EXPECTATION

HE WILL COME AGAIN, NOT TO DEAL WITH OUR SIN, BUT TO BRING SALVATION TO ALL WHO ARE EAGERLY WAITING FOR HIM.  Hebrews 9:28

 When I read passages like this, I think this is a reminder to us as Christians, "Are we ready?"

Are those we know aware that the LORD is coming back and isn't slow in His coming but wants people to turn to Him to be saved?

Yes scoffers will scoff but our love for them should be greater/

They see it. Everyone sees how dark the world is becoming.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is coming back like a thief in the "night".  Yes the night... because the world lives in darkness.

Like the days of Noah... Unexpectedly disaster will come.


"Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near." Matthew 24:28

Jesus tells us what sin is like to GOD...  It is like the stench of of a dead carcass you pass by on the road.

People will be happy to participate in sinful behavior like vultures gathering around a carcass.

Do we see that today?

A couple years ago I had an experience while I slept.  It has not left me.  I was put in a the middle of a frightening and chaotic scene...

People were terrified. for one minute a person would be there and the next... gone!  I watched as one disappeared here and another there.   There were others who knew of His coming but instead of the joyful expectation to be take by the Lord-  they hid instead.  They knew the word or heard of such a happening but they were unprepared.  They wanted to stay in this world more then go with the LORD.  They had things on earth they couldn't let go of or part from.... The world was all they knew. They hid because they were ashamed of their lifestyle.  They hid because of the words and actions they did and said, did not honor the LORD.  They essentially chose death over LIFE.

It's one thing to be ignorant but is it another to be in the presence of the Almighty God- where every dirty spot in our lives is visible....  There are not excuses or pointing fingers..  You can't hide it... you are responsible for you.

People's sin will be obvious to them even though He won't be dealing with their sin at that very moment but that will shortly come after...

Thankfully the Bible says, "If we confess our sins, Jesus Christ is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  1 Johns 1:9

He does the cleansing not you, not me....

People prepare for His coming by living out their hope and faith in Jesus Christ daily.

Note: A good thing to remember when it comes to God, is expect the unexpected especially when it comes to His coming again.

Remember it says, "He is coming for those expecting Him...."  We may not know when He is coming because only our Heavenly Father knows this, but we certainly can "expect" Him.

I might also add, this expectation will also help us avoid things that might make us ashamed when He does arrive.   

Establish Your Hearts.

James 5:8 “You also, be patient.  Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”

I find in this day and age, people aren’t as patient as they used to be.  They want things the day after they order them from a website.  They want their shows to be nicely wrapped up by the end of the episode.  They want a quick fix to their problems.  

People are offered a pill to solve their problem but does it? (Have you heard or read some of the side affects to some of these medications that can result in death?  They are often worse then the problem itself.)  And does it solve the problem or just mask the symptoms or issues? 

(Not much good to say about many of man's quick fixes as the mind goes to things like abortion and death at convenience.)

Patience is difficult.  It is also difficult in the most difficult of circumstances.  
 
When we don’t avail ourselves to God we don’t have patience.  When we think we should be the one in control, we don’t have patience. When things aren’t going the way we think they should go, what happens?  Many destructive and sad things happen when we try to control.  True in the bible and true now.

Do we really have control?

The word of God says that Spirit of God (The Holy Spirit) gives us self-control/self-restraint.  He is given to those who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  He is to help us from wandering into the busy unsafe highways of lust, fear, depression, anxiety, hopelessness, worry, frustration, and doubt.

He establishes our heart.  He feeds the heart of what it needs most. He prepares our heart.  He encourages our heart.  He gives our heart hope.  He gives our heart boldness and strength yet humility.  He gives our heart the ability live in the satisfying will of Himself… IF we just avail ourselves to Him.

  

The issue is… we as people of Adam and Eve are accustomed to availing ourselves to us and our understanding, not to Him/God.  God says not to depend on our own understanding because often it leads to harm and hurt to us and others.

We each have been given a will and it is our choice to trust God or not.  God’s word says he has put a measure of faith of Himself in each one of us to see and know He exists.  God knows what is going on in our hearts and what is happening in our days.  Like flipping the pages of a small book with his fingers, He has seen our so brief life.  He also knows our eternity and our choice to trust in His Son, Jesus Christ, as our Savior or not.

The baby that was born of a virgin on Christmas morning will be returning as King for those who have surrendered their heart to Him (Jesus Christ).  Some have and will scoff at this and the bible speaks of people who will scoff at this.  BUT what matters more then the temporary scoffing, which will mean nothing in the complexity of eternity, is that our heart is established for His coming?

 

If this truth doesn’t warm our heart but unsettles our heart think why?

If our heart is unsettled maybe a reason is because we haven’t surrendered or completely surrendered our heart to Jesus (the reason for Christ-mas) who lives and establishes our heart with this comforting reality that He is coming back for us.

Our relationship with God is suppose to be daily- (for me it needs to be an hourly thing… I need it.)  But in journaling, reading His word, listening and conversing with Him, God settles and confirms our heart.  As we avail ourselves to Him, God avails Himself to us.  

True. This takes time. Time not to be filled with just ourselves and our own schedule but time with God.  For we must remember this time in which we live is all we got.  There is no more and we really don't know how much we do have.  But time with God is worth every little bit to our soul.  And I am a bit amazed when He expands on what was previously thought already expanded upon.  And how what was so dry and crusty before can become a refreshing piece of food for my soul.    

 For the Word of God says, “For in Him we live and move and have our being.”

This experience we call “life” (this type of school, this type children’s camp, this type of hotel or boot camp) will soon be over, as we know it.  Jesus will be loading up the “spiritual buses” and taking us home… a home He has created for those who have trusted and believed in Him.

Some of you know this but let the "knowing"… remain in the living knowing of the heart not just the mind -for what comes out of the heart will also come out of our words and actions.  Amen.

Again, in love… “You also, be patient.  Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”

 

Daily Establishing Our Hearts For the LORD's Coming

Prayer: God as we go over what you have given me to share, be with us- that what is shared here will not just be your truth but a living word that will continue to establish our hearts upon you.  That you will firm up what might be lacking in us and continue to encourage us in what we have done well in so far. In Jesus name Amen.

There has been some reluctance, on my part, to share what I have to share with you because I have mentioned this topic already and I didn’t want to make the seriousness of this topic to just become  common.  Where one might think something like "Yes I have heard this all before. No need to go and revisit it."  BUT the more I sought the Lord for direction the more He used what He had given me in July as a foundation for this devotional.

Read: Luke 21:8-28  Note: We need to pay attention to what is happening in Israel and her enemies surrounding her.

In July I was given some verses (repeatedly) and then a dream.

These two scriptures came from Matthew 24 where Jesus is speaking of the end times.

Matthew 24:37-39.  Jesus says, “ When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day.  In those days before the Flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat.  People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the Flood came and swept them all away.  That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.”

Matthew 24:28 “Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near.”

Note: Jesus is saying in Matthew 24:28 that people will gather, celebrate, applaud, push for the things that end in death like vultures gathering around a carcass.  

Then came the dream.  In the dream I  was witnessing this “happening” where people were vanishing and the ones I saw vanish left this fine golden twinkling dust in the air.  Oddly people did not all vanish all at once like we have seen in the “Left Behind” movie but vanished at different intervals.

After I woke I was reminded of what Jesus said Luke 17…

“Yes, it will be ‘business as usual’ right up to the hour when the Son of Man returns.  On that day a person outside the house must not go into the house to pack. A person in the field must not return to town.” Luke 17:30-31

I never gave it much thought before but why would Jesus have to tell us not to go down into the house to pack or not to return home if people vanished all once?  This makes sense because people were disappearing at different times and people were witnessing this happening.

In the dream I also witnessed some people losing their nerve as they were witnessing the reality of the rapture and ducking into doorways.  They knew what was going on but did not want to meet their maker.  They were afraid and wanted to hold on to this life.   

 I must say the entire experience was a bit unnerving and frightening but I believe that is why Jesus said, “Watch out! Don’t let me find you living in careless ease and drunkenness, and filled with the worries of this life.  Don’t let that day catch you unaware, as in a trap.  For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth.  Keep a constant watch.  And pray that, if possible, you may escape these horrors and stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:34-36

Another verse in  Hebrews 10:38-39 says “BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM. But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.”   

Jesus also gives us a picture of those ducking into doorways.  In Luke 17:32 he says, “Remember Lot’s wife! Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.

I was then reminded of the last part of the dream again-  as I went over my notes.

I watched one who was not raptured, but thought they would be.  They went to their "wise" person -not really giving any thought of why the wise person was still there also.  When they asked the wise person why they were still there, the wise solemnly answered with only two words, “Your words.”

I was reminded of these things

“For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:37

“The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.” Proverbs 18:21

I was reminded of 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 as I thought of the wise person.

“If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clinging cymbal.  If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I could understand all of God’s secret plans and possessed all the knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.”

I was then given the sutures for these verses in 1 John 4:8

"But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”

I was reminded of those who drank from the same rock in the wilderness, which was an illustration of Christ Jesus, but some never made it to the promise land.

I was also reminded of the five foolish bridesmaids in Matthew 25 who didn’t bring enough oil for their lamps so while they went to get some more oil the Lord took those who were ready.  In verse 11, “Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!

But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’”

The wise and foolish bridesmaids all knew Jesus was coming but the foolish ones did not continually seek a relationship with the Lord.  They had the knowledge of the Lord and the things of God but the Spirit and truth was not allowed to live and flow in them.

Think about this, do we know examples of those who knew of the Lord, have experienced the miracles of the Lord but have walked away from a relationship with the Lord?

We see this un-establishing problem even when Jesus speaks to John in Revelation about the churches.

To some in the church of Sardis, He says, “I know all things you do, and that you have a reputation of being alive- but you are dead.  Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead.  I find your actions do not meet the requirements of God. Go back to what you heard and believed first; hold to it firmly.  Repent and turn back to me again.  If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.”

To the church of Laodicea, He says, I know all things you do, that you are neither hot or cold.  I wish that you were one of the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot or cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!  You say I am rich.  I have everything I want.  I don’t need a thing!  And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.

But to the church of Philadelphia he says, “I know all things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close.  You have little strength, yet you have obeyed my word and did not deny me….” He continues with “Because you have obeyed my command to preserver, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world.  I am coming soon.  Hold on to what you have, so that no one can take way your crown.   All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of God, and they will never have to leave it.  And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizen in the city of my God- the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God.  And I will also write on them my new name.”

Jesus wants us to be seriously ready for His coming knowing what is happening in this country and around the world.

This bible devotional started with the prompting of the Spirit using: James 5:8 says, “You, also be patient.  Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”

Established means to take courage, be strong, fixed, strengthen, to be steadfast, set, make firm, to render constant, confirm in the Lord.  One might say to be firmly rooted upon or planted in Him.

Our Check List.

• Does God have the respect He deserves from me? The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Is He feared above everything else?  Proverbs 9:10
• Am I loving mercy, doing justly, and walking humbly with God? Micah 6:8
• Am I loving the Lord my God with all my heart, all my soul, and with all my mind?  Am I loving others as I love myself? Matthew 22:37, 39
• Am I fully trusting in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior or have I added my works for justification? Romans 3:22
• Am I looking to be internally renewed each day by the Lord? Am I looking for a living word each day for my life from the Lord who is the author and finisher of my faith?
• I am looking to see what and whom he places upon my path?
• Do I remember his mercies are fresh every morning? Lamentations 3:22-23
• Am I surrendered to and being sanctified in Christ Jesus?  Am I rendering myself to the Lord or acknowledging the Lord continually throughout my day and am I allowing myself to be venerable to the Lord? Is Jesus my way, my truth, and my life? John 14:6
• Is my heart settled upon God or something else?
• “May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.” 2 Thessalonians 3:5
• Is Jesus my anchor and my rock?
• Am I allowing anything to be placed higher then God’s love for others and myself?
• Is there anything that I might be holding me back from God?

Last scriptures and we will close.

“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23

"The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think.  No, he is being patient for your sake.  He doe not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.  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." 2 Peter 3:8-10

May the Lord continually stir up the reality of this information in our hearts and that we are right with Him, surrendered/devoted to Him and that we continue in our relationship with Him so when our salvation draws neigh we will look up without any doubt and join Him. Amen.

Dream

On the first month of the 26^th day of the year twenty fifteen I was given a dream…

I had never experienced a dream quite like this before.  In my dreams I have always been myself, at least I believe it to be so, but this time I experienced the position of someone else's point of view.  And after the dream I had to ask if this dream was from God and if it was... "What did it all mean?"  He directed me to Song of Songs.  I will do my best to reference these illustrations with biblical texts.
      

In this dream I was put in the position of the groom.   The groom had been away and was returning from afar.  Jesus is the groom/bridegroom.  (John 3:29-36)

References

“Who is this sweeping in from the wilderness like a cloud of smoke along the ground? Who is it that smells of myrrh and frankincense and every other spice?” Song of Songs 3:6

“Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her lover?” Song of Songs 8:5

When the groom enters the house “He” sees his bride and her father.  The father is dressing her in white. The Father (God) tells the groom, the bride’s dress is modest and conservative where not even the backing of the dress shows the skin on her lower back.  Her blond straight hair is made up into a bun on the back of her head.

(There is something beautiful about a modestly dressed woman with her hair up.  A woman who has saved all the enticing attributes of her physical body for her husband.  Now think about this in a spiritual sense as our bodies are the temple of God.)
 

The bride is an illustration of the Christian church.

 References:

“For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called.” Isaiah 54:5

“And you husbands must love your wives with the same love Christ showed the church.  He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the baptism of God’s word.  He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead she is holy and without fault.” Ephesians 5:26-27

“Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” Revelation 19:7-9

And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  Revelation 21:2

And let us not forget the verse “first love” in Revelation 2:4

I noticed a label on the dress that read “Infinity”. Think about what a label represents... When you think of a label you think of the maker of the label.  You think of the designer.  You think of the person who owns it.  The label is a seal.

References

The “seal” has nothing to do with us but Jesus to whom we belong and those who belong to Jesus have been given the Holy Spirit.

^“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:13

Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.  2 Corinthians 1:21-22

The groom kisses his bride’s warm moist lips that were full of passion for her soon to be husband.  She has been waiting for Him with anticipation.  She loves Him with all her heart, mind, body and soul. 

References

“Your lips, my bride, are as sweet as honey.  Yes, honey and cream are under your tongue.” Song of Songs 4:11

“May your kisses be as exciting as the best wine, smooth and sweet, flowing gently over lips and teeth.” Song of Songs 6:9

“As the deer pants for the streams of water, so I long for you, O God.  I thirst for God, the living God.  When can I come and stand before him?” Psalm 42:1-2

“Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind’.” Matthew 22:37

The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Isaiah 58:11

“You are like a private garden, my treasure, my bride!  You are like a spring that no one else can drink from, a fountain of my own.”  Song of Songs 4:12

These last two verses reminds me of our "personal" relationship with the Lord.   It seems no matter how well we may verbally or inscribe that content we receive from the God it is not to the depth and meaning in which we received it.   It's personal....  and with anything personal- no words can accurately convey it's meaning.   It is a "spring" and "fountain" with the Lord that we only can fully enjoy.  


It is as Proverbs 14:10 states: "Each heart knows it own bitterness and no one else can fully share it's joy."
   

It is spiritual matrimony of sorts because it is an intimate partnership.   God invented marriage to illustrate this truth as well.  Our relationship with our spouse is like a fountain no one else can drink from.  It is meant to be an intimate partnership just as our relationship with the Lord is to be.  And in that partnership precious spiritual fruit is grown.

“You are like a private garden, my treasure, my bride! You are like a spring that no one else can drink from, a fountain of my own.  You are like a lovely orchard bearing precious fruit, with the rarest of perfumes: nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, myrrh and aloes, and perfume from every incense tree, and every other lovely spice.   You are a garden fountain, a well of living water, as refreshing as the streams from the Lebanon mountains.”   Song of Songs 4:12-15
  

"He who believes in Me (Jesus), as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'"  John 7:38

The “family” shared a satisfying filling meal with the groom.

References

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20

“I am the bread of life.  No one who comes to me will ever be hungry again.   Those who believe in me will never thirst” John 6:35

The Father then asked the bride’s mother to dance with the groom and that she did gracefully with no utterance.


This dance, reminds me Jeremiah 31.

"This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt.  They broke that covenant, though I loved them as a husband loves his wife," says the LORD.  But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel after those days," says the LORD. "I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts.  I will be their God and they will be my people.  And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying 'You should know the LORD.'  For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already," says the LORD.  And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins." Jeremiah 31:32-34


For how could God not remember their sin? A sacrificial animal offering was to cover skin but it wasn't forgotten but to be forgotten they must put their faith in God's Son, Jesus Christ who was the sin offering for all humanity and of all the ages of man.  For not only would their sin not be remembered by God, but they too would be given the Holy Spirit who puts God's instructions deep with them and they we know the LORD. 


It is as it is written: "And I will give you a new obedient heart.  And I will put my Spirit in you so you will obey my laws and do whatever I command."  Ezekiel 36:26-27


In dream the groom gently took hold of the wife's soft hand and put his other hand around her petite frame.  The mother exuded warmth, peace, purity and unfading beauty in her quiet persona, which I cannot accurately describe..... For one would have to dance with her to experience such things. And this experience has encouraged me to seek God to take on some of her honorable attributes in Spirit.  She did not wear fancy clothes but a simple dress and long sleeve blouse or shirt.  She was of natural beauty.  She was earthy in the good sense.  She wore no jewelry and had her long straight auburn hair tied back in a simple ponytail.

The mother is probably Judaism.  Judaism is where Christianity comes forth from- for Jesus is the Messiah of the Jews and Gentiles.  Jesus is the Savior.

For Jesus said, "You Samaritans know so little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews."  John 4:22 

The mother, petite, is like Israel who small but beautiful and precious in God’s sight.  And those who listen to God will “dance” with the Son of God- Jesus Christ who is the lasting covenant with God's people.
   

References

The mother was all that 1 Peter 3:1-4 speaks of:

“Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.  Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

 “As the church submits to Christ, so you wives must submit to your husbands in everything.” Ephesians 5:24

At the end of the dream there was no wedding. There was no banquet of great celebration. The groom did not sleep with the bride.  He loves the bride and she loves Him.  The groom did not sleep in the family’s house but stayed right outside on some high platform were He kept watch- for a sign perhaps.

Reference

“Before the dawn comes and the shadows flee away, I will go to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of frankincense.  You are so beautiful, my beloved, so perfect in every part.” Song of Songs 4:6

The dream ends there.  Bride of Christ is waiting for her Lord to come with anticipation and every ounce of her being.  She is looking forward to being united with her Lord but as she does so, she is also waiting for the God's will to be done.

 
It reminds me of these verses:

“First I want to remind you that in the last days there will be scoffers who will laugh at the truth and do every evil thing they desire.   This will be their argument: ‘Jesus promised to come back, did he?  Then where is he?  Why, as far back as anyone can remember, everything has remained exactly the same since the world was first created’. They deliberately forget that God made the heavens by the word of his command, and he brought the earth up from the water and surrounded it with water.  Then he used the water to destroy the world with a mighty flood.  And God has also commanded that the heavens and the earth will be consumed by fire on the day of judgment when ungodly people will perish.  But you must not forget, dear friends, that a day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day.  The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise to return, as some people think.  No, he is being patient for your sake.  He does not want anyone to perish, so he is giving more time for everyone to repent.  But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief.  Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and everything in them will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be exposed to judgment.” 2 Peter 3:3-10

And then we know why Spirit emphasizes this verse…

“Promise me, O women of Jerusalem, by the swift gazelles and the deer of the wild, not to awaken love until the time is right.”  Song of Songs 3:7

May God be given praise. 

"That I May Know Him" Philippians 3:10

 Know Him
Paul is saying not that I may know “of” Jesus Christ but know Jesus as who he is as Lord and Savior.

This type of “know” is to know and understanding someone on a very personal level like a spouse or a best friend.

The Amplified bible reads: [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death….”

When people are around someone with good or bad habits, people tend to pick up and be influenced by those same habits do they not?   Paul is saying the same thing, the more I get to “know” Christ more deeply and intimately the more I can let go of who I am (feelings, perceptions, understandings, etc) and become like Christ. This is a good thing!

Paul writes: “ My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

Paul also writes:  “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21

If Paul is allowed to live, Christ will continue to be Paul’s source of strength and encouragement and if Paul dies or is put to death for his faith, he will finally be off this world and with Christ in heaven.

Paul’s relationship with the Lord has helped him know nothing can separate him from God’s love.  This has given him a lighter burden to carry.  He isn’t concerned for himself as much as those he might leave behind.

The words of Jesus come to mind, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you.  Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest of your souls.  For my yoke fits perfectly and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28

Death… we all will face it.  To those who know Christ it isn’t something to be afraid of but to those who don’t know Christ it should be something to be very afraid and be anxious about.

So without doing a lot of shadow boxing, ask yourself this question, “Are you prepared for death right now?

“Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow.  You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.” James 4:14

You like myself have seen the very young to the very old die.  Death doesn’t care what your age might be- it isn’t bias.

I have learned from sorrow and suffering –that which I could not learn had I not witnessed and experienced sorrow and suffering.  Sometimes "what" we consider "not good" is actually "good" because of what comes from it.
  
In fact Jesus says, "But wisdom is shown to be right by what results from it." Note: Matthew 11:19.

For man learns nothing from the empty foolishness of life.  Think about it.   For a man sees his need for God -in all his weakness and seeing the foolishness of life can never satisfy him.
 
Seeing this need can only be satisfied and answered by God, he seeks God from the depths of his heart and God approaches.

“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of heaven is theirs.” Matthew 5:3

“A good name is better then fine perfume, and the day of death is better then the day of birth. It is better to go to a house of mourning then go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart.”  Ecclesiastes 7:2

We see life has no guarantees and without notice we can find ourselves on the doorstep of our eternal destination.   And depending on if we know or don’t know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior will determine our eternal destination.

Most of us have read or heard of this verse, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

So knowing Jesus is the Son of God who He sent to save us…

“I live by the power of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, those who partake of me will live because of me.” John 6:57

 “I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one can come to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

….. Have you made a choice to “know” Jesus Christ?

Where is your heart and mind when it comes to your eternal destination?  Have you given it any thought at all?

Have you put your soul in the words of mere men and what they have rationalized in their own minds?  If so, you are in a very dangerous and precarious position… We can’t take the words of man as fact- we must know if they are true.  Most often that comes with the trials and fires of life.  With the trials and fires of life, God's love bleeds more visible as we earnestly seek him.

You can’t put your soul in the hands of man’s theories and ideas.   The words of man mean nothing when it comes to the threshold of eternity.   Would you step out of an airplane onto a cloud of vapor thinking it would support you?  Of course not!  Words are just words until they are proven true.

So while you still have the grace of God put some time and investment into your soul not in things of this world- for you can’t take them with you.

“For we brought nothing into this world and is certain we can carry nothing out.” 1 Timothy 6:7.

Don’t leave your soul’s destination up to chance and take the cop-out/excuse that you don’t know what you really believe.

No one should have to plead with someone to search for truth in God and Jesus Christ for someone else's soul’s sake.  A person should want to do that for themselves but I understand sometimes it takes someone to bring it mind because we are lost and blinded by the busyness and cares of this life -but this life is only temporary my friend and eternity is forever.

So if you don’t know what you really believe.... you are going to do nothing?  Don’t be fooled by thoughts that stop you in your tracks.  Earnestly seek God and he will reveal himself to you. 

God says in the book of Jeremiah 29:13. " If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me."  

Most people don't even try and because they don't try they never find him.

What is your soul’s destination worth?

I have found in this short (oops) it's been more then 12 years now journey -God is more real then I even imagined and my revelation of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior has deepened.   I hold to this truth dearly for my soul’s sake and sanity.   For it is clear this place is not my home.

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”  1 Corinthians 1:18-19

Remember what we read in Philippians 3:10...... (might want to go back up and read it again.)

* (Here is a little star if you forget your place)

The ways of human security (money, possessions, our degrees, our achievements, human rational/reasoning, other people we know, etc.) are no security at all -when all those human securities are taken away, what then?

Where will their hope be then?  Human security can only take you so fair.  They definitely do not carry into eternity.

When the world crumbles and storms on the seas and in the skies come like increasing birth pains and people are only out to save themselves- where will their hope be then?

When Jesus comes to get his own- how will the unbelieving world explain what has happened to us?  There are approximately 6.9 billion Christians in the world, can you imagine them all disappearing at once?

But those left behind will have this passage to refer to:

“For when the Son of Man returns, you will know it beyond a doubt.  It will be as evident as the lightning that flashes across the sky.  But first the Son of Man must suffer terribly and be rejected by this generation.  When the Son of Man returns, the world will be like the people were in Noah’s day.  In those days before the flood, people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came to destroy them all.  And the world be as it was in the days of Lot. People went about their daily business- eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building- until the morning Lot left Sodom.  Then fire and burning sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.  Yes, it will be business as usual right up to the hour when the Son of Man returns.  On that day a person outside the house must not go into the house to pack.  A person in the field must not return to town. Remember what happened to Lot’s wife!  Whoever clings to this life will lose it, and whoever loses this life will save it.  That night two people will be asleep in one bed; one will be taken away, and the other will be left.  Two women will be grinding flour together at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.”
“Lord, where will this happen?” the disciples asked.
Jesus replied, “Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate the end is near.” Luke 17: 24-37

Just think where people’s understandings carry them now, where will their understandings take them then?

Who’s Understanding?
God word says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.  Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil.   Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.” Proverbs 3:5-8

We as Christians are not to let our own wisdom and understanding master over our sails of our soul.  God himself is to be the wind that encourages our sails.

Just as one might turn their boat or let the boom of the mast catch the wind, we too must let go and turn our attention on to God not our circumstances.  There, our interior sails will straighten out from their sag and find the right mind and heart set in God instead of our own strength and understanding.  The Christian soul no longer runs efficiently on the things of this world but on the things of God.  Mind, heart, Spirit (Note Ezekiel 36:26)

“…. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.  This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.  It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.” Hebrews 6:18-19

That place we can only find and come in through by Jesus Christ who is the narrow gate.

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.” Matthew 7:13

 “Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved.  They will come and go freely and will find good pastures.” John 10:9

In God’s good pastures we will find good things to help our soul endure and thrive.

Who’s understanding we use matters greatly.  Who we trust matters greatly. Who we know matters greatly.  Read Matthew 6:19-34

These Last Days Pt.1

Persecution

What do we know about persecution?

• Persecution of Christians is no new thing. It has been happening for centuries.
• Persecution was helpful in spreading the gospel to other parts of the world.
• Persecution has helped Christians become closer to God.
• Persecution comes in all kinds of forms.  It comes in violence, it comes in jail time, it comes in demanding people yield to ideas and paying for practices they don’t agree with.  
• Persecution of Christians in American is currently a very different “animal” compared to the persecutions of Christians in Africa and the Middle East.   In those places you can be killed for your faith in Jesus Christ.  Here, in the United States, you can get fired from your job for sharing the gospel or put in jail for the night for sharing the life saving message of Jesus Christ out on the streets especially if the crowd doesn't like what they want to hear.  The truth is, if it doesn’t seem like the forces of hell are influencing now just wait because there is more in store.  Satan and his army only come to kill, steal and destroy and he will use anyone and anything to do it!

Articles:

•  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/10309239/Maaloulas-cathedral-and-churches-empty-of-Christians-as-Syrias-latest-front-line-fight-takes-its-toll.html?fb

• http://www.examiner.com/article/syrian-rebels-slash-throat-of-christian-taunts-fianc-e-jesus-didn-t-save-him

  

•   http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/20/us-egypt-protests-churches-idUSBRE97J0O620130820

• http://christiannews.net/2012/09/15/christians-arrested-for-preaching-in-new-orleans-after-sunset-police-vow-to-target-churches-next/

Jesus said, “The nations and kingdoms will proclaim war against each other, and there will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world.  But all this will be only the beginning of the horrors to come.  Then you will be arrested, persecuted and killed.  You will be hated all over the world because of your allegiance to me.    And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other.  And many false prophets will appear and will lead many people astray.  Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.  But those who endure to the end will be saved.  And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then, finally, the end will come.”  Matthew 24:7-14

“You will be hated all over the world because of your allegiance to me,” there is definite a line being drawn in the grains of humanity right now.  

Jesus said, “Anyone who is not with me, is against me. Anyone who does not work with me is working against me.”  Matthew 12:30
 

“And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then, finally, the end will come.” Can you see it in the Lord’s voice?  The Lord who knows it all and has seen it all, will say, “That’s enough time for them to decide if they want to come to me to be saved or not.”  

These Last Days Pt. 2

Last and Final Invitation

This reminds me of a story Jesus told in the bible.

Jesus said: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. ¹⁷ At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

¹⁸ “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’

¹⁹ “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’

²⁰ “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

²¹ “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’

²² “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’

²³ “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. ²⁴ I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’” Luke 14:16-24

In Matthew's account of Jesus telling the story.  The messengers are ignored and some are seized and treated shamefully and some are killed for giving the invite.  Matthew 22

The Lord has given an invitation for His salvation.  He has given his invitation for people to get to know him and join him in heaven but many people are giving excuses and putting it off like death and His coming have some kind of guidelines and can be dictated by how we feel and our schedule.   People are being careless with their soul by ignoring such invitations.   This is not the time to be too busy.  This is not the time to hope in some false hope that will only take you straight to hell.  Jesus is inviting all of humanity.  He is reaching out to us as a whole.  Please do not make excuses and be too busy for him. 

DID YOU GET YOUR INVITATION?

If people don’t come and come soon, they won’t taste the salvation that only comes in Jesus Christ.  Instead, by their choice, they will sadly be tortured in hell and the thrown into the lake of fire.   (Sometimes there is no nice way to say the truth.)

If you have not seen the 23 Minutes in Hell video-  you may want to watch it to give you a better understanding of what hell is like.  You can view it on YouTube and on this blog.

 Jesus speaking of his return said, “When the Son of Man returns, the world will be like the people were in Noah’s day.  In those days before the flood, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came to destroy them all. ” Luke 17:26-27

Noah had been building that boat for some 100 years!  Noah’s family probably told many people that God was going to flood the earth.   People, seeing the boat out in the middle of nowhere, probably just scoffed and disregarded him.  Just as people today will scoff and disregard the saving message of Jesus Christ and His return.

2 Peter 2:3-7 says “Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. ⁴ 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. They deliberately forget that God made the heavens by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water.  Then he used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood.  And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed.”