Aug. 20, 2015

MY FRIENDS, CAN YOU FIND YOUR WAY BACK HOME?

The common element we have with sheep is the propensity to get lost and stray away from the path once we leave home. Satan then by circumstances that he created begins to steal away our joy and happiness thus, causing us to lose our focus, which then causes a child of God to wonder aimlessly into self-destruction until Satan has us believing we can’t go back.

He tells us, Christ will not accept you, you have gone too far, my world is now your only home. Then our hope fades with each day we stay away. In Jacob’s fight with God, It says that God was not able to prevail against Jacob Genesis 32:25 (KJV) But God has his limitation that He sets.

If you are fighting God, he will not overpower you. He will not take away our will or force us to come home to Him. This must be our choice, this is our Salvation at stake. Either Life through Christ, or destruction, as we allow the God of this world to control our destiny.

And at daybreak, God asks Jacob to let him go, and Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me. This was Jacob’s choice, asking for salvation, and it must also be ours. But we must, like Jacob, hold on, and through our faith stay focused, and endure.

And God did bless Jacob “And God told Jacob You will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow. You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God. And Jacob says, “I saw God face to face and my life was spared.”

That my friends is the way to struggle with God. Oh what a wonderful God we serve. Only after Jacob wrestles with God is he ready to return home and face the consequences of his sin that he had run away from years earlier. And when he reunited with his brother, he was reunited with God.

Now he is ready to complete his journey home as he heads back to Bethel, the place where he first encountered God while running from the sin that he had created from his own self interest and not God’s. So my friends today, Wake up and say with Jacob: “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it…

How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.” Genesis 28:16,17 (KJV)  This is home my friends, “For there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” Luke 15:7 (NASB)

That text tell us that God’s love is never ending as our lives become transformed and God calls us back home to His love, guidance and protection. To most of us home is a wonderful place. Home was a place where we felt accepted and loved.

But now if we have left, it is only a distance memory when the Lord was our Shepherd and we never wanted, because God always lead us in the path of righteousness, for His name sake. But the good news is, when we cannot find our way back home, God will find a way to lead us back to him.

Oh what a God we serve “I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, ‘Here am I, here am I” Isaiah 65:1 (KJV)

My Friends, where there is no vision, the people perish…..Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)

Aug. 18, 2015

MY FRIENDS THE COURSE WILL BE GRUELING, SO WHERE IS YOUR FAITH?

“Worthy is the lamb that has ask us to bear our cross and follow Him as we “lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the [grueling] race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross” Heb. 12:1 (KJV)

Consider him who endured such pain, ridicule and hostility, who died for our sins just so that we will not grow weary or fainthearted, but will endure the grueling course that is before us till the end as we out distance the god of this world “along with a great multitude which no one could count.”

Representing “every nation tribes and peoples and tongues,” and my friends I now need you to make it personal as you see your self standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches” Rev. 7:9 (NASB) singing Worthy is the Lamb who was slain Holy, Holy is He.

Each of us who are heirs to the kingdom of God who are looking for Christ soon return, we are now headed into that final stretch to the finish line, and we must ask ourselves, are we moving as strong  in finishing up Christ work here on earth as we did when we first started this race?

With the help of the Spirit of God, are we spreading the good news of Christ saving grace to our friends, family, love one’s, co-workers, neighbors and a world that has lost sight of the saving grace of our savior? And are we constantly asking the question; what must I do to be saved.?

Consistent with this, our desire, our goals, our passion, our focus, our faith, our endurance, our prayers, and the never ending study of God’s word, must never become secondary, even though to finish strong, will be very grueling.

But we just have to believe and trust God that he is in control of our destiny if we will only give it all to Him as we allow self  to die daily and not when it is convenient or fits into our busy schedule or between our favorite TV programs. We must also pull the field around behind us, by first keeping everyone encouraged.

As leaders, we must Model the way as we Inspire a shared vision which is crossing over into the promise land and always reminding the rest of the field, that once we cross that finish line with torch in hand, no matter what place we come in, if we have faith, and believe, and stay focused, and study the course which is the word of God, we will all receive the ultimate prize life eternal.

For we must continue to “Press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” So today as you stand at the crossroads of life It will be a painful time in a Christian’s life who through their faith is determine to give it all to the Master. but the reward my friend.

“Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, what God hath prepared for all that love him.” But only if we believe, never surrendering to the enemy, but giving our all to the Master.

“For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who [will] go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and [grueling] is the way which leads to life, and there [will be very] few who [will] find it.” Matt. 7:13-14 (NKJV)

My Friends, where there is no vision, the people perish…..Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)

Aug. 14, 2014

MY FRIENDS, THE WAR FROM WITHIN, WHO WILL ULTIMATELY WIN?

“For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate…..” Rom 7:15 (NASV) “For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.

For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.” Romans 7:18-20 (NIV)

As God’s child, I can say with no reservation, I am war weary and utterly exhausted and depressed by the war that goes on from within my life each day. In addition, each day if our desire is life eternal in God’s kingdom the battles continues.

There is no waving a white flag because surrender in the wake of this conflict, means destruction. So the battle must continue, that is why Paul tells us that each Day we must be “crucified with Christ.”

Christ must also have total access to every area of our life, what we see, what we hear, where we go, what we say, even what we think  “and the life we now live in the flesh we have to live by faith in the Son of God, who loves us so much. His word tells us that His love for us is so powerful and He demonstrated this “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

So as that conflict continues from within, His love continues. “There are many whose hearts are aching under a load of care because they seek to reach the world’s standard. They have chosen its service, accepted its perplexities, and adopted its customs…..

Our Lord desires them to lay aside this yoke of bondage. . . . He bids them seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and His promise is that all things needful to them for this life shall be added. (Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 330.)

James tells us, Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?  You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain.

You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” James 4:1-3 (NKJV)

My friends, even though, those battles seem to continue to rage in our lives each day, and even though, sometimes “what we are doing, we do not understand; for we are not practicing what we would like to do, but we are doing the very thing we hate.

Somehow, we must allow God’s Spirit to penetrate the unknown places of our life we have never allowed him to go before, and don’t let Him leave until we can say as Paul,

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 2 Tim. 4:7-8 (NKJV)

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

Aug. 8, 2015

MY FRIENDS, IS GOD’S MESSAGE STILL ALIVE, OR IS IT OBSOLETE?

There have forever been two classes among those who profess to be followers of Christ. While one class studies the Savior’s life as they seek His presence, and Spirit’s transforming power to change there Character like the character of Christ. The other class turns there back on God’s word as it exposes truth and error.

So my friends, is God’s message obsolete in the 21^st century, got to have it now society. Heb. 4:12 (KJV) tells us “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

This warning is sobering, if the message is obsolete because the world is closer than ever before in witnessing the return of Christ second coming. There has never been a time as now where getting the good news to a dying world is more urgent.

Remember this controversy begin in Eden where Satan convinced Adam and Eve to disbelieve God. Where he said “You will not certainly die,”…… “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:4-5 (KJV)

That statement introduced a foreign spirit from Satan to all mankind and now we have reached the time the Bible calls “the last days” when all mankind, good and bad will recognize that Gods way, was the right way from the beginning.

And now God’s prophecy says “Babylon is fallen,” its  forces of evil are falling, the powerful economic systems that have degraded the poor is now falling, the strongly entrenched and popular religions, who did not follow God’s precepts in His word are falling.

In addition, the extremists who have influenced the masses against their Creator and His people will now fall. Isaiah tells us “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” Is. 40:8 (NKJV)

Christ tells us Himself “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” Matt. 24:35 (NKJV) So my friends how could this message possible fade away or become obsolete when “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” John 1:1-3 (NKJV) So if you have faith and endure, the only thing that would make God’s word obsolete comes only from the fools [who] says in his heart, “There is no God.”

“[for] They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.” Ps. 14:1-3 (NKJV)

So that text explains why many that travel that wide road to destruction feels God’s word is obsolete because “even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” 2 Cor. 4:3-4 (NKJV)

Webster tells us obsolete means “no longer in general use, discarded or outmoded.” No my friends God’s messagee is not obsolete, but it is the standard by which we will enter the Promise land and live throughout eternity in that land  “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of manThe things which God has prepared for those who love Him” 1 Cor 2:9 (NKJV)

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

Aug 8, 2015

MY FRIENDS, GOD HAS CHOSEN US, SO HOW ARE WE RESPONDING?

If our desire is to live throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity, then I can say with no reservation that we are chosen, set apart by God, to finish His work here on earth. And with that desire comes a commitment, as we inspire others to be the man or women God created us to be.

For we are chosen vessels [before God], to bear [His name] before a world “sinking deeper and deeper into sin.” In addition, we must tell the world, as Christ ambassadors, about the good news of the gospel, Christ mandate for us, in the 21^st century.

Just think how great it is living during this time and being right in the middle of this “great controversy” between good and evil chosen by God as His faithful warriors, who has taken up our cross as we finish up His work.

It should be so clear to all who seeks God’s presence daily, why Satan is so determine that God’s chosen, falls in all areas of our life. The obvious is, The world is no more ready to heed the message for this time than The antediluvian generation did before the flood.

“Come when it may, the day of God will come unawares to the ungodly. When life is going on in its unvarying round; when men are absorbed in pleasure, in business, in traffic, in money-making.

In addition, when religious leaders are magnifying the world’s progress and enlightenment, and the people are lulled in a false security–then, as the midnight thief steals within the unguarded dwelling, so shall sudden destruction come upon the careless and ungodly, “and they shall not escape.” (E.G. White, The Great Controversy pp 38)

So Satan’s tactic is to bring about the fall of God’s chosen in the area of appetite, marriage, gossip, dishonesty, adultery, homosexuality, covertness, other gods, entertainment, and “socially acceptable sins.” Which only names a few.

But what God is seeking today are those who are willing to stay strong in every area of our life as we eliminate self, and then go on the front line of our communities with only the cross, Gods word and His Spirit as a counterattack against Satan which the “objective is to negate or thwart the advantage gained by the enemy in the lives of those who have lost hope.

The specific objectives typically is to regain lost ground” as we destroy the very presence of the enemy as we prepare family first and then the world for Christ second coming. Today I can say, the best is yet to come in spite of what we encounter from day to day in this relentless battle Satan, and His forces are waging in his vicious and maddening pursuit for each and everyone’s soul that allows the god of this world entry into their mind and body.

As a child of the King we must settle for nothing less than all of the promises in God’s word as we put off the old man or woman, and put on the whole armor of God “for such a time as this.”

So my friends, remember what lies ahead for all of God’s faithful who endures to the end, for John was allowed to see a “great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,” Rev. 7:9 (NKJV)

And my friends it all happens in 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)

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

Aug. 5, 2014

MY FRIENDS, THERE IS A DEVELOPMENTAL PROCESS CAN WE GET THROUGH IT?

My friends, love, faith, endurance and humility, some main requirements to finish God’s developmental process and live with Him one day in His pure and holy kingdom and receive life eternal.

And each of us must be “confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in [us] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil 1:6 (KJV) That promise my friends was not conditional on whether it rained or snowed when you were expecting sunshine.

The road to salvation is not open for debate, that is why it is a very narrow road, and only a few will find it. Conditions are tough, “If any man [or woman] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Matt. 16:24 (KKV)

“The Romans forced convicted criminals to carry their own crosses to the place they would be crucified, while facing ridicule along the way to death.” And today, that ridicule are the trials and tribulation on this journey God has placed us on.

The developmental process for our journey to the kingdom is the main deciding factor, because if we fail at the starting point, how do we get to the end of this process where self is completely diminished and Christ lives out His life through us even to the point of death.

For “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Gal 2:20 (KJV)

“All true obedience my friends must have a passion from within that our Savior “will so identify Himself with our thoughts and aims, so blend our hearts and minds into conformity to His will, that when obeying Him we shall be but carrying out our own impulses.

The will, refined and sanctified, will find its highest delight in doing His service. When we know God as it is our privilege to know Him, our life will be a life of continual obedience. Through an appreciation of the character of Christ, through communion with God, sin will become hateful to us. (E.G.White)

That tells us what we watch with our eyes, and what we hear with our ears, and what comes out of our mouth, and where our feet takes us from day to day are main characteristics in our developmental process to the promise land.

My friends remember “No weapon formed against you shall prosper,” because  God will never “leave or forsake” his true and faithful warriors. That is why we must never give up until the developmental process is over and we are victorious while remaining focused on our example, Jesus Christ.

Acts 20:24 (KJV) states “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.” This my friends is where we end this process with the words, “I count my life of no value to myself, so that I may finish my course, and the ministry of Christ”

And then after we “have fought a good fight, and  finished our course, and kept our faith” Finally, there is laid up for [the redeemed] the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to all of His faithful at His appearing.” 2 cor. 4:7-8 (NKJV)

As we enter that 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)

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