Oct 10, 2017

MY FRIENDS, WHERE WILL WE STAND IN THE CHAOS WHEN GOD SAYS IT IS FINISHED?

Washington (CNN)Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker said that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Defense Secretary James Mattis and White House Chief of Staff John Kelly “help separate our country from chaos.” “And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.” Rev 7:1-3 (KJV)

My friends, only one thing separates us from chaos and He commands “the four angels that stand on the four corners of the earth holding back the four winds of the earth. And He is able to do this because He is the One who “created the heavens and the earth, The sea and all that is in them….Ps. 146:6 (NASB) These four angels surround our world, holding back the “principalities, and the powers and the rulers of the darkness of this world.”

And this occurs, while God’s Spirit prepares His faithful to commit to God’s will as we carry our cross, a symbol of discipleship and now as disciples we are “persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom. 8:38-30 (KJV)

And when the sealing of God’s people is complete, God will say “it is finished.” “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” Rev. 22:11 (KJV) And for a season the four winds will be let loose along with the “fierce winds of human passion.”

“The earth, sea, and trees emphasize the universal nature of the threatened destruction.” Consistent with this, there will be a time of “Choas (pressure, distress, oppression), that has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will [again]. And if those days [of chaos] had not been cut short, no human life would be saved; but for the sake of the elect (God’s chosen ones) those days will be shortened.” Matt. 24:21-22 (AMP)

But, God’s elect, heirs to His kingdom, joint heirs with His Son are sealed, we have come through the time of chaos that “has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will [again.]”  And now “we are more than conquerors,” and we are sealed. Sealed being “the pure mark of truth, the mark of God’s approval, and a sign of His authority. And now our Character is just like Christ “ (SDA, commentary p 782)

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) My friends, where will we stand when the faithful is sealed and God say’s “it is finish?”

Oct. 6, 2017

MY FRIENDS, ON OUR KNEES IS WHERE WE CONQUER THE ENEMY

“All these things will I give thee, [is Satan’s offer, one that most cannot refuse,] if thou wilt [only] fall down and worship me.” Matt. 4:9 (KJV) At that point God’s faithful must seek diligently “the author and finisher of our faith,” while on our knees where the plans and partitions of our life are worked out through God’s Spirit.

And when other “people, nations, and languages are commanded, to bow down, and worship” “the one who saith in his heart I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God…… I will be like the most High”[We must not yield] Is 14:12-14 (KJV)

Remember my friends, to bow down means annihilation one day, but for a moment we can have it all. But like the three Hebrew boys we must receive power on our knees and through our faith stand up to the principalities, and powers, and the rulers of the darkness of this world and say “our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the things of this world that are temporary, if we believe.

As Christ sentinels, we must be forever watching for the enemies attack as we keep our eyes focus above least we fall while sleeping and yield to temptation. Remember, it was at Gethsemane Christ tells His Disciples “why are you sleeping?” “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: for the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matt. 26:41 (NIV)

And it was at Gethsemane on Christ knees is where He fought His last battle before Calvary and won. Satan is a strangest, who for six thousand years has gathered in His sieve the life of all who claims to be a child of God but, who have not figured out it is “not flesh and blood we struggle with” but “against Satan’s powerful and evil forces in the heavenly realms.”

Therefore, Satan encourages us to not study the word of God or diligently “pray and seek Gods presence daily as he Satan stalks and conquers. Remember, it is the lack of our prayers that “sets our minds on self and what self wants and thinks we need, and not on what was done for you and I at Calvary so that we my have eternal life and have it more abundantly throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity.

Satan first sifts all who are weak gently in His sieve then violently back and forth as the storm of our life intensifies,” and our faith weakens and the price for a commitment becomes to high, we then turn our backs on God. But soon, Christ will “come like a thief in the night, and we will not know at what time.”

Therefore, “we must have a deep, and earnest sense of our needs as we feel our weaknesses and our dependence upon God, [as we go before the throne of His grace with a  contrite and broken heart and] a petition of “perfect submission [and then] “every desire must be brought into harmony with the will of God, and His will must be done in us.” (E.G. White Prevailing Prayer)

And then we must cry out Lord “not my will but thy will be done” For Gods promises tells us, “I know the thoughts that I think toward you,…Thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end,” and friends, that end will be [life-eternal] Jer. 29:11 (KJV)

Oct. 1, 2017

MY FRIENDS, IS YOUR CALLING AND ELECTION SURE?

Men and women, “give diligence to make your calling and election sure: For if you do these things, [we] will never stumble, and [we] will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:10-11 (NIV) My friends, we must understand that “Christ calls and elects” and then through His love and unmerited favor He stands at the door of our heart and encourages you and I to “confirm.” Remember, “every soul is elected who will work out his own salvation with fear and trembling.

[All are] elected who will put on the armor and fight the good fight of faith. [all are] elected who will watch unto prayer, who will search the Scriptures, and flee from temptation. [And] who will have faith continually, and will be obedient to every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. The provisions of redemption are free to all; the results of redemption will be enjoyed by those who have complied with the conditions.” (E.G. White: Patriarchs and Prophets, p 208)

My friends, God is trying to pull us closer and closer to reality as we look beyond today and focus where we are headed as individuals on this journey as we “press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called [you and I] heavenward in Christ Jesus” Phil. 3:14 (NIV) It has become very personal like Jacob at times we must have an encounter with God because 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, being diagnosed with cancer, the list goes on. So remember, Christ has already called but how do we confirm while at the same time hope seems to be fading.

Remember, like Jacob we are going up against the great I Am, so there must be daily preparation because the call has gone out but we cannot press on toward the goal to win the prize just “having a form of godliness but denying its power.” Or Like Goliath who went into the ring with the Lord’s Anointed with only a “sword, a spear and a javelin.”

My friends, we must be prepared to endure through faith and God’s Spirit until God gives us the victory because even though we have been called it may come a time when the presence of God is veiled from our face, and it will only be our faith, endurance and the promises of God that we have constantly studied in His word that will give us the strength to continue through the night like Jacob.

And One day soon we will be able to say we saw God face to face and it was our daily encounter with God that allowed us to “confirm” when daybreak comes and the Son of God Himself descends from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ rises first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds and then we will hear,“Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Matt. 25:23 (KJV), Thess. 4:16-17 (KJV)

Sep. 28, 2017

MY FRIENDS, HOW FAR WILL WE GO TO FOLLOW CHRIST?

Judge Roy Moore, who is running for the US senate in Alabama “ideology is that Christian principles or, more accurately, Moore’s interpretation of Christian principles should provide the foundation for, and even supersede, the laws of men.”  So ask yourself, what does God’s word say and if your interpretation and my interpretation are different and both are different from man’s laws and man’s interpretation then who’s interpretation supersedes the other or who’s interpretation is in accordance to God’s will.

Driven to worship in the forests and the mountains, they were hunted by soldiers, and many put to death. After a time it was decreed that all who departed from the Romish worship should be burned. But while the Christians yielded up their lives, they looked forward to the triumph of their cause.

One such disciple of Christ was John Huss, after being sentence to death was exhorted to retract his teachings, he replied, turning toward the people: “With what face, then, should I behold the heavens? How should I look on those multitudes of men to whom I have preached the pure gospel? No; I esteem their salvation more than this poor body, now appointed unto death.”

And so Huss, When he was thus arrayed, “the prelates said, ‘Now we devote thy soul to the devil.’ ‘And I,’ said Huss, lifting up his eyes toward heaven, ‘do commit my spirit into Thy hands, O Lord Jesus, for Thou hast redeemed me. And He was now delivered up to the secular authorities and led away to the place of execution.

An immense procession followed, hundreds of men at arms, priests and bishops in their costly robes, and the inhabitants of Constance. When fastened to the stake, and all was ready for the fire to be lighted, the martyr was once more exhorted to save himself by renouncing his errors. “What errors,” said Huss, “shall I renounce? I know myself guilty of none.

I call God to witness that all I’ve written and preached has been with the view of rescuing souls from sin and perdition; therefore, most joyfully will I confirm with my blood that truth which I have written and preached…….When the flames kindled about him, he began to sing, “Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me,” and so continued till his voice was silenced forever. (E.G. White The Great Controversy, p 98-119)

My friends, I wonder if Judge Roy Moore would be willing to take his ideology to the stake or the gallows or maybe Calvary to be crucified like Christ. Remember Christ tells us if you want to be my disciple you must carry your cross. In addition, If we study the word of God and allow God’s Spirit to recreate our lives but we stop short of a total commitment to Christ because it is just too inconvenient.

Inconvenient being our focus is on the things of this world then, we will never acquire the faith and endurance who like John Huss was willing to give it all for the Master even his life. My friends, there can be no grey areas in our life if our plans are to go all the way with Christ “for such a time as this.” This being last day-prophecy unfolding. And if our plans are to go all the way with Christ, then God’s plans for our life supersedes everyone and everything or have we decided heaven is just not worth it?

Sep. 26, 2017

MY FRIENDS, ARE WE BLINDED TO OUR SPIRITUAL CONDITION?

Christ regarded every moment as precious, and it is thus that we should regard it. Life is too short to be trifled away. We have but a few days of probation in which to prepare for eternity. We have no time to waste, no time to devote to selfish pleasure, no time for the indulgence of sin. It is now that we are to form characters for the future, immortal life. It is now that we are to prepare for the searching judgment. (E.G. White, Christ Object Lessons, p 342)

My friends, because of our complacency as God’s children we are blinded in regards to what our commitment is to Christ, and the lukewarm attitude in regard to our salvation. God tells us in Revelation 3:17 (KJV) you are “wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked,” simply because as a church of believers, who claim to believe in Christ death, resurrection and second coming, we have allowed the things of this world especially the materialistic things to control our agenda and the way we serve God.

John tells us in 1 John 2:5-6 (ESV) “But whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.” So because, we do not study God’s word and allow His Spirit to Guide us in how or Savior walked, we are blind to our own wretched and spiritual conditions.

When Judas, Christ betrayer finally realize, I was blind to who Christ was, and the path He was guiding me on, Satan had already taken full control of his life. And now because of his actions under Satan’s control, Christ was condemned to die, “Judas was than seized with remorse [as he] returned the thirty pieces of silver [payment to betray Christ] to the chief priests and elders, [confessing] “I have sinned, for I have betrayed innocent blood.”

[And their response was,] “what is that to us?” “That [is now] your responsibility.” So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. Matt. 27:3-5 (NIV) Such a sad ending for someone that had been in the very presence of Christ for three years. Scholars have attempted to get into the head of Judas and rationalize his thinking in betraying Christ.

But, what we can say with no reservations, he was blind to his own wretched, pitiful and spiritual conditions. My friends, we are living in the last days of the history of this world. God tells us “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Rev 3:15-17 (NIV)

But, because of the love grace and mercy of God, in the same Chapter He says, But, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.” Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches [and to you and I].” Rev. 3:20-22 (NIV)

Sep. 17, 2017

MY FRIENDS, FOCUS ON THE SOUND OF CHAOS AND RESPOND!!

Week to week we practice the attributes of being a Christian, but we fail to hold ourselves accountable for the truth that we profess to others. We agree with the message we’ve known from our youth and we claim to love the Lord but we never learn to fear the Lord because we have grown accustom to our on rhetoric while ignoring Gods Spirit telling us, “whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21(NIV)

God’s Word must be a part of every thought, activity, conversation, and motive, of our life, until our lifestyle magnifies the life of Christ and Him crucified. “We must also move towards the sound of Chaos,” [because] “where chaos looms, [a child of God emerges as they] move toward the sound of that “same evil spirit that prompted rebellion in heaven.

[Because it’s that same evil spirit] that continues to inspire rebellion on earth [today] in the children of disobedience along with the same policy which he pursued the angels to rebel against the foundation of the government of God’s [pure and holy kingdom.] And, Like him they seek to break down the restraints of the law of God and promise men liberty through transgression of its precepts.” (Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy)

And as our blessings are renewed each morning, so we respond daily; Lord not my will but thy will be done, as we “face down the threats” of “all principalities, powers, and the rulers of the darkness of this world and follow a path wherever Christ may lead. My friends, if we are children of God  who is willing to give it all to the Master, we must also be willing to make a path for Christ to enter our hearts as we take that same path towards a world “who seek peace, where there is no peace.”

In addition, His faithful few must emerge as warriors for Christ as we put on the whole armor of God and move towards the sound of the tyranny that comes from the god of this world that has taken the world by storm in the direction of perdition as we maintain the courage, fortitude and endurance, while standing up for Christ though the heavens may fall and the earth may pass away while clinging to our crucified and risen Savior.

A Savior, who will return soon to take His faithful to a place “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Cor. 2:9 (NKJV) My friends, all the paths of time, history and prophecy converge at Calvary and Christ second coming. Satan is a clever strategist who knows this, so if he can keep you and I focused on the things of this world, then the sound of chaos and what we as God’s chosen must do for those in despair who live with no hope will become secondary.

So today, we must continue to watch and pray for evidence of Christ soon return “learning from the parable of the fig-tree: When it’s branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise, when ye shall see [signs of end time prophecy being fulfilled,] know that it is near, even at the door.” Matthew 24:32-33 (KJV)

Sep. 11, 2017

MY FRIENDS, ARE WE GIVEN OVER TO STRONG DELUSIONS?

“Douglas County authorities released a detailed report on the mass shooting at Umpqua Community College Oct. 1, 2015, which includes a six-page, typewritten “manifesto” in which Harper Mercer admitted he was a follower of the occult. In his manifesto, the 26 year old wrote that he is part of a “demonic Hierarchy” and will become a demon when he dies and return “to kill again and again” after possessing someone else. “You will know my work by my sign, the pentagram will fly again,” he wrote, referring to a symbol associated with the occult……….

“But for people like me there is another world, a darker world that welcomes us. For people like us this (is) all that’s left,” he wrote. “My success in Hell is assured.” A train of cars was, moving with the speed of lightning.  “The angel bade me look carefully. I fixed my eyes upon the train. It seemed the whole world was on board. Then he showed me the conductor, who looked like a stately fair person, whom all the passengers looked up to and reverenced.  I was perplexed, and asked my attending angel who it was.  Said he, It is Satan.

He is the conductor in the form of an angel of light.  He has taken the world captive. They are given over to strong delusions, to believe a lie that they may be damned. His agent, the next highest in command, is the engineer, and others of his agents are employed in different offices as he may need them, and they are all going with lightning speed to perdition. I asked the angel if there were none left.

He bade me look in an opposite direction, a little company was traveling a narrow pathway. All seemed to be firmly united, and bound together by the truth. This little company looked care-worn, as though they had passed through severe trials and conflicts……..But they also looked triumphant, as though their victories were nearly won.”” (E.G. White, Early Writings p.264)

My friends, is Satan taking full control of our minds, through what we watch on TV, at the theater, the video games we allow our children to watch, what we listen to, and our complacent and self-righteous attitude about the darkness of our world? And how long “before we are given over to strong delusions, and we begin to waver between two opinions before Satan becomes the victor?

Many feel because they go to church, visit the sick and feed the hungry, they are not vulnerable to a full takeover by Satan. Remember, Judas was in the presence of Christ daily, in his mind he considered himself a disciple of Christ but, he never made a full commitment to where Christ was leading. Therefore, he betrayed the son of God, with a kiss which sealed his fate in perdition. My friends, Satan continues to” take the world captive and many even in the church are given over to strong delusions, believing a lie” which will eventually seal their fate in perdition.

So, How many are riding that train and will not realize it until Christ says “I know you not?” Friends, we must stay focused, stay on our knees and in God’s word while allowing God’s Spirit to make a full transformation. For, “It has not yet appeared what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” 1 John 3”2 (KJV)

Sep. 10, 2017

MY FRIENDS, ONLY UNDER HIS WINGS WILL WE SURVIVE!!

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!” For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.

You will not be afraid of the terror by night, or of the arrow that flies by day; Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or of the destruction that lays waste at noon. A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not approach you.” Ps 91:1-7 (NASB) My friends, those six words, “but it shall not approach you,” is where we will focus our attention.

An article in National Geographic provided a penetrating picture of God’s protection. After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno’s damage. One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched on the ground at the base of a tree. Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick.

When he struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother’s wings. The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise. She could have flown to safety but had refused to abandon her babies.

When the blaze had arrived and the heat had scorched her small body, the mother had remained steadfast. Because she had been willing to die, so that those under the cover of her wings would live. (Author Unknown) “He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings we may seek refuge.” My friends, under The wings of our Savior is that place where His promises of life eternal become real, that place where the enemy will never “be able to approach us” because, “affliction shall not rise up the second time.” Nahum 1:9 (KJV)

My friends, we must “remain steadfast, unmovable always abounding” under the cover and refuge of His wings. And one day soon His faithful will live in that city prepared for the redeemed that need no sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God will lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” Rev 21:23 (KJV)

But we must also understand in our attempt to get to the promise land Satan will not stand by idol. Remember, he is our enemy who lays many obstacles in our path which will entice us to leave from under our Savior’s wings and follow Satan to perdition. So our focus must remain on Calvary and on our Savior’s many promises in His word and not on the things of this world.

Friends, Christ died a cruel death for our Salvation so that we may live and remain covered with His feathers, and under His wings find refuge in all situations and circumstances of our life. So let’s continue to cry out to the Master, “not my will but thy will be done” while standing firm on His promises of “unmerited and Divine favor” that He bestows and “renews upon His faithful each morning.”