Jesus Wipes Away Tears!

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I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The first heaven and the first earth had disappeared, and so had the sea.  Then I saw New Jerusalem, that holy city, coming down from God in heaven. It was like a bride dressed in her wedding gown and ready to meet her husband.  I heard a loud voice shout from the throne: God's home is now with his people. He will live with them, and they will be his own. Yes, God will make his home among his people.  He will wipe all tears from their eyes, and there will be no more death, suffering, crying, or pain. These things of the past are gone forever.  Then the one sitting on the throne said: I am making everything new. Write down what I have said. My words are true and can be trusted.

Revelation 21: 1 - 5

When a mother wipes the tears from the eyes of her baby there is much more happening than just the removal of the tears!  When your tears are being wiped away you are almost always being held tightly in the arms of the one who is removing them.

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ here on earth, I would encourage you to imagine the beautiful relationship that you will have with Him in Heaven!  He will wipe your tears and in every way fill you with Peace and Joy forever.  The beat of your heart will mirror the beat of His Heart and it will for all eternity.  You will have a permanent place in the Kingdom of Heaven.  

The house I live in here on earth was built almost 100 years ago and it certainly does not look like new.  But the place that we will have in Heaven will be new every day!  There will be no “ravages of time” because there will be no time!

Think about a relationship with Jesus that never grows old and is not attacked by all the things that destroy relationships here on earth!  The most wonderful human relationship here on earth only touches the “hem of the garment” of what it will like with Jesus forever in Heaven! 

The best part of my relationship with Jesus is already in effect here on earth.  The most wonderful thing is this: Jesus Loves Me!  It is the title of a simple children’s song and the deepest theological concept imaginable!  Jesus Loves Me!  

“Lord Jesus, I need You today to wipe my tears and hold me close!  But Lord I am amazed beyond words to know that You love me!  How can I but follow You and give myself to You today and everyday for the rest of my life here on earth.  Praise Your Holy Name now and forever. Amen.”  

National Sins!

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Babylon's evil and immoral wine has made all nations drunk. Every king on earth has slept with her, and every merchant on earth is rich because of her evil desires."  Then I heard another voice from heaven shout, "My people, you must escape from Babylon. Don't take part in her sins and share her punishment.  Her sins are piled as high as heaven. God has remembered the evil she has done.

Revelation 18: 3 - 5

These verses state a truth that most people never consider.  Nations embrace some specific sins and are punished for it!  I suppose the most obvious “National Sin” for those of us in the western world was the persecution and attempted genocide of the Jewish people during World War II.  Of course, Africa and Asia both have examples of countries with “national sins” that were horrible.  And perhaps the greatest “National Sin” of the United States of America is the legalized slaughter of many millions of babies since the early 1970’s.

What are the sins of "Babylon" that John warned us about?  The Bible does not say what they are, but it does say that we must not only refuse to participate in them, but also escape from the punishment that is sure to come!

It is really quite amazing, but the Bible does not tell us to campaign, lobby, vote or otherwise attempt to legislate our nation’s sins out of existence.  It tells us not to “take part” in them and to escape from the consequences that will come to the nation because of them.  Does that mean that it is wrong to oppose sin in your nation?  Of course not!  But your first priority must be staying pure by not joining in and protect yourself and your family by getting out of the way as God judges that country!

“Lord Jesus, show me today the sins of my country that most of my fellow countrymen think are harmless.  Give me wisdom to identify those sins and not participate in them in any way!  May Your Holy Name be praised now and forever.  Amen.”

Tapestry of God!

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The fourth angel emptied his bowl on the sun, and it began to scorch people like fire.  Everyone was scorched by its great heat, and all of them cursed the name of God who had power over these terrible troubles. But no one turned to God and praised him.

Revelation 16: 8 - 9

How many times have you heard someone say the words: "God wouldn't do that!"  When you think you understand the character and nature of God, then anything that violates that perception of Him is ruled out in your thinking.  

These "bowls of God's anger" described in the Book of Revelation are not consistent with the understanding that most people have of God today.   If they believe in God at all, one conception of Him is that God is a kind and loving grandfather who desires that all men would turn their hearts to Jesus and be saved.  They then question why He would ever pour out a bowl of His anger on the sun which would cause great heat to scorch people like fire? 

Another view of God is that He is an awesome and fearsome Eternal Being who is ready to burn us in Hell if we make one misstep in our dealings with Him.  These folks spend their lives trying to thread the needle of making sure they do everything "necessary" for salvation.  

The truth is that God is both Awesome and to be Feared, but He is also Loving and Kind!  If you think you know and understand Who God Is, I would warn you that God cannot be defined by one aspect of His character.  In fact, you can learn something new about God every day for the rest of your life and you will not even begin to understand the full picture of Who God Is!  God is like a giant tapestry which is woven to reveal a beautiful picture.  Every loop of thread is sewn to establish one dot in the ultimate image you see.  If the tapestry was as big as the world itself, it would only show a small part of the nature of God!

Our job is to Praise God at every turn in life!  If things are easy and comfortable and life is pleasant in every way, then we must Praise God!  If life turns hard and painful and despair is all around us, then we should Praise God and know for certain that the Love of God will sustain us to the end of this life on earth and forever with Him in Heaven!    

"Lord Jesus, show me another loop in the Tapestry of God and give me the wisdom to wait until I stand before Your Throne to decide that I know everything about who You are and what You are like! And even then I may not understand You completely!  May Your Holy Name be praised now and forever.  Amen."

God's Peace Plan!

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We are not fighting against humans. We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and powers in the spiritual world.  So put on all the armor that God gives. Then when that evil day comes, you will be able to defend yourself. And when the battle is over, you will still be standing firm.  Be ready! Let the truth be like a belt around your waist, and let God's justice protect you like armor.  Your desire to tell the good news about peace should be like shoes on your feet.

Ephesians 6: 12 - 15

Some English Bible versions use the words “Gospel of Peace” instead of the words “good news about peace.”   What does Peace have to do with the Gospel?  Actually, it has everything to do with it.

When Adam and Eve sinned, they declared War on the Word of God!  Like small rebellious children  they both yelled “NO” in the face of their Almighty Father. Every man or woman born since the time of Eden has joined the original couple in refusing to listen to the Word of God!  And so sin has reigned in the lives of all men since that day.

The War against God cannot be won by human beings.  God has, and has always had the Power to defeat every plot against Him and even wipe all humans from the face of Eternity!  Instead, God proposed and carried out His Peace Plan to end the war with humans and instead of wiping them from all time, He sent Jesus to wipe out sin instead of the sinner!  That is the Good News of Peace!  

“Lord Jesus thank You that because of Your sacrifice on the Cross I can be at Peace with God!  And thank You Lord, that the Peace that You bought will last forever.  Praise Your Holy Name always and forever.  Amen.”

Back Porch to Heaven!

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In the future there will be a fountain, where David's descendants and the people of Jerusalem can wash away their sin and guilt.  The LORD All-Powerful says: When that time comes, I will get rid of every idol in the country, and they will be forgotten forever. I will also do away with their prophets and those evil spirits that control them.

Zechariah 13: 1 - 2

The back porch is usually the place where kids take off their muddy and filthy clothes before coming into the house after a hard day of play!  If the dirt is bad enough, sometimes we would get out the hose pipe and spray them with water until the worst of it was gone.  

Sin and guilt are like dirt on your clothes.  You cannot come into God’s house while still covered with the mud of unrighteousness!  It may not sound “politically correct” but God does care about what you wear when you come into His presence!  Unless you are covered with the Righteousness of Jesus Christ, God will not allow you to approach Him in His Glory!  The “Dress Code of Heaven” is the “Robe of Righteousness” that comes from Jesus Himself.

Some people decide that they would rather dress in their own righteous robe!  But that robe is like a filthy rag compared to the Robe of Righteousness that Jesus will give you!  If you approach the gate of Heaven wearing your own righteous robe, you will not be allowed to enter.  

Dress codes on earth are important because they are a picture of the only Dress Code that really matters.  When you come to Jesus with faith and obedience  He covers you with His Righteous Robe!  In a real sense this earth is the Back Porch to Heaven.  It is where we take off our filthy rags and are washed by the Blood of the Lamb and put on His Righteous Robe so that we can enter the House and live with Jesus forever!

“Lord Jesus, thank You that You not only wash my sin and guilt away by Your death on the Cross, but You give me the Robe of Your Righteousness to wear forever in Heaven.  Praise Your Holy Name now and forever.  Amen.”

Immigration in Heaven!

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I tell you that people will come here from cities everywhere.  Those of one town will go to another and say, "We're going to ask the LORD All-Powerful to treat us with kindness. Come and join us."  Many people from strong nations will come to Jerusalem to worship me and to ask me to treat them with kindness.  When this happens, ten people from nations with different languages will grab a Jew by his clothes and say, "Let us go with you. We've heard that God is on your side." I, the LORD All-Powerful, have spoken!

Zechariah 8: 20 - 23

Why do people from all over the world try to immigrate to the United States?  They do so legally, and many people simply try to sneak across the border in order to live in the USA.  In fact, as I’m sure you know the topic of immigration into the US has become a very contentious political issue between the two parties, Republicans and Democrats!

When God is kind to a country, people from other countries desire to be immersed in the blessings He brings!  

When God is kind to a man or woman because they have given themselves over to obedience to every Word that comes from the Mouth of God, the blessings are also seen by those in the world around them!  Many “would be immigrants” into the Kingdom of God want the blessings of following Jesus without bowing to the King! 

Regularly gathering with those who Love and Obey God or often attending “church services” does not mean that you are a “Legal Immigrant” into God’s Kingdom.  Only those who Love and Trust Jesus and Obey His Word are Citizens of the Glorious Kingdom of Heaven!

Unlike immigration into any country on earth, there is no limit as to how many people can immigrate into the Kingdom of God!  No one who comes to Jesus in faith will hear the words, “I’m sorry, but there is no room in Heaven for you!”  Your Visa to Citizenship in Heaven is faith in Jesus Christ!  If you trust Jesus and obey His Word, you will be escorted into your Eternal Joy with Him when you leave this earth!

“Lord Jesus, thank You Lord for the blessings that come to those who love and have faith in You!  The greatest blessing of all is that You allow Your people to be citizens of the Kingdom of God!  May Your Name be praised now and forever.  Amen.”

Power to Tell the Whole World About Jesus!

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For forty days after Jesus had suffered and died, he proved in many ways that he had been raised from death. He appeared to his apostles and spoke to them about God's kingdom.  While he was still with them, he said: Don't leave Jerusalem yet. Wait here for the Father to give you the Holy Spirit, just as I told you he has promised to do.  John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.  While the apostles were still with Jesus, they asked him, "Lord, are you now going to give Israel its own king again?"  Jesus said to them, "You don't need to know the time of those events that only the Father controls.  But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power. Then you will tell everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and everywhere in the world."

Acts 1: 3 - 8

When the Holy Spirit gave the apostles power, what were they then able to do?  Most people think the apostles were empowered to do miracles, and they were.  But there is a much more important application of the Power of God working through those who love Jesus.  It is the power to tell everyone in the world about Jesus!

The fact that you are reading or listening to this blog is a part of that Power!  I am sitting in my home study in the United States at 4:30 in the morning writing these words.  And within about an hour or maybe two people all over the world will have access to this message.  I don’t know who or where you are but I can send out a message about Jesus which is available to anyone who can get on the internet.  

I make no bragging claims about how many people see these messages.  From the statistics available from “Blogger” it appears that an average of about 50 people a day log on and see them.  It does tell me what countries see them and that number is about 10 a day.  I also put them on Facebook, but I have just learned that Facebook may be limiting the exposure of the messages to about 25 of my “friends.”

Here is the most important point.  If the Holy Spirit has given you Power, use that Power to tell others about Jesus.  Tell them on the bus as you ride to work.  Tell them on the cell phone and tell them as you sit on your front porch and see them walking by.  If He gives you the Power to heal the sick or even raise the dead, then always tell them about Jesus and how His Power did it!  

“Lord Jesus, Your Power is great enough to give us the means to spread the Message about You to the entire world!  May Your Holy Name be Praised now and forever.  Amen.”

Graduation Day!

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Jesus asked a third time, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus had asked him three times if he loved him. So he told Jesus, "Lord, you know everything. You know I love you." Jesus replied, "Feed my sheep."   I tell you for certain that when you were a young man, you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will hold out your hands. Then others will wrap your belt around you and lead you where you don't want to go."  Jesus said this to tell how Peter would die and bring honor to God. Then he said to Peter, "Follow me!"   Peter turned and saw Jesus' favorite disciple following them. He was the same one who had sat next to Jesus at the meal and had asked, "Lord, who is going to betray you?"  When Peter saw that disciple, he asked Jesus, "Lord, what about him?"  Jesus answered, "What is it to you, if I want him to live until I return? You must follow me."

John 21 : 17 - 22

Jesus told Peter the difficult truth about how his life would be as he neared the end of his time on earth.  Peter responded by pointing out Jesus’ favorite disciple and asking “What about him?”

Every follower of Jesus has a different set of sufferings that he or she will have to endure as they walk toward the end of life.  As you encounter the problems of life, it is easy to be just like Peter and ask God “What about him?”   Other followers of Jesus may seem to have less troubles and a much easier “Cross to bear,” but your job is to follow Jesus and not compare your sufferings with others! 

It is comforting to know that Jesus knows how your life on earth will end, and He knows when it will happen!  As a follower of Jesus, your life is absolutely written is His Book and He knows what will happen for every day that you have left here.

And He knows when you will transition from earth to Glory and come into His Holy Presence!  From the perspective of this earth that day may seem to be a  day of tragedy, but from the Throne Room of Heaven the day of your death is Graduation Day!

As Jesus told Peter, your job is to follow Jesus for every minute of your life until the day He takes you Home! 

“Lord Jesus, I know that You know when and how I will leave this earth, I also know that You have promised to be with me always until that day comes!  And when it comes, You have promised that You will be with me Forever!  Praise Your Holy Name now and forever.   Amen.”

Glory Burst of Power!

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Judas had promised to betray Jesus. So he went to the garden with some Roman soldiers and temple police, who had been sent by the chief priests and the Pharisees. They carried torches, lanterns, and weapons. Jesus already knew everything that was going to happen, but he asked, "Who are you looking for?" They answered, "We are looking for Jesus from Nazareth!" Jesus told them, "I am Jesus!"  At once they all backed away and fell to the ground.  Jesus again asked, "Who are you looking for?" "We are looking for Jesus from Nazareth," they answered.  This time Jesus replied, "I have already told you that I am Jesus. If I am the one you are looking for, let these others go.  Then everything will happen, just as I said, 'I did not lose anyone you gave me.' "  Simon Peter had brought along a sword. He now pulled it out and struck at the servant of the high priest. The servant's name was Malchus, and Peter cut off his right ear.  Jesus told Peter, "Put your sword away. I must drink from the cup that the Father has given me."

John 18: 3 - 11

Why did the first confession of Jesus cause even the soldiers who came to arrest Him to back up and fall to the ground?  The Bible does not state the reason, but it is clear that Jesus unleashed a small burst of His Almighty Power on the crowd that came to take Him into custody.  

Then Jesus asked them again who they were looking for and quietly allowed them to arrest Him.  Peter, however tried to stop them by cutting off the ear of the High Priest’s servant Malchus.  Then Jesus told Peter to put away the sword because this “Cup” was given to Him by the Father, not by angry men!

Perhaps it would be accurate to say that the Glory of God knocked the soldiers to the ground when Jesus acknowledged who He was, and the Love of Mankind motivated Jesus to surrender to those who would Crucify Him!  

The lesson for me is this: When the world comes to take me to a cross, it is very Christlike to let them feel the full power of God’s Glory.  But is also like Jesus to put away the sword and drink the cup of suffering that God has ordered for my life!  

“Lord Jesus, may Your Almighty Power be evident to those who would persecute me, but give me the strength to put away the sword and suffer as You did!  May Your Name be praised now and forever.  Amen.”

Who is Jesus?

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"I am the way, the truth, and the life!" Jesus answered. "Without me, no one can go to the Father.  If you had known me, you would have known the Father. But from now on, you do know him, and you have seen him."  Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father. That is all we need."  Jesus replied: Philip, I have been with you for a long time. Don't you know who I am? If you have seen me, you have seen the Father. How can you ask me to show you the Father?  Don't you believe that I am one with the Father and that the Father is one with me? What I say isn't said on my own. The Father who lives in me does these things.

John 14: 6 - 10

Jesus was the daily companion of the disciples for the three years He walked with them.  As a human being they knew Him better than anyone, and yet they did not grasp who He really was!  The disciples did not realize that when they looked at the face of Jesus they were looking at God Himself!  

God is One and God is Three!  God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit make up the fullness of God.  It is easy for us to forget, just as the disciples did that when you come to know Jesus you are experiencing a relationship with God Himself!  

Jesus reminded the disciples that the Father lived in Him!  The Bible also says to followers of Jesus that, “Christ lives in you, and he is your hope of sharing in God's glory.” (Colossians 1:27)

So when you “come to Jesus” and give yourself to Him there is much more that takes place than a simple decision to be a disciple.  You are opening up your heart to be possessed by the Holy Spirit and have Christ Himself live in you!  Then the Hope that you have will be that you will share in God’s Glory forever!  

And you are right when you say, “I don’t understand it, but I believe every Word that God has spoken!”

“Lord Jesus, may I see a little more today of who You really are, and how You want me to live.  Praise Your Holy Name now and forever.  Amen.”

Thank You for the Sugar!

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After the stone had been rolled aside, Jesus looked up toward heaven and prayed, "Father, I thank you for answering my prayer.  I know that you always answer my prayers. But I said this, so that the people here would believe that you sent me."  When Jesus had finished praying, he shouted, "Lazarus, come out!"  The man who had been dead came out. His hands and feet were wrapped with strips of burial cloth, and a cloth covered his face. Jesus then told the people, "Untie him and let him go."  Many of the people who had come to visit Mary saw the things that Jesus did, and they put their faith in him.  Others went to the Pharisees and told what Jesus had done.  Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called the council together and said, "What should we do? This man is working a lot of miracles.  If we don't stop him now, everyone will put their faith in him.

John 11: 41 - 48a

Many years ago I was sitting at the dinner table across from my grandmother.  She looked at me and said, “Thank you for the sugar, Bill.”  It was a simple statement with a profound life implication.  I answered with the words, “Why do you thank me for the sugar before I give it to you?”  My wise and dear grandmother replied, “I thank you for it before you give it to me, because I know you will!”

That is the same reason Jesus thanked God for answering His prayer for the resurrection of Lazarus before it happened.  Jesus even went on to proclaim that the Father “always” answers His prayers.  

Do you thank God for answering your prayers before you bring your requests to Him?  Or do you approach the Throne of God wondering if the thing you desire from Him might, possibly be something that He would agree to answer with a positive response?  If that is how you pray, then consider the fact you are not praying like Jesus did!  Jesus knew the Father well enough to know how He would answer.  

When you pray according to the Will of God, you can know in advance that He will answer your prayer!  So, as you read the Bible, not only look for ways you can be obedient to that Word, but also search for the Truth about what God desires.  When you pray according to His desire, you can know for certain that He will answer your prayer!  

“Lord Jesus, teach me to pray as You did.  And I thank You Jesus for answering this prayer!  May Your Holy Name be praised now and forever.  Amen.” 

Blinded by the Light

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The LORD rules the whole earth, and he is more glorious than all the false gods.  Love the LORD and hate evil! God protects his loyal people and rescues them from violence.  If you obey and do right, a light will show you the way and fill you with happiness.  You are the LORD's people! So celebrate and praise the only God.

Psalm 97: 9 - 12

Once again Jesus spoke to the people. This time he said, "I am the light for the world! Follow me, and you won't be walking in the dark. You will have the light that gives life."

John 8: 12

The light that shows you the way in the darkness of this world is Jesus Christ!  You may hear stories about a light at the other end of a tunnel of darkness!  If you are a Jesus follower the "Light" is with you always, so how could it be at the end of a tunnel?  

I have a small flashlight that is extremely bright.  The LED technology surpasses all the other systems by far.  With that light I can see a long way, even in total darkness!  But that same light can be dangerous if I look directly into it's beam.  The light that can show me the way can also blind me!  

The same is true of Jesus!  When Jesus is with you, or perhaps more accurately when you are with Jesus then His light will illuminate everything around you.  You will see things that others do not and really cannot see.  But if you approach the Lord without faith in Jesus, the Light that always shines from Him will blind you and confuse you!  

So if you follow Jesus, His light will show you everything.  But if you fight the Lord, His light will blind your eyes and your understanding will be darkened.  

Know this for certain: If you come to Jesus with Faith in Him, you will be blessed and you will see clearly the world around you.  But if you come to Jesus to oppose Him you will be blinded by His light until you yield your heart to Him.  

"Lord Jesus, I come to You to trust You in everything.  May I never set my will up against Yours.  Thank You Jesus for being the light that shows me all things.  Praise Your Holy Name now and forever.  Amen."

Mention His Majesty!

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Sing a new song to the LORD! Everyone on this earth, sing praises to the LORD,  sing and praise his name. Day after day announce, "The LORD has saved us!"  Tell every nation on earth, "The LORD is wonderful and does marvelous things!  The LORD is great and deserves our greatest praise! He is the only God worthy of our worship.  Other nations worship idols, but the LORD created the heavens.  Give honor and praise to the LORD, whose power and beauty fill his holy temple."  Tell everyone of every nation, "Praise the glorious power of the LORD.

Psalm 96: 1 - 7

Those who choose not to believe in God and yet are avid students of nature and even the heavens must develop an alternative to God!  To explain the origins of the most intricate, amazing, organized and interdependent universe imaginable without a Creator reveals a bias against the concept of God, not any proof that He doesn’t exist.

When you look at the world around you, there is nothing but evidence of God!  You can see God in the cycles of life in nature and in the death and resurrection pictured in the seasons of the year.  

The reason men can so easily believe that they are the highest form of life, is that they were created in the image of the One who is the Highest and Greatest of all!  After believing this deception they dream up all kinds of foolish assumptions designed by Satan to separate them from the One they deny!

Those who choose to believe in God must spend their time seeing the greatness of God around them and praising Him.  Tell everyone how Great He is and make it your goal to mention His Majesty in every conversation you have today!

“Lord Jesus, thank you for Creating me in the image of God!  May everyone who lives on earth Praise Your Holy Name, now and forever.  Amen.”

Protection From God

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Live under the protection of God Most High and stay in the shadow of God All-Powerful.  Then you will say to the LORD, "You are my fortress, my place of safety; you are my God, and I trust you."

Psalm 91: 1 - 2

Security companies don’t hide their identity.  “Protected by” is the phrase often seen on doors, buildings, and even front yards of people who get service from one of the many world wide security organizations.  

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you should have a sign on your life and heart that says, “Protected by God Most High!”  

With God as your personal body guard you can be sure that any trouble that comes your way has first passed through His wall of protection that is built around you!  And you do not know how many agents of Satan were pummeled in their attempts to harm you and those you love!  

Certainly, we as followers of Jesus are in a fight that is sometimes intense, but always remember that Satan cannot have access to your life without first being allowed through the shield that God has put around you!  If the Devil had unfettered access to Christians, they would all be dead before they took the next breath after accepting Jesus!

So you can rest in the Peace of knowing that you are under the Shadow of God All-Powerful which is your “Place of Safety!”  God wants your life to declare to everyone that you are Protected by God and His Mighty Power!  

“Lord Jesus, thank You for guarding my life against the destruction that Satan would bring to me, if he could!  May Your Name, Jesus be praised now and forever.  Amen.”

War on God!

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A husband is the head of his wife, as Christ is the head and the Savior of the church, which is his own body.  Wives should always put their husbands first, as the church puts Christ first.  A husband should love his wife as much as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it.  He made the church holy by the power of his word, and he made it pure by washing it with water.  Christ did this, so that he would have a glorious and holy church, without faults or spots or wrinkles or any other flaws.  In the same way, a husband should love his wife as much as he loves himself. A husband who loves his wife shows that he loves himself.  None of us hate our own bodies. We provide for them and take good care of them, just as Christ does for the church, because we are each part of his body.

Ephesians 5: 23 - 30

The attacks on “traditional” marriage and the roles of husband and wife are not, and I believe have never been about “conservative values.”  The attacks on marriage are part of the War on God that Satan has been waging from the beginning.

The fact that God designed marriage to be between one man and one woman for life, and that he said that the man should be the “head” of his wife and love her as Christ did His Bride changes our understanding of the “Institution of Marriage.”  Marriage on earth is a portrait of Christ and His Followers who are His Bride.

Marriage is not a re-defineable concept that can be changed to fit the cultural norm of the day.  Changing the way marriage works is like saying we need to alter the way we get oxygen into our blood stream and replace breathing for that purpose!  

There are many cultural practices that do no violence to the Will of God on earth, but tampering with God’s design of marriage will destroy a society!  And, in fact in many places on earth that is what is happening!

And the attacks on marriage are being followed by a war on the idea of gender itself.  Little children are being taught that there are an unlimited number of genders, not just men and women!

“Lord Jesus, show me how to be in complete harmony with Your Will and accept the way You designed everything on earth!  May Your Holy Name be praised now and forever.  Amen.”

Not A "Do It Yourself Religion!"

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You stupid Galatians! I told you exactly how Jesus Christ was nailed to a cross. Has someone now put an evil spell on you?  I want to know only one thing. How were you given God's Spirit? Was it by obeying the Law of Moses or by hearing about Christ and having faith in him?  How can you be so stupid? Do you think that by yourself you can complete what God's Spirit started in you?  Have you gone through all of this for nothing? Is it all really for nothing?  God gives you his Spirit and works miracles in you. But does he do this because you obey the Law of Moses or because you have heard about Christ and have faith in him?

Galatians 3: 1- 5

If you have ever had small children, you know the "I can do it myself" cry that comes when you are trying to teach a child how to do something new and especially something that he or she does not yet have the ability to accomplish.

It is a mixture of pride and foolishness that is in everyone of us!  There are many young people who will bear scars for life from the foolishness of youth.

It is not however only the young who have the human nature that wants to have the glory for what they do.  Followers of Jesus Christ are regularly tempted to say "I can do it myself" in their journey with Jesus.  

After experiencing a life demonstrating the power of God flowing through everything they do, they are confronted with a situation that seems easy enough if they just do what God did through them before.  Then they "strike the rock" instead of speaking to it as the Lord had instructed.

Jesus Himself said that He only did the things that He saw the Father do! (John 5:19)  How can we do anything else as we walk in His steps here on earth?

When you obey the Lord it is not in order to gain His favor.  You obey God because you have already gained His favor through the Sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross!  

Christianity is not, and can never be a "Do It Yourself Religion!"

"Thank You Jesus, for doing all that needed to be done to make me right with the Father!  May Your Name be praised now and forever.  Amen."

The Fire is Coming!

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The LORD said,  "Ezekiel, son of man, turn toward the south and warn the forests that I, the LORD God, will start a fire that will burn up every tree, whether green or dry. Nothing will be able to put out the blaze of that fire as it spreads to the north and burns everything in its path.  Everyone will know that I started it, and that it cannot be stopped."

Ezekiel 20: 45 - 48

Perhaps these verses are speaking of the "Fire of Revival."  There have been times in history since the day of Pentecost, after the Resurrection of Jesus when God started a fire that burned in the hearts of men and spread throughout their land!  If you have lived during such a time in your land, you know what I am talking about.  

When Revival comes, giving in to the Glory of God is as natural as breathing!  Conviction of sin comes with power, but without condemnation.  The Way to Walk away from your sin and the certainty of Hell is as "plain as day" to everyone.  

Conviction of sin is followed by the unimaginable joy of knowing Jesus as a constant companion in your journey here on earth.

Today there is a "Fire of Revival" that is burning in what some call the "Global South."  It is amazing and reading the reports make you think you are living again in the Book of Acts!  The numbers of those turning in repentance and accepting Jesus are staggering!

If you are in the Global South you are blessed to see the Power of God all around you as He lights fires in the lives of men and women who turn and seek Him!

If you, like me live in the Global North, then be prepared to see the fire spread to our lands as well!  When it comes our hearts will burn for Jesus and it will be a time like we have never seen before!  Be ready, the Fire is coming!

"Lord Jesus, light the Fire in my heart that will spread across my land and touch all those who open their lives to You.  Praise Your Holy Name, now and forever.  Amen."

God Changes Things!

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Every tree in the forest will know that I, the LORD, can bring down tall trees and help short ones grow. I dry up green trees and make dry ones green. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will keep my word.

Ezekiel 17: 24

Sometimes I find a verse in the Bible to which I have paid no attention at all before now.  This is one of those verses.  Even though God is the one who created nature itself, He can reverse the normal processes of nature.  God can not only bring down tall trees, but He can also make short trees grow tall.  He makes green trees dry up and He makes dry trees green again!

This verse speaks, or rather shouts about the power of God to change things that are into things that He wants them to be!  God has the power to change you into the person He wants you to be.  If you are too tall, He can make you shorter.  And if you are to short God can enable you to grow tall!

As a follower of Jesus Christ, I am what I am because God has applied His power to my life to do His Will, but also so that I can be what I am. 

"Do it yourself" and "Self Help" programs are not a part of God's design for followers of Jesus.  The proud man who stands and tells the world what a wonderful job he has done in becoming great, cannot bring glory to God with his testimony.  

If you have a need to be taller or shorter, dryer or greener, ask God to apply His power to your life and make you what you need to be!  Then the song of your life will be "How Great Thou Art" and not "How Great I Am!"

"Lord Jesus, may You be the source to supply every need in my life.  As the old song once said, "Make me and mould me after Your will!"  Praise Your Holy Name now and forever.  Amen."

Time to Hear God's Message!

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The LORD said:  Ezekiel, son of man, condemn the prophets of Israel who say they speak in my name, but who preach messages that come from their own imagination. Tell them it's time to hear my message.  I, the LORD God, say those lying prophets are doomed! They don't see visions--they make up their own messages!

Ezekiel 13: 1 - 2

The criticism of the sermon was sincere, but it was a little strange at the same time.  "You use too many Bible verses in your sermons!"  He then added: "We want to know what you think."

The truth is this: What the preacher "thinks" is irrelevant.  What God thinks makes all the difference.  Today, it is still the same as it was in the day of Ezekiel.  There are those who "make up their own messages" instead of proclaiming the Word of God!  

So, how do you know if the message you hear is from God?  If you can read and have a Bible, then read it for yourself!  If you cannot read, find a trusted person who can read and let him read it to you.  If the sermon is not a clear reflection of the Word of God, then be very careful about embracing the teaching!

Beware of the person who proclaims, "I know what the Bible says, but what it means is. . . ."

Almighty God, working through the Holy Spirit does not need a "human interpreter" to make His Word understandable.  All God needs is an honest heart who turns away from sin and sincerely desires to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior!  

"Lord Jesus, give me the wisdom to know the difference between Your Word and the made up messages of men!  May Your Holy Name be praised now and forever.  Amen."