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Greetings in Jesus Name,

I don't know what it is really, but I've noticed that people have a tendency to let up on the doctrines and beliefs that they once held dear as time passes. Now, if these were false doctrines, that's actually a good thing, but that's not the phenomenon I'm describing today. I'm talking about people who for some reason let go of truth that they once had in order to accommodate their family members' or friends' perspectives or just decide that they don't want to be separate anymore and desire to pursue a more convenient lifestyle.
It's sad to see when it happens, and sometimes I have been surprised when talking to someone that used to hold a certain truth dear and realize that they have lost it somewhere along the way. But such is human nature. The children of Israel constantly had this problem and no matter what God had done for them or how many monuments and markers they established to remind themselves, they always seemed to slip away from God over time.
I think that part of the problem is that when people have truth for a long time they lose their love of the truth and begin to take it for granted. This happens in relationships too, but then when we talk about walking in truth we are talking about a relation with God. We have to love truth if we wish to keep it.

Hello,
It's been far too long since I updated this blog, but I am doing well and keeping well busy. I'm also trying hard to do the right thing even though it metaphorically gets me socked in the face sometimes! This past sabbath's sermon was about where God told Ezekiel that he would make his face like flint against those that opposed his prophesies and words from God. It seemed timely to me. Sometimes it helps to have a rock hard face when everybody's knuckles seem to be coming right at it... :)

There are two basic types of Divisions pertaining to Christians today:

* Division between the Church and the World

* Division between the Church and Itself

These two division are very different from one another but the differences between the two are the subject of much confusion, pain, and destruction. To begin with the first, division between the church and the world, is a GOOD division. The Bible instructs us to be separate from the corruption of the world and its sin. The second one, division between the church and itself, is the BAD division. It is the tool of Satan to divide and conquer soldiers of the Faith.

Here are a few bad scenarios that I see concerning these divisions:

Scenario #1: People in church desire to have certain things in the world in their lives and they do not remain sufficiently separate from the world and are led away of their own lusts into sin.

Scenario #2: Christians erect walls of division amongst themselves that are not based on the Word of God and needlessly splinter into factions base on doctrine that may stem from tradition, background, or peculiar ideas that are indefensible in the Word of God.

Scenario #3: Under the guise of removing "needless divisions" between people in church, certain ones encourage fellowship with and participation in sin.

The first scenario will destroy a church. The second scenario will destroy fellowship between God's people and eventually the church. The third, if left unchecked, will destroy all associated churches, pervert and corrupt all involved people of faith, and transform the church of God into a den of reprobates.

There is no easy remedy for any of the above scenarios as far as the flesh is concerned. God's people need to be a Spiritual people. Without wholly submitting ourselves to God's will and His Spirit of Truth, there is no way that we can overcome of these. I think that when we see these scenarios starting to pop up in our churches we need to be keen to make sure that our focus is in the right place and then take action to stem the tide.

Be watch, be vigilant, and always keep your purpose fixed on the edification of the Kingdom of God.

God Bless!

Greetings in Jesus Name!

Well, it's been several months too long since I posted a blog, so I thought I would put an end to my negligence at last. My life has been one big firestorm of activities it seems lately and I have written very little of anything. In fact, sometimes it seems that I am so busy that I have difficulty finding enough time to read God's Word and pray. But it's then that I have to remember that it's extremely important to hold fast to my walk with Christ and not get caught up in the things of the moment.

It's real important that we keep paying attention to God even when events are swirling around us. I was reading in Samuel last night about when David and the people brought the Ark back to the house of God. At first, they got all caught up in the moment and did not transport it the way that God had commanded. A man lost his life because of this mistake. But then, David called for the Levites who were ordained to carry it and told the people that now they would do things after the due order. That is to say, they would take the time to obey God's Word and make sure that they proceeded in accordance with His commandments.

A good lesson in that I think. God bless!

Greetings again in Jesus name!

Sometimes it's easy to have faith in God when you are in a good church sevice... and then hard to put your trust in Him at work on Monday. Sometimes it seems so simple to be devoted to Christ when you're among good Christian friends... but so very difficult when surrounded by sinners. Do you know what I mean? Have you ever felt this way? I have before, I must admit... but that's not the way we must walk if we want to endure to the end.. and blessed is he who endures to the end...

Jesus said, a double minded man is unstable in all of his ways. What does that mean... to be "double minded?" It means that we are of one mind sometimes and another at other times. Sometimes we think that we shall always serve God... and at other times we wonder if He even really exists... right? If you know all too painfully well what I'm talking about... then I want to talk to you.

First off, Jesus is real... all the time. Jesus can hear your prayers... all the time. And Jesus can move on your situation to work good works in your life... all the time. The problem is not with Him, it's with you... all the time! :)

Secondly, if you feel that He's so distance when you're not standing right in front of the altar rail, it's probably because you left Him there. You see, they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. That means that if you don't recieve what you need at the altar... stay there. There's a little acronyme I like: P.U.S.H. - Pray Until Something Happens... and it's true. And then go an read God's Word. Get aquainted with His testimonies every single day. The the Word of God of powerfull and if you will listen to the Words of our creator it will bring life unto your dry bones. It's that powerfull, but you have to want it. Pray that God will make you hungry. For they that hunger and and thirst after righteousness shall be filled!

And finally, remember that we live on a spiritual battlefield in this life. A struggle between God and evil. Christ's Kingdom and Satan's. When we get our eyes off of Jesus, that's when we are vulnerable. That which can be shaken... will be shaken. So keep your eye's on He who is worthy, read His Word and seek His face.. all the time.

God Bless!

Take a look into the mirror. Do you see that person looking back at you? That face that's so familiar, the one that you've watched and known from the time you can remember... it may be the face of your greatest opponent. Why? Because the flesh of man (yes that includes "man" and wo"man") loves to glory in itself. It likes to have praises heaped upon itself... and, if left unchecked, it will seek out every opportunity to receive praise, recognition, and admiration. That's right! That mug looking right back at you will do all of that... if it's allowed to.

Jerimiah speaks a little bit about this in his main book. He talks about prophets of the time engaging in the act of prophesying things from their own hearts and not from God (Jer. 23:16-17). Why? Because they wanted recognition as being men of God... but also wanted to prophesy fair things to receive the praises of the king and the people. If I could give one word of advice to people just starting out in the ministry it would be this: Get over yourself! It's not about you, it never has been... it never will be! Get used to it! :)

Okay, my apologies if I sound harsh, but the truth is that this is a really seductive trap that many well-intentioned people, especially ministers, fall into. It's something that you really have to watch out for. You may find yourself doing something for the glory of God one moment... and for the glory of your flesh the next minute if you are not careful! Remember, the human heart is deceitful above all things (Jer. 17:9), some much so that it's hard for even ourselves to know our own sometimes. Only the presence of the Holy Ghost within us and our unrelenting focus on God can keep our perspective straight and our hearts and lives in tune with His will.

Now, to underscore this remember that even the apostle Paul who wrote most of the books in our New Testament was succeptable to this. As he admitted in his epistles God left him with some issue he referred to as a "thorn in the flesh" to make sure that he didn't fall prey to this and be lifted up himself without measure(2Cor. 12:7).

So don't let yourself get in your way of being a servant of the Most High. Our example, Jesus Christ, was God manifested in the flesh and yet He didn't let the man in the mirror, the flesh, get in the way of Him doing His father's will. He that loves his own life shall lose it but he that regards not his own life on earth shall gain it(John 12:25). The best laid plans of men come to naught, but the word of the Lord will not return void(Isa. 55:11).

People who minister for themselves instead of God end up causing division rather than unity. For how can we unify to meet the divergent aims of individual men? It's impossible. We must unify to meet the common task of God, that is to be His laborers to reap His harvest unto Him.

Make sense? So next time you look in the mirror, speak to the man/woman facing you and say: "Jesus is my master and I don't work for you anymore!"

God bless.

Greetings in Jesus name!

I'm pleased to say that we had another good tent revival this year. The Spirit of the Lord was present and I really enjoyed the season of worship, prayer, and preaching of the Word of God. A lot of effort goes into something like that. There were times this year when we wondered how we were going to accomplish all that we needed to get done for it but the Lord was faithful and we were once again blessed with all that we needed.

I want to talk for a moment though to those of you who may be reading this and perhaps haven't felt the move of God personally in your life for a while. Perhaps you feel that you are going through a dry area in your walk with the Lord. Maybe you were on fire for God but now increasingly church seems to be more of a chore than a blessing.

My word to you is to get out and actually start doing for Jesus. Don't think that you can simply go to a church or revival service and absorb all that you need from God. Sure, we want to come to the services, but Jesus told the woman at the well that out of our bellies would flow rivers of living life. We've got to have that well springing up within us from the inside.

Remember the parable of the three men and the talents? They were all given something special from their master, but only those that were out doing were able to hold on to what was given. And those that did something increased what they had while he that did nothing lost what they had.

So if you're feeling like your going through the dry barren desert, arise and let that well of the Holy Ghost flow out from you and touch the lives of those around you. Do something!