April, 5, 2016

MY FRIENDS WHEN WILL NO, NOR EVER SHALL BE BEGIN AND END?

What we as a church, a nation, and a world have to look forward to before Christ second coming, we can only speculate? But the question we must ask ourselves with minds of limited capacity to think but so deep, how does an all-knowing, all-powerful, Omnipresence God define “great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be and unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened?” Matt. 24:21-22 (NKJV)

Tribulation is defined as “grievous trouble; severe trial or suffering.” But my friends where I need you to focus today is on the words, “great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.” We have some idea about the beginning of the world, about six thousand years ago. But where does, until this time, no, nor ever shall be start and end?

There was the Holocaust, 17 million dead, or maybe the European Colonization of the Americas, Up to 100 million dead. I could probably continue for days and still never name all the atrocities of man against man. But maybe, no, nor ever shall be was the worst famine in the land, which was the Chinese Famine of 1962, 43 million dead or maybe, no, nor ever shall be was the worst pestilence, the bubonic plague from 1347 to 1352, killing 25 million.

Or maybe no, nor ever shall be was the worst earthquake in 1976, in Tangshan, Hebei, killing 255,000. My friends, are these only the beginning of our sorrows Christ talks about in Matt. 24, or did it start when Satan said in his heart: I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;…I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.” Is. 14:13-14 (NKJV) We can probably say with no reservation that is when it started but when will it end.

As we get closer to Christ second coming we must “Be sober, and vigilant, because our Salvation must become personal as we realize that there is nothing in this world we have to look forward to no matter how educated we become, how much material possessions we obtain or how much money we have acquired, it is only our personal relationship with God that makes us an elect who will have the faith to endure until the end.

And remember, nothing we will ever have to encounter on this earth to get to God’s kingdom will compare with that place, prepared for those who loved God with all their heart and soul, who stayed faithful to the end. That place “Eye have not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man…….” 1 Cor. 2:9 (NKJV)  This is why each day we must ask God “not my will but thy will be done as we continually allow His Spirit to transform our lives into the image of the one who gave it all for our salvation.

And gave it all so that we may enter the gates of that city called heaven with all of our loved ones who died in Christ and together we will walk down those streets of gold. And as we look around in awe at where our new home will be throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity, I can only imagine we all crying out “Holy, Holy, Holy.” To the One who made it all possible.” and as we look into His face we bow on our knees and cry, once again “Holy, Holy, Holy.” “Heaven is cheap enough.”

April 4, 2016

MY FRIENDS, LET’S SIT FOR A MOMENT AND ALLOW CHRIST TO COMFORT US!

“The more you trust your Redeemer, the more you will love Him. He is your Friend in life or death. He is the Crown of your rejoicing. He is worthy of your fullest faith. All the sorrows and afflictions that we suffer here only constitute our discipline for the higher life. God designs that thus we shall be fitted for heaven. Wait upon God. Lean upon Him in entire dependence; for His everlasting arms will sustain you.” (E.G. White, Trusting Christ)

My friends a picture is worth a thousand words. Christ comforting someone on their journey through life. The picture is a story within itself. Each of us have to personally look at the picture and place ourselves on that bench talking to Christ. When I see myself, I am telling Christ, I am tired, but I also realize you have established my steps and you are the One who goes before me. You are always with me, “never leaving nor forsaking me.”

Even when I stumbled and fell along the way you have always been there to pick me up. You have showed me how important the journey is and not just for me but all I may come in contact with along the way. And after every mountain and rough terrain, I find that there are still storms and valleys. So I know I can only sit and rest for a moment and thank you for all you have done for me throughout my life, Always reaching no matter how far I got off course.

And most of all, I would like to think you for Calvary because I do recognize without Calvary this journey would not even be possible. But now I must move on. Talking to you has given me that endurance needed to continue. From here maybe I will go to “Jerusalem, or maybe Judea then Samaria, even to the end of the earth,” because I know the workers are few, but your flock still needs to be feed. So I will go where you lead.

My friends we have a responsibility a mandate set before us by God on this journey we are on and as a child of God we must realize the journey is not over until we can hear Christ Himself say “Well done, good and faithful servant! Soon my friends the “midnight cry [will be heard]: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ “The ten virgins arose and trimmed their lamps…..but only five were prepared to meet the bridegroom.

Only five, even though rested for a moment, were still anointed with the power of God’s Spirit. And when the bridegroom came, were able to go in with all the redeemed who endured and stayed focused on their journey as they awaited the arrival of the groom; And the door was shut…and afterward the other five virgins came, saying, “Lord, Lord, open the door!”

My friends, the saddest words that will ever be repeated, will be the words Christ will say to those who never allowed the transforming power of His Spirit to change their lives. “I do not know you.” My friends on your journey remember, “no temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man. But God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it,” [until you have finished your journey and crossed over into the promise land.] 1 Cor. 10:13 (KJV)

Every excuse we may give as the reason we cannot serve Christ, was challenged and answered at Calvary.

MY FRIENDS, THE MASTER HAS DELAYED HIS COMING NOW WHAT?

“Blessed is that servant whom his Master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,…..the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites..” Matt 24:45-51 (NKJV)

My friends if you listen to our modern day prophets, prophet meaning the Shepherd’s chosen to speak for God and to guide His flock in all truth and understanding as the Spirit Guides them through His word, you would think God’s word was obsolete and void of any real consequences if the precepts were not adhered to. In many instances our all-knowing, all-powerful, Omnipresence God has been reduced to a trivial being.

If you just live within the grey areas of life you will be all right, being good is the new, being perfect. But Christ tells us in Matt 5:48 (KJV) “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” My friends we are all servants of God with a ministry and a message that we must begin to reveal to the world. We cannot become complacent because the Master has delayed His coming.

For soon, “the Master will come on a day when we His servants are not looking for Him, and at an hour that we are not aware of,” and each who have not taken His coming seriously will receive their just reward or their “portion with the hypocrites.” But “blessed is that servant whom his Master, when he comes, will find so doing,” and working and feeding His flock.”

Remember at one time “God overlooked and disregarded the former ages of ignorance; but now He commands all people everywhere to repent [that is, to change their old way of thinking, to regret their past sins, and to seek God’s purpose for their lives], Acts 17:30 (AMP) And that is especially true for God’s servants, for the more we know “the greater our responsibility.” But my friends, non are without excuse.

“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” Romans 1:20-21 (NKJV)

The world is closer than ever before in witnessing the return of Christ second coming. There has never been a time as now where getting the good news to a dying world is more urgent. God’s prophecy says “Babylon is fallen,” its forces of evil are falling, our powerful political and judicial system is falling, the powerful economic system that has degraded the poor is now falling.

The strongly entrenched and popular religions who did not follow God’s precepts in His word but stole from their flock in the name of God is falling. In addition, the extremists who have influenced the masses against our Creator and said there is no God and no consequences for evil will fall the hardest. My friends, “narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life” But, it is only difficult if we have refused to allow God’s Spirit to transform our Character into the image of Christ.

Every excuse we may give as the reason we cannot serve Christ, was challenged and answered at Calvary.

April 1, 2016

MY FRIENDS, CAN WE BE STILL AND HEAR GODS VOICE AMONG THE CHAOS?
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling…..Be still, and know that I am God” Ps 46:1-10 (NKJV) My friends, we may ask in the midst of all of the noise and chaos of this world, how can we get familiar with the voice of God.

Isaiah 30:15 (ESV) tells us. For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” But you were unwilling,” My friends it’s now personal because now it becomes all about self and his or her unwillingness in the midst of the storm, or any other time to even listen to the voice of God because if we listen most of the time we will understand that God is still trying to “thoroughly purge away our dross, and take away all [of] our alloy.” Isaiah 1:25 NKJV)

Remember my friends, it must be all about God and His will, as He prepares us to finish His work here on earth.” In addition, dross is a waste product useful for nothing, which is usually that part of our life that is focused on the things of this earth not on things above. And if we allow the dross or self to remain within us we will be destroyed along with the god of this world when God finally says, “He [or she] who is unjust, let them be unjust still.

And he [or she] who is filthy, let them be filthy still; and he [or she] who is righteous, let them be righteous still; and he [or she] who is holy, let them be holy still. And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” Rev. 22:11-12 (NKJV) So my friends remember we must first be still and understand who God is and His will for our life.

And each day in the stillness of it all we must be willing to say “Lord, You know what each day will bring, For You designed my destiny. Each test and trial comes tailor made for [you and I]….And [today] I lay prostrate In the midst of it all as I cry out Your name, because you are my only hope.” (Maurette Brown Clark, lean on you) My friends, these heavy burdens each day, a new trial, a different heartache and pain in the midst of the storms of this life, there must be stillness.

Remember, God’s voice will never try to compete with the distractions that takes our focus away from him to the things of this world. So we must focus on one, and tune out the other. In other words to explain it scientifically we say, “the auditory cortex, which processes sounds, favors the voice that it needs or wants to hear.”

In others words self selectively chooses the desired voice. But if self has “been crucified with Christ; it [will] no longer [be you or] I who live but Christ living in [us];” Gal 3:20 (NKJV) and that still small voice that we now choose to hear will only be the voice of God saying, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you,” so “come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (NKJV)

Every excuse we may give as the reason we cannot serve Christ, was challenged and answered at Calvary.

March 31, 2014

MY FRIENDS, HE KNOWS THE WAY THAT WE TAKE!!

“But if I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find him. When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him. But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold” Job 23:8-10 (NIV) “Blessed assurance” my friends in knowing “It is the Lord who goes before you and I. And He will be with [His children]; He will not leave or forsake [us]. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deu. 31:8 (ESV)

My friends as we travel this Journey Christ has placed us on, there are mountains that seems impossible to conquer. Whether work, health, school, family, marriage, or just organizing one’s life from day to day. But we search for Christ in the midst of it all, and at times it seems like he has gone into another, room shut the door and refuses to come out. But friends I can say with no reservation that God knows the way that I take, so that makes it personal.

In addition, in spite of what occurs in our life, let’s thank God that He is preparing us through our trials because “He knows the way that we take.” He is guiding us for “The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps” (NASB) So we must wait for God’s endurance test to run its course in His own time, for the Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness.

But is long-suffering towards us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”2 Peter 3:9 (KJV) For God’s children, waiting is inseparable from hope and faith in God’s word. 2 Timothy 2:3-6 (ESV) tells us “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.

An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” And then when he has tested us we will come forth as gold” Remember When Job’s hope had disappeared and everything he held dear to him was lost.

Job 1:20-22 (KJV) tells us, “at this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” Job’s faith in God tells me that yes “Weeping may endure for a night.” But my friends, He will get us through it all if we believe that “He knows the way that we take.”

And because He knows, it is through our faith and endurance, that His Faithful who are heirs and joint heirs with His Son to His kingdom, He will get us through it all. And if we “have studied and shown our-self approved unto God,” and allowed God’s Spirit to completely transform us into the image of God then one day soon we will here “well done thy good and faithful servant you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.” Matt. 25:21 (NKJV)

Every excuse we may give as the reason we cannot serve Christ, was challenged and answered at Calvary.

March 28, 2016

MY FRIENDS, WE ARE ALL BROKEN VESSELS, ARE WE IRREPARABLE?

“If the angels could pull back the curtain” and we could see how close the god of this world and all who follow him are in reaching their cup of indignation, we would all tremble and weep before God, realizing that His Spirit is gradually being removed from our world. And as His Spirit goes, so does His grace and mercy for a world that is “sinking deep in sin far from the peaceful shore.”

My friends, it’s personal because it’s our life, our story, our journey and our salvation that is being weighed in the balances today. The question we must ask ourselves, “are we found wanting? But whatever our situation or circumstances is, we must understand, God is trying to save us from the penalty of sin. So we must never ceased to cry out, Lord I understand that narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there will be only a few who find it.

So how do I become a part of that few? Or How do I prepare my life to “appear before the judgment seat of Christ, [as I receive my just] reward that is due me for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad?” 2 Cor. 5:10 (NIV) These are question we must all ask ourselves daily. And be able to answer because our salvation rest on the choices we make in spite of the fact that we are all broken vessels.

[Which makes each of us feel at times that we are irreparable and useless, forever] in need of Christ to purify [our] heart….” Psalms 31:12 (KJV) But, our faith must rest on the promises of God that tells us that His steadfast love “never ceases; [and] His mercies never come to an end; [for] they are new every morning: great is His faithfulness” “towards us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” Lamentations 3:22-23 (NKJV) 2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV)

My friends, our Circumstances and situation may change each day and the top of that mountain may seem unreachable, but, Gods blessings along with His grace and mercy never cease, they continue morning after morning for “He is the giver of every good and perfect gift” great is His faithfulness towards you and I. As we go to the narrative in Matthew 14:13-21 (NKJV) of Christ feeding the five thousand with two fish and five loaves of bread.

Let’s ask ourselves, would it have made a difference if there were ten thousand, or one hundred thousand people that were hungry on that particular day for the blessings of God. No my friends, no difference at all because there is no limit on what God can do, or how far His hand will reach to feed His children the bread of life.

But we have to realize that each day we wrestle [not] against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of [the 21 century]” Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV) whose only purpose is to make sure we never make it to that place “Eye have not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 2 Cor. 2:9 (NKJV)

In addition, what is it that God has to do to get our attention? Remember on Calvary the ultimate price was paid for our Salvation. So when do we give our all to the Master? And when does God’s will begin to replace “in power, and authority” what our will is accustomed to each day? And when does being a disciple of Christ and carrying our cross become more important than life itself?

Every excuse we may give as the reason we cannot serve Christ, was challenged and answered at Calvary.