"Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:40)
As we watch the events of the end times unfold it is easy to fall into the temptation of worry, dread and fear. Although it is human nature to be “concerned” about our daily needs during this time of economic recession, we must remain aware so that we do not fall victim to the spirit of fear. The spirit of fear is one of Satan’s most used weapons during these hard times.
Luke 21: 25 - “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”
In these last days, many will fall by the wayside giving in to the spirit of fear that will overwhelm the earth. The key to the survival of our faith is found in II Timothy 1: 7 – “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” How to we retain this “sound mind” in the midst of the last battle for our souls? - by continuous communion with God through the Holy Spirit. Beloved, it is imperative that you cultivate a continual prayer life from this moment on. This will enable you to stand strong in your faith when all else around you begins to fall.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
A SIGN IN THE SKY
“For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” (2nd Corinthians 1:20)
Early this morning, looking into the sky, I could see the sun coming up on one side, and a very nasty thunderstorm rolling in from the west. What struck my attention was in between these two giants was situated a beautiful rainbow. One of the most colorful ones I have ever seen, standing there like a sentinel between these two opposing forces in the sky.
This sight reminded me of why God put it there from the beginning. After the great flood, and wrath that was poured out on this earth, only Noah and his family were left on this earth, with the animals he had preserved. As he stood there praising God for his deliverance, the Lord promised to never again destroy the earth with a flood of water. And his sign, between man and himself, which his promise would stand sure through the ages, was a rainbow.
That promise still stands, after thousands of years of time have went by, God still reminds himself and us of his promise that will not fail. This should have you on shouting ground if you are born again, and living for the Lord. If a promise, made in the Old Testament, still stands solid as a rock today, how much better promises we have now, built on a much better covenant than Noah could ever imagine.
Jesus Christ died and was risen again, to build a covenant that would stand through eternity, Built on promises that will not fail, ever. Our scripture reference today tells it all. God is a god that will not fail; he is not a man that he should lie, and will not make a promise that he will not keep. You can stake your life on that book called the B-I-B-L-E!
Rest in his promises, read his word and learn of his great and precious promises to us. You will not have perfect peace and joy in life until you grab hold of these promises for you.
Early this morning, looking into the sky, I could see the sun coming up on one side, and a very nasty thunderstorm rolling in from the west. What struck my attention was in between these two giants was situated a beautiful rainbow. One of the most colorful ones I have ever seen, standing there like a sentinel between these two opposing forces in the sky.
This sight reminded me of why God put it there from the beginning. After the great flood, and wrath that was poured out on this earth, only Noah and his family were left on this earth, with the animals he had preserved. As he stood there praising God for his deliverance, the Lord promised to never again destroy the earth with a flood of water. And his sign, between man and himself, which his promise would stand sure through the ages, was a rainbow.
That promise still stands, after thousands of years of time have went by, God still reminds himself and us of his promise that will not fail. This should have you on shouting ground if you are born again, and living for the Lord. If a promise, made in the Old Testament, still stands solid as a rock today, how much better promises we have now, built on a much better covenant than Noah could ever imagine.
Jesus Christ died and was risen again, to build a covenant that would stand through eternity, Built on promises that will not fail, ever. Our scripture reference today tells it all. God is a god that will not fail; he is not a man that he should lie, and will not make a promise that he will not keep. You can stake your life on that book called the B-I-B-L-E!
Rest in his promises, read his word and learn of his great and precious promises to us. You will not have perfect peace and joy in life until you grab hold of these promises for you.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
WHAT WILL YOU CHOOSE?
“Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian” (Acts 26:28)
God is a God of two paths. He always sets before a believer, and a non-believer, two choices. In the Garden of Eden, he gave Adam and Eve the choice between two trees.
Moses, under the spirit of God, stood on a rock and proclaimed “Who is on the Lord’s side, let him come to me” (Exodus 32:26). And in our passage of scripture today, we see the Apostle Paul, also under the Spirit of God, causing King Agrippa to make a decision between two paths.
It is the way of our Lord to set before us two paths, blessing and cursing, life and death, and it becomes our responsibility to choose. I believe this has happened to the body of Christ many times thru the ages. And based on our past decisions, the state of the Church became what it was then. But, I feel we are once again coming to a valley of decision. I sense the spirit beckoning “How long halt (stand still) between two opinions”. It is coming down to the end of the world as we know it!
Jesus Christ, in his mercy and grace, has begun to call those who truly love him, to a deeper, closer walk with him. They no longer, thru many trials and afflictions, have the desire to stay here in this world like they once had. They are becoming “homesick” to be with Jesus. They are being drawn to a prayer closest, to his word, and they feel this insatiable hunger for more of Jesus. God is doing this to prepare a people to stand in this evil day approaching. YOU WILL NOT STAND in this evil ending of the world without a storehouse of Jesus Christ in your soul! NO WAY!
But, these people chose to draw to Jesus, and to his word. They made a conscious decision to say, I choose life! There is no life, no joy, without being plugged in the Jesus Christ and his spirit. But I see many to day, in the valley of decision, looking at Christ and looking at the world, and they can’t make a choice! Many of these are Christians! Dear saint, make a choice today, follow Jesus all the way. Follow him to the fiery furnace, follow him to the lion’s den, and follow him to the Red Sea. Make a choice today, like Job, and say; “though yet he slay me, I shall continue to serve him”. I promise you, nothing will compare with the joy you will have in your soul, and for an eternity of time. Choose life, choose Jesus now!
God is a God of two paths. He always sets before a believer, and a non-believer, two choices. In the Garden of Eden, he gave Adam and Eve the choice between two trees.
Moses, under the spirit of God, stood on a rock and proclaimed “Who is on the Lord’s side, let him come to me” (Exodus 32:26). And in our passage of scripture today, we see the Apostle Paul, also under the Spirit of God, causing King Agrippa to make a decision between two paths.
It is the way of our Lord to set before us two paths, blessing and cursing, life and death, and it becomes our responsibility to choose. I believe this has happened to the body of Christ many times thru the ages. And based on our past decisions, the state of the Church became what it was then. But, I feel we are once again coming to a valley of decision. I sense the spirit beckoning “How long halt (stand still) between two opinions”. It is coming down to the end of the world as we know it!
Jesus Christ, in his mercy and grace, has begun to call those who truly love him, to a deeper, closer walk with him. They no longer, thru many trials and afflictions, have the desire to stay here in this world like they once had. They are becoming “homesick” to be with Jesus. They are being drawn to a prayer closest, to his word, and they feel this insatiable hunger for more of Jesus. God is doing this to prepare a people to stand in this evil day approaching. YOU WILL NOT STAND in this evil ending of the world without a storehouse of Jesus Christ in your soul! NO WAY!
But, these people chose to draw to Jesus, and to his word. They made a conscious decision to say, I choose life! There is no life, no joy, without being plugged in the Jesus Christ and his spirit. But I see many to day, in the valley of decision, looking at Christ and looking at the world, and they can’t make a choice! Many of these are Christians! Dear saint, make a choice today, follow Jesus all the way. Follow him to the fiery furnace, follow him to the lion’s den, and follow him to the Red Sea. Make a choice today, like Job, and say; “though yet he slay me, I shall continue to serve him”. I promise you, nothing will compare with the joy you will have in your soul, and for an eternity of time. Choose life, choose Jesus now!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
HOLINESS VERSUS HARDNESS TOWARD GOD
And He . . . wondered that there was no intercessor. (Isaiah 59:16 KJV)
by Oswald Chambers
The reason many of us leave off praying and become hard towards God is because we have only a sentimental interest in prayer. It sounds right to say that we pray; we read books on prayer which tell us that prayer is beneficial, that our minds are quieted and our souls uplifted when we pray; but Isaiah implies that God is amazed at such thoughts of prayer. Worship and intercession must go together, the one is impossible without the other. Intercession means that we rouse ourselves up to get the mind of Christ about the one for whom we pray.
Too often instead of worshipping God, we construct statements as to how prayer works. Are we worshipping or are we in dispute with God - "I don't see how You are going to do it." This is a sure sign that we are not worshipping. When we lose sight of God we become hard and dogmatic. We hurl our own petitions at God's throne and dictate to Him as to what we wish Him to do. We do not worship God, nor do we seek to form the mind of Christ. If we are hard towards God, we will become hard towards other people.
Are we so worshipping God that we rouse ourselves up to lay hold on Him so that we may be brought into contact with His mind about the ones for whom we pray? Are we living in a holy relationship to God, or are we hard and dogmatic? "But there is no one interceding properly" - then be that one yourself, be the one who worships God and who lives in holy relationship to Him. Get into the real work of intercession, and remember it is a work, a work that taxes every power; but a work which has no snare. Preaching the gospel has a snare; intercessory prayer has none.
by Oswald Chambers
The reason many of us leave off praying and become hard towards God is because we have only a sentimental interest in prayer. It sounds right to say that we pray; we read books on prayer which tell us that prayer is beneficial, that our minds are quieted and our souls uplifted when we pray; but Isaiah implies that God is amazed at such thoughts of prayer. Worship and intercession must go together, the one is impossible without the other. Intercession means that we rouse ourselves up to get the mind of Christ about the one for whom we pray.
Too often instead of worshipping God, we construct statements as to how prayer works. Are we worshipping or are we in dispute with God - "I don't see how You are going to do it." This is a sure sign that we are not worshipping. When we lose sight of God we become hard and dogmatic. We hurl our own petitions at God's throne and dictate to Him as to what we wish Him to do. We do not worship God, nor do we seek to form the mind of Christ. If we are hard towards God, we will become hard towards other people.
Are we so worshipping God that we rouse ourselves up to lay hold on Him so that we may be brought into contact with His mind about the ones for whom we pray? Are we living in a holy relationship to God, or are we hard and dogmatic? "But there is no one interceding properly" - then be that one yourself, be the one who worships God and who lives in holy relationship to Him. Get into the real work of intercession, and remember it is a work, a work that taxes every power; but a work which has no snare. Preaching the gospel has a snare; intercessory prayer has none.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
THE WHIRLWIND OF TROUBLE!
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” (Psalm 34:19)
There is a thing that happens, when you decide to follow God with all your heart. From out of nowhere, troubles begin to multiply in your life. It seems as though everything that can go wrong, eventually will.
Your job goes sour, financial troubles hit, friends begin to forsake you, things at home take a turn for the worse, and the list goes on and on.
And, if it is not bad enough that friends and family begin to forsake you, the inner feelings of loneliness, depression and dryness of the spirit set in. like a whirlwind, you begin to feel like God is a million miles away, and has forsaken you, leaving you to feel like you have committed some horrid sin that he has left you over.
Let me encourage you today, God has not left you at all. These things must happen. Every prophet, apostle and follower of Christ has suffered these same afflictions. The book of Psalms is full of times when even the great king David felt forgotten and forsaken. Many times enemies surrounded him, family forsook him, and he suffered great loss. But he learned a valuable lesson. He learned how to have peace when going thru these things. He began to realize when these things happen suddenly, he could stand in faith knowing God would eventually give him deliverance.
Our scripture reference today tells us that many (this word implies multiple amounts) will be the troubles of the righteous. We will be surrounded at times with trouble on all sides. But think about this, God is closest to you in these times! It is in these times we learn more about the nature of God, and we learn about his love and faithfulness to us. If you served a God that never brought you thru any thing, never allowed you to endure something, then turned around and delivered you thru it, he wouldn’t be much of a God to you.
Dear saint, your troubles will be many as the evil day approaches, as we get ready to leave this present world. But we have a precious promise from a God who cannot lie; he will deliver us thru it. He will strengthen us in the middle of the trouble, if we will trust in him, 100 percent. Your faith unlocks the peace you need in trouble times. Go to him in prayer, tell him how you feel. Then walk away believing he will answer, and deliver you. He is a wonderful God, and he cares for you!
There is a thing that happens, when you decide to follow God with all your heart. From out of nowhere, troubles begin to multiply in your life. It seems as though everything that can go wrong, eventually will.
Your job goes sour, financial troubles hit, friends begin to forsake you, things at home take a turn for the worse, and the list goes on and on.
And, if it is not bad enough that friends and family begin to forsake you, the inner feelings of loneliness, depression and dryness of the spirit set in. like a whirlwind, you begin to feel like God is a million miles away, and has forsaken you, leaving you to feel like you have committed some horrid sin that he has left you over.
Let me encourage you today, God has not left you at all. These things must happen. Every prophet, apostle and follower of Christ has suffered these same afflictions. The book of Psalms is full of times when even the great king David felt forgotten and forsaken. Many times enemies surrounded him, family forsook him, and he suffered great loss. But he learned a valuable lesson. He learned how to have peace when going thru these things. He began to realize when these things happen suddenly, he could stand in faith knowing God would eventually give him deliverance.
Our scripture reference today tells us that many (this word implies multiple amounts) will be the troubles of the righteous. We will be surrounded at times with trouble on all sides. But think about this, God is closest to you in these times! It is in these times we learn more about the nature of God, and we learn about his love and faithfulness to us. If you served a God that never brought you thru any thing, never allowed you to endure something, then turned around and delivered you thru it, he wouldn’t be much of a God to you.
Dear saint, your troubles will be many as the evil day approaches, as we get ready to leave this present world. But we have a precious promise from a God who cannot lie; he will deliver us thru it. He will strengthen us in the middle of the trouble, if we will trust in him, 100 percent. Your faith unlocks the peace you need in trouble times. Go to him in prayer, tell him how you feel. Then walk away believing he will answer, and deliver you. He is a wonderful God, and he cares for you!
Monday, April 6, 2009
THE COLLISION OF GOD AND SIN
“Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree.” (1 Peter 2:24)
by Oswald Chambers
The Cross of Jesus is the revelation of God's judgment on sin. Never tolerate the idea of martyrdom about the Cross of Jesus Christ. The Cross was a superb triumph in which the foundations of hell were shaken. There is nothing more certain in Time or Eternity than what Jesus Christ did on the Cross: He switched the whole of the human race back into a right relationship with God. He made Redemption the basis of human life, that is, He made a way for every son of man to get into communion with God.
The Cross did not happen to Jesus: He came on purpose for it. He is "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." The whole meaning of the Incarnation is the Cross. Beware of separating God manifest in the flesh from the Son becoming sin. The Incarnation was for the purpose of Redemption. God became incarnate for the purpose of putting away sin; not for the purpose of Self-realization. The Cross is the centre of Time and of Eternity, the answer to the enigmas of both.
The Cross is not the cross of a man but the Cross of God, and the Cross of God can never be realized in human experience. The Cross is the exhibition of the nature of God, the gateway whereby any individual of the human race can enter into union with God. When we get to the Cross, we do not go through it; we abide in the life to which the Cross is the gateway.
The centre of salvation is the Cross of Jesus, and the reason it is so easy to obtain salvation is because it cost God so much. The Cross is the point where God and sinful man merge with a crash and the way to life is opened - but the crash is on the heart of God.
by Oswald Chambers
The Cross of Jesus is the revelation of God's judgment on sin. Never tolerate the idea of martyrdom about the Cross of Jesus Christ. The Cross was a superb triumph in which the foundations of hell were shaken. There is nothing more certain in Time or Eternity than what Jesus Christ did on the Cross: He switched the whole of the human race back into a right relationship with God. He made Redemption the basis of human life, that is, He made a way for every son of man to get into communion with God.
The Cross did not happen to Jesus: He came on purpose for it. He is "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." The whole meaning of the Incarnation is the Cross. Beware of separating God manifest in the flesh from the Son becoming sin. The Incarnation was for the purpose of Redemption. God became incarnate for the purpose of putting away sin; not for the purpose of Self-realization. The Cross is the centre of Time and of Eternity, the answer to the enigmas of both.
The Cross is not the cross of a man but the Cross of God, and the Cross of God can never be realized in human experience. The Cross is the exhibition of the nature of God, the gateway whereby any individual of the human race can enter into union with God. When we get to the Cross, we do not go through it; we abide in the life to which the Cross is the gateway.
The centre of salvation is the Cross of Jesus, and the reason it is so easy to obtain salvation is because it cost God so much. The Cross is the point where God and sinful man merge with a crash and the way to life is opened - but the crash is on the heart of God.
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