Social networking via Facebook, MySpace, as well as many other forums and discussion groups opens a new world of opportunity and possibility for those willing to engage themselves in this exciting form of friendship and fellowship. I have made many new friends through the use of this medium. Many of them have been more of a friend than they'll ever know until I meet them face-to-face in heaven.
I got to thinking about all of the friends I've acquired yet never met in person. I thought of a particular one who sent me a message saying I didn't know her, but God placed me on her heart and she was praying for me. She had no idea I was going into a meeting that afternoon which had the potential to change my future drastically.
I thought of another friend, whom I've come to know as a sincere prayer warrior. She saw my profile picture and sent a message saying God had told her to pray for me. She had no idea that I was to preach one of the hardest, yet strongest messages I've ever preached that night.
I've requested and made many friends, many more than have rejected or "ignored" my requests. I've received many requests for friendship. I joked with a dear sister in my home church, "I accept 'em all and preach to them all the same!" Some choose to stick around, some choose to "defriend" me.
I couldn't help but think in the wee hours of the night what would I be if Jesus decided he needed a recommendation from one of his friends before accepting me as I am. Yes, I mean as I am, not as I was. I'm flesh and blood. This flesh and blood still possesses a strong will. My Friend, Jesus, accepts me still. If he accepts me as I am, there's no doubt he'll accept you as you are.
A close circle of dear friends is a cherished possession. Each of us should have an inner circle of friends upon whom we can call on, lean on, and trust in. These are "prized" friendships indeed. Yet even Jesus exposed himself to the masses. He even touched the lepers thus making himself "unclean". He even called to and touched this leper requesting me to be his friend.
I am a friend of God. What a glorious honor! What a tremendous witness! I am a friend of God. God continually requests our friendship from the moment of our existence.There are only two choices. The ignore button doesn't work for this request. You will either accept it or you are rejecting it.
Allow me to pass along a recommendation from a friend and brother whom I've never physically met. His words of recommendation have endured the test of time.
"O taste and see that the LORD is good (Ps. 34:8 KJV)."
I highly recommend all humanity accept the friendship request of the Lord. I have tasted and I have seen, my God, my Friend, he is good. God bless...
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Rivers of Water
"Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law (Ps. 119:136 KJV).
This world is a wicked place. We're surrounded by wickedness. We're bombarded daily with wickedness. How many in today's culture know what the Holy Bible really says? How can an evil world keep laws it doesn't know?
This world is full of Christians, yet not one will deny this world is an evil place. It's easy to speak of the evil. It's easy to point out the evil. Yet why is doing something about it so hard?
The psalmist David was grieved to his core because humanity of his day disobeyed the law of God. The man who left the world some of the finest poetry ever penned poured his heart out to God because of the wickedness of humanity.
Jeremiah grieved deeply over the iniquity of his people. He prophesied it then watched his prophesies fulfilled as his people were carried away captive. This is what he said...
"Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people. Mine eye trickleth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission, Till the LORD look down, and behold from heaven (Lam. 3:48-50 KJV)."
When's the last time you shed a tear for the wickedness of humanity, Christian? When's the last time the grief and the sorrow of the wickedness drove you to your knees in intercession for the lost, Christian? Who among us is willing to shed rivers of water for the lost until God in Heaven beholds our tears?
The story of Job is a great one. He suffered tremendously. He endured, maintained his character and integrity with God, and God poured out a double-portion blessing on him in the end. But the blessing came only after Job interceded for the sin of his friends.
Christian, will you do as the label you bear implies? You see, even Christ grieved and shed rivers of water for the sin of his people (Lu. 19:41-42). Let's intercede for the sin of the land. Let's reach out to those trapped in the sin of the land. Let's win a soul for Christ. God bless...
This world is a wicked place. We're surrounded by wickedness. We're bombarded daily with wickedness. How many in today's culture know what the Holy Bible really says? How can an evil world keep laws it doesn't know?
This world is full of Christians, yet not one will deny this world is an evil place. It's easy to speak of the evil. It's easy to point out the evil. Yet why is doing something about it so hard?
The psalmist David was grieved to his core because humanity of his day disobeyed the law of God. The man who left the world some of the finest poetry ever penned poured his heart out to God because of the wickedness of humanity.
Jeremiah grieved deeply over the iniquity of his people. He prophesied it then watched his prophesies fulfilled as his people were carried away captive. This is what he said...
"Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people. Mine eye trickleth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission, Till the LORD look down, and behold from heaven (Lam. 3:48-50 KJV)."
When's the last time you shed a tear for the wickedness of humanity, Christian? When's the last time the grief and the sorrow of the wickedness drove you to your knees in intercession for the lost, Christian? Who among us is willing to shed rivers of water for the lost until God in Heaven beholds our tears?
The story of Job is a great one. He suffered tremendously. He endured, maintained his character and integrity with God, and God poured out a double-portion blessing on him in the end. But the blessing came only after Job interceded for the sin of his friends.
Christian, will you do as the label you bear implies? You see, even Christ grieved and shed rivers of water for the sin of his people (Lu. 19:41-42). Let's intercede for the sin of the land. Let's reach out to those trapped in the sin of the land. Let's win a soul for Christ. God bless...
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Shepherds and Lost Sheep
This Bible verse shook me to my core this morning...
"My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace (Jer. 50:6 KJV)."
Could it be the Lord God is passing an indictment on humanity? In its original context this indictment was passed on the nation of Israel and its leaders. So in an overall sense, the lost sheep are all of humanity and the shepherds are the leaders of humanity. There's no secret that our present world is a dark, idolatrous place. It's no secret that humanity is wandering like lost sheep moving from sin to sin.
However, let's go ahead and bring this into the realm of what is called Christianity...
Christian radio is engulfed in the political landscape of America. I can't make reference to Christian television because I don't watch television. But my email inbox is flooded daily with emails desiring me to get involved in this political cause or that political cause.
Prophets and prophetesses are springing up all over the land. One prophesies one thing while another prophesies exactly the opposite. It's really not much different than in the days of the prophet Jeremiah. How many of these modern spokespersons for God would be willing to stand to the end for the words coming from their mouths and face death by being cut in half? Jeremiah did.
Modern Christianity is deeply entrenched in American consumerism. Shepherds refuse to speak out against sin because of its negativity. Shepherds back away from preaching godly morality because it will offend the sheep. So the sheep are led from mountain to mountain, idol to idol, sin to sin.
It's the last statement of Jeremiah 50:6 which troubles me deeply...
"They have forgotten their restingplace."
David writes in Psalms 23:2, "He maketh me lie down in green pastures." The sheep are tired. They're worn out. Shepherds tickle their ears and lead them to another mountain promising rest.
Yet there is hope. We have this promise...
"For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search out my sheep, and seek them out. (Eze. 34:11 KJV)."
How is God going to do this? Through the voices men and women committed to the sacrifice of seeking those lost sheep. Who is willing to join with me to proclaim the day of salvation to the lost sheep? Who will join with me and commit to leading the lost sheep back to the true place of rest, the Lord Jesus Christ?
The only way we'll "get America back" is to search out and find the lost sheep by proclaiming salvation in the name of Jesus Christ. There is no other name that has the power and the authority to save humanity from sin. God bless...
"My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace (Jer. 50:6 KJV)."
Could it be the Lord God is passing an indictment on humanity? In its original context this indictment was passed on the nation of Israel and its leaders. So in an overall sense, the lost sheep are all of humanity and the shepherds are the leaders of humanity. There's no secret that our present world is a dark, idolatrous place. It's no secret that humanity is wandering like lost sheep moving from sin to sin.
However, let's go ahead and bring this into the realm of what is called Christianity...
Christian radio is engulfed in the political landscape of America. I can't make reference to Christian television because I don't watch television. But my email inbox is flooded daily with emails desiring me to get involved in this political cause or that political cause.
Prophets and prophetesses are springing up all over the land. One prophesies one thing while another prophesies exactly the opposite. It's really not much different than in the days of the prophet Jeremiah. How many of these modern spokespersons for God would be willing to stand to the end for the words coming from their mouths and face death by being cut in half? Jeremiah did.
Modern Christianity is deeply entrenched in American consumerism. Shepherds refuse to speak out against sin because of its negativity. Shepherds back away from preaching godly morality because it will offend the sheep. So the sheep are led from mountain to mountain, idol to idol, sin to sin.
It's the last statement of Jeremiah 50:6 which troubles me deeply...
"They have forgotten their restingplace."
David writes in Psalms 23:2, "He maketh me lie down in green pastures." The sheep are tired. They're worn out. Shepherds tickle their ears and lead them to another mountain promising rest.
Yet there is hope. We have this promise...
"For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search out my sheep, and seek them out. (Eze. 34:11 KJV)."
How is God going to do this? Through the voices men and women committed to the sacrifice of seeking those lost sheep. Who is willing to join with me to proclaim the day of salvation to the lost sheep? Who will join with me and commit to leading the lost sheep back to the true place of rest, the Lord Jesus Christ?
The only way we'll "get America back" is to search out and find the lost sheep by proclaiming salvation in the name of Jesus Christ. There is no other name that has the power and the authority to save humanity from sin. God bless...
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Reflections of the Journey
A friend asked me the other day to keep her updated about the journey God is leading me on. This request caused me to stop and think about where I've been and where it is I'm going.
"Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee (Jer. 1:5 KJV).
God knew me before I ever existed.
"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also (Jn. 14:2-23 KJV)."
God knows the destination of this journey.
"And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know (Jn. 14:4 KJV)."
I know the final destination of this journey. I have the directions, the map, of how to get to the final destination of this journey. I know the path which I must take to reach the final destination of this journey.
The final destination of this journey is eternity. The map of directions is clear. The path, the way, we will take to reach eternity is known.
There are two locations in eternity. There are paths leading to each location. There is only one map. The paths are clearly marked. The locations are clearly identified. Location one is eternal life:
"I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (Jesus, Jn. 14:6)."
The journey to the location of eternal life must go through the Lord Jesus Christ."
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12 KJV)."
Jesus Christ is the only Path, the only Way, to eternal life. Any other path, any other way, any other direction will lead to the other location, eternal death. The map of directions clearly distinguishes between the Path to life and all paths which to eternal death.
You are taking this journey to eternity whether you think you are or not. You are on a path leading to one of the two locations in eternity. You can't ignore it. You can't delay it. You have made your choice.
What makes this journey unique is that while you're traveling, you can change the choice of your final location in eternity. But you must always remember, there is only one Path to life.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (Jn. 3:16 KJV)."
God bless...
"Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee (Jer. 1:5 KJV).
God knew me before I ever existed.
"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also (Jn. 14:2-23 KJV)."
God knows the destination of this journey.
"And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know (Jn. 14:4 KJV)."
I know the final destination of this journey. I have the directions, the map, of how to get to the final destination of this journey. I know the path which I must take to reach the final destination of this journey.
The final destination of this journey is eternity. The map of directions is clear. The path, the way, we will take to reach eternity is known.
There are two locations in eternity. There are paths leading to each location. There is only one map. The paths are clearly marked. The locations are clearly identified. Location one is eternal life:
"I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (Jesus, Jn. 14:6)."
The journey to the location of eternal life must go through the Lord Jesus Christ."
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12 KJV)."
Jesus Christ is the only Path, the only Way, to eternal life. Any other path, any other way, any other direction will lead to the other location, eternal death. The map of directions clearly distinguishes between the Path to life and all paths which to eternal death.
You are taking this journey to eternity whether you think you are or not. You are on a path leading to one of the two locations in eternity. You can't ignore it. You can't delay it. You have made your choice.
What makes this journey unique is that while you're traveling, you can change the choice of your final location in eternity. But you must always remember, there is only one Path to life.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (Jn. 3:16 KJV)."
God bless...
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