Grown Up Believing…Not Gonna Happen to Me!

As I was growing up, I was taught a great deal of “Biblically-based truths” that I discovered later in life to be totally false and untrue. As I look back, I have come to discover that too often we believed everything the pastor was saying without searching the Scriptures for ourselves for the truth. As I have continued to study this phenomenon, I have also come to discover that the propogation of these unScriptural truths has resulted in a great deal of people abandoning the church. Even today, when I hear individuals utilizing these common lies and deceptions to try to swerve their kids and grandkids into doing something or being something more, I find myself grieved in my spirit.

The simple truth is, we are a lazy people when it comes to reading and understanding GOD’s Word for ourselves. We would much rather have someone teach and preach it to us and just believe that what they are saying is all truth. The result is exactly what I spoke about above. You end up with a generation of people that have no idea what GOD’s Word really says and so they are easily swayed by any teaching they hear. I much prefer to know the Word so when untruths are taught, I recognize it immediately.

How many of you remember being told this: “God want give you more than you can handle?” Heard it time and again and still do….Certainly, there is a bit of truth in the statement as we know that GOD does not dish out problems and complications upon us. We are living in a world that is under the dictate of the god of this world and it is he who dishes it out. However, the idea implied still stands that GOD’s children will not have to endure any difficulties in this life and that is simply wrong as we can search the Scriptures and observe what is happening to believers around the globe and know how untrue that statement really is.

Paul wrote of this in his own life when he said: “For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself” (2 Corinthians 1:8). Apparently, Paul was so heavily afflicted that he went so far as to despair of life itself. Now, let me state something here that truly bothers me and that is when Christians today get this idea that they are somehow better and their lives are somehow beyond that of the apostles. Even though it happened to them, GOD is not going to allow it to happen to me. GOD wants me happy and blessed beyond measure always. Hogwash!!!

What we need to learn straight-up is the fact that all of life in this fallen world for a believer is beyond what one can handle. We do not have to go it alone and we shouldn’t even try. The god of this world is out to get us and in our own strength we are unable to make it. We need the LORD beside us at all times. We need the SPIRIT of the Living God dwelling within us, working through us. We need to lay our lives at His feet and allow Him to guide and direct our every step. The LORD beckons to us with these words: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Why? Because He understands that we need Him to endure all the hardships that life will throw at us so in the end we can stand firm!

Trust in the LORD for the Victory!

In the midst of your struggles, in the midst of despair—there you will discover that only GOD can be trusted to carry you through. Man’s attempts to make it better often leads to further despair, but when GOD comes on the scene, He offers comfort, He offers His peace and in the end you will come forth shining for the battle belongs to Him and victory is His!

What Can We Expect in the Coming Days?

I am often amazed at the America “Christian” mindset. Believers in America have been so protected for so long that even attempting to believe that persecution could somehow affect us is simply out of the question. We can watch the beheadings in the Middle East on TV and feel so sorry for those Christians over there; and yet, never begin to consider the reality of it here on our shores. We can hear all about the persecuted church in North Korea and China but once again never consider its reality in the good ole USA.

The fact is believers in America are experiencing increased persecution every day. As our rights and freedoms are slowly chiseled away by the powers-that-be, we carry on day-to-day never giving it a second thought. We find ourselves falling under increasing public ridicule but blow it all off as just the times we live in.

More and more churches are succumbing to the politically-correct crowd. More are bending away from Scriptural truth to become relevant to outsiders rather than standing on the truth and proclaiming it as such. Signs that provoke negative thoughts in the minds of sinners, like the cross for example, are being left out of many churches so as not to offend anyone. The names of the pastors have become greater than the names of the churches. Do you recognize a pattern here?

If you are truly a follower of Jesus Christ, you should be seeing where I am going here. The church has let down its guard. Satan has infiltrated the train of thinking of those in power. So, those of us who truly believe the Word of God and stand firmly upon its truth had better wake up because persecution is coming our way. I am not talking about the tribulation period, I am talking about persecution as the apostles endured; persecution as the early church endured; persecution as many of our brothers and sisters around the globe are enduring right now.  Why do we think for a moment that we should not be enduring the same persecution? Because we are in a free country? A free country that now promotes lifestyles that are ungodly? A free country that is running rampant with pornography, murder of unborn babies, child molestation, etc?

Brothers and sisters, persecution is coming to believers in America. Outside of the rapture, you and I will face terrible persecution in our life times and I simply can’t imagine what will occur in the life times of our children and grandchildren, should the Lord’s coming tarry. We must learn, and teach others, to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10) for a time is coming soon where that Source of strength and power is going to be all we have to run to.

Be blessed mighty Church of the Living God!

The Battle is Not Yours to Fight!

Oftentimes, as we venture through this thing called life, we find ourselves confronted by giants that seek to intimidate us. Often, these are only giants because we have allowed them that opportunity of intimidation; we have viewed them in such a manner through our physical eyes and have allowed them to frighten or discourage our forward progress. But whatever the reason, the fact remains that they are giants to us. Whenever they raise their ugly head in our lives, we become terrified and retreat to a place of safety and security.

In my years in ministry, Satan has often thrown giants into my path. The feelings of being incapable to continue forging on along the path GOD is leading become overwhelming. Fright and discouragement as others who have been strong ministry partners begin to disappear and before long it is as though you are the only one standing any longer. I have been through it many times. I have traversed paths with fear and trembling, wondering if GOD was even there any longer. Wondering if GOD even cared what I was going through. Yet, there was always that calm feeling of assurance inside that He was there no matter how difficult the journey seemed to be.

We can turn to 1 Samuel 17 and there find an incident similar to these giants that come into our lives. David had gone out to check up on his brothers who were in the midst of a battle against the Philistines. As he was talking to them, Goliath the giant stepped out and began to ridicule GOD and the Israelite army. In verse 24, the Scripture reads: “When all the Israelite men saw Goliath, they retreated from him terrified.” The giant created quite a stir among the Israelite army, such that they ran from him, terrified.

But David stood his ground. He refused to allow the giant to intimidate him; rather, he determined in his heart to bring that giant down to the ground. Picking up at verse 45 and following we read these courageous words David spoke to the giant: “David said to the Philistine, You come against me with a dagger, spear, and sword, but I come against you in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel’s armies- you have defied Him. Today, the Lord will hand you over to me. Today, I’ll strike you down, cut your head off, and give the corpses of the Philistine camp to the birds of the sky and the creatures of the earth. Then all the world will know that Israel has a God, and this whole assembly will know that it is not by sword or by spear that the Lord saves, for the battle is the Lord’s. He will hand you over to us” (1 Samuel 17:45-47).

David  recognized that defeating the giant would not happen by anything within his own power. Rather, he knew that this battle belonged to the LORD and it would be the LORD who would bring the victory to David. When Satan throws giants in our path, we must recognize that the battle is not ours but it belongs to the LORD. The victory comes through trusting in Him. Whatever you might be going through today, give it over to the LORD and there you will find victory!

We came into this world knowing very little. Through interaction with our parents, siblings and others and by observing the actions of others, we begin to understand the concepts of life. However, if we had never stepped out of our comfort zone and attempted to walk, we would have never learned to walk. The same goes for talking as well as everything we have learned to do. We can observe all day but until we actually practice a new skill, we will never be able to carry it out.

Moses had just come down from his 40 day mountaintop experience with GOD. GOD had given him instructions and laws to teach the people to follow. As he looked out upon the vast multitude of people he was instructed to lead, he said to the Lord: “Look, You have told me, Lead this people up, but You have not let me know whom You will send with me. You said, I know you by name, and you have also found favor in My sight. Now if I have indeed found favor in Your sight, please teach me Your ways, and I will know You and find favor in Your sight. Now consider that this nation is Your people. Then He replied, My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:12-14 CSB).

Moses recognized his great need for the Lord’s intervention in his life and walk. He recognized he was unable to go it alone. But GOD’s words of assurance came to him, He promised He would go with him and be with him in and through it all. By faith, we know Moses stepped out of his comfort zone and led the nation through their wilderness wanderings for 40 years.

Today, we go through tremendous struggles and hardships in this thing we call life. Through human eyes, it all appears as hopeless. It is no wonder so many turn to the bottle, to drugs, to fornicating and to suicide. Looking around one can easily see life is full of hard struggles and difficulties. But, it doesn’t have to be that way. We have an opportunity just as Moses did to cry out to our loving Heavenly Father for help. In His love and gracious mercy, He will guide and direct our paths. 

Understand, life doesn’t just become easy by turning to GOD, but He will take the heavy weight from our backs and help us through our every day. He will guide and direct us and gives us assurance His everyday that life is going to get so much better. The day will arrive when we leave this earth and its hardships and find eternal rest in His comfort in His kingdom. Remember His words of promise today: “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

As I look at the chaotic condition our nation is in, I wonder how long we can continue to go on before judgment falls, before another nation swoops in and takes us over, before somebody flips the switch and all out nuclear war breaks out. Just a few minutes in front of the news makes me wonder how we are even still around today.

As I was thinking about all this earlier today, I recalled how Israel had failed GOD time and again. I remembered how patient GOD was with them and how He endured their godless acts and their overt sinfulness for extended periods of time before He eventually poured out His wrath upon them.

The sinfulness and idol worship had continued for a long time. At last GOD allowed the nation of Babylon to invade Jerusalem and to carry its inhabitants to a foreign land and a foreign people. For seventy years, the nation suffered as servants to the Babylonians. I wonder why GOD didn’t just write them all off, turn His back on them and forget them. But, being a GOD of love and grace, He never forgets His people even when they have forgotten Him. 

At the end of the 70 years, GOD provided a man by the name of Nehemiah. This man was lifted up to a high position in the king’s court. As the king’s cupbearer, he and the king developed a close relationship. Through GOD’s working, Nehemiah was able to convince the king of his heart’s desire to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem that had been destroyed 70 years earlier. The king provided for Nehemiah’s journey as well as offering protection throughout.

GOD is raising up a force of Nehemiah’s across America today. These are those believers scattered across this land who will take a stand for what is right, take a stand against the sinfulness of this nation, humble themselves, pray, seek His face and turn from their wicked ways, raising up a standard of purity and holiness. GOD is calling out for men and women of GOD who will preach and proclaim the absolute, unadulterated truth of His Word and individuals who will stand against those who maintain any theology that is opposed to the teachings of GOD’s Word.

The truth is this: Jesus will return one day for a church without spot or wrinkle. Unfortunately, many of the churches scattered across America today have sold out to the politically-correct gospel, have forsaken the truth of sin, hell and repentance and have chosen rather to preach a gospel that requires no change, no repentance, no turning away from sin and degradation. These churches are spotted and wrinkled and lacking in the power of the Holy Spirit. Their people are unprepared for a coming Lord and Savior. Many will know what happened after the rapture comes but it will be too late. They will cry out but there will be no one to hear them.

Today is the day of salvation. Today is the acceptable day of the Lord. Turn to Him today. Surrender to Him, give your life to Him and seek to live your life in holiness, acceptable unto the Lord. Will you be ready when the trumpet sounds?

If you…come to Christ, he will appear as a Lion, in his glorious power and dominion, to defend you. All those excellencies of his, in which he appears as a lion, shall be yours, and shall be employed for you in your defense, for your safety, and to promote your glory; he will be as a lion to fight against your enemies. He that touches you, or offends you, will provoke his wrath, as he that stirs up a lion. Unless your enemies can conquer this Lion, they shall not be able to destroy or hurt you. Unless they are stronger than he, they shall not be able to hinder your happiness. ~~ Jonathan Edwards

As children, we learn early to trust the strong hands of our fathers. We learn those hands give us protection, love, guidance and direction. We learn that when we are frightened those hands are the place to run to for safety and security.

As we grow older, we begin to drift away from the protection of those hands. But, as we do, we continue to discover a need for the protection, love, guidance and direction those hands once offered to us. We begin to look around for something that will fill in that gap. We turn to things that appear to offer us what we need, only to discover a false sense of hope. We search more and struggle more. The world seems to have the answer for everything; yet, it doesn’t take long to discover these things fall short—leave us lacking—always in need of something more.

We come to a crossroad. We can continue to try out the world’s offerings, and always come up short and wanting; or, we can turn to an Almighty God that has mighty hands that will always be there for us. John 10:28 offers a beautiful promise of hope to all who will trust in Him: “I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand” (Jn 10:28 WEB). 

As children of Almighty God, we are guaranteed the protection of His strong hands throughout all eternity. We understand that no weapon formed against us shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17). We also recognize we are able to do all things through Him which gives us strength (Philippians 4:13).

Whatever problem you may be having, whatever dilemma you are facing in life, turn to the strong hands of the Father and trust in His abilities. He will carry you through to victory. Remember, my God shall supply all your needs according to His great riches in glory (Philippians 4:19). 

As one stands out on a dark, cloudless night and observes the celestial beauties overhead, one has a hard time failing to recognize the majesty and beauty of it all. The Psalmist spent the years of his youth living out under the stars tending his sheep and observing the beauty of creation all about him. And from all that observation, he one day declared: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky proclaims the work of His hands. Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge“ (Ps 19:1-2 CSB).

It is very easy to go through life without ever acknowledging the awesomeness and beauty of nature. It is easy to step completely away from the reality of it all and in so doing fail to recognize the grander scale of things. Certainly, some have taken the celestial beings and created gods of it all in their own human way of thinking. But, it goes so far beyond that. David’s words are meant to bring us back to the reality and the truth of it all. He did not exclaim the heavens declare their own glory; rather, He said the heavens declare GOD’s glory.

In Romans 1:20, Paul wrote: “From the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what He has made.“ A look up at the heavenly bodies can reveal some fascinating things about Almighty GOD. Through it, His eternal power and divine nature are revealed. Isaac Newton observed the heavens and came away declaring: “Atheism is so senseless. When I look at the solar system, I see the earth at the right distance from the sun to receive the proper amounts of heat and light. This did not happen by chance.”

It happened by the will and workings of an awesome GOD. Not for His own benefit but for the benefit of humanity. So that in and through these glorious workings, His crowning creation, mankind, could come to experience His awesomeness and desire to be in His arms of love—in a deep, intense, extremely personal relationship with Him.

Understanding that He is an eternal GOD—He has always been and will always be—offers reassurance when one’s world seems to be falling apart or caving in. Psalm 90:2 says: “Before the mountains were born, before You gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity, You are GOD.”  Understanding that He is an infinite GOD—nothing too difficult for Him, nothing too challenging for Him, nothing beyond His ability to overcome—grants assurance to all who follow Him, that He is capable of handling every issue of life that arises. Jeremiah wrote: “There is nothing too hard for You” (Je 32:17).

As we begin to take notice of all of GOD’s glorious workings around about us, the intricacy of nature and how perfectly sequential everything around about us, including our own bodies, is, we cannot help but carry out the words of the Psalmist to: “Declare His glory among the nations, His wonderful works among all peoples.“ (Ps 96:3). Our GOD is truly an awesome GOD, glorious above all things!