Where Was God

It seems that we hear this question a lot after a sudden tragedy or whatever kind of devastation takes place; where was God, why did He allow this to take place?  The Israelites must have felt this way when they sinned against the Lord.  I believe the God that I serve fills the heavens and earth with His goodness.  

After seventy years of hopelessness in Babylon, God told the Israelites in Jeremiah 29 that He would bring them out and what His plans were for them, and I believe this would be for every nation that would fear Him and walk humbly before Him; read  verses 11-13, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”  

God’s people were in bondage, reaping what they sowed.  Read what Galatians 6:8-9, “For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

This is a big problem, so many of us are sowing to the flesh, even many in the church, then we wonder why we reap the consequences.  I believe our country was the greatest country in the world at one time because it was founded on freedom of religion and Christian principles and values, but little by little they are being taken away and now we have shootings in our schools and in the streets, we are threatened by terrorists and people our scared and stressed to the point where the pharmaceutical businesses are booming because of all the medicine people are taking.  People seem to be un-trusting of others and the sad thing is we are getting where we don’t even trust those in our government or those that are running for offices anymore.

Then when something terrible happens we ask, “where was God when all this was taking place,” but what you forget is this you asked God to leave.  God gets blamed for so many things but why should He help us when He knows that He is not wanted?  This nation could be the greatest once again if we would stop pushing the foundation away.  If a nation stands on a firm foundation, which is the Lord, it will be a powerful nation once again, if not, it will crumble to never rise again.

It is like what God’s Word says in Luke 6:46-49, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.”

There is still hope for America and all the other nations of the world if we will do what it says in 2 Chronicles 7:14, which God spoke to King Solomon, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

I know this was spoken to God’s people, the Israelites, at the time but I know that God always seeks the humble and contrite heart, that He will not despise!! And I know that God is the only One that can heal our land.  So what will your choice be?  Something to think about and I hope you will take this seriously!!  May the good Lord bless you and yours and may you have a super day and don’t forget to thank and praise the Lord for He is worthy!!   

A Monster

I am giving a shout out to Pastor J. J. because of the inspiring message he brought forth yesterday.  He let us know the condition of our lives before God   when we were born, something I have said many times and I will say again, we were born in sin and shaped in iniquity.  He let us know how easily we could verify this, all we have to do is look at some young kids playing together and how selfish and mean they can be to one another.  He not only spoke to us about our position before God but He also spoke of God’s grace and how we need, and can find, His forgiveness.  He had a lot to say and it was a real blessing to me and many responded to the words he spoke.  This kind of message is hard to find spoken today because I guess we think someone might be offended if they hear it.  But it is like I have said many times, “it is not what we want to hear but what we need to hear that is important.”  

Even though we were born in sin and we have a sin nature and we’re basically enemies of God, separated from our heavenly Father, the good news is that God loves us and is willing to forgive us and reconcile us to Himself.  He chose to do this through His Son, Jesus Christ.  Jesus was the perfect sacrifice and He was willing to lay His life down for us, the innocent for the guilty.  He suffered horribly for our sins, being beaten and spit on numerous times.  I think at one time I read that He was spit on so many times that the spit ran down off His garment onto the ground.  When men were whipped in that day there were pieces of metal and glass embedded into the leather straps that would tear out chunks of flesh which would in some cases expose the bones and they would bleed extensively and some may have died before they were crucified.  It was a horrible way to die and it was meant to be that way; this was meant to deter thieves and other undesirables and their rebellious behavior.

But like I said earlier, Jesus was innocent of any guilt or crimes or any kind of sin, He was the sinless sacrifice for the sins of the world.  Jesus let the Romans crucify Him.  It was so hard on Him to hear the people that He came to set free hollering, “Crucify Him, Crucify Him,” and how they wanted a murderer to be set free and not Jesus when He did so many things for them; like loving them, teaching them, feeding them and healing many of them, besides setting many free from demon possession and even forgiving some of their sins.  Oh how He loved them but many wouldn’t receive that love, at one time He said this to them.

Read what it says in Luke 13:31-35, “The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee. And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.”

On top of all that just before He died He said, “Father forgive them because they know not what they do.”  But there is also great news, the grave couldn’t hold Him and death had to flee and Jesus rose from the grave just like He said   He would, praise the Lord, and because of what Jesus did we can be reconciled or made right with God.

Please read this good news in John 3:16-18, “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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”           

God is still saving souls today, so turn from your sins and put your trust in Him and receive the Lord Jesus as your Lord and Savior.  Don’t be in a big hurry; ask Him to fill you with His perfect peace, love and joy.  This is the most important decision you will ever make in your life so don’t rush through it.  This is not something you just do; this is a lifetime experience and a lifetime transformation.  Don’t think you are never going to have any more trials or tribulations, but when they come, and they will, you will have the Lord to help you while you experience them, praise the Lord.  Then find a congregation that believes in the Word of God and teaches it and start growing in your new faith.  Read the Word of God daily for spiritual food, for spiritual growth and start praying and seeking the Lord’s guidance and then thank and praise the Lord for who He is and for what He is and for what He is doing and also for what He is going to do in your life!!

May the good Lord bless you and yours and may you have a super day!!  I hope this has been an encouragement and a blessing for all who read it!!

Last Days

Paul’s second letter to Timothy talks in chapter three about the conditions that will take place in the last days, which we are living in, and he sure knew what he was talking about; all we have to do is read a newspaper or listen to the news on TV, the radio or the internet.

Read 2 Timothy 3:1-5, “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.”

Many will hold to an outward form of godliness but deny its power.  This sounds like people that are religious, like wolves in sheep clothing, sounding like they are spiritual but lacking any power, or substance, in their walk, like talking the talk but not walking the walk; being religious but lacking the main ingredient, you might say, which is Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

Read verses 6-11 in that same chapter, “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. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their's also was. 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.”

Paul said that Timothy closely followed His teaching, manner of life, purpose, faithfulness, patience, love, persecutions, and sufferings that happened to him in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra.  Paul endured much persecution but he said that the Lord rescued him from all of them.

Now read what Paul said to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:12-15, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

Then Paul said this to Timothy about all the Scripture again in 3:16-17, “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.”

There are times we are going to offend some people no matter how we speak the truth.  It is not always the way we present the truth, it is the truth itself that offends people, but we must speak the truth in love.  Sometimes no matter what you say, or how you say it, there are people that will not receive it and they may even get hostile.  This is where it seems easier to compromise and water down the Word to keep people happy, but read what Paul goes on to tell Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:1-5:

“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”

If you truly love people, you tell them the truth and not just what they want to hear but what they need to hear!!  Enough said, I have given you something to think about, may you have a super day and may the good Lord bless you and yours!!

The Battle

If you are a true believer, covered by the blood of Jesus and His righteousness, you know that you are in a battle for your soul and the souls of your brethren.  In a battle there are always enemies that are trying to destroy you and whoever you are fighting with and you may lose the war.  In a spiritual battle you may experience defeat in some areas of your life but you never have to lose the war.  If you are a true born-again believer you have the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead living in you because your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit!!  The reason I say that we may experience some defeat in our lives is not because we haven’t the power to overcome; the problem is we war in the flesh at times instead of fighting with our spiritual weapons.

Read 2 Corinthians 10:3-6, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.”

Paul is speaking to the Corinthian church, to some people that needed correction and like always he was doing it in love.  What are our spiritual weapons anyway?  First we have God, our heavenly Father who is for us and who loves us; we also have Jesus, God’s only begotten Son, who is for us and loves us and He is interceding for us; we also have the Holy Spirit who dwells within us fighting for us; then there are our guardian angels who are there with us; and besides all this we can pray and ask our heavenly Father to hear our petition; and then there is the Word of God that we can count on and we can also stand on the promises of God in His Word.  Also there are many other true believers that can hold us up in prayer.

We also need to put on the whole armor of God, read Ephesians 6:10-18, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”

With all this help we can overcome in the battles we face, for there is no power greater than what we have.  So we need to be walking in the Spirit each day, fighting the battle of faith.  

Read what Paul said to Timothy, in 1 Timothy 6:12-16, “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; that thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.”  

And now I want to pray the same prayer that Paul prayed for you in Philippians 1:9-11, “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; that ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ. Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.”

I hope this has been an encouragement to you and may you have a super day and may the good Lord bless you and yours!! PS don’t forget to praise and thank the Lord!!

There Is A Way

I believe there is a way out of every circumstance and situation we may get ourselves into before it happens to us, unless of course it is forced on us, because most of what happens to us happens because of our own choices. The problem is that many of our choices are not good ones and we suffer the consequences of the choices we make.  Then we get into the reaping and sowing and many times we don’t like the end results.

Read what Galatians 6:6-9 says, “Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

I believe this sowing and reaping includes the non-believer and the believer alike, but my message is mainly for believers; the choices we make will determine what the outcome of our choices turn out to be.  Like the old saying, “if you play with fire long enough you will more than likely get burnt.”  Take someone who gets set free of drugs, alcohol, porn or any kind of sexual immorality or whatever sin you can name; and then for some reason they choose to indulge once again in what they have been freed of because they think they can handle it or they get depressed, angry, hurt by someone or whatever the reason might be, they will reap the consequences and regardless of what takes place whose fault is it?  It is their fault.  I have read or heard it said that sin will take you much further than you intended to go.  We live in a society where we like to pass the buck, so to speak, and blame others for our choices.   This started way back in Adam and Eve’s day.

Read Genesis 3:9-13, “And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.”

If you know anything about their story, you know that there were consequences; there always is when it comes to sin.  The truth is we are still trying to blame others or our circumstances, situations or something or someone else instead of owning up to the decisions we made ourselves.  We think at times that we want something so bad and the temptation is so strong that we don’t look for the way out, then we yield to the temptation and many times when we do what we shouldn’t do it is easy to find excuses for our actions.  There are times when we purposely put ourselves in situations that will bring us down and put us back into the position of a slave and instead of being set free, the monkey is back, so to speak, and you can’t get him off your back.

Read Romans 6:15-23, “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

If you yield your members to sin you will be a slave to sin but if you are truly born-again you can resist the temptation to sin because you have been set free of sin so you can live as children of light; this is good news, we are not children of darkness but we are children of light, praise the Lord!!  Temptations will always be there but with the Lord we can also overcome them.

Read what 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

So if you have yielded to sin own up to it and don’t look for excuses for it, call it what God calls it, sin, and repent, which is a conscious choice to turn away from it and ask the Lord to forgive you and do your best not to sin anymore.

Last verse, read 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Enough said, there is freedom in the good Lord and I hope this has been a help and an encouragement to you and may you have a super day and may the good Lord bless you and yours!!