11.13.2009 Day of wonder

It'd be great to sit and wonder at the works of the hand of the Lord. The awesome, beautiful, glorious and creative abilities of God. His capacity and overwhelming intelligence to hold everything in place by his very WORD. The wonders of his mighty works. The abounding love he has for his creation and ultimately mankind.
But the wonder in which I contemplate today is "Do his people really understand the SIGNS of the times in which they live".

He gave us signs to watch for in the WORD.

Matthew 24:3-11 v3) And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? v4) And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. v5) For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. v6) And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. v7) For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. v8) All these are the beginning of sorrows. v9) Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. v10) And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. v11) And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

How many wars of nation against nation are going on today? How many nations are in starvation mode, and how much sickness and new diseases abound, bird flu, swine flu, mad cow disease to name a few. How many earthquakes and natural disasters take place each week, count them?

Neighborly love will be replaced with hatred.

Matthew 24:12 And because iniquity (nothing against the law) shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

This scripture is not about the breaking of laws like robbery, murder and assault, but the LACK of things that are actully against the law. Look at today's laws. Everything is being promoted as legal and acceptable, it's the "live as you wan"t lifestyle.

Too many Christians are assleep in this hour or are consumed with self, possessions and things.

Matthew 24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe (Noah) entered into the ark.

People are all about life and doing and having. There is nothing wrong with "ENJOYING" this life. It's my conviction that God wants us to enjoy it. But not be so consumed with it that we don't look for his coming or tell others about Jesus and grace and salvation.

And the final sign of the Lord's return is:

Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Do you realize that via tv, radio and the internet that we are just months away from this Gospel being preached to every corner of the earth? This was unheard of twenty years ago. This age of technology and world travel we "LIVE" in fulfills another scripture.

Daniel 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

But I assure you he will return:

Revelation 22:20 He (Jesus)which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen.
ARE YOUR EYES REALLY OPEN!

11.11.2009 The great price payer

If you think this picture is harsh, then I agree with you. But what we must never forget is that this picture does not do justice to the torture that our Lord Jesus Christ endured for us.

Isaiah 52:14 As many were astonied (appalled, awestruck) at thee (Jesus); his visage (appearance) was so marred (disfigured) more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:

But our redemption was purchased with his blood.

Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
No this is not a pretty sight and it is hard to look at. There is a place somewhere in me, when I look at this that hurts deep inside, it grieves my very soul.

Through this price comes the free gift of God that so many people reject, the price of Jesus' death to pay the price of death and blood so I wouldn't have to go to hell.

How do we get this free gift of grace through faith? By accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
Romans 10:9-10 v9) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. v10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

It's fun to believe that our salvation was paid for by Jesus and that it was done without any bad stuff happening. That this great person came and worked out some deal to save me from certian death, like some kind of negotiation or some act of deplomacy.

But the truth is, it cost a great painful, torturous, shockingly horrendous, terrible, atrocious, unspeakable and appaling price. We who are saved should live in a way that honors such a price. This is the very reason why those who reject Jesus, the great price payer, openly choose their own final destination. Their own destiny lays squarely in their own hands of free will and choice.

Many harden their hearts toward God because they believe he will one day cast their loved ones into hell. But the Bible is clear, they freely reject Jesus and his mercy by their own free wil thereby sealing their own fate.

John 3:18 ...but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

I choose to believe in Jesus.

John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;

WILL YOU REMEMBER!

11.10.2009 Defending the Kingdom

I received the National Defense Medal from my tenure as a United States Marine, something I am very proud to be. My dad was a Marine during the V-Nam era, mine was the dessert Storm era and my son Brandon was the Operation Iraqi Freedom era. We all served our tours with honorable service
Today we find ourselves as people with with the choice to serve in an ever more important venue. The service of the Lord Jesus Christ. Most people have forgotten this most vital area of their life. It's the one place that will last for all eternity.
Romans 14:10 ..for we (the saved) shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
All who have received Christ will stand before him to be judged for our works as Christians and receive rewards for those works. That is why we live good and do good, not to be saved but because we are saved.
We are told to live in holiness, and that means putting off worldly ways and conduct.
1 Peter 1:15 But as he (God) which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation (conduct, behavior);
Christ places his holiness on us when we are saved, then it is our responsibility to live within the bounds of that holiness.
1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
Even the very appearance of anything evil is to be avoided. many Christians today live outside of this holiness, they talk a little dirty, act a little dirty and think a little dirty. There is nothing wrong with living within this world, I assure God wants us to enjoy it, but we must live in it and avoid the sinful things that will defile us. There is nothing wrong with owning a car and driving it down the road, you just can't flip people off while doing it. The same with the internet, there are a lot of good things on the net to do and learn, you just can't be involved in everything it has to offer. There is nothing wrong with a clean joke or music... ect... as long as it stays between those guard rails of clean, not almost clean or just a little dirty, remember "all appearance".
So how do we judge the things we do? It's not what you or I say or think or believe. The answer is found in the WORD of GOD.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Every person born has a future appointment to pass away from this life, unless you are here when the rapture takes place. But no man can know if he will be alive at that time.
Matthew 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
All those who have rejected (refused to accept) Christ will stand before the Great White Throne judgment.
Revelation 20:11-12 v11: And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. v12: And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
The Work God is looking for in the "book", is the work of faith in his son Jesus.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves (works): it is the gift of God
Acts 10:43 ...that through his (Jesus) name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see (heavenly eternal) life; but the wrath of God abideth on him (at the end in judgment, the Great White Throne).
There are those who say; "How could a loving God cast anyone into a hell?" God does not do this, it is every ones very own choice to choose their eternal destination. God offers everyone a way out of hells flames, how?, by choosing the only perfect sacrifice, Jesus His Christ.
Revelation 12:10 ...Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ:
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed (trust, accept) in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
God does not want a bunch of robots, that's why he gives us all the freedom and will to choose. The WORD is real and true.
WHICH JUDGMENT WILL YOU CHOOSE!