MY FRIENDS, YOU WILL NEVER KNOW WHO GOD IS, UNTIL YOU’VE COME THROUGH THE NIGHT, AND YOUR NAME IS CHANGED!!

“Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!…………And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” Gen 32:24-28 (NKJV)

The ultimate struggle between man and God, my friends “with no pain there is no gain.” Something we’ve probably heard most of our lives, with the propensity to make us stronger.

As we read this incredible story of man’s perseverance and determination to get through the night and then too receive that awesome reward, a new name that God has chose, is what this journey is all about. A created being took on the Great I AM and won?

Well my friends we also can win but it will take the pain of the struggle that will last through the night. I am sure God placed this event in the pages of the historical events of His Word, because He want’s us to focus on the struggles each of us will encounter through our short probationary period on this earth from birth to death.

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, Problems, situations, the injustice of life, a disobedient child, a drunkard husband, and the list goes on.

So now that I have placed each of us in the ring with God as our opponent. How can we win like Jacob. How can our names be changed and how can we “struggle with God and with man, and prevail.” First it takes preparation.

In addition, Jacob is going up against God, He knows only faith and endurance makes one a conqueror, we also cannot come to the fight, lacking in prayer and the study of God’s word, intemperate in our eating habits, or maybe just “having a form of godliness but denying its power”

“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give [a new name] to those who ask him!” Matt 7:11 (NKJV) And also 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.”

It may come a time when the presence of God is veiled from our face, and it will only be our faith, and the promises of God that we have constantly studied in His word that will give us the strength to continue. But we can never stop until WE HAVE COME THROUGH THE NIGHT, AND OUR NAME HAS BEEN CHANGED.

Consistent with this, When God changes our name, it’s to establish a new identity or character, because once our name has been changed we “have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer [we] who live, but Christ lives in [us]; and the life which [we] now live in the flesh [we] live by faith in the Son of God, who loved [us] and gave Himself for [us].” Gal 3:20 (NKJV)

My friends, “all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons [and daughters]……” “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Romans 8:14:19 (ESV) WHEN OUR NAMED IS CHANGED IN GOD’S KINGDOM

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

Oct. 10, 2014

MY FRIENDS, “OUR GOD WILL FILL US WITH JOY IN HIS PRESENCE, WITH ETERNAL PLEASURES”!!!

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James1:2-4 (ESV)

“It’s one thing to stay faithful to God during trials; that is, to not lose your faith but to cling to the Lord, even in the worst times. But we are told to “rejoice” in our trials. Isn’t that asking too much? After all, at times it can be hard enough just to stay faithful in trials, but to rejoice in them?

Yet, that’s what we are told; how, then, can we learn to rejoice when rejoicing is the last thing we feel like doing?” (Clinton Wahlen)  Severe changes are mounting, life is emptied of most of our resources, hopes and ambitions are fading, and our first reaction of all of our anguish is to rejoice.

My friends, as Christians, victory in Christ must come about when we recognize that if our days are spent in the presence of the Lord, our PASSION must become an attitude, that just being in the presence of God instills into us.

PASSION is that powerful or compelling emotion that tells us God Saves a sinner like you and me. PASSION in knowing God is in control and “He will never leave us or forsake us. PASSION is ”singing because [we are] happy singing because [we are] free [and having faith in knowing] His eye is on the sparrow And [we] know he watches [over His faithful like you and me]”

but we must also understand that “Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we REJOICE IN HOPE OF THE GLORY OF GOD.

Not only that, but we REJOICE IN OUR SUFFERINGS, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Romans 5:2 -5 (ESV)

That verse tells us in every situation and circumstances of our life “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Psalm 30:5 (KJV) Death is painful it hurts I am a witness to the pain of death when someone dies you love.

But my friends, if they died in the Lord, in the morning the “Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and 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 (KJV) Oh what joy in knowing that promise along with all of God’s promises in the midst of the storms in our life.

“Ugandan bishop Festo Kivengere’s account of the 1973 execution by firing squad of three men from his diocese: February 10 began as a sad day for us in Kabale. People were commanded to come to the stadium and witness the execution.

Death permeated the atmosphere. I had permission from the authorities to speak to the men before they died, and two of my fellow ministers were with me. As we walked into the center of the stadium, I was wondering what to say.

How do you give the gospel to doomed men who are probably seething with rage? We approached, as they turned to look at us, what a sight! Their faces were all alight with an unmistakable glow and radiance.

Before we could say anything, one of them burst out: “Bishop, thank you for coming! I wanted to tell you. The day I was arrested, in my prison cell, I asked the Lord Jesus to come into my heart. He came in and forgave me all my sins! Heaven is now open, and there is nothing between me and my God!

Please when you see my wife and children, [tell them to rejoice, Jesus saves.]” (Ray Stamps) My friends that is where all of our joy comes from For our God makes known to [his children] “the path of life; HE WILL FILL US WITH, BECAUSE JOY IS IN HIS PRESENCE. Ps. 16:11 (PSV)

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

Oct. 9, 2014

MY FRIENDS, WORK TILL DAWN, FOR WE ARE APPRENTICE FOR OUR HEAVENLY ABODE!!

“Human language is inadequate to describe the reward of the righteous. It will be known only to those who behold it. No finite mind can comprehend the glory of the Paradise of God. In the Bible the inheritance of the saved is called “a country.” Hebrews 11:14-16. (NKJV)

There the heavenly Shepherd leads His flock to fountains of living waters. God’s people, so long pilgrims and wanderers, shall find a home. “My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, in heaven secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.”

“Violence shall no longer be heard in your land, neither wasting nor destruction within your borders; but you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise. “They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; . . . My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.” Isaiah 32:18; 60:18; 65:21, 22. (E.G. White Heaven, Great Controversy)

My friends as I look at the world today, I ask, what do I thrust for daily. My Savior say’s “whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:14 (NIV)

So today, I realize as long as I am on this earth death will eventually come to all. So today my focus shifts “to the giver of life” I now have only one passion and that is to set my mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth”

In addition, I “fixed my mind on another time” [and another place] and here I mean to stand until God gives me more light, and that is Today, TODAY, and TODAY, until He comes, and I see Him for whom my soul yearns.” (William Milller)

FOR WHOM MY SOUL YEARNS, or who I have a passion to be with, for “I HAVE FIXED MY MIND ON ANOTHER TIME” that tells me that I have completely left the cares of this world, into the hands of my Savior who has taken on that responsibility as He guides us on our journey.

Psalm 55:22 tells us to “Cast our cares on the LORD and he will sustain us; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” So I ask you oh Lord to “Come and fill my heart with hope, Come and fill my life with love Come and fill my soul with strength to carry on Because from here the climb is steep, [and the journey] is long.

So Come and fill my days with dreams Empty me of all the empty things [of this world] That I hold onto [So please dear Lord] Come and fill my heart with you.” (Avalon) and only you and never let my mind wonder away from the precepts that prepares your Children.

Yes that prepares us For “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Cor. 2:9 (ESV) As children of  THE KING, we should always feel like aliens, or strangers in a foreign country, for we yearn to be with our Father the King. Ps. 119:19 tells us “I am a stranger on earth”

Though we live as temporary residents, as God’s chosen here on earth, our mandate is to tell the world of the good news of a NEW HOME for all who believe and endure and are willing to be transformed into the image of the one who gave it all for our Salvation.

“Conception unites the two thoughts of being with Christ and of service for Christ. This blending is definitely set forth in the last chapter of Revelation where we read of ‘those who serve Him, and see His face.”

Here the life of contemplation and the life of active service are welded together as being not only compatible, but absolutely necessary for completeness. But remember that if there is to be service there, the exercising ground is here. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT WE ARE IN THIS WORLD FOR UNLESS IT IS TO APPRENTICE US FOR HEAVEN. Life on earth is a bewilderment unless we are being trained here for a nobler work which lies beyond the grave.” (Alexander Maclaren)

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

Oct. 8, 2014

MY FRIENDS, TODAY, LET’S TRAVEL TO THE SANCTUARY, WHERE OUR SAVIOR ABIDES!!

One day soon our journey on earth will end, and a new journey will begin throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity as we will forever be in the SANCTUARY OF OUR MASTERS LOVING ARMS.

But my friends, before that great day as God’s Chosen generation, we ALL must look back on where God has brought us from and lay prostrate before the one who did it all for our salvation and let’s close our eyes as we climb as high as our finite mind will take us.

in addition, as far as we can go, as we look down the smaller the world below get’s until it is no longer relevant, only the presence of God which we are now seeking today. Consistent with this, we realize below is a “world where every intent of the thoughts of the heart of man is evil continually.”

So there is nothing we miss or want to return too. And now we reach the Sanctuary and their stands the countenance of who we seek and the only words that seems to come out of our mouth as the tears roll down our cheeks is “Lord, how long shall the wicked exult?

They pour out their arrogant words; all the evildoers boast. They crush your people, O Lord, and afflict your heritage. They kill the widow and the sojourner, and murder the fatherless; and they say, “The Lord does not see; the God of Jacob does not perceive.” Psalm 94:3-7 (ESV)

But Lord I know You are not slow to fulfill [your] promises as some count slowness, but is patient toward [Your children] not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 (ESV)

Oh Lord we plead, can we please stay here with you, please don’t make me go back, that journey you have placed me own, the mountains are so steep, and the terrain is so rough, their seems to be no resting place.

And then at that moment our Savior smiles and raises His hands and as we see the scars, we move closer to feel for our-self and all we can say is for me Lord just for me. And then “we realize we must go back for “there are many more hills to climb.

For we have taken a moment [to seek the presence of God], to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds [us], to look back on the distance we have come. But we [now realize that we] can rest only for a moment, for with freedom comes responsibilities, and we dare not linger, for our long [journey] is not yet ended.” (Nelson Mandela)

For we have many more mountains to climb and a few more rough terrains to cross for our Lord and Savior and a mandate that takes each of us to  “Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth,” Acts 1:8 (KJV) to tell the world that “Jesus saves”

“For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 (ESV) My friends in the noise, and recklessness, of this world we live in, we must seek Christ presence in the sanctuary of heaven daily and take the time to touch the scares on his hands and feet and run our hands across the stripes on His back and brow and feel the indenture from the spear in His side and say in awe and admonition.

“I bow before Your throne, I bare the deepest part of me to You and You alone. I keep no secrets for there is No thought You have not known. I bring my best and all the rest to You and lay them down with all my heart.

In addition, I want to love You Lord And live my life each day to know You more and all that is in me is Yours completely. I will fear and serve You only with all my heart and trust only you, because You know what’s best for me.

And when I don’t understand, Then I will follow in obedience In every situation and circumstance with all my heart and live my life each day to know You more as I serve You all the days of my life” (JoAnn Rosario)

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

Oct. 7, 2014

“SOUND THE BATTLE CRY, SEE! THE FOE IS NIGH; RAISE THE STANDARD HIGH FOR THE LORD!!”

My friends a war rages out of control on the streets of our world today. In addition, Christ is asking dedicated men and women to join His army and tell the world that “JESUS SAVES”

“O Lord, what shall I say when [the church] turns its back before its enemies? For the [world] and all the inhabitants of the land will hear it, and surround us, and cut off our name from the earth. Then what will You do for Your great name?” Joshua 7:8-9 (NKJV)

My friends it’s the Name we must defend “for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 (NKJV) A song we all sung in the Hymnal throughout my life which I never hear any more.

It was a song of faith and endurance to rally the troops, to motivate them and remind them who their leader and Captain was, Jesus Christ. It challenged all soldiers in the army of God to “SOUND THE BATTLE CRY, SEE! THE FOE IS NIGH; RAISE THE STANDARD HIGH FOR THE LORD;

Gird your armor on, Stand firm, every one, Rest your cause upon His holy word. Rouse, then soldiers! rally round the banner! Ready, steady, pass the word along, Onward, forward, shout aloud hosanna! Christ is Captain of the mighty throng.”

Today we must take the fight to the enemy as we defend our Savior and everything His word stands for. Our God’s promises will never becomes obsolete, or of non-effect for “Jesus Christ [and his word] is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Heb. 18:8 (NIV)

In addition, God tells us “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him;but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:15-18 (NKJV)

We have the power my friends to defeat the enemy through our faith and God’s word. But “We are to know where we are going. We can not be in darkness if we are following Christ as our leader; for he says, “He that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

When the way seems beset with difficulty and clouded with darkness, we must believe that there is light ahead, and not turn to the right or left, but press forward…” (E. G. White The Review and Herald, Feb 20 1913)

Today God’s faithful must “SOUND THE BATTLE CRY” as we tell the world “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved you and your household.” Acts 16:31 (NIV)

Graffiti from the 1800s discovered by workers renovating the Washington Monument reads “Whoever is the human instrument under God in the conversion of one soul, erects a monument to his own memory more lofty and enduing than this,”

Our battle plans must be to conquer through God’s Spirit one soul at a time. God tells us in His word “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Is. 55:11 (KJV)

“So friends what are your marching orders? Success is not the question for a Child of God to discuss. our orders run thus, “go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” “And then my friends, ”the end shall come”

the secret to every Christian’s success in his or her mandate from God, will be found in the harmonious and daily working of all Christians along with the Holy Spirit in the finishing up of Gods work regardless of what this world deems as success.

Therefore, in the sense of a vital faith and genuine obedience and indomitable courage embracing the total stewardship of life, may it be said of us at Christ soon return, They did go tirelessly into all the world and “SOUND THE BATTLE CRY, TELLING ALL THAT THE FOE IS NIGH; AS THEY RAISED THE STANDARD HIGH FOR THE LORD”

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

Oct. 6, 2014

MY FRIENDS, “WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS,” IS THERE ANY GREATER LOVE?

“WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS All our sins and grief’s to bear, what a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer Oh, what peace we often forfeit Oh, what needless pain we bear All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer.”

A friend for life, oh the privilege of having such a friend, a friendship that maintains a bond of love and companionship throughout one’s life. A bond that has surpassed the test of time. A bond that coexist as one in every situation and circumstances  of our life, whether good or bad.

A friend who has never defected or forsaken us, especially in our most trying times, when the whole world seems to have forsaken us at the very point on this journey when our needs are at their greatest.  A story is told of an individual who was learning to fly, the instructor told him to put the plane into a steep and extended dive.

He was totally unprepared for what was about to happen. After a brief time the engine stalled, and the plane began to plunge out-of-control. It soon became evident that the instructor was not going to help at all. After a few seconds, which seemed like an eternity, the students mind began to function again. He then quickly corrected the situation, and the plane had a smooth landing.

He immediately turned to the instructor and began to vent his frustration. The instructor very calmly said, “There is no position you can get this airplane into that I cannot get you out of, if you want to learn to fly. As a child of God who can with no reservations call our Co-Pilot, Jesus Christ a friend, there is no situation we can get our self into that He cannot get us out of, If we trust and obey.

Paul tells us in Ephesians 3:17-19 (NKJV) So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

My friends “What a friend we have in Jesus All our sins and grief’s to bear, what a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer” “there are times in our life When the wheels just seem to turn and uncertainties about our tomorrow seems to grow. One thing we should remember and we should always know, “WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS.”

An article in National Geographic several years ago provided a penetrating picture of the love of the one who will not leave or forsake us in our time of need. After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno’s damage. One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree.

Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick. When he struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother’s wings. The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise.

When the blaze had arrived and the heat had scorched her small body, the mother had remained steadfast. Because she had been willing to die, so that those under the cover of her wings would live. (Author Unknown) OUR FRIEND, OUR SAVIOR, OUR COMPANION, OUR MEDIATOR, OUR ADVOCATE also remained steadfast on His way to Calvary as he covered mankind under His wings of His grace and love as He gave up His life so that we may live. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13 (KJV) MY FRIENDS, “WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS” THERE IS NO GREATER LOVE, IF WE BELIEVE!!!

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

Oct. 5, 2014

MY FRIENDS, ARE WE READY FOR THE UNCHARTERED TERRITORY CHRIST IS PREPARING HIS CHILDREN FOR?

UNCHARTERED TERRITORY; is defined as a physical or nonphysical region or area not yet mapped, surveyed, or investigated: uncharted waters; the uncharted depths of the mind. My friends, each of us who are looking for Christ soon return, as we come into this final stretch to the finish line, must ask ourselves; are we in “UNCHARTERED TERRITORY?”

Are we moving far beyond all expectations in finishing up Christ work here on earth as we move into “UNCHARTERED TERRITORY” right before Christ soon return?” With the help of the Spirit of God, are we spreading the good news of Christ saving grace to our friends, family, love one’s, co-workers, and a world that has lost sight of the saving grace of our savior, in record pace?

Have we explored every concept and taken it to the depth of our finite minds in how best to finish up the work of Christ that is placed before us by the Spirit of God? My friends it has to be more then go into all the world and preached the gospel for God’s chosen generation “for such a time as this” we must be prepared to make extraordinary things happen for the glory of Christ.

We must constantly be asking the question to ourselves and to the one who did it all for our salvation; what must I do to be saved and enter into Gods pure and holy society as I assist in finishing up your mandate? “UNCHARTERED TERRITORY!” Yes, that must be where we are headed in our final stretch today.

Our desire, our goals, our passion, our focus, our faith, our endurance, our prayers, and the never ending study of God’s word, must never waver as we move beyond the ordinary to the extraordinary, as we keep heaven on our mind.

In addition, to finish this race, it will be very grueling, but we must never forget that our savior also went into UNCHARTERED TERRITORY at the cross but He was victorious as He paved the way for all who seek His kingdom through our faith and endurance.

Hudson Taylor, director of the China Inland Mission, often interviewed candidates for the mission field. On one occasion, he met with a group to determine their motivations for service. “And why do you wish to go as a foreign missionary?” he asked one. “I want to go because Christ has commanded us to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature,” was the reply.

Another said, “I want to go because millions are perishing without Christ.” Others gave different answers. Then Hudson Taylor said, “All of these motives, however good, will fail you in times of testing, trials, tribulations, and possible death. There is but one motive that will sustain you in trial and testing of your faith.

And that is a TERRITORY that very few seek throughout their lives and that is a passion to take the love of Christ to heights and depths never before seen in your lifetime. you must tell yourself THIS IS UNCHARTERED TERRITORY this is the place God has always been trying to take me too, through His love, but now by God’s grace we have arrive.

My friends we must go to places of UNCHARTERED TERRITORY within our minds and body’s we never thought we were capable of going, but because of the Good Shepherds method of preparation all we can say once we get there is, I’ve been here before, when my child decided the values he or she had been taught all of their life was not what they seeked  anymore, as they went out into the world, but now my child teaches bible study on Wednesday night.

Or when my wife or husband laid on their death bed and the doctors had given up hope, but today ten years later they are alive and well. I can go on and on, but the scenarios are the same Jesus saves physically mentally and spiritually and through our faith and endurance, He is preparing us now to go through the UNKNOWN and “UNCHARTERED TERRITORY’S” But remember my friends, our God “will never leave you nor forsake you.” as you move into this “UNCHARTERED TERRITORY” on your way to Promise land.

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

Oct. 2, 2014

MY FRIENDS, ARE WE ALLOWING THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD, TO BE DETRIMENTAL TO OUR SALVATION?

40 years, the Israelites roamed the wilderness, with no specific destination in sight. An entire generation was sentenced to an inactive and slothful wandering in the wilderness. It has been estimated that an average of almost 90 people a day died during those years. Then only Joshua and Caleb remained to represent the generation that left Egypt.

Many of us experience this same dilemma, wandering in the wilderness of this world as the years flies by. As Christians our stay on this earth is only for a little while. Time is precious, and how we spend and use it for God’s glory and honor, is of vital importance to our spending eternity with Christ.

God in the wise foresight and anticipation teaches us how we should be discerning and perceptive about how we continue this journey He has placed his chosen generation on. TV, Facebook, twitter and the internet just to name a few, are obstacles that can be credited to this fast pace got to have it now society, where self-reigns supreme over any and everything even God.

We as a nation have become zombies, who are easily manipulated by government and corporate advertisers. Nothing will stop me tomorrow from being in line with the rest of the world to purchase my new IPhone, got to have it! Got to have it ! got to have it!. If we could only get that excited about spreading the good news of Christ soon return.

Sin and Satan’s desire that we all lose sight of Christ saving grace, while forgetting that life is too short to squander away on what self wants is VERY DETRIMENTAL TO OUR SALVATION. Acts 20:35 (ESV) tells us “In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, “IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE.” Those 8 words eliminates self from our life.

My friends we are now on Probation which is “the testing or trial of a person’s conduct, character, qualifications, or the like.” For God’s Kingdom. It is now time we stop and focus on the image of our Savior as He takes a lump of clay shaping forming it and at times having to reform and restore this image He has in His mind of what this clay should look like.

In addition, as the potter forms our Character the clay must be “totally, unconditionally passive in the hands of the potter.” We should give no resistance to what God wants out of our life” “But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.” Is 64:8 (ESV)

That should be our attitude when we have a passion to give God our all, as we become clay in the Potter’s hand, “making no resistance” as we say “LORD NOT MY WILL BUT THOU WILL BE DONE.” To live our life in any other way except in the hands of God, shifts our “brain activity from what God wants to a state of susceptibility, suggestibility and an unfocused state of mind which then becomes controlled by the god of this world.

Which then lacks the act of knowing, perceiving, or remembering the things God deems beneficial, and THUS ALL WE DO ONLY BECOMES DETRIMENTAL TO OUR SALVATION because it is not done for the one who gave it all for our Salvation. One day soon Christ will enter the clouds above us and his reward will be with Him.

“And [He] will give to each person according to what they have done. And once each have received our proper reward our Savior will say either “Well done, good and trustworthy servant! Since you’ve been trustworthy with a small amount I gave you on this earth I’ll put you in charge of a large amount in my Kingdom, Come and share your master’s joy!”

OR, He will ask you, one final question, why when I was trying to shape you into my image you preferred the image of this world? And the saddest words we will ever here repeated, He will say, YOUR UNFORGIVEN SINS HAVE BEEN DETRIMENTAL TO YOUR SALVATION “I know you not.”

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