"Fiddlesticks!"

"Of sin, because they believe not on me;" (John 16:9 KJV)

  "Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, "You must not covet." But sin used this command to arouse all kinds of covetous desires within me! If there were no law, sin would not have that power. At one time I lived without understanding the law. But when I learned the command not to covet, for instance, the power of sin came to life, and I died. So I discovered that the law's commands, which were supposed to bring life, brought spiritual death instead. Sin took advantage of those commands and deceived me; it used the commands to kill me. But still the law itself is holy, and its commands are holy and right and good. But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my death? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation to death. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God's good commands for its own evil purposes." (Romans 7:7-13 NLT)

 It might seem like somewhat of a stretch, but the whole reason that there is any sin at all, is because we have been born in sin, thus we have a sinful nature. You really don't need to teach a child to sin, any more than you need to teach them to cry; they cry as soon as they get that first pat on the butt, it is just a natural reaction. 

 This is basically the way things are: God will tell us what we must do, and then we sin by not doing what He says; even if it was our intention to do it His way, yet we don't listen, and do it some other way! There is really only one way that we can be set free from all of this: Just believe on Jesus and the power of the cross! What's so hard about that! 

 Well, it is hard for some, maybe more than some; how about most! Even those within the church; as it is, 70% of born-again Christians believe that other religions can lead to heaven. That means that only three in ten, born-again Christians, believe in what Jesus said about Himself, as the only way to eternal life! Only 30% of believer's actual believe how important it is to accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior! 

 Still, that is only one side of this coin, because on the other side, we have those who still think we can have our own victory over sin. They start out fresh, by being washed by the blood; to be tormented and confused by trying to keep the law, as if it were something they can do on their own. If you couldn't keep it when you were unaware of sin's power, what makes you think you can keep it now? 

 We might not sin as much as we once did, but we still sin, in one way or another... 

"So the trouble is not the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am too human, a slave to sin. I don't really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can't. I want to do what is good, but I don't. I don't want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do want I don't want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it." (Romans 7:14-20 NLT) 

"To Call to Account"

 "And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:" (John 16:8 KJV)

  "But if all of you are prophesying, and unbelievers or people who don't understand these things come into your meeting, they will be convicted of sin, and judged by what you say. As they listen, their secret thoughts will be exposed, and they will fall to their knees and worship God, declaring, "God is truly here among you."" (1 Corinthians 14:24-25 NLT)

 Keep looking up, is the thyme for today's message; although the title may say something different, the main context of what needs to be said, is about accountability and which direction our lives are living towards. Back in the Eighties, we had bumper stickers that had rainbows, and said things like, "Jesus Lives," or "Praise the Lord." 

 What a different world we live in today, where the rainbow is now a symbol of something else; as if it is now saying, "Don't judge us," or "We can do what we want." There was another bumper sticker I can recall, that had a school of fish that were swimming in one direction, and one fish swimming in the other direction, and it said, "Go Against the Flow!" 

 I might be listening to too many messages during the day, so my thoughts are scattered in all sorts of directions. But this one thing is sure, God will hold everyone to account for this assault upon all of the children; just you wait and see! Pastor Mike made a comment the other day, saying how the Bible was not clear about why God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, but he was certain that it involved some pretty seriously wicked sexual sins.  

 How far will people go, before it is too much and too far? Solomon said, "There is nothing new under the sun," as if there is nothing new. He is speaking about the human heart, not about the invention of new technology or the things we consume; it is the human heart that does not change under the sun, meaning, the actual sun, which is the source of light to those who are earth dwellers! 

 But those of us who are in Christ, there is a different Light we live under; for us, He makes all things New; everything changes, we have been transformed from death to life...

"Enoch, who lived in the seventh generation after Adam, prophesied about these people. He said, "Listen! The Lord is coming with countless thousands of his holy ones to execute judgment on the people of the world. He will convict every person of all the ungodly things they have done and for all the insults that ungodly sinners have spoken against him." These people are grumblers and complainers, living only to satisfy their desires. They brag loudly about themselves, and they flatter others to get what they want. But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ said. They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires. These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God's Spirit in them. But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God's love." (Jude 14-21 NLT) 

"Bringing Us Together"

 "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you." (John 16:7 NLT)

  "All of this is for your benefit. And as God's grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory. That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever." (2 Corinthians 4:15-18 NLT)

 There is something that we have in common, all of us that are God's children; we all have the Holy Spirit living in us, and we can see right away, one another as brothers and sisters. It is really not uncommon for us to meet someone for the first time, yet feel as though we have known each other all our lives. This is because the New Life we have been given is connected to theirs; as we are all members of His body. 

 That might be one of the greatest things we get to celebrate, here on this earth, that we are not alone, no matter how odd you might feel, there are always fellow believes; and if you have none close by, you can still be comforted by the Holy Spirit's presence. I hope you feel that way too, because there are just too many things that go wrong in this world, we need something to help to keep us pushing forward. 

 I heard something last night that I might not have agreed with, at least not as it was presented. The point was about the chance we might have to give a fellow believer hope, when they might feel as though there is no hope. As it is, if someone is suffering and feels as though their life is over, letting them know that this is not the end, and that a greater life awaits, is something I believe is the greatest cure for not having hope. 

 Then again, if you are still wanting to be connected to this world, then showing you the hope that is on the other side, may not be the greatest answer to what concerns you. In that case, you might try to ask God to at least give you some peace, knowing that the joy you lack, will come tomorrow! At least that is my thought on the matter. 

 Jesus has given us all that we need to be victorious and strengthened; but all that He has given us has no use, if we don't allow Him to work through us. This is our choice, not anyone else's; no one can tell you what you must do, because the Spirit within us knows more than we know, and He surely knows more than someone else. 

 If you need an example of that, Paul gives us a great example, as he refutes the prophet's warning to go to Jerusalem. Even though the man was telling the truth, the context given was to stop Paul from going; but the Holy Spirit gave Paul comfort to go, even though he might get killed by going...

"Several days later and man named Agabus, who also had the gift of prophecy, arrived from Judea. He came over, took Paul's belt, and bound his own feet and hands with it. Then he said, "The Holy Spirit declares, 'So shall the owner of this belt be bound by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem and turned over to the Gentiles.'" When we heard this, we and the local believers all begged Paul not to go to Jerusalem. But he said, "Why all this weeping? You are breaking my heart! I an ready not only to be jailed at Jerusalem but even to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus." When it was clear that we couldn't persuade him, we gave up and said, "The Lord's will be done."" (Acts 21:10-14 NLT) 

"Whether Report"

 "But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart." (John 16:6 KJV)

  "That same day two of Jesus' followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. But God kept them from recognizing him. He asked them, "What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?" They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, "You most be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn't heard about all the things that have happened there the last few day." "What things?" Jesus asked. "The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth," They said. "He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people."" (Luke 24:13-19 NLT)

 Whether you know this or not, but that day, as horrible as it looked, was the most powerful work of God, to reconcile the world back to Himself! That is the thing missing out of the report given as if the man which was crucified on the cross was just a prophet or a great teacher. Jesus came, doing the Father's work, from the cradle to the grave, He made it His business to do the Father's work! 

 There is something about what Jesus is telling His disciples, much of which we currently deal with, day by day, without even realizing how it looks; as if the God we serve doesn't have any control, we make it our business to complain about the things that happen. I feel guilty of such sadness, as if my complaints can actually make a difference. Being full of joy, that might make the difference! 

 The point Jesus was making, "None of you asked where I was going," was to show how they had held back from asking, because it was too sad of an issue to discuss. When in reality, it was great news! It was God's plan being worked out, and everything was going exactly as planned, just a written! We see the things happening in the world, thinking that the devil is winning over the will of God; but God's will cannot be undone or stopped, because He alone is God, the One that allows and makes things happen! 

 Whether we continue to live or we die, as long as we abide in Christ, we have the same finish! That is my report, and I am sticking to it...

"Sing out your thanks to the LORD; sing praises to our God with a harp. He covers the heavens with clouds, provides rain for the earth, and makes grass grow in mountain pastures. He gives food to the wild animals and feeds the young ravens when they cry. He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse or in human might. No, the LORD'S delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love." (Psalm 147:7-11 NLT) 

"Home!"

 "But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of asketh me, Whither goest thou?" (John 16:5 KJV)

  "Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. The Son radiates God's glory own and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven." (Hebrews 1:1-3 NLT)

 This was the main verse used to prick my heart, the wonderful day, back in September of 1981. Along with a few others, all of which pointed to Jesus Christ as the Creator, the One who stepped down from heaven, in order to die upon the cross for you and me. That pretty much rocked my world! 

 It has been said that heaven is really all around us, we just can't see it, as it is in another time-domain. Not sure if that is true or not, but I do believe that there is a Heaven; and I believe with all of my heart, that is where I will be when I depart this earth. We must hold onto that belief, as it is to be, and must currently be, the place that we call home! 

 If anyone doesn't believe that heaven is your home, but you believe in Jesus, then you truly need to get a grip, because this world is not where you belong. Once upon a time, I believed that this was going to be my home, a new earth that would be Paradise. That is what I was taught, having been raised in the J.W. religion, where only a few get to go to heaven, the rest, more common among us, get to stay here on earth and eat fruit and vegetables.

 Something to think about, as much as I love to eat meat, I wonder if that actually is a thing in heaven. Does it even matter? No! I know that there will be eating, because there will be fruit; but anything else, is really not something that I am all that concerned about, because I get to be with Jesus! 

 I was listening to Pastor Richard yesterday morning, and it sounded like he was getting a little choked up, as he was sharing about Jesus, who came and sacrificed Himself, that we might have life. He said something that I seem to forget from time to time; that when Jesus called me, He literally called me from the grave! 

 We were all dead in our sins and trespasses, before we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord. We didn't even realize that we were dead, but we were all aware that we were dying! This whole world is dying, and it will soon pass away. How do you like that? Those that want to say the world is going to be destroyed by Climate Change, they might have part of it right, but it won't be the weather! 

 It's not my home, so that really doesn't matter! What does matter, are the ones that I care about and want to see in heaven, where we can enjoy each other's company, throughout eternity! That's what I call home...

"But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God's righteousness." (2 Perter 3:10-13 NLT

"The Work of the Holy Spirit"

  "But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going. Instead, you grieve because of what I've told you. But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don't, the Advocate won't come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God's righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world's sin is that it refuses to believe in me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged. 

 "There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can't bear it now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into the truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, 'The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.'"" (John 16:5-15 NLT)

  "Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us? Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the they framed say to him that framed it, He hath no understanding? Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest? And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness. The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel." (Isaiah 29:15-19 KJV)

 There are many things the Holy Spirit does, most of which is to help us to conform to God's will; but most of which, is to make us more like Jesus! We need to be made more and more like Jesus, over and over again! That means, in case you might have missed it, you don't get to a place where you no longer need help, as if you have arrived and can do the rest on your own. It also means, that when you have come to the place where you can live like Jesus, you will find that there are other things that show up in you, that are not done in the way Jesus would do! 

 In other words, it is going to be a constant struggle to the very end; but the good news is, you have been given a Helper to guide you on your way! By the way, this thing Jesus says, "There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can't bear it now," it is that which we live to experience, day to day; things that are just too hard to handle all at once. If we knew some of what we might have to face, we might have not chosen to get on board, and start following Jesus. 

 There is a very big difference between Jesus pointing towards the crown and say, "They will kill you," and Him pointing at you, saying, "They will kill you". Somehow, we always think of ourselves as an exception to the rule, as if it isn't me that God is speaking about, I have nothing to worry about.

 I was able to hear a message the other day, regarding, 'The Unpardonable Sin.' The main point of the message, for those that might think they have committed that sin and cannot be forgiven, is this: If you are not yet dead, then you have not yet committed it completely, you can still be forgiven! That is totally and completely up to you! Ask God to forgive you and He will pardon you and let you in...

"If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claimed we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts." (1 John 1:8-10 NLT) 

"To Be Mindful of This"

 "But these things have told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you." (John 16:4 KJV)

  "Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, "What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created."" (2 Peter 3:3-4 NLT)

 There are some days when I just need to shake my head, wondering how things have gotten so out of control; but then I remember that it has got to be this way, so that the church can be purified and ready to go! Wow, what the heck is going on? Doesn't even anyone, besides Pastor Mike, see what is happening? 

 To be serious for a moment, we have got to do something about these things that are happening to our children; somehow it is okay that there are medical facilities in several States, that can have the right to take the body-parts off of children, without even having the permission of their parents! Since when does this make any sense? Since when does a parent have no rights to protect their child? 

 I'm sorry for the rant, but there is some serious evil being done, and it is somehow okay to allow it to happen! At least there are some countries that still have a little bit of sanity left, because for now, they are not allowing it to happen. 

 On with the other elephant in the room! We need to stick to the topic of sharing the Gospel Message! All of this craziness aside, there are people who are still looking for hope, hoping for something that actually might make sense. Crazy as it might sound, but we have been giving the keys to the door, we just need to be available to use them! 

 There are so many opportunities to share the Good News, because things happening all over that many people can't believe are actually happening! But the Bible says that it would happen, and that makes perfect sense! Not everyone will listen, as we should expect; but there are some who will, and it is up to us to share the truth with them. 

 It reminds me of the starfish story; the one about the man walking down the beach, throwing starfish into the water, here and there, he picked one up and threw it into the water. Someone saw him, asking him, 'Why do you bother doing that? There are thousands of starfish that are going to die, how does it matter that you throw a few of them back into the water?' 

 The man picked one up and threw it, saying, "It mattered to that one!" Let's try to be about our Father's business...

"So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, "Come back to God!" For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be an offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. As God's partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God's kindness and then ignore it. For God says, "At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you." Indeed, the "right time" is now. Today is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 5:16 - 6:2 NLT) 

"Understanding"

 "And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me." (John 16:3 KJV)

  "With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you both in person and by letter. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say." (2 Thessalonians 2:15-17 NLT)

 Basically, it all comes down to us, those who know the truth! We really don't need to be surprised by the things we face, such as those things that Jesus said would happen, because He said they would happen, and we know the truth. It will be by the testimony of the way we react that we show our faith is real, not the way we try to defend or stand up for what we know to be true.

 As you should know by now, those that make the most noise and create the biggest disorder, are the ones that are opposed to the truth; we surely don't want to be associated with them! Our fight is not with them, because they really don't know any better; their motivation and will is driven by feelings, not by truth, so they are easily control by movements. 

 There are some simple things that Jesus is telling His disciples, most of which they will not truly understand until after His resurrection. But they will get it right, because they will know the truth! If you know the truth, and you know it is the truth, then there is nothing on this earth that can persuade you otherwise, absolutely nothing, not even death! 

 Other than that, we must love one another and declare the Gospel message, especially in the midst of any trial or tribulation! Only then, will some that live by feelings, begin to understand...

"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all." (2 Thessalonians 3:16 NLT) 

 

"Trust and Obey"

 "They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service." (John 16:2 KJV)

  "The LORD says, "I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help. I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for me. I said, 'Here I am, here I am!' to a nation that did not call my name. All day long I opened my arms to a rebellious people. But they follow their own evil paths and their own crooked schemes. All day long they insult me to my face by worshipping idols in their secret gardens. They burn incense on pagan altars. At night they go out among the graves, worshipping the dead. They eat the flesh of pigs and make stews with other forbidden foods. Yet, they say to each other, 'Don't come too close or you will defile me! I am holier than you!' These people are a stench in my nostrils, an acrid smell that never goes away."" (Isaiah 65:1-5 NLT)

 Well, here we go, making a mess of the way things were, looking to make everyone happy, while at the same time, causing God to make a fist! The ones that do not have a say in this matter are the ones that say that things aren't right. If you say it's not right, then you will be judged as a wicked and hateful person; someone that will be despised and thrown out, from your work, your social groups, and even your church! 

 Don't think it won't happen, because it is already happening, you just don't hear about it, because no one is reporting on it. I heard something yesterday about something that I know is absolutely true. It involved a simple thing about Christmas trees; how there are people who will judge you for having a Christmas tree in your home, at Christmas, saying how you are worshipping pagan gods; yet they grow and smoke weed, as if there is nothing wrong with what that. I have experienced that myself, so I know it actually happens. 

 What we are dealing with today, might not seem to some as such a big deal; but the problem is becoming more and more real, that many churches are starting to embrace it, as if it is a sign of love. The point of what is changing, is that, once we said, "Love the sinner, but hate the sin", today it is becoming, 'If you hate the sin, you aren't showing love.' 

 From what I heard the other day, even the Pope is beginning to embrace it, as if the time has come to be more conclusive. Well, the time has really come for the church to pay attention and stand their ground! Yesterday I had to change the station, because CSN does come through in certain areas. So I was listening to Dan, as he received a caller who mentioned that the government was making the UFO sightings seem real, so that when the Rapture took place, people would believe that aliens took all the people.

 Dan mentioned that he had never heard of that, but that he did believe it was just a hoax. The caller was partially right! It is being made more real, as if to draw attention away from God; but it is not the doing of the government, but the god of this world! He is busy doing quite a lot lately, because the time is quickly approaching!

 We must continue to trust God and obey the Word! No matter what this world might do, or how much it might change, God's word does not change, but will remain the same, always...

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled." (2 Corinthians 10:3-6 NKJV) 

"Stand!"

 "These things have I spoken unto you, that you should not be offended." (John 16:1 KJV)

  "John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, "Are you the Messiah we've been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?" Jesus told them, "Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen - the blind see, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor. And tell him, 'God blesses those who do not turn away because of me.'"" (Matthew 11:2-6 NLT)

 I envisioned a lone soldier that was standing, while all others were hiding or running away as if there is something more important than death, something that is worth standing for, regardless of how things might appear. This word, "offended," is what sparked my imagination, as it speaks of, "to cause a person to begin to distrust or desert one whom he ought to trust and obey."

 If you recall, John the Baptist is the one who first announced who Jesus was, saying, "Behold, The Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!" Yet, in his hour of despair, feeling disappointed that he has not been rescued or released from prison, he begins to doubt who Jesus is, letting his situation, distrust the One he should trust and obey! 

 Think about that, applying it to your own discouragement or disappointment. Does your mind begin to wonder that you might have been abandoned? Maybe you might think that you have sin that you are being punished for? Better yet, you might think that everything you thought was real, was just a hoax? 

 First of all, the greatest tool that the devil has, is discouragement! Yes, disappointment is one thing that might cause us to stumble; but it is easy to overcome, because there are always greater things to look forward to, beyond anything that might disappoint us. But discouragement is something that can make us feel weak and unworthy of God's love; something that we should never even consider, becomes a thing that presses into our thoughts, making us doubt something we must stand up and praise God about! 

 Secondly, and most importantly: Jesus has never promised us that we would not have tribulation and trials; as a matter of fact, He said that we would! He never promised us that we would live a peaceful life of comfort, having everything we want, and be free from any discomfort. As a matter of fact, He had no place to call His own, except Heaven! 

 This life is only temporary, just a vapor, as James puts it! There is nothing here that we can hold onto, nothing here that can give us any security. The only One who we can count on, is the One who we must stand for and make known! If you might feel doubtful, then you must refuse to doubt, and stand up and shout! That is basically called, Taking a stand...

"A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so that you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm." (Ephesians 6:10-13 NLT) 

"Jesus' Warning"

  ""I have told you these things so that you won't abandon your faith. For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time will come when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God. This is because they have never known the Father or me. Yes, I am telling you these things now, so that when they happen, you will remember my warning. I didn't tell you earlier because I was going to be with you for a while longer."" (John 16:1-4 NLT)

  "Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weened from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little." (Isaiah 28:9-10 KJV)

 If you have ever listened to Dr. Chuck, then you might have heard share about the messages between the lines, that they sometimes have more of an impact upon your understanding of the Scriptures, than the actual Scriptures do by themselves. Here in this opening to Chapter 16, Jesus is showing the disciples something a little differently, as a warning of what they will be up against, to be a part in His suffering. 

 Not that it makes much difference now, but back in the day, back when I first accepted the Lord into my life, there really wasn't any thought of being killed for sharing Jesus. As a matter of fact, I was too focused upon all the joy and peace that I was experiencing in my new life in Christ; there was nothing really that seemed negative about this new experience, other than my occasional desire to sin.

 I don't know about you, but it appears that many of the hard facts about what this life brings with it, they are made more and more aware to us, the deeper we get into the journey. The further we go, the more it becomes more obvious to us that we don't fit in with those of this world; the more we feel as though we do not belong here, looking for God to rescue us, sooner than later! 

 The one thing I remember the most, was my passion to share Jesus; no matter what people thought, I just needed to tell them about the wonder-working power of God! That was my passion, because it was all so new to me, and I needed to let it out! Over the years, the passion had settled down, and my life had adjusted into the normal Christian life. 

 As if anything about this life is normal! Each of us have our own experience with the Lord; but when it comes right down to it, until we are crushed, we never get to experience the passion of Christ...

"But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: that I may know him, and the power of the resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead." (Philippians 3:7-11 KJV)  

"Sharing Jesus"

 "And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with be from the beginning." (John 15:27 KJV)

  "For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We saw his majestic splendor with our own eyes when he received honor and glory from God the Father. The voice from the majestic glory of God said to him, "This is my Son, who brings me great joy." We ourselves heard that voice from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain." (2 Peter 1:16-18 NLT)

 I think it is time that we start getting serious about what we believe, not using it as a crutch or a symbol of something we are a part of, but start making it what we are made of, as much as blood runs through our veins! This is something that we must do, by being willing to let the Lord have full control! (This is the point I make towards myself, so don't feel as thou I am speaking to you; unless you agree and feel the same way as I do.) 

 As to the beginning, where do we begin? There are moments in my life where I remember the Lord speaking to me, but I would not listen; and there were times when others came to me, sharing Jesus to me, but I did not care to hear what they had to say. And then, there was that day, the day of my salvation, which was the day that I surrendered my life, feeling free and having the peace that could not be explained. 

 A lot has happened over these last 40 years; some things I am ashamed of, many things that I am in awe of; and a whole lot of things that I still don't understand. But this one thing I know: Jesus loves me! He has always loved me, because He has told me so! Even in my rebellion and times of living on my own; I was never really alone, because He was watching over me. 

 We need to be assured of that, because the enemy would want us to believe something else; like, that the Lord has given up on us, or that we have lost our opportunity to be used by the Lord. As long as there is breath in our lungs, we are vessel to be use by the Lord; we just need to surrender and allow Him to be Lord! 

 If you have doubts about anything, including yourself, take it to the Lord and let Him strengthen you by renewing your mind and cleansing your heart! But, you have got to want it! It will not happen if you don't really want it to happen...

""And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who ask, receives. everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened."" (Luke 11:9-10 NLT)

 

"Our Truth Detector"

 "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:" (John 15:26 KJV)

  "O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I'm far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!" (Psalm 139:1-6 NLT)

 Most of the time we forget just how much God knows or sees our everyday lives. As it is, this life is not our own, it is given to us by our Creator; and it can be taken from us, just the same. Believe it or not, but we are still speaking about our relation to the world, as to what it is that we live for, and where it is that we will find favor. 

 Looking at this term, "Comforter," the meaning of this is to show us the contrast between what we see, as to the life that is all around us, and that which shall be, as in the power of God and His will for our lives. If we are looking to do God's will, then we will find comfort, because the Spirit that dwells within us will be in agreement; if we are not looking to do God's will, things become uneasy, and we worry about things which we should not be worried about.

 Don't take my word for it, because I only know that from experience! So, what do I know? To be sure of what is real and what is irrational, we must understand what God's will is for our lives. I might not have the sense enough to figure out what to do, regarding this worldly life, but I know for certain what I am to do in my spiritual life: Obey God! 

 I am pretty sure that works the same for all of us, because it all starts with today! Every day is another opportunity to do God's will in our lives; every day is also another chance to mess it up! There is really no way for us to know what God has in store for us to do, until we actually do what He tells us to do. I know that might sound foolish to some, but that is pretty much how God works.

 There is a saying among many, as Pastor Chuck would always say: "Where God guides, God provides," which to some, it just becomes a reference for finances or fund-raising. But in reality, it means that God will provide for every opportunity; not necessarily all the resources, but the ability for us to be used. There are times when it will seem hard and unbearable, but if God is still doing a work, it is still Him working and guiding our lives! 

 That said, I feel as though I need to either change this format or find another source to post my blog from, as I suspect that my postings are somehow being restricted. Twelve years of posting, without missing a single day, might appear to some to be little weird; but as I have said before, it keeps me from quitting or giving up.

 I know my ability to quit, it happens all the time! I plan on reading Scripture to my wife, morning and night; yet, when I get overwhelmed, I might skip a morning reading, and then skip a nightly reading; and before I know it, I have skipped a whole week! 

 If you really want to know the truth: There are some things in this Christian Life that we must make every effort to do, even when we don't feel like doing it...

"Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training to do what I should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified." (1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NLT) 

"Without a Cause"

 "But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause." (John 15:25 KJV)

  "They surround me with hateful words and fight against me for no reason. I love them, but they try to destroy me with accusations even as I am praying for them! They repay evil for good, and hatred for love. They say, "Get an evil person to turn against him. Send an accuser to bring him to trial. When his case comes up for judgment, let him be pronounced guilty. Count his prayers as sins."" (Psalm 109:3-7 NLT)

 Make this a day of celebration, that we might understand how much God loves us, even though we are so far from being perfect, He still loves us as if we are! If you don't know how that can be possible, it is because He sees us as we will be! He has that ability to see what will become of us, whether it be good or bad, the final result of what we shall be, is what is written in His heart! 

 Any complaints that you might have with that, save them for when you end up standing before Him. Other than that, we will just need to wait and see, what is what! There is more to this than we know, because He if He knows everything about us, then He also knows the end, meaning, where our life will end up. 

 That seems hard to grasp, as if the life we have is already chosen for us; but in reality, the real choice is ours! Yes, He might know what will happen, but we have no clue, whatsoever! How do you know if you are going to be saved or not? You don't! Even though He knows, it is still up to us to accept what it is that He already knows will happen! 

 Go ahead and try to wrap your head around that, because it is too complex and for above anyone here to figure out! But this much is for sure: If you are given a chance to be saved, don't pass it up, because that might be the moment you were meant for making your choice! Don't let your simple mind fool you, because the love of God is greater than anything else; even time, and space, or any other thing created!

 As for this verse today, I have been thinking about this for several days, without even knowing why. It has something to do with God's knowledge of what will happen, based upon His will. Interestingly, I actually saw a message this morning at 3am where Pastor Allen was talking about the reason we should gladly obey God's will: Because His will, will happen! 

 It is really not that hard to understand, because Jesus said, "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me." (John 6:38) All the things that Jesus went through were already written about and were the will of God. Even the hateful treatment from those that knew better, it too was all part of God's will, because He knew in advance what they would do! 

 Did they have a chance to not do it? Some did, because their hearts were open to receive Him! But most of them did not, because they hardened their hearts against Him; no matter how much they saw Him do things that no man has ever done, they still became hardened even more, as if they saw that good as evil. 

 Why would God ever want to love me, when I have been so unfaithful to Him? Well, if that might be your question, then you need to know: He has made a way to save you, without a cause! Just as Christ was judged and crucified without cause, it was for that cause that we have been redeemed; and without cause for God to see us righteous before Him, because of His love for us, He has made us holy! 

 That my friend is the Father's will for you! Will you allow it to happen? Your choice...

"If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God." (2 Corinthians 4:3-4 NLT) 

"Real Wickedness"

 "If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father." (John 15:24 KJV)

  "Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do the things that should never be done. Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. They are backstabber's, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. They know God's justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too." (Romans 1:28-32 NLT)

 Nothing could make more sense right now, then what we are witnessing today. To break down what Jesus is telling His disciples, there are three basic principles of real wickedness being explained here. The first of which, is that they saw the true evidence, yet refused to accept it was true. Secondly, they knew in their hearts that they were not doing right, yet they continued to do that which was wrong. And thirdly, they became obsessed with what they were doing, hating the One that is going to judge them for their sin. 

 As much as it looks very familiar to some of what might be happening now, there are deeper, darker forces working throughout almost every form of government and commerce. This is surely the last days, but there are many who believe, that refuse to believe it. I don't think it is necessarily because they just can't see it, but their vision is blocked off by their cares for this world. 

 In the case of the Jewish leaders that Jesus is referring to, they knew the prophecies and the Scriptures, so they really should have been able to connect the dots; but they had their own power and authority, within standing and practice, preventing them from seeing the truth. Even when they did see glimpses of what was true, they refuted it, making a stronger case towards the opposite. 

 In the case of what might be happening now, it is the same! The refute that which is true, anyone that refuses to accept the lie, is the culprit, and is going to suffer for opposing the lie...

""Listen to me, O my people, while I give you stern warnings. O Israel, if you would only listen to me! You must never have a foreign god; you must not bow down before a false god. For it was I, the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things. But no, my people wouldn't listen. Israel did not want be around. So I let them follow their own stubborn desires, living according to their own ideas."" (Psalm 81:8-12 NLT) 

"One of the Same"

 "He that hateth me hateth my Father also." (John 15:23 KJV)

  "Anyone who denies the Son doesn't have the Father, either. But anyone who acknowledges the Son has the Father also." (1 John 2:23 NLT)

 Yesterday I started out my drive listening to a message about something interesting, speaking of clokes and coverings. Then, it became apparent that the message was meant for me to hear, as it finished up the discussion from yesterday. The bottom line was: 'It doesn't matter who or what changes the clothes on the man; but Who it is that changes the man within the clothes.' 

 Anywho, that is pretty much what I heard. Besides that, we do have another covering, because the Bible says that Jesus clothes us with His righteousness; so, if you really want to get technical, we do have a new set of cloths, that cannot be taken away from us! Regardless of what might happen, the main One that will be looking at us, is the Father; He is the One that matters, when it comes to our condition, whether we are righteous or not. 

 Another part of that message is, from Pastor Jeff, was that the only one he knows for sure is saved within the congregation, is himself; because no one can judge whether or not someone else is going to heaven. We all are responsible for our own standing with God, it is between you and the Lord, as to what is really true within your heart. 

 As I have said before, growing up in the J.W. teaching, for most of my childhood, it is easy for me to remember how Jesus was really not given much respect; at least not directly! The reason I say that, is because they worship Jehovah, but do not really understand who Jehovah God really is! They call themselves Jehovah Witnesses but refuse to witness the Jehovah of the Bible! 

 That is actually a pretty big deal, because it basically means: THE LORD IS SALVATION, which is the equivalent to the I AM, which basically means, "the non-changing eternal one". How about that? The Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End; He who does not change, "The same, yesterday, today, and forever." Wonder who that might be! JESUS...

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday. today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8 NLT) 

"Spotlight"

 "If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin." (John 15:22 KJV)

  "But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ's triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?" (2 Corinthians 2:14-16 NLT)

 If this seems right, then it is the truth, and should be handled as that which we stand by, as if there is no denial in our hearts, regarding the message Paul is trying to convey. After all, Paul should no better than most, as he once was one of those offended by Christ, hating the message and the whole idea of why Jesus came! 

 The problem with those who are hiding behind religion, is that they feel protected by something that is actually just a cloke; which, in case that doesn't seem like it might do something, to those that think it does, it is much like a mantle or a shawl, worn over the coat or outer garment as if it provides some sort of protection. In the case of those trapped in religion, it is the sign of anointment or standing as if the type or color of the cloke gives a hint of spiritual purity. 

 That is what Jesus means, as they wear this cloak, or cloke, as if they are protected by the religion that they are a part of; when in reality, there is really nothing protective about it, because once their sin is revealed to them, that sin is within them, not something that is from without! You cannot cover up that which is within you! 

 Isn't that how we come to understand the sins that remain within our lives? The way we hind those sins, which are our own, is by making them shine on others, to take the focus off of ourselves. Just a little Christian secret, something that is obvious and covered over at the same time. When God speaks into our hearts about a certain sin, we instantly ignore that it might be us, thinking upon whom that God might be talking about. 

 The whole point of what we should be about, is to be aware of sin, searching within, asking for God to cleanse our hearts and purify our minds. That life-giving perfume is the anointing that comes from accepting God's grace, and knowing how much we need His mercy! 

 Thank Him when He reveals something hidden within your heart, and plead that He will help you to be rid of it! This is what He reveals those things for, so that we can draw closer and closer to Him...

"You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ's authority, knowing that God is watching us." (2 Corinthians 2:17 NLT) 

"They Know Not God"

 "But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me." (John 15:21 KJV)

  "No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God - his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, "No eye has not seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him."" (1 Corinthians 2:7-9 NLT)

 Some day we might see how important this is; having been a Christian for all these years, I seem to forget how easy it is not to believe those things, that I know are real and true today. Looking back, I wonder how I might have missed it; but then, I have become aware, you don't have the eyes to see, what you cannot touch! More importantly, it is what touches you! 

 Yes, it's true! All those things they speak about, having been touched by God, they cannot be explained in any form, that can make any sense, because God needs to first touch your heart, to let you know Him! If that sounds a little one-sided, it is really not; God will come to every heart, at one time or another; they will either open up their heart, or they will harden it; the choice is totally our own, as to what we do. 

 By the way, just in case the news has not yet been told, in case you have not yet heard it; last night, while I was trying to sleep, yet also trying to listen, I saw a small clip of our current President, as he said, "We will use the Constitution to ensure that Trump does not get back into the White House." Excuse me for being out of the loop, but since when is this okay? 

 Maybe is was just a dream, and it was something I imagined. Then again, if you might not know this, the ruler of the world, much like those he controls, likes to brag about some of his schemes, as if to make himself feel more powerful and mighty. Just saying...

""How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning! You have been thrown down to the earth, you who destroyed the nations of the world. For you said to yourself, 'I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God's stars. I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north. I will climb the highest heavens and be like the Most High.'"" (Isaiah 14:12-14 NLT) 

"Remember"

 "Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also." (John 15:20 KJV)

  "So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trails will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold - though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world." (1 Peter 1:6-7 NLT)

 There are some things which we tend to forget, while it should be obvious, it sort of disappears when we take it personal, forgetting that it is pretty much expected. Seriously, this is real, and it cannot be a thing we tend to forget: If they persecuted Christ, who did nothing wrong, but share the Father's love; then who are we to expect that nothing should be happening to us? 

 Maybe I should rephrase that, because it seems to be a little weak and unambiguous! How about the fact that we suffer more, the more we become like Jesus? The more we sacrifice and move away from the things of this world, the more we are finding ourselves in the fire. Which, believe it or not, is a good thing! 

 We might not think of it as so; and surely, those around us will not see it as so; but the fire of trials is what purifies and cleanses us from the filth of this world. We don't even realize how much of the world's filth has been stuck on us, until we get into the fire, seeing things from God's point of view. But that is the direction we need to be looking from, which is where we become, once we remember His words! 

 As many of you know, as I have shared, Marianne and I are coming up to the 20th anniversary of her surgery, which was August the 12th, 2003. We were married on July 31st, 1982; so technically, we will have been married longer during the worse, then we were during the better! Not that this is the worse, because I am more dedicated to loving her now, then ever! 

 These days, the days drawing closer to our anniversary, they cause me to share more about what is happening, than the most other times of the year. It is really hard to describe it, but there are quite a few people I talk to that are not very kind towards me, as if I have done something wrong. Sometimes, I feel like that myself, as I think about what I would have wanted if it was me. 

 I made a vow, telling God that I would care for her as long as she is here; now it is God's choice, not mine, as to when she is to be taken! Until that happens, I will remain faithful and patient; looking for that glorious day when we both stand before the Lord...

"But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for his return as our Savior. He will take these weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control." (Philippians 3:20-21 NLT) 

"Been Set Apart"

 "If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." (John 15:19 KJV)

  "Then he says, "I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds." And when sins have been forgiven, there is no more need to offer any more sacrifices. And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God's house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise." (Hebrews 10:17-23 NLT)

 I find it rather interesting that the authors of Hebrews refer to themselves in the plural, as I gathered that they would. If you need any proof of that, read the verse 5:11, as it says, "There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don't seem to listen." 

 There are some things that make more sense than others; the fact that He has set us apart, isn't just to make us holy by removing all of our sins, but to show us that we belong to Him; and because we are His, He is not going to let us go! You might try to run, but there is nowhere that He won't find you! 

 That is just my own person experience, because I cannot ever get away from His presence and love that He has shown towards me! Even when I feel abandoned and alone, He somehow shows me that there is nothing that can separate me from His hand, no matter how hard I try, He will always be there for me! 

 I really hope you have that fact etched into your heart, because it means a whole world of difference to the struggles we might have to love Him as we should! As for the reality of being set apart, there is all the proof we need, in the way He speaks into our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is by His Spirit that we are given grief and comfort, uneasiness and peace, a hate towards sin and a love for the Father! 

 We might not have the strength to love Him as we should, but we can love Him sincerely...

""Write this letter to the angel of the church of Philadelphia. This is the message from the one who is holy and true, the one has the key of David. What he opens, no one can close; and what he closes, no one can open: "I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me."" (Revelation 3:7-8 NLT)