God has a Plan

Throughout our lives we have and will make plans for many things in life, some are easy such as what are you going to wear today or eat to ones that are life changing such as a job, a marriage, where you plan to live and so on.

The greatest plan we make is the decision to either follow the Lord or do things our own way.

Proverbs 3:5-6, “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.”

We that are watching today or have gathered here this day have made that decision and we have decided that God’s plans are far better for us than our own.

This book is a glimpse into Gods plan for mankind since the creation in the Book of Genesis to the New Heavens and Earth in the Book of Revelations.

At the fall of man in the garden of Eden God made a plan to restore man to Himself, Genesis 3:15, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”

Joh 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Gen 6:5-7, “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.”

Gen 6:8, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.”

God then found a man in Abraham to separate himself and who God would call His friend, the father of many nations, and of all believers, Romans 4:11, “And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:”

God then rose up the nation of Israel through Abrahams grandson that His plan of the redeemer would come through.

All the plans of the redeemer came into fruition when a young lady named Mary became impregnated by the Holy Spirit and brought forth a child 2000 years ago in the city called Bethlehem.

The religious of the day never could understand Gods redemption plan and this is why they could not accept Jesus as the Messiah, John 10:19-20, “There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?”

The entire Old Testament pointed to God planning to one day to take upon flesh, dwell among us, to one day suffer, die on a cross, then three days rise again with the keys of death and hell in His hands!

Revelations 13:8, “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

Because of this plan we are a chosen generation, 1Pe 2:9, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”

Do you believe God has a plan for you?

June 27^th the chaplain of Mercy hospital called mentioning that someone there was looking for a church that believes in divine healing. Soon after I was contacted by this persons aunt and made it a point to go visit to pray with her. On Sunday July 6^th I felt that we should take the whole church they to pray over her so we had a short service and paraded through Janesville to see and pray for her. Several of us visited her here and there to pray and encourage her as others prayed and fasted.

The week of July 27^th it seemed things were taking a turn for the worse, it seemed that plan we thought God had for her was not going to happen the way we thought, Isaiah 55:8, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.”

July 30^th the aunt messaged me that her niece was taken to the hospital, she was in a lot of pain and unresponsive and I continued to pray Isaiah 53:5, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

July 31^st I was told informed me that they were calling the family together and it seemed that would be the discussion of end-of-life plans.

But God had a plan!

August 1^st came and things changed, I received word that this lady was awake, eating and drinking, that she had declared that she wasn’t going anywhere and claimed healing by the power of God.

Monday August 4^th My wife and I went to visit her and witnessed that she was very alive, and shared how God had opened doors for her and thanked the church for our prayers and that she would be coming to a service as soon as she was up and moving!

God has a plan!

Proverbs 16:3, “Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.”

Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Trust, Acknowledge, go with it!

God has a Plan!

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It Can’t Happen Here

Isa 62:6, “I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,”

Gen 12:1-3, “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

Israel is approximately the size of New Jersey yet it is on the national news nearly every day, mostly in a negative way.

Israel is not a Christian nation as Christian only make up 1.9%, Muslims make up 19% and Judaism is 73.5%

But they since the days of Abraham to today they have a special place in the heart of Jesus as this book deals with the Jewish people throughout its writings.

Deu 7:6, “For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.”

Deu 7:1, “When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou;”

We also understand that Israel also suffered many times in history from under Pharoah who made them slaves and had for a time to control their population had the male children thrown into the river Nile. Also, when times of disobedience to God came under captives from various kings like Nebuchadnezzar. Even in the time of Christ the nation Israel was under the rule of the Romans who ruled with an Iron fist.

Emperor Nero who was certifiable blamed the Christians (most of them were Jews) for the Great fire in 64AD and burned Christians as human torches or were torn apart by beasts in amphitheaters.

In 1933 we had a man appointed Chancellor of Germany that would probably be remembered as one of the most evil men in History to date.

WW2 started in 1939 and Germany had plans to conquer most of Europe and without the US intervention it may of. Part of that was to wipe out the Jewish race as well as any other peoples that didn’t fit his idea what the perfect race should of consist of. The Jewish population was 16 million at start of Hitlers campaign after he was done the population was 11 million and today is 15.8 million.

It Can’t Happen Here!

2Ti 3:1-7, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

2Ti 3:13, “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.”

In the last 100 years evil men have cropped up throughout our World Stalin killed more than 20 million of his own people, Mao Zedong contributed 78 million deaths, Pol Pot of Cambodia killed 1.7-2 million people in 3 short years.

But that Can’t Happen Here!

Isa 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Antisemitism!

from the River to the sea…

Sarah Milgram and Yaron Lischinsky, Free Palestine…

There is a time coming…

In Ezekial 38 and 39 the Bible tells us that Gog and Magog will come against Israel and NO nation comes to her defense, in Daniel 9:27, “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”

Mat 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

Mat 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.

Don’t Say, “It Can’t Happen Here!

We are also seeing an attack on the Christian church as we are being seen as out of touch with the real world.

Did you hear about what happened is Seattle?

Next Sunday is Pentecost Sunday when the disciples of Christ tarried in Jerusalem for the promise…you don’t have to tarry

Jer 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

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From the Fields to the Mansion

Happy Mothers Day!

Mother have always been important part of the family structure and in society today many have become the MOST important as one of the fastest growing families are ones with a single mother.

47% of single mothers are black, 25% Hispanic, 14% white, and 8% Asian.

63% of black children live in single parent homes who mostly are in their 30’s and 40’s and half have never been married.

75% of single mothers work fulltime but the poverty rate for single mothers is much higher than single fathers or married mothers and less that 25% of single mothers receive any support.

1Ti 5:8, “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”

Mothers are worth their weight in gold and we celebrate them today!

We see many mothers mentioned in the word of God, from Eve who sadly was the first mother to bury a child. And we also remember our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who was born of the virgin Mary who also experienced the heartache of seeing her child crucified for us, Luke 1:30-31, “And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.”

Luk 24:1-6, “Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,”

Luk 24:10, “It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.”

We remember the mother of Moses, Jochebed, who had the faith to put her son in a basket to be saved by pharaohs daughter.

We can think of Abrahams wife Sarah have her son Issac at the age of 90. Hannah the mother of Samuel, 1Samuel 1:10-11, “And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.”

1Sa 1:24, “And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young. And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.”

In the NT we have in Paul’s salutation to Timothy 2Ti 1:3, “thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.”

Thar brings me to the account of Naomi and Ruth when Elimelech and Naomi leave Bethlehem because of a famine and with their two sons Mahlon and Chilian reside in the land of Moab.

The two sons marry Moab woman Oprah and Ruth, the father dies and then the two sons die which prompts Naomi to return home,

Ruth 1:6, “Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread.”

Ruth 1:7, “Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah.“

Ruth 1:8, “And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother’s house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept. And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people. And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.”

Ruth 1:14, “And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her. And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.”

It didn’t take long for Ruth to get noticed by Boaz

Ruth 2:10, “Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger? And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore.”

and Naomi of course encouraged Ruth to pursue Boaz and with a little wrangling with a closer relative to Naomi the impossible happened, Ruth 4:13, “So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son.”

Now by itself this is a fantastic Mother Days story of the faithfulness of a mother-in-law and the love of her daughter in law but it doesn’t end there!

Ruth 4:14, “And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him. And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it. And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.”

Ruth indeed went from the Fields to the Mansion

Through these two mothers the blood line of our savior was continued and the love is recorded in history forever…Happy Mothers Day!

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Power with God and Man

Has anyone in here done any wrestling?

Has anyone in here found yourself wrestling with a problem in your life?

Has anyone in here ever wrestled with God?

A couple weeks ago I did a message titled “What are you clinging to?”

And I used the reference of Jacob wrestling with the Angel of the Lord and looking at it further I missed something in the event, Gen 32:28, “And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.”

POWER WITH GOD AND WITH MEN!

I asked myself why and how did Jacob get to this point that something special would happen in his relationship with God and man.

If we look back, we know Jacob had a twin brother named Esau who was the firstborn entitled to the blessings from his father Issac. But his mother and him tricked Issac to giving the blessing to Jacob and as result Jacob found himself fleeing and working for his uncle Laban for 20 years.

Gen 31:3, “And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.”

Jacob then gathered his family and possessions and headed back home. When uncle Laban found out he wasn’t very happy and got together a posse to pursue Jacob. I’m not sure what his original intent was but for Labans sake the Lord spoke to him in Gen 31:24, “And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.”

Then as Jacob and the crew precede further he sent word to Esau and when they returned Gen 32:6-7, “And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him. Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands;”

Gen 32:9-11, “And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee: I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands. Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.”

Looks like Esau is going to get that long awaited revenge against his deceiving little brother so, Jacob thought a little bribery would work.

Gen 32:13-18, “And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother; Two hundred she goats, and twenty he goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams, Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals. And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by themselves; and said unto his servants, Pass over before me, and put a space betwixt drove and drove. And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose art thou? and whither goest thou? and whose are these before thee? Then thou shalt say, They be thy servant Jacob’s; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau: and, behold, also he is behind us.”

The scene is now set for “The Holy Wrestling Match of the Century”!

Gen 32:24-28, “And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. (what was so important about that statement) And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.”

POWER WITH GOD AND WITH MEN!

Jacob was able to rebuild his relationship with Esau…

I asked everyone earlier if they ever been a wrestling match with God?

Did you give up before the match was over? I’m sure on the side of that wrestling mat we will find many of souls that surrendered, some maybe at the very brink of getting that victory!

Jer 29:13, “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”

Music to me is what leads me into a place that gives me the ultimate victory in the wrestling matches I sometimes enter into.

This is my desire to honor you, Lord with all my heart I worship you, and all I have within me I give you praise…

Draw me close to you, never let me go, I lay it all down again to hear You say that I’m Your friend…

This is the air breathe Your holy presence living in me, this is my daily bread, your very word spoken to me, And I’m desperate for you

Beautiful Lord, Wonderful Savior, I know for sure all of my days are held in Your hands, crafted into Your perfect plan…Take me, mold me, use me, fill me…

Act 1:8, “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.”

POWER WITH GOD AND WITH MEN!

Many times, we wrestle with things we need to get rid of in our lives.

Act 9:1-6, “And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.”

We wrestle with many things and its not just sin, sometimes its our own self-righteousness. For me it was the standards established at a previous church I attended.

Whatever it is that you’ve been wrestling with, its time you get it pinned down to the mat. You can’t imagine what it will do for your life, it can rebuild relationships, it can get rid of a judgmental attitude, and it can even free you from the guilt you may have been carrying.

POWER WITH GOD AND WITH MEN

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What are You Clinging To?

Romans 12:9, “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.”

The word cling means to hold on tightly, and we all have things that we keep that if someone else would look at they would consider as having no value.

That is why you have storage lockers going up everywhere as our closets, attics, basements get filled up, have you ever watched the American Pickers?

It may be a tool that was passed down for several generations, a piece of clothing that has many memories attached to it, pictures of grandparents long gone, or parents, siblings, children, grandchildren, and even great grandchildren. A souvenir of a special vacation you had, cards, videos of friend and family. Our computers continue to get more and more stuffed as we need bigger storage and on and on, we go!

Memories are important to us and we cling to them very closely.

We also can cling to things that are not good for us like unhealthy relationships, possessions that possesses us rather that we possess them, and probably the most harmful, unforgiveness.

Matthew 6:14-15, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

I once heard a story of a husband and wife who had a heated argument. When the service began the wife just sat in the pew and stewed in anger, but the husband stood up and as the worship began participated with all he had which just angered the wife even more. After service she did not hesitate to call him out and call him a hypocrite because of his display. The husband just turned to her and stated that he was not angry with God just her.

It amazes me how quickly our anger can turn from our circumstance toward God, this world is not fair, but our God is always fair. God did not bring war, hate, sickness, fear, or death into this world, man did!

Jesus came to save and I have learned that when things are going poorly that I need to cling to Jesus even more than I had before!

Romans 12:9, “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.”

Joshua when he knows the time is near for his death calls the Israelites together and gives them this speech, Joshua 23:3-10, “And ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for the LORD your God is he that hath fought for you. Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward. And the LORD your God, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as the LORD your God hath promised unto you. Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left; That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them: But cleave unto the LORD your God, as ye have done unto this day. For the LORD hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day. One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.” Cling to God!

Jacob when he finally decides to return home after spending 17 years in Egypt has an event on the way back, Genesis 32:24-30, “And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” Jacob clung to God and would not let go!

When Jesus was born there was an old man in the temple that clung to one day seeing Jesus, Luke 2:25-32, “And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.” Simeon clung to that promise!

The Old Rugged Cross hymn has a verse that describes what is important in our lives.

On a hill far away, stood an old rugged Cross, The emblem of suffering and shame And I love that old Cross where the dearest and best, For a world of lost sinners was slain And I’ll cherish the old rugged Cross, And till my trophies at last I lay down I will cling to the old rugged Cross, And exchange it some day for a crown

What are you clinging to?

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The Promise that Comes with Jesus

John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

In our world we experience broken promises all the time and its not just from our politicians, salesmen, advertisement is filled with promises that when it comes down to it are downright lies. Drug companies, supplements, exercise equipment all make promises that can’t be kept. Sadly, sometimes we have family and friends that make a promise that gets broken and even worse sometimes the man in the pulpit makes an untrue statement.

Num 23:19, “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”

Titus 1:1-2, “Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;”

We find many people that God gave promises too that were fulfilled like Noah, the Israelites, David, Solomon, the Prophets, but the one that is mentioned over and over again is the one God made with Abraham.

Hebrews 6:13-18, “For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:”

Heb 11:17-19, “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

With the birth of Jesus, we have a whole new set of promises being fulfilled. In Josh McDowells book, “Evidence that Demands a Verdict” he takes 61 messianic prophecies concerning the birth, life, death of Jesus (refer to book page 167) gives the odds of Jesus fulfilling just eight of these prophecies is 10 to the 17^th power.

Let’s look at this promise Jesus made to His disciples.

Luke 24:44, “And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.” Luke 24:49, “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”

Act 2:32-33, “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.”

Act 2:39, “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”

2Corinthians 1:19-22, “For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea. For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.”

Promises that come with Jesus includes Peace, Joy, Comfort, Hope, and Eternal life that comes with a reunion

John 14:2-3, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

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Thankful for the Scars

John 20:27, “Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.”

Jesus, even after His resurrection still possessed the scars He received during His trial.

I don’t know if when we see Jesus in heaven if he will still have those scars but in the book of Revelations when referring to Israel it is written that they will look upon Him who they had pierced.

Who in here does not have a scar on their body?

Who in here does not know the story behind that scar?

I’ve had many and I know the story behind every single one (bicep, hand, finger, eye, knee, chin, abdomen, thumb).

But we also have scars that cannot be seen that have more of an impact on us than any of those scars that we can see.

Luke 5:27-32, “And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. And he left all, rose up, and followed him. And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them. But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners? And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Can you imagine the label this man named Levi had carried, the tax man doesn’t get much of liking in our day, can you imagine the scars they carried back then, a publican and a sinner. I’m not afraid to say that I am not whole, but in need of a physician, because I’m a sinner.

But these are the ones God chooses, in Matthew West song “Broken Things” he has a verse that says “That its never the perfect, its always the ones with the scars you use”.

1 Corinthians 1:25-29, “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.”

We can look at those that Jesus chose to take His message of salvation to the world and none would have been the first choice of the religious world today. They were men with callouses on their hands, the look of people that have been out in the wind and storms providing a living for their families. Their speech wouldn’t be as eloquent as those who that find themselves on the airways today.

Luke 14:16-24, “Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.”

Most of us in here if not all of us were not born into this faith, we were found on the streets, we’re poor in spirit if not in the physical, were maimed (scarred), halt and blind. But when we heard the good news, it drew us to Him and though we weren’t much, Jesus accepted us and gave us a promise of life and that more abundant than we ever had.

Probably the main reason God choses the foolish is that there is one thing that God does not take fondly to, PRIDE!

I am a man with many scars that you cannot see and some I have to admit are not healed, but that has given me such a love for Christ and His people that I will go to the ends of the earth for anyone of you.

When I put many of these messages together, its not me speaking, it’s Jesus Christ speaking through me. I’m simply amazed at how things have happened in my life, how God has put certain people in my life, how He has opened doors to me, and I’m not the only one here that can say that.

Many in here including me have been through a lot and when someone I going through a trial that they think they cannot endure, we are the testimony that says that you can make it.

Do you have scars? Then let God use them to further His kingdom!

Isaiah 53:4-5, “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

We are indeed the foolish of this world and that’s a great thing!

Be thankful for the scars.

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Occupy Until I Come

Luke 19:9-13, “And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.”

We all agree in here that we are very near the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and are excited that we are part of His Kingdom.

In the meantime, we are required to “Occupy” but what does that mean? Do we just sit idly by and let the world go down the toilet?

The word “occupy” means in the Greek “to busy oneself with, that is, to trade”. So, the word itself tells us that we are not supposed to just show up once a week for service then do your own thing the rest of the week.

After we have come to Christ, we have several things to do to increase the Kingdom of God, we all know there is no greater joy than being part of someone coming to Christ. Matthew 28:19, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”

Romans 10:13-15, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”

To be a good witness of the Gospel, we need to be able to share what it says, 1Peter 3:15, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” 2Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

To “occupy until He comes” we also need to be a people that pray, prayer is defined by Miriam-Webster is, an address (such as a petition) to God or a god in word or thought.

Luke 18:1, “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”

1Thessalonians 5:14-18, “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

We also need to keep us from being affected by this world to the point that is affects our walk with Jesus Christ, Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

The bible calls this sanctification,

Leviticus 20:7-8, “Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God. And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the LORD which sanctify you.”

1Peter 2:9-12, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation,: a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

Occupy until He comes is investing in God’s Kingdom, as we read on in the parable we can see the importance of that.

People often wonder what he highest calling from God is?

Its not preaching the best sermon ever, it’s not being a pastor, teacher, evangelist, prophet, or even an apostle. Its not sacrificing your life or giving every penny you have to the poor.

What matters is not the size of our service, but the One for Whom we do it for! 1Co 10:31, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

Jesus Christ is coming back and in spite of how evil is rampant in our world I have an excitement in my heart because this world is not my home, my life is but a vapor, a speck in eternity. They can pass laws that we have to accept things that are contrary to the word of God, they can strip us of our tax-exempt status, can put chains on our doors.

The dollar can crash and the digital currency can be forced on us, our government can turn completely communist and remove all the rights that our constitution once gave us.

This will have no effect on my worship and love for our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.

John 4:19, “The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.”

Let’s Occupy Until He Comes!

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Keep Looking Up!

Luke 21:28, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”

It’s a sad time to live in our world today especially in the eyes of our youngsters.

Children from the ages of 3-17 six million are diagnosed with ADHD, 5.8 million w/anxiety, 5.5 million with behavior disorders and 2.7 million with depression.

With 12-17, year olds we have 18.8% considering suicide, 15.7% have a plan, and 8.9% have attempted suicide.

We presently live in a time in which stress, anxiety, and depression are going through the roof, according to the American Psychiatric Association in estimated $236 billion in 2018 (before covid) is spent on major depression disorder on adults.

Luke 21:26, “Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.”

There are thousands if not millions of self-help books, motivational speakers, videos, podcasts, and the like out there that try to get us to feel good about ourselves.

There is good money in motivational speaking for in 2024, Joe Rogan has made $60 million, Tony Robbins $50 million, Magic Johnson $40 million, Daymond John $25 million, Dave Ramsey $15 million, Robert Kiyosaki $10 million, Joel Osteen $5 million.

The bible in my opinion is one of the most positive books in the world, it’s the only one that gives us a promise of a future of beauty, hope, and love. 1Peter 1:3-5, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” Sadly, it has become diluted in the eyes and ears of the world.

A Pew research poll from 2021, of the top 5 important things in Americans life, we find family first, friends second, material well being third, occupations fourth, and faith fifth, of all the developing countries America is the only one that had faith that high in the poll in fact in the total poll it only made 2% of 19,000 people polled.

Listen in this world we are not promised that we won’t suffer, physically, emotionally, or even mentally, in fact it can be quite the opposite.

John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

In the verse that we started with it comes near the end of Jesus telling us the condition of our world closing on the end of the Gentiles being giving the opportunity to obtain salvation and immediately telling us to understand the parable of the fig tree.

No matter who wins or loses the election this November you know what I’m going to do? Look Up!

No matter what happens to the stock market, interest rates, you know what I’m going to do? Look Up!

No matter how much gas prices go up or go down, you know what I’m going to do? Look Up!

No matter what the government or what laws they pass that may prohibit my worship of Jesus Christ, you know what I’m going to do? Look Up!

No matter what the doctor may tell me, you know what I’m going to do? Look Up!

No matter what happens to me in the future, Apostle Paul said in 2Timothy 3:10-12, “But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

You know what I’m going to do? Look Up!

Many in the bible went through hardships, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, David, Heb 11:35-39, “Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:”

Luke 21:28, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”

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The Contrast

When I was a kid a long time ago, I remember the color TV we had back then had to two dials, one went from 1 to 13, had a uhf setting that you then used the other dial went for higher channels. You also had three more dials which one controlled volume, another for tint and then another for contrast. I could never figure out what the contrast did so never played with it.

Now adays we find the “contrast” on everything from your tv, computers, your phone camera that you can use to adjust pictures you have taken.

Contrast, websters dictionary; a: juxtaposition of dissimilar elements (such as color, tone, or emotion) in a work of art b: degree of difference between the lightest and darkest parts of a picture

I want to look contrast as it pertains to wisdom, you have man’s or worldly wisdom and Gods wisdom and there is huge difference in them even though we apply the word “wisdom” to each.

1Corinthians 3:19-22, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;”

Nothing to me is more apparent of the contrast in mans wisdom to Gods as when it comes to the evolution theory versus the account given in Genesis 1-9. Scientists like Richard Dawkins, Stephen Hawkings, Carl Sagan, Neil DeGrasse Tyson look at the world and see no God in it and come to the conclusion that since there is no God so man evolved from an event that happened billion years ago. We have no one to answer to, so we make the decision on what is right or wrong. Bill Nye when questioned from Ken Ham on who decides what is right or wrong, he stated that it was up to society to decide so without a God to answer to there becomes no moral absolutes and if society decides something that was once considered immoral is now ok then it becomes acceptable. I don’t care if its 99.99% of this society saying something that is blatantly against this book is ok, it is wrong!!!

Man’s or worldly wisdom according to AI is a persons experience in the world that makes them difficult to deceive or shock, if that’s true it really is a scary thought.

James 3:13-18, “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”

Did you see the drag queen mockery of the last supper at the 2024 Olympics in Paris? Sensual and devilish are the least of the comments I can think of. If Genesis 6:5, “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” If that does not describe this generation it blows my mind that it will become eviler in that. The thing that bothers me the most is that this stuff no longer shocks people!

This sensual and devilish wisdom has even permeated the church as a see more and more so-called leaders of churches even mega churches needing to step down because of sin and many of those of the sexual nature. Some of us remember Jimmy Swagart but now you have leaders of Gateway, Hillsong, LexCity a Kentucky mega church that just closed its doors because of sexual misconduct.

Why?

Proverbs 1:7, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

But what about Godly wisdom?

Psalms 111:10, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.”

Fear, reverence for our lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the key to begin to gain wisdom.

We also need to acknowledge that our God is sovereign.

Isaiah 55:6-9, “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Those with worldly wisdom can’t acknowledge this and its why many will blame God for the troubles that is in this world. They cannot see any good in any suffering that happens to them or others.

Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” The word “purpose” here means “shewbread” and literally “bread of the face” the bread through which God is seen.

So, to those who of us who understand the wisdom of God we find that even in those horrible things that happen in our lives to us or those around us we can see God in it and find peace in it.

James 1:2-6, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.”

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