MY FRIENDS, THE FIGHT OF THE CENTURY, MAYWEATHER VS PACQUIAO OR YOU AND GOD?

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. Every situations and circumstances are anew as the injustices of life takes its toll; a disobedient child, an abusive husband, finances, unemployment, the list never ends.

But today it ‘s personal, the fight of the century is about to take place and it is not between Floyd Mayweather, or Manny Pacquiao. But we are in the ring and our opponent is God. So how can we a created being like Jacob, take on the Creator of the universe and win. Well first of all Jacob was prepared, remember he is going up against the great I Am, so there must be daily preparations.

My friends we cannot come to the fight, lacking in faith and prayer, intemperate in our eating habits, or maybe just “having a form of godliness but denying its power” Like Goliath who went into the ring with the Lord’s Anointed with only a sword, a spear and a javelin, we must be prepared to endure as our faith takes its toll, but we hold on, until God’s Spirit gives us the victory.

In addition, we must never focus our attention on the timing of why we haven’t succeeded against God because a lack of patience is only a lack of faith remember Jacob fought all night, 2 Peter 3:9 tells us “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

Consistent with this, we must always remember God is preparing us for greater fights, but only against the enemy, fights we are unprepared to handle right now. For there will come a time in each of our lives, such has not been since the beginning of the world until this time….” Matt 24:21-22

So what I’m trying to get you to focus on today is, 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. “So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.

The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel,…”Gen 32:30-31 (KJV) My friends, what hope for each of us, “and the sun rose upon him.” Like God’s Son who rose on the cross for our sins. “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” John 12:32 (NKJV)

But only if we believe and endure, and one day soon, we will be able to say we saw God face to face and it was our daily being in the presence of God that will allow us to look up and see the Son of God above us as “the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain 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 (NKJV)

“All who desire the blessing of God, as did Jacob, and will lay hold of the promises, as he did, and be as earnest and persevering as he was, will succeed as he succeeded. There is so little exercise of true faith and so little of the weight of truth resting upon many professed believers because they are sluggish in spiritual things.

They are unwilling to make exertions, to deny self, to agonize before God, to pray long and earnestly for the blessing, and therefore they do not obtain it. That faith which will live through the time of trouble must be daily in exercise now.

Those who do not make strong efforts now to exercise persevering faith, will be wholly unprepared to exercise that faith which will enable them to stand in the day of trouble.” (E.G. White Story of redemption)

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

April 30, 2015

MY FRIENDS, EVEN THE VERY ELECT ARE VULNERABLE!!!

“It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem…..and one evening, [David a man after “God’s own heart”] “got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace.

From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.”2 Samuel 11:1-4 (NKJV) Isn’t it amazing even the elect are vulnerable when God’s precious time is not spent wisely, and our focus is not on His presence in our life.

The world we live in today is so saturated with visual enticements that go straight at seducing the mind. Mrs. White says it best, in Letters to Young Lovers when she says, “Those who would not fall a prey to Satan’s devices, must guard well the avenues of the soul; they must avoid reading, seeing, or hearing that which will suggest impure thoughts.

The mind must not be left to dwell at random upon every subject that the enemy of souls may suggest. The heart must be faithfully shielded, or evils without, will awaken evils within, and the soul will wander in darkness. Those who would have that wisdom which is from God must become fools in the sinful knowledge of this age, in order to be wise.

They should shut their eyes, that they may see and learn no evil. They should close their ears, lest they hear that which is evil and obtain that knowledge which would stain their purity of thoughts and acts. And they should guard their tongues, lest they corrupt communications and guile be found in their mouths.”

As with David His initial lust went from adultery, to murder and then too lying, but thank God it also lead to repentance, confession and a renewed commitment to the will of God with these words of sorrow he states “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to the multitude of Your tender mercy and loving-kindness blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. Psalm 51:1-2 (KJV)

As a Child of the King we must forever stay focused while maintaining the mind and thoughts of Christ while continually sending our petitions to the Good Shepard for strength through His Spirit for we must “Put on the full armor of God, so that we can take our stand against the devil’s schemes.

For our “struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, we may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Ep.6:11-13 (KJV)

My friends Christ never lost focus of His goal which was Calvary, but each Child of God can walk in the same footsteps of Christ if our focus is steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.”1 Cor. 15:58 (KJV)

In addition, we must always allow our faith to be limitless in every situation and circumstances. Through Christ, every battle was won for us at the cross, so now our journey has been set and our hope and salvation remains our choice. “So choose you this day whom you will serve.”

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

April 28, 2015

MY FRIENDS, GOD KNOWS OUR STORY THAT IS WHY OUR PRAISE IS FOR REAL!

As we look back over our life, we can’t help but say our worship is for real. Praising God is what we do best, because He has never left us, or forsaken us in spite of the decisions we may have made in our life that had nothing to do with Christ or His will for us.

We all should be able to say with no reservations that our God has done what seemed like the impossible, and performed miracles, and healed our broken heart, and cured our diseases and cast out demons, and fought against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places, and watched over our life in places that even today we say to ourself, hmmmm did I really go there and do that.

And our Savior did all of that just so that we may have an opportunity to love as He loves and one day live in a place “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man [or woman], the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”1 Cor 2:9 (KJV)

So today, we all can praise his name, while knowng with all of our heart that God know’s our story He knows that it was He who allowed us to go through and to continue to go through the battles of our life with very few signs of battle fatigue. So my friends, our worship is for real because we wake up daily, and see with our eyes the sun rising, we can hear the birds singing with our ears, we have two legs to stand up in church service and wave our hands as the praise team sings.

yes my friends, our health and strength is not what it used to be, but all of that will change soon, at God’s soon appearing and “then in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.” 1 Cor. 15:52-54 (KJV)

In addition, today we all can truly say we are blessed and highly favored by our lord and savior who gave it all for us and as sinners we can all say at some point in our life we were prodigal sons and daughters because the god of this world had us believing that his “way appears to be right, but [now we know] in the end it [only] leads to death.”

But our God reached as far as we had gone and brought us back home and made us “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that we may declare the praises of him who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light.“ 1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV)

So today if you are a child of God, praise His name day and night because God knows our story and our worship is for real, because our story is for real so “shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.  Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.  Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.  For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:1-5 (KJV)

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

April 26, 2015

MY FRIENDS, ARE THE MOUNTAINS IN OUR LIVES TOO HIGH TO GET OVER?

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)

Mountains, the subject is infinite when we think of one’s problems within the interaction with our day to day life and how we as Christians relate or handle each situation and circumstances that arises in our life. When characterizing our journey it is probably safe to say that our Faith has been stretched too an unbearable limit.

in addition, If our destination is the promise land, than our personal story never ends. So through our faith we hold on some how because we understand “with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

In 1Samuel 17:45 (KJV) David has a pretty high mountain to climb when he goes up against Goliath “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head.

This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. My friends we must know our God and what He is capable of doing for His faithful children.

The size of the mountain did not matter to David because he knew the God he served “is exalted over all the nations, His glory above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God, The One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth”? Psalm 113:4-8 (NIV) Psalm 55:22 (KJV) also tells us to “Cast our cares or Mountains on the Lord and he will sustain us; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”

My friends what about your mountains and your trials, How far must your Faith be stretched before you realize that our God is an infinite God who has no limits. He tells us in Jeremiah 23:23-24 (KJV)Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the lord. do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the lord.

But today maybe you can not reach the top of your mountain because “your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear” Isaiah 59:2 (kJV) But if your desire is life eternal, then you must have the character of Christ and allow Him through His Word and Spirit to take full control of your life.

Jesus Christ on Calvary, when taken upon Himself, the full penalty of our sins. Oh what a mountain He had to climb, just that we would know “that with men [and woman trying to get over any mountain] it is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26 (KJV) and also, He let’s us know “to not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Is. 41:10 (NIV)

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

April 25, 2015

MY FRIENDS, CHOOSE TODAY, WHO HAS THE REAL POWER TO SAVE?

My friends, There are depths of love that we cannot know till we cross the narrow sea; There are heights of joy that we may not reach Till we rest in peace with Thee. So please dear Lord draw us nearer, To the cross where Thou hast died; Draw us nearer to Thy precious, bleeding side.

Today it becomes personal as we tell ourselves we shall never let go of our Friend and our Savior’s hand, that same hand that still has the scars from Calvary. And my friends today in His presence, we must ask ourselves, what those scars tell you and I.

Do they tell us, even if we wanted to move into another direction, when we look out at the world and see how the god of this world has provided for all who has decided to bow down to him, that we must hold on to our faith because there are heights of joy that we may not reach Till we rest in peace with the one who gave it all for our salvation.

In addition, when we go into the Sanctuary, in the presence of God, we will then realize Satan is not Omniscience (all knowing) or Omnipresence (the ability to be everywhere at all times) He is not even Omnipotence, for his power is limited for he was created like you and I by an all knowing, infinite in power, Omnipresence God who allowed His only begotten Son to come to earth and die on a cruel cross for our Salvation.

Consistent with this, as we accept Salvation from Christ, it allows us to understand that the god of this world is just that, the god of this world who’s power and knowledge is limited. And  if we would give our all to the Master, He will give His faithful unlimited power so that [we] will be able to stand firm against the schemes [and the limited power]of the devil.

We must also make sure above all, [that we] take up the shield of faith with which [we] will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. [As we put on the] helmet of salvation, and [carry within our heart] the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God [and] with all prayer and petition [we must forever] pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.” Eph. 6:11-18 (NASB)

My friends, we must make some life changing decisions today while God’s grace is still extended to us. And as we think about those decisions, we must also understand Satan cannot save us, he is nor even able to save himself. In addition, he will never be able to send an only Begotten Son to die on a cruel cross to redeemed us or Himself.

So we must believe, and with that belief have a passion to tell the world that “there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 (NSAB) And that name is Jesus Christ.

Psalm 130:7 (KJV) tells us “put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.” Our Savior starts at  Calvary, and takes us through the trials and tribulation of this life and places us in His loving arms as He guides and protects us all the way to his soon appearing when He will say to His Children;

“Well done, good and faithful servants! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your Master’s happiness! And as we focus on those words, our faith and endurance allows us to have no reservation that Christ is the only one able to say them.

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

April 24, 2015

MY FRIENDS, WE ARE FOUND GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS, AND DEATH IS OUR SENTENCE!!

In Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, grace is defined as a “theological term present in many religions. It has been defined as the divine influence which operates in humans to regenerate and sanctify, to inspire virtuous impulses, and to impart strength to endure trial and resist temptation.

I love the part that says to impart strength to endure trial and resist temptation. Paul tells us in Titus 2:11-14 (NIV) “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions.

And to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good”

My friends, we must have a true knowledge of Gods word to understand that text is not telling everyone that they will be saved, if so that would contradict God also telling us “The destruction of transgressors and of sinners shall be together, and those who forsake the Lord [and His Grace] shall be consumed.” Isaiah 1:28 (NKJV)

In addition, throughout God word we will fine where God gives each of us Choices between Life eternal and Perdition. But if we accept the grace of God it will teach us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled. “For by grace are [we] saved through faith; and that not of ourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10 (KJV) In addition, grace can be defined as unearned favor, A free gift and can never be earned no matter how many sick individuals we visit, or how much tithe we give or food we give to the homeless.

My friends, no amount of work will ever earn Gods favor, It is God’s gift, A gift of salvation, granted to sinners for their salvation. God gives this grace to you and I and to anyone else who believes in the promises of God and reacts to those promises by allowing God’s Spirit to transform our lives into the likeness of His only begotten Son who gave it all up to come to this earth and die on a cruel cross for our sins so that we can be saved.

God’s grace can be compared to the pardon that a governor of a state can give to a guilty prisoner and because of his crimes against humanity was sentence to death without a reasonable doubt by a jury of his or her peers, on all counts. Justice says the guilty sinner is deserving of death. But there is hope, and this hope, lies in the mercy and grace of the Governor (or God) who has the final say.

And because of His grace “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions [and pardon] us.” Ps. 103:12 (NIV) on all counts. But the most awesome thing about god’s grace is, a wretched sinner like us, if we have “laid aside every weight, and every sin which so easily ensnares us,” and given our life totally to Christ.

Consistent with this, His grace and promises, assures us that one day soon, we will live in mansion and have unlimited resources of things we could have never imagined we would ever have or be entitled too throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity. Now you can say the Governor or God has given the guilty prisoner (each of us) who believed and endured till the end, justice, mercy, grace and life eternal. “Praise God from whom all blessing flow”

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

April 21, 2015

Our obsession with productivity is partly a reflection on our beliefs about the American dream, the idea that our potential for happiness is intricately tied to our freedom to pursue wealth. When you consider that 80 percent of the country thinks they will one day become rich, when in reality less than 10 percent will, it makes sense that many people live life like a race.

We’re competing to beat the odds. We think we must work harder and longer than the majority, squeeze more into our day than other people, if we’re to amass a fortune so we can escape the drudgery of work as we know it. That perception turns the present into something to endure instead of something to fully enjoy. (Lori Deschene, Tina Buddha, Simple wisdom for complex lives)

In our day to day encounter with friends and co-workers, when we ask, or they ask us, that oh so familiar salutation, what’s happening, how is your day. The response is always the same, which has little to do with what we ask but how busy we are which has become the “default response. “Busy!” “So busy.” “Crazy busy.” “Wish there were more hours in the day.”

Well my busy friends, if we in the 21^st century got to have it now society are so busy, is God still relevant? The one who should be the most important asset and treasure in our life, where does He fall into our to do list for today? Maybe we can fit Him into our evening meal and the resent episode of Empire? Or maybe we can squeeze Him in between our morning bagel, orange juice, and the today show which is a must watch before we head out to work?

The problem we have in today’s society is that we have reduced the One who created Man and woman after His own image, to a as needed support figure, which we usually call upon in our emergency situations; death, health issues. Child rebellion, marriage, and the list continues. But we have not made God the focal point of our everyday lives. We have reduced Him to a 911 call that doesn’t require going through our cell phones to reach.

”As Mary’s tears of love flowed down her cheeks mixing with the fragrance of Love and gratitude of our Savior, she stoops to wipe the feet of the master, Her thoughts were only “I can’t forget the way life used to be when I was a prisoner to the sin that had me bound, I was lost in sin far from the peaceful shore. Then one day Jesus came to me and healed my soul with the wonder of His touch and I have never been the same.

And  I’m giving back to Him All the praise He is worthy of. Unlike Mary, have we forgot so easily what life had become before Christ abiding love came into our busy lives? Before we had acquired so much of the material things of this world? Each week as we sit in our pews at our churches, and fill the presence of God’s Spirit impressing upon us to give it all to the Master.

The god of this world waits for service to end and then reminds us what a hectic schedule we have this week. In addition, once we get home and our minds begin to focus on the things of this world we lose sight of Calvary and what God’s will for our life in this short probationary period we have here on this earth between life and death.

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, while we were here on this earth. And as Christians we can never lose our focus on where Christ is leading us as we Study his Word, and seek His Spirit. And if that remains our focus, Eternity, and Gods pure and holy kingdom will soon be ours, but are we to busy to make it relevant.

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