July 17, 2013

IT IS FINISHED

When we as Christians think simplistically about saving souls, especially in regards to our family, friends love ones, and co-workers we set ourselves up to always expect simple solutions recognizable answers, and precise results even under insurmountable situations and circumstances. But as Christians, we all need to come to terms with the actuality that Satan still exists and he is as strong as ever Because he realizes His time is just about up.

Satan has had close to six thousand years to study prophecy. And he knew over two thousand years ago when Christ said “IT IS FINISHED!” that his days were numbered. Yes, at the cross was the end of it all for Satan. Yes, at that point, Satan knew without a doubt, that all the prophesies, all the laws, all the prophets before Christ, terminated on the cross when Christ repeated, just three words. And everything from that point is than consummated, because this is where God concludes, to everyone who believes, “IT IS FINISH!”.

Three simple words became Satan’s demise. “IT IS FINISHED!”. I don’t believe that ever in history of our world, anywhere, at any time, by anybody, where three words, were more pertinent with there meaning, than these three words given by one man our Savior on Calvary. “IT IS FINISHED!” In John 19:30 it says “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar He said, ‘IT IS FINISHED!’ and He bowed His head and gave up the ghost.”

And I  believe, Satan and all the forces of evil were totally shocked, and amazed! You see, this is the platform into which Jesus is moving. You can say the life of Jesus was a three act drama. The first 30 years of His life, act 1, is in preparation for the last three which is act 2, and the final act, act three, which will take place when He leaves the heavenly courts, to come and get his faithful children. The first chapter has been written, The second chapter came to a climax on the cross, when he said “IT IS FINISHED”

The third chapter began at His resurrection, and will end very soon. 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 says “for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape”. The terror Satan must have felt when Christ said “IT IS FINISHED”! I can only imagine demons asking Satan what’s happening as they see Jesus dying on the cross.

I can see angels looking over the parapets of heaven, I can see the Jews the Romans and the Greeks all there together on Calvary wondering what is this all about. But it was not until the death of Christ, that Satan’s character clearly was revealed. Satan had so hidden himself with duplicity, and deceit that even the holy Angels had not understood the course he took or why. The plan of redemption was completed at Calvary the character of God was revealed to all mankind, and God’s love and honor is now established.

The destruction of sin and Satan was forever made certain to all, at the cross, and the redemption and salvation of man was guaranteed. And the universe was forever protected from the penalty of sin, if and only if, we are willing to give it all to Master. At the cross, Christ and His Father fully comprehended what His sacrifice on Calvary meant to each of us who believed, as He looked forward to our Salvation. And what those three words would mean to the faithful, when He cried out, “IT IS FINISHED.”

Each Old Testament prophet before Christ was like an artist that came along and put their own unique style on the canvas of this story. One by one, they came, each putting their distinct, color and touch on the canvas. Then as Christ is Crucified, we have the final stroke which finishes the picture, and meaning of God’s sacrifice, for us, and his angels who up to this point still did not fully understand. And now the revelation to mankind IS FINISHED! And Satan’s fate is sealed.

But we as Christians have A responsibility, because it is only an individual who has walked with God who recognizes the importance of Paul”s statement in Romans 5:7-9 when he says “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!”

John says it best in John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” So our mandate Comes directly from our savior who did it all for us. And that is to tell the world “IT IS FINISHED!”. And through Christ, we whose heart is fixed to serve God will always find the opportunity to be a witness for Him, because the more we can focus on the character and love of Christ the more we come to realize that we must follow Him all the way to Calvary by being A humble servant to others as we carry out Christ mission to go into all the world and tell everyone of His love, grace, and mercy.

Remember success as a Christian for Christ is not Him asking us to devote ourselves to His cause: but for us to yield ourselves to His will. Every excuse in word and action, with every element of fear and faithlessness to continue witnessing for Him was challenged and answered on the cross. Like Christ who forever stayed focused on His goal, which was the cross, and our salvation, places each individual who has decided to endure till the end, in various situations, and circumstances, in order to instill upon Them, duties that will be peculiar to the times in which they live, and the various conditions under which we as Christians are placed in order to tell everyone about the good news.

And yes the good news to everyone who believes is “IT IS FINISHED!”. Especially as we enter into the final days of this life’s history, we must constantly study the word of God and seek His Spirit, as we sustain a heartfelt prayer life, “while putting on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes”, as you begin to finish this race, while allowing the light of Gods Spirit to also be open before those we witness to. But remember truth is no more desired by the majority today than it was when Christ was on this earth. So we must not get discourage as we use Christ as our example forever enduring to the end.

So my friends, please, never give up, continue the fight to spread the word of God, in this sinful and immoral world we live in, and endure, and never give up until the race is over, and you have reach the finish line. Oh the gratitude of souls that will meet us in the heavenly courts, to thank us for our efforts in presenting the gospel of Christ to them, and letting them know Satan was defeated, and there salvation assured at the cross when Christ said “IT IS FINISHED!”.

And at that time they will finally come to understand the sympathetic, and loving interest which was taken by our Savior, and the faithful workers of Christ, so that they may have salvation. And then, together on one accord, in adoration, throughout the heavenly courts, we will all give God the praise, glory and honor, for we will forever recognize, without Satan telling us otherwise, the Love grace and mercy employed in the salvation of mankind on this earth that were ready to parish, until God sent His only Begotten Son, to die on a cruel cross and, so that we may all be saved from the penalty of sin. And now my friends that is how the story ends.

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

July 16, 2013

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE LIKE CHRIST

It is impossible for man to understand by using his limited intellect the things or mind of God. Man cannot imitate Christ by some scientific method, as if it was as simple as putting a man on the moon, or inventing a microchip the size of a pins head that holds billions and billions of scientific data. So what is the key to Christ likeness or having His Character. Acts 4:13 says “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.?”

So does that mean to be like Christ you must be with Christ. and to be with Christ what does that mean. He no longer walks among us. So does man really have the intellect to explain God So we can get some feel of who God is in order to be like Him. One scientists who wrote “The God Theory” Bernard Haisch ” Says he believes in a metaphysical deity who can only experience material reality through living beings. He believes that the purposeful ideas of God somehow manifested into the laws of nature underlying the universe.

He sees a God who initiated the Big Bang 14 billion years ago, and whose ideas support the astrophysical inflation theory of multiverses. He combines science and religion into a rational kind of uplifting spirituality that is geared at providing a more tolerant and enriching metaphysical path.” I can say without a doubt I just wrote something that I cannot tell you for the life of me what i just wrote, I only wrote that to show you the possibility of an intelligent mind and a foolish mind being the same person, each joining forces to make one foolish statement. But moving on to something that makes sense.

John says in 1 John 2:5 “But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them.” This is how we know we are in him: The Apostle Paul writes, in Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” John 1:1 says In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Also in John 1:14 it says “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory.

Glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” So can I know God by just knowing The scriptures. Something doesn’t seem right with that picture either. Well I can tell you my friends today and I can only tell you because of my faith and what that means to me and hope your faith tells you the same. and that is their is only one way to really know God first we must ask God’s Spirit to give us understanding of the Word of God as we study diligently each day.

And that is the beginning of a firm foundation in knowing Christ, one that will be laid deep into your heart. Luke says in Luke 6:47-49 Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.

Paul says In 1 Corinthians 3:11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. In 2 Timothy 2:19 it also says “But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone… ” So those text tell me, if you Build a good, solid and secure foundation deep in your heart, based on God’s truth in His word and at the same time completely surrender your will to the master, while allowing your character to totally be consumed and transformed by the character of God his Spirit and His word.

Luke 6:40 says it best “The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher”. Also in 2 Corinthians 3:18 it states “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” It is then and only then that we as Christians become like Jesus. It is then the work of God’s Spirit to transform our Mind and Body, and not by the rationalizing and foolishness of some scientific intellect who tries to prove otherwise.

Understanding and knowing God and His word is the process by which God’s character is cultivated in us. But it must be a daily process, and in so doing, we become aware of our own existence, sensations, thoughts, and surroundings, through Christ, and as a result, each day we begin to walk into Gods divine wisdom, A wisdom that allows us to focus and walk along the same path that Christ did when He was own this earth. A path of a humble and loving servant to all. Someone once approached Blaise Pascal, the famous French philosopher and said,

“If I had your brains, I would be a better person.” Pascal replied, “Be a better person and you will have my brains.” Paul says In Philippians 2:5 “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. Paul also says, as He talks about Imitating Christ’s Humility in Philippians 2:1-2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.”

Of all the wonderful attributes of our Lord, as I try and understand Him and the things He wants us to know about Him. The most outstanding was his humbleness. Paul states in Philippians 2:5-8 “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Isaiah says also in Isaiah 66:2 “Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the Lord. “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.” We should strive daily to be like Jesus in all we do or say even when no one else sees us, but God. Even after preaching all day to the masses, Jesus would leave to pray. His life was sustained by His time with His Father.

So should ours be the same, as we walk daily in the path and righteousness of our Lord and Savior. God chose us to become like His Son, so that His Son would be the firstborn with many brothers and sisters (Romans 8:29) says it best “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” Oh what a honor, so to show my thanks and love to God for all He has done for me I will serve Him till the day He comes to take me away to live in His pure and holy kingdom. And each day until then. May each individual we come in contact with, recognize us as someone who have been with Jesus.

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

July 14, 2013

Traveling the Narrow Way Through Faith

My friends let’s take a trip with Ms. white today. “We start off with being in the company of a large body of people, preparing to take a journey, with heavily loaded wagons. As we journey, the road seems to ascend. On one side of this road is a deep vertical cliff; on the other is a high, smooth, white wall. As we journey on, this road grows narrower and steeper. It eventually became so narrow that we could no longer travel with the loaded wagons. We then loosed them from the horses, took a portion of the luggage from the wagons and placed it upon the horses, and journeyed on horseback. The path continued to grow narrow.

We were then obliged to press close to the wall, to save ourselves from falling off the narrow road down the cliff. We then decided to remove the luggage from the horses, over the cliff it went. We continued, greatly fearing, as we came to the narrower places in the road, that we would fall over the cliff also. But, a hand always seemed to take the bridle, and guide us over the perilous way. As the path grew more narrow, even horseback was no longer safe, we soon left the horses and went on foot, in single file, one following in the footsteps of another.

At this point small cords were let down from the top of the pure white wall; these we eagerly grasped, as they aided us in keeping our balance along the path, which finally became so narrow that we concluded that we could travel more safely without shoes or socks; so we slipped them from our feet, and continued the journey. We then thought of those who started this journey with us, who were not accustomed to privations and hardships who allowed the afair’s of this world to consume them instead of the Word of God and His Spirit.

Where were they now? For they were no longer in our company. For at every stop, some were left behind, only those remained who had accustomed themselves through the years, to endure trials and hardships. The privations of the way only made those who were left on this journey more eager to press on to the end. The danger of falling from the pathway increased, as we pressed closer to the wall. We then suspended nearly our whole weight upon the cords, exclaiming: “We have hold from above!” The same words were uttered by all who were left.

We then shuddered as we heard the sounds, of mirth and revelry that seemed to come from the abyss below. For we all understood that Babylon the great was fallen, “and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.”And it all seemed to come from the abyss below.

We were then more anxious than ever to keep upon the narrow, difficult pathway. Much of the time we were compelled to suspend our whole weight upon the cords, which increased in size as we progressed. I noticed that the beautiful white wall was stained with blood, but I realized it was all as it should be. For thoes who will come behind us, will know that others have passed the narrow, difficult way before them, and will conclude that if others were able to pursue this onward course, then they can do the same. And as the blood shall be pressed from their aching feet, they will not faint with discouragement; but, seeing the blood upon the wall, they will know that others have endured the same pain.

Our path soon ended. There was nothing now to guide our feet, our whole reliance must be upon the cords, which had increased in size, until they were as large as our bodies. Here we were for a time thrown into perplexity and distress. We inquired in fearful whispers, “To what is the cord attached?” A fearful struggle was before us. Should we fail here, all the difficulties of our journey that we had experienced would be for naught. But Before us, on the other side of the chasm, was a beautiful field of green grass, with soft beams of light, resembling fine gold and silver. Nothing I had seen upon earth could compare in beauty and glory with this field then I remembered

1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But could we succeed in reaching it, was our anxious inquiry. For we knew should the cord break, we would perish. Again, in whispered anguish, the words were breathed, “What holds the cord?” Then we exclaimed: “Our only hope is to trust wholly to the cord. It has been our dependence all the difficult way. The words were then spoken:

“God holds the cord. We need not fear.” These words were repeated by those behind us, accompanied with: He didn’t say that your way would be easy trials, but they do come about only to make us strong, So that we will endure till the end of our journey, because our example comes from the one who paved the way for us all, on Calvary “He will not fail us now. He has brought us thus far by faith.” we then swung over the fearful abyss into the beautiful field beyond. Oh what a sense of relief and gratitude to God. We than heard voices that no man can number raised in triumphant.

Praise to God! Praise to God!, “and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.” My friends this was only a dream that Ms.White had in the eighteen hundreds, but my question to you today is, will you be among the redeemed that will stay focused and endure, through it all. And will you give it all up for the Master in order to live throughout eternity with Him. Nothing on this earth is worth losing out on what God Has in store for those who will finish this race through faith, and endure till the end.

In Phil. 3:7,8, Paul said: “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. But indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ” and Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions and in the age to come, eternal life” (Mark.10:29,30). Friends!! YOUR CHOICE YOUR DECISION!!

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

July 13, 2013

ARE WE ENTITLED TO MORE TIME AND MORE GRACE

In a speech made in 1863, Abraham Lincoln said, “We have been the receipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prospertiy; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own.

Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.” Now Lets move the clock forward 150 years later to July 13, 2013 and ask yourself HAS ANYTHING CHANGED? Not at all Peter says in 2 Peter 3:4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”

But lets move on to our subject today which is about Gods grace in Romans 5:20 Paul says Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, he also states in Romans 5:17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. Florida mass Choir sings a song name more time more grace the words go something like this.

Grace more time and more grace even more to run this race I sit and come short of your glory is true but all the pardon I need I found it in you Lord I’ve made up my mind to ask for more grace and a little more time. often heard it said time belongs to no one clock can’t turn back all the wrong we’ve done but Lord I’m calling out your name as best I can and i’m asking for the blessings that comes from your name.

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia grace is defined as a theological term present in many religions. It has been defined as the divine influence which operates in humans to regenerate and sanctify, to inspire virtuous impulses, and to impart strength to endure trial and resist temptation and as an individual virtue or excellence of divine origin. I love the part that says to impart strength to endure trial and resist temptation.

Paul says in Ephesians 2:8-10. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Simply put, GRACE can be defined as unearned favor, A free gift and can never be earned no matter how many sick individuals we visit, or how much tithe we give or food we give to the homeless. No amount of work will ever earn Gods favor, It is God’s gift, A gift of salvation, granted to sinners for their salvation.

Common Christian teaching is that grace is unmerited mercy or favor that God gave to humanity by sending his son to die on a cruel cross, thus delivering eternal salvation God’s JUSTICE, MERCY and GRACE can be compared to the pardon that a governor of a state can give to a guilty prisoner who because of his crimes against humanity was sentence to death without a reasonable doubt by A jury of his peers, on all counts. JUSTICE will now be served and death is assured unless the Governor has MERCY and pardons or FORGIVES the prisoner.

But because the Governor is the final Judge. He, and only He, gives the prisoner not only a pardon, but also total freedom, and on top of that, a huge mansion to live in, and unlimited resources of things he could have never imagined he would ever have or be entitled to. Now you can say the Governor has given the guilty prisoner both MERCY & GRACE. If he had received the JUSTICE that he deserved than JUSTICE would have meant, the sentence be carried out and he dies for his crime.

The same with God’s grace, JUSTICE for our sins means death because that is what we deserve because we are guilty of our sins. Paul says in Romans 3:23, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. So that means once again we all should die but Paul also says in Romans 6:23, For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. So now that tells me we have been given a stay of execution. And Right now God offers us a pardon (MERCY).

He also wants to forgive us and set us free from the results of sin. And He has the right to do this because He is our creator. And our creator, Jesus Christ, came from His beautiful home in heaven to this wicked universe and died on a cruel cross so that we would not have to die. But His death can only be our salvation if we accept it. The choice is up to us. The prisoner above could also have decided not to take the offer the judge gave him, and die. To us that would seem like a stupid decision for him to make, especially since the Governor is willing to give him not only his life but treasures beyond anything he has ever imagined.

Paul states in 1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him. Isaiah also says in the old Testament in Isaiah 64:4 For since the beginning of the world Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, Nor has the eye seen any God besides You, Who acts for the one who waits for Him.

But my friends think about all the time, and grace, God has given you to get it right, and then think about all the time you spend in front of the TV or gossiping on the phone, or at the dinner table after church, I heard something funny the other day someone told me, I don’t gossip I just need to here everything so i will know just what to pray for, if that was really the case. But If Christ is truly going to be our example.

Peter says it best in 1 Peter 2:21-25 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

john also says in 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. My friends time and grace is running out this race will be over soon and God will say it is finished in Revelation 21:6-7 john says And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.

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

July 12, 2013

WHAT HAS GOD DONE FOR YOU LATELY

The RAPID RESPONSE TEAM that God has formed for His Faithful is called: GODS HIGH AWARENESS RESPONSE TEAM (GHART), which is a team of Mind Body and Soul care providers such as physician, nurses, Pastors, God fearing Christians, and all the forces from Gods pure and holy kingdom which responds to high awareness cases in an effort to decrease the risk of further deterioration of our mind and bodies that is the result of sin That Satan implanted into earth over six thousands years ago.

Our God leads this team each day as he rescues each of us from the clutches of Satan and the effect sin brings about in our life. But we must always remember God and God along is the head of this team which becomes the source which is continually building a fence around His faithful children to protect us against the forces of evil, in Ephesians 6:12-13 Paul states For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”  As our God leads this special team He comforts us with these words in Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” As He wipes thoe tears away from our eyes His promise is, one day soon my children I will wipe your tears away for the last time if you can stay focused have faith and believe and endure this race till the end for John says in. John 16:20 Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.

also John tells us in Revelation 21:4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. Isaiah says also in Isaiah 60:19-20 God the Glory of His People “The sun shall no longer be your light by day, Nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you; But the Lord will be to you an everlasting light, And your God your glory.Your sun shall no longer go down, Nor shall your moon withdraw itself; For the Lord will be your everlasting light, And the days of your mourning shall be ended.

And what is so great about these promises is the head of this rescue team is God Himself, not your mother or father or husband or wife or brother or sister, but God Himself will wipe your tears away. And as He brings each of us safely through the trials and storms in our life, Every problem, and troubling situation we as Christians face in this sinful world, He takes us through. But we must remember trials sometimes are allowed by God who as the head of this rescue team, always has a specific purpose, or reason far greater than what appears to be happening as we face the storms of life.

It is God personally that guides the process of transforming our character into the likeness of Christ. Our faith is being sharpened as a sword to equip us for each and every battle we will face with Christ at our side, against Satan in this sinful world we live in. But you must remember the victory has already been won on Calvary and there is nothing that can destroy the faithful Christian who has put his entire faith in Jesus Christ and him Crucified.

We are conquerors through Christ. Paul says it best in Romans 8:35-37 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” The truth is that the strength to endure every painful trial lay’s in our total dependence on Christ. If your eyes were opened to view the spiritual battle that is raging, each day for your soul you would see the army of the living God totally surrounding and protecting His faithful children with weapons far greater than the forces of evil.

For our God has the weapon that can never be destroyed and that is the weapon of the cross. Though you will still endure attacks from the enemy, your hope of victory is secure no matter what may happen if you are faithful and endure, simply because Jesus died so you would gain through him, the victory. As God wakes you up each day and every circumstances or situation in your life seems to becomes a problem. Never forget only God can solve our problems. But because we become so involved with all of the day to day problems of this sinful world, we can’t see over the storm to the rainbow, which there lies our only hope which is in Jesus Christ our Savior, His Spirit and His word.

God truly is interested in the day-to-day progression of our life, He really is a on time God who never leaves our side along with all His power to manage any problems that we may encounter. Remember it was He who created the world we live in and it is He who controls it all. So I think He can handle our little problem no matter how small or large the problem may be. Jude 1:24-25 says “Glory to God Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.

“The Christian should never think that God will love us because we are good, Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; but that God will make us good, and watch over us because He loves us. And will do whatever it will take to save us from sin even to the point of dying on a cross. So my friends right now Let’s just take the time to express the love God has shown for us. As we give Him from the bottom of our heart all the honor praise and glory that our God and our God only deserves.

Psalm 95:2-3 Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. “For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods.

Psalm 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.

2 Corinthians 9:11-12 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.

Ephesians 1:15-16 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

1 Timothy 4:4-5 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

1 Chronicles 16:34 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever
So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

July 11, 2013

I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believe………
This is how Webster defines the word ashamed: a·shamed 1. feeling shame; distressed or embarrassed by feelings of guilt, foolishness, or disgrace: He felt ashamed for having spoken so cruelly. 2. unwilling or restrained because of fear of shame, ridicule, or disapproval: They were ashamed to show their work.

There was the story of a boy who was asked by his mother what he had learned in Sabbath school that day. The boy describes the story of the Israelites exodus from Egypt, but when he came to the dramatic portion about the crossing of the Red Sea, here is how he told the story: “Moses took out his walkie-talkie and called in the Israeli Air Force to bomb the Egyptians, while the others built a pontoon bridge to crossover the Red Sea.” The boy’s mother asked, “Is that how they told you the story?” He dropped his head and muttered, “Well, no, Mom, but if I told you the story the way they told it to me, you’d never believe it!”

Most of our sentiments exactly. Whenever we read the Bible, we are suddenly thrust into a world which seems out of touch with the reality of what we as humans consider real or believable. For instance. Let’s take a few stories from the Word of God: First story, A world where the world we live in was created in seven days, A world where seas part and where millions of people traveled across on dry ground, A world where one man is able to kill a thousand men with the jawbone of a ass,

A world where a teenager kills a giant with a slingshot and a stone. A world where a man is swollowed by a big fish and lives in his belly for three days before the fish spits him out. A world where Three men are thrown into a furnace of fire, and not get burned, A world where a man is put in a den of hungry lions and they refuse to touch Him. but the ultimate or the most distant oh all the stories in this world we called His holy word is the story about God himself. Who reincarnates His Son into a woman’s body He’s then born in A manger here on earth.

He then lives a sinless life for thirty thee years and doing this time He performs many miracles and at the same time He, proclaims the good news of the gospel and then the Jewish people, His own ancestry, kills Him by Crucifixion on a hill called Calvary and then Jesus raises Himself from the grave and He does all of this for our sins so that we can receive Salvation, but only if we believe and have faith in this fantastic story. And if we do have faith and believe His word one day soon we will go to live with him in a far away place in the sky to a place called heaven for eternity, where sin will no longer exist.

My friends, I just repeated to you, the good news of the gospel, but it is not for the saved Christian. We are beneficiaries of it, but the Gospel is for the lost. the sinner. The adulterous, lying, stealing, gossiping, murdereous, covertness, greedy generation who are seeking a sign. In Mathew 12:39 it says An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign. friends history tells us millions of martyrs died for this same gospel some of you are ashamed to proclaim. And most of them were not some skilled competent, proficient orator, or eloquent practitioner.

But the good news of the gospel was mostly proclaimed by the common mediocre man or woman who experienced the transforming power of the holy Spirit in there lives, and just wanted to proclaim this good news of what Christ had done, and was doing in there lives at the time “I was sinking deep in sin, Far from the peaceful shore, Very deeply stained within, Sinking to rise no more; But the Master of the sea Heard my despairing cry, From the waters lifted me, Now safe am I. Love lifted me! Love lifted me!When nothing else could help Love lifted me!

My friends what a wonderful message to proclaim as you begin to tell how our loving Savior lifted you up and brought you to Safety in His loving, caring and merciful arms. Friends if you are willing to give it all for the Master the Bible will speak for itself through Gods Spirit. Because there is power in the Word! 1 John 2:14 says I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

So, let us all say with Paul, “I AM NOT ASHAME OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.” And we as Christians need never to be ashamed of our Christian faith because of God’s promises in Romans 5:5 “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Romans 10:11 also says For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame” and finally Matthew 24:10-14 “And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

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

July 10, 2013

JUST CLAIM IT

Friends!! increase my territory Lord Out of All of Gods promises I ask for. Good friends are at the top of the list, and not for the sake of having friends. But Godly Christian friends, friends who will always encourage you in Gods name and His name only. Who’s mission on earth is like yours and that is to finish up God’s work here on earth so we who believe and have faith in a risen Savior may live throughout eternity in His pure and holy kingdom. In fact I have met some new friends this weekend who gave me the inspiration for my title today JUST CLAIM IT:

As they conveyed their unique story about JUST CLAIM IT, and how it worked for them, it awakened a sleeping giant in myself of all the promises God has given us to believe on Him, and just what He is willing to do for His faithful. It begins with them looking for a new home, upon finding one it was already occupied by someone in fact it was designed and built by the developer who built the subdivision where the house was located, so With him being a builder, and a developer it had everything a family could ask for.

But soon He died and his family moved in. But a year later they put it up for sale. My friends applied to get the house along with many others who were interested, but as Christians they claimed it in Jesus name not saying that the other potential buyers were not Christians, but moving on with the story. Each day they would go to the house walk around, sit on the porch, and at times wave at there soon to be new neighbors, always at the door greeting other potential buyers as they came in. Measuring for curtains and other accessories for there JUST CLAIM IT new home.

But to make a long story short God blessed them with this beautiful home, and at a price that only God could have  taken over the negotiations for them. But they were not too surprised because they had already CLAIMED IT in Gods name. And by the way I have been staying in this beautiful home for the last few days, but you are probably saying didn’t he say he just met them. You are right but I also said they were Christians, but that is another devotional topic for another day and time. But for now I go to Joshua to one of God’s promises when I think of my friends story.

Joshua 24:13-15  “So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant. “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness……….. then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…….. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” God is so ready willing and able to bless your life and everything you do. He will provide for your every need. He will open doors for you that you did not think would ever be possible.

Paul say’s in Ephesians 3:20 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” Luke also states in Luke 11:9-10…… “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” But it is all about CLAIMING IT in Gods name. God will always enter the soul of each child of His, through His own private door one that is set up for only Him to enter.

So When we move in Gods direction, our Savior takes a giant step toward that individual to forever embrace that person as one of His own and to give us what we ask in His name. John 15:7 says If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. The good news today! There is a king of kings and a Lord of Lords who is named Jesus Christ. And He has declared that every blessing recorded in His word is available to you for the asking.

But most of the time, You have not because you ask not. Ask now and receive the blessings that God the Father ordained specifically for you since the beginning of time. but there is another side to JUST CLAIM IT also. When you do ask God for something. The key to you getting it is, it has to be all about God and His glory James states it best in James 4:3 “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”

so whatever you ask, make it all about Him and Him only. So my friends today have faith  in our God and  start living a life saturated in overwhelming blessings that focuses on Gods needs and not yours. Each faithful follower of Christ is born with a pure co­nnec­tion to God. But As we move around in this sinful world and we become more attached to earthly things, that co­nnec­tion weak­ens, and is some­times bro­ken. That is why our focus must be forever on Christ, His word, and Him Crucified.

So each day remind yourself that Salvation if accepted, is a gift if we choose to accept it. Life will always bring it’s chal­lenges, but there is always Gods blessings. Some of the many blessings God gives could be just a deep­en­ing knowl­edge of yourself and learn­ing that you are stronger than you thought because you gave it all to the Master, or it could be that God is teach­ing you grace in a way you never expected. Or it could just be a beautiful house, that each day you wake up you realize it was a gift from God and your thanks to Him will be to serve Him each day and give Him all the glory and honor each day of your life.

And now, let your prayers always be “LORD I’M AVAILABLE TO YOU. My will I give to You. I’ll do what You say do. Use me Lord To show someone the way, and enable me to say, My storage is empty, and I am available to You. Now I’m giving back to You, all the tools You gave to me. My hands, my ears, my voice, my eyes; so You can use them as You please. I have emptied out my cup, So that You can fill me up. Now I’m free and I just want to be more available to You.” So my friends today I will CLAIM the ultimate gift, which is eternal life.

And I am expecting him to honor that claim and redeem me, and my friends, family, love one’s, co-workers neighbors, and a world who is willing to listen to the good news of Christ soon return. I am expecting him to do this because, of His promises, and because I will remain focused and believe and have faith and love as He loved and endure until I see the clouds roll back before me, and I can see His face and the face of the one’s I loved so dearly who have been laid to rest in the loving arms of Jesus Christ.

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

Just a few JUST CLAIM IT Text for you to go through each day of your life until our Saviors soon return.

John 14:13-14 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask[a] anything in My name, I will do it.

Matthew 21:22 And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

John 16:24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

John 14:14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.

John 14:13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

John 16:23-24 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

Romans 8:32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

Romans 10:12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him

Romans 8:37-39 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

JULY 7, 2013

WHAT IS THE GREATEST MIRACLE EVER PERFORMED BY GOD iS IT?
1. The virgin birth
2. Changing water into wine
3. Healing the sick
4. Healing the lepers
5. Healing the paralytic
6. bringing the dead back to life
7. Casting out deamons
8. Healing the death, blind and dumb
9. Feeding five thousand with only two fish and five loves of bread
10. Walking on water
11. Raising of Lazarus afterr being dead for four days
12. The resurrection of Jesus

Great!!! wonderful!!!! and marvelous!!!! are all adjectives describing miracles preformed by God in fact John states in John 21:25 “And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.” So today I lay back with my eyes closed and just wonder. Out of all of these great miracles that God preformed what would be considered the greatest of them all? And I can come to only one conclusion and that is it is not one that I have listed here today, or that was preformed when Christ was here on earth. But there is no doubt in my mind that the greatest miracle ever and I mean ever, ever performed by God was when He took a sinner like me and transformed my life from being the wretched person I was, to the one who recognizes and believes through the faith of God and His word every day of my life, the grace of God and what Calvary meant for my SALVATION and through this faith of mine I can say without a doubt that Lord, I am going to trust you totally and place all of my confidence, hopes and dreams of eternity exclusively, on Calvary and what Christ did for me. and if what he has done for me, is not powerful enough to save me, then I will go to hell, because I will not trust in anyone else but You. So today I can Sing these words with complete confidence and hope my Friends you can do the same :

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me….
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.
T’was Grace that taught…
my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear…
the hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares…
we have already come.
T’was Grace that brought us safe thus far…
and Grace will lead us home.
The Lord has promised good to me…
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be…
as long as life endures.
When we’ve been here ten thousand years…
bright shining as the sun.
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise…
then when we’ve first begun.
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me….
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.
So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

JULY 5,2013

The Rumble In The Jungle

The Rumble in the Jungle was a historic boxing event that took place on October 30 1974, in Kinshasa Zaire. It pitted a 28 year old Foreman who seemed an overwhelming favorite against the 32-year old Ali. After being stripped of his license and title in 1967 Ali once again was given a chance to fight for the world championship. Ali had told everyone that he had a secret plan for Foreman. A plan strategy Ali later dubbed the rope-a-dope.

As a result, Foreman spent his energy throughout the fight throwing punches that either did not hit Ali or were deflected in a way that made it difficult for Foreman to hit Ali at all. As the fight drew into the eighth round, Foreman’s punching and defense became ineffective as the strain of throwing so many wild shots took its toll. The fight showed that Ali was capable of taking a punch and highlighted his tactical genius, as Foreman struck Ali with hundreds of thunderous blows, to no effect.

No one, least of all Foreman, anticipated that Ali would do what he did, which was to demonstrate so passionately his burning belief in his own ability to meet and master any other man on any terms. Six thousands years ago Satan thought he had stripped Christ of all rights to call this world His domain saying in his heart ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God… I will be like the Most High. (Isa. 14:13,14)

But God told us all, He had a plan for man’s salvation, and the victory would be won, not in KinshasaZaire, but on a site called Calvary. And no matter how many thunderous blows Satan would throw, they would be of no effect for in Gen 3:15 my Savior states “And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.

“And now the Lord of glory was dying, a ransom for the race. In yielding up His precious life, Christ was not upheld by triumphant joy. All was oppressive gloom. It was not the dread of death that weighed upon Him. 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.”(White)

So because of Calvary and Christ love for us “I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord”. (Romans 8:38) But Satan never realized what lengths Christ would go through to demonstrate so passionately his burning belief in his own ability and love for us, for

“Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:7,8) So that we can live throughout eternity with Him. So if Christ was so willing to fight this battle on our behalf, what should our responsibility today be to show our love for Him. And how do we repay the one who did it all for us.

Maybe we can show our gratitude by our works, but once again salvation is free, and we must never forget that. As I ended my devotional yesterday I will repeat myself and say. While the one who lives by faith is not saved by his works, his works show that he lives by faith. His faith is revealed in his works, and thus he is promised life eternal. Gods work here on earth can only be finished by dedicated Christians who are willing to give it all for the Master. We don’t have any time to squander it away on what this world has to offer because what this world has to offer will surely pass away but Salvation is Eternal.

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

July 4 2013

Under His Wings

An article in National Geographic several years ago provided a penetrating picture of God’s wings. 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. She could have flown to safety but had refused to abandon her babies. 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)

“He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge…” (Psalm 91:4)

A Hymn of Faith in Habakkuk 3:17-18 states “Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls  Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” What a disastrous situation being described by Habakkuk but like Habakkuk sometimes God appears to be silent amid all the trials  tribulations and heartaches that goes on in our life from day to day and year to year. Like Habakkuk, we must wait in faith and trust in an unseen God until the time when the world will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of our Lord, and His presence that will forever shine throughout eternity in His pure and holy kingdom, But before that time comes while we are In the midst of all the turmoil evil, and injustice in the world we live in, only our complete faithfulness, constancy, and dependability In God and His word will take us to the promise land.

And like the mother bird who gave her life so her children might live, our Savior could have flown to safety also, but He refused to abandon His children. On Calvary Christ remained steadfast through it all, simply because He remained focused and through His faith, love and His endurance to stay the course  was He willing to die for those under the cover of his wings so that  those who have faith and believe would live with Him throughout eternity. Oh what love our God has shown for us.  For in Romans 5:7-9 Paul says “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 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” And He did it all for His children.

So now how do we repay the one who did it all for us evan though salvation is free we must never forget that, while the one who lives by faith is not saved by his works, his works show that he lives by faith. His faith is revealed in his works, and thus he is promised life eternal. We as Christians have a lot of work to do to finish up Gods work here on earth and as we look at our world today, time is very short, we don’t have any time to squander it away on the foolishness of this world. So friends stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY