Jan. 19, 2014

A Discussion on the “FORGOTTEN GOD” By Francis Chan (Part V)

“And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” Romans 5:5

“Jesus, You’re the center of my joy All that’s good and perfect comes from You. You’re the heart of my contentment Hope for all I do. When I’ve lost my direction YOU’RE THE COMPASS FOR MY WAY” (R. Smallwood) My friends A COMPASS always points to the north.

The needle is made of a magnet and always tends to align itself to the earth’s magnetic field. Also as children of God at times we do loose our direction “and because we are Sons, and daughters God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts” to ALIGN US BACK TO HIM.

Like the Prodigal son “ when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,” Luke 15:17-18

And that is when God becomes “THE COMPASS FOR OUR WAY” My friends our God wants an intimate relationship with each of us. And He will reach as far as it takes to rescue us from the clutches of Satan. And what’s so great about the relationship God seeks with us is His availability which brings His Children, and our partitions before Him personally.

“And because you are Sons, and Daughters God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a Son, and Daughter and if a Son, and Daughter, then an heir of God through Christ.” Gal 4:6-7

My friends as sinners who are only deserving of death. If you would just FOCUS all of your attention today on what was done and is continuing to be done for our Salvation. A God who gave His only Begotten Son to mankind to die for our sins, and a Son who willingly gave up His life and who continues to mediate on our behalf to the father.

And God’s Spirit who replaced Emanuel when Christ gave up that privilege, and now He is God among us, as He takes on the awesome responsibility of transforming, and preparing our Characters into the image of God’s only begotten son so that also like Christ, we then become Son’s and Daughters and Heirs to the Kingdom of God.

Oh my God, there is no “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and BRING FORTH FRUIT, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you. John 15:13-16

Key words my friends. BRING FORTH FRUIT. But what’s so amazing about that is once we have allowed The Holy Spirit to transformed us into the image of  Christ we then take on all of the traits of our Savior which are the FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT which is LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, AND SELF CONTROL.

And with all of the CHARACTERISTICS of Christ. We then Have the MIND and BODY of Christ with a PASSION to only SERVE OTHERS as we spread the GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPEL to everyone. My friends the question you must ask yourself today is are you willing to give it all to the Master. And are you willing to have an INTIMATE relationship with GOD or do you have a few more things that you need to accomplish in this world. MY FRIENDS SEEK YE FIRST the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matt. 6:33  “SO ENDURE, WHOLE ON JUST A LITTLE WHILE, DON’T YOU GET WEARY, JOY WILL COME IN THE MORNING, SO ENDURE”

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

A Discussion on the “FORGOTTEN GOD” By Francis Chan (Part lV)

“And he said, Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him. FOR NOW I KNOW THAT THOU FEAREST GOD, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me.” Genesis 22:12

My friends when do we get to the point in your Christian experience. When God will be able to acknowledge your spiritual achievements. As his voice vibrates throughout the courts of heaven, I KNOW THAT THOU FEAREST GOD.

And at that moment all of heaven rejoices because when the FATHER rejoices all of heaven rejoices, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY another FAITHFUL CHILD continues to ENDURE the JOURNEY, another Child continues to allowed My Spirit to transform there CHARACTER, and navigate them through each trial and tribulation of there life.

My friends All of heaven knows because of your Faith you have ENDURED and THAT YOU DO FEAREST OUR FATHER WHICH ART IN HEAVEN because you have kept all of the precepts of LOVE  “And he that keepeth his commandments abideth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he gave us.” 1 John 3:24

And you also have spread the good news of the gospel when you did “received power when the Holy Spirit came on you; and you were my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth“ Acts 1:8

My friends I can picture this scene because as Children of God that seeks with a PASSION for the out pouring of the Holy Spirit Daily we do understand that “The FEAR OF THE LORD is the beginning of wisdom; And the knowledge of the HOLY ONE is understanding. Prov. 9:10

And also as Gods Children we only understand this FEAR through the power of the Holy Spirit because the “FEAR OF THE LORD lies at the very foundation of all knowledge” and this knowledge is found in GOD’S WORD and only through God’s Spirit can we understand the depth, height, and the path to our SALVATION as we Study with HEARTFELT PRAYER, and SUPPLICATIONS.

And by SUBMITTING our will to “the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, He will give unto each of us a SPIRIT of WISDOM and REVELATION in the KNOWLEDGE of him; having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that we may all know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints are.” Eph. 1:17-18

Mr. Chan continues to point our attention towards the crucifying of self and just what that instills as a Child of God. “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit..” Gal 5:24-25

So today my friends you must ask yourself is your FAITH at a point in your life where you are ready to allow self to be crucified, and if not, why? Maybe the answer to that question is as simple as whatever Journey in life YOU MAY be on right now, whether Doctor, Lawyer, Engineer, Chemist, Janitor, Cook, House Wife, and the list goes on.

It may not be the JOURNEY the council of heaven will place you on once you have allowed The Spirit to transform your life completely into the image of God. So you tell yourself the commitment is just to great a price to pay right now.

Well to turn our backs on the Holy Spirit is to great a price also “because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.” 2 Thess 2:13 And “when you have decided to put to death, to crucify your flesh, you by default are choosing the way of the Spirit. You are leaving one path and joining another.” (F. Chan) Which is the only path that leads to THE FEAR OF GOD, SALVATION, AND ETERNAL LIFE “Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Ps. 51:9-12

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

Jan 17, 2014

A Discussion on the “FORGOTTEN GOD” By Francis Chan (Part lll)

My friends Salvation starts in God’s WORD AND SPIRIT as we begin to”…..lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, while running with endurance the race that is set before us, Heb. 12:1 and that can only happen when we LET GO, and place it all in the hands of the Spirit while allowing Him to navigate our lives on this journey God Has placed us on.

When my son was no more then six or seven. We  placed Him in a swimming program, after a few weeks of training the instructor told me and my wife the only way he’s going to totally figure it out is, we just have to throw him in the deep end of the pool, and just let it happen.

Well I had no problem I knew I would never let my son drown, neither would the instructor, but my wife in her mind she had to figure out how to LET GO, that was her baby being thrown into eleven feet of water. She eventually did, and my son is now 34 years old.

So my friends what does it take to LET GO. Where fear once was, FAITH now RESIDES. To most of us a RADICAL CHANGE must take affect. No more lies, no more gossip, no more wasting of God’s time and money. You will now have the spiritual gift of discernment, or the “ability to tell the difference between truth and error, right and wrong, good and evil, in every situation, and circumstances in your life.

This is when we  give God’s Spirit access to every area of our Character that is not justified or in line with the Character of Christ. And now “ye are washed, and ye are sanctified, and ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Cor. 6:11

In F. Chan’s “FORGOTTEN GOD” He lays out several aspects of our life the Spirit takes control over when we give Him access to our life. Starting with our speech. Mark 13:11”…..take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.”

Also in witnessing for Christ Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Also our “SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE SINS” that are hard to get rid of Romans 8:2 “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death.” He also “leads us into intimacy with the Father” Romans 8:15-16 “For ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God:”

And all of his many free gifts He gives, to name a few in Gal. 5:22-23 “ the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control; against such there is no law.” And my friends, all given to transforms us into the image of God and prepare us for an ETERNAL LIFE.

2 Cor 3:18 tells us “But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit.” Such power my friends all for the asking. He even helps us to figure out how to petition all of these request, and needs in our prayers and supplications.

Romans 8:26 tells us “And in like manner the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity: for we know not how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” Salvation, and eternal life is ours.

My friends Our Faith will be stretched to the limit at times, but if our faith can’t start this race, we will never be given greater light from God’s Spirit to finish our Journey. Because a lack of preparation, and faith will keep us frightened and ill prepared to go any further. For Paul tells us in 2Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” Friends our God knocks at our hearts Door Daily to come in, ARE WE LISTENING.

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

Jan. 16, 2014

A Discussion on the “FORGOTTEN GOD” By Francis Chan (Part ll)

“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that TIMES OF REFRESHING may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before,” Acts 3:18-20

My friends The TIMES OF REFRESHING. Is what we all as God’s chosen generation must have a PASSION that burns from within, as we seek the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In Francis Chan book FORGOTTEN GOD another question he ask is “WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF.

My friends there certainly can be no deviation in regards to our Salvation, and our mission for the Master if His mandate is to be completed in our lifetime. The outpouring of God’s Spirit should be going on in our lives right now and once we are transformed by His power, the Spirit then “CONVICTS, INSTRUCTS, GUIDES and EMPOWERS each believer.”  As we prepare a world for our Savior’s second coming.

And Friends there should be no doubt as we look at the world we live in today that our Savior will soon be here, and that this generation has been chosen to finish His work here on earth. But the question we all must ask ourselves is, will I personally be a leading vessel for Christ during this time, a vessel that overflows with the outpouring of God’s Spirit.

Paul tells us in 2 Cor. 4:5-7 “For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”

And my friends this light can only come through God’s Spirit but first “there must be a constant development of Christian virtue, a constant advancement in Christian experience. This we should seek with intensity of desire, that we may adorn the doctrine of Christ our Savior.” (E.G.White)

My friends we have to make a decision today for tomorrow is not promised to us. And that decision must be. Do I allow God’s transforming power through His Spirit to take full control of my life as I become passionate about spreading the good news about Christ soon return, and how His presence has made a difference in my life, to a world that has lost it’s “spiritual compass.”

Their should be NO FEAR as a Soldier in God’s army, and what is required of us as His Children while becoming  “STEADFAST, IMMOVABLE, always ABOUNDING in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” 1 Cor. 15:58

So today my friends our FOCUS must remain to seek the Spirit of God because it is only through His power can we endure to the finish line. We each must have our own mount of Olives experience where our faith will be tested before we can accept the Cross of our Savior.

And only being filled with the power of the Spirit will we be able to carry our Saviors cross, and claim victory. Another question Mr. Chan has asked is “DO I REALLY WANT THIS” or let me reword the question do I want to do whatever it takes to receive the power of Gods Spirit. Remember my friends the rich young ruler kept all of God’s commandments, and I’m sure he paid his tithe, and visited the sick.

But when Jesus ask Him to give it all to the Master “he was saddened, and he went away grieving,” My friends “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” Therefore the demand of your time, money and talents will be great, but it is all about TRUST, BELIEF, and FAITH in where the Spirit is leading us on this JOURNEY, and we should have no doubt that this JOURNEY will lead to God’s pure and holy Kingdom.

The Spirit today has been designated to give us all of our needs and more to finish God’s work “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the HOLY SPIRIT to them that ask him?” Luke 11:13 “ so ENDURE MY FRIENDS ENDURE. ETERNITY AWAITS.

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

Jan. 15, 2014

A Discussion on the “FORGOTTEN GOD” By F. Chan

My friends I first recommend you purchase the “FORGOTTEN GOD by F. Chan. and for the next few days I will be having a discussion on the book, in my devotionals as we FOCUS on this fascinating journey that moves us closer and closer to where we should be in the Spirit as God’s chosen generation “FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS”

Mr. Chan first has ask the question “Why do we need the Spirit when we have Jesus which to most of us makes a lot of sense. For it was Jesus who gave up all the glory of a pure and holy kingdom to come to a planet infected by the curse of sin.

It was Jesus who endured the suffering of the cross at Calvary, and died so that a wretched sinner like you and I may obtain SALVATION and ETERNAL LIFE. So why not just Jesus. Acts 4:12 tells us Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.”

But my friends where I need you to focus on today is not only the name but the power that is associated with that name and why as his Children we must seek God’s Spirit with a compelling since of urgency, as we move closer to Christ soon return.

The Holy Spirit, a ranking member of the Sovereign Authority of the Godhead. In john 14:16 Christ says “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;” then John 16:7 tells us “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.”

verse 13 then tells us. “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.” My friends I need you to understand as God’s children if we believe, the same awesome power that exist in heaven and on earth is right here among us.

But you also must recognize this power exist. And maybe that is why we fail to seek such power, because with This power, brings on responsibility as we allow the Spirit to transform us into the image, and Character of Christ, and that would require self to die, as our focus then would be to give God all the glory, and honor as we carry out His commission to spread the good news of the gospel to the world.

Yes my friends this same “Comforter that Christ promised to send after He ascended to heaven is “the Spirit in all the fullness of the Godhead, making manifest the power of divine grace to all who receive and believe in Christ as a personal Saviour.” (E.G.White)

The apostles were Gods chosen generation two thousands years ago as the reformation of His church begin “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matt 16:18 and then in Acts 1 Christ tells His disciples “not to depart from Jerusalem but wait for the promise of the father and the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

And then verses 8 says But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” And then verse 14 says the disciples went back up into upper room after Christ ascension and” all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication.

Chapter 2 goes on to say When the day of Pentecost came “they were all with one accord in one place”. “and suddenly there came as a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting” “and they were filled with the holy Ghost” My friends we are Gods Chosen Generation for His final Church, the church of Laodicea.

And the gates of hell still want prevail against it. But Christ is looking for a faithful few who are willing to endure until the end and the willingness to seek through faith and a passion that can only come from the blood of a risen Savior. My friends “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon us, Because the Lord has anointed each of us To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent us to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,…” Isaiah 61:1-2

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

Jan. 14, 2014

HE ALWAYS HEARS OUR CALLS

Colossians 3:1-4 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

My friends the common element we have with sheep is the propensity to get lost and stray away from the fold of the Shepherd, which leaves them venerable to attacks and destruction. Behavior scientists speculate that the placement and structure of the sheep’s eyes are due to nature’s designation of sheep as a prey animal, innocent, meek and curious to see where other paths lead.

As Gods Children, like lost sheep Gods seeks and reaches out as far as it takes to rescue us from the clutches of Satan, and the forces of evil who’s only purpose is to steal away our joy and happiness thus, causing you to lose your focus, which then causes you to wonder aimlessly into self destruction while Satan tells us, the Shepherd is out of reach you have gone to far, He will never HERE YOU CALLING.

That is when your hope of returning to the fold and the loving arms of the Good Shepherd fades with each day you stay away. But our Savior searches the heart, He never ceases to reach AND HE ALWAYS HEARS OUR CALLS, and oh how far He reaches to save us from destruction.

But as Christians we sometimes get familiar to our environment of “Socially Acceptable Sins.” We don’t recognize Christ or His presence among us. We are living such A comfortable and easy life that change is not an alternative. So we become complacent, lackadaisical, and self-indulgent, and our priority is not, in trying to change into the image of Christ.

My friends a genuine, and heartfelt  character change like Christ will only “bring about perseverance; and perseverance, a proven character; and a proven character, hope;  and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who is given to us.” Romans 5:3-5

And my friends that  presents a problem, because in order for that to happen we “must deny self, and take up the cross of Christ daily and follow Him. And that means total commitment, but my friends total commitment to Christ is the only road to salvation and eternal life.

And a total commitment means our days are spent in the presence of the Good Shepherd, and a PASSION to have the Character of  Christ whose Word ” becomes alive and active.” in our lives “Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it also judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Heb 4:12

Now with the PASSION OF CHRIST, our character then allows our mind and body to change because we now realize we serve an unchangeable God and no matter what the god of this world deems as acceptable, my focus from now on will only be in allowing through God’s Spirit, my life and Character to be like Christ.

As Christians we must never forget Calvary, and a unchanging God who put it all on the line to send his unchanging Begotten son, In the midst of affliction, and a world marred by sin and the forces of evil so that we may focus on His changeless Character for our Salvation.

Yes as a child of God I can say My God never changes but i can also say HE ALWAYS HEARS OUR CALLS for help. So my friends while grace and mercy pleads, and the arm of the Good Shepherd still reaches please GRAB HOLD AND NEVER LET GO because one day “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” 2 Cor5:10

Remember Christ character is perfect. He never changes so our only alternative is for us to change into His image. “so when Christ does appear through those clouds “what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” 1John 3:2

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

Jan 13,

“NO TURNING BACK, I’M GONNA FIGHT UNTIL I DIE IN THE ARMY OF THE LORD”

Luke 9:23-25 “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.  For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?

My friends lets go to Joshua 14:10-13 So Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land on which your foot has trodden will be an inheritance to you and to your children forever, BECAUSE YOU HAVE FOLLOWED THE LORD MY GOD FULLY.

Now behold, the Lord has let me live, just as He spoke, these forty-five years, from the time that the Lord spoke this word to Moses, when Israel walked in the wilderness; and now behold, I AM EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS OLD TODAY.

I am still as strong today as I was in the day Moses sent me; as my strength was then, so my strength is now, for war and for going out and coming in.  Now then, give me this hill country about which the Lord spoke on that day, for you heard on that day that Anakim were there, with great fortified cities; perhaps the Lord will be with me, and I will drive them out as the Lord has spoken.”

The voice of Caleb, such faith my friends we all should acquire, and I have no doubt this had been His attitude from His youth, as a slave in Egypt being taught by his parents about the only true God, and the battle between good and evil and the ARMOR of GOD needed to win each battle  throughout his life, for his attitude was forever “NO TURNING BACK, I’M GONNA FIGHT UNTIL I DIE IN THE ARMY OF THE LORD.”

My friends a true WARRIOR and DISCIPLE of the LIVING GOD, and now at 85 his PASSION to continue the battle against the forces of evil never cease because he knew the power of his God. Because he witnessed the plagues in Egypt.

I’m sure it was his hands that took the blood of a Lamb, which represented the blood of our Savior that would one day die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and placed it over the door of his home Passover night, he was eye witness to Pharaoh’s army being consumed by the same red sea that his God had parted for His Children to walk across.

He walk along the path in the wilderness being lead by his God by a pillow of cloud by day and a cloud of fire by night. My friends it was Caleb who “quieted the people before Moses and said, “We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we will surely overcome it.”

This was the speech Caleb had made forty years earlier as he looked back over the Journey from Egypt, not forgetting the power of God’s WORD and SPIRIT that had lead them, OH WHAT FAITH. And now back at the threshold of the promise land at eighty five, and his FAITH, and PASSION for God, and what he will do for HIS FAITHFUL CHILDREN never wavered.

Yes my friends a true DISCIPLE, and SOLDIER in the Army of GOD. How easily it would have been to let Satan discourage him forty years earlier. BUT HIS FOCUSED REMAINED. HIS MISSION STATEMENT WAS SOLID “I’M A SOLDIER IN THE ARMY OF THE LORD, “NO TURNING BACK, I’M GONNA FIGHT UNTIL I DIE IN THE ARMY OF THE LORD”, I WILL ONE DAY CROSS OVER INTO THE PROMISE LAND.

My friends God’s WORD is “inspired by God and profitable for TEACHING, for REPROOF, for CORRECTION, for TRAINING in RIGHTEOUSNESS; so that the man of God may be ADEQUATE, EQUIPPED for every GOOD WORK.”2 Tim. 3:16-17

OUR FAITH, GOD”S, WORD, and a willingness to allow the SPIRIT to TRANSFORM our CHARACTER into the LIKENESS of CHRIST while ENDURING until THE BATTLE IS OVER AND WE CAN CROSS OVER INTO THE PROMISE LAND is the only thing that will make a Caleb out of us. Age is irreverent my friends, only our commitment to Christ. So remain Focus on God’s PROMISES, VICTORY, and ETERNAL LIFE as you tell yourself  “NO TURNING BACK, I’M GONNA FIGHT UNTIL I DIE IN THE ARMY OF THE LORD”

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

Jan. 12, 2014

“NOT MY WILL BUT YOURS BE DONE.”

“…And He knelt down and began to pray, saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.” Luke 22::41-44

THE HUMANITY OF CHRIST. Jesus has known for a while what He had been called to do by His father. From a human standpoint his mission was unattainable. But as our example He knows this event will be recorded from generation to generation to strengthen each of us through difficult times.

Remember my friends this is humanity that recognizes the difficulty of this journey. This is humanity that dreads the suffering that He will encounter, humanity knew the path would seem impossible. But because of the power of the WORD and the power of his PRAYERS and the power of His FAITH He, stayed FOCUSED ON THE CROSS as He submitted HIS WILL to the WILL of His Father “which art in heaven.

“Father, He says, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet NOT MY WILL BUT YOURS BE DONE.”  And God’s Word says. God gave Him Strength to ENDURE, and finish the COURSE that was set before Him, but my friends OUR FAITH must bring about SUBMISSION.

And that is a SUBMISSION, and a wiliness through faith that we can only gain by studying God’s Word as we allow God’s Spirit to TRANSFORM, and RESTORE our Character into the image of God.

The path  that Christ choose was a very difficult one Luke 22:44-46 says And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow He asked.

“Why are you sleeping? “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”. But remember this is the same Jesus that faced a raging storm on the Sea of Galilee, totally composed, and undisturbed. He has faced demonic hostility, temptation’s from Satan, at every step, and the cross examination, of Jerusalem’s religious Elect, with total restraint.

But here in the Garden, Humanity took its toil at just the thought of failure. But just as Christ agonized and prayed for strength, we must do the same as time moves toward Christ soon return when there will be trials that seem unbearable, as we begin to ask, where is God.

But at that moment, we must look back on all of God’s promises and say with PASSION, SINCERITY, AND SUBMISSION to the WILL OF GOD. NOT MY WILL BUT YOURS BE DONE. Deuteronomy 31:8 says “The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

My friends NOT MY WILL means WE WILL pursue righteousness AT ALL COST, WE WILL ENDURE the path of the CROSS AT ALL COST. God calls His Children to have a life of purpose, and that purpose must go far beyond what we think as humans, we are capable of achieving.

But remember friends a life of purpose to a Child of God is a Life that is totally FOCUSED ON OUR SALVATION and the SALVATION OF OTHERS as we spread the good news of the gospel. Every day our MISSION STATEMENT must be NOT MY WILL BUT YOURS BE DONE.

No matter what circumstances or situation that we face, no matter what mountains or valley lays ahead. God’s promises are sure. James 1:12 tells us “Blessed is the man who remains STEADFAST under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”

My friends each day prophecy is being fulfilled and one day soon GOD “will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Matt 24:31 So today do you have a “firm footing on the foundation of the Lord.” Because one day soon, we can stand up, lift our heads to the clouds, our Savior draweth near, ETERNITY THEN AWAITS HIS CHILDREN, WHO DID HIS WILL.

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

Jan. 11, 2014

MY FRIENDS, HAVE YOU ALLOWED GOD’S SPIRIT TO TAKE YOU TO THIS POINT ON YOUR JOURNEY?

“The Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27

My friends Christ says Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. John 16:7 Paul says in Romans 8  how the Spirit intercedes on our behalf, as He follows Christ in working for our Salvation here on earth.

Verses 2 tells us “because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” And He does this in conjunction with  the Son who had condemned sin in the sinful state as a human. verse 4 says the Spirit intercedes by giving God’s faithful Children the power to fulfill the “righteous requirement of Gods holy Precepts.”

verses 5 -11, He transforms our life because “if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because He lives in us.”

verses 12 -13 tells us once we are transformed through God’s Spirit “we have an obligation but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For we will die”…. but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body you will live”

verses 14 -16 tells us the “Spirit you received brought about your adoption to SONSHIP…  For the “Spirit himself testifies” on our behalf “with our spirit that we are GOD”S CHILDREN.”

verse 17 -19 speaks of our obligation and the beauty of what lies ahead if we are faithful “Now if we are children, then we are heirs heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.” But my friends let me interject here HAVE YOU ALLOWED THE SPIRIT TO TAKE YOU TO THIS POINT ON YOUR JOURNEY if not it is time to RE-EVALUATE YOUR PRIORITIES.

And now verse 20-25 “…….. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the FIRSTFRUITS of the SPIRIT, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to SONSHIP, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?  But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”

Yes my friends we wait  patiently for Christ to come and take us home. But as we wait we also have a commission from God to spread the good news of the gospel to those without hope, and bound for perdition.

verse 26-27  as the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For Paul tells us in 2 Cor. 12:9 “for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Or when we are humble and come before the Lord with Prayer and supplication. My friends God’s Spirit speaks Daily to the Father on our behalf. He knows our needs, but as sinful humans, we know not how to petition our needs to a pure and Holy God.  And he is able to do this because He knows the  character we have allowed him to transform. He knows our needs because we have allowed Him to walk with us daily. And He knows our trials and pains because we have decided to ENDURE and take up the cross of Jesus. And most important HE KNOWS THE FATHER, AND HIS LOVE AND DESIRE TO SAVE US FROM SIN. because He was also there from the beginning “AND THE SPIRIT OF GOD WAS HOVERING OVER THE FACE OF THE WATERS.” Gen 1:2

My friends a lot has been done and is continuing to be done for our Salvation BUT HAVE YOU ALLOWED THE SPIRIT TO TAKE YOU TO THIS POINT ON YOUR JOURNEY, if not it is time to RE-EVALUATE YOUR PRIORITIES.

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

Jan 10, 2914

GRACE MY FRIENDS, SIMPLE GRACE, HOW SWEET THE SOUND!!

“The Ten Commandments were given so that all could see the extent of their failure to obey God’s laws. But the more we see our sinfulness, the more we see God’s abounding GRACE forgiving us.” Romans 5:20 (Living Bible)

My friends GRACE, the unearned Favor of God. In Wikipedia, 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. It’s amazing what happens when man tries to define Salvation they seem to always conveniently leave the name of Jesus Christ out of the mix. But if you are a Child of God we all know “there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (except Jesus Christ.) Acts 4:12

As we move closer and closer to the second coming of Christ it seems like even among Christians, we are beginning to make GRACE and it’s importance to our Salvation secondary in our life. Oh it’s only a free gift we tell ourselves, we can lay it aside like our Christmas decorations bringing it out only when needed.

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” A prophet in his own time.

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.”

Friends God’s Grace still extends to each of us, but are we squandering this precious gift by allowing the god of this world to make you think you can put off your Salvation until it is more convenient to your lifestyle and the “Socially acceptable Sins” that you have become accustomed to enjoying.

The world is deteriorating before our eyes. God is still extending His GRACE to each of us because He knows the war was won on Calvary. But the battle is still being waged and fought over the Mind and Body of His Children, but my friends only you can decide the outcome.

Christ will soon come to take those who have taken advantage of this grace period by studying His word as you allow the Spirit to transform your Character. Paul 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.”

GRACE MY FRIENDS, SIMPLE GRACE, OH HOW SWEET THE SOUND!! Jesus Christ, came from His beautiful home in heaven to this wicked universe and died on a cruel cross so that His grace and our Faith in the name of Jesus Christ and Him crucified would be sufficient for our salvation if we accept it.

But it is our choice my friends. LIFE CANNOT GO ON AS USUAL, the PASSION of CHRIST and our PASSION about our relationship with Christ and His will for our life must become top priority in our life before family, friends, love one’s, and even the Church, once again if  “ANGELS COULD PULL BACK THE CURTAIN and you could see how close grace is from being eliminated from this world you would fall on your knees today in heartfelt prayer supplications, and repentance while asking God what must I do to be saved. GRACE MY FRIENDS  SIMPLE GRACE

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