(Judges 3:9, 4:1, 21:25, Book of Judges)
People have not really changed since God created Adam and Eve. While billions and billions of people have lived and died since the first man and woman, people have not changed. A great study in human behavior is found in the Book of Judges. I want to encourage you today to take some time in the next few days and sit down and read the entire Book of Judges. It will take you less than an hour, and be worth every minute. Sadly, the spiritual lives of most Christians are exactly like the spiritual lives of the children of Israel in the Book of Judges. Here is how the pattern goes.
While everything is going great in your life, God slowly stops being your top priority. Actually, He often gets put far down the list of priorities. You quit praying every day, having that meaningful time alone, just you and the Lord. You quit reading your Bible every day. Going to church is not a MUST any longer. Allowing God to use you to bless others with your life isn't a burning desire. If it happens, that is fine, but it is not that important.
As God plays less of a role in your daily life, you slowly start making choices that you would not make when you are in that close, daily relationship with Him. At the time, they seem like harmless choices. But as the days go by, you are making more and more choices that are NOT pleasing to God. Deep down you know this, but you justify it by telling yourself that you deserve to have some fun, to do what YOU want to do. Slowly over time, it is no longer what God wants from your life, but only what YOU want.
One morning you wake up and your life is a mess. You see my friend, SIN ALWAYS HAS CONSEQUENCES. THERE IS ALWAYS A PRICE FOR SIN--A BIG PRICE. The Bible tells us, "Satan comes to "kill, steal, and destroy". When you forget God, when you quit making Him the head of your life, when you put God on the shelf because you think that you don't need Him, you have opened the door for satan to come in and destroy you!
Trust me, at first it won't be anything that bad. Satan is the great deceiver. He will deceive you into thinking that you don't need God. He will deceive you into thinking that it is YOUR LIFE, and you should do whatever YOU want to do. The longer that we live without God, the more choices that we make without praying, the deeper in sin we get. Sin is like quicksand, we sink slowly, and when God tries to get our attention, we ignore Him and sink deeper.
It is only when we are facing insurmountable odds, only when we have hit bottom, only when life is crashing down all around us that we finally decide to cry out to God. Look at the Prodigal Son. He had to lose everything, and be living in the worst conditions imaginable until he went home to his father. In our desperation we go to God, we repent, we ask His forgiveness, and we rededicate our lives to Him. Does that mean all of our problems magically go away overnight? NO! We didn't create our problems overnight,and they rarely go away overnight.
But we do now have God back in our lives and He is fighting for us, giving us the strength to get through each day, giving us the hope we need to move forward. Having God back in our lives doesn't eliminate us from having to deal with the consequences of our ungodly choices, but over time, He will help us to be victorious. Our life will be great again!!! We will look forward to waking up each morning. We will, once again, know the peace, the joy, the abundance that this life can offer. Many, however, like the children of Israel in the Book of Judges, will sadly start to forget God again, and the cycle will be repeated all over.
I love you and care about you so much. I pray today that this message opens the hearts of many as this trap satan uses so effectively is exposed. Here is the truth that I never want you to forget. WE NEED GOD ON THE MOUNTAINTOP JUST AS MUCH AS WE NEED GOD IN THE VALLEY!!! Let me repeat that. WE NEED GOD ON THE MOUNTAINTOP JUST AS MUCH AS WE NEED GOD IN THE VALLEY!!!
We all know to call on the Lord in our time of trouble. My word for you today is to call on Him ALWAYS!!! In this life, we will always have trials. No matter how close we are to the Lord, we all have to fight the day to day issues of living in this sin-filled world. Nobody can escape that. However, when we stay close to God each day, we can minimize the problems in our life that WE CAUSE through our rebellion!
Do you only call on God in your time of need? My admonition for you today is to call on Him EVERY DAY. Keep Him first at ALL TIMES. God has revealed to YOU today a common trap men and women from the beginning have fallen into. Receive this word from the Lord today and walk with God every day of your journey here on earth. Call on Him in your time of need AND in your time of plenty!!!
In His love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller
If I can help you in any way you can contact me through my personal email at: bkeller@liveprayer.com
***ARE YOU 100% CERTAIN WHERE YOU WILL SPEND ETERNITY? The fact is you will die one day. At that moment, you will either spend eternity with the Lord or be cast into everlasting darkness forever separated from God your creator.
To know for certain you will be forever with Jesus, go to:
http://www.liveprayer.com/bdy_salvatn.cfm
Friday, July 23, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
Answers to Common Questions
(1 Peter 3:15)
For Christians, especially those living in the United States, the verbal attacks by nonbelievers on those who have put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ is more open, more bold, and more intense today than ever before. I want to look at some of those attacks to help equip you to handle them better the next time a family member, friend, co-worker, someone at school, or a total stranger confronts you regarding your faith in Christ.
Let's start with my favorite one, Jesus. I am always amazed at how those who reject Jesus Christ for who He is, love to cite Jesus and claim to know what He stands for despite having never really read and studied His life and ALL He taught! Jesus had one mission in life and that was to die for the sins of mankind. He came to bring man salvation, everlasting life for those who would put their faith in Him. Those who reject Christ and live in rebellion to Him talk about Jesus being for peace and the poor, and if you are a true follower of Christ you have to be against all wars and working with the poor.
Does Jesus like war? Of course not, no reasonable person does. But Jesus also knew that war would be part of this lost world until God decides to bring it to an end and the Prince of Peace Himself returned. We, as a nation, have every right and responsibility to defend ourselves from those who would destroy us. Much like the children of Israel had a right and responsibility to defend themselves from those nations that would try to destroy them, there are evil forces in this world who would love to see the United States cease to exist. Thankfully, our forefathers understood this and defended our country to their death so that we could enjoy the great freedom and liberty we enjoy today. It is now our turn to defend this nation from its enemies to insure that our children have the same freedoms should the Lord tarry in His return.
As for the poor, Jesus said that we would always have the poor among us. He said very little other than to point out our responsibility to the poor. Talking about the poor is simply a smokescreen non-believers use to deflect attention from all of the REST of what Jesus said on issues like sin and how we are supposed to live our lives in accordance with the Word of God. They are quick to cite what Jesus said about peace and the poor, but never discuss what He said about following God and living a righteous life.
As long as we are talking about Jesus, whenever the issue of homosexuality comes up one of the classic statements of a non-believer is that Jesus never said anything about homosexuality. While there is no record of the question being presented to Him, there is no doubt that He would have responded by reaffirming God's creation intent of heterosexual monogamous marriage. Only this expression of human sexuality is blessed by God. Jesus, when questioned about marriage, responded by referring to God's plan for marriage. - (Matt. 19:1-12; Mark 10:1-12)
Of course, the two great lies of the homosexual community is that 10% of the people are homosexual and that people are born "gay." The fact is, less than 1% of the people will EVER engage in sex with someone of the same gender. Also, despite spending hundreds of millions of dollars in the last decade to prove people are born gay, they are no closer today than when they started. Who you have sex with is a CHOICE! You are not born to commit adultery, that is a choice. You re not born to have sex with children, that is a choice. You are not born to have sex with animals, that is a choice. You are not born to have sex with someone of the same sex, that is a choice. Like all sin, if you choose to do it long enough it may seem natural, but it is still a choice.
That brings us to the issue of same-sex marriage. God's definition of marriage found in Genesis is one man, one woman, for one lifetime. God didn't create Adam and Bruce, He didn't create Eve and Lucy, He created Adam and Eve. One man, one woman. Nonbelievers always ask what is it going to hurt you if people of the same sex get married. First, not only is it a perversion of God's Holy Institution of Marriage, but it destroys God's plan for the family which is the foundation of our society. I wish you could read some of the 40,000 prayer requests Liveprayer receives every single day. The
deterioration and destruction of God's plan for the family is the number one problem in our culture today. Having people of the same sex marry is not only a perversion of God's plan for marriage, but you now have these same sex couples raising children, further destroying God's plan for the family.
Probably the one issue that I have the most difficulty understanding is how ANYONE could support the slaughter of an innocent baby. Of course, the nonbeliever quickly states that it is NOT a baby. It is just a mass of tissue. I heard one tortured explanation recently where I was told that until 22 weeks and there is a functioning brain it is not a baby, just a mass of tissue and having an abortion is no different than removing a kidney! How sad. At the moment of conception there is a life, a life that can ONLY come from God. At that moment it is a living being and it is MURDER to end that life.
The other big issue raised by non-believers is the audacity of Christians to think that they are right and everyone else is wrong. How could God (a God many of them don't even believe exists) send billions of people to hell, when many good people follow Buddha and the host of false religions that exist in the world. The fact is, Christians ARE right, because God is right. It is God, not man, that revealed Himself to His creation and called on man to follow Him. It is God who gave us His Word to live by. It is God who gave us the plan of salvation through faith in His Son Jesus Christ. It is also God who gave man the free will to accept Him and His truth, or reject Him and His truth.
I love you and care about you so much. As a follower of Christ, we are challenged daily by family, friends, those we work with, go to school with, and even total strangers who have rejected our Lord and the truth of His Word about our faith in Christ. Never forget, the foundation of our faith is based on the inspired, inerrant Word of God, representing absolute truth and our final authority in all matters. Of course, the nonbeliever will always dismiss the Bible as a book written by men. They have to try and minimize what it really is to justify their rejection of it. The fact is, they are right. It is a book written by men UNDER THE INSPIRATION OF GOD, THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE!!!
You will often hear a nonbeliever state that only the weak need Jesus, that it is a crutch to get through life. Actually, it is those who are REALLY weak who reject Him and live in rebellion to the Lord since it takes true STRENGTH to follow Christ and to live according to His Word. Anyone can follow the desires of their flesh like an animal, it takes commitment and resolve to be a follower of Jesus.
Never forget my friend, you will never change the heart of a non-believer by having all the answers. The reality is, nobody has all the answers and the non-believer will ALWAYS have more questions than there are answers since some things only God knows for sure. But you can open their heart to Christ in how you live your daily life, by being a vessel of His love and grace, and by being available when they hit those potholes in life we all hit along our journey. That is when you will have a real opportunity to share with them that Jesus is the only real hope and answer there is.
I will be praying for you. Praying that you will not allow those who reject Christ and the truth of God's Word to intimidate you into silence, or make you fearful of standing up for the Lord. God has called His children to be the salt of this earth and the light of the world. May you proudly and boldly proclaim to this lost and unbelieving world that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, and that everlasting life is only found through faith in our Lord!
In His love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller
If I can help you in any way you can contact me through my personal email at:
bkeller@liveprayer.com
***ARE YOU 100% CERTAIN WHERE YOU WILL SPEND ETERNITY? The fact is you will die one day. At that moment, you will either spend eternity with the Lord or be cast into everlasting darkness forever separated from God your creator. To know for certain you will be forever with Jesus, go to: http://www.liveprayer.com/bdy_salvatn.cfm
For Christians, especially those living in the United States, the verbal attacks by nonbelievers on those who have put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ is more open, more bold, and more intense today than ever before. I want to look at some of those attacks to help equip you to handle them better the next time a family member, friend, co-worker, someone at school, or a total stranger confronts you regarding your faith in Christ.
Let's start with my favorite one, Jesus. I am always amazed at how those who reject Jesus Christ for who He is, love to cite Jesus and claim to know what He stands for despite having never really read and studied His life and ALL He taught! Jesus had one mission in life and that was to die for the sins of mankind. He came to bring man salvation, everlasting life for those who would put their faith in Him. Those who reject Christ and live in rebellion to Him talk about Jesus being for peace and the poor, and if you are a true follower of Christ you have to be against all wars and working with the poor.
Does Jesus like war? Of course not, no reasonable person does. But Jesus also knew that war would be part of this lost world until God decides to bring it to an end and the Prince of Peace Himself returned. We, as a nation, have every right and responsibility to defend ourselves from those who would destroy us. Much like the children of Israel had a right and responsibility to defend themselves from those nations that would try to destroy them, there are evil forces in this world who would love to see the United States cease to exist. Thankfully, our forefathers understood this and defended our country to their death so that we could enjoy the great freedom and liberty we enjoy today. It is now our turn to defend this nation from its enemies to insure that our children have the same freedoms should the Lord tarry in His return.
As for the poor, Jesus said that we would always have the poor among us. He said very little other than to point out our responsibility to the poor. Talking about the poor is simply a smokescreen non-believers use to deflect attention from all of the REST of what Jesus said on issues like sin and how we are supposed to live our lives in accordance with the Word of God. They are quick to cite what Jesus said about peace and the poor, but never discuss what He said about following God and living a righteous life.
As long as we are talking about Jesus, whenever the issue of homosexuality comes up one of the classic statements of a non-believer is that Jesus never said anything about homosexuality. While there is no record of the question being presented to Him, there is no doubt that He would have responded by reaffirming God's creation intent of heterosexual monogamous marriage. Only this expression of human sexuality is blessed by God. Jesus, when questioned about marriage, responded by referring to God's plan for marriage. - (Matt. 19:1-12; Mark 10:1-12)
Of course, the two great lies of the homosexual community is that 10% of the people are homosexual and that people are born "gay." The fact is, less than 1% of the people will EVER engage in sex with someone of the same gender. Also, despite spending hundreds of millions of dollars in the last decade to prove people are born gay, they are no closer today than when they started. Who you have sex with is a CHOICE! You are not born to commit adultery, that is a choice. You re not born to have sex with children, that is a choice. You are not born to have sex with animals, that is a choice. You are not born to have sex with someone of the same sex, that is a choice. Like all sin, if you choose to do it long enough it may seem natural, but it is still a choice.
That brings us to the issue of same-sex marriage. God's definition of marriage found in Genesis is one man, one woman, for one lifetime. God didn't create Adam and Bruce, He didn't create Eve and Lucy, He created Adam and Eve. One man, one woman. Nonbelievers always ask what is it going to hurt you if people of the same sex get married. First, not only is it a perversion of God's Holy Institution of Marriage, but it destroys God's plan for the family which is the foundation of our society. I wish you could read some of the 40,000 prayer requests Liveprayer receives every single day. The
deterioration and destruction of God's plan for the family is the number one problem in our culture today. Having people of the same sex marry is not only a perversion of God's plan for marriage, but you now have these same sex couples raising children, further destroying God's plan for the family.
Probably the one issue that I have the most difficulty understanding is how ANYONE could support the slaughter of an innocent baby. Of course, the nonbeliever quickly states that it is NOT a baby. It is just a mass of tissue. I heard one tortured explanation recently where I was told that until 22 weeks and there is a functioning brain it is not a baby, just a mass of tissue and having an abortion is no different than removing a kidney! How sad. At the moment of conception there is a life, a life that can ONLY come from God. At that moment it is a living being and it is MURDER to end that life.
The other big issue raised by non-believers is the audacity of Christians to think that they are right and everyone else is wrong. How could God (a God many of them don't even believe exists) send billions of people to hell, when many good people follow Buddha and the host of false religions that exist in the world. The fact is, Christians ARE right, because God is right. It is God, not man, that revealed Himself to His creation and called on man to follow Him. It is God who gave us His Word to live by. It is God who gave us the plan of salvation through faith in His Son Jesus Christ. It is also God who gave man the free will to accept Him and His truth, or reject Him and His truth.
I love you and care about you so much. As a follower of Christ, we are challenged daily by family, friends, those we work with, go to school with, and even total strangers who have rejected our Lord and the truth of His Word about our faith in Christ. Never forget, the foundation of our faith is based on the inspired, inerrant Word of God, representing absolute truth and our final authority in all matters. Of course, the nonbeliever will always dismiss the Bible as a book written by men. They have to try and minimize what it really is to justify their rejection of it. The fact is, they are right. It is a book written by men UNDER THE INSPIRATION OF GOD, THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE!!!
You will often hear a nonbeliever state that only the weak need Jesus, that it is a crutch to get through life. Actually, it is those who are REALLY weak who reject Him and live in rebellion to the Lord since it takes true STRENGTH to follow Christ and to live according to His Word. Anyone can follow the desires of their flesh like an animal, it takes commitment and resolve to be a follower of Jesus.
Never forget my friend, you will never change the heart of a non-believer by having all the answers. The reality is, nobody has all the answers and the non-believer will ALWAYS have more questions than there are answers since some things only God knows for sure. But you can open their heart to Christ in how you live your daily life, by being a vessel of His love and grace, and by being available when they hit those potholes in life we all hit along our journey. That is when you will have a real opportunity to share with them that Jesus is the only real hope and answer there is.
I will be praying for you. Praying that you will not allow those who reject Christ and the truth of God's Word to intimidate you into silence, or make you fearful of standing up for the Lord. God has called His children to be the salt of this earth and the light of the world. May you proudly and boldly proclaim to this lost and unbelieving world that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, and that everlasting life is only found through faith in our Lord!
In His love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller
If I can help you in any way you can contact me through my personal email at:
bkeller@liveprayer.com
***ARE YOU 100% CERTAIN WHERE YOU WILL SPEND ETERNITY? The fact is you will die one day. At that moment, you will either spend eternity with the Lord or be cast into everlasting darkness forever separated from God your creator. To know for certain you will be forever with Jesus, go to: http://www.liveprayer.com/bdy_salvatn.cfm
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Wandering
Isn’t God amazing?! He loves us so much that He is concerned with out cares & wants, He listens to our prayers, and He delivers us from harm and leads us through endless trials. I was thinking about how God listened to the pleas from His people while they were in bondage to the Egyptians. He sent Moses to lead them out of this captivity and take them to the promised land. And before the dust settled good, the Israelites grew impatient and started wandering,
I read about how the Israelites of the Old Testament would struggle through periods of turmoil. When they would get back on track with God, He would bless them with times of peace & prosperity. The days of milk and honey would be abundant. But before long, they would start straying away from Him. In no time at all, they would go back to following the ways of the flesh; and back into bondage & turmoil. I shake my head at their stupidity. How is it that when they had it so good, by staying close to the Lord, would they allow themselves to fall back into the pit? This happened over & over throughout history. It happens today, time and time again. How is it that an alcoholic can fall off the wagon? How can a man/woman in a happy marriage fall into the temptation of adultery? Or how can a great preacher of God’s Word fall into shame?
Then I look back over my own life. I shake my head at my own stupidity. I’ve found that for me, the answer is very simple. I loose sight of God. The distractions of simple everyday life steal my focus from spending time alone with God. And in what seems like a quick shake of the head, I’m wandering off the path. I guess it’s as basic as human nature. Adam & Eve were the first to wander and people have been doing it ever since. In our straying, we don’t necessarily have to worship the golden calf like they did in the time of Moses. We can still go about our ‘good’ lifestyles. The only real difference is our focus.
Sometimes we start mentally patting ourselves on the back for being such good Christians, etc., then as our focus starts turning inward to ‘self’. The old nature kicks in and before long we are chasing our own wants & desires with little or no thought to God’s will.
For others, it starts with the feeling that God isn’t listening to us. Have you ever prayed for something specific and not gotten a YES immediately? Most people think that the only way God answers prayer is with a quick “Yes”. They rarely consider the possibility that He could say “No” or “Wait”. If we don’t get the desired response, we often ignore God and go about doing it ourselves. Folks, I don’t know a Christian alive, young or old, who hasn’t taken matters into their own hands. We don’t want to “wait” and we certainly don’t want to be told “No”.
Staying close to God is a minute by minute process. In the course of a day, I can wander away a dozen times or more. It usually starts with a wayward thought that more often than not is ‘self’ based, and away I go. Before I realize it, I’m off doing my own thing with absolutely no thought to what God may want.
Once again, we are like little children. We get so engrossed in ourselves that we forget to look to our Father for guidance & direction. Just like the Israelites, we toe the line for awhile, and then when everything is going smooth … we begin to wander. Common sense would suggest that we would be smarter to stay close to the Lord when times are good. But unfortunately our human (sinful) nature doesn’t adhere to common sense very well.
Have a great day and may the Lord bless you.
“And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him …” (Exodus 32:1-4)
I read about how the Israelites of the Old Testament would struggle through periods of turmoil. When they would get back on track with God, He would bless them with times of peace & prosperity. The days of milk and honey would be abundant. But before long, they would start straying away from Him. In no time at all, they would go back to following the ways of the flesh; and back into bondage & turmoil. I shake my head at their stupidity. How is it that when they had it so good, by staying close to the Lord, would they allow themselves to fall back into the pit? This happened over & over throughout history. It happens today, time and time again. How is it that an alcoholic can fall off the wagon? How can a man/woman in a happy marriage fall into the temptation of adultery? Or how can a great preacher of God’s Word fall into shame?
Then I look back over my own life. I shake my head at my own stupidity. I’ve found that for me, the answer is very simple. I loose sight of God. The distractions of simple everyday life steal my focus from spending time alone with God. And in what seems like a quick shake of the head, I’m wandering off the path. I guess it’s as basic as human nature. Adam & Eve were the first to wander and people have been doing it ever since. In our straying, we don’t necessarily have to worship the golden calf like they did in the time of Moses. We can still go about our ‘good’ lifestyles. The only real difference is our focus.
Sometimes we start mentally patting ourselves on the back for being such good Christians, etc., then as our focus starts turning inward to ‘self’. The old nature kicks in and before long we are chasing our own wants & desires with little or no thought to God’s will.
For others, it starts with the feeling that God isn’t listening to us. Have you ever prayed for something specific and not gotten a YES immediately? Most people think that the only way God answers prayer is with a quick “Yes”. They rarely consider the possibility that He could say “No” or “Wait”. If we don’t get the desired response, we often ignore God and go about doing it ourselves. Folks, I don’t know a Christian alive, young or old, who hasn’t taken matters into their own hands. We don’t want to “wait” and we certainly don’t want to be told “No”.
Staying close to God is a minute by minute process. In the course of a day, I can wander away a dozen times or more. It usually starts with a wayward thought that more often than not is ‘self’ based, and away I go. Before I realize it, I’m off doing my own thing with absolutely no thought to what God may want.
Once again, we are like little children. We get so engrossed in ourselves that we forget to look to our Father for guidance & direction. Just like the Israelites, we toe the line for awhile, and then when everything is going smooth … we begin to wander. Common sense would suggest that we would be smarter to stay close to the Lord when times are good. But unfortunately our human (sinful) nature doesn’t adhere to common sense very well.
Have a great day and may the Lord bless you.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Be Still And Know That I Am God
I often look about and feel frustrated and even angry at a world that seems bent on descending into chaos. Often I can recall some scripture that applies to it all as I witness this world boiling over it seems. I cannot fathom in this day and age how one could deny the truth of the Bible when everything we see happening in the world is told of, as we come closer to the final fulfillment of scripture. The Bible tells us that mankind will be scurrying to and fro, that evil will be called good and good evil. Reading about it all is one thing, but to actually witness it is altogether another. A world seemingly spinning out of control.
Sometimes I suffer from prophecy overload. I watch for the next event on the prophecy forecast, and am overwhelmed at the multitude of prophetic signs that either have happened or align themselves to happening. Yet the frustration builds as the world denies the truth. The scriptures tell us that scoffers will declare that it has always been the same now as in the past. There is nothing new under the sun. I read the news and get angry when I see a state has passed law that merely authorizes local law enforcement to enforce existing law, and yet this is an evil thing, but those who break the law are called victims. Unless I had seen it with my own eyes, I couldn’t begin to understand.
It truly seems to be a hopeless chaotic world out there. I ask The Lord to speak to me. Protect and guide my family and me. I ask Him to give me wisdom, to give me the right words to say as He brings me opportunity to tell others about Him. Then the chaos of life assaults me and I lose my focus, and ask again. Often satan wins his little skirmishes by distracting us from our purpose. I have often heard preachers tell that if satan can’t make us stumble then he will attempt to make us ineffective for God.
As I pray, often it is with questions, Lord, how do I, when do I, what should I…. And lately He seems to answer with His calming peace, speaking to my heart. Be still, and know that I am God. When our world is turned upside down and nothing seems to work, it is time to just sit quietly in the presence of the Lord and know He is there. It is in these times that He gives me peace and tells me to just wait on Him. It is that peace that surpasses all understanding. It is calm and comfort in the midst of the storm.
It is His answers that teach me to trust in Him, not myself.
Lord, how do I…. Be still? Sit and prayerfully listen for His voice.
Lord when do I? You don’t, He will.
Lord what should I? Not you, but Me says the Lord.
I still need reminding that I must let God lead me before I am to do, or say anything. How else can I learn to hear Him as He directs, if I don’t first learn Him, learn to hear His voice, if I don’t first sit quiet in His presence and wait for Him to speak. It is that daily building of a relationship that makes His voice more familiar to me each day. Jesus said “My sheep know my voice.” As I spend more time in quiet prayer and study of scriptures, I learn His voice and recognize Him talking to me even in the middle of chaos and turmoil. But in order to know His voice, I must first be still.
Simply walking in faith,
Ray
Sometimes I suffer from prophecy overload. I watch for the next event on the prophecy forecast, and am overwhelmed at the multitude of prophetic signs that either have happened or align themselves to happening. Yet the frustration builds as the world denies the truth. The scriptures tell us that scoffers will declare that it has always been the same now as in the past. There is nothing new under the sun. I read the news and get angry when I see a state has passed law that merely authorizes local law enforcement to enforce existing law, and yet this is an evil thing, but those who break the law are called victims. Unless I had seen it with my own eyes, I couldn’t begin to understand.
It truly seems to be a hopeless chaotic world out there. I ask The Lord to speak to me. Protect and guide my family and me. I ask Him to give me wisdom, to give me the right words to say as He brings me opportunity to tell others about Him. Then the chaos of life assaults me and I lose my focus, and ask again. Often satan wins his little skirmishes by distracting us from our purpose. I have often heard preachers tell that if satan can’t make us stumble then he will attempt to make us ineffective for God.
As I pray, often it is with questions, Lord, how do I, when do I, what should I…. And lately He seems to answer with His calming peace, speaking to my heart. Be still, and know that I am God. When our world is turned upside down and nothing seems to work, it is time to just sit quietly in the presence of the Lord and know He is there. It is in these times that He gives me peace and tells me to just wait on Him. It is that peace that surpasses all understanding. It is calm and comfort in the midst of the storm.
It is His answers that teach me to trust in Him, not myself.
Lord, how do I…. Be still? Sit and prayerfully listen for His voice.
Lord when do I? You don’t, He will.
Lord what should I? Not you, but Me says the Lord.
I still need reminding that I must let God lead me before I am to do, or say anything. How else can I learn to hear Him as He directs, if I don’t first learn Him, learn to hear His voice, if I don’t first sit quiet in His presence and wait for Him to speak. It is that daily building of a relationship that makes His voice more familiar to me each day. Jesus said “My sheep know my voice.” As I spend more time in quiet prayer and study of scriptures, I learn His voice and recognize Him talking to me even in the middle of chaos and turmoil. But in order to know His voice, I must first be still.
“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31
Simply walking in faith,
Ray
Sunday, April 25, 2010
I WAS AFRAID
Matthew 25: 25 “ And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth; lo, there thou hast that is thine.”
Matthew 25:30 “ And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
There are a few verses I left out that give the complete story of the parable of the talents. But for the sake of this discussion, I want to focus on the third servant of the parable and his consequences for his inaction.
In the parable all three servants were aware of the Master’s eventual return. The third servant certainly knew his master well, for the missing verses tell of this knowledge. But the key here is the first three words out of this servant’s mouth. “ I was afraid”.
Most of my life, especially in my younger years growing up, I wanted to be accepted by my peers. My dad was blue collar and I grew up in a community of college professors and doctors. Most of the kids I went to school with were the sons and daughters of these “professional” people. It was the age-old story of growing up on the wrong side of the tracks. The few that had blue collar dads were from a hard drinking, rough and tumble lifestyle that was completely foreign to me. I was an outcast. I was afraid.
I accepted the Lord as my Savior when I was 16. Over the next 35 years of my wandering and often misguided life, I slowly began to accept Him as my Lord. In all that time I have encountered many situations where “I was afraid” to speak up and tell someone about Jesus. I was afraid to invest my Lord’s payment entrusted to me for His gain. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross was His payment, the talent entrusted to me. The investment He made in me for the salvation of mankind. Should I hide that payment for myself then I am no better than the servant in the parable of the talents. I was afraid to be an outcast, an oddball. I was afraid of persecution, ridicule, and harassment. I have been afraid.
Matthew 10:32 “Whosever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.” Read on through verse 42.
As the prophecies in the Bible continue to unfold, we see the evidence that Jesus will soon return in the clouds and call those who are His own to the marriage supper of the Lamb, often called the rapture of the church. The scriptures tell us that the final 7 years before Jesus final return as King to rule the earth will literally be hell on earth.
In Revelation 3:10 Jesus revealed to John the promise of an escape for those who are faithful. Escape from the “hour of temptation” that will come to the world. Elsewhere in scripture we are told to “pray that ye are counted worthy to escape the things to come” Luke 21:36, and again in 1 Thessolonians 5:9 the promise that believers can escape the wrath to come. In the parable of the talents and Luke 21:36 there is a strong hint that knowledge of Jesus, and even belief in Jesus, though sufficient for our salvation, may not make us “worthy” to escape the seven years of tribulation. There are many that believe that salvation insures your attendance in the rapture, and that may be true, or not….
If it were true, why would Luke write “pray that ye are counted worthy”?
The servant with the talent certainly knew his master, knew him quite well. He knew that his master would return for an accounting of his talents. Yet this servant was cast out. Why? Because, as the verses indicate, he was slothful. Lazy is another word for slothful. So mindful of his own skin that fear could and did immobilize him. Too afraid to go out and invest his master’s talents that had been entrusted to him.
Oh how often do the cares of this world sidetrack us from the things of God? We get busy, and though God tugs us, we fear to step up to tell someone about Jesus. Though we may be saved, we tend to coast along on that. Luke was talking to believers when he wrote “Pray that ye are counted worthy”. Why would this be necessary for those that have already accepted Jesus as savior? The scriptures are clear that we CAN NOT ever be “worthy” for salvation. Salvation is a free gift. The Bible says so. Worthy of what then? Jesus is fast returning to claim His bride. The rapture of the church is real, though it is not called rapture in our Bibles, it is written of there. To be worthy is to serve our Lord. My fear is that many who know Jesus will be caught asleep, without investing as it were. The scriptures tell us that salvation is free, but the rapture is for those that are worthy. Pray ye are counted worthy.
In conclusion read 1 Peter Chapter 4:12-19,
Verse 12 Beloved think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you……….
Verse 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified...
Verse 19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
Simply walking in faith
Ray
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Are You Ready?
My wife and I were talking this winter about how would we have survived if we had been born in the time of our grandparents. The struggles they endured without the modern conveniences we have taken for granted. Who has not fantasized about what it would have been like to live in a different age? My wife has often said that she felt that God has blessed her to live in the most exiting age of all time. Watching prophecy unfold into reality before our very eyes.
The scriptures tell us that God knew us before we were born, that He formed us in the womb. As we were talking about this, this evening it seemed as God spoke to me. Not only did He know me as I was being formed, He selected each of us for this time. The Bible tells us that as we walk in faith, God Himself will place our footsteps. It is no accident that we live and work where we do. As we have been faithful He has placed each of us where are today.
In my prayer time and Bible reading, I have felt a growing urgency to get ready. The purpose the Lord has for my life is preparing to unfold. I have often wondered at the miraculous interventions in my life in times of danger. How God has preserved me and shown His hand as He intervened in circumstances that most likely would have resulted in my death. He has shown me that He has preserved me for His purpose. He has staked His claim on me as I have trusted my life to Him. HE knew me before I was born. He placed each of us in this time in history. We were born for today. Are we ready?
I believe the Lord is putting the last pieces of the puzzle in place. Each of His people are where He has placed us. He has a job for us to do as the closing act takes the stage. He is calling His own to get ready for the grand finale. Get ready. It is no accident where we live and work. It is no accident what school or job we go to daily. It is no accident where we shop, work or play. It is no accident, for the Bible tells us that God directs the steps of His faithful. Get ready.
As the stage is set for the final act, those who are ready will be called for the finale. Those who do not heed the call will be thrust aside, for God’s plan will go forward, lead follow or get out of the way. I believe the Lord is calling His own to get ready. Our Lord and Savior has His plan set for the final act. Get ready. Don’t miss the call. Cast off the cares of this world and get ready. Be ready to give cause for the faith we have in Christ. Draw nearer to Him. Listen for His voice. Our Sovereign God will complete His plan, and I believe that if we miss the call we will be replaced at this final act, for His plan will go forward. Are you ready?
Simply walking in faith,
Ray
The scriptures tell us that God knew us before we were born, that He formed us in the womb. As we were talking about this, this evening it seemed as God spoke to me. Not only did He know me as I was being formed, He selected each of us for this time. The Bible tells us that as we walk in faith, God Himself will place our footsteps. It is no accident that we live and work where we do. As we have been faithful He has placed each of us where are today.
In my prayer time and Bible reading, I have felt a growing urgency to get ready. The purpose the Lord has for my life is preparing to unfold. I have often wondered at the miraculous interventions in my life in times of danger. How God has preserved me and shown His hand as He intervened in circumstances that most likely would have resulted in my death. He has shown me that He has preserved me for His purpose. He has staked His claim on me as I have trusted my life to Him. HE knew me before I was born. He placed each of us in this time in history. We were born for today. Are we ready?
I believe the Lord is putting the last pieces of the puzzle in place. Each of His people are where He has placed us. He has a job for us to do as the closing act takes the stage. He is calling His own to get ready for the grand finale. Get ready. It is no accident where we live and work. It is no accident what school or job we go to daily. It is no accident where we shop, work or play. It is no accident, for the Bible tells us that God directs the steps of His faithful. Get ready.
As the stage is set for the final act, those who are ready will be called for the finale. Those who do not heed the call will be thrust aside, for God’s plan will go forward, lead follow or get out of the way. I believe the Lord is calling His own to get ready. Our Lord and Savior has His plan set for the final act. Get ready. Don’t miss the call. Cast off the cares of this world and get ready. Be ready to give cause for the faith we have in Christ. Draw nearer to Him. Listen for His voice. Our Sovereign God will complete His plan, and I believe that if we miss the call we will be replaced at this final act, for His plan will go forward. Are you ready?
Simply walking in faith,
Ray
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Am I Guilty
Is guilt a feeling or a condition? Often have I heard folks say, “I’ve done nothing to be forgiven for.” “Why do I need a Savior?” “I don’t feel guilty.” I’ve heard more than once of the inherent goodness that all people think is in us. I have to ask a question. Does anyone believe in the inherent goodness of a screaming two-year-old in the middle of a tantrum? Before a child is old enough to have been taught, what is their natural tendency? Do children have to be trained to obey or do they get training in disobedience? Ask a disobedient child if they feel guilty for hitting their sister, and unless they have been punished previously for it they will tell you no they don’t feel bad about it at all. Where is that inherent goodness? Sin comes naturally, with no feelings of guilt.
The Bible tells us that this is a fallen world, fallen from the presence of God because of disobedience, and that we all are born into a sinful world, whether we feel sinful (guilty) or not. Romans 3:10-18
Just as a small child needs to be trained to good behavior we all have the “sin” nature in us at birth. No one can claim that in order for a child to disobey he/she has to be trained to disobey. It comes natural. Whether we “feel” it or not, we are born guilty. We are born in sin.
The next question. Is there evil in the world? I have heard that certain members of congress and even the president are evil. I have heard those that believe in the basic goodness of humanity declare that former President Bush is evil. That could be debated endlessly. Would someone who looked into the eyes of four teenagers who brutally hacked a mother to death with a machete and stabbed and hacked her daughter nearly to death, be able to say that there is no such thing as evil? I looked at the photos, into the eyes of these four teens, and read the news reports that stated that there was no remorse in their behavior. It would seem to be true then, they feel no guilt. Think on that for a moment. With murder, lawlessness, drug abuse, and wars and killing, you are left with no other conclusion than there is indeed, evil in this world we live in.
“I have not done anything illegal or wrong since I was old enough to understand right and wrong” Really? What were your thoughts the last time someone barreled through a stop sign and you had to slam on the brakes to avoid a collision? I know what mine were the last time that happened to me. “If I could get my hands on you right this minute……..” you finish the thought. Been there done that. Or perhaps a man who has never committed an act of unfaithfulness against his wife, yet how often has he turned to look at a short skirt and thought of what he would like to do? Jesus said in Matthew 5:28 that the thought is all that is needed to be guilty of the sin. So again, is guilt a feeling or a condition? It would seem that, especially in the case of this murder that happened a few short months ago, that guilt is a condition regardless of any feelings. Or the lack thereof. It would also seem that there is the ability for evil or sin in even the very young, or innocent.
“O K. So maybe I do need some kind of forgiveness, maybe. But what kind of loving God, would allow all this evil in the world?”
Let me ask this? What kind of loving parent allows their children to make mistakes? Do parents not use the mistakes of a toddler to train children toward good behavior as they grow older. Or do they chain them down so they can never do wrong? Would a loving parent lock up their children to never experience the fullness of life or allow them the opportunity to make their own decisions? It has been said that if you love someone let them go, if they come back to you, then they are yours. If they never come back they never were yours.
God the father, our Creator, wants our love. Not because He commands it, but freely given, He desires it. Just as any parent, He warned of the result of disobedience, yet mankind disobeyed. The result is the sinful nature we are all born into. The evidence is beyond dispute. It is an evil world we live in. Otherwise good people have sinful thoughts that put them at odds with a Holy God. Throughout time mankind has proven that they could not be “good enough” to build a relationship with Almighty God. In our fallen state, we would be incinerated to be in the presence of God. It is the very nature of God that requires His separation from us to protect us. It would be the same as walking on the surface of the sun to try to be in the presence of Holy God. The very nature of God requires a covering of sin, a payment for sin.
A loving God, who desires His creation to love Him and be with Him, has provided a way for us to come to Him.
God doesn’t send people to Hell. Jesus died a horrendous death on a cross to pay the whole price for all the world’s sin. The debt is paid. The choice is ours. It is an evil world. There is sin in each of us. Forgiveness is offered to all. Jesus has it covered with His perfect sacrifice. The choice is yours to make. The Bible promises eternity for all. It is our choice where we spend it. Accept Jesus Christ as Savior, and choose life.
Simply walking in faith,
Ray
The Bible tells us that this is a fallen world, fallen from the presence of God because of disobedience, and that we all are born into a sinful world, whether we feel sinful (guilty) or not. Romans 3:10-18
Just as a small child needs to be trained to good behavior we all have the “sin” nature in us at birth. No one can claim that in order for a child to disobey he/she has to be trained to disobey. It comes natural. Whether we “feel” it or not, we are born guilty. We are born in sin.
The next question. Is there evil in the world? I have heard that certain members of congress and even the president are evil. I have heard those that believe in the basic goodness of humanity declare that former President Bush is evil. That could be debated endlessly. Would someone who looked into the eyes of four teenagers who brutally hacked a mother to death with a machete and stabbed and hacked her daughter nearly to death, be able to say that there is no such thing as evil? I looked at the photos, into the eyes of these four teens, and read the news reports that stated that there was no remorse in their behavior. It would seem to be true then, they feel no guilt. Think on that for a moment. With murder, lawlessness, drug abuse, and wars and killing, you are left with no other conclusion than there is indeed, evil in this world we live in.
“I have not done anything illegal or wrong since I was old enough to understand right and wrong” Really? What were your thoughts the last time someone barreled through a stop sign and you had to slam on the brakes to avoid a collision? I know what mine were the last time that happened to me. “If I could get my hands on you right this minute……..” you finish the thought. Been there done that. Or perhaps a man who has never committed an act of unfaithfulness against his wife, yet how often has he turned to look at a short skirt and thought of what he would like to do? Jesus said in Matthew 5:28 that the thought is all that is needed to be guilty of the sin. So again, is guilt a feeling or a condition? It would seem that, especially in the case of this murder that happened a few short months ago, that guilt is a condition regardless of any feelings. Or the lack thereof. It would also seem that there is the ability for evil or sin in even the very young, or innocent.
“O K. So maybe I do need some kind of forgiveness, maybe. But what kind of loving God, would allow all this evil in the world?”
Let me ask this? What kind of loving parent allows their children to make mistakes? Do parents not use the mistakes of a toddler to train children toward good behavior as they grow older. Or do they chain them down so they can never do wrong? Would a loving parent lock up their children to never experience the fullness of life or allow them the opportunity to make their own decisions? It has been said that if you love someone let them go, if they come back to you, then they are yours. If they never come back they never were yours.
God the father, our Creator, wants our love. Not because He commands it, but freely given, He desires it. Just as any parent, He warned of the result of disobedience, yet mankind disobeyed. The result is the sinful nature we are all born into. The evidence is beyond dispute. It is an evil world we live in. Otherwise good people have sinful thoughts that put them at odds with a Holy God. Throughout time mankind has proven that they could not be “good enough” to build a relationship with Almighty God. In our fallen state, we would be incinerated to be in the presence of God. It is the very nature of God that requires His separation from us to protect us. It would be the same as walking on the surface of the sun to try to be in the presence of Holy God. The very nature of God requires a covering of sin, a payment for sin.
A loving God, who desires His creation to love Him and be with Him, has provided a way for us to come to Him.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”John 3:16 & 17.
God doesn’t send people to Hell. Jesus died a horrendous death on a cross to pay the whole price for all the world’s sin. The debt is paid. The choice is ours. It is an evil world. There is sin in each of us. Forgiveness is offered to all. Jesus has it covered with His perfect sacrifice. The choice is yours to make. The Bible promises eternity for all. It is our choice where we spend it. Accept Jesus Christ as Savior, and choose life.
Simply walking in faith,
Ray
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