Speak The TRUTH, Even If Your Voice Shakes!

We all have times in our lives as Christian’s when we are called on by God to speak up for his truth.  Few of us have confidence in speaking up and speaking out for the LORD.  It’s hard to stand up “in front” of people and even harder to stand up “to” people when speaking the truth of the gospel.  It’s hard to stand strong in the truth when those around you feel comfortable in a twisted version of it.  It is especially hard to do this in front of those you love and those who are part of your support network. 
  

We may embarrassed or un-qualified or un-worthy to share the truth of the gospel for fear of being labeled a holy roller or a Jesus freak or the dreaded “fundamentalist Christian”. We may not want to risk losing or straining valued relationships by standing in opposition to others personal viewpoints.  We find it safer to “go along to get alone”.  It’s easier to be silent and be accepted.  It’s safer to speak about our beliefs to those who are already saved or share our own beliefs.  We tell ourselves that we are being insensitive or intolerant or judgmental to tell our non-believing family, friends and associates about the “only way” to salvation.  I wonder, will God ask us on Judgment Day why we chose to silence our voice and not call out to his lost sheep.  Will God find it an acceptable excuse when we say that we were more worried about being liked or avoiding conflict than speaking the Truth?  What will we say when he asks, “why didn’t you speak the truth when I sent you as my witness?
 

We may convince ourselves that we don’t have the qualifications God needs to do our Christian duty.  But if you are standing next to a non-believer or a lukewarm Christian who is wandering away from truth then God thinks you are able and ready.  God needs you to be working in his service, to be his voice in the wilderness to a dying world.                                                                                      

In Romans 1:16 Paul said that he was not ashamed of the Good News of Christ because it is the power of God working his plan of saving everyone who believes. 

Sometimes we forget that God is not asking us to speak or even pray publically on his behalf.  God doesn’t need us to speak “for” him.  As his chosen people in his mighty Christian Nation, God has called us to be used by him as soldiers; as mighty spiritual weapons in his hand in this spiritual war.  He speaks to the world through us. 

In Isaiah 49:2 says that “He has made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of His hand He has concealed Me; And He has also made Me a select arrow, He has hidden Me in His quiver.

This verse refers to the Messiah but like Christ, as his faithful servants, the LORD will also use our mouths to proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ’s mission and sacrifice for the salvation of all people who follow him.  The sword of God’s Word; the doctrine of the Gospel is sharp and can pierce the hearer’s soul. Our own words can’t do this.  We are weak and timid but in Christ we are strong and courageous.  The LORD can use us like an arrow to carry his word into the world with great swiftness and power.  Our souls are untouchable for they are sheltered by God just as an arrow is protected in a quiver; the case that holds it.                                                                                                               

In Jeremiah 1:4-9 God tells Jeremiah that he called him into his service and appointed him as a prophet to the nations even before he was born.  Jeremiah’s response was to say, but “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young.  He felt that he was too inexperienced and shy!”  The LORD responded to Jeremiah’s lack of self- confidence by saying, I don’t think your too young, so you must go wherever I send you and whatever I command you to say, you must speak it.  Don’t be afraid of people.  I will be with you and I will protect you. God ended the conversation by saying, oh, by the way, “I, the Lord, have spoken!”  Which in God talk means “in case you are confused, I am the LORD God, and if I say it is to be so, it is so!”  Then the Lord reached out and touched Jeremiah’s mouth and said, “Look, I have put my words in your mouth!  Now when Jeremiah spoke he could speak with boldness and confidence because the words were not his but the very words of God.

See, God doesn’t ask us to be eloquent speakers.  God doesn’t choose us to speak for him because of our training or our education or our experience or anything else.   He just asks that we remain faithful, willing and obedient to him and his word.  He not only promises to give us the words that he needs us to say but he will be our strength; our rock when we speak, even if our voices tremble.  How do we know this is true?   God told us this in scripture. He has proven to be faithful to those believers he sends into the world in his service, those called to be his to be his voice in proclaiming the truth.  

So we should have confidence and boldness and joy when we speak the truth.  Yes, those the LORD calls and sends forth for his glory can be assured that they will know the right words to say.  

Whenever our voice shakes, when we feel unworthy or incapable let us remember that as the true messengers of God it’s good to be humble and to know our limits and weaknesses.  It is good to tremble before the LORD.  It’s right to know the greatness of God and feel the huge responsibility and honor of being called to speak the truth.  But also remember that God goes with all those he sends.  His presence, His power and His protection is with us when we speak.  So with awe and yes, with trembling we must go forth, not with our own wisdom and power but with the strength and authority of the LORD who has called us into his service.

Now, that’s not to say that when you speak that you will never find resistance or that you will never struggle.  It’s hard to “speak the truth” when the people around you are satisfied with living in lies.  It is hard to stand up in the light when those around you are comfortable with darkness.  We see this played out in the bible over and over and over again.  We see this played out in the life of Jesus.  He brought us the most precious gift mankind will ever know and he was hated for it.  It isn’t easy to live out the truth of the gospel when those around you; even those you love reject its message.  Often time’s peacemakers; those who walk in the ways of God stand alone, they are often outnumbered; many times they are abandoned by their family and friends, they may lose their possessions and sacrifice their careers, they may be mocked and lose their social standing in the community just for speaking and living out the truth of the gospel. 
 

It takes courage to stand firm in your faith when the people around you are willing to go along with the crowd; the popular views of our times.   When you stand your ground in the truth, your body may be shaking from head to toe.  Your mouth may be dry, your voice may quiver, you knees may feel weak, your palms may sweat as you plant your feet firmly in the truth and stand strong in God’s grace.  The people you are facing may or may not want to hear what you are called to witness to them.  But God wants you to present his message.  It’s not important whether they hear it.  What’s important is that you say it.   It’s important that even if everyone around you chooses to follow darkness that you stand in the light of truth.  

What brings revival to the world is God’s faithful standing up in the truth and speaking out against the Goliaths of the world.  Converts are won when the children of God endure hardship and persecution with strength and confidence and hope in God.   There is a saying that goes, “When we are brave with our life then others will be brave with theirs.” We don’t have to fear any type of suffering because as God’s chosen we know that any affliction will only last a season.   Whenever I am faced with pain or trouble my mother always says, “This too shall pass.  Only God is lasting.”            

2 Timothy 1:7 says, “God did not give us a spirit of fearfulness, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”

In The LORD we are brave.  He gives us a “spirit of power” to rise above life’s challenges and face any opponents head on, including Satan.  God gives us the strength to cope with and conquer all of our hardships.   We have been called to be an inspiration and a model to those around us. As Christ was our example we are to be an example to others.  We are called in love to be witnesses for the LORD.  We are called to be brave in our lives so others will be awakened to the truth.  In seeing our deep faith and devotion to Christ they will become brave with their lives as well. 

Each of us is called to use our voice in our own unique way.  Some people are called to speak words of wisdom; others are called to speak comfort; others words of warning; still others words of love or encouragement.  No matter how the LORD has called you to use your voice, speak up and speak out boldly from your heart.  Remember you are not called to speak in deep philosophical or eloquent ways.  What you say is to just needs to be heartfelt and true.  John Wesley called it “plain truth for plain people.”                                                                                                                                

We are God’s witnesses; Christ’s ambassadors. We don’t have to convince every person to accept salvation, but we do have to “warn” every person we can about the danger they are in.  We must be willing to advise them about their lost state; of the wrath of the judgment to come; and of the hope they have in the love and redemption of Jesus Christ.

John 3:19 says, “And this is the test by which men are judged--the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness more than they loved the Light, because their deeds were wicked.”

Scripture tells us that humanity will continue to reject the light that has come to it.  The world hated Christ and it will hate his followers’ right up to The Second Coming.  The world will reject saving instruction, teaching, doctrine and revelation.  It will try to silence us as it tried to silence Christ and all his followers throughout the ages.  Humankind will continue to choose to live in a wicked, fallen state of error.  It will call darkness light and light darkness.  The people of the world will chose physical desires; materialism and success over their spiritual rewards.  They will embrace sin over holiness and error over truth.   They will create worldly systems and create secular laws that will support their false beliefs.  They will create and worship false versions of the truth that will promise them what they really want and they will preach it right in the Christian churches.  They will appear by worldly standards to have a great love and zeal for their version of God and they will feel secure in worshipping their idol and the whole time they will be lost, lost, lost.  They will refuse the truth; mock it and despise it.  They will work to stifle the voices of the true messengers of God. 

But do not be afraid or discouraged dear brothers and sisters.

Acts 18:9 says, one night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, "Don't be afraid! Speak out! Don't be silent!
 

So dear saints, Speak out!  Do not let the world silence the truth.  Speak out even if your voice shakes.   Yes, there are many costs to being a faithful witness; a child of God; a follower of Christ; a disciple of The Truth.  We may lose family, friends, our jobs, our reputation.  People that we love and trust may even turn us over to the authorities just as they did to Jesus and his followers throughout the ages.  We will be seen as intolerant and judgmental by worldly standards.  We will offer our brothers and sisters’ love and salvation and in return they will want us punished and perhaps killed for not conforming to the twisted values of this wicked world.

In Ephesians 6:20 Paul says, “pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.”

So holy church of Christ, raise your voices in prayer for one another so that we will be strong and speak boldly as we should.

Speak, Christians Speak! We must speak the “saving truth” of the Gospel, even when our voices shake.  Do not be afraid!  Never give up.  Remain steadfast in your faith and in your service to the LORD.  Never lose heart, NEVER! For God is with us! Always!  Even to the very end of the age.  AMEN!

 

Faith is an Action Word!

Brothers and sisters, as his faithful disciples we are called to put our faith into action and serve all those in need from the very least among us to the greatest.  Mark 10:45 tells us that Jesus Christ did not come to be served, but to serve.  

1 John 2:6 says “Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.”   Yes, church we have to do more than passively believe.  We have to put our faith in to action.  We have “talk the talk and walk the walk.”   James 2:26 says “just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.”    

Brothers and sisters, when Christ commanded us to “love our neighbor” he didn’t mean simply “feel love for all people”, but to “act in loving ways” towards all people.    In John 13:35 Jesus says that “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples."  Yes, it is our love for others that is our proof to the world that we are like Christ, our Savior; that he is in us and we are in him.   Our actions of love speak as our testimony as to who we are and who we serve.  And this good will extends even to our enemies who we understand are the LORD’S lost sheep, those he passionately seeks; those who need him most.     As servants of our Good Shepherd we go out into the world on his behalf to help him find his lost sheep.   We rejoice with him when a fellow sinner repents, turns from living in the darkness to living in the light and returns to LORD’S green pasture.   
Saints, we are truly acting like our Father when we are kind to those who are ungrateful and ungodly.    It’s hard not to “hate” those who persecute us but the LORD asks us to respond to hate with love.  Brothers and sisters do not let others hatred take root in your heart and harden it.  Do not sharpen your words on the cold edge of hates sword.  Do not let the hateful acts of others dampen your love and drown you its deep dark waters.   If you surrender to hate, it will consume your soul. 
Instead repay evil with good.  Fight darkness with light.  Give! Do good! Expect nothing in return.   Pray for your enemies.  Forgive those who persecute you as Christ prayed for his crucifiers and forgave them.  This is the true spirit of Christianity.  In this way you will resemble Christ and this is how you will be recognized by others as a child of God.

Dear Saints, to live as a Christian means more than coming to church or publically declaring that you are a Christian.   We must work tirelessly on our great commission.  Each day, we must pick up the cross our LORD carried and continue on with his mission.  We must go into the world and make disciples; believers of all people.  We are called to fan the flames of the faithful; re-light the fire of lukewarm believers and to bring a torch to those still lost in the darkness of sin.   To all people whether faithful lambs or lost sheep we are to enlighten them with the truth of the Gospel and light their path on their way to salvation.   John 20:21 says “As the Father has sent me, I am now sending you.”   Jesus is sending each of us to serve him so that the truth is proclaimed to the world and sinners are converted to God.   This is a huge job indeed.  It can be very intimidating.  But we are not called to do it alone.  We are part of a powerful Christian Nation.  God sends us his Holy Spirit to come and live in us and to be our guide and helper.  We are not called to be great by worldly standards or to be perfect.  God calls ordinary people, like us, for his extraordinary purposes.  God’s mighty works are revealed to the world in our humble state and in our weakness.  You’ve heard it said that, “God does not choose those who are able but enables those he chooses.”   Yes, church, The LORD calls into service those who are faithful and rely on his strength and not their own.                                                                        

Each of us can make our own unique contribution in helping to bring the gospel of truth to all nations.  We simply are called to bring our little light of love to the world.  

In Matthew 25:31-46 Jesus tells us when we look into the face of anyone in need we see his face.  When we serve others we are really serving Him. When we comfort others we are comforting him.   When we give to others we are giving to Him, to his ministry; to his work and to the work of The Father.  When we feed the hungry, we are feeding Christ.  When we provide a drink to the thirsty we are quenching his thirst.  When we are kind to a stranger, we are showing Christ kindness.  When we provide clothes to the needy, we are clothing Christ.  When we tend to the sick we are tending to Our Lord.  When we visit someone at home or in a hospital or even a prison we are visiting Jesus.  When we invite people into our home or into our church home we are inviting our Lord in as well. 

So, dear saints, put your faith into action with all sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. No matter how great or small your service, work at it with all your heart.  See it as though you are working directly for the Lord and not for man.  Do this because God promised you that you will receive an eternal inheritance from the Lord as your reward.   Remember, in all ways you work and give, it is the Lord Jesus that you are serving.  To serve others is to serve Christ and to serve Christ is to serve others.  When we faithfully obey and serve we bring praise and glory to God.  In Matthew 20:26-28 Jesus tells us that whoever wants to become great in the kingdom of God must first be a servant.  He is telling us to put our faith into action.  This is what we all must do if we are to walk like Christ.   We must live out our faith and act on it every day.

Satan is terrified of a determined, faithful, active child of God.    A friend sent me an email that reads, “Be the kind of person that when your feet hit the ground each morning the devil looks at you and says, “OH, CRAP, YOU’RE UP AGAIN.” 
The Apostle Peter tells believers to prepare for duty because Christ's call is a call to active service.  See church, we are here to serve our neighbor and everybody is our neighbor.  Luke says that we should remain faithful to the doctrines of the Gospel and always be ready to serve as we wait for the coming of the LORD.   
True faith is active not passive.  Everyone must be an active participant in spreading the Kingdom of God.    Each one of us is called to an active living faith.  Like Christ we are here to be servant’s, not to be served.  At life’s party, we are the workers; the help not the guests.  But don’t worry because Ephesians 6:8 says that God will reward us for the good work we do.
Saints, most Christians sit in church as a passive spectators but really the LORD is the audience in church not us.  He watches and listens as we all gather to perform; to display our acts of worship and praise before him and for him.   
So, how will you serve the LORD?  How is God calling you to put your faith into action? 
I love this saying, “God does not call us to go to church; He calls us to Be the Church.”  

 

Desert Times

During this Lenten season Christians are reminded of the time when our Lord was led by the Holy Spirit to spend 40 days in the desert, in seclusion, preparing for his ministry by fasting and praying and communing with God. During this time he was also tempted by Satan.
   
Christians commit themselves to walking in the ways of Christ and becoming more like him.  This requires disciplines like bible study, honest self–examination, repentance for our sins, fasting and prayer. 

As God led Christ to the desert he leads his people to “desert times’’ as well.  In these times we can gain spiritual clarity and become better equipped for our service to God.  In “desert places/desert times” God strips away worldly comforts so that we can focus on our relationship with him.   God uses our “desert times” to develop our spiritual character and strengthen our faith.     Deuteronomy 31:8 tells us not to be afraid or discouraged because the LORD is with us.  The LORD our God is always with his people especially in “desert times,” in periods of temptation and testing.  Psalm 78:52 says “God led his people like sheep through the desert.”

“Desert times” help us to be humble as Christ was humble when he walked here on earth as a man.  In our “desert times,” in our hardships and temptations we prove our heart; our devotion to God.  In “desert times” we can feel fragile, broken and when our guard is down we are left open to the attacks of the enemy.  Satan is an opportunist.  He never lets a crisis go to waste and use them to attack us.  He is always ready to tempt us away from God just as he tried to tempt Christ to turn from the Father and his mission of the cross.    The Holy Spirit led Christ into the desert to be a model of faithfulness for us and to expose Satan’s battle tactics so that we may know how we can defeat him. 

We must be a wise nation of people and uphold our Fathers commands.  Just like Christ we must pray and listen for God’s voice and for God’s direction.  As Christ obeyed we are also called to obey.   Our LORD never deviated from the Father’s plan of salvation.  To disobey God is to sin.  If Christ had sinned, he could not have been the pure sacrifice God required for the redemption of humanity.

Just as Christ was tempted in the Desert his Holy Church, will be attacked by Satan in his attempt to keep her from her mission to save souls and bring the message of salvation through Christ to the world. 

The devil is called "the tempter."  He is unrelenting in his work to entice us to sin by twisting scripture, persuading us to disobey God, encouraging us to complain about God’s provision and coaxing us to question God’s promises.  Satan will use all the spiritual weapons in his arsenal to get us to stop trusting the LORD and turn from his love and protection.

Matthew 4:1-11 tells us the story of Christ’s temptation in the desert.  For 40 days Satan tempted Christ in the hopes that in his meek human form that the LORD could be persuaded to rebel against the Father’s plan.  Satan tempted Christ to use his divine power and to reject his mission of the cross.  He tempted him to take a comfortable and easy path to satisfy his needs and to obtain the glory and all the things that rightfully belong to him.  

Satan tempts us in the same way.  Our adversary will sing sweet worldly songs to us so that we will put our trust in the work of our own hands to satisfy our own needs instead of putting ourselves in God’s hands and trusting he will provide for all of our needs.  Satan will whisper to you, “If you really are a child of God why would your Father let this happen to you?”- “If God loves you, why would he let you suffer?” - “It’s OK to act against the will of God because you are in need and God is not answering you.”  The great deceiver will also camouflage himself in goodness so we will not see the poison in the honey; the lies mixed with the truth.  We must stay alert to his schemes especially in the desert times.  Jesus was hungry and cold and alone and exhausted from living in the desert for 40 days with no food or comforts or human companionship.  The LORD did not let his difficult circumstances or Satan’s false offers of prosperity and power to justify sinning against God.   Jesus’ trust in the Father would not be shaken.  He trusted God’s plan.  Christ answered the enemy’s temptations; the taunts and his false promises by reciting scripture.    As Ephesians 6:16-17 tells us we are to use God’s Word as our sword and our faith as our shield.                                             

Brothers and sisters, if you are in a “desert time” right now Trust God! Endure!  Wait patiently on the LORD who will care for you.  Christ showed us that even in the desert God still loves us and is with us and is providing for us. 

Matthew 6:33 tells us “above all else seek the kingdom of God and he will give us all things we need.”    Above all things we must seek the truth of the Gospel. The LORD promises that all things will be given to us; the very kingdom of God will be our eternal dwelling place.  Church of Christ, we are not here for our own glory but to serve God; to show the world His glory.

Look, Satan wants to be worshipped as God.  He will be happy to give us material treasures and status and power and all kinds of worldly glory if we will just embrace the ways of the world and bow down to him.  But his victory leads to our destruction.  Mathew 4:8-9 tells us that the tempter was even brazen enough to tempt Christ with this very offer.  He promised him the easy road to glory not the one filled with the pain of the cross.  He offered Christ all the kingdoms of earth; instant power and glory if he would bow down and worship him instead of God.   

When the enemy attempts to bribe us we should answer him the way Christ did; “get away from me Satan!  I know who you are.  I know what you’re doing! I will not be tempted to worship or serve anyone but the LORD, God.”  

Body of Christ, learn to use the Word as your weapon when you are faced with the temptations and trials of life, just as Jesus did!

Remember, Satan cannot destroy us himself.  He has no real power over us.  He is a squatter that simply creates an illusion of ownership and authority.  He is in control of nothing.  In fact, God, who is truly Almighty, simply uses Satan as another tool for his purpose of salvation.   The only power Satan has is to tempt and trick and misdirect us into turning from God and in our rebellion, like Satan, we will be sentenced to eternal death. 

Children of God remember who you are and why you were created.  Choose life.  Love the LORD your God, listen to his voice calling to you in the desert and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life.   You were created in your Father’s image in his name, to be a holy people.  You were created in love to be with God.    Like Christ you are not called to live for self but for God.  You have been called to a higher purpose.  You are here for God’s glory not your own.

If we turn from God we lose his protection and our inheritance; our birthright.    What can Satan offer that us worth that sacrifice? God exposed Satan’s feeble plan and deceptive tactics through Christ’s temptations in the desert.  Christ became our model for fighting and defeating Satan’s attacks.  Satan attacks us when we are weak or alone or sick whenever our path is rocky.  It is then he pounces, ready to tempt and ready to devour our soul.  He will twist the scriptures so that they seem to promise us self promotion and personal prosperity.  He will trick us into worshipping him and not God. He will make us think that he doesn’t exist or that he is equal to God or that he is the ruler of earth and even Hell itself.

Satan attacks the faithful the hardest because we are a threat to his plan of destruction.   Those lost in the darkness pose no threat to him because they are easily dazzled when he dangles the shinny trinkets of the world in front of them.  Their hearts belong to the prince of this world and not the King of heaven.

We must never forget that we are in a spiritual war.  If we resist Satan as Christ did in the desert he will flee.  It’s not going to be simple or easy.  Resisting temptation is hard work.  We cannot defeat Satan with our own strength or with our own authority.   We must rely on God’s power and God’s authority especially in the desert times.  Let The LORD be our example. It is not simply our bodies that need to be fed, for “it is written that we do not live by bread alone”.  We must also nourish our spirits with the word of God.

Jesus defeated Satan in the desert because he trusted God and wanted to please his Father more than anything else in life; even if he had to sacrifice himself.  He put God first.  Christ relied on the power of the Holy Spirit to help him “Fight the good fight of faith”.

LENT is not just about making a sacrifice that will end in 40 days.  It’s about true and lasting spiritual growth.  Lent is not about what you are giving up for him.  It’s about what HE gave up for you.   Repent!  Return to God.  Walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, our LORD and Savior. This 40 day walk in the desert is our training period, our proving ground where we face Satan and tell him to “get away; get behind us”.  Pray!  We need to allow God to change our hearts, to strengthen our souls to help us be the holy people he has called us to be.  

God has given us so much in our relationship with him, isn’t it time we started giving back?  So, during Lent how will you be good and faithful children of God?  How will you use the next 40 days to live out your faith?  You don’t have to do things that shake the foundations of the world.  Mark 4:30-32 tells us that even a tiny mustard seed of faithfulness to Our LORD and his kingdom will grow into a mighty tree of life.  Be a mighty little mustard seed for The LORD not just during Lent but throughout your life.

As we follow Christ through the desert and through Lent, it will be a journey of reflection and soul-searching. Like Christ we will find the desert time filled with challenges and temptations.  But it will also be a time to build our relationship with God and develop a better sense of our calling.   Our desert time will help us understand that, in love, God gives us freedom to choose to walk with him or with the world.  We have a choice to walk in the light or in the darkness.  In the desert, evil cannot control us unless we allow it too.  Remember in the in the end, “the devil didn’t make you do it”.  You are free to choose. Choose God and choose life!

 

Prophecy Being Fulfilled?

WOW!  Well brothers and sisters I just woke up to hear that the Pope is resigning!

Now for those of us who are not Catholic we may not be thinking a whole lot about this.  However, for me this is pretty exciting news.  For years I have been studying “end times” prophecy.  There is a Catholic prophecy made by an Irish saint who lived from 1094 –1148.  He was the Archbishop of Armagh in Ireland.  He had a vision that included the identity of the last 112 Popes.   His vision has been proven correct throughout the centuries. 

St. Malachy said that the next to the last pope was identified as “the Glory of the Olive”.  The current pope chose the name Benedict after founder of the Benedictine Order.  The order's crest contains an olive branch.  The prophecy said that this pope would only rein a short time.  If Pope Benedict does indeed resign he will have been pope since April, 2005.  This is only 8 years.

 

Let me say that not all end times preachers or faithful Catholics belief in this prophecy. 

But it makes me wonder.  Is St. Malacy’s prophecy almost complete?   IF this is true prophecy being fulfilled then the next pope in some way will be identified as “Peter the Roman” (Petrus Romanus).  This is going to be interesting because all popes are heirs in a sense to Peter who they say for them is their first pope.   I think it is interesting that the first pope and the last pope are being identified as "Peter".   Is this God tying things up in a nice little package for us to see???   Peter the Roman  will be the 112th pope and according to St. Malacy he will “lead the sheep in many tribulations.  When the tribulations are finished the “city of seven hills” (Rome sits on seven hills) will be destroyed and the dreadful judge will judge his people.  The end.”  

Many prophecy preachers are saying that the next pope will lead the church through the tribulation but not as a shepherd but they say that the prophecy suggests that pope 112 will be the false prophet. If this is true that means the anti-christ is with us right now ready to take leadership of the world. It means that something is going to happen that makes the world follow him.  Makes you wonder with all the talk by political leaders of a "global bank" and "global citizenship."  Why wouldn't there eventually be one "global leader".   It sure does give you something to think about.

I'm thinking that we will see those that believe in the rapture of the church start preaching hard about this because this would mean the rapture is upon us.   I'm not sure I believe in the rapture but brothers and sisters I sure would vote for it!!  I really don't want to be here for the ugly that is going to hit this world.

Is this the very end of the “end times” the bible speaks of????  IF this is prophecy coming true then it will be a very terrifying but very glorious time to live on earth. We are going to see things that the world has never seen before and will never see again.

Could it really be true?? We just may live to see Jesus coming in the clouds!! Awesome!!!!!

Luke 21:20, 22“When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near.22 For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written.

Luke 21: 26-28Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

My advice is ....whether this prophecy is true or an entertaining story we should use it as a reminder to stay awake and to be strong.   Remain faithful to Christ.  Do not let yourself be deceived and lose your salvation.  If this is end times being fulfilled it will be a time when Satan will have great power in the world and will be fiercely hunting down God's children to destroy them. Remember he doesn't have to worry about those who he has deceived because they are no threat to him. They are lost in the darkness.  To Satan, they are where he wants them to be, on their way to eternal destruction.  His focus will be hunting down the faithful because we are a threat to the war plan.  As long as we are here we bring the light and the truth to the world.  As long as we are here we can be used by God to tell the lost the truth and plant the seeds of salvation. Now more than ever you have to keep speaking the truth and remain obedient to the Word.  Don't be sucked into what the world believes no matter how good is sounds to your natural body.  You are NOT "global citizens."  You are "citizens of heaven".   The world says all people believe in the same God and there are just different names for him and different ways to get to him.  This is NOT biblical.  When you reject their false/twisted version of the truth you will be seen as "intolerant" and "non-inclusive". 

 

Do not be pressured into error.  Remember the bible says that the world will twist the truth and that which is the true word will be called false that which is a lie will be seen as truth.

 

Isaiah 5:20-21   Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.

 

See with your heavenly eyes.  Hear with your heavenly ears.  There is only ONE God.  He calls himself our Father and the God of Israel.  He gave us the truth of the bible so we can "test all spirits" against his Word.  He did this so we would be warned ahead of time to protect ourselves.  There is only one way to God and that is through His Son....Jesus Christ.  This is the one and only and  absolute TRUTH.  Any watered down version is simply counterfeit christianity and is worthless to your soul.  PRAY!  PRAY! PRAY!

Mark 13:36 Don’t let him (the Master) find you sleeping when he arrives without warning. 37 I say to you what I say to everyone: Watch for him!”

Remember, all the faiths of the world being united under the notion that we all believe in the same God sounds good by the world but it is not biblical and God warns us he does not share who he is with other Gods.  God see's this as idol worship.  Don't get caught on Judgment Day crying out to God and saying wasn't I good and inclusive and loving then hear back...."get away from me you evil doer!  You never knew me!!"

Matthew 7:21-23  “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

John 17:25-26    “O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. 26 I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.”

Dear ones........You have been warned!

 

God is just a prayer away!

Brothers and sisters we are not alone in anything because he is with us.  God is just a prayer away.  

God is always right here with us; caring for us; leading us; guiding us.  God hears every prayer, every one.  He hears us when we cry out to him for help.   So often, we get frustrated with God, even mad at him, when we pray and nothing seems to happen.  We think God isn’t listening or that our prayers have no power.  Brothers and sisters prayer is not about telling God what we want and waiting for him to give it to us.   Prayer is all about building a trusting and loving relationship with God.  It’s about humbly going before God in our brokenness; with our fears, our pain and our troubles.  Prayer is about depending on God in all things.   In prayer we ask him “what is your will in this for me Father”?  Prayer is about saying “thank you for loving me Jesus”.  In prayer we say “I will do whatever you ask LORD.  No matter how rocky my path, I will gladly walk it for your glory and to honor your name.”   Prayer is not about asking God to take away all the bad things in our life and replace them with worldly comforts or prosperity instead.  The Apostle Paul came to understand that the thorn in his side; the very thing that brought suffering to his life actually kept him close to God.   His suffering was a daily reminder that he needed God.  He needed his guidance.  He needed God’s provision. 

Psalm 16:2 “My soul says to the LORD, You are my God without you I have nothing.”

God promises us that if we ask we will receive but this doesn’t mean that we will receive whatever we want.  God says anything you ask for in prayer will be yours... “IF!” if it is in accordance with my will that I have revealed to you in scripture and “IF” what you pray for will glorify my name.  Psalm 120:1 assures us that if we take our troubles to the LORD in prayer; if we cry out to God, he will answer us.  The Apostle Paul prayed three times for God to remove the thing that made him suffer.  But God replied each time he prayed, “My grace is all you need for my strength is made perfect in your weakness.”  God says, my grace, my love, my strength, my protection, my guidance is enough for you.   When you feel weak and powerless it is my power that will uphold you.  Church of Christ when things are going well we tend to rely on our own wisdom and understanding in life.  We forget about God.  He is not on our daily to-do list.  He is on the bottom of our list of priorities and we may or may not get to him.  However, when in spite of our best efforts our lives unravel, when our situation feels hopeless, when it seems that darkness is going to swallow us up, it is then we see that we need God and we run to him. 

Scripture tells us that we need only one resource to address all the challenges and troubles and needs in life; that resource is GOD. 

Luke 12:31 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.

Dear one’s, we get so entangled in our material possessions; we get so caught in the ways of the world.  Too often we trust our own plans over God’s plan.  In Matthew 6 the LORD tells us not to worry about our life or our needs. He asks us why we have such little faith in him.  Dear saints, we should stretch out our hands to Our Most High God in prayer.  Yes, brothers and sisters humbly and sincerely cry out to the LORD in passionate prayer and plead his help.  Will all you troubles go away, maybe not?  Maybe you are in a battle for the LORD, maybe he has you in training for a battle to come maybe he is refining your faith?  I do know that you are right where he put you because God is always in control of all things.  I do know if you “go with God” that no matter how rocky the path you must travel your life will brighten.  You will be unafraid.  You will forget your misery. You will find peace in all circumstances. You will find hope and courage even in the middle of your trials.  Your life will be brighter than the noonday and dark times will be as bright as morning to you.

See saints, it is a great privilege that the Almighty God of the universe allows us to come before his throne of glory with our prayers and requests.  He not only hears every prayer and petition but he promises to answer them; not some of them, sometimes but every one of them, every time.  Every prayer receives an answer. 

The bible says that our prayers ascend to heaven like sweet incents to God. Our Father wants to be reconciled with his children and like any parent he loves when the kids visit with him.  The only way we can do that is with our prayers.   The LORD cares for us so much that he stoops down from his heavenly throne to talk to us as a devoted father talks to his children.    He wants a loving relationship with each one of us.  But like all relationships they don’t work if only one person is reaching out.  When we pray; when we reach back to the LORD we strengthen our bond with him.  When we pray we shouldn’t treat God like a “divine telemarketer” where we place our order for what we want and expect prompt delivery then disconnect until we need to place another order. 

James 4:3 tells us that when we ask and do not receive, it is because we ask with the wrong motives.  We try to fit our sacred God into a secular world.  But God’s ways are not the ways of the world.  God doesn’t value what the world values and neither should we.  Luke 12:21 tells us that a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”   

God will give many blessing and good things to his children.  In his goodness God provides his gift of faith.  God offers us salvation and the gift of his Holy Spirit.   Above all else brothers and sisters we should pray for spiritual gifts; for wisdom and understanding of God’s word.  No worldly treasure is greater than your heavenly crown of glory.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us to “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”

We must go to God in all things no matter how large or how small.    Pray at all times and don’t lose heart.  All occasions are appropriate occasions to pray.  All places are the right places to pray.  All kinds of prayers are good prayers when we pray with an open and loving heart. We must live our lives with an attitude; a spirit of thanksgiving for all God has done for us.  Paul told the Philippians “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”

We should not just pray for ourselves but for our brothers and sisters in Christ and for those who are lost in the darkness of sin, and yes; we should pray for our enemies.

Ephesians 6:18 tells us to “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” 

Matthew 26:39 shows us an example of how Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane.  The LORD bowed down with his face to the ground and prayed “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet, your will be done, not mine."   See like Christ even in great sorrow and suffering we should submit to God’s will above our own will no matter the personal cost. Like Jesus we should be willing to sacrifice our own wellbeing for the high purpose of God.  We should pray, in all things “Your will be done Father,” in accordance with your laws and your commands and your plans; your will over mine Father for the well being of your precious creation.  Your will not mine Father in what you have judged to be good and right, because like LORD Jesus Father, even if I feel abandoned and afraid my trust and hope is with you and I know you are with me and you will work all things for my good and for my salvation.  

Yes dear ones, God is only a prayer away.  In our Prayers we should speak from our hearts to our heavenly Father, and, in return, God’s speaks to us through His Word and guides us with His Holy Spirit.  An important part of prayer is to remember to be quiet and listen, listen for God’s voice; for his answers.  God is far more pleased with the strength of our faith and the openness and sincerity of our hearts when we pray than He is with eloquent words.

Too often we believers go before the LORD with requests that sound like sales pitches trying to convince God to make our lives more comfortable and satisfying for us.  We show little concern for our spiritual needs; our souls.   We confuse human success; worldly prosperity with divine blessings.  We become more concerned with our temporary life here in this world than with our salvation and our eternal life in heaven.  We are so short sited.  We are such impulse buyers.  Paul says, in Philippians 4 that he learned how to be content with whatever he had.  He said he knew how to live on almost nothing or with everything.  He tells us that the he learned the secret of living in every situation whether with a full stomach or an empty one, with plenty or little and that is, in everything rely on Christ; trust the LORD to see you through. You aren’t strong enough to do it on your own.  God will be the source of your strength.  He gives you power over every affliction.  He gives you strength to carry your cross.  He gives you strength to fight every enemy of your soul. 

God is only a prayer away.  When your heart is troubled; pray.  When you feel hopeless; pray.  When you are in need of physical healing; pray.  When you are afraid; pray.  When you have plenty; pray.  When you have nothing; pray.  Pray; let God’s word nourish your soul. Pray and your faith will be steadfast.  Praise God and give him thanks in all things and your relationship with him will be rich and deep.   The bible tells us to pray without ceasing, so pray brothers and sisters, pray and never give up.

Children of God pray in all things.  Pray for your brothers and sisters.  Pray for your neighbors and pray for your enemies.   Lift up your hands and pray to the Lord.  Pray for wisdom and discernment so you will know God’s will for you in all things.  Pray and thank God for his goodness.  Praise him for his love, mercy and grace.  God promises us:  seek and you shall find, ask and you shall receive; knock and the door will be opened to you; call on me and I will answer. 

God is just a prayer away.