Have you ever wondered why things in life many times make no sense at all? Once again we learn of yet another senseless tragedy. As you know by now last Friday a deranged man in Norway went on a shooting rampage killing nearly 100 people saying afterward he was simply trying to save Europe then calmly pleaded not guilty. He now claims that two other groups of allies stand ready to join his murderous campaign. Once again we see someone acting out in a way that horribly defies any human logic or reason. How could someone ever do such a thing we wonder and ask ourselves will the madness ever end?
God has clearly revealed to us in his word that in the last days perilous times will come. The human condition will become so corrupt he will eventually have to bring judgment again to earth just as he did in the days of Noah. Here's what God revealed to us in the apostle Paul's second letter to young Timothy, "THIS KNOW ALSO THAT IN THE LAST DAYS PERILOUS TIMES SHALL COME. FOR MEN SHALL BE LOVERS OF THEIR OWN SELVES, COVETOUS, BOASTERS, PROUD, BLASPHEMERS, DISOBEDIENT TO PARENTS, UNTHANKFUL, UNHOLY, WITHOUT NATURAL AFFECTION, TRUCE BREAKERS, FALSE ACCUSERS, INCONTINENT, FIERCE, DESPISERS OF THOSE THAT ARE GOOD (2 Tim 3:1-3)." Does this sound familiar today?
As you know Noah was a prophet of God called in his day to warn the people of impending judgment. If they would listen to his message they would be saved but if not they would be destroyed. Look what God had to say about the condition of mankind in those days, "AND GOD SAW THAT THE WICKEDNESS OF MAN WAS GREAT IN THE EARTH AND THAT EVERY IMAGINATION OF THE THOUGHTS OF HIS HEART WAS ONLY EVIL CONTINUALLY. AND IT REPENTED THE LORD THAT HE HAD MADE MAN ON THE EARTH, AND IT GRIEVED HIM AT HIS HEART (Genesis 6:5-6)." The sin of Noah's day broke God's heart. Only Noah and his family were saved but the rest of mankind perished in the flood.
The people of Noah's day had become so sinful that they just wouldn't listen. He had provided a way of escape through one righteous man but they wouldn't hear. Many today continue ignoring the signs of the times in our day. And once again it is breaking God's heart. Look what Jesus himself had to say, "FOR AS WERE THE DAYS OF NOAH SO WILL BE THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN. FOR AS IN THOSE DAYS BEFORE THE FLOOD THEY WERE EATING AND DRINKING, MARRYING AND GIVING IN MARRIAGE, UNTIL THE DAY WHEN NOAH ENTERED THE ARK AND THEY WERE UNAWARE UNTIL THE FLOOD CAME AND SWEPT THEM ALL AWAY. SO WILL BE THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN (Matthew 24:37-39)." The King is coming again and he said to always watch and pray. Will we be ready that day or caught looking the other way?
Monday, July 25, 2011
Monday, July 4, 2011
Flagrant Lies Lasting Prize-Shawn Smith
Recently I sat on my couch with my favorite remote flipping through a myriad of channels looking for something in vain to temporarily escape reality. Eventually joined by my son in my quest for relief we began discussing the true meaning of life and just how far we've fallen in recent years as a nation. Are the messages infiltrating our homes today ones our American patriots would be proud of when they won independence for us over 200 years ago? Is this really the type of freedom they envisioned and were fighting for? Was their dream for us somehow to enjoy anything and everything anytime we please on the world wide web?
Sadly what were both once considered a positive source of information have increasingly become a smorgasbord of corruption and deceit. As we celebrate our independence today all across America I can't help but ask are we truly free? It seems we're now enslaved by an unseen enemy dressed in disguise and we've fallen for lies. We've been asleep in the light. It's time to arise and get our eyes on the prize. As believers we've been freely forgiven but do we really appreciate all we've been given?
Look what the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Philippi, "BRETHREN I COUNT NOT MYSELF TO HAVE APPREHENDED BUT THIS ONE THING I DO, FORGETTING THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEHIND, AND REACHING FORTH UNTO THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEFORE. I PRESS TOWARD THE MARK FOR THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS (Philippians 3:13-14)." In his day Paul overcame all the lies by eyeing an eternal prize! You and I today are facing an onslaught of deception and misinformation. Do we see our demise just where are our eyes?
Our freedoms here are now seriously at stake both as a nation and individually as well. Godliness is on the decline and only the truth will set us free. Look what Jesus himself had to say to the church in Laodicea one day and quite possibly to you and I and the church in America today, "I KNOW THY WORKS THAT THOU ART NEITHER COLD NOR HOT, I WOULD THOU WERE COLD OR HOT (Revelation 3:15). In his message he also counsels us to buy from him gold tried in the fire so we'll truly be rich! He then tells us to be zealous and repent. Deception today is clearly on the rise will we fight to win an everlasting prize?
Sadly what were both once considered a positive source of information have increasingly become a smorgasbord of corruption and deceit. As we celebrate our independence today all across America I can't help but ask are we truly free? It seems we're now enslaved by an unseen enemy dressed in disguise and we've fallen for lies. We've been asleep in the light. It's time to arise and get our eyes on the prize. As believers we've been freely forgiven but do we really appreciate all we've been given?
Look what the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Philippi, "BRETHREN I COUNT NOT MYSELF TO HAVE APPREHENDED BUT THIS ONE THING I DO, FORGETTING THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEHIND, AND REACHING FORTH UNTO THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEFORE. I PRESS TOWARD THE MARK FOR THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS (Philippians 3:13-14)." In his day Paul overcame all the lies by eyeing an eternal prize! You and I today are facing an onslaught of deception and misinformation. Do we see our demise just where are our eyes?
Our freedoms here are now seriously at stake both as a nation and individually as well. Godliness is on the decline and only the truth will set us free. Look what Jesus himself had to say to the church in Laodicea one day and quite possibly to you and I and the church in America today, "I KNOW THY WORKS THAT THOU ART NEITHER COLD NOR HOT, I WOULD THOU WERE COLD OR HOT (Revelation 3:15). In his message he also counsels us to buy from him gold tried in the fire so we'll truly be rich! He then tells us to be zealous and repent. Deception today is clearly on the rise will we fight to win an everlasting prize?
Monday, June 13, 2011
Comforting Shower Supernatural Power-Shawn Smith
Have you noticed lately that God's moving on the earth and in his people? Hopefully you've experienced him moving in your life personally lately in deep and powerful ways. That is my prayer for you. Recently after dropping my wife and daughter off at the airport I experienced that very thing. Usually for me it begins with a worship song and that's how it began this time as well. When I arrived home I felt an overwhelming sense of loneliness knowing how I'd miss them until the day when they would finally return. I also feel a similar pain and longing within often for family and friends who have moved on in life. I long to be reunited with them all one day in person as well.
Isn't that the way it is often for you and I as believers? If we really love the Lord we miss him dearly and long for his return. The closer we get to him the more we miss him and want to see him. He's done it all for us and we want to thank him and worship him in person at his feet. I eventually ended up that morning on my knees sobbing simply overwhelmed realizing just how much I would really miss them. It was through those tears I felt God's presence and comfort in a very powerful and wonderful way. He made himself real to me once again like only he can do!
I love what the apostle Paul wrote about the comfort God gives us in all our suffering in his second letter to the church in Corinth when he said this, "ALL PRAISE TO GOD THE FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. GOD IS OUR MERCIFUL FATHER AND THE SOURCE OF ALL COMFORT. HE COMFORTS US IN ALL OUR TROUBLES SO THAT WE CAN COMFORT OTHERS. WHEN THEY ARE TROUBLED, WE WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE THEM THE SAME COMFORT THAT GOD GIVES US. FOR THE MORE WE SUFFER FOR CHRIST, THE MORE GOD WILL SHOWER US WITH HIS COMFORT THROUGH CHRIST (2 Corinthians 1:3-5)." Paul goes on to say how that as a result of the overwhelming trouble he faced in Asia Minor he learned to patiently endure by relying totally on God who raises the dead!
I recently heard a powerful and humbling message by Ray Bentley. He's the Pastor of Maranatha Chapel in San Diego, CA. He was teaching on the suffering of the church in Smyrna. He shared with us how today in Tehran, Iran young Pastors there ministering in Evin Prison are suffering great persecution. They are risking their very lives for the sake of the gospel as are many others there in the region and around the world. Look what Jesus said in his letter to the church in Smyrna, "I KNOW ABOUT YOUR SUFFERING AND YOUR POVERTY BUT YOU ARE RICH. I KNOW THE BLASPHEMY OF THOSE OPPOSING YOU. THEY SAY THEY ARE JEWS BUT THEY ARE NOT BECAUSE THEIR SYNAGOGUE BELONGS TO SATAN (Revelation 2:9)." Please pray for the believers in Iran and those around the world as well being persecuted today for their faith. And whatever you're personally suffering today know he's there for you too! Trust in Jesus he loves you he'll see you through.
Isn't that the way it is often for you and I as believers? If we really love the Lord we miss him dearly and long for his return. The closer we get to him the more we miss him and want to see him. He's done it all for us and we want to thank him and worship him in person at his feet. I eventually ended up that morning on my knees sobbing simply overwhelmed realizing just how much I would really miss them. It was through those tears I felt God's presence and comfort in a very powerful and wonderful way. He made himself real to me once again like only he can do!
I love what the apostle Paul wrote about the comfort God gives us in all our suffering in his second letter to the church in Corinth when he said this, "ALL PRAISE TO GOD THE FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. GOD IS OUR MERCIFUL FATHER AND THE SOURCE OF ALL COMFORT. HE COMFORTS US IN ALL OUR TROUBLES SO THAT WE CAN COMFORT OTHERS. WHEN THEY ARE TROUBLED, WE WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE THEM THE SAME COMFORT THAT GOD GIVES US. FOR THE MORE WE SUFFER FOR CHRIST, THE MORE GOD WILL SHOWER US WITH HIS COMFORT THROUGH CHRIST (2 Corinthians 1:3-5)." Paul goes on to say how that as a result of the overwhelming trouble he faced in Asia Minor he learned to patiently endure by relying totally on God who raises the dead!
I recently heard a powerful and humbling message by Ray Bentley. He's the Pastor of Maranatha Chapel in San Diego, CA. He was teaching on the suffering of the church in Smyrna. He shared with us how today in Tehran, Iran young Pastors there ministering in Evin Prison are suffering great persecution. They are risking their very lives for the sake of the gospel as are many others there in the region and around the world. Look what Jesus said in his letter to the church in Smyrna, "I KNOW ABOUT YOUR SUFFERING AND YOUR POVERTY BUT YOU ARE RICH. I KNOW THE BLASPHEMY OF THOSE OPPOSING YOU. THEY SAY THEY ARE JEWS BUT THEY ARE NOT BECAUSE THEIR SYNAGOGUE BELONGS TO SATAN (Revelation 2:9)." Please pray for the believers in Iran and those around the world as well being persecuted today for their faith. And whatever you're personally suffering today know he's there for you too! Trust in Jesus he loves you he'll see you through.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Thank You For Visiting!
Greetings to you here in the US and to you in the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Poland, Russia, Canada, France, Iran, Germany, Sweden, Hungary, Denmark, Austria and the Netherlands! We're so glad you found us from wherever you are today. God loves you and he sent his one and only Son to prove it. We're saved by grace through faith in Christ alone not by works lest any man should boast. We're praying for you and for those nearest and dearest to you. Please visit our website to learn more about us and about God's love and plan for your life. We encourage you to read all of our recent blogs posted here at your leisure and we pray you are truly blessed by them. Thank you for visiting us may the LORD bless you and keep you and cause his face to shine upon you!
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Monday, April 18, 2011
Truly Risen Totally Forgiven-Shawn Smith
As believers we celebrate Easter Sunday this month all around the world rejoicing in all that God has done for us through His Son Jesus Christ. But before we can truly appreciate all he accomplished for us Easter morning we need to again seriously ponder the depth of his love while suffering for us all on good Friday. Nothing was good at all however about that day two-thousand years ago for Jesus as he willingly hung there in agony all day for you and for me. To appreciate his divinity we need to also understand his humanity. Jesus came to earth the first time as a sacrificial lamb fulfilling his Father's will completely totally surrendering his life. Jesus will return to earth a second time soon but this time he will appear as conquering King!
Because Jesus became sin for us we are now completely forgiven by putting our faith in him. Many today want to try and add to what he's already fully accomplished for us by his death on the cross. When he hung there for us God was demonstrating his love for the whole world to see through his Son hanging up on a tree! Nothing else was or is ever needed to fulfill God's requirement for salvation and so boasting is never allowed. Other religions require rigid fleshly sacrifices and legalistic observances. Thankfully and wonderfully not so for all true believers who know that they're totally forgiven because he's truly risen. There's nothing you or I or anyone can ever do to add to what Jesus has already done for us. Incredibly just before his last breath on the cross he said, "IT IS FINISHED (JOHN 19:30)." He died and rose again paying the penalty himself for all of our sin!
Did you know the apostle Paul said that there is a "crown" awaiting those who eagerly look for the appearing of Jesus Christ (2 TIMOTHY 4:8)? It's obvious then that those who don't believe that he rose from the dead sadly won't be watching for him. In fact Jesus wondered if he would find faith on the earth when he returned (LUKE 18:8). Many today are ignoring the many signs pointing to his return and are not preparing themselves to welcome him. Many also continue dismissing what Paul called a "mystery" in his first letter to the believers in Corinth. And to the church in Thessalonica where referring to believers who had died and also to those who will be alive Paul said this, "THEN TOGETHER WITH THEM, WE WHO ARE STILL ALIVE AND REMAIN WILL BE CAUGHT UP IN THE CLOUDS TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR. THEN WE WILL BE WITH THE LORD FOREVER (1 THESSALONIANS 4:17)."
Many today are distracted and deceived and they simply don't believe. Here's what Jesus himself had to say about his appearing one coming day, "BE DRESSED FOR SERVICE AND KEEP YOUR LAMPS BURNING, AS THOUGH YOU WERE WAITING FOR YOUR MASTER TO RETURN FROM THE WEDDING FEAST. THEN YOU WILL BE READY TO OPEN THE DOOR AND LET HIM IN THE MOMENT HE ARRIVES AND KNOCKS. THE SERVANTS WHO ARE READY AND WAITING FOR HIS RETURN WILL BE REWARDED. I TELL YOU THE TRUTH HE HIMSELF WILL SEAT THEM, PUT ON AN APRON, AND SERVE THEM AS THEY SIT AND EAT. HE MAY COME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT OR JUST BEFORE DAWN. BUT WHENEVER HE COMES HE WILL REWARD THE SERVANTS WHO ARE READY (LUKE 12:35-38)." Will we be ready that day or distracted caught looking the other way?
Because Jesus became sin for us we are now completely forgiven by putting our faith in him. Many today want to try and add to what he's already fully accomplished for us by his death on the cross. When he hung there for us God was demonstrating his love for the whole world to see through his Son hanging up on a tree! Nothing else was or is ever needed to fulfill God's requirement for salvation and so boasting is never allowed. Other religions require rigid fleshly sacrifices and legalistic observances. Thankfully and wonderfully not so for all true believers who know that they're totally forgiven because he's truly risen. There's nothing you or I or anyone can ever do to add to what Jesus has already done for us. Incredibly just before his last breath on the cross he said, "IT IS FINISHED (JOHN 19:30)." He died and rose again paying the penalty himself for all of our sin!
Did you know the apostle Paul said that there is a "crown" awaiting those who eagerly look for the appearing of Jesus Christ (2 TIMOTHY 4:8)? It's obvious then that those who don't believe that he rose from the dead sadly won't be watching for him. In fact Jesus wondered if he would find faith on the earth when he returned (LUKE 18:8). Many today are ignoring the many signs pointing to his return and are not preparing themselves to welcome him. Many also continue dismissing what Paul called a "mystery" in his first letter to the believers in Corinth. And to the church in Thessalonica where referring to believers who had died and also to those who will be alive Paul said this, "THEN TOGETHER WITH THEM, WE WHO ARE STILL ALIVE AND REMAIN WILL BE CAUGHT UP IN THE CLOUDS TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR. THEN WE WILL BE WITH THE LORD FOREVER (1 THESSALONIANS 4:17)."
Many today are distracted and deceived and they simply don't believe. Here's what Jesus himself had to say about his appearing one coming day, "BE DRESSED FOR SERVICE AND KEEP YOUR LAMPS BURNING, AS THOUGH YOU WERE WAITING FOR YOUR MASTER TO RETURN FROM THE WEDDING FEAST. THEN YOU WILL BE READY TO OPEN THE DOOR AND LET HIM IN THE MOMENT HE ARRIVES AND KNOCKS. THE SERVANTS WHO ARE READY AND WAITING FOR HIS RETURN WILL BE REWARDED. I TELL YOU THE TRUTH HE HIMSELF WILL SEAT THEM, PUT ON AN APRON, AND SERVE THEM AS THEY SIT AND EAT. HE MAY COME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT OR JUST BEFORE DAWN. BUT WHENEVER HE COMES HE WILL REWARD THE SERVANTS WHO ARE READY (LUKE 12:35-38)." Will we be ready that day or distracted caught looking the other way?
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