Matthew 24:1 “And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. 3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? 4 ¶ And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.”

What do you see? What is the future of our world? What have we come through to get to this place? Why was it so hard to get here? Why did we have to go through so many trials? we live in a free country that allows us to do what we can dream about. Then why is the world suffering so much? Looking around and seeing the truth makes me angry. Those that have are required to give to those that don’t. Jesus brought the disciples to the garden of Gethsemane. he showed them the temple and all the grounds. They ask about when to end of the world was. He told when the end would start. Jesus went there to pray that He wouldn’t have to suffer the cross. But He understood that this was God’s plan for Him. Finally, He accepted the cross with joy. He knew that it would restore the kingdom of God. Look around and see the world and what it has become. It is the beginning of sorrows.

1 John 1:5 “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

If we confess our sins, God will forgive us of our sins. This is the first step we take. When we asked Jesus into our life and to forgive us, it changes everything. God is the only one who can changed our hearts.

Proverbs 23: 7 “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:”

Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

Romans 2:3 “And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:”

You can’t get salvation on your own. If you want it, you have to seek God. You can’t change your heart. God knows who you are and what you need. But you have to come to the understanding that you are separated from God by sin. This is the beginning, then God will draw you to Him. Usually, a christian is praying for you, then God will move on the faith. If you confess your sins and ask Jesus to forgive you. God will hear your  prayer and forgive you sins. Then He come to live in you. This is how a person becomes a Christian. This is the first step in your life as a Christian.

2 Peter 2:13 “And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.”

When I first began to walk with God, I would see all the great miracles performed by either God and the Prophets. I would say to myself, I want to do that or that. Wouldn’t it be great to do those miracles. I asked God about doing those miracles and He said yes. He said first I have to be crossing a desert with 2 million people and being chased by the Egyptian army, or run into an opposing army by myself or living in the backside of a desert in the middle of a 3 year old famine. The miracles in the bible are for the people who are in the middle of the situation. God wants to give us have signs and wonders and miracles, but you have to understand. They are for the work of the kingdom. They are not performed as a sideshow to be entertaining. They are the tools for the work in the Kingdom of God. And you may have anyone of them that you need. All you have to do is ask.

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Luke 10: 17 “And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.”

1 Kings 19: 9 “And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. 11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: 12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. 13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?”

There is nothing more awesome than a lightning display. A summer electrical storm displays the sheer power of God. A lightning bolt has the power to incinerate anything it hits.  Uncontrolled lightning is so dangerous. Nothing in this world shows the power of God better. When I was 12 years old, the devil tried to kill me with a lightning bolt. It missed me by 6 feet. I can still remember every detail. It was about 10pm and a black night. I was at summer camp and there was no rain. The skies were clear. I just laid down in my tent on my bunk. I looked up and the sky became bright as day. Then the clap followed. I jumped up and knew that God had spared my life. God turns every thing to the good. Now when lightning strikes near me, I see if God wants to talk to me. Most of the time, He does. As with Elijah, God speaks in a still small voice. You must be quiet and listen, to hear him speak.

Mark 10:35 “And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. 36 And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? 37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. 38 But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”

Romans 5:6 “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

Do you remember when you first became a Christian? You were so excited to go to church and learn about God. You wanted to do what ever you could to further the Kingdom. Then the criticism came from “older” Christians and your fire began to wane. You had to make a decision to continue or not. If you continued you might get the left foot of fellowship or you could be part of the “group”. It was a hard decision because you loved Jesus for all that He did for you.

The Bible has always commanded us to follow after God. He said the way is narrow and straight and few find it. What do you do? Each person must decide what they are going to do. No one can make that decision for you. We are the image and likeness of God, having the knowledge of good and evil.

God woke me up with the scripture Matthew 20:20-23. John and James came to Jesus with their mother to ask a favor. They wanted to sit on the right hand and left hand of Jesus            when He entered heaven. Jesus told them that they don’t know what they are asking for. He asked them, “are you willing to be baptized into My baptism.”  They said yes. Then Jesus turned to me and said, ” Are you willing to be baptized into My baptism.” I knew what He meant and couldn’t give Him an answer right away. It took three days to count to cost and make up my mind. I have never regretted it. What would you decide to do?

2 Timothy 2:1 “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. 6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. 7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.”

I hear reports from different sources saying different things but all saying the same thing. We need more education so people can get better jobs. We need tougher laws to stop the criminals. We need gun control to stop the killing. We need better politicians to run the government. We more money to live a better life. We need, we need, we need, we need, and we need more.

In 1983, the U.S. Congress passed a law declaring the Year of the Bible in the United States. Gallup Poll took a survey of the American people to find out what they wanted the most. To everyone’s surprise, what the American people wanted was love, joy and peace, the first three gifts of the Holy Spirit. In that single year, the gross national product of the United States increased more than it had in the previous 20 years. Churches began to fill up and people recognized their need for Jesus. Christianity was accepted as the norm for American life.

Life isn’t controlled by the world. It isn’t money, power, greed, acquiring things, or controlling armies. What is so different from 1983 and now? There is no difference at all. But today everything is going to hell in hand basket.  “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” Look in the mirror and see the truth in your life. What do you see and can you say that you have endure hardness as a good soldier.

Matthew 16:1 “The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? 

Every year families gather together for the Christmas season. All wanting to be with their family and share the food and fellowship. My family, aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers and my mother and father would gather at one of the three sister’s home for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. As we got older, wives, sweethearts and children were added to the occasion. It filled our homes with laughter, loud talking, and the smell of food. We are nine first cousins ,all guys, and we played baseball outside. Mom and her two sisters planned these events every year without fail. When they started it included their aunts and uncles and my grandparents. Our celebration has dwindled to just my immediate family. Our lives went in different directions. We are scattered across the country. My whole family can be hard to take sometimes but they are my family. I love them very much. The only sister left is my aunt who is ninety-five years old. She doesn’t recognize alot these days. I went to visit her in the hospital and began to laugh and she said I know that is Crain. Jesus came to earth to give us hope and joy to live this life. We remember once a year the birth of our savior, but look around and see the people. They need the joy and hope brought to us by that little baby. Jesus came for people. It is the only thing that will leave this earth and go to heaven. Stop looking at this world and see the signs of the times.

Matthew 18:1 “At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”

Believing in something or someone is as simple as saying yes. Children do it all the time. They see something real and say yes. Their faith is as strong as any thing on earth. That is why Jesus said we must become as children to enter the kingdom of heaven. It doesn’t take anymore than the belief in Jesus for God to forgive us our sins. When Nicodemus was talking to Jesus, he couldn’t reason his way into heaven. How can a man be born again? God didn’t make it difficult to get into heaven, and people still argue with God about it. The faith of a child is all that is needed and you will enter the kingdom of God.

Joh 15:13 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

Rom.5:7-8 “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

When Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane, with His disciples to pray. He was going to face the biggest task that God layed out before Jesus. Jesus didn’t want to die but he knew that God’s plan wouldn’t go forward if he didn’t. The bible said Jesus sweat blood. It was the hardest decision he made on earth. Jesus prayed three different times for God to let him live. In the end He accepted God’s will for his life. Honor and Integrity is seeing the truth and choosing it even if it kills you. Jesus went to the cross with grace and joy. He knew that God’s plan would be fulfilled in his life and in ours.

Honor and integrity are two old fashion words that don’t seem to mean much these days. Many people lived and died by these words. I’ve always been taught that you say what you mean and mean what you say, honor and integrity. It is just like the difference between ethics and morals. Ethics are what you believe in the situation. Morals are doing what is right because it is right not because it is convenient. God’s word is the right thing to do. It is not always easy, but it has always been simple. People have faith in God because He has honor and integrity. God wants us to be able to learn from His word. So we will be able to live the life He has planned for us.