WHOM MY SOUL YEARNS, or who I have a passion to be with, for “I HAVE FIXED MY MIND ON ANOTHER TIME” that tells me that I have completely left the cares of this world, into the hands of my Savior who has taken on that responsibility as He guides us on our journey.

Psalm 55:22 tells us to “Cast our cares on the LORD and he will sustain us; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” So I ask you oh Lord to “Come and fill my heart with hope, Come and fill my life with love Come and fill my soul with strength to carry on Because from here the climb is steep, [and the journey] is long.

So Come and fill my days with dreams Empty me of all the empty things [of this world] That I hold onto [So please dear Lord] Come and fill my heart with you.” (Avalon) and only you and never let my mind wonder away from the precepts that prepares your Children.

Yes that prepares us For “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Cor. 2:9 (ESV) As children of  THE KING, we should always feel like aliens, or strangers in a foreign country, for we yearn to be with our Father the King. Ps. 119:19 tells us “I am a stranger on earth”

Though we live as temporary residents, as God’s chosen here on earth, our mandate is to tell the world of the good news of a NEW HOME for all who believe and endure and are willing to be transformed into the image of the one who gave it all for our Salvation.

“Conception unites the two thoughts of being with Christ and of service for Christ. This blending is definitely set forth in the last chapter of Revelation where we read of ‘those who serve Him, and see His face.”

Here the life of contemplation and the life of active service are welded together as being not only compatible, but absolutely necessary for completeness. But remember that if there is to be service there, the exercising ground is here. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT WE ARE IN THIS WORLD FOR UNLESS IT IS TO APPRENTICE US FOR HEAVEN. Life on earth is a bewilderment unless we are being trained here for a nobler work which lies beyond the grave.” (Alexander Maclaren)

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

Oct. 8, 2014

MY FRIENDS, TODAY, LET’S TRAVEL TO THE SANCTUARY, WHERE OUR SAVIOR ABIDES!!

One day soon our journey on earth will end, and a new journey will begin throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity as we will forever be in the SANCTUARY OF OUR MASTERS LOVING ARMS.

But my friends, before that great day as God’s Chosen generation, we ALL must look back on where God has brought us from and lay prostrate before the one who did it all for our salvation and let’s close our eyes as we climb as high as our finite mind will take us.

in addition, as far as we can go, as we look down the smaller the world below get’s until it is no longer relevant, only the presence of God which we are now seeking today. Consistent with this, we realize below is a “world where every intent of the thoughts of the heart of man is evil continually.”

So there is nothing we miss or want to return too. And now we reach the Sanctuary and their stands the countenance of who we seek and the only words that seems to come out of our mouth as the tears roll down our cheeks is “Lord, how long shall the wicked exult?

They pour out their arrogant words; all the evildoers boast. They crush your people, O Lord, and afflict your heritage. They kill the widow and the sojourner, and murder the fatherless; and they say, “The Lord does not see; the God of Jacob does not perceive.” Psalm 94:3-7 (ESV)

But Lord I know You are not slow to fulfill [your] promises as some count slowness, but is patient toward [Your children] not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 (ESV)

Oh Lord we plead, can we please stay here with you, please don’t make me go back, that journey you have placed me own, the mountains are so steep, and the terrain is so rough, their seems to be no resting place.

And then at that moment our Savior smiles and raises His hands and as we see the scars, we move closer to feel for our-self and all we can say is for me Lord just for me. And then “we realize we must go back for “there are many more hills to climb.

For we have taken a moment [to seek the presence of God], to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds [us], to look back on the distance we have come. But we [now realize that we] can rest only for a moment, for with freedom comes responsibilities, and we dare not linger, for our long [journey] is not yet ended.” (Nelson Mandela)

For we have many more mountains to climb and a few more rough terrains to cross for our Lord and Savior and a mandate that takes each of us to  “Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth,” Acts 1:8 (KJV) to tell the world that “Jesus saves”

“For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 (ESV) My friends in the noise, and recklessness, of this world we live in, we must seek Christ presence in the sanctuary of heaven daily and take the time to touch the scares on his hands and feet and run our hands across the stripes on His back and brow and feel the indenture from the spear in His side and say in awe and admonition.

“I bow before Your throne, I bare the deepest part of me to You and You alone. I keep no secrets for there is No thought You have not known. I bring my best and all the rest to You and lay them down with all my heart.

In addition, I want to love You Lord And live my life each day to know You more and all that is in me is Yours completely. I will fear and serve You only with all my heart and trust only you, because You know what’s best for me.

And when I don’t understand, Then I will follow in obedience In every situation and circumstance with all my heart and live my life each day to know You more as I serve You all the days of my life” (JoAnn Rosario)

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

Oct. 7, 2014

“SOUND THE BATTLE CRY, SEE! THE FOE IS NIGH; RAISE THE STANDARD HIGH FOR THE LORD!!”

My friends a war rages out of control on the streets of our world today. In addition, Christ is asking dedicated men and women to join His army and tell the world that “JESUS SAVES”

“O Lord, what shall I say when [the church] turns its back before its enemies? For the [world] and all the inhabitants of the land will hear it, and surround us, and cut off our name from the earth. Then what will You do for Your great name?” Joshua 7:8-9 (NKJV)

My friends it’s the Name we must defend “for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 (NKJV) A song we all sung in the Hymnal throughout my life which I never hear any more.

It was a song of faith and endurance to rally the troops, to motivate them and remind them who their leader and Captain was, Jesus Christ. It challenged all soldiers in the army of God to “SOUND THE BATTLE CRY, SEE! THE FOE IS NIGH; RAISE THE STANDARD HIGH FOR THE LORD;

Gird your armor on, Stand firm, every one, Rest your cause upon His holy word. Rouse, then soldiers! rally round the banner! Ready, steady, pass the word along, Onward, forward, shout aloud hosanna! Christ is Captain of the mighty throng.”

Today we must take the fight to the enemy as we defend our Savior and everything His word stands for. Our God’s promises will never becomes obsolete, or of non-effect for “Jesus Christ [and his word] is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Heb. 18:8 (NIV)

In addition, God tells us “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him;but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:15-18 (NKJV)

We have the power my friends to defeat the enemy through our faith and God’s word. But “We are to know where we are going. We can not be in darkness if we are following Christ as our leader; for he says, “He that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

When the way seems beset with difficulty and clouded with darkness, we must believe that there is light ahead, and not turn to the right or left, but press forward…” (E. G. White The Review and Herald, Feb 20 1913)

Today God’s faithful must “SOUND THE BATTLE CRY” as we tell the world “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved you and your household.” Acts 16:31 (NIV)

Graffiti from the 1800s discovered by workers renovating the Washington Monument reads “Whoever is the human instrument under God in the conversion of one soul, erects a monument to his own memory more lofty and enduing than this,”

Our battle plans must be to conquer through God’s Spirit one soul at a time. God tells us in His word “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Is. 55:11 (KJV)

“So friends what are your marching orders? Success is not the question for a Child of God to discuss. our orders run thus, “go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” “And then my friends, ”the end shall come”

the secret to every Christian’s success in his or her mandate from God, will be found in the harmonious and daily working of all Christians along with the Holy Spirit in the finishing up of Gods work regardless of what this world deems as success.

Therefore, in the sense of a vital faith and genuine obedience and indomitable courage embracing the total stewardship of life, may it be said of us at Christ soon return, They did go tirelessly into all the world and “SOUND THE BATTLE CRY, TELLING ALL THAT THE FOE IS NIGH; AS THEY RAISED THE STANDARD HIGH FOR THE LORD”

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