Aug. 6, 2014

MY FRIENDS, THE TALE OF TWO, TIME ZONES!!!

TIME ZONE too a Child of God; as we talk to God we really can “hear the sound of the rushing wind”, as we realize, “His appearing is closer than ever as we begin to hear the trumpet of Gabriel, and hear the Father as He says Son go get My Children”, and the more we pray we can see our Savior standing on a cloud, with tens of thousands of angels as we witness for ourselves on his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Yes my friends, there is a passion, deep from within and our faith tells us that it will all happen “in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump.” There is another TIME ZONE for those “who have no hope.” in “a world of many fools [that say] in their heart, There is no God.” “Time is two edged. It forces [the fool] nearer to [perdition], [because they cannot] save [themselves.]

But even more horrendous, it habituates [them] to existing conditions which, by familiarity, seem less and less threatening. [And] Once [their] minds have been conditioned to that sort of thinking the keen edge of danger is blunted, and [they] are no longer able to see the dark chasm on the brink of which [they] stand” (Bernard Baruch)

The god of this world keeps those in his TIME ZONE thinking that the world owes them, so they have to acquire many things, and because their anchor is not firmly rooted in the solid rock of Jesus Christ and Him crucified, their Perception of evil begins to transform their Reality, instead of God doing the transforming.

David tells us “For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked who seems to have the least share of the troubles of this life; but have the greatest share of this worlds wealth and comforts. They have no fear of [God] and yet they prosper, in a world that My God created.” Ps 73:3-5

High into the mountains, as you look down the smaller the world below you get’s. So it is with a child of God, the Higher up or closer we get to Christ the smaller the world gets until it’s no longer relevant, only the presence of God, as we continue to get closer and closer to Him through His Spirit.

Today, I tell a story I’ve used before on how easy it is too loose our focus, right here at the threshold of the promise land. The story is about the Golf legend Arnold Palmer: “It was the final hole of the 1961 Masters tournament, he had a one-stroke lead and had just hit a very satisfying tee shot. “I felt I was in pretty good shape.”

As I approached my ball, I saw an old friend standing at the edge of the gallery. He motioned me over, stuck out his hand and said, “Congratulations.” I took his hand and shook it, but as soon as I did, I knew I had lost my focus. On my next two shots, I hit the ball into a sand trap, then put it over the edge of the green. I missed a putt and lost the Masters.”

My friends, what is distracting you from focusing on life eternal and what our God has prepared for His Children who keeps His Commandments. What keeps you from setting “your mind and keeping [it] set on what is above, [and] not on the things that are of this world.” Col. 3:2 (AMP)

Satan failed in every way possible to distract our Saviors attention away from Victory at Calvary. But today my friends it is not about Christ, He has accomplished what he was sent here to Do. The spotlight is on you, what will you as a Child of God do to remain focused and complete the plan that was implemented for your salvation?

Remember friends, our journey will end one day soon and “He who began a good work in [each of] us will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Phil 1:6 (ESV) BUT ONLY IF WE BELIEVE. AND THEN THIS TIME ZONE in this world Ends and a NEW ONE BEGINS IN THE EARTH MADE NEW.  BUT ONLY IF WE BELIEVE!!

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

Aug. 4, 2014

DEFINE GOD; GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON TO DIE FOR OUR SINS

GOD; “IN CHRISTIANITY AND OTHER MONOTHEISTIC RELIGIONS, GOD SIMPLY MEANS THE CREATOR AND RULER OF THE UNIVERSE AND SOURCE OF ALL MORAL AUTHORITY; THE SUPREME BEING” WHO IS OMNISCIENCE, OMNIPOTENCE AND OMNIPRESENCE.

gods; “ONE OF SEVERAL DEITY’S, PRESIDING OVER SOME PORTION OF WORLDLY AFFAIRS,,” OR ANYTHING THAT TAKES OUR LOVE AND AFFECTION AWAY FROM OUR CREATOR WHO IS THE TRUE GOD.

Looking at the two definitions, of God and god and the choices that need to be made in regards to our Salvation tells us if “we are laborers together with God, we cannot set our affections upon [the gods of this world];

“for where our affections are, our thoughts will be; and where our thoughts are, there will be our treasure. When we dwell upon things seen and temporal, we fail to obtain divine knowledge (E. G.White)

So to have no other gods before Jehovah Which is the first commandment  in God’s Word, would mean to Renounce  anything that hinders true loyalty to God. In addition the “commandments to Israel established an exclusive relationship between the nation of Israel and its God, Yahweh, which was a covenant initiated by Yahweh after delivering the Israelite’s from apartheid and Egyptian bondage.

At this time God is giving His 10 Decalogue’s to Israel and the Bible says, “then God spoke these words: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” So as we try an analyze why God gave His precepts to Israel? We also have to recognize that His precepts don’t begin with a threat or a command, but a statement of acknowledging who He is

“I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD” and then He speaks of what He has done “BROUGHT YOU OUT OF THE HOUSE OF BONDAGE.” So as His chosen, this statement only confirms that relationship of love to a people who He had a special relationship with and not the surrounding nations who had decided that their man made god’s were more important than Jehovah the creator of the universe.

But His love still extended to all nations “for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust.” Matt. 5:45 (ASV) Consistent with this, God’s mandate to Israel’s was to extend the good news of who God was and what he will do for those who “love Him and keep His commandments.”

But instead of Israel influencing other nations, who worshiped other gods. The ungodly nations influenced Israel with their many deity’s, which resulted in Israel’s eventual downfall. So as God’s chosen “for such a time as this” we also have a mandate from God too influence through His Spirit to “all nations kindred’s and tongues.” the need for Salvation.

Or has the gods of this world determine our relationship with God and our responsibility to tell other’s about Him as he did Israel? My friends a commitment to serve only God can only happen when you give it all to the Master and follow him to Calvary.

Unlike Israel His chosen of  Abraham’s seed. His 21st century Chosen generation must not allow other gods to hinder our relationship with God, and take us also into captivity and then to perdition.

In this busy complex world we live in, a Child of God must begin to sacrifice the things we love to do, for the sake of what is most important to the God we serve. God know’s in giving us the first commandment, that He wants nothing before Him that will distract us away from His love, grace, mercy and His Children doing His will.

“for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God” In other words, every decision you make in life should first be centered and focused on our LOVE, HONOR, RESPECT, WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE AND RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE WITH GOD.

In addition, God started His precepts off by saying “I am the Lord your God” who has purchased the rights for your Salvation. Oh what love “THAT WHO SO EVER BELIEVETH IN HIS SON MAY RECEIVE LIFE ETERNAL.”

So my friends will you make God first and foremost today as His Spirit prepares you for eternity in “the earth made new.” Or have you made other plans?

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

Aug 2, 2014

MY FRIENDS, WILL YOU FINISH THIS RACE, THE END IS IN SIGHT?

Webster defines a race “as a contest of speed” but if you are a Child of God and your desire is life eternal then speed or physical strength is not a factor, only the preparation and being able to endure to the end with the torch of faith still in hand.

In addition this race resembles more of a journey because of the length of time it will take to finish. At the beginning, along with the torch of faith a belt of truth is placed around our waist which our sponsor has given us with the word GRACE engraved into the special leather.

A breastplate of “integrity and rectitude” covers the upper part of our body to break our fall at various times along the way, because at any given moment along the route the road changes from a smooth surface, to a hilly and rocky road. Our sponsor also provides us with a special foot wear made from the moral fortitude and stability that will never tear or wear out during such a long encounter, with the words the good news of the gospel across both shoes in visible sight for all to see.

My friends the ultimate prize will be given to many for John tells us “and, lo, a great multitude, [who had finished the course] which no man could number, of all nations, and kindred’s, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; Rev. 7:9 (KJV)

On the mount of Olivet it was our savior’s humanity that recognized the difficulty of his Journey he would have to finish, it was his humanity that knew the height and treacherous road he was about to take, and He knew their would be times on our Journey when it would seem impossible for us to finish, so our Salvation rested on our Savior So He stayed focused and prayed more earnestly than ever before, until his sweat, was like drops of blood, falling to the ground.

Here in the garden, humanity took its toil as the whole weight of the world rested on his shoulders. but his faith, endurance, and prayer’s while staying focused as he conquered each obstacle along the way from the betrayal of Judas to the court of the high priest as He is spat upon and beat.

Then before Pilate, Herod, then back to Pilate where He was scourged, beat, stripped of His dignity and a crown of thorns placed on His head and a cross on His back as He is then lead to Calvary to die for each of us who He knew would have our own crosses to bear one day on our Journey to the promise land.

My friends this is why we must finish this race. Paul says in Phil. 3:7-8 (NKJV) But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things [on this journey].

[But]I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.” Nothing else in this race matters, for Christ our pace setter stands at the finish line with nail scared hands held out to embrace each runner as we cross and He says, My father awaits along with your friends and love one’s at the  banquet table that has been prepared for all who crossed over.

In addition, many you have read about in my Word are there, to name a few; Moses and David who were both murderers but they finish the race, Peter who denied Christ He also finished, Abraham and Jacob were big time liar’s, but they finished, Judah was a Whoremonger, John was self-righteous, Mark was a scary cat, and was rejected by Paul who also was a murderer.

But all finished the race and will be there my friends along with many others who stayed focused and“laid aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [them while on this earth], and [ran] with patience [and endurance] the race that [was] set before [them never given up] Heb 12:1 (KJV) SO NOW MY FRIENDS WILL YOU FINISH THIS RACE, THE END IS IN SIGHT.

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

MY FRIENDS, WILL ANYTHING ELSE BUT THE BLOOD CLEANSE?

“Have mercy on me, O God,…Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” Psalm 51:1-2 (KJV)

Blood: is the fluid that circulates in the hearts, arteries, capillaries, and veins of a sinner and through Gods Spirit will carry the nourishment and oxygen of the love grace and mercy of our Savior who has shed His own blood for those who believe so that all parts of the mind and body may be cleansed from the penalty of sin.

Heb. 9:22 (ESV) tells us “Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” In addition, Hebrews 9:12-14 (ESV) also says “….For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.”

Rev. 12:11(AMP)  is the last reference in the Bible to the shed blood of  Christ; “And they have overcome (conquered) him by means of the blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of their testimony, for they did not love and cling to life even when faced with death [holding their lives cheap till they had to die for their witnessing].

My friends let’s focus today on who John is telling us is standing there with Christ, all  “who endured even to death” also they “have strip off and thrown aside every encumbrance (and unnecessary weight) which were all sins (even the “socially acceptable sin”) which (the god of this world and his forces of evil had) so readily (deftly and cleverly tried to cling and entangle each of the redeemed with, while here on earth.

But because of the shedding blood of our Savior the redeemed were able to), run steady with patient, endurance and with active persistence the appointed course of the race that our Lord and Savior set before us and now we are CONQUERORS who overcame through our Saviors blood.” Heb. 12:1 (AMP)

There are at least 43 references to the blood of Christ in the New Testament, all testifying to its great importance in the salvation and daily life of a Child of God. “Oh! precious is the flow That makes me white as snow;” How does the blood and death of our Savior make the Dirt and mire of a sinner’s character a candidates for God’s pure and Holy Kingdom.

Well His death at Calvary summarizes Christ infinite love for everyone and once we as His Children have been washed in His blood, we are transformed into the Character of  our Savior through His blood. Rev. 22:14 (ESV) tells us Blessed are those who wash their robes [in the blood of Christ], King James version tells us “Blessed are they that do his commandments” so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.”

Bible scholars have interpreted “Blessed are they that do his commandments” and “Blessed are those who wash their robes,” as one in the same with only the abiding love of the sacrificial Lamb who shed His blood on the cross for all brings the two statements together.

My friends we as candidates for God’s Kingdom must look into our mirror and then look at the Character of Christ, and ask ourselves have I allowed my life to be purified by the One Who Died for my sins. My friends The believer who longs to have his robe washed in the blood of Christ  must ask before it is to late, “what must I do to be like Christ”

As a sinner myself the only answer I can give is too first have a close and personal relationship with Him. It seems strange that red blood can make our lives pure and white but God tells us in His Word “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as [white] wool. If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the [Promise] land….Isaiah 1:18-19 (KJV)

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

July 30, 2014

MY FRIENDS, HOW MUCH IS TO MUCH, FAITH?

My friends let’s focus today on the question, can one have too much faith? and if so where is the cut off point, or is there one. First let’s go to God’s Word. How much Faith was needed from the woman in Mark 5 who had an issue of blood twelve years, “And had suffered many things of many physicians”, But When she heard of Jesus, she pressed in behind Him, “just to touched the helm of his garment”.

For she said, “If only I could touch His helm, I shall be “made whole.” and so she did, and she was made whole. Now going to Numbers 21 where the Children of Israel had murmured against God and Moses “and the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, and many people of Israel died.” But then, the people went to Moses and ask him to speak to God in their behalf and tell Him we have sinned.

Had anyone thought of going directly to God themselves. “And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” So Moses did and if you believed and looked up, you would be made whole.” My friends how much faith did it take to look up at that serpent and be healed. Remember Israel must now believe in a God they had not even learned to talk to personally.

Alexander Maclaren tells us that “Important lessons are given by this alternation of the two ideas of FAITH AND UNBELIEF, OBEDIENCE AND DISOBEDIENCE. DISOBEDIENCE is the root of UNBELIEF. UNBELIEF is the mother of further DISOBEDIENCE. FAITH is voluntary submission within a PERSON’S own power. If FAITH is not exercised, the true cause lies deeper than all intellectual reasons.

It lies in the moral aversion of human will and in the pride of independence, which says, “WHO IS LORD OVER US? WHY SHOULD WE HAVE TO DEPEND ON JESUS CHRIST?” As faith is obedience and submission, so FAITH breeds OBEDIENCE, but UNBELIEF leads on to higher-handed rebellion. With dreadful reciprocity of influence, the less one TRUSTS, the more he DISOBEYS; the more he disobeys, the less he trusts.”

As a Child of God let’s not miss the message in God’s Word by focusing on the miracle of healing, and not on the Saving Grace of the Master and all He is willing and able to do for our Salvation. Often when Jesus healed in the gospels, He told the person that was healed not to tell anyone. My friends, that request was not because He was trying to hide The power of His miracles. But He knew the need of our focus too always be on His name, For “there is no other name by which we can be saved” and receive life eternal.

The lady in Mark 5 had twelve years of constant blood flow. The suffering and pain, exhausted and smothered by the crowd, so desperate just to get to the Savior, to be healed and once she was, Christ told her “Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole;” Not the miracle my friends. But our Faith, it takes a Joint effort to be made whole physically, and spiritually by the Master.

Ms. White tells us “A nominal faith in Christ, which accepts Him merely as the Saviour of the world, can never bring healing to the soul. The faith that is unto salvation is not a mere intellectual assent to the truth. He who waits for entire knowledge before he will exercise faith, cannot receive blessing from God. It is not enough to believe about Christ; we must believe in Him.

The only faith that will benefit us is that which embraces Him as a PERSONAL Savior; which appropriates His merits to ourselves. Many hold faith as an opinion. Saving faith is a transaction by which those who receive Christ join themselves in covenant relation with God. Genuine faith is life. A living faith means an increase of vigor, a confiding trust, by which the soul becomes a conquering power.” (E. G. White Desire Of Ages pp 347) So friends with knees bent and a sincere, heartfelt and a contrite soul ask your Savior ÏS MY FAITH SUFFICIENT ENOUGH TO GET ME TO THE PROMISE LAND.

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

MY FRIENDS “HE WHO DID NOT SPARE HIS OWN SON BUT GAVE HIM UP FOR US ALL”

“And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? IF GOD IS FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Romans 8:30-32 (ESV)

So many promises God has giving us, but today let’s focus on the words, HE WHO DID NOT SPARE HIS OWN SON BUT GAVE HIM UP FOR US ALL, HOW WILL HE NOT ALSO WITH HIM GRACIOUSLY GIVE US ALL THINGS? My friends how amazing is that statement which tells us that our Salvation  has nothing to do with our works but has everything to do with God’s purpose for us combined with His love, grace and mercy.”

My friends God is calling us too respond to His calling and He waits on our response weather good or bad, because “there is no other name under heaven given to mankind” who love us as our God, for  His desire for us, is to make sure we prosper in all we do That is why we must remain focus on this journey we have been placed on as we rise above where the god of this world is trying to take us for we must remember my friends we are special, God has chosen us.

Consistent with this, there is no words in our finite minds to describe our God so the best we can come up with is Omniscience: “THE ONE WHO KNOWS ALL THINGS AT ONCE; UNIVERSAL KNOWLEDGE; KNOWLEDGE UNBOUNDED OR INFINITE”, Omnipotence: ALMIGHTY POWER; UNLIMITED OR INFINITE POWER; A WORD IN STRICTNESS APPLICABLE ONLY TO GOD THE ONE WITH ALL-POWERFUL WHO HAS CREATED ALL THINGS AND SUSTAINS THEM BY HIS WORD” and  Omnipresence: “THE ONE WHO IS ABLE TO BE AT ALL PLACES AT ALL TIMES, UNBOUNDED OR UNIVERSAL PRESENCE; UBIQUITY.”

I just said a whole lot in trying to define our God in human terminology, but it is only because of the frailty and limitation of how far my mind will take me and I can also say with full assurance that those three words  Omniscience, Omnipotence, and  Omnipresence, does not even begin to touch the surface of what I can only imagine our God really is and what he is capable of doing for us. So for now until this old world is no longer relevant to my day to day activities I will accept what is given me and understand that one day soon all of His Children will be able to reside in “homes for the pilgrims of earth.

There are robes for the righteous, with crowns of glory and palms of victory. All that has perplexed us in the providences of God will in the world to come be made plain. The things hard to be understood will then find explanation. The mysteries of grace will unfold before us. Where our finite minds discovered only confusion and broken promises, we shall see the most perfect and beautiful harmony.

We shall know that infinite love ordered the EXPERIENCES that seemed most trying. As we realize the tender care of Him who makes all things work together for our good, we shall rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.”( E. G.White 9T 286) but for now 2Peter 1:3 tells us “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” My friends Here on earth there is still work to be done as we travel this journey to the “Promise Land”

There are many souls without hope that we must continue to throw out the life line of our Saviors righteousness too, and God has chosen us to be his representative in making that happen My friends as much as we long for our eternal home we still have work to do ne for our Savior as we “SET OUR PRIORITIES FOR THE HIGH CALLING OF CHRIST WHO DID NOT SPARE HIS OWN SON BUT GAVE HIM UP FOR US ALL.

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

July 28, 2014

MY FRIENDS, JESUS LOVES ME, HOW DO I KNOW? BECAUSE HIS WORD TELLS ME SO!!!

“The creative force that brought about the existence of our world is the Word, and the Word is God. The Word at the beginning of John 1 is linked by this passage to the first words spoken by God at the beginning, when he says “‘Let there be light’ and there was light.” Genesis 1:3(KJV) Yes my friends

“Every command is a promise; accepted by the will, and received into the soul, and it also brings with it the life of the Infinite One. It transforms our nature, and re-creates our character into the image of God.”(Ellen G. White.) The world was created by the Spoken Word of God. This world and the very existence of life was conceived by God in the spirit.

“Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. (Gen 1:2.) So what this tells me as a Child of God, is that God’s Word brings about real transformation since God is the Word. But that transformation can only come about when we give it all to the master and then ask God our Creator to recreate our mind and body into His image.

In addition, as he created “the earth [that] was without form, and void; [a earth where there was only] darkness upon the face of the deep. And [as] the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. [our God begin creation with only the words] Let there be light: and there was light. And now öur prayer too “our Father which art in heaven” is to please recreate from the darkness within us, where sin abides in the very crevasse of our soul, the light from your only begotten Son who died in our place on Calvary so that we could live with Him in His pure and holy kingdom.

Oh what love, But it did not end with His death on the cross. He rose again, and that tells us that the word still lives! Yes He lives. And that is why I serve that same risen Savior, because He is in my life today and I see His hand of mercy grace and love as I begin to truly hear, and feel God and His Word, while allowing my faith to grow in His grace. And once our lives are transformed then we will begin to understand through faith in the Word of God, that a miracle has truly taken place in our lives.

Paul says in 2 Cor 5:17-18 (NKJV) “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God. who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” And once we have completely allowed the light of your Spirit to recreate us then we will allow your full armor of righteousness to protect us against the forces of evil who’s only goal is to destroy.

In addition, the mind is then saturated with the Word. And because of the plan of Salvation and your love for your Children, a confirmation of a true renewal of our character becomes our mission statement along with the words “JESUS LOVES ME THIS I KNOW FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO,”as we go into all the world with the good news of your soon return.

And When our character is rooted in the Word of God, and continues to be rooted, it is an experience that lasts throughout our lives here on earth and will also carry us throughout the ceaseless ages of Eternity. But my friends Consistent with this, there is also a warning if we lack knowing the knowledge in Gods word, due to the fact that we allowed the things of this world to become detrimental to our salvation, because they were more important than studying the Word of God and doing His will.

Hosea 4:6 (AMP) tells us “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you [my chosen generation, the priestly nation] have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you….” So through the love of Christ and His Word my friends please allow the fullness of God from within, as we prepare to enter the “promise land”.

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