March 14, 2017

MY FRIENDS, IS THERE CIVIL WAR FROM WITHIN?

Civil war is defined as: war between political factions or regions within the same country or nations. In the context of our salvation, it is war within ourselves. Christ tells the Pharisees after casting out a demon from a man possessed by the “rulers of the darkness of this world.” Matt. 12:22-29 (NASB), when  they heard what Christ had done, instead of realizing who Christ was, and what He meant to not only there lives, but to all mankind, they hardened their hearts and said, “this man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of demons.”

Knowing their thoughts Jesus said, “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out?

For this reason, they will be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. Matt 12:22-29 (NASB)

My friends, if there’s civil war within nations or war within ourselves, we only become more weaken by self’s efforts in trying to accomplish something only God’s Spirit can accomplish. Remember Satan is at war with Christ not with self, the one who said “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”

So if self is battling self we will fall like Satan who will soon have his demise. But if we have allowed self to die and Christ to live through His word and Spirit within us then we will win the battle over self. Satan through Adam claimed this world as His, and we were captive like slaves at an auction.

But Christ paid a price for our freedom on Calvary. But because of self, we have become accustomed to listening to our on rhetoric while ignoring Gods Spirit telling us, “whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21(NIV)

My friends, he who binds a strong man “must of necessity be stronger” then the “strong man” and only God who is All-powerful, All-knowledgeable, Omnipresence meaning: if allowed, God’s power and presence can be in my heart and your heart and in the man and women’s heart in China or Russia and within anyone else in this vast population of 7 billion who have surrendered to self and allowed him to be presence in their life.

“And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more] glory, which comes from the Lord, [who is] the Spirit.” 2 Cor. 3:18 (AMP)

Once again, We desire heaven, with all our heart and soul and yet we “turn away because of the conditions laid down. Think of what it means to say “No” to Christ.” (E.G. White, Desire-of-Ages p 523) And think what it means to say to Christ, I am to busy to allow you into my life today, maybe later? I first must see if Satan has a more acceptable alternative.

March 11, 2017

MY FRIENDS, WE MUST BE JUST AS DETERMINE AS HE IS!!

Effective, fervent prayer, three words tells us we must have a passion about what we are petitioning God for. A passion of hope that a family member or friend will be healed when we lay prostrate before the great physician and say Lord not my will but thou will. A passion of understanding all Scriptures “breathed out by God [because they are] profitable for [our] teaching, [and] reproof, for correction, and for [our] training in righteousness, [so that all of God’s children] may be competent, equipped for every good work. 2 Tim 3:16-17 (KJV)

A passion for direction, from the Good Shepherd as we cry out in total admonition, to you only can I turn to, for I know, “love never gives up, never loses faith, it is always hopeful, and endures through [every situation and circumstance.]” 1Corinthians 13:7 (KJV)

My friends, we must remain just as determine as the enemy, “though the ship is battered and the sails torn, we must still fall on our knees, and in “spite of the storm, we must face the raging sea.” We are no longer children, and most of our dreams have been sweep away like “grains of sand on the seashore.”

But, we must face the storms of complacency, doubt and procrastination as we wrestle with God daily until we have overcome. We live in a hostile world, but with God’s Spirit within us we must serve while going forth because we possess the power through God’s Spirit to smote in the camp of the [enemy] a hundred and eighty five thousand “principalities and rulers of the darkness of this world,” but if only for one, Christ died for that one.

Remember, God never gave up on us. He reached as far into the abyss and there we were, just imagine how many of the enemy He had to smote just to get you and I to safety, back into His loving arms where we belonged. Now our passion must be to serve God, where-ever that takes us.

The price was paid to get us to safety. So every day we must “pledge Allegiance” to the One who paid that price, therefore [we must] glorify God in our [mind and body which are God’s.] 1 Corinthians 6:20 (KJV) Remember we must be just as determine as the enemy.

My friends, The power is ours, God’s promise remains, if we ”have faith as small as a mustard seed, [we] can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for [us].”Matt. 17:20 (NIV) today Christ calls us to His purpose as we are drawn to Him. “Not by might not by power But by the Spirit of God” we must “run this race until we see His face.” And one day soon when this race is over we will live in the glory of His grace throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity.

If we woke up today God has given you and I a fresh start so we cannot fear the journey for God has not given us a “spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” So as determine as the Enemy to destroy us we must be just as determine to see Christ face. Heaven is ours, the conditions remain the same, the road is still narrow and only a few will travel it. But “think of what it means to say no to God”

March 8, 2017

MY FRIENDS, DO YOU THINK WE CAN GET A PASS?

The two most momentous events in all of prophecy and the history of mankind and most importantly to “God’s chosen people, His royal priesthood,” would be first, God’s only Begotten Son, coming to this earth, to save us from sin and “spiritual ruin.” “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel, [which means God with us.]” Is. 7:14 (KJV)

Second, that event we all should lone for, with a passion which is the second Coming of Christ. My friends, the final prophecies in God’s Word we are witnessing daily through “breaking news” and events that should motivate us to focus and work diligently doing God’s will daily.

My friends, now let’s ask ourselves; Since we are so close to Christ second coming, Is God expecting perfection, “at such a time as this,” a time of technology and information where man even envisions his finite mind creating another human?

And how does one maintain perfection in the midst of a democracy where there is no moral or ethical rules and a culture in which the economic systems, investments, and ownership of manufacturing, production, distribution, and exchange of wealth is made and maintained by a select few?

And a society that is ruled and controlled by a small minority of the wealthiest? Surely we should be given a pass on maintaining a Character in the image of Christ, at a time when Satan has made that thin line between good and evil so blurred?

Now we must ask, was Christ given a pass, remember, Christ lived during a time when “the deception of sin had reached its height. All the agencies for depraving the souls of men had been put in operation……With pity He saw how men had become victims of satanic cruelty. He looked with compassion upon those who were being corrupted, murdered, and lost.

They had chosen a ruler who chained them to his car as captives. Bewildered and deceived, they were moving on in a gloomy procession toward eternal ruin, to death in which there is no hope of life, toward night to which comes no morning. Satanic agencies were incorporated with men. The bodies of human beings, made for the dwelling place of God, had become the habitation of demons.” (E.G. White, The Desire of Ages, p 36)

My friends God’s only begotten Son set the bar 2000 years ago with a flawless Character, centered around a selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love that can be duplicated by any created being for “such a time as this” if we believe. This quote I put before you once again, because we all need to put it to memory, as we realize we have no defense for sin.

Yes we all desire heaven, with all our heart and soul and yet we “turn away because of the conditions laid down. Think of what it means to say “No” to Christ.” (E.G. White, Desire of Ages p 523) And think what it means to say to Christ, I am to busy to get with you today, maybe later?

And think what it must mean to the One who died on Calvary for our salvation for us to accept an offer made by Satan that we consider a better alternative then heaven, “all this I will give you he says, if you will only bow down and worship me.”? Matt. 4:9 (NIV) My friends, would you really want a pass after making such a foolish decision.

March 6, 2017

MY FRIENDS, IT’S CALLED COMMITMENT?

Our journey must begin with our passion to serve, along with the issues we hold dear to our heart spiritually and the master we chose to follow, for “no man, or woman can serve two masters: either he will hate the one, and love the other;……” Matt. 6:24 (KJV) So my friends, on this journey our Salvation is not dependent on when we start but our passion for the journey and the end result.

And that my friends, is why God has chosen us for a purpose, we “are 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 (NIV) Today let’s focus on the words “that you may declare the praises of Him.”

It’s personal, so we must understand, who He is in the context of our salvation? In addition, this journey Christ places us on has another component. In John 15:16 (NIV) it states, “you did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit, fruit that will last and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.”

My friends, nothing else should matter except to “go and bear fruit.” But, the god of this world will make it very difficult which then shifts our focus off of the journey, God’s will, and life eternal, towards the things of this world and perdition. Therefore, Christ and His Spirit has now become unrecognizable because even though we desire heaven, the conditions to get there seem to be unacceptable right now because the god of this world has made God’s will too time consuming.

Joshua as he spoke to the Israelites before he died warned them “The Lord has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you.

[In addition, it takes only one through the power of God’s Spirit] to rout a thousand, because the Lord our God fights for us, just as he promised. So be very careful to love the Lord your God……….[And if that love ceases?] The Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations before you.” Joshua 23 9:12 (NIV)

Joshua only elaborates on what a child of God should already know, God will fight our battles and no “rulers of the darkness of this world can withstand God’s armor. But if we don’t have that personal relationship with Christ, and our commitment is else-where, then we take ourselves outside the boundaries of Christ anointing blessings.

But my friends, before making any decisions about your destiny, look around and think of all you have gained or desire to gain here on this earth. Then ask yourself if I will only make a commitment to allow “Christ to live in me and the life I now live in the body, I [will] live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself [for me on Calvary.]

Then, when the Lord comes, “and that trumpet calls, and [if I have died] I will be one of the first to rise. And if I am alive, I will be caught up together with  them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. [Which tells us, nothing we’ve gained here on this earth will ascend upward only our Character] will be with the Lord forever.” Gal. 2:20 (NIV) 1 Thess. 4:16-17 (NIV)

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March 1, 2017

MY FRIENDS, WILL OUR ANCHOR HOLD?

“I have journeyed through the long dark night, out on the open sea, by faith alone, sight unknown; and yet His eyes were watching me. The anchor holds, Though the ships been battered. The anchor holds, Though the sails are torn. I have fallen on my knees as I face the raging seas. The anchor holds in spite of the storm.” (Ray Boltz, The Anchor Holds) My friends, the anchor is our dedicated prayer life.

The anchor is also God’s word and Spirit that strengthens our faith daily. But, it is not the weight of the anchor, but the sturdy iron cables connected to the anchor that secures our mind and body to the mind and body of Christ which keeps us steadfast unmovable always abounding in the Lord even in the rough turbulent storms brought on by the god of this world.

My friends, “when there is no special effort made to resist [Satan’s] power, he becomes unconcerned; for he is in no danger of losing those whom he is leading captive at his will. But when the attention is called to eternal things, and souls are inquiring, “What must I do to be saved?” [and the anchor holds.] He is on the ground, seeking to match his power against the power of Christ and to counteract the influence of the Holy Spirit.” (E.G. White, The Great Controversy)

My friends, it’s personal, because it’s you and I that is “sinking deep in sin,” far from Christ abiding love. And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!……… And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people lest you share in her sins.” Rev. 18:1-4 (NKJV)

My friends, we must ask ourselves, will our anchor hold in Babylon? Remember we are in the middle of the dwelling place of demons, principalities, and the rulers of the darkness of this world, and the spiritual wickedness in high places.” This world is also the prison for every foul spirit, and cage for every unclean and hated bird!

And, what we must understand, sin will never leave this prison called earth. This is sin’s last destination before total annihilation a choice one third of the angels decided when they followed the one who said in his heart “I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” Is. 14:14 (NIV)

But, if our anchor holds through Gods word and Spirit, you and I will leave this prison one day soon and live in a place eye have not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things God hath prepared for them that love him.” 1 Cor. 2:9 (KJV)

But first, John 9:4-5 (AMP) tells us that “we must work the works of Him, who [has commissioned His children to go into all the world and present the good news of the gospel to all who are still asking “what must I do to be saved.” WHILE IT IS DAY; [because as we look at prophecy and our world today, there should be no doubt that] night is coming [soon] when no one can work. [But, as long as God has given us daylight our anchors will hold as we become Christ Light barriers to the world.”

Feb. 28, 2017

MY FRIENDS, THINK OF WHAT IT MEANS TO SAY “NO” TO CHRIST?

“Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.” Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said, “One thing you lack: [YOU MUST ELIMINATE SELF FROM YOUR LIFE], and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” Eliminate self, How dare that street preacher ask some one of my status to eliminate self “even the “foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but [this] Man has nowhere to even lay his head.” And He wants me to follow Him.

My friends, Christ timing for a commitment has caught most of God’s children at a bad time. His standard of character for His kingdom seems to be out of touch from what our plans are at this point in our life. But friends, focus, because “only those who will say, Lord, all I have and all I am is Thine, will be acknowledged as sons and daughters of God.

[We must] consider what it means to desire heaven, and yet to turn away because of the conditions laid down. Think of what it means to say “No” to Christ.” (E.G. White, Desire of Ages p 523) And think what it means to say to Christ, I am to busy to get with you today, maybe at the end of the month?

Think what it must mean to the One who died on Calvary for our salvation for us to accept an offer made by Satan that we consider to good to refuse, “all this I will give you he tells us, if you will only bow down and worship me.”? Matt. 4:9 (NIV) My friends, History, as we know it, is about to end, are we ready?

I remember, as I child no more than eight or nine fallen asleep during Church service, the alter call was given right at the time I was waking up people started standing so I stood, not knowing what was going on. That my friends, is the scenario we all face today because the church is asleep which allows God’s word and the prompting of His Spirit to become unfamiliar to its members.

And Like the five foolish virgins, “they are not hypocrites. They have a regard for the truth, they have advocated the truth, they are attracted to those who believe the truth; but they have not yielded themselves to the Holy Spirit’s working.

They have not fallen upon the Rock, Christ Jesus, and permitted their old nature to be broken [while allowing God’s Spirit to eliminate self and the things of this world where we have no problem telling Christ no, maybe later]“ (E.G. White, Christ Object Lesson p 411)

We must remember the battle that rages from within will not cease because we have now made some miraculous earth shaking decision to serve God. Every aspect of who God has created within us, Satan is at war against. every hereditary tendency that focuses our attention on the things above, Satan is at war with.

Every avenue that God has given to “forsake all others.” Satan is at war with. My friends Satan seeks total domination of every part of our life. Remember this battle is not with flesh and blood. And if we are lacking in putting on any part of God’s armour daily, and done all, through Christ His word and Spirit to remain focused, even the elect will not survive the assaults of Satan.

Feb 23, 2017

MY FRIENDS, HOW MANY ARE ACCUSED OF DERELICTION OF DUTY?

In the context of our salvation what that implies is “a soldier in the army of God who is guilty of neglect of duty and has willfully refused to perform his or her duties (or follow a given order) or is unable to act in accordance to God’s will, either they are asleep, or their focus has been taken off of the things above, onto the things of this world and now we are unable to perform our duties satisfactory. “We are neither cold nor hot….

And because we are only lukewarm…..God wants to spue us out of His mouth.” Rev 3:14-16 (KJV) My friends, have we fallen asleep while on duty? Or do we just not care? Or do we justify our attitude by convincing ourselves, “where is this ‘coming’ He promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as [usual,] since the beginning of creation.” 2 Peter 3:4 (NIV)

My friends, serving Christ has only become a distressing chore because doing God’s will is no longer a deed of love simply for what was done for us on Calvary. Matt. 25:14-30 (NIV) The narrative begins: “A man goes on a journey, called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.

To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey………..The man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.

The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master, he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more. “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!……. “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master, he said, you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more………. “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!

Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. I was afraid so I hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you His master replied, You wicked, lazy servant!……….”

My friends, that’s as far as we need to go with that narrative, “you wicked and lazy servant.” Not my words but Christ. The one who soon would walk the Via Dolorosa to Calvary to die for each of our sins even before they became sins. “Many whom God has qualified to do excellent work accomplish very little, because they attempt little.

Thousands pass through life as if they had no definite object for which to live, [and] no standard to reach [My friends it is called DERELICTION OF DUTY.] Such will obtain a reward proportionate to their works.]” (E.G. White, Christ Object Lessons p 331)

So, today, ask ourselves. what do we really have to look forward to at Christ soon return, because He is coming back for a “chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession.” Now ask ourselves another question, do we fit into that category? Or have we incapacitated ourselves in such a way into the fabric of this world that we cannot give God our all?

Feb. 21, 2017

MY FRIENDS, WE MUST SEEK WITH A PASSION A NAME CHANGE!!

“We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed……..When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 1 Cor 15:51-54 (NIV) We shall all be changed how sweet the sound. But, my friends, “our traits of character [we] cherish in life will not be changed by death or by the resurrection [or if we are alive when He enters those clouds].

[We] will come up from the grave with the same disposition [we] manifested in our home and in society. Jesus does not change the character at His coming. The work of transformation must be done now. Our daily lives are determining our destiny. Defects of character must be repented of and overcome through the grace of Christ, and a symmetrical character must be formed while in this probationary state [from birth to death], that we may be fitted for the mansions above.” (E.G. White, Character Development)

My friends, it is a process that starts at birth. Peter tells us in 2 Peter 1:5-7 to “make every effort to add to our faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.”

Sanctification, A process starting with our faith that God is able to do all things through His Spirit and that Conflict from within that is waged on our character by the forces of evil against our “hereditary tendencies” to sin, the Spirit if we believe begins to convict, instruct, restore, and empower us daily into the image of the one who “will ascend from heaven, with a loud command” for the redeemed.

And our reward will be with Him and “He will give to each person according to what they have done,” or not done. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ).

And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter which means Rock). John. 1:40-42 (NIV) Only our Creator Christ through His word and Spirit can change self  which represents the things of this world to a name fit for His pure and holy kingdom.

And each day the process of a name change allows the “passion of Christ” to take us beyond where we were the day before spiritually. Now my friends, in the Silence of your war room where you encounter a peace of mind in the presence of God each day. Seek a silence that is not just the absence of sound but a stillness that takes us right into the presence of God in the throne room where our Savior abides.

And then pause! Now let’s ask ourselves, how far are we away from a complete Character Change where Christ tells us “not guilty,” your name is now chosen by Me. You are now a royal priesthood, holy, God’s special possession, you may now declare the praises of My Name who called My faithful out of darkness into My wonderful light,” [throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity]” 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)