Who do we pray to? Matthew 6:6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place.
Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation…. Mark 14:38
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…. Luke 21:36
Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered…. Romans 8:26
I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting… 1 Timothy 2:8
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed…. James 5:13-16
Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; … Romans 12:12
… pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you… Matthew 5:44
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; … Philippians 4:6
pray without ceasing…1 Thessalonians 5:17
And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive. … Matthew 21:22
Prayer creates an intimate relationship with God the Father AND HE ALWAYS TAKES IT TO HEART.
Here is a thought for today in the midst of all the intense political unrest in this nation concerning the upcoming elections. It is good to stop and take a deep breath and examine ourselves and consider this.
Psalms 1:1, 3 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.
I pray that God gives us all an earnest, upright heart and divine discernment of the needs of America. Amen!
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!
Who am I? Really, who am I? I was born in iniquity and conceived in sin! (Psalms 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.) When I grew up and experienced the world I was saturated with its unholy, immoral, and materialistic system. Believing this to be the norm I immersed myself in its carnal ways. (Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.) Mistakenly I thought the ultimate joy was having all the immoral and carnal things of this world. (2 Timothy 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy) After some time I found myself miserable and unhappy, unable to attain the freedom to do as I wanted in the world. I looked at my beautiful wife and wondered why I treated her the way I did. I looked at my baby son and wondered what kind of life waited for him. I suddenly felt like the lowest of the lowest of men. I was sick of everything I knew. Something inside me caused me to do something I had never done before. I grabbed my wife’s hand and knelt beside our bed and said: “God, there has got to be something better than this. Please show us what it is.” My heart was hurting!(1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.)
After a short time my wife and I became associated with a church and God took complete charge of our lives from that time to the present. We went through a transitional period from an old way to a new way and looked down upon by some who knew us. (1 Peter 4:4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you) But now we have a loving family of Godly friends in great abundance. (Ephesians 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God)
Someone might read this and decide to find out for themselves how to be released from the world as we have and be filled with a joy immeasurable by letting Jesus take the weight of the world’s sin off of their shoulders and putting it all on His shoulders. (John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!) Just follow the message in the Apostle Peter’s first sermon: (Acts 2: 38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.) By the grace of God you will be raised up a new creation and walk in newness of life, no longer of this world, but your citizenship will be in heaven from that time forward with a residence in heaven waiting for you to occupy.
Who am I? Who are you? We are all the children of God!
Praise the Lord God and give Him all the glory! 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!
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.
The scripture in John 3:16 describes God as loving the whole world. God doesn’t look upon the outside skin of a person or how well they speak to define if that person is worthy of His love. It doesn’t matter if it is the famous Joseph Merrick, a severely deformed man in 19th century London or Marilyn Monroe.
1 Samuel 16: But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
God looks deep inside to see the real character and who the person really is.
He knows our every sin, but when we truly repent of those sins, He will not remember them any more.
Jeremiah 31: 34 No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”
God loves us so much that He is willing to forgive our sins no matter how bad they are. And He will forget they ever happened. Not only that, but God sent His only Son to this world to shed His blood and die in our place to guarantee that we would be free of our sins and receive the free gift of eternal life.
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
God loves all people! We are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God. But God has a master plan for us, God is love and He has made it possible for anyone to share His love and glory forever in His kingdom. God will share His throne with us in His kingdom! That is a lot of love!
Father, give your children the strength and the faith to help bring more people into Your kingdom. In Jesus name, amen.
Wouldn’t it be neat if God had the Bible written the same way people write blogs or forums? Most every web page that you find on the internet has a facts section. The most asked questions have a ready made answer. God does answer many questions in the Bible but we have to read and study the scripture to find the answers. Doesn’t the Bible give us instruction concerning this? 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
God has a purpose for everything!
I have been concerned lately about a certain trend among younger generation churches and their rethinking church philosophy. After having read these rethinking churches on their websites, it appears that they have become the world’s church critics. They talk about what is wrong with all other churches etc. Now I have to say this that there are some Christians that need to really believe what the Bible teaches. 1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
It really disturbs me to see so much criticism and church division!
Here are some interesting observations I read about the difference between Old Testament and New Testament baptisms.
The Bible makes reference to the nation of Israel being baptized as she came out of Egypt, a symbol of sin, and passing through the Red Sea. Just after having passed through the Red Sea, they received the Law of Moses. They did not have the Holy Spirit.
THE LAW GIVEN UNDER THE OLD COVENANT BY BAPTISM
1 Corinthians 10: 1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
Malachi 4:4 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.
Deuteronomy 4:10 Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.
You can read over and over in the Old Testament how Israel and Judah disobeyed God. In the book of Judges God sent His people into captivity as punishment time and time again. Take note that no where in the Bible will you ever find where Israel observed the 50th year of Jubilee. They couldn’t obey God that long. So you see that their baptism into the Law was never in tended for salvation and eternal life.
THE SPIRIT GIVEN UNDER THE NEW CONENANT
Mark 1:8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit.
Jesus promised that He would send us the Holy Spirit when He ascended into heaven. John 14:16, 26 and John 16:7
On the Day of Pentecost Jesus kept His promise and sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in man
Acts 1: 15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)
Acts 2: 1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Christians today make up the body of Christ, (1 Corinthians 12:27) are temples of the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 6:19)
1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Under the New Covenant the Bible clearly states that when we are saved we receive the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
It is a simple thing to pray a prayer to God and ask Him to forgive all your sins but it is very hard to do. It requires a person to ask God to change their life from the ways of this world to His ways and that is a decision some hate to make. But when one makes the right decision then they will receive treasures they didn’t even know existed. That is another story!
Mathew 26: 50-53 But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?
There are a whole lot of people in this world who don’t know who Jesus Christ is or anything about Him. On CNN news, concerning Easter, an article appeared that said, quote: “Jesus Christ is the most famous man who ever lived and there is little that is known about Him.” What a perfect example of people who have never taken the time to learn about the most famous person in the world. God created the heavens and the earth. This includes the universe and the beautiful planet earth that we dwell upon. That covers a lot right there! He created the heaven in which He resides also. All this He created for one great purpose. He created it all for man. ( John 1:1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God.3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.) Jesus was the Creator of all things in the beginning. He also created man in His own image. (Genesis 1:27) Man was the center piece of His creation. Man was the reason for it all. Jesus wanted man to eventually receive Him into his life and live eternally with Him in glory and Jesus will share His throne with man.(Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.) How unselfish and great is that? Why would anyone not want that? Could it be that they just don’t know about Jesus Christ as CNN news reported. There are Christian Churches all over the world. They have services every Sunday. All people are welcome to attend at any time. You can learn all about Jesus. There is no reason not to. Be prepared to live in a world where there are no wars, crime, drug use, hunger, or diseases. There will be no limit to what you can see, smell, feel, and hear. There will be no night. There will be no need for gravity. There will only be joy, peace, and happiness. This is a very short description of Jesus Christ. But if you really want the whole picture, find a private place and get on your knees say to Jesus, “Show me! I want to know more about the most famous man who ever lived.”
WORLDWIDE INTERNET EVANGELISM 