Friday, November 13, 2015

JESUS IS COMING- Are You Ready

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When a person listens to the right information and puts it in the right perspective they can for the most part, make an educated speculation about how soon we are before Jesus’ return. Not the exact day, but know that all the signs are being fulfilled and it will be soon. Even so come Lord Jesus! The Lord said that when you see certain things begin to happen, "Look up and lift up your heads, for your redemption (your deliverance) draws near," and "when you see them happen the kingdom of God is near" (Luke 21:28,31). Jesus and Paul both taught that the proper way to wait for His return is to therefore be watchful, ready and sober. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. (1 Thessalonians 5:6) I wonder how many Christians today are really being watchful and are waiting for the Lord’s return or are they at ease in Zion. I can tell you this; I want to be ready when Jesus comes. How about you? Not one person can tell us with certainty what the weather will be like tomorrow except the one who is the maker of all things. But we can look at the sky, and make an pretty good guess about tomorrow's weather. Is it going to rain or is the sun going to shine? That is the same way with the Lord’s return.  Likewise, no one can tell us with certainly when the exact timing of Jesus' return will be except the one who is going to cause it to happen. God the Father Himself. If you are one of the many people who read this and just do not care you are in for a big surprise.

"And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold." (Matthew 24:12) Today, more and more people are living primarily for themselves and their own happiness. The idea of denying themselves, taking up their crosses daily and following Jesus (Luke 9:23) is a far-off idea to them. It is a concept that most do not understand because they have no time to pray, go to church, read the Bible, or seek God. There is no teaching in the homes and in most homes the TV has taken the place of the Bible. Family values are just about gone. At the same time, couples are divorcing at a alarming rate, and children are growing up in households with no supervision and with deep needs and as a result they are never met and dealt with in the wrong way. That leaves the children to solve their own problems. Most of the time it is solved by many couples, (and I’m not condemning no one)  not even marrying but just living together in fornication. (any form of sex not sanctioned by God and outside of marriage). The result, for the most part, has been the murder of hundreds of millions of innocent, helpless babies through abortion and even more children who are born and lack a strong and spiritual home where they can receive love and training from their own father and mother who are married according to God’s Word. I’m sure several people will be upset with me about that statement  but the truth is the truth. Parents use to go to church with there kids. The next generation did not go but sent the kids and now they do not even send them. Now in a big part of the homes there is only one parent. There will be a lot to answer for when Christ returns to this earth. If you are a saved soul then pray with all your hearts for your love ones. Make no mistake about it Jesus is coming and He is coming soon. I want to be ready. I want my family to be ready. Do you?

"And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom."(Matthew 24:6,7). The prospective for war grows day by day and forever looms before us. Many thought that World War 2 was the great war but I can assure you they have seen nothing yet. Are you ready. Terrorism grows bigger day by day and for the most part people look the other way. Most nations and people are giving into the terrorist. But I want to be like the three Hebrew children and Daniel who made it very plain they would not serve any other God. More nations have the atom bomb today than ever before and the list keeps growing. In some nations if you are a Christian you might not be thrown into a fiery furnace or put into a lions den but you can lose your head real fast for your Christian faith. It is happening every day. Most people could care less and that is because they have forsaken the Word of God and the teachings found therein. To them life is just one big party.The great falling away is upon us and soon time will be no more. You may care less for this writing, or the one who is writing it, or Jesus The Christ. But I can assure you soon and very soon every knee will bow at the Lord’s coming.

"And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows." (Matthew 24:7b,8). Due to flooding and droughts, world food supplies are running very low. Many people are looking for a world wide food shortage and famines in many places throughout the world. All kinds of infectious diseases are coming more quickly than ever before and spreading faster around the world than ever before, and they are becoming increasingly difficult to treat. Antibiotics are beginning not to work as they once did. An outbreak of any deadly virus or epidemic in one part of the world can now easily be spread to billions of people in other parts of the world due to increasing numbers of modern day air travelers. All things are lining up very quickly for when time will be no more. And then eternity awaits. Where will you spend your forever and ever at? With Jesus or will it be some place else.

Sunday, November 1, 2015

The Year Was1912

This is a excerpt from the sermon preached by the Bishop of Winchester, St. Mary’s Church, South Hampton on the Sunday following the sinking of the Titanic. “Life lessons from the Titanic disaster”
The year was 1912 and there wasn’t a Better ship on the ocean. Everything a ship designer could imagine was built into it. It was magnificent. It was enormous. It was the Titanic. Not only was it the biggest, it was sleek, fast and could not sink. Every proven safety feature went into its construction. It slid out from Liverpool, England, on a serene April morning headed for New York harbor. Its passengers basked in luxurious elegance, Lavished in its décor, menus, and entertainment, it surpassed the highest expectations of its passengers.
Three quarters into its maiden voyage – on the fringe of the Newfoundland’s frigid banks – the Titanic became a catastrophic nightmare. A deceptively large iceberg, detached from the polar ice fields, was drifting in the North Atlantic shipping lanes. The collision tore open the haul of the fabulous Titanic. Within two hours, before the dawn of April 15, 1912, the unsinkable Titanic plunged to its death four miles below the icy surface, taking with it 1500 passengers, most of the crew, and all its treasures.
Now let us look at the lessons from the tragedy:
  • “Not even God could sink the Titanic,” was the designer’s boast. We also have the deadly tendency to have excessive pride in our own resources. The Bible warns: Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18)
  • Even when the Titanic struck the iceberg, the crew and passengers were confident that the “small iceberg could do little damage. We are also deceived into thinking that sin is minor and of little consequence. The Bible warns of the consequences of sin: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
  • The sinking of the unsinkable Titanic illustrates the uncertainty of life and our need to be ready to stand before our Maker and Judge. The Bible urges you to be ready. Jesus tells a story about a wealthy farmer who said to himself: “Soul you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” But God said unto him, “Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?” (Luke 12:19-20)
  • This tragedy teaches a lesson of obedient response. Those aboard the doomed Titanic who responded quickly were saved. Those who ignored the warning perished.  The Bible spells out God’s urgent invitation to believe: Behold now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation.”  (2 Corinthians 6:2)
                                                                                       Credit to George Benes for parts of this article

In Today's Word What Are You Building?

  In a day of violence and God's impending wrath, what should a man of God be Building? Noah built an ark. In Noah's day, the earth ...