My Prayer and My Plea

Good morning Father.  I would like to petition You from my very heart, in truth, before all the world for the forgiveness of my sin.  I have taken lightly the cost for which you bought me; the price of Your own blood.  I am not my own and how quickly I forget that fact.  I blame not the enemy of my soul as I am perfectly responsible for my own sin.  There is a great gulf between my own sin and that of Lucifer; I wish not to implicate him for my suffering any longer.  If it be that serpent then so be it, I am yours and will speak of your greatness.  From before the earth was formed, before the fabric of time was woven, YOU WERE.  I am sorry for my wickedness and the hypocrisy which runs so deep Father.  I am a great deceiver and I openly admit my sin for the entire world to see.  I wish that you may be glorified in my open admittance of my very own sin.  I ask that you touch the hearts and lives of all those who would see this prayer.  Please forgive us, The Many, who are deceived of our ownselves and not knowing the trouble which we are bringing upon ourselves.  It is our own fault.  You have given us Your Word Father and we have neglected it.  Your Word became flesh and it cleansed the world of its sin, but sadly in our day so far removed from Your sacrifice, we see in a glass half dark.  We don't have true FAITH, I dare say that most of us lack even a mustard seed of FAITH.  It is our own undoing for not heeding Your Word.

I plead with you this morning for forgiveness.  I ask that your blood be poured on me this morning.  I will to perform Your will today.  I submit to you as best I know how.  Lead me into this great world filled with wealth that fades, sin leading unto death, and let Your Awesome Strength be made manifest in my sufferings.  May the world see my suffering and seek You alone that they may not taste of this bitterness in my soul.  It is the bitterness of disobedience, hypocrisy, pride, deception, wickedness, cheating, stealing, lying, and seeking after my own glory.  Father, I repent of these sins.  Your Glory is worthy of seeking all by itself, it needs not my help to achieve that which it seeks.  May I be true to You who have called upon me to be obedient to Your Word.  May I seek from You treasure to store up in Heaven and not on this earth.  So quickly I forget that my treasures should never be in this life.  How quickly do my feet run to evil, it disgusts me to even think of it.  Father, please help me today, please let Your light shine through me in a way that I don't have a clue. May others see You in me so that YOU ALONE are glorified.  Hide me, the man, from any self seeking and heap up glory for Yourself through my life.  -Amen

Readers, you have not heard from me in quite some time. This prayer above is written from my heart and it is my own prayer this morning.  Hypocrisy runs deep, and a hypocrite I am.  I want you to know that I do not set out to be a hypocrite, it is by my sinful nature in direct disobedience to God, that I fall victim to this sin and all others.  The Word has much to say concerning a hypocrite and it is none pleasing.  If you are like me, and you can feel God's Holy Spirit upon you this morning, PLEAD NOW FOR HIS FORGIVENESS. 

The hour in which we now live is frightfully dangerous, and we do not know the number of our days; nor do we know the hour which the Son of Man will return.  We do know the season in which He will return and EACH ONE OF YOU IS LIVING IN IT RIGHT NOW.  

Do not regard lightly the Word of the Lord.  Be blessed and take count of your iniquities.  You have not heard from me in a long time due to my own.  This you will hear more about soon.  I take responsibility for my own sins.  Know that there is a spiritual war which is taking place right now; the price is YOUR SOUL. 

Father, I ask you for the breastplate of righteousness right now before I leave and step into this world this morning.  I ask for a MIGHTY SHIELD of FAITH because the enemy is deadly accurate with his arrows of temptations and wickedness.  I ask for helmet of Salvation in Your very own Son.  I pray you would shod my feet with the preparation of the gospel.  Please give me a sharp sword which can pierce so I am not defenseless against the wiles of the devil.  While he is the great chess master, always two moves ahead, Lucifer quickly forgets that you made the pieces which go on the board.  Check mate it may be for Lucifer for now; but soon You will gather up all the pieces and declare which are Your own.  Let us not forget that before this world ever was, before the Angels and all mankind, YOU ARE and WERE GOD. 

If You will for me to speak the gospel, I ask that You please shut my ears so that I cannot hear; for I do not want glory.  I am not willing to steal any longer.  To thine is all Glory forever and ever. 

I love you all and pray that each step of your day will be prepared for you.  That your path be ligthened by God and that every step you take and every word you speak have purpose.  Pleasing to God shall we be if we will but humble ourselves and obey. 

Shalom

Playing Chess with the Devil

by Todd Strandberg

Playing Chess With The Devil

I have always been terrible at the game of chess. It's not that I don't understand how the game is played--I perfectly understand the rules and moves.  The problem is my inability think ahead. If I make a move on the board that seems to be prudent, three moves later, it usually turns out to have been a fatal mistake. 

When I play against a computer, I normally get beat like a rented mule. The only way I've been able to win at the game is by cheating. I have one program that allows me to turn one of my pawns into an extra queen. Sadly, even with this unfair advantage, the devilish program still finds a way to overcome the shortfall and checkmate me. 

Chess is often depicted as a sport for wimps, but this label is incorrect. A son once asked his dad why chess is not an Olympic game. His father’s response was brief and to the point: "Chess is not a noble sport. When you play chess, your object is to crush the opponent's mind. In today's world, a man's mind is his most precious commodity. Proving to your opponent that his most precious commodity is useless can be devastating for him."

Satan: The Chess Master

It is anyone’s guess what Satan does for recreation in his spare time, but I imagine he would be very good at chess. For someone who spends most of his time devising strategies for ensnaring humanity with various vices, he would likely be a formidable chess opponent.

One of the greatest mistakes we can make is to underestimate Satan’s cunning. We tend to view him as a loser who ran afoul of God and got fired from his job. Unfortunately, he found new employment: the task of damning men's souls to hell.

The Bible certainly doesn't play down the devil's abilities. We are warned that he is an enemy who wishes to destroy all of us. In fact, 1 Peter 5:8-9 says, “Your enemy the Devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

A wise person is someone who realizes it is impossible to match wits with the devil. Just as I would have no chance of winning a game of chess against the world's most powerful computer, Satan can outmaneuver me with hardly any effort.

A good example of this can be found in the waning days of World War II. As Germany was losing the war, many Germans realized Adolf Hitler was a mad man who needed to be stopped by any means. At least 42 attempts were made to take his life, and all failed in preposterously inconvenient ways.

Once you read some examples of these attempts, you would have to conclude that some unseen agent was protecting Hitler from harm:

• An Iron Cross recipient at Nuremberg was going to stab Hitler in front of 1,000 soldiers at an assembly. Hitler had a cold that day and decided to go home early.
• A bomb that was intended to blow up the Nazi leader in mid-flight failed to go off because cold weather had hindered the reaction of the chemicals in the bomb.
• An infantry captain made plans to explode a bomb while he demonstrated a new army winter overcoat to the German leader. The day before the bombing was to take place, a British air raid destroyed the uniforms.
• One general tried to kill Hitler with a concealed bomb that was to be detonated by acid. Unfortunately, Hitler left the building before the acid could act.
• A bomb finally did go off next to Hitler. The Fuehrer was spared by a heavy desk that shielded him from the blast.

Historians actually joke that Hitler had “Satan's luck.” The truth is, the devil's hand was as work, and the opposition was pursuing an impossible quest. Perhaps if the Nazi leaders had prayed for “God's luck,” they might have accomplished their goal and saved millions of lives.

Satan's Favorite Moves

Most professional chess players have a series of favorite ploys they like to use against their opponents. Satan has several tricks he regularly uses against us. By being aware of them, we can avoid his snares. Paul said, "Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices" (2 Cor. 2:11).

Here are six of the strategies that Satan uses. Because they all begin with letter "D," they should be easy to remember.

Divide - A standard strategy is to divide the enemy force in order to make it easier to conquer. Satan loves to create division so he can pick off the weak and weak-minded people.

Doubt - The Bible says, "Without faith it is impossible to please God." Once Satan can persuade people to question God's Word and His goodness, forgiveness, and love, he is ensured of victory.

Discourage - This strategy involves getting us to focus on our problems rather than entrusting God to provide a solution. It can also be someone else’s problem that creates discouragement in our own lives.

Diversion - Not all problems are equal. The enemy may come at us with an attack of lesser importance to distract us from his main attack. He may also distract us with good things. For example, parents may become too focused on their careers, enabling their children fall into rebellion.

Defeat - The devil is at his best when he causes people to feel so overwhelmed by failure that they don't even try to resist his onslaught. If we’re not resisting the devil, he will move in for the kill.

Delay - In the game of life, Satan wins by default. We are all born in a lost state, so unless we come to faith in Jesus Christ, we will perish. Because procrastination doesn't require doing anything, this strategy is an easy path for victory.

God: The Ultimate Chess Master

The rivalry between God and Satan is often seen as a battle between two equally skilled chess masters, playing against one another to see whose plan will be victorious. This vision is totally fictitious. There never was a real contest between God and Satan, and there never will be.

God is in charge of everything that happens. His level of control is so absolute, He sets the stage for everything that will happen in the universe. How can Satan compete against a Being who knows every move he is going to make ahead of time? God does more than just rule the chess board. He controls both the white and the black pieces.

The devil is so hopelessly outwitted, God published in the Bible many of Satan’s fatal mistakes far ahead of the time he made them. There are still some blunders yet to come. The Holy Word predicts that the devil will attempt to destroy the Jews and that he will make a stand against Jesus at the Battle of Armageddon. Both will end in total failure.

With God having proven himself unbeatable, one might wonder why Satan keeps challenging Him. The devil's problem is that he has such a depraved, arrogant mind, he is incapable of admitting defeat. There is no limit to the foolishness of a heart that is in rebellion against God. For this reason, Satan still thinks he has a chance to vanquish the Almighty.

The only reason we have the impression that God is in a fair contest with His adversary is the fact He grants His creation free will. Our decision to accept or reject God has no reflection on Him. We can make all the decisions we want, but in the end, they all fit into God's perfect plan.

Winning the Game by Following God's Will

One of the clearest indications of how vulnerable we are to Satan's willpower can be found in the warning Jesus gave Peter in Luke 22:31: "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat." At first, I thought this verse meant that Satan had asked for dominion over Peter and Jesus rebuffed the request. Jesus then said, "I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail..." (Luke 22:31). But I didn't pay attention to the last part. Jesus added "...And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers," which means that God had allowed Satan to sift Peter.

Peter was the type of emotional person that made him easy pickings for the devil. In the space of one night, he rebuked Jesus when He told the disciple of His pending death, he turned to violence by cutting off the ear of the High Priest's servant, and he denied the Lord three times.

Peter met with failure because he was out of God's will. He trusted in his own strength, and Satan made mincemeat of him. When Peter realized his mistake and became totally dependent on God's guidance for his life, he then became a victorious leader of the Church.

I have been whipped by the devil several times because I failed to seek God's counsel on important issues. What has saved me from complete disaster is the belief that Jesus is Lord of life. Giving God credit didn't save me from having to seek His guidance on how to untangle problems that I allowed to come my way. 

We generally fail to take our daily matters to prayer because we don't think it’s that important, we’re too lazy, or we just don’t think God will answer us. Because we live in an evil world with an enemy who drools at the thought of being able to destroy the lives of Christians, we can't afford to not seek God's direction.

I will end with these words of advice. Jesus Christ is our Eternal King, and He is Invincible--the ultimate Checkmate Master of this chess match of life in which we are engaged. If we put our trust in the Lord, He will lead us to victory.

"But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 15:57).

Reflections on the Soul

Reflections on the Soul

By Ron Wilkerson

Good morning dear brothers and sisters. I have been in much thought and very little prayer as of late. Not a good state to be in I assure you. My lack of writing to and for you, which is my calling, has been a blatant act of disobedience arising from other acts of disobedience to my Father. I could rail on about those questions which have afflicted my soul as of late but I want to get to a very important point. This point is one that God's Holy Spirit has reminded me. So here you go, here is what is my heart for you as you walk this day out.

Have you ever given someone your word that you would do something and you did not do that which you spoke? I did. Honestly, it is sad to say but I have done so many times to my own detriment. But there is a chief word I gave of which I am reminded on this day. As I was reflecting yesterday, last night, and could not stay asleep this morning; I was reminded of when and where I was 10 years ago today. Right this moment 10 years ago, I was with my Brother (Bro) as I affectionately call him and my Mom. Man, it is hard to hold back my tears right now.

We were in a car, traveling, and what had just occurred was troubling me to my core. I had been up for 36 hours straight at this point yet I was not in the least bit tired. Rather, I was worried that one of my dearest and most loved one's would meet the Lord that day. A dreadful thought for me at that time purely of my own selfishness. I was taking my Mom to the hospital for a very dangerous surgery to clip an aneurism that was abutting her right optical nerve. For anyone unaware, this your optical nerve resides in the Frontal Eye Fields, located in the Frontal Lobes of the Cerebral Cortex. First, you are sedated, your hair is shaved, a piece of your skull is cut (a saw is necessary), then a doctor takes his scalpel and cuts your brain tissue to the point where he may expose the underlying problem in the brain. No more, no less.

There is much danger in this type of surgery. Any cut to your Cerebral Cortex is incredibly dangerous as these frontal lobes of your brain control attention, thought, voluntary movement, decision-making and speech. Folks, this was my Mom!!! Some of you reading this may know my mother but I assure you that you have no idea how close we truly are to one another. This woman saw me through EVERYTHING and if you knew my LIFE STORY; you would know that I NEVER DESERVED HER AS MY MOM. For that matter, I don't deserve such a wonderful Brother, Step-Mother and Father. Yet, I am blessed!

What does this have to do with a man's word? Well, after 8 hours of surgery, the doctor came out and spoke with the family. He told us that we don't know if your Mom suffered ANOTHER stroke during surgery, she will never see out of her right eye again because he made too much contact with the optical nerve, and it was as successful as he could have expected. That said, the anticipation built as we waited for her to first awake. 

She eventually awoke and when ask how she was doing, she was able to move her right hand to signal she was okay; this showed me that her mental function was intact enough to know I was worried and needed to hear from my Mom. Do you realize what great strength this took her? How much a mother cares for her child? This my friends is knocking at death's door and she still signaled she was okay, all the while I knew damn well what just occurred. We had no idea of her cognitive abilities or whether or not she would suffer further strokes. We did not know if she could speak. That could have been her final day. FINALITY, ARE YOU PREPARED?

As I lay in a shower, far away in another building at Baptist Hospital, Med Towers II, I spoke to God for the first time in a very long time. In fact, I made a bargain with God. I said "if you will save my mothers life, I will give my life completely to you". Yep, it was Halloween 2002, a most evil day if you ask me. Let me ask you, do you believe you a man can bargain with God? Not me, yet in my emotions I still attempted to do so. I promised God my very life! God is not human that He should bargain with us; why would He do this as He is God. I don't believe it is possible but I believe my heart stirred His heart and He clearly responded to my petitions; these petitions born of a broken heart fearful of losing one of the most important people in my life.

Yet, He did perform miracles in my mother, she defied all of the statistics and what was told to us. She speaks, she is fully capable of higher functions and thought, and she is fully my Mother today with all her memory in tact. She is DEFIANT as ever as well I tell you. I love her with all my heart. 

On I go, I told the Lord that "if" He would spare my Mom's life, I would serve Him and He did. Guess when came calling for me? November 2, 2002 and it is emblazened in my memory. You see, it was a miraculous story of how I was called to rebirth in the Lord and I will save that for later. For now, you need to know, "As a man speaks in His heart, so is he". 

Your words will never be taken back if spoken, so choose them wisely. There is not such a weapon on the face of this planet which wields as much power as that of the human tongue! Think about that for one moment in an age where nuclear weapons are capable of destroying this earth for over a 1,000 years where life could not exist. The tongue, such a small member of the body, more powerful than nuclear weaponry?

Yes, it is so. Remember, when God created, He SPOKE! "Let there be light", "Let man have dominion over the earth" (we blew that one). Everything was spoken. The Bible reminds us,

James 3:8-10 ⁸ But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; ¹⁰ from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. 

The Lord made us in His image, He gave us this powerful gift which was meant to be a blessing to all and for all. Our sin perverted this gift. Read the whole context of scripture below,

James 3:1-18 ¹ Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. ² For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. ³ Now if we put the bits into the horses' mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. ⁴ Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. ⁵ So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. ⁷ For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. ⁸ But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; ¹⁰ from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. ¹¹ Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? ¹² Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh. ¹³ Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. ¹⁶ For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. ¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. ¹⁸ And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. 

Again, take very special care of this small member within you, for it can bless and curse in one sentence. I am keeping my Word in obedience to the Lord. It is most important that you do so.

You should ask yourselves something today in regards to your relationship with Christ. The question is simple. Are you a pretender or are you a real follower of Jesus? Be very careful not to answer this too quickly. Much perversion has occurred so that misunderstanding is in our midst. The understanding being one that the enemy of your soul greatly delights.

 I will now provide you some literature which is not my own, but that of Charles H. Spurgeon, and you need reflect on this my friends. Let me leave you with some scripture before you read his words. It is scripture relevant today as both you and I will soon see the Lord appear to take us home to be with Him in heaven, if indeed we are any of His at all. 

Revelation 3:14-22 ¹⁴ "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this: ¹⁵ 'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. ¹⁶ 'So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. ¹⁷ 'Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, ¹⁸ I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. ¹⁹ 'Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. ²⁰ 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. ²¹ 'He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. ²² 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.' "

 

This my friends is the danger. You live in an age where the messages and lectures preached below are NO LONGER HEARD, TRUE DOCTRINE! These are no longer practiced by and large. Take heed! NOW!

"Lectures to Professing Christians" -Charles Spurgeon

Two things are indispensable to evangelical, or saving faith. The first is intellectual conviction of the truth of a thing. And here I do not mean merely the abstract truth of it, but in its bearing on you. The truth, in its relation to you, or its bearing on your conduct, must be received intellectually. And then true faith includes a corresponding state of the heart. This always enters into the essence of true faith. When a man's understanding is convinced, and he admit the truth in its relation to himself, then there must be a hearty approbation of it in its bearing or relation to himself. Both these states of mind are indispensable to truth faith. Intellectual conviction of the truth is not saving faith. But intellectual conviction, then accompanied with a corresponding state of the affections, is saving faith Hence it follows that where there is true saving faith, there is always corresponding conduct. The conduct always follows the real faith. Just as certain as the will controls the conduct, men will act as they believe. Suppose I say to a man, Do you believe this? "Yes, I believe it." What does he mean? A mere intellectual conviction? He may have that and yet not have faith.
A man may even feel an approbation of an abstract truth. This is what many persons suppose to be faith the approbation which they feel for the character and government of God, and for the plan of salvation, when viewed abstractedly. Many persons, when they hear an eloquent sermon on the attributes or government of God, are set all in a glow at the excellency displayed, when they have not a particle of true faith. I have heard of an infidel, who would be moved even to ecstasy at such themes. The rational mind is so constituted that it naturally and necessarily approves of truth when viewed abstractedly.
The wickedest devils in hell love it, if they can see it without its relation to themselves. If they could see the gospel without any relation that interferes with their own selfishness, they would not only see it to be true, but would heartily approve of it. All hell, if they could view God in his absolute existence, without any relation to themselves, would heartily approve his character. The reason why wicked men and devils hate God is, because they see him in relation to themselves. Their hearts rise up in rebellion, because they see him opposed to their selfishness.
Here is the source of a grand delusion among men in regard to religion. They see, it to be, true, and they really rejoice in contemplating it; they do not enter into its relation to themselves, and so they love to hear such preaching, and say they are fed by it. But mark! They go away and do not practice. See that man! he is sick, and his feelings are tender. In view of Christ, as a kind and tender Savior, his heart melts and he feels strong emotions of approbation towards Jesus Christ. Why? For the very same reasons that he would feel strong emotions toward the hero of a romance. But he does not obey Christ. He never practices one thing out of obedience to Christ, but views him abstractedly, and is delighted with his glorious and lovely character, while he himself remains in the gall of bitterness. Thus it is apparent that your faith must be an efficient faith, such as regulates your practice and produces good works, or it is not the faith of the gospel, it is no real faith at all.
Again. It is further manifest that you are deceiving yourselves, because all true religion consists in obedience. And therefore, however much you may approve of Christianity, you have no religion unless you obey it. In saying that all religion consists in obedience, I do not mean outward obedience. But faith itself, true faith, work by love, and produces corresponding action. There is no real obedience but the obedience of the heart; love is the fulfilling of the law; and religion consists in the obedience of the heart, with a corresponding course of life. The man, therefore, who hears the truth, and approves it, and does not practice it, deceiveth himself. He is like the man beholding his natural face in a glass; for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of a man he was.
Again. That state of mind which you mistake for religion, an intellectual conviction of truth, and approval of it in the abstract, so far from being evidence that you pious, is as common to the wicked as to be good, whenever they can be brought to look at it abstractedly. This is the reason why it is often so difficult to convince sinners that they are opposed to God and his truth. Men are so constituted that they do approve of virtue, and do admire the character and government of God, and would approve and admire every truth in the Bible, if they could view it abstractedly, and without any relation to themselves. And when they sit under preaching that holds up the truth in such a way, that it has not much of a practical bearing on themselves, they may sit for years and never consider that they are opposed to God and his government.
And I am more and more persuaded, that great multitudes are to be found in all our congregations, where the abstract doctrines of the gospel are much preached, who like the preaching and like to hear about God, and all these things, and yet are unconverted. And no doubt multitudes of them get into the churches, because they love orthodox preaching, when, after all, it is manifest that they are not doers of the word. And here is the difficulty; they have not had that searching preaching that made them see the truth in its bearing on themselves. And now they are in the church, whenever the truth is preached in its practical relation to them, they show the enmity of their hearts unchanged, by rising up in opposition to truth.
They took it for granted that they were Christians, and so joined the church, because they could hear sound doctrinal preaching and approve of it, or because they read the Bible and approved of it.
If their faith be not so practical as to influence their conduct, if they do not view the truth in its relation to their own practice, their faith does not affect them so much as the FAITH OF THE DEVIL.

REMARKS

1. Great injury has been done by false representations regarding the wickedness of real Christians.
A celebrated preacher, not long since, is said to have given this definition of a Christian "A little grace and a great deal of devil." I utterly deny this definition. It is false and ruinous. A great deal is said that makes an impression that real Christians are the wickedest beings of the face of the earth. It is true that when they do sin, they incur great guilt. For a Christian to sin is highly criminal. And it is also true that enlightened Christians see in their sins great wickedness. When they compare their obligations with their lives, they are greatly humbled, and express their humility in very strong language. But it is not true that they are as bad as the devil, or anywhere in the neighborhood of it. This is perfectly demonstrable. When they do sin, their sins have great aggravation, and appear extremely wicked in the sight of God. But to suppose that men are real Christians while they live in the service of the devil, and have little of even the appearance of religion, is a sentiment that is not only false but of very dangerous tendency. It is calculated to encourage all that class of hypocrites who are Antinomians, and to encourage backsliders, as well as to do a great injury to the cause of Christ in the estimation of scorners. The truth is those who do not obey God are not Christian. The contrary doctrine is ruinous to the churches, by filling them up with multitudes whose claim to piety depends on their adoption of certain notions, while they never heartily intended to obey the requirements of the gospel in their lives.
2. Those who are so much more zealous for doctrines than for practice, and who lay much more stress on that class of doctrines which relate to God than on that class which relate to their own conduct, are Antinomians.
There are many who will receive that class of the doctrines of the Bible that relate to God and approve and love them, who have not a particle of religion. Those who are never "fed," as they call it, on any preaching but that of certain abstract points of doctrine, are Antinomians. They are the very persons against whom the apostle James wrote this epistle. They make religion to consist in a set of notions, while they do not lead holy lives.
3. That class of professors of religion who never like to hear about God or his attributes, or mode of existence, the Trinity, decrees, election, and the like, but lay all stress in religious practice to the exclusion of religious doctrine, are pharisees.
They make great pretensions to outward piety, and perhaps to inward flights of emotion of a certain poetical cast, while they will not receive the great truths that relate to God, but deny the fundamental doctrines of the gospel.
4. The proper end and tendency of all right doctrine, when truly believed, is to produce correct practice.
Wherever you find a man's practice heretical, you may be sure his belief is heretical too. The faith that he holds in his heart is just as heretical as his life. He may not be heretical in his notions and theories. He may be right there, even on the very points where he is heretical in practice. But he does not really believe it.
For illustration: See that careless sinner there, grasping wealth, and rushing headlong in the search for riches. Does that man truly believe he is ever going to die? Perhaps you will say, he knows he must die. But I say, while he is in this attitude, he does not actually believe he is ever going to die. The subject is one which is not before his thoughts at all. And thus it is, therefore, impossible that he should believe it in his utter thoughtlessness. To ask him if he expect ever to die, and he will reply, "O yes, I know I must die; all men are mortal." As soon as he turns his thoughts to it, he assents to the truth. And if you could fasten the conviction on his mind till he is really and permanently impressed with it, he would infallibly change his conduct, and live for another world instead of this. It is just so in religion; whatever a man really believes is just as certain to control his practice as that the will governs the conduct.
5. The church has for a long time acted too much on the Antinomial policy.
She has been sticklish for the more abstract doctrines, and left the more practical too much out of view. She has laid greater stress on orthodoxy in those doctrines that are not practical, than in those that are practical. Look at the creeds of the church, and see how they all lay the main stress on those doctrines that have little relation to our practice. A man may be the greatest heretic on points of practice, provided he is not openly profane and vicious, and yet maintain a good standing in the church, whether his life corresponds with the gospel or not. Is not this monstrous? And hence we see that when it is attempted to purify the church in regard to practical errors, she cannot bear it. Why else is it that so much excitement is produced by attempting to clear the church from participation in sins of intemperance, and Sabbath-breaking, and slavery? Why is it so difficult to induce the church to do anything effectual for the conversion of the world? Oh, when shall the church be purified, or the world converted? Not till it is a settled point, that heresy in practice is the proof of heresy in belief. Not while a man may deny the whole gospel in his practice every day, and yet maintain his standing in the church as a good Christian.
6. See how a minister may be deceived in regard to the state of his congregation.
He preaches a good deal on the abstract doctrines, that do not immediately relate to practice, and his people say they are fed, and rejoice in it, and he thinks they are growing in grace, when in fact it is no certain sign that there is any religion among them. It is manifest that this is not certain evidence. But if when he preaches practical doctrines, his people show that they love the truth in relation to themselves, and show it by practicing it, then they give evidence of real love to the truth.
If a minister find that his people love abstract doctrinal preaching, but that when he comes to press the practical doctrines they rebel, he may be sure that if they have any religion, it is in a low state; and if he find, on fair trial, that he cannot bring them up to it, so as to receive practical doctrine, he may be satisfied they have not a particle of religion, but are a mere company of Antinomians, who think they can go to heaven on a dead faith in abstract orthodoxy.
7. See what a vast multitude of professors of religion there are who are deceiving themselves.
Many suppose they are Christians from the emotions they feel in view of the truth, when in fact what they receive is truth presented to their minds in such a way that they do not see its bearing on themselves. If you bring the truth so to bear on them, as to destroy their pride and cut them off from their worldliness, such professors resist it. Look abroad upon the church. See what a multitude of orthodox churches and orthodox Christians live and feed upon the abstract doctrines of religion from year to year.
Then look farther at their lives, and see how little influence their professed belief has upon their practice. Have they saving faith? It cannot be. I do not mean to say that none of these church members are pious, but I do say that those who do not adopt in practice what they admit in theory who are hearers of the word but not doers deceive themselves.
Inquire now how many of you really believe the truths you hear preached. I have proposed to preach a course of "practical" lectures. I do not mean that I shall preach lectures that have no doctrine in them. That is not preaching at all. But what I desire is, to see whether you will, as a church, do what you believe to be true. If I do not succeed in convincing you that any doctrine I may maintain is really true, that is another affair. That is reason enough why you should not do it. But if I do succeed in proving from the scriptures, and convincing your understanding, that it is true, and yet you do not practice it, I shall then have the evidence before my own eyes what your character is, and no longer deceive myself with the idea that this is a Christian church.
Are you conscious that the gospel is producing a practical effect upon you, according to your advancement in knowledge? Is it weaning you from the world? Do you find this to be your experience, that when you receive any practical truth into your minds you love it, and love to feel its application to yourself, and take pleasure in practicing it? If you are not growing in grace, becoming more and more holy, yielding yourselves up to the influence of the gospel, you are deceiving yourselves. How is it now with you who are elders of this church? How is it with you who are heads of families all of you? When you hear a sermon, do you seize hold of it and take it home to you, and practice it? Or do you receive it into your minds, and approve of it, and never practice it? Woe to that man who admits the truth, and yet turns away and does not practice it, like the man beholding his natural face in a glass turning away and forgetting what manner of man he was.

Lectures to Professing Christians.

Just So Simple

It's Just So Simple

by Ron Wilkerson *servant of Jesus*

Good evening again my brothers and sisters. Your hearts are near me and I want you to know that I love and pray for all of you. It does not matter if we have never met, you are specifically on my heart right now as I begin this teaching. My love for you is true, my calling from God is clear, "Keep not thou silence", so I endeavor to push on and share my life, the things given to me freely. God's love is so rich and so unbelievably free. 

That word, free, just seems to tie us American's up in knots. We were always told to "strive, work hard, achieve, make that A, be your best, climb that ladder and you'll make it." Dear friends, that came at a hard price didn't it? Maybe it wasn't taxing on your health as it is mine today; overburdened by stresses from work, school at night, childcare, maintaining a marriage, etc. I think you get the point. If you don't manage your time, it will manage you in to death. Now that is just how satan would like it eh? 

Satan whispers in your ear, "there is not a God and if there were you could never pay the cost", or perhaps you here something quite different. Maybe Satan uses this trick, "I was His most perfect creation and look at what has become of me. If I was perfect, how could you be acceptable to God? If God were loving, would He not have stopped this creation from ever occurring since He knew there would be deep and everlasting suffering?" Indeed, his trick on the human mind has depth on surface appearances, but philosophically misses the point of Love altogether. 

Here we see that salvation could never be free, that is if the son of perdition may persuade you to believe such a thing. It is this very trap into which so many fall. It is also another trap to have you question God's motive... This trap is dangerous and the enemy will sneak this one on you, he will lie in wait year upon year, tempting and causing suffering either directly to you or all around you. This is his subtle effort, the effort of the most calculating and patient being ever created to take you with him to his final abode. Yes, his trap is one that says "a loving God would never create such a circumstance", perhaps he will go so far as to cause one to believe if it were possible that "there is not a hell, it is only figuratively spoken about in the Bible, His love would never allow such and unjust punishment." And so we have the great tempter subtly applying his craft of lies and tricks.

What does this all have to do with "Free" and "It's Just So Simple" Ron? Well, for that answer you have to put your thinking cap on, pray, seek God's face, and read His Word to be fully assured. 

However, I will offer up some kindergarten logic which you may or may not find helpful.

First, satan's premise that there is no God can't pass the my first logical examination. For there to be no God would have to presume that all life just happened on its own. Logically, if I design proprietary software, it is mine and I am its creator. One step further, if I were to say to you that I know these thoughts have crossed your mind, would you then assume they have crossed mine? Indeed you would and should because they have crossed my mind. Put to the test of the empirical nature of the order of all existing life's and the delicate balance that must be perfectly maintained so we creatures can survive simply tells the story itself.

For those of you not willing to accept the incredibly basic, an infant could get it, logic I propose above, then I will let God's Word state it clearly for your poor unbelieving soul. The Word says that you will be without excuse for not accepting God's Free Gift.

Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

Romans 8:19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.

Romans 8:20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope

Romans 8:21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.

He, the Great God of the Universe offers up the answer to your philosophical answers even further if you will yet look. To this point, I shall say it is enough for me to let God's Word speak plainly as He wills. However, if He speaks to you, and you listen, giving up all your heart for Him; then this is for you as He hath said,

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

Ahh, what a joy, the new things have come!

Back to the task at hand. The Bible has a history which sets it apart from every book in the world, that of which no other book may claim for itself. The book pre-dates almost every single book on the planet and in most cases by over ONE THOUSAND YEARS. It was written over many different generations, not the life span of one man, not in just one country, and the whole compilation took nearly 2,000 years written on various parchments, scrolls, and in letters written on papyrus. The thing that I find most amazing, each new manuscript we dig up today from millenia past hold to a level of ACCURACY which sets its apart by leaps and bounds from any other literary work. This book, the Bible, it contains no essential error in science, philosophy, or art, and it is a standard by which the world lived for thousands of years.


Still more, this book written so long ago has never changed, its moral system of values are still with us today and altogether more relevant than ever. You see it ever more clearly as the world's leading superpower has decided it no longer wanted nor needed God's values contained for all mankind in this book. The U.S.A. was literally the last hope as a kingdom the world will and would ever know. Now, Christ's Bride shall shine as she begins her suffering and it will be oh so sweet. The Holy Spirit will literally confound the world with His Words spoken by your mouths, that is if you are truly Christ's Bride. I look forward eagerly to suffer with my Lord and pray that is what is happening at this moment right now. I want to know both how to about in times of peace and times of trial. It is my pleasure for I know MY REDEEMER LIVES!

Still more, this books tell history before it can even happen. The world will move past any novel, yes, even Moby Dick if the Lord were to tarry much longer. I assure you, your time is short brothers and sisters. This book, the Bible, speaks of political conditions in which we live, the moral codes that would be present at this time, and is perfectly suited for mankinds needs. Nothing is lacking. Here is the day in which you live dear brothers and sisters. Take heart now, as it is written,


2 Timothy 3:1-17 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. *Just leave them be my brothers and sisters, their consciences are seered* Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith. But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes's and Jambres's folly was also. Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me! Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture 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.



Signed, Sealed, and DELIVERED BY THE CROSS!!! You can take that to the bank dear readers!

Until then, endure persecution and mocking... You will hear this often if you speak of the Lord's soon return... these people in their sins will be saying,

2 Peter 3:4 "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation."

 

 It's just so simple, it takes a child like belief and a casting down of your own intellect, which of itself is based on man's knowledge of God's creation. Only twisted slightly enough that you not notice the cunning and crafy serpent which distorts the entire story. Purpose, to deceive you. Don't let that happen, pray now, God is faithful and just to forgive all of you your sins! Seek Him now while He may be found.

Until next time, may the God of ALL Peace be with you all. May He comfort your souls and prepare you for battle!

Shalom

p.s. for those of you who want a deeper philosophical approach, especially as to the lie spoken that "a loving God would never subject His creation to an eternal hell", because you believe it is not fair.  I welcome you to email me at ron-wilkerson@att.net.  There is nothing I may ever say to convince you, but I will provide the logic and from there I will pray for you.

The Good and The Bad

Good News Bad News

by Ron Wilkerson *servant of Jesus Christ*

Good evening dear friends and welcome to you all who have come to my page. I am sitting on my couch after having put my 13 month old to sleep for the night. It is a well feeling to know he slumbers peacefully however it is mixed with a sense of impending danger for this country.

Currently, there is a presidential debate on television to which many are tuning in to at this time, while I have chosen yet again to not take part in two liars debating each other. The best liar may win the night but make no mistake about this fact, the tide has turned to the dismal point that our beloved democratic republic shall never return to her former glory. It pains me to say this about our beloved country. The only portion of our country I admire is those men and women of the United States of America's Armed Forces. These citizens by and large stand by the republic for which it STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD (not above), with LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. Herein lies the underpinnings, which are altogether traceable to a certain day, hour and minute that this republic turned its back on God Almighty. 

You see, we as a nation kept the LIBERTY FOR ALL, we simply LEFT THE JUSTICE FOR ALL OUT. Altogether this nation has perverted JUSTICE, which is to say that we have neglected the Biblical form of justice for determining right character. Did our leaders ever stop to think and ponder God's Words? Likely not, and guess who put them where they now sit? Me and you dear readers. It is the devil's malevolent use of time and persuasion that gave us Christians that sense of hope. Yes my friends, satan always uses Godly avenues for which he can prey on unsuspecting humanity, even blind and deaf Christians not listening to the Holy Spirit as He gave repeated warnings. Did God not say,

Deuteronomy 16:20 "Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue, that you may live and possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you.

As God's ekklesia (greek for elect) what is He to do with us? He must spur us to action but what good can it do now for this country?

Deuteronomy 32:21 'They have made Me jealous with what is not God; They have provoked Me to anger with their idols. So I will make them jealous with those who are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation,

Having made God jealous with our idols we worship daily as gods, be it money, fame or pursuing the American dream, what shall He do? He says it plainly above, He will provoke our anger with a foolish nation.... Something in the news ringing a bell concerning wars? Maybe the foolish nation is the Islamic Republic of Iran, perhaps Syria, or maybe it is Iraq? Whoa, Iraq already happened. But did we miss something here, A FOOLISH NATION, key word FOOLISH? Foolish as defined by Dictionary.com means "resulting from or showing a lack of sense; ill-considered; unwise: a foolish action, a foolish speech. Lacking forethought or caution." Call me crazy but following God's Word next tells me His next step,

Deuteronomy 32:22-24 For a fire is kindled in My anger, And burns to the lowest part of Sheol, And consumes the earth with its yield, And sets on fire the foundations of the mountains. 'I will heap misfortunes on them; I will use My arrows on them. 'They will be wasted by famine, and consumed by plague And bitter destruction; And the teeth of beasts I will send upon them, With the venom of crawling things of the dust.


I know this is a bitter pill to swallow but our silence and disregard for God's law as a nation means JUSTICE is DEMANDED and not OUR BRAND OF PERVERTED JUSTICE. No, no, no, God's JUSTICE IS DEMANDED; the kind that tries by fire to see if there be any righteous among them. Herein is a clue to the mystery the Apostle Paul gave us when he wrote his letter to the Church in Thessalonica. Ponder dear Christians, for you there is HOPE, for the lost souls of this world there is only judgment. As God hath said,


Deuteronomy 32:28-36 "For they are a nation lacking in counsel, And there is no understanding in them. "Would that they were wise, that they understood this, That they would discern their  future! "How could one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Unless their Rock had sold them, And the LORD had given them up? "Indeed their rock is not like our Rock, Even our enemies themselves judge this. "For their vine is from the vine of Sodom, And from the fields of Gomorrah; Their grapes are grapes of poison, Their clusters, bitter. "Their wine is the venom of serpents, And the deadly poison of cobras. 'Is it not laid up in store with Me, Sealed up in My treasuries? 'Vengeance is Mine, and retribution, In due time their foot will slip; For the day of their calamity is near, And the impending things are hastening upon them.' "For the LORD will vindicate His people, And will have compassion on His servants, When He sees that their strength is gone, And there is none remaining, bond or free.


Don't fool yourself with this political jargon, the Lord is about to SHINE FORTH upon MANKIND, and what will HE SEE WHEN HIS LIGHT SHINES? 

Please Father, strengthen us for the final push of this battle, that WE, YOUR PEOPLE, will proclaim that GREAT NAME OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, IMMANUEL! 

 My reader this nation is full of the spirit of satan (anti-Christ), she is altogether become a whore adulterating after the lusts of the flesh. Tolerance in itself is not bad, tolerance to the point of SIN is mocking GOD.  Be not deceived as GOD WILL NOT BE MOCKED!  This nation has tolerated prayer being stripped from our children during their most formative years, no mention of God in school lest you be cast out, suspended or otherwise castigated publicly. Slaughtered are the innocent LIVES, YES I SAID IT, LIVES WHICH ARE ALIVE IN THE WOMBS of MOTHERS!  These mothers simply could not control the lust of their flesh nor the MEN WHICH PREYED UPON THEM . There are instances where this is not the case; however let's be honest with ourselves, these instances are a decimal point where MURDER BY ABORTION is concerned. 70 MILLION + and counting. 

God Bless the U.S.A.!  NO, MAY THIS NATION BE ACCURSED FOR ITS WICKEDNESS, ITS IDOLATRY, ITS TOLERATION TO THE POINT OF ABSOLUTE IGNORANCE AND INSANITY!!! I cannot sit here in good faith and tell you I give one iota worth of care for this nation any longer. I care for her people, I care for those lost souls and I love them as they are my brothers and sisters. There is no value left in this national government for which I want my son to eminent. Cursed is this nation for its SIN IS GREAT BEFORE GOD!  I wish it were not so... FACTS TELL TRUTH, NOT LIES!


Don't think He did not try to warn us either, HE GAVE MULTITUDES OF WARNINGS, yet we have not listened. Now His Word in the Holy Bible must be brought to pass. Without repentance, GOD HAS NO CHOICE, HE MUST JUDGE THIS NATION HOLDING TO A FORM OF GODLINESS, WALLOWING IN HER SIN. However, here again you see the mystery above in the Old Testament, "The Lord will vindicate His people, And will have compassion on His servants, When HE sees that their strength is gone, and there is none remaining, bond or free." Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, do you know what it means to be VINDICATED? It means to be JUSTIFIED and how then did you obtain this JUSTIFICATION? Ahhh, remember that old hymn Amazing Grace.... You were FREELY JUSTIFIED THE HOUR YOU FIRST BELIEVED! Herein again is the mystery, what does God do with HIS JUSTIFIED, (SEALED WITH HIS HOLY SPIRIT), when He brings forth His righteous JUDGMENT ON SINFUL MANKIND? This I will reveal in a moment, for now let's ponder this nation's removal. She will be taken in her pride, cast low into poverty for her corruption, become destitute for serving so called gods which are mere mortals or less than mortal. She will be plagued with famine, her treasure will be destroyed for she has forsaken the ONE whom gave her this treasure, GOD ALMIGHTY. As discussed, without true repentance there can be no forgiveness. Sadly to say, we true followers of Christ, we are but few in this world among many so called Christians. So the Lord hath said,


Deuteronomy 32:39-42 'See now that I, I am He, And there is no god besides Me; It is I who put to death and give life. I have wounded and it is I who heal, And there is no one who can deliver from My hand. 'Indeed, I lift up My hand to heaven, And say, as I live forever, If I sharpen My flashing sword, And My hand takes hold on justice, I will render vengeance on My adversaries, And I will repay those who hate Me. 'I will make My arrows drunk with blood, And My sword will devour flesh, With the blood of the slain and the captives, From the long-haired leaders of the enemy.'


If you are not with God in all your heart, then be assured, you are considered lukewarm and have lost your salt. As Jesus said, once salt has lost its flavor, where will it gain it again? It cannot, for it has now lost that property which gave it flavor, the HOLY SPIRIT. This nation has lost its flavor and she shall never again regain it. This nation has become another of God's adversaries among all the nations of the world.


*Herein should be the scary thought for the unbeliever, this nation was the last beacon of Hope for the Lord. She stood for God's principles at one time and she is now altogether unrighteous. But of this you can be sure, God's elect will make one final push, not just from the United States but from all over the world as is now occurring. We will not be silent, nor will we go down without a fight, a peaceful fight that is to say. I will speak of the Lord until my death comes upon me and I be poured out as a drink offering. I shall speak HIS name unto MY DEATH!


*It is time to gear up for battle for I assure you that the enemy of your soul is well prepared for you. He laughs and mocks us with our little strength, with our small measure of faith. The one thing He certainly is not counting on is the POURING OUT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT! When, and I believe it is already beginning to occur, this happens the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church. For Christ said it would be so, and then the end will come; the time of the gentiles will be fulfilled. The final curtain will be drawn for the EKKLESIA!!! I pray sooner rather than later as I can think of no greater thought than to be beside, behind, outside of His courts, or otherwise in HIS KINGDOM WITH HIM... I don't care where.... as I have said many times before, I would gladly take the job of janitorial work just to be near Him... I can think of nothing Higher than HIS PRESENCE! NOTHING!


The mystery you are wondering? Do you still wonder? Is this in your heart to learn of it? Will you grasp and believe its truths? Will you let God's Word speak for itself and lay aside your personal beliefs? There is only one conclusion one can come to.... I could sit here and tell you that I have a mountain of evidence which proves this doctrine. But herein I will abide in God's Presence and submit to the HOLY SPIRIT TO SPEAK INTO YOUR HEART HIS TRUTH! Remember, you were SEALED WITH HIM AS A PROMISE, therefore HIS RESIDENCE IS INSIDE OF YOU DAILY BESEECHING THE FATHER ON YOUR BEHALF... WHAT IF HE WAS REMOVED? WHERE WOULD YOU BE? Listen to the Lord's Word...


John 14:1-6 "Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. "And you know the way where I am going." Thomas said* to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?" Jesus said* to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.


John 14:16-21 "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. "After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. "In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. "He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him."

Notice that Jesus says HE WILL ASK THE FATHER, AND HE WILL GIVE YOU ANOTHER HELPER, AND HE ABIDES WITH YOU, AND WILL BE IN YOU. 

Love to be the bearer of Good News, Jesus has said the Holy Spirit will be IN YOU.. not outside, not roaming around, perusing the world.... IN YOU, WHICH MEANS CHRIST IN YOU, WHICH MEANS YOU ARE TO OBEY AND DO ALL THE HOLY SPIRIT COMMANDS YOU. YOU ARE THE LAST VESTIGE OF HOPE FOR MANKIND. For with Christ NOTHING is impossible.

Here is your great HOPE, HERE IS THE TRUTH that so many like to call escapism... I call it HOPE and again I could prove to you God's pattern of Judgment throughout His written Word but will digress to the let the Holy Spirit speak to your hearts once again. HE TELLS YOU A MYSTERY and HE REVEALS IT TO YOU! Receive it and be blessed or simply blow it off and receive not the blessing. Either way, if you are truly following Jesus, I will see you again someday real soon. Concerning the Lord's coming again to take His Bride,


2 Thessalonians 2:3-17 Let no one in any way deceive you, for(The Day of the Lord) it will not come unless the apostasy(falling away from God's Truth) comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God(Satan himself). Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? And you know what restrains him now(*the Holy Spirit in you), so that in his time he will be revealed. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work(The battle for your soul rages); only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness. But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.


There it is plain as day, notice "he" above is not in anyway capitalized, and here is your greek word for "he", "ho" is transliterated, and is used 543 times in the Bible, and they all inflect the human. So if we are holding him back, which we could not be capable of doing, then it must be something in us.... THE HOLY SPIRIT IS REMOVED WITH US SO THAT MAN OF LAWLESSNESS MAY BE REVEALED! Take JOY my brethren, for it is soon at hand.


That is a preview of what you will be hearing from me. The Rapture of the EKKLESIA will be in view of our times. But, think not that this is to allow you to sit back, it is to motivate you to speak the Gospel to all the LORD tells you.


Until next time, I LOVE YOU ALL. Look forward to your future brethren and prove yourself a workman unto the LORD ALMIGHTY!


Revelation 4:1-4 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things." Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne. And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads.

Shalom

The Coming War

From Tom Stephens

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The historic humiliation of the church was allowed so that we can identify with the Lord in His humiliation. Like Him, the church is also destined for a great exaltation, but we must never forget that it is by His grace.

“Thus He will sprinkle many nations, kings will shut their mouths on account of Him; for what had not been told them they will see, and what they had not heard they will understand” (Isaiah 52:15).

The Lord Jesus is about to touch all nations with the power of His blood. The coming exaltation of Jesus will be so great that even those who have not heard the gospel presented clearly before will understand it.

 “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Romans 5:20).

And during this coming time of great darkness, the glory of the Lord will shine brighter than ever. The retreat of the church has reached its limit. Now the advance will begin. It will gain momentum until the whole world takes notice. She will march resolutely to the field of battle. The ultimate conflict between light and darkness is now upon us. It’s time to put on our strength. True holiness as the arm (power) of the Lord is about to be revealed. Even nature will quake and shudder as a witness that the foundations of heaven and earth are moving in opposite directions. Our God has prevailed and our victory is assured. This is the time to be bolder than we have ever been (Acts 4:24-30). There is no turning back! Don’t believe? Church, where is our faith?

Satan’s ultimate goal is to populate hell: His strategy is to bring every human conflict to a violent confrontation, which results in as much death and destruction as possible. Just as Jesus was sent to destroy the works of the devil, we, the church, have been sent into the world with this same commission. As one of Satan’s ultimate goals is to spread death by war, believers are sent forth as peacemakers to thwart his strategy. The ultimate battle between life and death is about to enter its last and greatest battle.

It will rage from one end of the earth to the other, in every city and town, on every social, philosophical, and political front. A time is coming when every debate, every political campaign, every social movement will be seen as a battle line between these ultimate spiritual forces. There will be no neutral ground, no truces, and no peace in this war. This will be both the most dangerous and the most opportune time for Christianity as peacemaker since the beginning. Our battles are fought in love and the power and might of the Most High God. Many will come to Him.

The ultimate goal of the church is to populate heaven: Our weapon─the gospel of salvation, the words of everlasting life. The church is now ready to arise. It will be sudden. One day still sleeping...the next alert and full of the power of the Lord. She is about to be given the words of life with greatly increased power. These words will be spiritual bombs and hand grenades with the power to destroy even the most effective strongholds of the enemy. Individual statements spoken by Christians will be able to unravel the intricate webs of deception that the enemy has taken years to weave. Single public statements made by Christians will invalidate the enemy’s propaganda built upon multiplied thousands of books, articles and statements over many years of time.

This power is not gained cheaply. Those who are given this authority will be those who have learned to be bondservants of Christ. Giving all, they have faithfully waged their own war against their own tongues, bringing them into submission to the Holy Spirit. They will have spent years waging war against their own wayward thoughts, bringing them all under subjection to Christ. Pure waters must come from pure wells. The purity of our own lives will dictate whether or not the waters of life can flow through us, as is written:

“Watch over your heart with all diligence,

for from it flow the springs of life” (Proverbs 4:23).

Blessings from:

www.christsbondservants.org