The Great Loss

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Solomon said, "Train." (Coach, Teach , Educate, Instruct, Guide, Prepare) He did not say Raise. We raise vegetables, but we train children. Feeding a child wholesome meals, providing warm clothing, giving them their own bedroom, and kissing them good night is not training. Most every species of animals on this earth does these things for their young. Training a child is planned instruction and discipline to form a everlasting character and wisdom in the fear of the Lord and knowledge of Scripture. That is training a child. "Two families from the state of New York were studied very carefully by J. Oswald Sanders. He wrote about them in his book called: “A Spiritual Clinic”. Below are the facts from that study.
                                                                                                                                                 Max Jukes was an not a believing man and he married a woman of the same moral fiber. Of the offspring and descendants of these two people, one thousand two hundred were studied. Three hundred and ten, of these descendants became skilled vagrants, hobos, homeless people, or beggars; four hundred forty actually wrecked their lives by wicked and depraved lifestyle; one hundred thirty were incarcerated for an average of thirteen years each, seven of them for murder. There were over one hundred  who became alcoholics; sixty became thieves over and over again; one hundred twenty became known prostitutes. Of the twenty who learned a trade, ten of them learned the trade in a state prison. It cost the state about $1,500,000 and the descendants made no contribution to society whatsoever.

About the same time the family of Jonathan Edwards as also studied. He was believer of God, who married a woman of the same character. The study should the following about Jonathan Edward's descendants: Three hundred, of them, became clergymen, missionaries, and theological professors; over one hundred became college professors; over one hundred became attorneys; thirty of them judges; sixty of them became medical doctors; sixty became authors of good quality classics; fourteen became presidents of universities. There were a lot of giants in American industry that came from this family. Three became United States congressmen and one became the vice president of the United States."

We must never forget the impact our life decisions will make...in our self, our marriage, and on our children. In ways you will never know in this life, When we raise a family we are, in fact, building a legacy that will last for generations! Most children (not all) of this generation are a mess. They are arrogant, haughty,  foolish, ignorant, immature, lazy, profane, rebellious, selfish, and wasteful. There is an clear and understandable cause for their personal and social dysfunction. Their parents were too busy, selfish, and lazy to train them. The consequences and cost of this are a generation of fools, which will bring about and produce more fools. Our nation's future is bleak, not only because of Washington, but because of some thoughtless parents.

If parents would train their children in Biblical ways there would be no abortion issue, a lot less children with no fathers or even knowing who they are, a lot less homosexuals parading the streets, a lot less church doors closing, and a stronger Christian nation. The sins that are running ramped across our nation would not be. We have a generation of kids that have grown up not knowing who God is and most of the Blame must be laid at the parents feet.  

We are told by some of our leaders that it takes a community to raise a child. Not so, it takes a Godly mother and father who will do their duty and train their children in the way of our Lord, show them the skills they need to be winners in this life. I’m not talking about all parents, just the biggest percentage of them. In closing remember this: IT IS THE FAMILY UNIT,  AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, THAT WILL MAKE OR BREAK THIS COUNTRY!

God Still Answers Prayer!

 "He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him." [Psalms 91:15]

As the monstrous storm, better known as Irene, approached my house I knew that it would take a miracle from God not to have any damage because I live in a woods and surround by large trees. The high winds and rain was coming and I had to get prepared. There was not much I can do about big tree falling on buildings.

So I come to the conclusion that I needed to call on the Lord. It was His divine help that I needed. I prayed and asked my Lord for His protection for my pets, my property, and myself. I knew that I needed His help if I was going to get out of this with no damage. So I prayed a simple prayer asking for Him to intervene for me. I know that God answers prayer because He has answered many of mine. As the storm got closer the rain came down like someone was dumping it from buckets. The wind was so bad one would think that the house, garage and everything would be gone. It was pitch black, dark, and you just could not see what was happening. Things were just bad.

The next morning I got up and looked out side and I must tell you: "God delivered me with a great deliverance"  As I looked out across my acre of property I saw not one tree down, not one tree on my house or garage. Only leaves and small branches were on the ground. The property to my right and to the left had trees down. There were trees down on the road in the front of my house and all up and down the road, but not a tree was down at my house or on my property! It was like the Lord parted the wind to the left and the right. What a mighty God we serve!

In Him is my trust. Thank you Lord for your deliverance in the time of my trouble! I give you all honor and Glory for your intervention on my behalf!

The Master Of The Sea

Now when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him.  And behold! A severe storm arose in the sea, so that the boat was covered by the waves; but he himself was sleeping.  Then they went and woke him by saying, “Lord! Save us! We are perishing!”  So he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” After he got up, he rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became absolutely calm. Then the men were astonished, saying, “What kind of a man is this One, that even the winds and the sea obey him?” [Matthew 8:23-27]

As I sit here waiting for this hurricane to come upon us and then pass, I started to think what last minute things that could be done. Do I have water, extra candles, oil for my lamps, does my charger work for my cell phone if the electric goes out. Am I prepared! When it comes to bad storms, hurricanes, and such, as we are having right now, we sometimes  take our chances with the weather conditions. During my many years on this earth I have seen many violent storms. Severe thunder storms in large numbers,  more times than I would care to count. Thunder storms that flooded large areas and destroyed homes, roadways, bridges and a lot of other things. Storms are just a fact of life.
We need to know how to stick out and survive these kinds of storms. Where to go for safety, what to get from the store, how to survive with no electric, no water, or what to do if we get hurt. There is always a lot of preparation. But what about the storms of this life? Serious illness. disease. accidents. tragedies, unemployment, lost retirement savings, death, loneliness, hardships, or all types of personal problems, and there are many more, just to mention a few. How do you weather the storms of life? We can see in the scriptures from Jesus our Lord and His twelve disciples how we can learn to weather the storms of life through prayer and faith.
A good number of Jesus’ disciples had been fisherman on the Sea of Galilee. They knew by experience that the Sea of Galilee was famous for its sudden storms. The storms suddenly, without warning, would sweep down over the water from the higher elevations of the nearby mountains and cliffs. The storm this time was remarkably furious. The high winds whipped up the sea into violent waves. The waves came over the side of the disciples’ boat, dumping huge amounts of water into the boat, almost swamping the boat, and throwing the disciples into the sea. The disciples were frightened and frantic.
While all this was happening Jesus was sleeping calmly in the back of the boat. A person might wonder how he could sleep so peacefully through such a storm while his disciples were so frightened. Here we see the faith of the man called Jesus. He got tired, in the flesh, and needed sleep, just like we do. He slept so calmly because he knew his heavenly Father was with him and watching over him. He just put himself into His Father’s hands, undaunted of whatever storm of life might sweep over him. If only we could remained so calm and trusting in our heavenly Father’s loving care through our storms of life.
Just like the disciples we can learn to turn to Jesus in our storms of life. What troubles or hardships or dangers have come upon us? How are we weathering them? Are they pleasant? Easy to cope with? No! When the storms of life are crashing down around our ears, they could be sorrowful, dreadful and agonizing. What do we do then to batten down the hatches? To bail out our sinking boat? To fight off the wind and the waves of the adversity, hardship, and dangers? We need to do what the disciples did called on the name of the Lord;  “Lord, save us from the storm. We are about to perish!”
Just like Jesus was with his disciples in the storms in their  life,  he is also, with us in our storms of life. He does not forsake us or leave us, to struggle in the storm alone. He is with us and He hear our calls for His help. He is always there to answer our prayers and our calls, in the midst of our troubles. “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”” [Psalm 50:15] In the our storms of our life we must rely on Jesus, our Lord,  to help us get through them.
This reliance must come from our faith in Him. Jesus will rebuke the storms in our life just like He did for His disciples. Just like them we had nothing to fear. Jesus was with them. He would not allow them to perish. Because of our Lord we can have no fear about the storms of this life. His almighty, powerful word is more than enough for calming any storm in our life. His word was commanding and authoritative. Jesus’ word was able to do what he said and commanded. The One who, during the six days of creation,  said, “Let there be,” and it was done, commanded the wind and waves he had created to be still and they were still.
How is our faith during the storms in our life? In the face of hardships and troubles and dangers is our faith strong and as solid as a rock? Or, is our faith no better than the faith of the disciples was in that boat? Would Jesus rebuke us also for our little faith?” Would he say to us, “O you of little faith, why are you so afraid?” How confident are we when we must undergo surgery? How strong are we when we have lost our job, have no income, and bills are piling up on us? How sturdy are we when the one we love so much is dying and change and loneliness are intimidating us? Do we have that kind of faith that will see us through the storm?
What can give us a faith that is positive, sure, strong, firm with no doubt, in our Lord’s word? We must believe that His word is authoritative,  reliable, dependable, and trustworthy. His word accomplishes what he commands and promises. He can say the word and still our storm of life. He can deliver us from danger with the power of His word. On that solid Rock we, as His follows, must stand!
Jesus has delivered His people (born again believers that are cover by the Blood) from the most vicious storm that could  threaten us, death and hell.  We know that He will deliver us from the minor storms of life that come upon us. Whatever the storm of life may be We must remember that Jesus is the Master of the sea.  

CAN YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE: Sure You Can!

 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”  And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.”  But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”  They said to Him, “We are able.” So Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.”  And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John. But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many .” [Mark 10: 35-45]

A wise Christian should know that true greatness is not a matter of great leadership, power, authority, or our high personal achievement or accomplishment. True greatness comes from our mind set and the attitude of our heart that desires and wishes to serve God’s purposes. Christians must be so committed to the Lord that we pursue His plans and His purposes on this earth without desiring any kind of glory, a great position, or material rewards. If we are truly Christians the greatest reward is to please our Lord!

How many of you can remember the Merv Griffin Show that came on TV years ago?  There was guest on that show that was a body builder. During the interview, Merv Griffin asked the body builder this: “Why do you develop those particular muscles?” The body builder did not answer but simply stepped forward and flexed a lot of muscles from his chest to his calf. The crowd in the audience applauded. “What do you use all those muscles for?” Merv Griffin asked again. Once again, the body builder flexed his biceps and triceps and made them grow to impressive proportions. Merv Griffin asked once again “What do you use those muscles for?”. The body builder was uncomfortable, embarrassed and in confusion he sat down. He could not answer the question Merv Griffin asked him.

Have you ever asked yourself ; What is the value of you being a Christian?  The answer to that is very simple! You’ve been created in Christ to make a difference.  God has giving you talents;  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. [Ephesians 2:10]  So how do you make a difference? How do you, the Christian,  use the muscles (talents) God has given you? Jesus answered that question for His disciples. They wanted to be important, and they wanted to be valuable, but sad to say but they misunderstood what that meant. The disciples felt that making a difference or being valuable to Christ was all about who they were and how great they were. Here is what they thought:

·        If only they could be important.

·        If only they could have a position of power. 

·        If only they could have a specially talent.

As far God is concerned, being His servant is more important than being a superstar and so, when Jesus chose His disciples - they were not the pick of the litter or the cream of crop. They were simply men He knew could be used to establish His kingdom. BUT THE PROBLEM FOR THEM was they didn’t think Jesus would want them as simple fishermen and laborers. They thought He would want men in positions of power and prominence. They were wrong!

Jesus taught the disciples that it isn’t who you are, or how powerful you are. It’s how open you are to servant hood. IN FACT, God deliberately doesn’t choose the powerful to do His will.  What type of people does Jesus want? People He can count on to be there.  Just Look at some of the people that God did choose and used:

• ü  Moses:  He stuttered.
• ü  David:  His armor did not fit. 
• ü  Hosea:  His wife was a prostitute. 
• ü  Jacob:  He was a liar.
• ü  David:  Had an affair with a married women.
• ü  Solomon:  Was too rich.
• ü  Abraham:  Was too old.
• ü  David:  Was too young.
• ü  Timothy: He had ulcers.
• ü  Peter:  He was afraid of death.
• ü  John:  was self-righteous.
• ü  Naomi: was a widow.
• ü  John Mark: He was rejected by Paul 
• ü  Paul: was the same as a hired gun, to help round up Christains. 
• ü  Jonah:  ran from God.
• ü  Miriam: was a gossip
• ü  Thomas: doubted.
• ü  Jeremiah: was depressed and suicidal.
• ü  Elijah: was burned out.
• ü  Martha: was a worrywart.
• ü  Samson: had long hair.

 

But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; ²⁸ and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. [1 Corinthians 1: 27-29]

The Lord does not choose on the basis of greatness, but on the basis of what He (The Lord) can do through us. Nothing in this world that is called great can be or will be used by the Lord. This does not mean that our Lord will not use a person with talent, a education, and a their ability.  It means that we must surrender all to be used by the Lord. It is His way and not our way. He is the potter and we are the clay. Gods standards and values are different from those excepted by the world. God chooses the people who will humble their self and submit to him. Are you one of them!

LORD PROP US UP...

Every time I am asked to pray, I think of the old fellow who always prayed, 'Lord, prop us up on our leanin' side.' After hearing him pray that prayer many times, someone asked him why he prayed that prayer so fervently. He answered, 'Well sir, you see, it's like this.... I got an old barn out back. It's been there a long time; it's withstood a lot of weather r; it's gone through a lot of storms, and it's stood for many years. It's still standing. But one day I noticed it was leaning to one side a bit. So I went and got some pine poles and propped it up on its leaning side so it wouldn't fall. Then I got to thinking about that and how much I was like that old barn.. I've been around a long time.. I've withstood a lot of life's storms. I've withstood a lot of bad weather in life, I've withstood a lot of hard times, and I'm still standing too. But I find myself leaning to one side from time to time, so I like to ask the Lord to prop us up on our leaning! side, ' cause I figure a lot of us get to leaning at times. Sometimes we get to leaning toward anger, leaning toward bitterness, leaning toward hatred, leaning toward cussing, leaning toward a lot of things that we shouldn't . So we need to pray, 'Lord, prop us up on our leaning side, so we will stand straight and tall again, to glorify the Lord.' ' If you stare at this barn for a second you will see who will help us stand straight and tall again...Do You See HIM?

THROWINGS STONES: While Living In A Glass House

John 8:3-5, 10-11 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?" 10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."

In these scriptures we have a woman caught in the right in the act of adultery, and brought into the very presence of the Lord. The Scribes and the Pharisees immediately exposed the woman's sin and her conviction was unquestionable. The ones that were her accusers wanted to stone her, to take her life, and use the law to condemn Jesus, because of their jealousy and their hatred of Him. But the Lord, in His kind and low keyed way, calmly and quietly wrote in the sand, and turned their hatred and extreme dislike into profound and deep conviction. The sin of adultery was condemned, but not the woman. The Lord  knows the very heart of every person. Makes no difference if it is man, woman, or child. Jesus did not come to this earth with a spirit of condemnation, putting the blame or his disproval on no one. Our Lord came with a spirit of grace and truth.

The whole world, just like the scribes and Pharisees, is convicted of sin in Jesus’ presence, But only the ones who really are thankful for His grace are filled with admiration and appreciation. Can you imagine how this woman must have felt? All she heard was voices of blame, accusation, and a guilty verdict. There was a lot of finger pointing and it all was at her.  Jesus didn’t help the turmoil along, but calmly watched what was happening.  Then He said:  "He that is without sin, let him cast the first stone." When no one cast that first stone, the Lord gave the convicted woman her liberty and freed her and restored her life to her, and said: "Go and sin no more."

When other people accuse you of sin, when you hear voices of rejection, when you are being condemned for the sin that may be in your life confess your sin (if there is any) and let Jesus expose the hearts and the sin in the life of your accusers. Remember we all are sinners saved by His grace!

   One of the problems in the church world today is there are to many stone throwers. People who think that they are above everybody else and because of their holier than thou attitude they try to condemn every little thing. They try to pull the moat out of some ones eye when they have a beam in theirs. These kinds of Christians run more people away from church than they do getting people into church.

Let me give you a up to date version of these Bible verses that really happen. My father who is now 86 years old told me the story of a young teenage girl who went to a church that was part of a large denomination. This girl became pregnant and was not married while she attended that church. Because of this the leading members put her out of the church. The women is now 75 years old or older and she never went into another church. How she now stands with the Lord I do not know. (I know this woman very well). The people, that put her out of the church are just as guilty as the “want to be stone throwers” in Jesus’ time. I wonder how many of them had sex outside of marriage or had thoughts about it before they gave their heart to the Lord? They forgot the beam that was in their eye!

THERE IS A RIVER

All through the history of the Bible and from cover to cover we see very plainly without no mistakes that our God always used a willing vessel that He could pour Himself into. That is a fact. When we or the church are in a place that we can be used of the Lord, He will always supply the river of blessings which God promises. The Christian needs not only to talk the talk, but he needs to walk the walk and have close fellowship with the Lord. A Christian needs to be full of the power and the presence of the Almighty God. When The Holy Ghost was poured out on the Day of Pentecost it was not poured out on everybody. It was, in fact, only poured out on 120 people and The Holy Ghost went from a small flow or stream ( The 120 people ) to a great river ( thousands and thousands upon thousands of people being saved and filled with the Holy Ghost), and The Word spread like a fire. There is a river my friends and that river shall never run dry! We as Christians must regain and take back what the canker worm has taken away. You can only use what anointing that you have and right now with most Christians, in most churches there is very little anointing or power. They can no longer say, "Silver and gold have I done, but such as I have I give unto thee. In the name of Jesus rise up and walk. There is no Holy Ghost power in most churches and all kinds of false doctrines, money yes, Holy Ghost Power no.

I'm going to now make a statement that I know that some of you will not agree with, but my friend it is the truth. The Devil can teach the Bible and as a angel of light he can twist the scriptures around to his benefit. This is the reason for all the false doctrines in the church. That is the reason why we must read our Bible daily and get into a good Bible believing church that teaches the true and correct Word of God. We need to return to the foundation and the corner stone of the Pentecostal movement and that is "JESUS CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED". It is that precious blood of Jesus which we need that He shed on Calvary's Cross for you and me. How precious is that flow that makes me white as snow. That is what the saints where about on the day of Pentecost. The 120 people, that day, were praising God and giving Him the Glory for the cross, which was for their salvation and their sanctification. They were not praising God for any other reason. They were all in unity. We cannot get three or four Christians in unity anymore , let alone the whole church. If we want to fight Satan and all his evil there must be a coming together in unity.

Those early Christians were not praying for a program where they could climb steps to reach a goal or for Him to help them get rich, because none of that will work. Our salvation and sanctification was paid at the cross and what a shame it is for preachers today to preach some other way. They are in fact are preaching another gospel and another Jesus. As long as this happens the Holy Ghost cannot work or flow like a river. As long as the carnal mind is at work in the church its members are powerless to detect, false teaching, the devil or his demons. The plain and simple fact my friend is that the church is by passing the cross and this is causing problems such as false teachers, false doctrine, and no anointing, and no power. So all we have is a weak church that the evil one, Satan, looks at and says, " Jesus I know and Paul I know, but who are you?" We need to wake up and go back to that cross and get a blood bath in that precious blood of Jesus. We need to cry out, " OH LORD SEND THE POWER DOWN! It is the Holy Ghost power that makes us over comers.

How many, that are reading this article, can remember the old time Camp Meetings and the Brush Arbors? It was at those meetings that many of us seen and can testify of how the power of the Holy Ghost came down to save, set free, heal, and baptize people. The power came down! The Lord visited His people. The biggest part of the churches, today, do not want this anymore. The Holy Ghost never stays where He is not wanted and let me say this, "The church today is grieving the Holy Ghost. It is time for the real church to stand up and pray for the Lord to send the power down now. 

The Hand Of Providence: In A Troubled World

Who among us knows if we have come into the world for such a time as this.  As Christians living on this earth we must realize that we are God’s people to carry out His will. We are living in a world today that brings many troubles and woes. High unemployment, corruption in our government, high food prices, people wanting to kill you because you are a follower of Jesus Christ. In such a time as this we must be ready to do the Lord’s will if we are called on to do so. We may say that we are unable to be of serve for many reasons. This is because of the lack of faith. Let us look at some true life Bible Stories that show God’s people doing God’s will when they were called on to do so. Just as some of us are today, they lived in very difficult times during their day 

Who knows whether you come into the kingdom for such a time as this. (Esther 4:14) NKJV In The Book of Esther we read of a young Jewess girl who was called on to save her people. She went from a person that had no mother or father and was living with her uncle, to being the Queen of Persia. One who had great influence over the king. The Book of Esther clearly shows the hand of providence, which would not allow the Jewish people to be destroyed.  We can clearly see throughout the book of Esther . Esther was willing to give her life in an attempt to save her people. She made up her mind to do what is right and leave the outcome to God.  What great faith she had when she said, “If I perish, I perish” In this day and age we face many people  are against you just because you are a follower of Jesus The Christ. We now are living in just as dangerous world as Esther did in her day. We have a religion that is now trying to take over the world. A religion that hates all Christians and Jews. They are doing a pretty good job of it. We must all stand up for our Lord because who knows which one of us have come into the world for such a time as this. Who knows the one among us that might be called on by the Lord to lead His people to victory just like it was in Esther’s day! 

Let us not forget Mordecai in this story of Esther. He was the person that God used to groom Esther for her position as queen. He was a Godly man, loyal to the king, but would not bow to evil. He took his stand and God honored him for it. Haman wanted to hang him and built a gallows to do that very thing, but the providence of God would not allow that. Today we have people (better known as terrorist) that would wipe Israel and other Christian countries right of the face of the earth. In the past in The USA, we have been blessed with presidents that helped to protect Israel, with one of those presidents, Harry Truman, being the leader who stood behind the Jewish people for them to have their own country. He said he wanted to be remembered for that one thing. Now we have a president that would, if he had the chance, reverse all that. Once again we can see the providence of God at work keeping Israel safe. Likewise we, as Christians, need to realize that it is the hand of God, His providence that is keeping us safe today. Even though most all Christians are loyal to their country (just like Mordecai was loyal to the king), we still have, for the most part, a leader and a congress that, that is made up of ungodly people. It is because of praying people that we are still found in the Hollow of His hand.  

In The Book of Genesis we read about a young man whose name was Joseph who went from being the younger son of Jacob, to being disowned by his brothers, to becoming a slave and then imprisoned in Egypt, to becoming the second highest official in the land of Egypt. In this position he saved his family from the famine in the land. Once again we can see the hand of providence as God takes care of His People. His divine guidance is always there for His people. The Lord worked through Joseph to save His people. There are times when we all feels like life, the world, and the things in it are out of control. A shooting is reported on the news. One more person has cancer. Someone we love is diagnosed with debilitating disease. A long term relationship crumbles. Someone we love dies suddenly. We lose a job. We face financial turnaround. We are falsely accused. Or we have one of those periods where nothing seems to go as planned. At these times life seems unpredictable just like Joseph felt in his day until he realized the truth behind what was happening to him.  God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your life by a great deliverance ( Genesis 45: 5,7 ) NKJV  

Let ‘s not forget about Moses, Samuel, Saul, David, John the Baptist, and the many others in the Bible that were (as some people saw them in that day) no bodies. They came into the world for a purpose designed by God. We will never know what we might be called on to do in our frail bodies for the Lord. We must remember that our power comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.  Are you one of those people in the world today that God has  called : For such a time as this” Can you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty. They are higher than Heaven – what can you do? (Job 11:7-8) NKJV

Sowing Seeds

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.  Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.  For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.  But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load. Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.  For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. [Galatians 6: 1-10]

No matter how far someone believes a brother or sister has gone astray and off course from the Lord, that brother or sister can always be restored and brought back to the Lord! It takes a earnest desire by the believer, help from other brothers and sisters in the Lord, and God’s forgiving Grace. The word “restore” in this scripture is used a lot in the New Testament for mending fishing nets. [Matthew 4:21] But in reference to people it means developing and perfecting the human character. Christians, today, must help their wayward brother or sister to mend and spiritually heal by helping them in their effort or attempt to turn from their disobedient ways, to surrender all to the Lord’s control. We must help our fallen brothers and sisters to repair and restore their devotion to the Lord. We must bear and share the burdens of our brothers and sisters. As Christians we need to understand (at least from my studying of the scriptures) that it is the actual concrete, and existing situations, not the emotional highs that are in one life, where the Holy spirit is demonstrated the most.

To go on further with this; we also need to help our brothers and sisters in the Lord {if we can} whenever they have stress from a financial burden, whenever there is sickness, sorrow, or despair. Not only are we to pray for this people, but we are to take care of their needs in tangible and practicable ways. If we are Godly people we will carry the burdens of other brothers and sisters in the Lord. We must do good to others for the Lord's sake and remember this, it is a given factor, in due time we will reap what we sow not only in this life, but the life to come!

If a Christian would walk in the Spirit and by the Spirit we would love one another more and more. We would bear one another’s burdens, by not lessening our task to restore a brother who has fallen back into sin. Also let me add this; if we would follow the scriptures, as we should, a lot of unkind gossip, hearsay, and tittle-tattle tales would be stayed away from, most backsliding prevented, the good of the Church advanced higher, and the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior, would be glorified. What gripes me more than anything else is when a person goes to church and there are people in the back of the church talking about some other brother or sister in the Lord, when they should be in the church’s prayer room praying for the needs of their brothers and sisters in the Lord.

When I was a sinner, I was lost and undone, without God or His Son until somebody prayed for me, they had me on their mind. Thank God for those kind of people in the church of the Living God today That will pour in the oil and the wine. The kind that restores the soul. There was many a preacher who passed me by the other way, many church goers that passed me by and gave me up for lost, but I thank God for the Christian that stopped by and poured in the oil and the wine that restored my soul!

We must remember this one fact; Whenever we hear negative talk about a brother or sister in the lord we are, in fact, hearing gossip. It could either be a half truth with more added on to it, every time the tale is told to another person. We may be close to the situation or the person but we may not know of the spiritual warfare going on there. Always keep the mind of Christ and always remember this; “consider thyself”. 

Spiritual Warfare: Or The Flesh

Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears: But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock. Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads. So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found. [1 Sam. 13:19-22]

This scripture from the Bible tells of a time when the tiny nation of Israel had no blacksmiths to make weapons or armaments to make war or to defend themselves with. The enemy had succeeded to disarm Israel by taking away their weapons, and those who forged them! The Devil is trying the same method or approach today. A blacksmith is someone who works with raw material and fire, and who knows how to form and shape liquid metal into powerful weapons. Anyone who works skillfully and accurately with the Word of God is a spiritual "blacksmith". The enemy, who is constantly attacking the Word of God (The Sword of The Spirit), also seeks to silence or remove the spiritual blacksmiths from this present world. If Satan could  get rid of the spiritual blacksmiths, of this world we would live in spiritual darkness!  

The Devil is always after the Spiritual Black Smiths of this world, The ones who will speak The Word, the ones who will warn the wicked, and those who will stand in the gap. The spiritual blacksmiths, with the fire and the anointing of the Holy Spirit forge the raw and untreated materials of God’s Word into influential and strong weapons which shape and mold God's people into His image and likeness, equipping them for spiritual warfare and success. We, as God’s Children, are all called to be strong in the Word of God, and to make it our main and foremost weapon in fighting the evils of this world. Just like the blacksmiths of old, as well as the blacksmiths in the world today, a spiritual blacksmith also started out as raw material which was shaped and formed by the fire of God to fight in the battle with Satan.  

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; [Ephesians 6: 10-17] NKJV

As Christians we must realize that are primary source of conflict is not with the circumstances in this life or other people who would make us mad and upset, but it is Satan and his evil spirits that truly are the main reason and cause of this worlds conflicts. Satan and his imps are the ones who influence, invigorate, and energize ungodly leaders. These demons are highly organized. They have had since Adam and Eve {or before} to get organized. We cannot fight ungodly leaders in our own strength, our own plans, or strategies, or tactics. Our help must come from the Lord. We must put on the whole Armor of God!

This is not to say that we are not to stand up for what is right. If the government is evil, our leaders are evil, or if we are living under an evil system, then just like the prophets of old did we need to speak out against it. But it is the Lord that fights the battles and we must remember that we are not fighting against a country, government, leader, or evil world system. We are fighting against evils forces in the spiritual world. To be over comers we are to have the Whole Armor of God on or we will be beat every time.  

In closing I want to remind all Christians everywhere all the resources we need, to defeat the enemy, come from Our Lord, who died for us. It is the same mighty power that raised Jesus from the dead that we need in our lives. Evil times are upon us and it is how you as the Christian deal with it as to the outcome! Spiritual armor or the blacksmith’s weapons. The choice is yours!