MY FRIENDS, CODE RED, SEVERE ATTACKS, BUT YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!

Using the Homeland Security Advisory System codes, why does our life always seem to be at a level red which means severe risk of attacks from Satan all the time. Well our God wants me to tell you today, “you are not alone.”

What you are experiencing is only the constant measure of our faith and strength that will carry His faithful to the next level in our life. So instead of a situation, or storm that may exist that sometimes allows us to lose our faith in God while allowing the forces of evil to bring you down to their level.

If we just hold on to our faith and endure through God’s word and Spirit, then His promises become sure which then takes us all the way to the throne room, to His level where He is advocating on our behalf where He can hold His pierced hands up too the Father and say they are mine.

That is why He can tell His children. You are not alone, “for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Is 41:10 (ESV)

My friends when He uses the word you, that makes it personal that makes our relationship with God a special one that requires special attention in all situations and circumstances of our lives.

The thought of I, meaning you and I, being that special person in His life should bring a feeling of passion that keeps us focus until we can hear “well done, good and faithful servant! 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)

My friends there can be no denying of our Savior If we will only let Him take full control because He wants to be our personal Savior who we can call on twenty four seven. Do you hear Him knocking today.

“We may choose to stay or walk away But still we must decide For Jesus cannot be denied. They thought when they cut Him down, His flames would flicker out and not a soul would know what all the  [“breaking news”] was all about.

He’s just another teacher, a fallen human creature, He’ll fade away like ashes in the wind, But then He rose again” (Helen Baylor, There is Know Denying Him) And He cannot be denied because He knocks “come unto me.” I am all you need. My friends, we hear him knocking.

“For what can be known about God is plain to [His children], because God has shown [Himself to each of us]. For His invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So [we my friends] are without excuse.” Romans 1:19-20 (ESV)

Each of us who lives in the 21^st century must realize we are being prepared to bring this controversy to an end. But we must also recognize that not only is this controversy being fought from within us, but  also outside on the front lines of the battle field where we must serve.

So our faith must not waver.  And by equipping our life with the armor of Christ, we are telling Satan that our faith is unmovable and that the victory over the storms in our life was already won on Calvary. Because our God has promised us in 1 john 4:4 [you are not alone]………”Because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.”

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

Jan. 9, 2016

MY FRIENDS, A UTILITY MAN OR WOMAN, ARE ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE SPIRITUALLY!

A utility man or woman “is expected to serve in any of several capacities” Paul tells us “though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more;…………to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak.

I have become all things to all men that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.” 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (NKJV) My friends all leaders must be “a servant to all” a utility worker who seeks His kingdom.

Christ himself tells us “and whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:27-28 (NKJV)

But it does not end there, remember the Road is difficult  and “narrow and there are few who will attempt to find it. Christ also tells us “If any man [or woman] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Matt. 16:24 (KJV)

My friends, “Our everyday images of leadership do not coincide with leaders being servants. Leaders influence, and servants follow. How can leadership be both service and influence at the same time?”

Well the answer is very simple and can only be found in God’s word  as we allow God’s Spirit to “lead us in all truth and understanding” as we follow Christ lead and how He became a servant to all and a leader.

Leaders must also influence others with a “shared vision” a vision of getting to God’s kingdom and what awaits us once we get there. There must also be a fire from within us and that fire never get’s weary of the journey.

That is why we “discipline [our mind and body] and bring it into subjection [to what Christ wants], lest, when we have preached to others, [we want disqualify ourselves]” 1 Cor. 9:27 (NKJV)

In Joshua 14, Caleb a utility man was only one of the two men who were allowed to enter the promise land. Joshua who took Moses place is now leader of Israel, Caleb tells him “I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land.

And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, I followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly….So here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong and just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then.

Now give me this hill country that the lord promised me that day. The lord will help me drive them out just as he said.” My friends Caleb’s faith never wavered and His fire never went out. As a utility man, or blue color worker for God, he knew his God.

He saw what the plagues did to the Egyptians, he saw the red sea part, manna from heaven, the voice of God at mount Sinai. He also witnessed God bring down the walls of Jericho which should have been done 40 years earlier.

He also knew the battle was not His but the lord’s” that is why the fire never left him or his desire to serve God. My friends let’s all look back over our life and focus where God has brought us from and then ask God to give us that hill of faith and endurance that will lead the redeemed into the promise land.

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

Jan. 8, 2016

MY FRIENDS, THE BRIDEGROOM HAS BEEN DELAYED NOW WHAT?

“Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Then God sends a message. The earth will be destroyed by water in 120 years so prepare.

My friends, so long to wait, what would you have done. So the antediluvian’s salvation depended upon them believing God’s message. But it was rejected and the Spirit of God was withdrawn and all but Noah “who had found “grace in the eyes of the Lord” and his family were saved.

And then God gave the world “His only Begotten Son that who so-ever believes in him may have life eternal” But God knew many would not accept the plan of Salvation. even His chosen, many will be “destroyed for lack of knowledge” because they rejected God’s word and saving grace.

And Christ, while on this earth, looked down through the final Days of the History of man and the same power that warned the antediluvian’s in the days of Noah, also gives a warning to you and I who are living in the 21^st century.

“Through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.” 2 Peer 6:3-7 (NASV)

But my friends, this is a choice we make of our on choosing which only occurs when we reject God’s precepts and His warnings that are found in His word, “so it is then that God withdraws His Spirit and leaves all who rejects His love and grace to the deceptions that they each love on this earth.”

I can’t say it enough. “narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life eternal, and there will be only a few who will find or even try and find it.” Matt. 7:14 (NKJV) And it has nothing do with the road being unattainable only difficult.

But His word tells us there is no “temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Cor. 10:13 (NIV)

But many will reject the pleadings of Christ to allow the transforming power of God’s Spirit to take complete control of their lives. My friends 2,000 years and we still wait on Christ second.

And even though God is “long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV) God’s warning is still “For we are fully aware that the day of the Lord” will come “In just a little while, for he who is coming will come and will not delay.” Heb. 10:37 (NIV)

And during this time when we all should be searching the scriptures and praying as we take the good news to our family, friends, love-one’s, neighbors, coworkers and a world lost in sin. many have decided to slumber and sleep.

But “at midnight, a cry will be heard: “Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out and meet Him. And all who decided to enter the narrow gate though difficult, through their faith endured, and now wait too hear well done thou good and faithful servant.

But to the foolish who said His coming is delayed, many things on that wide road that leads to destruction I still must discover will not be ready. Then the door will be shut” never to be open again.

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

Jan. 3, 2015

MY FRIENDS, SOMETIMES IT WILL TAKE A MOUNTAIN ARE WE PREPARED?

Forgive me, Jesus I thought I could control Whatever life would throw my way But this I will admit Has brought me to my knees I need you Lord and I’m not ashamed to say Sometimes it takes a mountain Sometimes a troubled sea Sometimes it takes a desert To get a hold of me.

Your Love is so much stronger Then whatever troubles me Sometimes it takes a mountain To trust you and believe.” (Gaither Vocal Band – Sometimes It Takes A Mountain) My friends sometimes it takes a mountain to even show one of God’s elect, one of God’s Children, one of God’s chosen, how much we need our Savior.

That is why we must admit some situations brings us to our knees more than others and those troubled waters may not always be money problems or family issues sometimes it might just be to others insignificant, but a mountain in our life, one that God has created just for our Character.

Because my friends at times we lose our focus or take it off kilter just a fraction. Oh but our God is the one who while on Calvary knew what it would take to get a hold of us, so He said in 2016 I’m going to have to take them to another level.

but before that happens, it’s going to take a mountain or a troubled sea or maybe just a desert To get a hold of my child and tell them “I know the thoughts that I think toward you [my child],…thoughts of peace, and not of evil, [because He wants to give to each of us] an expected end.”

A end that  “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” Jer.29:11 (KJV) 1Cor 2:9 (KJV) Arnold Palmer tells a story that I have told before but is appropriate as we begin our new year.

“It was the final hole of the 1961 Masters tournament, and he had a one-stroke lead and had just hit a very satisfying tee shot. He felt he was in pretty good shape. As he approached the ball, he saw an old friend standing at the edge of the gallery.

He motioned him over, stuck out his hand and said, “Congratulations.” he took his hand and shook it, but as soon as he did, he knew he had lost his focus. And so, he went on to lose the Masters.”

My friends God is telling us today, I need to get a hold of you I need you to stay focused and find out my will for you and understand these mountains and troubled seas are just my way of telling you My grace and love is sufficient if you will give Me your all.

But, Christ must become our focal point until He “descends from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rises first: Then we which are alive and remain.

[Those who stayed focused to the end through our faith and endurance] 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)

So friends, our mountains, troubled seas and deserts are all about what it is going to take to make sure, we as God’s chosen listens to that still small voice that will guide us every step of the way on our journey to the promise land.

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

Jan. 1, 2016

MY FRIENDS, IT’S A NEW YEAR NOW WHAT?

My friends, Success in 2016 will only come from finishing the course Christ sets before us. We cannot loose the desire to move ahead by forever escalating Christ in our life. He must always be the focal point of our existence.

In addition, we must forever “look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV)

Our lives are like an artist canvas and each stroke of the brush takes us to another level on our journey to the Promise land with our Savior shaping us into the character of his abiding love, while using a mixture of His blood, along with His love, grace and mercy as the medium.

“In art, the hand can never execute anything higher than the heart can imagine.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson) So the question we must ask ourselves, How far in 2016 will we allow our heart to move where Christ has been trying to take us? Remember 2017 or even tomorrow is not promised to anyone?

And what is our vision in regards to our Salvation and finishing up Christ mandate? Remember Satan is a strategists, he knows every area of our life we are weak in and he knows the areas that will cause us to lose our vision and our desire for God’s kingdom.

In addition, 2016 must be the year every area of our life is “crucified with Christ; [as we allow self to die completely, while understanding once self dies then] it is no longer [you or] I who lives, but Christ living in us; and the life which [we] now live in the flesh [we] live by faith in the Son of God, who loved each of us and gave Himself up for [our Salvation.]” Gal 2:20 (KJV)

In 2016 we must also seek the presence of God with our finite minds and recognize Him as our Creator, the all-knowing, all-powerful, “unlimited in nature and ability to be everywhere at all times.”

And once we recognize that, we then begin to understand, there is no limit to what our God can do as we lay it all at the feet of Christ and say not my will but thy will be done. Health issues, not my will but thy will be done.

Family issues or a child whose life is completely contrary to the Christian up-bringing they received at home, not my will but thy will be done. Gossip, lying, adultery, fornication, homosexuality the list is infinite and the many resources God gives us to overcome and conquer, is also infinite.

But we must lay it at the feet of Christ, grab hold of our faith and cry out with heartfelt sincerity and repentance, not my will but thy will be done. As His Chosen, we must maintain a willingness to subject our small and insignificant Minds and desires to the greater goal of carrying our cross for Christ  as we approach the end of this controversy between good and evil.

In addition, once we understand it is not about us. God’s will takes over. Paul tells us in Rom 6:11-14 (NKJV) “In the same way, look upon yourselves as dead to the appeal and power of sin but alive to God through Christ Jesus our Lord.

My friends, heaven is our destination and as the stroke of the blood of Christ continues to finish our life’s picture, sin can never be our master, as we are forever being renewed through Christ, even throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity.

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

Dec. 30, 2015

MY FRIENDS, 2016 APPROACHES CAN WE SAY WE ARE NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL?

2015 ends tomorrow, the ball drops, shots will be heard, along with fireworks and then a new year begins. But, as God’s chosen how do we react to a world surrounded by “breaking news”?

A world where the principalities, and powers, and rulers of darkness and the spiritual wickedness in high places seem to be in complete control? A world where wars and rumors of wars are who we have become as a nation and a world?

A world where famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places, are only the beginning of birth pangs? And friends, what part will we play in finishing Christ commission, here, at the threshold of the promise land?

And are we proclaiming the good news of Christ second coming as we watch the great controversy between good and evil being played out on the world stage? Let’s not forget this controversy begin over six thousand years ago when Satan said “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High” Is. 14:14 (NKJV)

And then all accusation against Christ were put to rest when Christ allowed Himself to be crucified. Crucifixion being “indisputably one of the cruelest and most barbaric forms of punishment in the ancient world.”

John 19:23 (NASB) tells us Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made four parts, a part to every soldier” Which probably only left for clothing, if any at all a loincloth which the Roman soldiers would have had no such qualms to leave Him this way. Remember they are heathens, with no concept of who God is.

“From the time of Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the Garden, public nakedness has been a biblical symbol of shame Genesis 3:7-11(KJV)” So “Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, endured the cross, and disregarded the shame,[for our salvation]” Heb. 12:2 (KJV)

But then scripture also brings our responsibility into this controversy when it says “whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed” Romans 10:11 (KJV) meaning we can also disregard this shame and the “suffering of this present time [because they] are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. [at His appearing]” Rom 8:18 (NKJV)

So now it’s personal, so let’s go deep within and search our heart. And if we are children of God, then let’s ask ourselves, am I a-shame of the Gospel of Christ and what He did for me on Calvary?

And do our friends, family, love one’s, co-workers and neighbors know that this world is not our home?  And when is the last time we spoke to someone about the saving grace of Jesus Christ or passed out a tract proclaiming the name of Christ?

My friends, as God’s chosen, we are recipients of the good news of Jesus soon return, but the Gospel is not for the Saved, within our churches but for the unsaved outside in our communities.

Millions of God’s Chosen since Abel were not a-shame to proclaim the gospel of Christ and therefore lost their lives for the same message given to us that Jesus saves all who are sinking deep in sin.

A message proclaiming there is power in the blood and the word! And friends, for a little while, but only a little while grace still abounds. So as God’s chosen we cannot be a-shame of the good news, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes in that “one name given among men and woman by which we must be saved.”

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