A good barf bag is absolutely essential when coming face to face with the new wave of morality that is sweeping over this nation. Jude 1: 4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.
14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
Don’t let these things become a normal accepted way of life! Reject it! Don’t let a miniscule sect of deluded people cast their ways over you and rule you.
Romans 12: 9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Always follow the Lord Jesus Christ and imitate Him. Read the scriptures and do as He teaches. Jesus gives a thorough and complete breakdown of His “Spiritual Laws” in The Sermon On The Mount. (Matthew 5-7).
Resist the Devil and he will flee from you. Set the right example for others by letting your spiritual light shine.
2 Corinthians 4: 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
There is a lot to be done so keep your barf bag handy!
Jesus was asked by His disciples when the end of times would be and what it would be like. He gives the most astonishing answers as they could very well be the headline news of today.
There is chaos, division, contention, and mistrust abounding in this nation. There have been killings of citizens and police officers just recently. Raging crowds of protesters have taken to the streets in nearly every major city. Morality in these troubled times is at an all time low. Family values have been chattered. Numbers of professing Christians diminished in recent years.
What our God says about the “Signs of the Times” and the “End of the Age”.
Mark 13:
5 And Jesus, answering them, began to say: “Take heed that no one deceives you.
6 For many will come in My name,
7 But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet.
8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.
9 “But watch out for yourselves,
13 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. …
The Christian faith is being attacked like never before!
Matthew 24:
12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
Jesus is saying that the love of many in the Church will grow cold because their faith is weak. They don’t believe God!
Revelations 3:
15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.
16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ — and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked —
18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. 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 dine with him, and he with Me.
21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
We cannot turn our heads and say that these things are not happening now!
There are those who are trying to pass hate crime laws that would prohibit pastors from teaching what God has to say about sin!
There are wars going on all over the world!
Governments are being overthrown as this is being written!
Our nation is divided because of political unrest!
Ephesians 4:
17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,
18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;
19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
Philippians 3:
18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
1 Timothy 1:
9 knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine,
2 Peter 2:
6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly;
7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked
Jude 1:
7 as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Christianity is singled out! The scriptures above will bring much persecution to the Church if taught from the pulpit today. So you see prophesy is being fulfilled before your eyes now. However, there is no criticism of the Islamic faith for believing and teaching the same thing!
As Jesus said in Mark 13:8
There was much destruction, death and suffering because of a massive earthquake in Japan. There were earthquakes recently in Haiti, in Australia, and China.
Cholera recently came under a worldwide spotlight after Haiti suffered an outbreak following huge earthquake. Doctors said a cholera outbreak in Somalia’s war-ravaged capital has killed more than 20 people.
15 March 2011 The Ministry of Health of Egypt has announced 130 cases of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus confirmed and 144 dead!
This is just a few examples of the very things Jesus said would happen.
” Major outbreaks of disease have become more common around the globe in the past 40 years, according to the largest ever investigation into emerging infections.
Diseases such as Ebola and Sars, which originally spread from animals, are an increasing threat to human health, and many infections have now become resistant to antibiotics, researchers said.”
Mark 13:
33Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.
Luke 21:
36Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Matthew 24:
32 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.
33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near — at the doors!
Lets not be caught being lethargic and not being concerned about when the Lord will
come again saying, “ He delays His coming”. God might decide we are too lukewarm.
THE LORD WILL KEEP HIS PROMISE “TO COME AGAIN”! Believe in Him!
There was a young man filled with faith preaching about Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit in every public place he could find. People found his wisdom and the spirit of which he spoke irresistible.
John 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
But some people couldn’t stand what he was preaching because what he was saying convicted their conscience and made them mad.
Romans 11:8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.
They got so carried away that they mobbed him and took him before the court, they produced witnesses who lied about him and accused him of making terrorist threats such as saying their religious temple would be torn down.
Mark 13:9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.
As they looked at him he didn’t appear to be worried at all. If anything, he looked more confident and filled with faith more than ever. He begin to preach to them and point out their sinful ways showing them how much they could be blessed if they would only turn to God and obey Him.
Romans 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
But when they heard what he had to say they were cut to the heart and their faces became terrible to look at as hate poured out of them.
Jude 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
And he said:” Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God”. The mob started screaming at the top of their lungs to shut him out. The mob had had enough and took Stephen and killed him.
Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder.
This is happening over and over again in China, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and India today! This ugly hatred is slowly growing in the United States. It is now a hate crime to preach the truth on some subjects of the Holy Bible, the foundation of Christianity.
We need to rally behind the martyr Stephen and preach the gospel in the face of adversity. Be filled with the spirit of faith!
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
We should never let anything get between us and the Creator God! There is only one God who has created the heavens and earth and created man to populate it giving him dominion over all things of the earth. God has never failed in anything. The scriptures say that all things are possible with God. (Mark 10:27) God is merciful, slow to anger and loves everyone. He gave His greatest gift to all people by sending His only Son to the earth in the form of a human being to be a servant to us all. (John 3:16)
If we will only serve our Creator full time after He has given us the gift of eternal life, He will bless everything we set our hand to do. His Spirit will give even greater understanding of His Word so we can grow in knowledge and wisdom, something we will never get enough of. Never forget that He is always with you. (Hebrews 13:5) The Lord will surround you like a shield. (Psalms 5:12) He will bless you with peace. (Psalms 29:11) He will increase and bless your business. (Psalms 67:6) Reach up for your higher calling as the LORD requires you to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? (James 4:6)
Jesus Christ came as the greatest servant as He humbled Himself as a man for our benefit and example having given His all for us in death on the cross. Therefore we can do no less than to humble ourselves before our Creator as living sacrifices bearing our cross. (Luke 14:27)
We are spiritually encapsulated in the body of Christ filled with the Holy Spirit as we are His temple, and we are no longer of this worlds system but our citizenship is in heaven. We even have a place prepared for us waiting probably with our name plate already on the door. The Creator is faithful in His promises and if we are faithful to Him then we will do even greater works than Jesus did. (John 14:12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.)
Are you doing greater works than Jesus did? He said we would!
We just celebrated the 4th of July as a memorial to the beginning of this great nation. It is truly awe inspiring to realize what it really means. Sadly, many of our newer generation of children do not know what the 4th of July is about. It is a subject that is not emphasized as much in our children’s education as it was when I attended school over a half century ago. Certain things begin to get vague over time and their importance is watered down, becoming passive in our minds.
The Christian Church has existed before this nation was formed and still stands today.
My question is this. Is the Christian faith, understanding, belief, and especially spirituality becoming vague, passive and weak. Is it as important today as it was in the days of the Apostles?
I watched the Spurs and Heat play for the world championship and the fans were extremely fanatical about their teams. Why are we not more so about Jesus Christ? It is certainly more important for people’s salvation.
Are we fulfilling our calling now, today? Are we worthy?
Jesus has something to say about that in 2 Thessalonians 1:11 Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power,
We have a purpose, we are spiritual and we are citizens of heaven filled with power. That power lives in us and that power is Christ. 1 Peter 2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
I pray that we will stop trying to use Christ and let Him use us!
There are many things happening in this world that indicate that Jesus Christ may come soon. We are to watch for these signs. Matthew 24: 32-33 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near — at the doors!
Watch and pray!
Luke 21:36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.
When what we are doing is not working we need to stop what we are doing and go in a different direction. We need to let Jesus light our path for us and then and only then will we be going the right way.
Let’s be as excited as our brothers in Christ were in the days of the Apostles. Be as zealous as the fans were at the Spurs and Heat games. Do it for our Lord and Savior. 1 Corinthians 14:12 Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.
Revelation 3: Therefore be zealous and repent.
God help us to change and not become lukewarm. Amen!
To grow tomatoes you must first plant a seed and then proceed to nurture the tomato plant by fertilizing and watering it. The plant begins to grow and develop strong roots and stalk so it can hold up the heavy tomato. After the plant is thoroughly nourished and receives a lot of sunlight, it produces beautiful flowers. The flowers begin to change and become little green tomatoes. This is the fruit of the tomato plant and it must grow and grow until it reaches its full growth and then the tomato begins to mature into a beautiful finished creation suitable for the masters table.
A Christian must first have the seed of the Word of God. Luke 8:11 “The seed is the word of God. We received the Word by someone sharing Christ, evangelizing, preaching and many other ways that God may use.
We must be born again and when we are baptized we are raised from a watery grave a new creature. John 3:5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. We continue to be taught the word nurtured and discipled in the Church. 1 Corinthians 3:6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.
We begin to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ and He becomes the main root of our lives and we are the branches. Jesus is the light of men and His light is bright as the sun. Our faces shine and become like beautiful flowers to God. As we begin to grow we become full of the maturity of the Spirit and await our Lords coming when we will burst into a new creation suitable for the Masters table. Revelation 19:9 Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’
Once we were non believers and didn’t know much, if anything, about Christianity. But somehow we were introduced to Jesus Christ by His grace and our lives changed. We now had something that we didn’t have before. FAITH! By faith we began to recognize that there was so much more to learn and do. We began to grow spiritually. But for something to grow, it has to have something to grow from. A tree grows from a seed planted in the soil and begins to grow roots and then a trunk that that becomes its foundation. A seed, the Holy Spirit, is planted in us and we began to develop spiritual roots in the Church and Jesus is our trunk (foundation).
John 15: 1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
Now we have a foundation to build on as long as we are in these bodies. As we bear fruit our building is being built and Jesus is the chief cornerstone on which we build.
1 Corinthians 3: 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: ” Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily.
Now that your foundation is layed and your temple is being built, your are host to the Holy Spirit. What an awesome responsibility! Now you are totally of God and belong to God.
1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
1 Peter 2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Sometimes it is good to remember just who and what we are. The world does not know this nor can it understand without the Holy Spirit. However, we do know on what we are building and what we stand.
Proverbs 10:25 But the righteous has an everlasting foundation
Sometimes we tend to think we will not see Gods treasure until we are in heaven where it is stored up. But that is not all the treasure that God has for us. It is astounding news to find out what other treasure He has given us here right on earth and we have access to it 24/7.
2 Corinthians 4: 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed —
10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
The greatest treasure is in our own bodies now! THAT TREASURE IS Christ! What we do with that treasure is of paramount importance.
Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good.
That “GOOD” is what distinguishes believers from the rest of the world. That “GOOD” fulfils the second great commandment of loving our neighbors as ourselves.
Isaiah 33:6 Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, And the strength of salvation; The fear of the LORD is His treasure.
So believers are filled with the most awesome treasure in all of creation long before they ever get to heaven.
Praise the lord for His love and generosity in sharing Himself with us now. AMEN!
In the book of Hebrews God gives a precise and clear explanation and description of His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus is the first begotten Son of God and the first born of many.
Hebrews 1: 1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.6 But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: ” Let all the angels of God worship Him.”
God also gives a very graphic and clear description of believers who overcome as Christ did. AWESOME!
All believers are raised up in newness of life (Romans 6:4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.) at baptism and are begotten of God by His Holy Spirit.
We become a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation
We will be given great power and authority over this world’s nations. WOW!
Rev. 2: 26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations — 27 ‘ He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’ — as I also have received from My Father
Rev. 3: 9 … indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet,
12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.
21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Rev.21:7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
How much plainer can it be? We have a higher calling than many believers realize. When Jesus says he has a place prepared for us.
Get this: John 14:2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
We are going to live in the Fathers house!
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
Doesn’t knowing all of this put a huge thrill in your life? It does for me. I can hardly wait for Christ to return and redeem us.
Whether I am dead or alive at His coming, this verse expresses my feelings.
Psalms 15: 17 As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.
If we, the people of this world (and the Church), would only follow the blueprint that God has made for us, the poor, the orphans and the widows could easily be taken care of. But…
Deuteronomy 24:17 “You shall not pervert justice due the stranger or the fatherless, nor take a widow’s garment as a pledge.
19 “When you reap your harvest in your field, and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
20 When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over the boughs again; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow.
21 When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not glean it afterward; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow.
Psalms 68:5 A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation.
James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
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