July 8, 2015

MY FRIENDS, IS FORGIVENESS THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVEN?

“Mistakes are your school of learning therefore forgiveness is your greatest teacher in this school of learning.” (Stephen Richards,) “And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” Acts 7:59-60 (KJV) To have the passion of Christ under all circumstances that is what being a disciple and carrying our cross is all about.

“The Via Dolorosa, the road Jesus walked from the place of Pontius Pilate’s sentencing, to Golgotha, The “way of sorrows.” and as he hung on that cruel cross nothing that happen on Calvary that day was about Him, but to the contrary it was all about the saving of Humanity from the clutches of the forces of evil.

But it ends with the gift that keeps on giving Luke 23:34 (KJV) says it best. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” Those eleven words spoken by our Master under the greatest pressure, while enduring humiliation, ridicule and pain, shows a child of God, the power of forgiveness we all must seek on our journey to the promise land.

The hatred of others, towards the one who had come to save even the high and mighty elect who had sentence Christ to die, down to the street rabble who cried crucify Him crucify Him, was conquered by the love. Grace and, mercy of a forgiven Savior.

Matthew 5:44 (KJV) tells us “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” forgiveness is a conscious choice that everyone who seeks to enter God’s kingdom makes, motivated by being obedient to God’s command to forgive as He forgives.

“One by one, they looked to the screen in a corner of the courtroom on Friday, into the expressionless face of the young man charged with making them motherless, snuffing out the life of a promising son, taking away a loving wife for good, bringing a grandmother’s life to a horrific end. And they answered him with forgiveness.

“You took something very precious away from me,” said Nadine Collier, daughter of 70-year-old Ethel Lance, her voice rising in anguish. “I will never talk to her ever again. I will never be able to hold her again. But I forgive you. And have mercy on your soul.” (The New York Times)

In other words we forgive you because you know not what you have done because Satan has made you believe “evil as good, and good as evil.” [Who only] puts darkness for light, and light for darkness! Is. 5:21-21 (NKJV) Christ tells us in Matthew 6:14-15 (KJV)

“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” My friends, consider your salvation, are you willing to give up eternal life because you are unwilling to forgive.

When we accept Jesus and His forgiveness towards us, we also must forgive others. Peter came to Christ with the question, “How often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Matt. 18:22 (NIV)

That statement lets me know that we are never to become tired of forgiving.  “He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.” (Martin Luther King, Jr.)

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

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July 6, 2015

MY FRIENDS, WHAT IS YOUR INCENTIVE TO CONTINUE ON THIS JOURNEY?

I guess the better question should be what drives you or what is the foundation for a driven passion to want life eternal in God’s pure and holy kingdom, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Cor.4:16-18

My friends, temporary is only “seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.” Ps. 90:10 (NIV) So there must be a passion for an eternal vision that our Savior has placed before us.

And that vision can still never compare, because “eye have not seen nor ear heard the things that God has prepared” for His children and heirs to His throne a place of many mansions a place where entry is not based on any social status but only the blood that was shed on Calvary for our Salvation.

Christ left this earth over 2 thousand years ago to prepare such a place where there is no death or destruction which is the vision Satan places before us as an alternative to life eternal and a society where the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a “very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.

It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” Rev. 21:11-14 (NKJV)

“Oh, let us contemplate the amazing sacrifice that has been made for us! Let us try to appreciate the labor and energy that Heaven is expending to reclaim the lost, and bring them back to the Father’s house.

Motives stronger, and agencies more powerful, could never be brought into operation; the exceeding rewards for right-doing, the enjoyment of heaven, the society of the angels, the communion and love of God and His Son, the elevation and extension of all our powers throughout eternal ages–are these not mighty incentives and encouragements to urge us to give the heart’s loving service to our Creator and Redeemer?” (Steps to Christ The sinners need of Christ pp 21)

As heirs of the Father and joint heirs with Christ, our incentive should first and foremost be Jesus Christ and Him Crucified and what was done in order that we may forever live in His presence one day.

Nothing else should define this Race or journey that each of us are on to the finish line except that. Remember my Friends, when each of us stand’s before God the only thing that will matter will be what was our Relationships with Christ.

In addition, what inspired us to endure and allow the author and finisher of our faith to transform our character and guide us as we carried out His commission. while “receiving power when the Holy Spirit came upon us as we became His witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (NIV)

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

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July 4, 2015

MY FRIENDS, ARE WE AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED?

Today I need You Just to get through. Today I’m breaking under the weight of it all And I’m afraid I might fall. Today I’m empty but I am willing To keep listening and looking for You in the noise For Your quiet voice. Are You telling me to go? Are You telling me to stay? Are You telling me to hold on to You for another day?

Cause I got nothing left And I’m hanging by a thread I give You all my weakness, You give me Your strength Cause I’m here again, here at my end Where You begin I’ve seen broken Turn into beauty I’ve seen redemption Come in and save the day.

So I don’t have to be afraid, no When You’re telling me to go When You’re telling me to stay When You’re telling me to hold on to You for another day. (Mandisa, where you begin) My friends first the question was asked in those lyrics, “Are You telling me to go? Are You telling me to stay? Are You telling me to hold on to You for another day?

And it seems this question is asked because sometimes we look at life and feel we have no one, or nowhere to go, but then, we remember looking back as a child a congregational song in church that let us know “There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole and to heal the sin sick soul.

Sometimes we feel discourage, and think our work’s in vain but than the Holy Spirit revives our soul again even if we cannot preach like Peter or pray like Paul, we can still tell the love of Jesus and say He died for all”

And then it becomes all about strength and redemption and a new home where God’s faithful, heirs to His kingdom will reside one day and the words vibrates within us from another song we remember that says, “lift up the trumpet loud let it ring Jesus is coming again.

Cheer up you pilgrims, be joyful and sing Jesus is coming again.” So we are no longer afraid of where Christ may tell us to go, or what He may tell us to do because we are “confident, that He who has begun a good work in [us] will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;” Phil 1:6 (NKJV)

My friends, we are at the threshold, of the promise land and we must have a passion and with no fear to cross over. Remember “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Tim. 1:7 (NKJV) to step out on faith and serve a risen Savior.

Isaiah tells us in Is. 57:3 (NKJV) “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent….” And then Christ tells us Himself in Matt.16:24 (NIV) “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

So Paul just re-emphasize what that cross entails as he uses the same words as Isaiah, only it refers to Christ faithful disciples “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. “Rom 8:36 (NIV)

In addition, it must become personal when we think of ourselves “as sheep to be slaughtered” but he or she who “endures to the end will be saved” and our reward will be life eternal 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

MY FRIENDS, WHAT IF WE GAVE GOD EVERYTHING INSTEAD OF GOING THROUGH THE MOTION?

“Beause just okay is not enough, Help me fight through the nothingness of life, I don’t wanna go through the motions I don’t wanna go one more day Without Your all consuming passion inside of me I don’t wanna spend my whole life asking, What if I had given everything, Instead of going through the motions?” (Matthew West , The Motions)

My friends, as we look at our daily routine and how we spend the waken moments of our life, do we live it in accordance to the way God would like for us to live, or are we just going through the motion.

In some ways we have become automated to our relationship with God, nothing changes, “we are neither hot nor cold, but lukewarm.“  We go to church, stand for the music, sit down for the announcements, kneel for prayer and wave our hands in the air as the praise team sings.

It becomes like clockwork. But we’re not actually involved beyond the fact that we have become a warm body sitting in the same pew each week as we go through a sequence of events. “Satan always the clever strategist” keeps us believing that a quick prayer with the prayer warriors down front when the appeal is made for a commitment will allow us to go through the week simply going through the motions.

In addition, we never acquire any no real commitment to serve, or transform any areas of our life. We understand the requirements of God which in our mind satisfies any real relationship with Christ.

But my friends, “There is a way that seems right to a man, [or woman] But its end is the way of death.” Prov. 14:12 (NKJV) Remember, Judas was in the presence of Christ for three years. “At the feet washing, Christ had given convincing proof that He understood the character of Judas. “Ye are not all clean” John 13:11 (KJV)

Remember Judas was part of the “favored twelve, who had been privileged above all others to hear [Christ] teachings, who had shared His wonderful love, and for whom He had shown such great regard by bringing them into close communion with Himself! (E.G. White Desire of Ages pp 654)

But when Judas left the presence of God for the last time from the upper room to go and betray our Savior, He sealed his own fate. Up until that point, while only going through the motion as a disciple the Spirit never left his presence, but Judas made the decision to walk away.

“Judas rose hastily to leave the room. “Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. . . . He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.” Night it was to the traitor as he turned away from Christ into the outer darkness.

Until this step was taken, Judas had not passed beyond the possibility of repentance. But when he left the presence of his Lord and his fellow disciples, the final decision had been made. He had passed the boundary line.”! (E.G. White Desire of Ages pp 655)

Wonderful had been the long-suffering of Jesus as it is with us as we go through the motions each day. But Grace my friends oh Wonderful grace where at the cross all of our sins were covered if we believe.

So today my friends, let’s reevaluate our relationship with our Savior and begin not allowing the distraction of this world to keep us going through the motion of obtaining Salvation, while never doing what it takes to receive it.

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

July 17, 2015

MY FRIENDS, WHEN WILL THAT BIG EXPLOSION HAPPEN?

Just think how great it is living in the 21^st century for “such a time as this.” In addition, being a part of a chosen generation of God’s faithful, chosen, just to finish up His work. It is now clearer than ever before why Satan is so determine that we fall in some area of our life.

Weather it is appetite, marriage, work, gossip, dishonesty, adultery, covertness, other gods, entertainment, and the list goes on. I now know He will never stop or take one prisoner, so God’s faithful must now lay prostrate before our God daily, as we humble ourselves, “while putting on the whole armor of God, [so that we] may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God that we may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Eph. 6:11-13 (NKJV)

My friends, Paul explains that evil day in 2 Tim. 3:1-4 (ESV) when he tells us, “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive.

Also disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.”

So Paul tells us, we must do all we can to stand for Christ, and in order to be victorious we must put on the whole armor of God as we allow the good work that our savior “started in [each of us to] now, “carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

We have already been warned that Christ will come “as a thief in the night,” while the god of this world has us looking for some big Hollywood type explosion to warn us, our savior say’s it want happen, because each day we are receiving warnings through the “Breaking news” that flashes across our TV’s.

We must remember, all the paths of time, history and prophecy converge at Calvary and ends at Christ second coming. Satan always the clever strategist knows, if He can keep you and I focus on the things of this world, we will become immune to the sound of chaos and confusion and prophecy being fulfilled.

Therefore preparation in the study of God’s word and receiving an outpouring of God’s Spirit and salvation becomes secondary. But once again grace steps in and God is still speaking to our heart. And I want you, like I to be more determined than ever to make it into the promise land, because the strategy and tactics of Satan are only to destroy by whatever means necessary which keeps us from entering.

But as a child of God we can only use the power of the cross. But if we remain on the side of Christ, all of his faithful who have endured through it all, will win if we can stay focused. In addition, today, our cause must be a passion to fight the enemy of God on the battlefield of this world.

And as we station ourselves on the front line, we must be willing to give it all for the Master as we become witnesses before our families, love one’s friends, church, co-workers neighbors as we let the world know, that the big explosion they are all looking for, will come when our Savior enters the clouds above and the redeemed shouts, “Lo this is our God who we have waited for!!”

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