Sep 14, 2017

MY FRIENDS, WHAT WILL WE GIVE IN EXCHANGE FOR OUR SOUL?

“In this age, [meaning today] just prior to the second coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven, such a work as that of John [the Baptist] is to be done. God calls for men [and women] who will prepare a people to stand in the great day of the Lord…. In order to give such a message as John gave, we must have a spiritual experience like his.

The same work must be wrought in us. We must behold God, and in beholding Him lose sight of self.“ (E.G. White, Testimonies for the Church vol. 8, p, 332-333) And as we begin to loose sight of self and maintain that daily communion and commitment with God, we must also be willing to cry out “not my will, but thy will be done.

In addition, as the world sees our boldness and faith they can only perceived that we have been in the presence of Christ, and have walked daily in His footsteps. My friends, our will must be God’s will. So now its personal, so we ask our-self what should I eliminate of this world that keeps my focus off of Gods will for my life. Christ GPS to the kingdom for most of us reads reroute, reroute!! Because many have begun to make choices that eliminates God’s plan and direction for our life.

But it’s our choice because we are unwilling to deny self and follow Christ wherever He leads. My friends, rerouting is difficult because we have already set our course towards the things of this world. But, we can reroute because through “Christ all things are possible.” Christ tells His disciples “for such a time as this,” “If any man [or woman] will come after me, let them deny self, take up their cross daily, and follow me.” “For what shall it profit a man [or woman], to gain the whole world, and lose their own soul?

Or what shall we give in exchange for [our] soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of them also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory…….” Luke 9:23, (KJV) Mark 8:36-38 (KJV) That message is for all who holds self so close to their hearts, while not understanding self is the last frontier or that un-habited region of our heart that Christ has not reached.

My friends, what shall we give in exchange for our soul? We cannot allow Satan to make that a complicated question. Remember, Christ is personally asking. But to answer, we must have a personal relationship with the One asking, because He will personally tell us to watch and pray, that we not allow the things of this world to take our focus off of the things above.

Most of us are faithful church members we stand and wave our hands as the praise team sings, and the Spirit moves through-out the church seeking commitments, So we feel some form of conviction to reroute our course. But, it’s only for a moment because “the spirit is willing, but [self is weak]” because Christ timing for a commitment comes at a bad time. His standard of character for His kingdom is just out of touch with what our plans are at this point in our life. But my friends, Christ standard is our only key to eternal life, so what will you give in exchange for it.

Sep3, 2017

MY FRIENDS, IS GOD’S GRACE SUFFICIENT FOR YOU AND I?

Paul tell us, “to keep himself from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given [to him] in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass [him, and], to keep [him] from becoming conceited. Three times he pleaded with the Lord about this [pain], that it should leave. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (ESV) Which tells you and I that Christ unmerited and undeserving favor is sufficient for every situation and circumstances of our life.

For His power is made perfect in all of our weakness. “And It is because of  His grace we must be crucified with Christ daily until it is no longer you or I who live, but Christ who 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 delivered Himself up for our [salvation].” Gal. 2:20 (NKJV)

Yes, His grace is sufficient to carry us through the storms and rough terrains of this life all the way to His pure and holy kingdom which will continue throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity. Therefore, we must understand as God’s children we are all “shapen in iniquity; and in sin did our mother’s conceive us.” Ps. 51:5 (KJV)

Therefore, we are not placed in time out or given only limited access to His grace because of our sinful nature. But  through the power of God’s grace we must understand, “there is salvation in no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 (NASB)

Consistent with this, as we look at all God has done for us, we must endure through our “weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities of this life.” And my friends, as you and I look at the plan of Salvation, With no reservation we should all be able to say; do we really believe, Our Father allowed His Son to go through all He did for our salvation, and we personally have no cross to bear?

No, Via Dolorosa the (“Way of Grief”) through our journey here on this earth?  But, the question we must also ask ourselves like the one “who, desires to build a tower, does he [or she] not first sit down and count the cost, whether they have enough to complete it? Luke 14:28 (KJV) So in regards to our salvation, as we count the cost, is God’s grace sufficient enough to complete God’s will for our lives here on this earth?

Or has Christ timing for a commitment caught most of His children at a bad time?  And is it at a bad time, because His standard for our Salvation seems to be out of touch with our plans at this point in our life?  “So now consider what it means to desire heaven, and yet turn away from Christ because of the conditions laid down?” So, we tell ourselves, whatever God’s unmerited and undeserving favor is, it really has to be sufficient for now?

Aug. 27, 2017

MY FRIENDS, THIS IS UNCHARTED TERRITORY?

“God’s tender compassion never fails for they are new every morning.” Therefore, our hope rest on the fact that He will Guide us through every situation and circumstances of our life. My friends, most of us have lived long enough to have seen the world as it is, but not as we would want it to be.

As kid’s we woke up daily to a brand new world where the adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and the Hardy boys would come to life within one’s imagination. Where outdoors was a world of castles and moats, that comprised of an array of trees, dogs, tadpoles lightning bugs, creeks and the woods where every trail, hill and rock would lead to one more great adventure where each step you took would be our safety net for life.

And then somewhere between our fantasy world and a world that is over saturated with television, and social media, life became real, with real issues and real choices that we all make throughout our life. Choices that determines one’s unavoidably consequences in this great controversy between good and evil, life and death.

So today it’s personal as we focus on where God is leading us in this world that at times is “uncharted or unexplored territory.” So as God’s Chosen, the journey we are now traveling to the promise land stands on the other side of our trials that we must encounter as this controversy continues and the terrain we travel becomes unfamiliar.

But our Savior has been this way before. He knew the rough terrain would be real to us as we moved from the safety net of our homes as children to a life of strong winds and boisterous waves. And at times because it is “uncharted” we will become terrified and begin to sink.

And like Peter, cry out “Save me Lord!” “And our cries are headed as, He delivers us from all [our] fears,” Ps. 34:4 (KJV) because He knows no temptation [regardless of its source] has overtaken or enticed you or I that is not common to human experience [nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance.]

But God is faithful [to His word [each morning and] He is compassionate and trustworthy,] and He will not let us [sink or] be tempted beyond our ability [to resist], but along with any temptation He [has in the past and is now and] will [always] provide a way of escape, so that we’ll be able to endure [without yielding, and we will overcome temptation with joy]. 1 Cor 10:13 (AMP)

My friends, daily we must be prepared to face that place that goes beyond the unknown, deep into an “uncharted territory”on this Journey Christ has us on. But because of the Good Shepherds method of preparation we can say with no reservation, that [with joy] we will exult in our sufferings.

And we will rejoice in our hardships, knowing that hardship (distress, pressure, and trouble) produces patient and endurance; and endurance, produces a proven character (which defines our spiritual maturity); and with our proven character, it will produce hope and confident and assurance [of our eternal salvation].

My friends, Such hope [in God’s promises] never disappoints us, because God’s love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who [will guide us in all truth and understanding as we prepare to leave our temporary home here on earth to our permanent home with many mansions in God’s kingdom]” Rom. 5:3-6 (KJV) Paraphrased

Aug. 23, 2017

MY FRIENDS, ARE WE WITHIN REACH?

It was not the dread of death that weighed upon Christ. It was not the pain and ignominy of the cross that caused His inexpressible agony. Christ was the prince of sufferers; but His suffering was from a sense of the malignity of sin, a knowledge that through familiarity with evil, man had become blinded to its enormity.

Christ saw how deep is the hold of sin upon the human heart, 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, it must become personal today because every child of God must accept the fact that we are within reach of abundant help, but we are also within reach of loosing it all.

Therefore today we must all stand at the foot of the cross all on different journeys but all within reach and see the Son of God with outstretched hands  and behold Him. Behold the one who gave it all for our Salvation. And today, at this moment we become part of the crowd, all witnesses, all within reach, all with choices to make.

And all with the same opportunity to allow the “word that was made flesh to penetrate our heart as far as the division of the soul both joints and marrow to the deepest parts of our nature while exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of each of our hearts,” as we look up and like the centurion, and they that were with him………who cried out, truly this is the Son of God. Heb. 4:12 (KJV), Matt. 27:54 (KJV), Paraphrase

Yes my friends, it’s personal because we now realize we are within reach which tells us we are also “Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Gal. 3:29 (NIV) But also there’s Judas, he was within reach for over three years and today we must ask, which one of us represent him who betrayed the Son of man with a kiss.

He had become blinded by the enormity of greed up to this point, “but with a kiss” “Infinite righteousness and infinite wisdom had resolved to leave him alone.” Such a small gesture to seal one’s fate and place Him in the monstrous category with the likes of Caiaphas, “it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” And Pilate, “Whom should I release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?

And the Rabble who cried “Away with this man, and release for us Barabbas!” Who was a murderer and a thief. And “Herod and his soldiers who ridiculed and mocked Christ. Dressing him in an elegant robe, as if some freak at a side-show circus. All within reach all with the same opportunity for salvation. But as the Spirit searched to probe their evil heart and show the love and grace of the one they were about to crucify, they walk away all sealing their destiny.

My friends, where do we stand at the crossroads? We are within reach. Christ sees how deep is the hold of sin upon our heart. But, are we willing to break from it’s power by allowing the Spirit of God to transform our Character into the likeness and image of Christ who died for our sins. Or have we become blinded by the enormity of sin and decided the commitment is to great.

Aug. 22, 2017

MY FRIENDS, WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY, COULD WE HAVE STOPPED IT?

“It’s not fake news; it’s good news. It’s a story that could eclipse all other stories. No way you can stop today’s total solar eclipse from happening. It’s celestial, and we have no control over it. The only way to stop it would be to extinguish the sun or knock the moon or Earth out of orbit. According to NASA, this is a “celestial coincidence,” as the sun is about 400 times wider than the moon and about 400 times farther away.

From certain vantage points on Earth, the moon will completely block the sun. This is called totality. When the Earth, moon and sun line up just right, the moon blocks the sun’s entire surface, creating the total eclipse.” (By Judson Jones, CNN)” My friends, focus on those words but let’s re-word the statement in regards to our salvation. “It’s not fake news; it’s the good news of the gospel.

And It’s a story that will eclipse all other stories. And there’s no way we can stop Christ from coming. The only way to stop Him would be to extinguish the sun or knock the moon or Earth out of orbit and that will never happen because Christ is the One who created the heavens and the earth along with the sun and moon so nothing can stop Him.

Mrs. White tells us in the “The Great Controversy, p 640,” Soon there will appear in the east a small black cloud, about half the size of a man’s hand. It is the cloud which surrounds the Saviour and which seems in the distance to be shrouded in darkness. The people of God know this to be the sign of the Son of man.

In solemn silence they gaze upon it as it draws nearer the earth, becoming lighter and more glorious, until it is a great white cloud, its base a glory like consuming fire, and above it the rainbow of the covenant. Jesus rides forth as a mighty conqueror. Not now a “Man of Sorrows,” to drink the bitter cup of shame and woe, He comes, victor in heaven and earth, to judge the living and the dead.

“Faithful and True,” “in righteousness He doth judge and make war.” And “the armies which were in heaven” Revelation 19:11, 14 follow Him. With anthems of celestial melody the holy angels, a vast, unnumbered throng, attend Him on His way.” Now we must ask my friends, will we be ready when Christ comes a second time. Remember there is no way any one can stop Him.

John tells us in Rev. 22:12-14 (KJV) “And, behold, [He] comes quickly [He meaning Christ;] and His reward is with Him, to give every man [and woman] according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have a right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”

My friends as heirs and joint heirs with God’s only Begotten Son, our faith in the promises of God in His word tells us that we have a right to eternal life and a right to live in his pure and holy kingdom right along with His Son. Oh what an honor for a wretched sinner like you and I if we believe to have the same privileges as His Son. Praise God from whom all blessings flow”