March 25, 2016

MY FRIENDS, ARE WE REALLY READY FOR JESUS TO COME?

We are living in the last days, when mankind have become lovers of self “rather than lovers of God, having only a form of godliness but denying its power…..2 Tim 3:1-5 (KJV) My friends, as a Child of God in the 21st century, achieving total commitment and victory sometimes seems impossible.

Impossible because, the god of this world draws our focus away from what is vital to our Salvation, too things which “have a form of godliness but denies its power” meaning we have an external characteristics of religion or we may go to church each week only to have the Holy Spirit entertain us with praise and shouting with no real conviction of turning our life around.

Have you ever noticed a creek or pond where stagnant water exist, stagnant being defined as anything that is characterized by lack of development, advancement, or progressive movement. This stagnant water only produces diseases or bacteria which is defined as any harmful, depraved, or morbid condition. This is the same with our mediocre or uninspired spiritual life.

We go to church, because that is what is expected, but Sabbath or Sunday school is much too early, and Wednesday night prayer service interferes with our favorite TV show. We make sure the big heritage family bible is on our coffee table, because that is what is expected, but reading it, we just can’t find the time.

We visit our sick friends, because that is what is expected, but once again our time is limited on what and how much we can do for the Lord. So now our Spiritual life becomes stagnant, with no movement, which then provides “a dwelling place of demons, and a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!” Rev. 18:2 (KJV)

Today my friends we must look in the mirror and then look at the life of Christ and then ask ourselves how far have we really come and how far do we plan on going to eliminate self and allow God’s Spirit to take full control. “As with life, so it is with growth. It is God who brings the bud to bloom and the flower to fruit.

It is by His power that the seed develops, ” For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” Mark 4:28-29 (NKJV) My friends, The plant, grows by receiving from its surroundings that which ministers to its life, which is air, sunshine and food.

And with a child of God, our growth is developed through the fruits of the Spirit which is “love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Gal. 5:22-23 (KJV) Remember The theme of God’s word is how He died to save you and I.  Which also assures us that our Savior will return to take us to a place “eye have not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for all who love Him” 1 Cor 2:9 (KJV)

But are “we ready for Jesus to come? Are we faithful in all that we do? Have we fought a good fight? Have we stood for the right? Have others seen Jesus in how we live our life? Are we ready to stand in our place? Are we ready to look in His face and say, lo. this is My God?” So today my friends, let’s ask ourselves, are we ready for Jesus to come? If not, then will it be to late when we are?

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

March 24, 2016

MY FRIENDS, HAVE YOU GONE UP THAT HILL, IF SO NOW WHAT?

Understanding and knowing God and His word as we allow His Spirit to work within us is the process by which our Character is developed to deny self and take up our cross and follow Christ to wherever He may lead. But it becomes a daily process, and in so doing, we become aware of our own “existence, sensations and surroundings and most of all our need of a Savior through Jesus 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 on this earth. A path of a humble and loving servant to all. But my friends, in the end it’s all about the cross that Christ carried down the Via Dolorosa road, which means the way of suffering, “like a lamb to be slaughtered.”

Now we are asked by Christ to bear our own Cross. But in order for that to happen, we first need to focus on His daily journey and how He was able to defeat the enemy at every turn. We must also walk that same path and witness just what this controversy is all about. But most of all it must become personal, as we follow the footsteps of Christ up that hill, Golgotha, with our on cross.

We must witness the flogging and scourging and hear the laughter of the rabble and touch the very dirt itself, mingled with that precious blood that was shed for you and I. My friends we must get close enough to feel the spikes pounding in Christ feet and hands and the spear being thrust into His side for all humanity. And then with no reservations one thing is for sure, all who go up that hill will not come down the same way because self has been left at the feet of Christ.

As we reach the bottom of the hill our first words if we’ve been touched by the blood of Christ is, Lord have mercy on me, as we cry out Lord not my will but thy will be done. That my friends, is why the gate that leads to life eternal is narrow, and there are very few who will find it’s entrance because to go up Golgotha, demonstrates faith and endurance and as we come down we are now “ a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” Romans 5:17 (KJV)

“It is not enough to believe about Christ; we must believe in Him” and feel what He felt going up that hill while understanding, “the only faith that will benefit us is that which embraces Him as a personal Savior; which appropriates His merits to ourselves. Many hold faith as an opinion, but saving faith is a transaction by which those who receive Christ join themselves in a covenant relationship with God.

Genuine faith is life. A living faith means an increase of vigor, and a confiding trust, by which the soul becomes a conquering power.” (E.G. White Desire of Ages pp 347) My friends an increase of vigor or passion of our faith and endurance is the key by which we carry our on cross until we see those scares on His hands personally. And then we exchange our cross for a crown, a harp and life eternal as we enter into the promise land.

My friends our focus cannot waver, we cannot become complacent, while waiting on a sign, or some Hollywood type catastrophe. Prophecy is being fulfilled today so watch and pray according to the power that worketh in you, because soon Christ will enter those clouds above and “His reward is with Him, to render to every man and woman according to what they have done.”

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

March 23, 2016

MY FRIENDS, IT’S ALL ABOUT FAITH AND ENDURANCE!!

My friends, many souls, even among the body of believers are in a state of slumber which is defined as being in a state of inactivity or negligence, But “it is high time to awake out of sleep;….the night is far spent, the day is at hand.” My friends, we have wasted far too much time given Satan credit as to why we remain in a state of inactivity? And why we are unable to eliminate the darkness out of our life instead of focusing on our deliverer Jesus Christ?

Remember, “there hath no temptation taken hold or why sin is so prevalent but such as is common to man. But God is faithful; He will not suffer you to be tempted beyond that which ye are able to bear, but with the temptation will also make a way to escape….” 1 Cor. 10:13 (KJV) And that way of escape is called endurance. “For the race is not given to the swift nor the mighty, but to him who endures till the end.”

So now it becomes personal because each day we are personally driven to that point where there seems no escape route in site. As a Child, I can remember a reoccurring nightmare of being chased into a room by this creepy old lady, only to be awaken by the sound of my mother’s voice saying it’s time to get up. My friends, The nightmares are gone only to be replaced by the rough terrain and the torrential storms of life.

But the voice of comfort is still there, which is the Spirit of God who gives a child of God power to endure the nightmares of this world and to continue on our journey to the promise land. Remember “Christ was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities;…..” so that we may awake from our state of slumber knowing, “that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.

The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.” Rom 13:11-12 (NKJV) Remember Satan’s only purpose as “the god of this world is to blind the minds of Gods elect as he brings about the storm clouds that continue to hover above us which causes our life to feel as though it is “without form, and void;” as the darkness of this world surrounds us.

But Christ “will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them. Isaiah 42:16 (KJV) But it is our faith and endurance that keeps us focus as the Spirit of God continues to bring the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, into our life.

And it is at that point we look back at the many blessing that has brought us thus far through our faith and endurance, as we realize our God has never left or forsaken us, it has always been the enticement of this world that has caused us to turn our backs on Him. So my friends let’s continue to hold on through our faith as we continue to endure until we can hear Christ say to us personally “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful and endured…… now enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” Matt 25:21 (KJV)

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

March 31, 2016

MY FRIENDS, SOMETIMES HEAVEN IS JUST NOT ENOUGH

“In and out of situations, that tug-a-war at me, all day long I struggle For answers that I need. Then I come into His presence, all my questions become clear and for a sacred moment, No doubt can interfere.” (Vicki Yohe In the Presence of Jehovah) My friends, “in His presence for a sacred moment all of our questions become clear.” But then at the end of that sacred moment, how do we remain focused on this journey Christ has placed us on.

Remember God is patient with His Children, not wanting anyone to perish. But sometimes He puts us to sleep before we have fulfilled His plan. I have witnessed many funerals of friends and love one’s in the past few years and most died in the Lord and at that moment they crossed that finish line, praise the Lord. So now it’s personal, because we must ask ourselves, entering the kingdom of God one day, is that all we should be seeking.

God knows the plans and thoughts that [He] has for [His elect],…plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster [but] to give [each of us] a future. Samson allowed Satan to continue to keep his focus on the desires of the flesh and the things of this world. And I can say with no reservations, that no matter what Samson did for the Lord throughout his life it was just not enough because he did not live to His life’s full potential that God had planned for Him.

And it was not enough because those few sacred moment He spent with God, was never about completely destroying self, while allowing God’s Spirit to take full control and transform him into the image of Christ. But friends he is still among the hall of fame elect of the Bible’s patriarchs and prophets in Heb.11:30-40 (NKJV) who “through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.

And also quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword and out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens….were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.” My friends, God has a plan for our life and it can’t be just about getting to Heaven. In the midst of the noise of this world God is telling us He is the vine; [and we] are the branches.

Whoever abides in [Christ] and Christ in them,….must bear much fruit, for apart from [Christ] we can do nothing. ”John 15:15 (ESV) So our life must be all about doing the will of God while bearing much fruit. And during this short probationary period between life and death that is granted to His children must be lived in understanding God’s plan for our life that is laid out in His word as we allow God’s Spirit to guide us in all truth and understanding.

Samson last words before he died were “O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me just this one time, So Samson in spite of how he lived His life, in the end, gave it all to the Master. “And the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life.” Judges 16:30 (NKJV)

My friends, what would we be saying about Samson today if he had lived his life completely as God had planned. And what about the thief on the cross and what about you and I. God has a plan for us, we just have to listen for his voice and follow it. And each day as we serve God, say to ourselves, I want to fulfilled God’s plan for my life then my reward will be heaven.

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

March 20, 2016

MY FRIENDS WHY DO YOU CRY, JUST GO FORWARD!!

And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward………So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.” Ex. 14:15-22 (NKJV) The scenario I just presented is what Christ meant when he tells us in Matt. 13:31-32 (NKJV) The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree….”

My friends, So “Why do you cry to God? When it comes to our faith, God will test us in the small areas of our life and if we believe, it then grows like the smallest of seeds “to where nothing is impossible for us to accomplished.” because nothing is impossible for God and what He is willing to do for His children.

And what God is trying to tell His Children who seek His kingdom “just go forward” because “if you don’t go forward it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.” Heb. 1:6 (NKJV) In Gen. 12:1 (NKJV)  “Lord ask Abram to “go forward” “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you.”

So Abraham Set’s out on a journey not knowing where He was going, only having the faith of a mustard seed, so he went. Now it becomes personal because now it becomes all about our relationship with God. This narrative tells us Abraham had spent time with God and was willing through His faith to give it all to the Master. Inconvenience. Trials and tribulation are secondary to what God may ask us. So we must be prepared to “go forward”.

My friends God sees the bigger picture, which is Him telling us “well done thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Matt. 25:21 (KJV) And Now that faith that had begun with us paying a faithful tithe or not lying to the IRS on our income tax will grow along with our endurance to a “new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth will passed away…..

[and our new home becomes] the holy city…and God will forever dwell with the faithful, and we shall be His people and God Himself will be with us and be our God….And God will wipe away every tear from our eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying or pain, for the former things will pass away.” Rev. 21:1-4 (NKJV)

My friends “Why do you cry to God just go forward,” because when we “don’t see His plan When [we] can’t trace His hand [we just have to] Trust His Heart because He sees the master plan and He holds our future in His hand, So don’t live as those who have no hope.” because All our hope is found in Him” Just believe “if we have the faith as a mustard seed, we [can say to any] mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for us. Matt. 17:20 (NKJV)

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

March 17, 2016

MY FRIENDS, ARE WE ON ONE ACCORD AND IF NOT WHY NOT?

Twelve disciples, Christ best friends, all with totally different characters but all taught by the same Master. Christ final words “Let not your heart be troubled,” was telling them; [you now know my Father, “which art in heaven.” Now move out and seek first the kingdom above, where I am going to prepare for you. And teach others, by your words, to do the same.] John 14:1-3 (KJV paraphrased)

So they all had separate journeys, separate ministries, but the same goal, to finish the course without Christ being among them. So they had to seek His presence each day as they redefined that personal relationship they once had with Him. And as they “looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who said.

“Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” Acts 1:10-11 (NKJV) From there, they went up into the upper room where they were staying and continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, seeking the “Helper Christ spoke of, that the father would send to abide with them forever.”

My friends, Christ took twelve close friends. Each having twelve separate characters and He sent them on twelve separate journeys and all on one accord, now that is amazing!! Friends that makes it personal because that tells each of us, we have separate journeys but if you have spent time with the Master and have develop a personal relationship with God and love Him with all your heart and soul.

And if I have spent time with the Master and have developed a personal relationship with God and love Him with all my heart and soul. And if the man or woman in China or Africa or Cuba or India or Iran or anywhere else have spent time with the Master and have developed a personal relationship with God and they love Him with all their heart and soul, then who am I to try and define any one else relationship with God.

My friends, we are all seeking to be on one accord with one Spirit who is leading each of us in all truth and understanding in one direction. But what about the Judas of the world, Christ betrayer, who killed himself in the end. Well that only shows us the goodness and love of God in allowing every man and woman the opportunity to make their own choices.

Store owners who accept counterfeit money, they themselves must bear the burden of the loss. In other words my friends “He was wounded for [all of our] transgressions, [even Judas] He was bruised for our iniquities; [even Judas] The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, [even Judas] And by His stripes we are [all] healed.” Is. 53:5 (NKJV) But, it is our Choice not God’s, therefore Judas chose life over death.

My friends, the world changes daily, but if you are a Christian there is only one word, one Father, one Son and one Spirit and our journeys will all end in the upper room together. “For we all belong to the Good Shepard and sometimes we end up in different folds.

But one day He will bring us all together on one accord, as we learn to distinguished only His voice from the noise of this world, and then there shall be only one fold, and one shepherd, in God’s pure and holy kingdom” John 10:16 (KJV paraphrased)

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