The Coming Storm

 The Coming Storm

Signs of the Times 

 

Meteorologists warn us about coming storms. Whether it’s a freezing rain and snow or a summer tornado. Folks believe them. They stock up on bread and milk. They buy icy melt. They break out the snow gear and the shovels or flash lights. They check on family. They stay home to keep roads clear and safe. They close businesses to keep people safe.

Because they believe what they are told.

The Word of God tells us that there will come a time in the future when the world will face great trouble.

The Word tells us that we will face trouble in our own lives.

The Word tells us that we will face death someday.

A storm is coming.

Are we going to believe it? Are you prepared?

When an ice storm is coming, we listen to the experts. We listen to the people who have seen it before, and we rest in the experiences we have had in the past. This helps us to prepare for the coming storm.

Likewise, we can turn to God to save us and see us through the future storms of life and death. He can save us for eternity. We can trust Him. We can trust His Word.

When we believe the warnings of the ice storm we respond.

When we believe the Word of God we can respond also.

Belief leads to response. Faith leads to action.

Jesus told the paraplegic man to take up his bed and walk. (John 5)

But, what if the man had not done it. Would he have been healed?

He was healed because He believed and responded to the Word given him.

We are told “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”— Rom. 10:9-10

When we read this verse do we believe it? Or do we doubt?

Do we say “Yeah but there has to be more to it than that. How can a person just say some magic words and get saved? Don’t they have to love God and obey Gods law?”

We make up all kinds of excuses because we cannot believe the simplicity of salvation and the love of God.

Satan is more than happy to give us excuses to get us to doubt God’s goodness and Word. It’s the same thing He did to Eve in the Garden. (Gen.3)

Our belief leads to a response. The response is to turn to God (repent) and confess Jesus is the Lord and He is our Lord, and believe that He rose from the dead. Which is believing the Word we have been given.

Do you believe it? Do you believe He died for you, and rose from the dead? Do you believe He is God?

Yeah but… “Faith without works is dead.” Some will say. — (James 2)

Belief or faith requires a response, and the response is confessing Jesus as our Lord. Confessing is a work. Baptism is a work. Communion is a work.

What did the thief on the cross do?

He confessed Jesus as Lord, then he told the other thief about Jesus.

That’s it. And Jesus said “Today you will be with me in Paradise”–Luke 23

Likewise, when we confess Jesus as Lord, and tell others about Him, we will be with Him in Paradise, when we die or He returns.

That’s it. Jesus said, “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.”—Matt. 10:32

We confess because we believe. Belief leads to a response.

God’s grace and our belief and confession is how we are saved. That salvation leads to a relationship with God as we see Him moving in our life. Our faith and belief grows in Him.

We trust that He forgives us. We trust that He is with us and will never leave us. We trust that He loves and cares for us and will take care of us, and we see Him moving and doing it. This leads to praise and thanksgiving which helps grow the relationship, faith and trust.

That is belief. That is faith. Our response is to confess Him as Lord, love others and build the kingdom. We are saved and healed so we lead others to be saved and healed in Jesus name.

But, there’s a storm coming.

Storms in our lives and in the world.

Trouble comes, and we can turn to Him and He will move. Stand on the promises of God in His Word. Trust Him. And when you see Him move it will build your faith and relationship.

But, the coming storm will be of darkness without hope. Some say believers will escape, but that has not been proven. God will be with us through the storm. Just like He was with the disciples on the boat, and with Israel through the plagues.—(Luke 8, Exodus)

He will be with us as this world gets worse and worse. As terrible things fall upon the Earth preparing for Christ’s return.

Do you believe it? Are you preparing for the times of trouble and His return? Are you getting people saved, and preparing your own self?

The scriptures are clear that when He returns there will be church people who thought they were saved but were not. People who prayed a prayer, or people who sat in church every week. But, never believed. They never really confessed Him as Lord. They never fully trusted Him to save them but instead trusted their own works. They never had a relationship with Him.

The storm is coming.

But, many do not believe.

These false brethren will fall away when the trouble comes. They will say “Where is the promise of His coming.”. They will wonder why He has delayed His return. —(2 Peter 3:4, Luke 12:45-46)

Then, they will form the apostate church and help the Anti-Christ persecute the saints. They will beat the men servants and maid servants. They will go back to living for the world. They will be like Judas the betrayer. —(Luke 12:45-46, Rev. 6, Matt. 24, )

Why? Because they never believed. They never put their faith in Christ. They never had a relationship with Him.

And when He returns they will be foolish virgins without oil. (Matt. 25)

They will have taken the gifts and talents and salvation the Lord gave them, and buried it in the sand instead of responding in belief and serving the Lord. (Matt. 25)

They will stand before Him saying “when did we see you naked?” Because they never believed and turned and let the Holy Spirit lead them to serve others and love people and help them. (Matt. 25)

They will say “Did we not do many works in your name?” Because they trusted in works, not the Blood of Jesus. (Matt 7:21-23)

They will not be clothed in the wedding garment because they never knew the King. (Matt. 22)

They never had a relationship with Him or confessed Him as Lord.

They just went to church every week, judged others, and tried to obey rules.

And He said “Depart from Me, I never knew you.”

The storm is coming. Do you really know Him.

Can you trust Him when they are killing your church? Can you trust Him when they threaten to fire you from your job if you won’t take the Mark of the Beast? Can you trust Him, when people who call themselves Christians lie to you, attack you, betray you and destroy your life, or lead you to death? Can you trust Him when you face homelessness and starvation? or will you turn back like Lot’s wife, desiring the comforts of the world?. (Gen. 19)

The storm is coming, the Word says.

Turn to Him, and ask Him to save you. Confess Jesus as your Lord. Believe He rose from the dead. Believe the Word, given to you. Tell others about Jesus, building the kingdom.

The Holy Spirit will come and teach you and lead you into all truth. (1 John 2:27)

And you will know Him and have a relationship with Him.

And when the storm comes you will be safe in the Ark, that is His salvation and care.

When the waters rise and beat upon you, you will stand firm because you’ve built your house on the Rock of Jesus Christ, who is the living Word. Not on the sand of your own works and power. (Matt.7)

The storm is coming …soon.

---

Photo by pexels 

Thanking God

 Thanking God

 We owe Him everything

 

 

God gave us life. He gives us the things we need and the joys of this world.

When we get saved and know Him, we see that He gives us so much more. We realize that everything comes from Him and all of it works together for our good.

Our thankfulness is a reflection of our faith. Do we really believe His Word? Do we really trust Him? Do we believe He protects us and provides for us?

When we thank Him in prayer before He even moves it shows we trust Him and believe He is moving. When we thank Him after He moves and blesses us, it shows our appreciation for all He does. When we thank Him for even the tough times. The hurtful times. It shows that we trust Him, and know He is working somewhere for our good.

God has blessed me so many times in my life. He has protected me and answered prayers. He moves and does things that are just amazing. I honestly cannot recount it all. Praise God.

When Jesus cast the demons out of the Gadarene demoniac, He told the man, “Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.”— Mark 5:19

That is what we are to do when we are thankful. We tell people what God has done for us. This leads people to want to know the Lord as well.

When we are thankful we give to others. Our giving to the Lord’s work is a sign of our thankfulness.

God sees these things and the blessings flow back and forth. You cannot out give God.

Are you truly thankful God has blessed you? Bless others also.

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.––Luke 6:38

This is a promise. Giving is a response to what God has done for us. We want to bless and help others. Bitter, angry, fearful people refuse to give. But, those who love and trust will help others.

Thankfulness is spiritual warfare. When you are thankful about everything, and praise God about everything, even the bad, the devil can’t hurt you. He can’t hurt you because you just turn it into praise and thankfulness to God.

Its hard.

We forget these things. The devil distracts our mind and we forget God is good and that He is with us and we can trust Him.

When the Holy Spirit reminds us, we can thank Him and praise God for all He has done.

Thanking God and praising Him shows that we know Him and that we are walking with Him in the Spirit.

Shows who?

Shows ourselves, and others if they see.

Unsaved people do not thank God. They do not see Him moving or consider Him at all. It reminds us that we really do know Him, and are known of Him.

The enemy will try to get us to think we do not really know Him, but our praise and thankfulness show us otherwise. It’s like being convicted and confessing sins. Unsaved people don’t feel conviction or confess sin to God. They don’t seek Him at all.

We are not showing God.

Understand this.

God knows our heart. When God sees us He sees Christ, not us. Our sin is washed away. He sees Christ. He sees faith. He sees love.

This is hard to remember, but its important because we can end up on a hamster wheel where we think God is disappointed in us or that we must prove things to God, or that we must somehow behave in a certain way to help earn our salvation or keep it.

We think going to church and singing songs of praise is somehow required, and expected. So, if we don’t do it we think we have sinned and that we are in danger of eternal hell.

That is utterly false. Do not let the devil get you to believe that or let other people tell you that.

True praise and thankfulness comes from a realization of what God has done for you. Our flesh does not realize this. It comes from the Holy Spirit revealing it, and from our desire to express it when we see it.

Everywhere in the scriptures that praise and thankfulness is expressed it is done in response to what God has done or is going to do.

That is our model.

Praise and thankfulness loses its meaning if it is done as part of a routine. It becomes part of a works based doctrine.

God delights in doing good. He often blesses us even when we know we do not deserve it. It is God’s goodness, that leads us to repentance, not threats of punishment or fear. We know He is good and we know we can trust Him.

He has broken my heart with His goodness. I have sinned and not been worthy. But, He has come and blessed me in ways beyond explanation and I know I do not deserve it.

That’s His love and grace.

That leads to a flow of thankfulness and praise. That leads to correction and a response to His goodness.

This is great victory in the Lord! We see Him move and we are blessed and thank Him!

The enemy hates this, and like he did to Elijah will often bring an attack.

But, can we praise Him and thank Him through this dark time as well?

That is our faith. It grows our faith.

This is Walking in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit uses this to express the Fruit of the Spirit in us.

If you are facing trouble, try thanking God and praising Him. Look for the blessing and thank Him and praise Him. Give to others and bless them. Give to the Kingdom and express your thankfulness.

Not because we earn our salvation, but because we want to be like Him. Because we are thankful and led by His Spirit to respond, and are blessed even more by it.

Turn to God. Ask Him to save you. He is real and desires to know you.

---

Photo by pexels

The Demons Come Back

 The Demons Come Back

Spiritual warfare and repentance 

 

 

When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.

²⁵ And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.

²⁶ Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.— Luke 11:24-26 (Matt 12:43-45)

This verse speaks of repentance and spiritual warfare.

You must believe that there is a spiritual war, and that we do have spiritual enemies for this verse to have its full meaning for you.

I have said it before and must say it again because it is true.

All humans are sinners. We are totally depraved. There is no good thing in us. This comes from the book of Romans.

When Adam fell. Death entered the world, and Satan took over. Also, evil entered into humanity and corrupted us. Because of this evil, we commit the sins we commit. There is something wrong with us.

Because of Adam’s sin, we have all been handed over to Satan and his forces of evil. They rule this corrupt world. They control and tempt and enslave humanity, through our depravity and sin. They use our lusts and desires to keep us in bondage.

Jesus Christ came to die and rise from the dead to set the captives free. (Luke 4:16-21)

ALL of us have been manipulated and harassed by demonic entities tempting us and directing us. Those evil thoughts and actions did not ALL come from your own mind or desire. A lot of those great ideas were given to you by demons.

That wicked thought about adultery with the co-worker, and how the world seems to move to make it a reality. Demons. The mistake you made that you cannot figure out how you made it, but now you feel like you must lie to get out of it or hide it. Demons. The desire to get drunk because it was a great day, or a bad day, or a Tuesday, or a Friday night. Demons.

We try to explain these things with psychology, and the fact is that these things do come through the mind. But, the Bible teaches that there is something outside of our vision or world, that has access to us and tempts us to sin.

We can see people who have completely fallen prey to SOMETHING. We cannot see it or explain it. We call it addiction or say they are crazy, but something is not right.

We find ourselves arguing with loved ones over silly things, and we cannot get it stopped. It just goes off the rails and pride and rage increases. We see loved ones and spouses who become totally different people, like they are possessed. We see them do things to us and others that is totally outside of what we have come to believe is their character. Demons.

There are two camps. The saved and the unsaved. The clean and unclean. The washed and unwashed. Those who are with the Lord, and those who are in the camp of Satan.

If you are not saved, you are under the control of Satan. If you have not turned to Jesus and confessed Him as your Lord, getting saved, washed and filled with the Holy Spirit. Then, you are under the banner of the devil.

There is no middle ground.

If you are with Satan then the demons have total access to you. I am no talking possession. That is rarely the case, because it is too easily noticed. But, those demons have great power in your life, and you and others do not realize it.

Take a child who is outside playing. When he gets a thought that he should be mean to the neighbors cat. A child doesn’t have the ability to understand it. So, he grabs the cat and throws it into the ditch. The cat gets wet and freaks out, and for some reason the kid laughs at this. The laughter is a good feeling.

Where did the idea come from?

A few days later he calls the dog over to play with it, but an idea comes into his head to trick the dog and beat it with a stick.

So he does.

It’s just a child. The kid doesn’t know what is going on. But demons are getting the child to open a door, so they have more access and the child loses more self control. At the same time, there is some pleasure that comes with hurting the animals.

Time goes on, and the ideas in his head tell him to kill the animals.

The kid never questions whether it’s his own thoughts or something else. He has no idea of such a thing. he just goes through life thinking it’s his own mind. He learns early to hide these things.

Eventually a kid in the neighborhood disappears.

So, this child who has been led around by demons grows up to be a serial killer.

This same process happens to all of us, but in different ways. We do not all become serial killers. But, we might become a liar, or an adulterer. We might become a thief or an addict. We are controlled by pride or lust. We have rage and become violent. Because often from a young age we have listened to ideas that have not been our own.

We think the ideas or thoughts are our own. But, the ideas come from outside. Eventually we might help the demons, and make it easier to be manipulated or controlled, but there are demonic entities who tempt us and have power over us. ALL of us.

We can see in Genesis chapter three that God tells the Serpent/Dragon that he will eat dust. Then, two verses later God calls man, Dust.

Part of the curse, is that we have been handed over to Satan. Adam opened the door for Satan to enter, and God let him have us.

The hope being that we will wake up and realize something is wrong and turn to the Lord for salvation, when He calls us.

Now, all of this has been written to show that there are demons and they have power. They do attack us, harass us and manipulate us.

When a person gets saved, we are washed clean, and all those connections to the enemy are broken by Jesus Christ.

We are set free.

The truth shall make you free.

We are saved.

We now have the power to resist things the devil brings to us in temptation.

We have the Holy Spirit who comes in to us and dwells with us and teaches us.

We have a desire to know the Word and to learn of Him.

But, we still sin. It’s a fact.

We have been set free spiritually, but there are still things we struggle with. That is part of our sanctification and growth in Christ. He keeps working to renew our mind. To grow us. to correct us and pull us out of the miry pit.

BUT… we are already saved, the minute we asked Him and put our trust in Him and confessed Him as our Lord.

The demons work to get the saint to sin, in order to get those doors open again and let them have access to us again, like before we were saved. They do this to keep us distracted and not serving the Lord.

If you are saved,then you are saved. You cannot lose it, but the demons will make you think you have.

Understand that when the Lord sets us free we are clean, swept and garnished. The demons are gone. The torment and all the stuff is gone. But, they come back and try to get access to us again. If we open the door, it will come in and bring seven others with it.

We all open doors, because we do not realize what we are doing. When we are saved we are clean, but the enemy comes back, again and again, and if we let him in we are worse than before.

But, we are still saved.

A good picture of this is the addict who quits drugs and then starts using again. They are worse than they were before.

 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

⁵ And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

⁶ If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.— Heb. 6:4-6

Many saints want to use this verse as proof that we can lose our salvation. But, the verse does not say salvation. It says “repentance”.

It means that we have opened those doors and let the demons back in and we are worse than before. Our struggle is worse than before. Our state of repentance is harder than it was, because the demons have more access, and we must fight to resist the temptations.

BUT… with God ALL things are possible.

The answer to this problem is to turn to the Lord.

The demons will try to get you or someone else to run from God and hide. To give up walking with the Lord, or trying.

See? Refusing to turn to the Lord and asking Him to forgive you is the worst thing you or anyone can do. Turn to Him and keep Walking in the Spirit.

The demons will come back and keep trying. But, just keep turning to the Lord, and confessing sin. (1 John 1:8-10)

James says, Submit to the Lord, resist the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)

Since we are saved, we have been set free. Even though we are tempted or harassed or manipulated, by demons and our flesh we have the power to resist.

We resist by turning to the Lord and drawing closer to Him. We give ourselves to Him.

Let’s say you are saved. But, you are tempted to commit a sin and you do it. You are led into the house of adultery and you run full throttle in. You are just full of it.

But, after it’s done a feeling of dread and self-loathing falls upon you. You hate yourself. You have betrayed Jesus who saved you.

The demons led you in and then use it to destroy you. They get you to feel shame and guilt and hatred and fear. They get you to hide like Adam and Eve hid from the Lord. They tell you that God forsakes you. They try to get you to not turn to the Lord.

But, God calls you. He knows what happened and the Holy Spirit calls you to turn to Him to be cleansed and restored.

God does not cast you out, He saves and fixes. He corrects. He breaks and remolds.

The minute you turn to Him He comes running.

In the Garden, we see God cast Adam and Eve out. But, we see that He did not leave them there or forsake them. He comes to us and walks with us and restores and saves us. That is the story of history. He brings us back to Himself.

Look at the big picture. God does not leave us in sin or failure, He comes to save us and set us free every time. Like a sheep gone astray, who gets caught in the brambles. Or like Israel, in the Book of Judges who fell away over and over, but when they turn to Him He comes and delivers them.

God saved us the minute we turned to Him. But, there is a lifetime of struggle and battles as we grow and He sanctifies us and heals us and breaks us again and again to mold us into the likeness of His son, Jesus Christ.

Not by our works but by His.

He gets the glory.

The struggles you are facing are normal and are the result of the demonic forces arrayed against us.

Turn to the Lord. Draw closer to Him.

He is the answer.

---

Picture by pexels.

Not As The World Gives

 Not As The World Gives

God is not like this world. 

 

Jesus said. "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."---John 14:27  (John 14:1-31--in context)

When God calls us, and we turn to Him, confessing Jesus is the Lord, asking Him to save us and putting our faith in Him.

 
He saves us, and fills us with His Holy Spirit, washing us clean.

This brings us peace. Not our peace. But HIS peace. This must be understood. Because we do not nor cannot maintain this Peace ourselves. He does it as we continue to turn to Him and grow in Him, and know Him. The Word He gives us is Jesus. The Word He gives us are His Promises.

The second part of the verse is what I want to focus on.

"Not as the world giveth, give I unto you"

Because God doesn't give as the world gives. (You've lived in this world long enough to know how this world and the people of it give.)

When God gives, it's free to you. He paid for it.

It's a gift not a loan. There is no interest and it doesn't have to be repaid.

He doesn't take it away from us if we fail.

He doesn't use it against us.

He doesn't use it to guilt trip us.

He doesn't hold it over our head.

He doesn't give us something cheap and shoddy.

He doesn't give us a hand me down.

He loves us. He understands us. He works with us. He knows us, if we choose to know Him.

 

He fixes us and helps to grow us. He doesn't cast us aside.

He is with us always even till the end of the world.

And that's why we have the peace that defies all understanding. (Phil. 4:6-7)

Praise Jesus.

So what do we do?  We remind ourselves of his promises. We speak them aloud to hear them and drive the enemy away. We remind our selves of the great things God has done for us. We thank and praise Him for it. This brings peace as the Holy Spirit works in us.

-----

Photo by the author 

Does God Feel Distant?

 Does God Feel Distant?

He is with you, believe it. 

 

 

There are times in our lives when we feel that God has abandoned us. It seems that He doesn’t hear and we don’t feel His presence or see His movements in our lives.

I have experienced the same.

God has opened my eyes to the reality of it, and I have listened to Him and grown in Him.

The matter is an issue of faith.

I want you to read this verse.

“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”—Matt. 12:36

Now a lot of preachers want to use this verse to impose fear.

But, I want you to see that Jesus is telling us that God hears every word. God is so close to us and so interested in us, that every word we say will be shown back to us when we see Him.

If you are saved and know Him, then this is not a scary thing. It spurs us to greater things.

So, read this verse and believe it. Believe it like God is standing before you telling it to you.

We are made righteous and our faith comes when we believe the Word God has given us. (Rom.10:17, Rom. 4:3)

So, when we think God is not listening or doesn’t hear, we can stand on this verse and say.

“No! God hears every idle word!” And believe it.

It’s not like sending a text message to a friend and we don’t hear back. So, we think “Did he get the text?”

God got it. We can KNOW he got it, because of this verse. We put our faith in it and Him.

Daniel prayed and heard nothing back. Till finally an angel came and said. We got your prayer the minute you started praying. And I came to answer but had to fight through the Enemy to get here. (Dan. 10:1-21)

Trust God. Trust His Word.

Our relationship with God is based upon faith. Our faith grows when we trust his Word and stand on it, and see Him move in our lives

Satan is working to keep you from trusting Him. To keep you from knowing Him. He seeks to destroy you and keep your faith weak. To keep you from the battlefield.

This why we cannot trust our feelings. We are flesh. We have a corrupted nature. We live in a world that is full of distraction, and we have an enemy trying to destroy us.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”—Prov. 3:5-6

When everything tells us God has abandoned us and is not listening. When the enemy whispers into our mind that we sin too much for God, or that God has left us or even that He is testing us.

We can stand on the promises of God. We can rely on His Word and the things He has done for us in the past. That is our testimony. (Rev. 12:11)

So we say “No! I trust in the Lord. I’m leaning on Him and the Word says He will direct my paths!”

Believe it. Faith is the oil for our lamps.  (Matt. 25: 1-13)

Why do I say that you must say it out loud?

Have you seen movies where two armies oppose each other and a general rides on a horse in front of his men and gives them great words of encouragement?

He is building faith. He is building encouragement. He is trying to drive out fear and stir up morale for the coming battle.

“Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” —(Rom. 10:17)

When we speak the Word, we also hear the Word and it stirs up our faith in us if we are willing to believe it. Speaking the Word causes things to happen in reality. God says “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”—(Isa 55:11)

God’s Word says “I will never leave you nor forsake you”—Heb. 13:5

He is with us. Believe it. Say it to yourself.

“God will never leave me nor forsake me.”

Believe it. Drive the fear and doubt away.

Will the Shepherd abandon the Sheep? ( Psalm 23)

No. He leads us to still waters. He protects us with his rod. His staff comforts us.

Because He is with us. We believe it and know it. He is here.

Do you know the Shepherd?

None of this matters if you’ve never turned to Him and asked Him to save you. It’s the same faith. He calls us and we realize that we need Him.

Then, we hear the Word He gives us and we believe it and turn to Him. Asking Him to save us. Then, He washes us clean in the Blood of Jesus Christ and we are saved and begin to grow in Him. Just ask Him to save you. (Rom.10:9-10)

This world is tough. But, the toughness of this world is designed to cause us to turn to Him. Because He is our only Hope.

He is with us.

Believe it. No matter what things look like.

---

photo by pexels. 

What Is My Purpose?

 What Is My Purpose?

 We are all called by God to serve.

 

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 always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.— Matt. 28:19-20 (Mark 16:15, Luke 24:46-48, Acts 1:8)

Our purpose as humans is to reconnect with our Creator.

He came to save us, and when we turn to Him and Confess Jesus Is the Lord, believing in Him and putting our faith in Him alone. We are saved. We are born again. (Rom 10:9-10, John 3)

Jesus died to save us and rose from the dead for our justification.
He then ascended alive into Heaven.

But, before He left He gave us the Great Commission. That is our call to service.

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.—Acts 1:8

As Born Again Saints, we are called to serve God and others. We want to lead people to know Jesus and be saved. It’s that simple. Everything we do serves that ultimate goal. We want everyone saved.

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.— Mark 16:15

Through this work, our relationship with God grows. He works in us, on us, and through us.

This is our purpose. This does not save us, but it is what we do because we are thankful for what God has done for us, and it’s not even us doing it. It’s Him.

What does this mean?

Well we are yoked together with Him. (Matt 11:28-30)

That is two oxen pulling a cart together, but He is honestly doing most of the work.

²⁸ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.—Matt 11:28-30

You don’t have to be a Bible expert. But, you really need to read, believe and study the Word. The Spirit will lead you to do this, and will lead you to a church of some kind, and teachers or guides. The Holy Spirit is our ultimate teacher. Remember that. He guides us as we keep turning to Him. (Prov. 3:5-6)

The first thing you need is your testimony. That is the story of how Jesus saved you. It’s stories of how God has worked in your life, answers to prayer and miraculous things He has shown you.

This is the story of the relationship you have with Him, and this is the story you can share with others, to tell them about Jesus.

Like the Gadarene Demoniac. Jesus drove the demons out of him, then told the man to “Go tell your family and friends the great things God has done for you” (Mark Chapter 5)

That’s what we do.

We don’t need to be a famous evangelist, or have a preaching degree or work for a church. Just go and tell.

This is how we earn treasures and rewards in Heaven. (Matt. 6:19-21)

It’s like an account stored in Paradise and written in the books. As saints, we are not Judged regarding our sin, but we are judged based upon what we did and did not do for the Kingdom.

We receive treasure, authority and rewards for fighting the fight of faith for the Kingdom. Leading people to Jesus and telling people what he has taught us, and our testimony. As well, as what we have given to help others or serve.

Pray about it.

One of the most powerful prayers you can pray is.

“Lord, bring me someone I can help or bless. Bring me someone I can tell about Jesus. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.”

When you pray this, you better be ready. Don’t fail.

We live busy lives and we do not always remember to witness or help others. But, when we pray this prayer things will happen.

You might get stuck for a long time in a waiting room with a person hurting. Pray for them. Pray with them. Strike up a conversation, and then drop God in the middle of it and see what happens.

You might get stuck at a traffic light for a long time, while a homeless man stares at you. Whip out some cash, and give it. Pray for them. That pause you feel is the devil trying to scare you. Push through it.

Now, be ready. Because when you serve God the enemy will attack. You might face persecution. You might get cussed at. You might get insulted and get mad. Just pray about it and move on. It’s part of it.

But, you gotta act fast. Because once the devil sees what is going on he will move in to try to mess things up. The phone will ring, kids will cry, the dog will howl, fear will rise up and the clock will tick. (John 9:4)

When you pray this prayer, you might not see the opportunities arise, but you will be reminded of the prayer, either before or after the encounter. If it’s before, do not fear. Just move forward and start talking about anything. Then, let the Spirit move through you. If your intent is real, the power and words will come.

If you are reminded afterward, do not let Satan wrack you with grief. Just pray for the person and yourself, then do better next time.

I have had chances to tell someone about Jesus and didn’t. Then, hear they died the next day. Do, what the Spirit leads you to do.

Family members, and close friends can be the worst. You will lose some. Some will rejoice, and others will hate you. It’s part of it. You might find Thanksgiving dinner is a battle field and not a joy.

Jesus said “A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.”—Matt. 13:57

Meaning that you can go all over the world serving God and the people back home will still treat you without honor.

Because they know you. They saw you growing up. They remember the sins and how you used to be. They can’t get over it. They even treated Jesus this way, and He never sinned.

Even as a Christian they see you fail and sin. They see you being a human, and not the super savior they expect. They also want you to fail, because you are a reminder of their own short comings, and need of a savior.

Pray for them.

I have prayed for my entire family for years, and I have seen massive changes, and protection from the Lord.

As a believer we must serve. It’s part of our growth and relationship with the Lord.

I want to show you a verse.

“For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.“—2 Thess. 3:10

Many Christians use this verse as a justification to not help the poor. But, it turns around on them, because what if God uses the verse too?

If we are not working for the Lord, we will not get fed spiritually.

Consider it.

I have learned and grown so much through serving God. My healings, and blessing have come through serving and getting up and going.

Even a plain old job is a place to serve.

Trust me, I’m not one of these happy happy happy workers. I’m a terrible employee. But, I do the work and I work hard, and when the Spirit calls me to to do the Lord’s work, I move. A job provides many chances to serve the Lord.

A Saint serves

When Jesus comes He doesn’t ask if you watched porn, or ate shellfish, or drank beer, or cussed or gambled. He doesn’t ask about your sex life or your hate or idols or anger.

He asks about what you did for the least of these thy brethren. (Matt. 25:31-46)

If you are saved you are washed of all those sins, but if you are saved, the Spirit in you will lead you to serve. You can’t help but to serve. It becomes who you are.

We serve according to our giftedness and ministry callings. There are many ways to serve in our lives. Often times it happens by chance. Not even a ministry at all, you just meet people and then do what the Spirit leads you to do. Pray for them, give to them, help them, or tell them about Jesus.

Even if you are terrified and cannot bring yourself to do anything, you can pray for them, and you can give to ministries that are doing the work. (Matt. Chapter 25)

Don’t be a goat on the day He returns and He judges the nations and believers. (Matt. 25:31-46)

You must realize that both goats and sheep are clean animals. But the goats, never really knew the Lord. If they did they would have served.

We do not earn our salvation, but when we know the Lord, certain things eventually will happen. We will change and we will serve. This is not about judging others. It is about judging ourselves and making sure we really know Him.

Praise Jesus, and pass the ammunition, as they say.

We got work to do and a war to wage.

Get busy.

---

Picture by pexels 

Saving Faith

 Saving Faith

 What is it really?

 

 

 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

² Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

³ Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

⁵ Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

⁶ And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

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:

⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.

¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.— Eph. 2:1-10

These verse in Ephesians Chapter 2 give us great insight into what happens with Grace and Faith and Works, in relation to our salvation.

Understand that the word “Quickened” means to bring to life.

The word is used because we are considered dead, before we get saved. We are utterly depraved. We are walking with Satan. We do not know God or have anything to do with Him or care. We are dead, which means separated from Him.

The verse above shows that ALL humans are in the same boat. Except for babies and young children before they reach the age of accountability. They do not understand Law, or Sin or anything else. They face death; like all humans, but not Hell. They have not committed the first sin, knowing it is a sin which condemns them and us.

We suffer Death, enslavement to Satan, a Corrupted Nature and the potential for Hell/Lake of Fire because of Adam’s sin. BUT… We actually go there because we commit the first sin, knowing it is a sin.

We all commit that first sin. We all have walked in sin, and face Hell. We all face eternal death. Which is separation from God in the garbage dump of Hell/Lake of Fire. The Bible wants us to understand this.

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,“

God came to save us from this. That is Grace.

He calls us. That is Grace.

He helps us to see our need for Him. That is Grace.

He holds back the forces of darkness for moments in our lives so we can see clearly to run to Him. That is Grace.

He gives each of us the faith to be saved. That is Grace.

Because we are saved by Grace THROUGH Faith.

This is important because there are false beliefs on the matter.

We are not saved by Faith. We are saved by Grace THROUGH Faith.

God who created us gave us this faith at birth. (Rom. 12:3)

He gave a measure of faith to every human.

Enough to be saved.

Jesus says that faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains. (Matt. 17:20)

There is a false belief that says that God gives us faith to be saved, just before we get saved. If this is true, then God is deciding who goes to hell and who doesn’t. This flies in the face of the idea that He died for all of us and seeks to save all of us.

He gives us faith, when He knits us together in our mother’s womb. (Jer. 1:5)

That faith is what gives us hope that the sun will rise. It lets us have faith that a chair will support us when we sit down. It is faith that helps us trust that we have a job every morning we get up to go out.

That is natural faith.

That faith, as little as it might be is enough for us to believe God, and hear His call, and turn to Him. It is enough to confess Jesus as our Lord and be saved.

We can put that faith in whatever we want. Religion. Work. Money. Politics. Family. or the Eagle that lives on the yonder mountain.

But, none of those things will save us. Only Jesus Christ saves.

When we put our faith in Jesus He saves us and gives us His Holy Spirit.

From that point, the Lord starts growing us and building a relationship with us.

That is when our faith grows.

Like exercise builds the body. Seeing the movements of God, and seeing Him respond to the Truth of His Word, builds our faith.

Trusting God and seeing Him move builds our faith.

Like exercise, we build muscle by going to muscle failure. Where we cannot lift the weight but need help.

Faith is the same. God will often wait till we are spent, and cannot go any more. Then, He shows up in power, and our faith grows.

So, what is “Saving Faith?”

Saving faith; is the faith you put in the Lord to believe and trust in Him, at His call.

We can look at the Parable of the Sower in Matthew Chapter 13 to get some idea.

The sower goes forth to sow, the Word of the Kingdom.

This is the Gospel or the Word of God. It is the promises of God or a Word he gives us to wake us up to Him.

Some people get this Word, and do not understand it or believe it. The devil immediately comes and wipes it away. Demons whisper into the mind. “That’s not true.” “What about this…” “Those people are hypocrites, remember what they did to you…”

This does not mean God quits trying. He never quits. Love doesn’t quit. But, that doesn’t mean you have time to hear again.

Some people hear the Word, and agree. They like what is said, and they try to live it. But, it is by their own flesh. They did not really give themselves to the Lord and put their faith in Him alone.

So, when trouble comes or people make fun of them or punish them for trying to live right, they quit. Remember, this is a heart issue. This is a truth issue with God. It is not about appearances.

There are people living their whole life at church, in this state of half-belief. They have the “appearance of Godliness but deny the power thereof,”. They believe, but have never really accepted.

Next in the parable are people who hear the Word. They hear the call. They believe, but again never really accept it. They never confess Jesus as Lord. They try to save themselves, but “the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.”

A person who knows the Lord, cannot lose their salvation. Once you have it, you are saved forever. The Lord will protect you, hold you and grow you. The person above never really had faith in the Lord. They believed, at some point but that belief did not push them beyond this life. They never really accepted or confessed Jesus is the Lord.

This matters in these last days. Because as things get worse, and persecution comes knocking, these are the people who will fall away. They have claimed Christ. They attend church. But, have never really known Him. So, when the Anti-Christ rises up, they will turn from God and join the Apostate Church.

Last, is the person who hears the Word, believes it, and moves forward to accept Jesus as their Lord and receives the Holy Spirit. This person “heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

The “Understanding” is not total understanding of all things Gospel. It is an understanding of their need. It is a light shining into the darkness of their fallen state, and they leap for the Lord.

It is not a “I’m going to become a Christian” kind of faith. It is a “My life is ruined and I need God,” kind of faith.

It is a faith that God sees. It is the faith of a child to believe things, no matter what the world tells you. (Matt. 18:3-4)

Saving faith, is faith that is real. It is faith that God accepts.

This faith hears the Word, and really believes and accepts. This faith grows in the good ground prepared by God by His grace.

God prepares us to hear, by whatever means will best serve the purpose.

But, it is our faith, and where put that faith, that leads to salvation.

That salvation brings us the Holy Spirit, and He grows us and changes us. He leads us into serving God and Serving others. He grows the fruit in us. He Walks in the Spirit with us. These are the works we do.

Works from God, and through God. Works God shows us to let us know we are saved and walking with Him. (Rom. 8:16)

It doesn’t matter what anyone says.

It only matters what God says.

Listen for Him, and let your faith flow to Him.

And you will grow in the good ground of His grace, mercy and love.

---

Joy Comes In The Morning

 Joy Comes In The Morning

God is with us 

 

 

“For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”— Psalm 30:5

Things happen in our lives. Terrible things that break us and drag us down. Things that we cannot control and  ruin us. Things that make us weep in our beds at night in agony.

This world is a terrible place.

It was created good by God, but has become corrupted.

God is our friend

He is Love. He is on our side and calls us through the darkness and pain.

He is the calm after the raging storms on the sea of despair.

He is our shepherd in a world filled with savage beasts seeking to devour.

He calls us and seeks us.

Even when we get angry at Him and blame Him.

Even when the entire world and our own mind tells us it’s His fault.

When the enemy whispers that God is against us.

The Lord is there, with a still small voice asking us to turn to Him.

There are things we do not understand. But He does.

He will comfort us, and teach us and grow us and help us to understand.

He will save us and dwell with us and in us.

When we turn to Him and ask him to save us and put our faith in Him, confessing Jesus as our Lord.

He moves in our soul.

He brings us from darkness and we see Him move in our lives.

Then, He fills us and we see the truth of Him.

We see He was with us in the darkness. He was with us in the despair. He was with us when we were hiding from Him. He was there.

And all that fear we had.

All that anger toward Him, will turn to joy.

And when we fall into that deep long sleep, we will awake with Him in the morning.

And every day will be new in Him.

He is all there is, and all there ever will be.

Go To The Exchangers

 Go To The Exchangers

 A Word on Being Ready For The Lord’s Return

 

“Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:

And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”— (Matthew 25:24-30 KJV)

Here we have a frightening verse that basically says that when He returns the Lord is going to expect an accounting.

The Lord has given each of us our lives, talents, gifts  and the possessions in our lives, which He expects us to use to build the Kingdom. He wants people saved. He wants us to love others and help them. He wants us to love Him and have a relationship with Him. As best we can with the guiding of the Holy Spirit.

In the verses, the Lord gives talents to His servants, and then leaves. These are gifts. The scriptures says, “He gave gifts unto men” He has given gifts unto all men, whether saved or not. Salvation is just one gift. Our life is a gift. Our possessions are gifts, Our talents are gifts. We are to use what He has given us to turn to Him and build the Kingdom.(Eph. 4:8)

He comes back and finds that his servants have gained profit from the gifts. This profit would be souls or people helped. There is no other real medium of exchange between worlds.

The first 2 servants succeed and are rewarded. They used what they had to help others in Jesus name and to get souls saved and lives changed.

But, let’s focus on the last one. This servant says,”I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.” (see verse above)

There’s so much here. First, the fact that the servant says that the Lord is a hard man, proves that there is no relationship. This servant doesn’t know the Lord. Jesus said “my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11:27-30)

I could stop right there. Because people try to use this prophecy as a way to prove that people can lose their salvation. 

But, this guy never had it. He never knew the Lord. He never trusted the Lord. He never had faith in the Lord. He did not have the Holy Spirit.

There are many people in Church who have never been born again. They have never confessed Jesus as their Lord. They just call themselves Christian. They might do good things, but the fact that they have never been saved means that those good things are still defiled with evil.

But, let’s go on because this guy never even tried. He buried the talent. He was afraid. Jesus warns us “Fear Not”.  Fear is one of our greatest enemies and will keep us from knowing Christ.

If this guy had even tried, he might have woke up and found Jesus. He might have seen something that made him turn. “Taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8)

The Lord rebukes him, and says, “You could have given the talent to the exchangers (or bank) and I could have gained profit in interest.”

What does that mean?

Well let me break it down. I’m not trying to speak for the Lord. But, it might sound like this.

“I know you were afraid, and didn’t know what to do. But, you could have at least given and supported people and ministries, who were doing the work. But, you didn’t even do that.”

The exchangers are workers or ministries doing the work. If you cannot go yourself, then support those who are.

Then, the servant is cast into outer darkness and there is wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Understand that The Lord is the light of the world. Apart from Him is darkness.

Hell/the Lake of Fire is a garbage dump outside the city of God where all unclean and evil things must go.

Satan, the fallen angels, demons, unclean spirits, and those who have not been washed in the Blood of Jesus must go there.

They cannot enter the city lest they corrupt it with the plague of Sin for all eternity.

This servant was never washed. He did not have a clean garment. He had no oil in his lamp. He was a goat.  ( Matt.22:1-14, Matt. 25:1-13 ,Matt. 25:31-46

He never knew the Lord. When we know the Lord, the Holy Spirit guides us to care about the things the Lord cares about. We become burdened with it. We will respond. We will serve somehow. Even if it’s only giving to others who are serving.

The worst thing to ever hear is…

“Depart from Me, I never knew you.” (Matt. 7:23, Matthew 25:31)

---

Photo by Author