Mar. 8, 2015

MY FRIENDS, DO YOU AND THE WORLD HAVE THE SAME IDEA OF WHO CHRIST IS?

“And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “who do people say I am…..?” Mark 8:27-30 (NKJV) Today my friends let’s make it personal as we go into the villages of Caesarea Philippi, and make yourselves part of the conversation with Christ as he ask each of us who are traveling to the promise land “who do people say I am?”

Well we would probably answer Him first by saying. The Hindus acknowledge multitudes of gods and goddesses, but they never mention a son who is the Savior of the world. The Buddhists say there is no deity so that excludes Christ all together.

The New Age followers believe they are God so you are irrelevant in there world. And the Muslims believe in Muhammad, who would probably be there Savior. The rich believe in their wealth.

And the Hip hop generation would probably say Kanye West who mocks our Savior by wearing a crown of thorns on his head for his 2013 CD cover, Yeezus, which is a combination of Yeezy, his nickname, and Jesus, the Lord.

So now it’s personal, we are asked individually to reply?  But first let’s focus on where Christ found us, and where he has brought us too on this Journey. Such a simple question when we were speaking about other religious believers, but now “who do we say Christ is?”

And as we look at the question, it can only be answered if He is a personal Savior to us and we have  touched the scares on his hand and placed our hands across His brow and felt the pain He went through for our Salvation.

Touch His side now, and picture the spear penetrating as the blood and water “flows from a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins;” and as He hangs on that cross, look into His eyes as He tells you and I who have spent time with Him each day; look at what I did so that you may have life eternal.

In addition, if you “want to be my disciple” [you] must deny yourselves and take up [your own] cross and follow me.” Matt 16:24 (NIV) Now let’s invite Him to our most sacred place, show Him where you lay prostrate each day, and with heartfelt lamentation, cry out “Lord not my will, but thy will be done”

And now just sit beside the Good Shepherd, and recognize His presence, and talk to him as a friend, and your Savior as you tell him, I am a wretched sinner, and in spite of all you do for me, I have become so busy with the cares of this world, I really don’t know how to answer that question.

But today my friends lay in his bosom, and feel the warmth of his touch, listen to every heartbeat that pumps for your salvation, as we make this experience real, and once you do, you will know in your heart, the Master will never have to ask you again “who do you say I am?”

Because you now have been in the presence of Christ, and when that happens a transfusion, that leads to a transformation takes place as our Precious Saviors blood now flows through our veins, and we can now tell the world “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me….Gal 2:20 (NKJV)

And since we will never let Him leave our presence again, our mouth and what we say and put in it is now sealed with the blood of Jesus, our eyes and what we see, our ears and what we hear are now sealed with the blood of Jesus, our feet and where we go are now sealed with His blood, yes my friends every fiber of our being now flows with the blood of our Savior, because we know who He truly is today.

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

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Mar 7, 2015

MY FRIENDS, LET’S REST IN THE LORD, “FOR HIS YOKE IS EASY AND HIS BURDEN IS LIGHT”

And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head.” Mark 4:26-29 (NKJV)

That my friends demonstrates a journey from the beginning of our walk with Christ until we are at a point in our relationship with Him where we can rest fully, knowing whatever situation or circumstances arises in our life God is still in control

“A life in Christ is a life of restfulness. There may be no ecstasy of feeling, but there should be an abiding, peaceful trust. Your hope is not in yourself; it is in Christ. Your weakness is united to His strength, your ignorance to His wisdom, your frailty to His enduring might.

So you are not to look to yourself, not to let the mind dwell upon self, but look to Christ. Let the mind dwell upon His love, upon the beauty, the perfection, of His character. Christ in His self-denial, Christ in His humiliation, Christ in His purity and holiness, Christ in His matchless love this is the subject for the soul’s contemplation.

It is by loving Him, copying Him, depending wholly upon Him, that you are to be transformed into His likeness. Jesus says, “Abide in Me.” These words convey the idea of rest, stability, confidence.”(E.G. White Steps To Christ pp 70-71)

Webster tells us rest; is a “relief or freedom, especially from anything that wearies, troubles, or disturbs us” So Christ is telling us to “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matt. 11:28-30 (NKJV) in  Lev 26:13 (NASB) it tells us ” I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt so that you would not be their slaves, and I broke the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect.”

My friends, in this text yoke is associated with slave or “an agency of oppression,” as when we allow the god of this world to set our agendas and we become his slave under the bondage or yoke of his submission.

But because of God’s love and grace, He has allowed that submission to be our choice. So today let’s all focus on a complete rest in the Lord let Him have full control of our lives, because a yoke with Christ is “joining together a pair” for “whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.” 1 Cor. 6:17 (NIV)

In addition, we must remember this battle we try and fight each day is not our Battle. Christ fought it 2,000 years ago and won on Calvary, but we can never realize this if self still reigns supreme from within and the yoke of oppression and sin is still around our necks.

So we must “Let our eyes look straight ahead; fix our gaze directly before [us]. Give careful thought to the paths for our feet and be steadfast in all our ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep our foot from evil.”

As we continue to allow the Master “who began a good work in [us to] carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Prov. 4:25-27 (NIV) Philippians 1:6 (NIV) and then at the end of this journey we will find eternal rest throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity.

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

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March 6, 2015

MY FRIENDS, WHO KNOWS WHETHER YOU HAVE COME TO THE KINGDOM FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS?

Today we go to the book of Esther and see the love, grace and protection for God’s chosen as we witness in His word  the awesome workings and power of God to put into place what is needed to save His chosen in all generation including our own.

The story begins when the king of Persia and Media, Ahasuerus has a banquet in his honor. He then sends for Vashti, his queen to join him, Well she was having her own feast for the ladies of the Royal palace, so she ignores his request.

The king is not pleased with her response so he dethrones Queen Vashti and a decree is sent out in search of a new queen and Esther a Jewish virgin is chosen to replace her. So now you have one of God’s chosen inside the Royal court.

My friends, God always watches over his chosen for “our steps have been ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in [our] way.” Ps.37:23 (KJV) in all situations and circumstances of our life, but my friends it must be all about Him as we give Him all the praise and honor in all we do.

The King later promotes someone named Haman as prime minister. He becomes upset when everyone gives him homage as he walks throughout the gates of the palace except Esther’s uncle Mordecai but my friends Mordecai knows there is only one we give homage too and that is God.

Haman inquires about this man who does not bow to him. Upon finding out he is a Jew, he then devises a plot to get the king to sign a decree to have all the Jews annihilated on a certain day, not realizing there is a God who made the heavens and the earth who is called Jehovah and these are His chosen he wants to destroy.

Mordecai sends a message to Esther. Go before the King and intercede on her people’s behalf. Esther sends back word to her uncle; if the King does not call for her and she goes before him unannounced he could have her killed.

Mordecai sends back a powerful message to Esther “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:13-14 (NKJV)

My friends, if you are God’s chosen; don’t think because you are a good Elder, or deacon, or deaconess in your church and pay your tithe each week, if you remain silent during these last days, you will escape the justice of God for not spreading the good news, that He saves and He will return soon.

God’s word will get to his people so “if [we His chosen] become silent, the stones will cry out!” But God is asking us to heed His call, “who knows my friends, whether we have come into this world for such a time as this? and like Esther we must understand the source and power that lead Mordecai  “would not leave or forsake His faithful” if we believe.

Fast and pray for what she knew had to be done was Esther’s request. “I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!” My friends I have taken you up to Esther  4.

Please continue to read this beautiful story which far exceeds anything you could ever watch on TV. But like the story of our lives there can and will be a happy ending, but we must first endure while self is completely eliminated on our journey to the promise land as we step out on faith like Esther and give it all to the Master.

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

Mar. 5, 2015

MY FRIENDS, WHAT IS YOUR PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP, DO WE MEET THE CRITERIA?

But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn That shines brighter and brighter until the full day.”Prob. 4:18 (NASB)

My friends there is a path to citizenship and each day that we allow self to die just a little more, the light of the glory of God will guide us until the direction and requirements to that path becomes clear and one day the Master will say to all who have endured “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.”

My friends let’s look at the Prodigal son today and see the path that he took and the mistakes that were made in his life. The parable starts in Luke 15:11 where the son is not satisfied with being under the father’s roof, he feels there is a better path to happiness, not realizing “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” Prob 14:12 (NKJV)

In addition. our limited finite minds sometimes feel we have all the answers “because although [we knew God], [we do] not glorify Him as God, nor [are we] thankful, but [we have] became futile in [our] thoughts, and [our] foolish hearts [are] darkened. Professing to be wise, [but] becoming fools,,” Romans 1:21-22 (NKJV)

So my friends like the Prodigal son, we follow down a path that Satan lays out for us and “The precious years of life, the strength of intellect, the bright visions of youth, the spiritual aspirations all are consumed in the fires of lust.” (White, Christ object lesson pp 200)

Have we taken such a path throughout our life “Although surrounded with the blessings of His love, there is nothing that the sinner, bent on self-indulgence and sinful pleasure, desires so much as separation from God. “Like the ungrateful son, [we] claims the good things of God as his by right. [We] take them as a matter of course, and makes no return of gratitude, and renders no service of love. (White, Christ object lesson pp 200)

But my friends it is never too late to return home and receive the rightful pathway to citizenship towards God’s pure and holy kingdom, because There is no distance from the graces of God that we have traveled that the loving arms of God will not reach.

So in spite of the retched sinners that we all have become, there is hope in what the Father did in allowing His Son to Die for our sins at Calvary and the Son who took it upon himself to make that sacrifice. focus my friends and remember the “Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is long-suffering towards us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 (ASV)

And now the journey we thought we started  years ago before the desires of the heart lead us away from God  we can now truly begin the process of restoring a broken relationship with our Father which art in heaven.

Grace, is still with us my friends “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:21 (KJV)

consistent with this, “If the angels could pull back the curtain” and you could see how close the god of this world and all who follow him are in reaching their cup of indignation, we would all tremble and weep before God, knowing His Spirit is gradually being removed from our world, and as His Spirit goes so does His grace.

So while we still have time to get on the right path to citizenship it all comes down to our passion to give it all to the Master, not my will but thy will be done”.

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

March 4, 2015

MY FRIENDS, “HIS PRAISE SHOULD CONTINUALLY BE IN OUR MOUTH”

My friends “[if yor God has chosen you and your passion is to serve we must] bless the Lord at all times; His praise [should] continually be in [our] mouth. [and our] soul will make its boast in the Lord; The humble will hear it and rejoice. [My friends] O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. ”Ps. 34:1-3 (NASB)

My friends let’s focus today on the words “His praise should continually be in our mouth” the text never mentioned anything about missing a day or even a second of our life, but continually. Webster tells us; continually is “without cessation or intermission; unceasingly; and always.”

Two years ago I ran a half marathon here in Nashville. Two miles into the race both of my Achilles became inflamed, in fact, they felt as though they were on fire, but I had eleven miles to go, the simplest thing would have been to stop, it was a drenching storm that never stopped and the distance back was a whole lot shorter then what was in front of me.

But my friends I never entertained the notion too stop, or go back, the goal was the finish line so I endured through the pain and the storm, at a much slower pace but I continue and upon crossing I received the prize, which was victory. Not first place but my goal, to finish.

My friends we must look ahead at where we are trying to go. If the finish line is not important then we can sit down and spend a few hours in front of our televisions each evening, or however you waste God’s precious time, But if your eyes are focus on the promise land then “God’s praise should continually be in [our mouth]”

And with passion His children must let the world know that “we’ve been changed and we have waited for this moment to come for such a long time and we won’t let it pass us by and we won’t go back, can’t go back, to the way it used to be Before God’s presence came and changed us” (William Mcdowell I Won’t Go Back)

That my friends is why we must continually praise God’s name because of what He did on Calvary and what He continues to do in our life each day. In addition He has ask each of us to become His disciples and carry our cross and become “fisherman of men and women”

“The Lord God has given [His faithful] the tongue of discipleship, that we may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. He awakens [His chosen] morning by morning, He awakens [our] ear to listen as a disciple.

The Lord God has opened [our] ear; and [we must] not [be] disobedient Nor [must we ever] turn back” Is. 50:54-5 (NASB) for “His praise must be continually in [our mouth]” and one day soon “when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.

All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me. The righteous then will ask, ‘Lord, when did we [do these things]

The King answers ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.”

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

March 3, 2015

MY FRIENDS, “MULTITUDES ARE PERISHING WITHIN REACH OF ABUNDANT HELP”

“Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:7-8 (KJV)

My friends what is our responsibility as God’s chosen? October 30 1974, one of the greatest fights in the history of boxing took place in Kinshasa Zaire, “The Rumble in the Jungle.” It pitted a 28 year old Foreman who seemed an overwhelming favorite against the 32-year old Ali.

After being stripped of his license and title in 1967 Ali once again was given a chance to fight for the world championship. Ali had told everyone that he had a secret plan for Foreman. A plan strategy Ali later dubbed the rope-a-dope.

As a result, Foreman spent his energy throughout the fight throwing punches that either did not hit Ali or were deflected in a way that made it difficult for Foreman to hit Ali at all. As the fight drew into the eighth round, Foreman’s punching and defense became ineffective as the strain of throwing so many wild shots took its toll.

The fight showed that Ali was capable of taking a punch and highlighted his tactical genius, as Foreman struck Ali with hundreds of thunderous blows, to no effect. No one, least of all Foreman, anticipated that Ali would do what he did, which was to demonstrate so passionately his burning belief in his own ability to meet and master any other man on any terms.

Six thousand years ago Satan thought he had stripped Christ of all rights to call this world His domain saying 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. Isa. 14:13,14 (KJV)

But God told us all, He had a plan for man’s salvation, and the victory would be won, not in Kinshasa Zaire, but on a site called Calvary. And no matter how many thunderous blows Satan would throw, they would be of no effect.

My friends we all know God’s tactical plan that His only begotten Son would die on our behalf  and “who so ever would believe in Him would not parish but have life everlasting” John 3:16 (KJV)

In addition, God’s word gives us a step by step account on how it was fought and won and now, what is our responsibility? As Christ was dying on the cross He “saw how deep is the hold of sin upon the human heart,[and] how few would be willing to break from its power.

He knew that without help from God, humanity must perish, and He saw multitudes perishing within reach of abundant help.“(E.G, White) My friends let’s focus today on, “He saw multitudes perishing within reach of abundant help”

Once again I ask the question to all who feel they are a part of God’s chosen, do you have the passion to serve? Somewhere deep down inside, does God’s spirit continued to let you know that “multitudes are perishing within reach of abundant help” as we fall on our knees in heartfelt prayer and ask for forgiveness for all of Gods precious time we have wasted as we cry out in repentance, Dear God “not my will but, thy will be done”?

My friends, it must become personal, you must have a passion to serve, knowing what sacrifice was made for you, We must never forget that Christ is the victor and He now reigns in the heavenly courts above, advocating on our behalf.

In addition, there are still “multitudes that are perishing within reach of abundant help” and it is up to us as a body of believers who know’s God’s plan and  who have been given the awesome responsibility through God’s power to go and be “witnesses, as we tell the multitudes “in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” That Jesus saves.

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

MY FRIENDS, DO WE CARE IF WE ARE DESCENDANTS OF GOD ENTITLED TO ALL HE HAS?

“The steps of a good man [or woman] are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand. I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lends; And his descendants are blessed. Psalm 37:23-26 (NKJV)

Now my friend, we must now focus on who is Gods descendants? And do they walk among us each day?  Well Paul tells us in Romans 8:15-17 (NKJV) “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”

My friends that text tells you and I that we are offspring’s to the Father. “created in Him image” ”But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13 (NKJV)

Now that should put a smile on all of our faces, that is why He tells us, He will never leave nor forsake us” because we are His children His descendants, heirs to all He has. But what takes us from being His descendants, to life eternal in His kingdom, which is not accepted by everyone but if you do accept that challenge, the requirements is faith, endurance, dedication and a passion to serve Christ. The text also tells us we must “suffer with Him if we are to be glorified with Him”

Christ also tells us Himself in Luke 14:27 (NKJV) “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” Yes my friends we are descendants of God and heirs of all He has but “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.

Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ [And my Friends the saddest words we will ever here will be] And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you;” depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.” Matt 7:21-24 (NKJV)

Now Christ, because of His grace, mercy and love towards us, allows us to choose our on destination that is why he follows up what He tells us in Matt. 17:24-27 (NKJV) with “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.

And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.

The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell and great was its fall.” My friends our savior has allowed us to make our own decisions about our salvation.

So, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matt 7:!3-14 (NKJV) what is your decision today time is running out.

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

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MY FRIENDS, WHAT ARE WE DOING TO OUR BODIES IS IT A SIN?

Ezekiel 16:49-50 declares, “Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, [and] overfed…..” But as Christians we attempt to explain away the biblical condemnations of one sin over another.

The area where Sodom and Gomorrah was, is now uninhabited wasteland. Sodom and Gomorrah serves as a vigorous example of how God feels about sin in general. Satan would like for us to think, one sin in Sodom, was greater than the other.

Prov. 15:26 (KJV) tells us even “The thoughts of the wicked [are] an abomination to the Lord.” In our rapid moving society that functions at a rate, which seems at times faster than the speed of sound, high tech, got to have it right now society, faster is much better.

Take for instant our fast food industry which has quickly been adopted as the no.1 food of choice, as advertisements have premiered daily on billboards throughout our neighborhoods, schools, and of course the billion dollar business of television ads costing in the billions.

Burger king promotes its famous whopper and McDonalds its Big Mac. Each item on the menu for decades has defined the expected American diet no matter how much data the food and drug administration (FDA) in our government puts out about the detrimental effects of its over the top consumption.

But my friends, we must remember that the corporate goal is to make these American fast food chains much more of a household name in our homes than the word of God. The media takeover in our communities takes control of our mind, mouth and stomachs.

In addition, their success comes from taking advantage of the fast pace mostly low income parents or single parents in the home, working fifty and sixty hour work weeks with no time for the togetherness of family dinners.

So they offer consumers a quick, cheap, convenient meal Thus, our delicate bodies become deteriorated by improper eating habits which is Satan’s objective, a deteriorated mind and body by the constant consumption of improper eating habits.

Consistent with this, fast food is all too often high in fat, salt content and low in fiber and calcium and the most detrimental of them all, obesity which leads us away from one of God’s precepts that states whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Cor, 10:32 (ESV)

Friends remember it is Satan who seeks all of Gods glory, it was he who said “I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” Is 14:14 (NIV) So if our goal is to be like Christ we must ask God daily in everything we do will it increase or deteriorate our focus on this Journey Christ has placed us on to the promise land.

As I see it, it will be the small things that seems insignificant to us but in the sight of God is an abomination to Him. So each habit that will deteriorate this wonderful body Crist has given us must be eliminated. Paul tells us “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? 1 Cor. 6:9-10 (NKJV) which is everyone “who sins and has fallen short of the glory of God” Rom 3:23 (NIV) with no remorse.

Jerimiah also says “Your words were found, and I ate them and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart;” Jer. 15:16 (NKJV) God’s word my friends is what we must have a daily supply of  so that we will “lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, [as we] run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

And one day soon we are going to be able to “lay down our cross, and all it took to get over as we enter God’s kingdom, if we could just lay it all at the feet of the Master today and say with passion and all of our heart  “not my will, by thou will be done.”

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

Feb 28, 2015

MY FRIENDS, CAN GOD BRAG ABOUT US BEFORE THE STORM STARTS?

“There was a man named Job; and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and shunned evil.…….. Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. And the Lord said to Satan,

“From where do you come Satan?” Satan answers, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it. Then the Lord said to Satan, and my question to you today my friends, before the storms of our life even begin, can our Savior give a shout out to all who will listen as He tells the world “Have you considered my friend and servant?

In addition, there is none like him [or her] on the earth, a blameless and upright man [and woman], one who fears God and shuns evil. Satan tells God You have made a hedge around him and all he has on every side this is why you can boost about him Job 1:1-10 (NKJV) God’s faith in His friend is now tested as He tells Satan, you can touch all areas of his life only don’t touch Him. Job’s faith is then stretched to the limit. He loses everything, including His Children.

Then Job arose, tore his robe, shaved his head; fell to the ground and worshiped God in the midst of His storm. “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Before Job’s storm started, Christ knew the character of His friend, because Job had walked and talked with God daily, allowing a complete transformation of His character into the likeness of God. So“In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.” In other words he did not complain to the Lord saying Lord! Why are you allowing these things to happen in my life?

Then in Chapter 2 Satan comes back again, God has all bragging rights now “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth,….And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.”

God knew His friend and what type of faith and endurance he would exemplify because Job never ceased to praise God in all seasons of his life and in every situations and circumstances.

So Satan now ask permission from God. Let me touch His body? For us it might be cancer, or MS, or heart disease, or diabetes. My friends, we all know health issues in this sinful world are endless. But what God tells Satan is once again so amazing, we should all Pray that one Day God has this much faith in us.

In Job 2:6 (NKJV)  it states, and the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life.” In other words sift him as much as you want only spare his life. Satan then touches Jobs body with boils and Jobs faith is tested once again, his wife even tells Job to “curse God and die”

Woman! You speak foolish [are you crazy], he tells her. “Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.” Job 2:10 (NKJV) My friends, where do we stand in adversity?

Can God boast and say to Satan and to the world “have you considered my servant my friend who prays without ceasing, the one who never stops telling others about Me and praising my name, whose time, money and talents, yes all they have they dedicate to Me.

My friends, if God cannot say those things about us, time is running out because if we are God’s Children “soon and very soon” He comes and His “reward is with Him, and He will give to each person according to what they have done.”Rev. 22:12 (NIV)

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

MY FRIENDS, SATAN WANTS TO SIFT US AS WHEAT BUT JESUS IS PRAYING FOR US!!

Luke 22:31-32 And the Lord said,“Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.  But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

Sifting wheat during Christ time was a fierce process which separated the grain (wheat berry) from the stalk and the chaff, literally tearing the wheat apart by beating it with a flail. Christ is telling Peter; “Satan wants to sift you as wheat”

So today my friends let’s focus our attention on the fact, if God does  allow us to be sifted as wheat by Satan it is only to strengthen our fragile faith for He knows “that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope….” Romans 5:3-5 (NKJV)

And like Peter, his only objective is to make us stronger through adversity, and afflictions and the day to day trials of our life and as our faith strengthens we my friends can then “strengthen our brethren.” As we tell them of the good news of a risen Savior.

In addition, Christ is the one “who became sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 cor. 5:21 (KJV) “our high priest who ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God……who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet he did not sin. Heb 4:14-15 (NIV)

Our Savior, our friend, ”a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in our hearts.” 2 Peter 1:9 (NIV) this same Jesus will be praying for all “……who will believe in Him through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.

And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” John 17:22-23 (NKJV)

My friends “if God is for us who can be against us” but the problem is when our passion to watch, and pray becomes obsolete as we begin to allow the affairs of this world to have more of an influence over our life then God and once we allow that to happen we then lose focus on our eternal destiny.

In addition, there is a spiritual warfare that is being fought over our souls daily and sifting becomes part of that process where our character, like the wheat has to be rid of all its coarser, and impure particles.

So God does allow His children at times to be sifted on our Journey to the Promise Land as Satan tries to crush and destroy us through his sifting process, but if our life is centered on Christ and we have allowed a transformation to take effect through His Spirit our faith will hold firm and then Christ can  present us to His father as His Children, who are “a Brand Plucked From the Fire?”

My friends, time will run out one day soon. In Judges 21:25 it tells us In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” Which is the image of our world today, so if Satan is sifting you as wheat today, hold firm, Christ Himself is praying for you, He also “holds our right hand; [as he tells us], “fear not, I am the one who helps you.” Isaiah 41:13 (NKJV)

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