Today, we can look at the world we live in and see that it is a world full of wickedness. We can also see that everyone does what is right in their own eyes. We can see that the times we live in are very much like the times that existed in the time that the book of Judges was written.
Today, our sons and our daughters are going to be given to our enemies. Today, more children die, because of abortion than in the two World Wars combined. Today, you have women ruling over us. Today, you have women involved in every sphere of life but often not the one they are supposed to be involved in. Today, you have men taking care of the children at home while the women are providing for the family in the work place. Look around you. The World is fallen. The lives of your children and your children's children are at stake.
Do you want to know why we are in the state we are in? Man stopped regarding the Word of God. Man stopped regarding the Sabbath as Holy. Man exalted themselves against the knowledge of God. As a dog returns to its own vomit, so have you returned to your former sins. I read in the Old Testament about Saul being chosen as king and the warning that Samuel gives the people. The warning he gives sounds a lot like the situation we are in today. We have rejected God from ruling over us. ( 1 Samuel 8 )
The remedy is to return to the Lord. We must study the Scriptures to know the Lord. Calvin said in his Institutes: when you love someone, you want to know about them and you want to hear about them and you want to be with them. He then says that, we must be this way with God. If you love God, you will want to learn about Him, you will want to be with Him, and you will want to hear about Him. You must study the Scriptures. "The Bible was written for our learning that we through comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." I beg you to study the Scriptures. Everyone of my posts before hand has been written concerning returning to the Lord and making Him the most important part of our lives.
I do believe that persecution is on its way. The only way to survive persecution and brain washing is through the strength of God given to you and through the Word of God stored up in your hearts. If you want encouragement for life, it can be found in the Scriptures. Please study the Word of God and pray to God that He may give you understanding. ( 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. ( James 1 : 5 ))
The Lord be with you as you endeavor to know the Word of God and to study it so that you may have a close relationship with God. The Lord has revealed Himself to us through the Scriptures. We must study them. Soli Deo Gloria.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Prayer
Prayer is a vital point to the Christian's life. Prayer is a privilege given to us by God. Prayer is esteemed highly in the Scriptures. Prayer is that blessing with which we communicate with God. Prayer allows us to have a close walk with God. Prayer allows us to take our every need to God's ear. The Lord even said, "Pray without ceasing."
In the Scriptures, we see incredible examples of prayer for us to follow. In the Old Testament, we see Abraham conversing with God. Though this conversing was in person, yet what Abraham is doing is what we do when we pray. When we pray, we must realize that we are in the presence of our Lord even as Abraham was, though we can't see Him. This is no more illustrated as in the prayer of Elijah. Elijah prayed and the fifty men were consumed by God. He prayed at another time and the sacrifice was eaten up. This shows that we do indeed have not a God that is afar off, but a God that is near. As David said, "Thine ear is attended unto my cry." Jacob also shows us, perhaps more powerfully, than the story of Elijah that we are in the presence of God when we pray. I heard a sermon once in which the pastor said, "As Jacob wrestled with God for a blessing, so must we wrestle with God in prayer." It was said of William Burns, "He spent his life at the Mercy Seat of Jesus Christ." In other words, he lived on his knees in the presence of the Lord of Host. He as a priest unto his God, went into the Holy of Holies and dwelt at the mercy seat that is upon the altar.
In the New Testament, we are taught by our Lord how to pray. The Lord gives us examples of prayer through Himself. We see Him praying the High Priestly prayer. We also see Him steeling away to spend time praying to His Heavenly Father. Jesus Christ was an incredible leader and shepherd of His people. Whenever He commanded His people, He gave them examples that they should follow. I ask you this day to spend your life in communion with God even as our Lord did. You can not do this, if you do not pray.
Also in the New Testament, we are commanded to pray for our leaders and for those that are in authority. We live in a day in which we have leaders ruling over us that do not know the Lord. This should send us to our knees more than ever. If you want to see a reformation, get on your knees. If you want to see the lives of you relatives turned toward God, get on your knees. If you want to live in communion with God, get on your knees. The Bible says, "the effective fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." God wants us to lean on Him and to trust in Him and we can not fully do this, if we do not spend our life on our knees in prayer to the One that gave us life.
In previous posts, I spoke of how we are to redeem the time. Prayer is exceedingly important to redeeming the time. We must dedicate our time to the Lord. I would suggest dedicating each day to the Lord when you wake up each morning. I would also suggest asking the Lord's blessing on the next day each night. By doing this, you are bringing your focus back to the Lord.
I ask you this day to labor diligently in prayer. I ask you because the Lord commanded you to do these things. I ask you to go to your God in prayer. Soli Deo Gloria.
In the Scriptures, we see incredible examples of prayer for us to follow. In the Old Testament, we see Abraham conversing with God. Though this conversing was in person, yet what Abraham is doing is what we do when we pray. When we pray, we must realize that we are in the presence of our Lord even as Abraham was, though we can't see Him. This is no more illustrated as in the prayer of Elijah. Elijah prayed and the fifty men were consumed by God. He prayed at another time and the sacrifice was eaten up. This shows that we do indeed have not a God that is afar off, but a God that is near. As David said, "Thine ear is attended unto my cry." Jacob also shows us, perhaps more powerfully, than the story of Elijah that we are in the presence of God when we pray. I heard a sermon once in which the pastor said, "As Jacob wrestled with God for a blessing, so must we wrestle with God in prayer." It was said of William Burns, "He spent his life at the Mercy Seat of Jesus Christ." In other words, he lived on his knees in the presence of the Lord of Host. He as a priest unto his God, went into the Holy of Holies and dwelt at the mercy seat that is upon the altar.
In the New Testament, we are taught by our Lord how to pray. The Lord gives us examples of prayer through Himself. We see Him praying the High Priestly prayer. We also see Him steeling away to spend time praying to His Heavenly Father. Jesus Christ was an incredible leader and shepherd of His people. Whenever He commanded His people, He gave them examples that they should follow. I ask you this day to spend your life in communion with God even as our Lord did. You can not do this, if you do not pray.
Also in the New Testament, we are commanded to pray for our leaders and for those that are in authority. We live in a day in which we have leaders ruling over us that do not know the Lord. This should send us to our knees more than ever. If you want to see a reformation, get on your knees. If you want to see the lives of you relatives turned toward God, get on your knees. If you want to live in communion with God, get on your knees. The Bible says, "the effective fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." God wants us to lean on Him and to trust in Him and we can not fully do this, if we do not spend our life on our knees in prayer to the One that gave us life.
In previous posts, I spoke of how we are to redeem the time. Prayer is exceedingly important to redeeming the time. We must dedicate our time to the Lord. I would suggest dedicating each day to the Lord when you wake up each morning. I would also suggest asking the Lord's blessing on the next day each night. By doing this, you are bringing your focus back to the Lord.
I ask you this day to labor diligently in prayer. I ask you because the Lord commanded you to do these things. I ask you to go to your God in prayer. Soli Deo Gloria.
Monday, March 9, 2009
We Must Redeem the Time - Follow Up
As I meditated on truly redeeming the time, I thought of this. The way we truly redeem the time is by loving the Lord with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, and with all our strength.
In the night, our thoughts must fly as it were to our Creator. "But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night."
In the day, you must be able to look up unto God in all that you do, and be able to say, "Lord bless me in this." We must cease from all pleasures of sin, for the Lord is our delight and our pleasure.
Be a mighty man in truth to the glory of God. Be a proven warrior. You can not do this if you do not redeem the time. What do I mean by saying "be a proven warrior"? I mean this. As the mighty men of David were truly mighty in battle and were upright, so be a mighty man able to wield the sword of the spirit mightily. All of your former desires and pleasures must be thrust through. Anything that leads your heart away from the love of God must be done away with. Did not our Lord say, "He that is not willing to forsake his father, mother, spouse for my sake is not worthy of me?" This denotes that, if you are not willing to forsake everything for the Lord, you are not worthy of the Lord.
Young men, we are told also in Scripture, "No man, having put his hand to the plough and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." If you do not redeem the time, you give rise for the temptation of looking back at the world.
I say to you look to the Lord and redeem the time. Soli Deo Gloria.
In the night, our thoughts must fly as it were to our Creator. "But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night."
In the day, you must be able to look up unto God in all that you do, and be able to say, "Lord bless me in this." We must cease from all pleasures of sin, for the Lord is our delight and our pleasure.
Be a mighty man in truth to the glory of God. Be a proven warrior. You can not do this if you do not redeem the time. What do I mean by saying "be a proven warrior"? I mean this. As the mighty men of David were truly mighty in battle and were upright, so be a mighty man able to wield the sword of the spirit mightily. All of your former desires and pleasures must be thrust through. Anything that leads your heart away from the love of God must be done away with. Did not our Lord say, "He that is not willing to forsake his father, mother, spouse for my sake is not worthy of me?" This denotes that, if you are not willing to forsake everything for the Lord, you are not worthy of the Lord.
Young men, we are told also in Scripture, "No man, having put his hand to the plough and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." If you do not redeem the time, you give rise for the temptation of looking back at the world.
I say to you look to the Lord and redeem the time. Soli Deo Gloria.
Monday, March 2, 2009
We Must Redeem The Time
Time is very precious. We are on this earth for such a short time. You must redeem the time. I read something once that said this, "Ah beloved, have not you need to improve your time--who have much work to do, in so short a time: your souls to save, a God to honor, a Christ to exalt, a hell to escape, a race to run, a crown to win, temptations to withstand, corruptions to conquer, afflictions to bear, mercies to improve, and a generation to save." You see, the christian life is a fight. If we were busy with our Father's business, would we not be like Christ. Christ was constantly about His Father's business. If we were consumed with laying hold of eternal life, we would truly be redeeming the time.
The reason I write you concerning this is that, you may die today or tomorrow or next week. Have you used your time to the glory of God? Do you know, not just think that you will hear these words, "Well done good and faithful servant." The Lord may return this hour. Time is precious. When the Lord returns, will you be found in front of a television or will you be found doing something that is honoring to your Maker? How long will you waste the day God has given you?
Do not waste your youth. You must grow your body and mind so that you may be a battle-ready christian, "watching and praying that you enter not into temptation." We are told to redeem the time for the days are evil. Are not the days we live in evil? The devil would seek to lead each one of your hearts away from God and he will, if you are not being vigilent. It is for this reason that you must redeem the time.
I plead with you to redeem the time by studying the Scripture or reading a godly book or perhaps ministering to a friend or to the needy. Whatever you do, to redeem the time, it must be done to the glory of God. The Lord be with you as you seek to use the time God has given you to His glory. Soli Deo Gloria.
The reason I write you concerning this is that, you may die today or tomorrow or next week. Have you used your time to the glory of God? Do you know, not just think that you will hear these words, "Well done good and faithful servant." The Lord may return this hour. Time is precious. When the Lord returns, will you be found in front of a television or will you be found doing something that is honoring to your Maker? How long will you waste the day God has given you?
Do not waste your youth. You must grow your body and mind so that you may be a battle-ready christian, "watching and praying that you enter not into temptation." We are told to redeem the time for the days are evil. Are not the days we live in evil? The devil would seek to lead each one of your hearts away from God and he will, if you are not being vigilent. It is for this reason that you must redeem the time.
I plead with you to redeem the time by studying the Scripture or reading a godly book or perhaps ministering to a friend or to the needy. Whatever you do, to redeem the time, it must be done to the glory of God. The Lord be with you as you seek to use the time God has given you to His glory. Soli Deo Gloria.
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