Jan 3, 2017

MY FRIENDS, WHAT A PRICE FOR OUR SALVATION!!

We can no longer afford to give sermons without the disturbing implication that “the wages of sin is death.” Sin being anything abhorred by God. But, first we must be crucified with Christ and [we] no longer live, but Christ lives in [us]. And the life [we] now live in the body, [we] live by faith in the Son of God…..” Gal 2:20 (NIV) So if we have a passion for life eternal, Christ must be greater than any situations or circumstances that we feel justifies not crucifying our life and living it in Christ.

And that is where “faith” enters the picture because a growing faith is the sinner’s awareness that God is greater than anything in this finite or limitless world we live in. And as God’s ambassadors to the world, we must make Calvary and who Christ is, and what He has done, not only for ourselves but He must become real to others as well.

But we cannot witness to others with passion that makes them want to change if Christ is not real to us. Real meaning before we sin, the scourging that ripped through the flesh of He, who knew no sin and the crown of thorns that penetrated His brow and the nails that were driven into his hands and feet and the spear that was thrust into his side, such passion then becomes real to us and we no longer have a desire to sin.

In addition, if Christ paid such a price for you and I, we then become disciples and deny self and take up our cross and follow Him wherever He leads as we “count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord….” Phil 3:8 (KJV) So now it’s very personal as we look deep down from within and ask, is salvation and life eternal worth it?

And how hard are we willing to get that pearl of greater price and give up everything this world has to offer for the “priceless privilege and supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus our Lord.” Remember Christ Himself tells us in Matt 7:13-14 (NKJV) to “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.” My friends, The journey is difficult, but not unattainable because “overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loves us.” Romans 8:37 (NLT)

John gives us a shared vision of “a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,” Rev 7:9 (NKJV) and that number is comprised of all the redeemed that traveled that narrow road.

My friends, if we seek “a better Country” we must believe and that belief must grow daily, because when we “were a child we spoke and understood as a child” but as men and women we cannot fight spiritual battles in this world against the “rulers of the darkness of this age” with a Childlike faith.

In addition, the battles we face daily can only be won on our knees as we study God’s word daily and allow His Spirit to penetrate and transform while leading us into “all truth and understanding.”

Jan. 2, 2017

MY FRIENDS, THE BATTLE IS WON ON OUR KNEES

Welcome to 2017, which tells each of God’s children that the narrative or the account of events in our lives did not end in 2016 even though Satan went about daily seeking which one of us he “may devour.” And because Christ lives, with no reservation we understand our God is greater than all of our situations and circumstances and our battles will only be won on our knees. For Gods promise is “I know the thoughts that I think toward you,…

Thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Jer. 29:11-13 (NIV) “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.”

So Elijah got up and ate and drank. [Strengthened by God at a time he had lost all hope], he then traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.” 1 Kings 19:7-8 (NIV) Fed by God, at that point Elijah could continue His journey and only on our knees where the battles are won and we are fed by God will we receive the power of God’s Spirit, and we will also finish our journey.

But first “we must have a deep, earnest sense of our needs. We must feel our weakness and our dependence upon God, and come to Him with contrition of soul and brokenness of heart. Our petitions must be offered in perfect submission; every desire must be brought into harmony with the will of God, and His will must be done in us.” (E.G. White Prevailing Prayer)

On our knees is where we seek and find “the author and finisher of our faith” where the plans and partitions of our life are worked out. Remember, it was on their knees that the three Hebrew boys received the power to stand up to King Nebuchadnezzar and say “our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods.” Daniel 3:16-16 (KJV) And it was at Gethsemane Christ tells His Disciples “why are you sleeping?” “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” Luke 22:46 (NIV) And at Gethsemane, on His Knees is where Christ fought His last battle before Calvary.

2017 will be a challenge for us, Satan is a strangest who through the weeks and months of 2016 has gathered in His sieve the life of ever one who claims to be a child of God but, have not figured out it is “not flesh and blood we struggle with” but “against Satans powerful and evil forces in the heavenly realms.”

Therefor, we feel no need to study the word of God or diligently “pray as we seek Gods presence daily.” Remember, Satan “stalks its prey” making sure He has “set our minds on the things that are of this world, and not on the things above” before He devours, first sifting us gently in His sieve then violently back and forth as the storm intensifies,” and our faith weakens, which then separates us from God. And one day Christ will come like a thief in the night, and we will not know at what time He will come.

DEC 14, 2016

MY FRIENDS, THE STORM SHALL NOT APPROACH US!!!

I have always heard the ground at the foot of thee cross is level, And the best definition I could find for level was equality and in the context of our salvation we all get there equally through the blood of Christ. And if we believe in that blood we must also believe that through that blood we are save. Through that blood when the storm is raging and we don’t hear His voice or feel His Spirit and we cry out to the Master “the tempest is raging in our life! And the billows are tossing high! The sky is overshadowed with blackness, no shelter or help is nigh; Do you even care that we perish?

How can you just lie asleep when each moment of our life, is so madly threatening a grave in the angry deep? And my friends it is at that moment the winds and the waves obey His will, and that still small voice, the Spirit of God Himself says, “Peace, be still!” My friends, God loves us so much that He died to save us from the storm whether demons, principalities, or flesh and blood.

If we believe and endure, every situation of our life obeys the will of the Master, the one why created the heavens and the earth. But we cannot lose focus of our goal, life eternal, “for [the one who calmed that raging sea] knows the plans [He has] for you [and I. That is a promise my friends and the] Lord’s, “plan is to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give you and I hope and a future [right in the middle of that storm]” Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV)

As Christians who are seeking to be in God’s kingdom. God sometimes allow those storms of our life to strengthen us and keep our focus on Calvary. So we must look to the eagle another one of God’s creatures and understand how he handles the storm. As the storm approaches, long before it breaks. The eagle will fly to some high spot and wait for the winds to come and that my friends is when we need to study more than ever God’s word.

In addition, we are praying without ceasing for deliverance. And like the eagle, when the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. So As the storm rages we are soaring above it. The eagle or ourselves do not escape the storm. we simply use the storm to lift us higher.

We rise on the winds that bring the storm because “He will cover [us] with His pinions, And under His wings [all of God’s children] may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. [We] will not be afraid of the terror by night or of the arrow that flies by day; Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.

A thousand may fall at our side and ten thousand at our right hand, But it shall not approach you [or I.]” Ps 91:1-4 (NASB) My friends now focus on those last words in that text “But it shall not approach” us and as we are studying and praying and fasting in the midst of our storm, remember God’s promise the “storm will not approach us” if we are under His wings.

Dec. 13, 2016

MY FRIENDS, IN THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS, WHERE DO WE STAND?

Jesus was accused of sedition a civil crime, not a religious one, which blasphemy would have been. But Rome had no religious affiliations so Christ was “crucified between two thieves, which the word thieves can also mean “insurgents.” A Centurion guard was the commander over a group of  roman soldiers whose only reward was glory in one’s death on the battle field. Their jobs also was to oversee crucifixions, a cruel and unusual method of disposing of insurgents. So the process was not about just killing somebody, but killing them in a horrible way.

The Centurion over these insensitive and heathens soldiers was probably the same one who arrested Jesus on Thursday night in the garden, who saw Peter cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest with a sword and Christ miracle of putting it back. My friends, do we witness daily the miracle of Christ in our life with no regards as to the hand that guides us on this road we travel daily, “like the fool who says there is no God.”

The Centurion was probably with Jesus through His four trials as the head official who maintained order. His soldiers would have been the ones who scourge Christ with “a multi-thong type whip used to inflict severe corporal punishment and mocking Jesus by throwing a cloak on Him as if it were a royal robe, putting a reed in His hand as a scepter and a crown of thorns on His head.

They were the ones who would have taken that mock scepter hitting Him in the face, spitting on Him, ridiculing Him as a fake king, “Hail King of the Jews,” not realizing He truly was the “King of Kings and Lord of Lords. “ They were the soldiers who probably eye-witnessed the entire ordeal from the very beginning, down the Via Dolorosa to Calvary in an act of vulgar, un-sympathetic and callous behavior in the presence of the Son of God.

My friends, why weren’t they in awe at how different Christ reacted compared to the other prisoners they nailed to the cross? Never realizing the purity and righteousness of who Christ was and what the gospel they were witnessing could do to them, if they believed? Never understanding the selfless, sacrificial and unconditional love of the one whose hands and feet they hammered those nails through.

His only response, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Paul tells us in 1 Titus 1:15 (KJV) “To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. So does the things of this world make you and I defiled and unbelieving to the point not even what Christ has done to us and for us we recognize anymore?

And Have we reached the point on our Journey where we have no more regard for His daily blessings then the Roman soldiers or the rabble who cried out crucify Him? But one my friends, only one. The Centurion stood in the shadow of the cross and allowed the good news of Christ crucifixion to transform him as he cried out “Surely this man was the Son of God!” My friends, we mock and crucify Christ daily like the heathen soldiers who knew no God. But like the centurion are we willing to stand in the shadow of the cross and be transformed.

Dec. 12, 2016

MY FRIENDS, “SURELY HE IS THE SON OF GOD,” AND THERE IS NOTHING ELSE TO SAY!!

The theme of the Bible is Jesus and how he died to save [you and I.] The plan of salvation assures us, He’s coming back again. The chorus says, Are you ready for Jesus to come? Are you faithful in all that you do? Have you fought a good fight; Have you stood for the right? Have others seen Jesus in you? The title of the song is where I ask you to focus. “are you ready for Jesus to come?” It did not ask if your family, friends or co-workers were ready, just you.

It’s a personal invitation because our salvation is personal. In addition, what does the gospel of Gods word and the love of Christ do to us spiritually? Remember, we have done our all, but is our all enough in the eyes of God. “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the heart.” Prov 21:2 (KJV)

And it is at that point when we have those doubts is when we focus on “the matchless charms of Jesus,” then an amazing thing will happen in [our] heart: “[we] will fall in love with the Man of Calvary” (Ellen White, Life Sketches, p. 293). Because it is on Calvary, Jesus outstretched hands demonstrates that selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love.

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:7-8 (NKJV) My friends, when we see the passion and make it personal, then obedience to “His will” becomes unavoidable and what the Lord pondereth is a Spirit that is overflowing and a heart that loves as He loves.

And with a shared vision we tell the world; “the theme of the bible is Jesus and how he died to save” all. A certain medieval minister announced he would be preaching the next week on “The Love of God.” As the shadows fell and the light ceased to come in through the church windows, the congregation gathered.

In the darkness of the church, the minister lit a candle and carried it to the picture on the back wall of the sanctuary. A picture of Christ on the cross. First he illumined the crown of thorns on His head, next, Christ pierced hands, then the spear wound in His side. A hush fell on the crowd, he blew out the candle and left the church because there was nothing else to say.

My friends, we must personally see what the Centurion Soldier saw when He said “Surely this man was the Son of God!” And as we look at prophecy and how close we are to Christ second coming, daily we must look at the passion of Christ and say; He would have died just for me, surely He is “the Son of God!” And at that moment there is nothing else to say.

But, it becomes what we do for Christ as we allow His Spirit to transform or heart and soul into the very image of Christ then through our faith and endurance we can say with full assurance that we have fought a good fight, and have stood for the right; and now others see Jesus in all that we do.

Dec. 11, 2016

MY FRIENDS, WHAT DOES A SEVENTH-DAY-ADVENTIST BELIEVE?

The greatest want of the world is the want of men [and woman], men who will not be bought or sold; men who in their inmost souls are true and honest; men who do not fear to call sin by its right name; men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole; men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall. (E.G. White, Education, p. 57) It is not my responsibility to give a history lesson on one’s beliefs because what all Christians should believe in is Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom [we figuratively crucify daily if our life is nor centered around Him.] Whom God raised from the dead.

This is the stone which was [despised and] rejected…..which has become the chief cornerstone. [and there] is salvation in [no] other name under heaven [that has been] given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:10-12 (NKJV) My friends “there is no other alternative for salvation but Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”

So the major beliefs of a SDA even though there are twenty eight of them can be summed up into seven doctrines of the church beginning with 1. Scripture; which is the word of God, 2. Salvation; deliverance from sin by one name only, Jesus Christ. 3. Sanctuary; We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.” Heb. 8:1-2 (NKJV)

4. The Sabbath; which is the seventh day Sabbath in Exodus 20:8, (KJV) “Remember the “Sabbath day to keep it holy” 5. Second coming; And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” John 14:3 (NJKV) 6. State of the Dead; “The resurrection of the dead will occur at the second coming of Christ at the “last trumpet the dead in Christ will rise first.

Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and we shall always be with the Lord” 1 Thess. 4:13-18 (NKJV) 7. Spirit of Prophecy; “Surely the Lord God does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.” Amos 3:7 (NKJV) “Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Rev 19:10 (NKJV)

So my friends, we all must build our faith and endurance on what we believe, and that belief must be based on God’s word. And that faith and endurance becomes a personal testimony because Salvation is not acquired in groups. Individually your belief and faith and endurance must take you through “great tribulation, (pressure, distress, oppression), such has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again]” Matt. 24:21 (NIV)

And He will send His angels with a loud trumpet and they will gather together His elect (God’s chosen ones) from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. Matt. 24:31 (AMP) Therefore, you [who follow Me] must also be ready; because the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him. Matt. 24:44 (AMP) But, This good news of the kingdom [the gospel] will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end [of the age] will come.” Matt 24:14 (AMP)

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MY FRIENDS, WHAT ARE THE THREE ANGELS TELLING US?

Gethsemane, one of Christ last destination before the Passion. “Passion stems from the Latin work pati, meaning “to suffer.” And oh, how our Savior suffered for you and I. After the passover supper with His disciples, He took them to Gethsemane. “Christ then withdrew about a stone’s throw as He knelt down and prayed,  saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.”

And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.  and He arose “and He came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”Luke 22:41-44 (NIV) Matt. 26:40 (ESV)

My friends, it’s now personal and if we are children of God, does the passion of Christ drive us to give it all to Him? And are we so consumed with the things of this world that we fail to understand at what price selfless sacrificial and unconditional passion takes so that we can live throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity?

My friends, this short probationary period we are given from birth to death “could we not watch” and pray to understand the passion of Christ and what it means to our Salvation while studying the three angels in Revelation 14 that gives us a final warning? The first angel tells us to “fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come.”

The second angels message, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” The third tells us, “If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God.”

But my friends, the mercy and grace of God still pleads with His children. Rev. 18:1-5 (NKJV) tells us “after these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. 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!………

“Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.” My friends this is a crucial time in history and prophecy, but most of us are sleeping. Those texts tell us, God has children in Babylon, but has the allurement of the things of this world caused us to fall asleep right here before probation closes and God says it is finished.

At this point in history we are having our final exams, the question I asked you and I would we study less if it was our finals for school or employment? Well this final is for our salvation and life eternal. Are you watching and praying and studying. Remember, “the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Dec. 9, 2016

MY FRIENDS, IF YOU BREAK ONE HAVE YOU BROKE THEM ALL?

The serpent put doubt in the mind of Eve. Doubt about God’s intention as to where He was trying to take humanity on their Journey which started at in the beginning. So “when the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and desirable for gaining wisdom, she took and ate. She also gave some to her husband. Therefore violating God’s divine law” which stated “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Gen 2:16-17 (KJV)

One law, one transgression and they violated that one and the penalty was “you will surely die.” Six thousand years later we have ten laws that God has given us to keep and “whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law., James 2:10-13 (KJV)

But our High Priest sympathizes with our weaknesses [in transgressing God’s law in all areas of our life because He was] tempted in all point as we are, yet without sin.” Heb. 4:14-15 “Therefore, Paul tells us in Rom 12:1-2 (NIV) [we must] offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is our true and proper worship [and] not to “conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind. Then we will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Rom 12:1-2 (NIV)

My friends what that text is telling us, if we have not transformed our minds and allowed our bodies to become a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. But have conformed to the pattern of this world we will not be able to know what the will of God is and with out knowing and understanding His will then we have no problem breaking any of God’s laws.

Therefore putting other gods before Jehovah is no problem, lying is no problem, adultery is no problem, keeping the Sabbath holy is no problem. My friends, none of the commandments will we have a problem with because the “accuser of the brethren” has given us his own law according to Satan and according to his law we will not surly die.

But the true reality is, “Whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Matt 5:18-19 (ESV) Christ also tells us If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15 (NKJV)

So the question we must ask ourselves do we love God enough to give Him our all and keep all of His commandments? Mrs. E. G. Whites says “I love Him because I have proved Him, and I know that He will do all that He has promised to do. He gave His life for me, and I have given all that I have to Him.” And Friends, that must be our mission statement that we have given Him our all because He gave His all for us.

Dec. 7, 2016

MY FRIENDS, ONCE AGAIN LET’S MAKE IT ALL ABOUT SELF!

Let’s focus on self today as we ask ourselves the question. Suppose each day as we move through all of life’s challenges, and we begin to “embrace our life as It Is, rather than what we wish It to be,” or as the world views us. And then my friends, that is when we turn to Calvary, because that is when we understand that we must not turn away from the reality of life but towards where God has brought us from and where He is trying to take us to. And that is when it its OK to make it all about self.

Because self now has begun to take on a transformational change in the beauty and Character of Christ. And self has also taken on a transformational change in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. And self has also taken on a transformational change in the very image of God so when the world, in whatever situation or circumstances sees you and I, they only see Christ. Because the reality of it all is self can now say with no reservation that we have been young.

And now we are old; and yet we have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread.” Psalm 37:25 (NKJV) In addition, once we pivot towards the cross life is not so complicated because “despite awareness of our own sinfulness and humanity and once we begin to look at the cross and understand what that cross was all about.

We become in awe of the fact that when we look at God, God has also looked at us and He has also looked at the pure and holy righteousness of His Son “who knew no sin but took on the burden of sin for us” who “voluntarily” allowed Himself to be “made a little lower than the angels. And it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons [and daughters] to glory, should make the [Author and founder] of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” Heb. 2:9-10 (NKJV)

And now, we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Heb 4:14-15 (NKJV) So now my friends, we can face anything because our life, our character, our emotions, our ups and downs, our high mountains and low valleys, our rough terrains and stormy days our loved gained and our loved lost is a gift from God that only strengthens us.

And along with that gift is His promises that says, “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord our God, He is the One who goes with you” So “let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deut. 31:6 (NKJV) Heb. 13:5 (NKJV)

And one day soon, if we believe and endure, “the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 1 Thess. 4:15-18 (NKJV)