If This Were the Day...Just How Ready Would You Be.?

If This Were The Day...Just How Ready Would You Be?

By David Brenneman 

"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord." 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 NASB 

Many men have preached the coming day of the Lord Jesus Christ in over 2,000 years.  

In recent days Dr. David Jeremiah's theme series has been along the lines of this could be that day. 

If indeed you are a Christian, a Christ-follower, this day indeed wouldn't overtake you like a thief.  1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 NASB "5 Now as to the periods and times, brothers and sisters, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction will come upon them like labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, so that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then, let’s not sleep as others do, but let’s be alert and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who are drunk, get drunk at night. But since we are of the day, let’s be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you also are doing."

We also read in Romans 8:1-2 NASB "Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death."

For Believers who are alive today, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, we could be with Jesus at His coming. 1 Corinthians 15:52 NASB "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed." This doesn't contradict 1 Thessalonians because Paul was writing about the same thing.  

Each day that I live I wonder if indeed this is that day. I have believed from the very beginning of my life in Christ Jesus that the Rapture of the Church would happen in my lifetime. I do believe as completely as I believe that the chair that I am sitting in is real that He is coming soon. 

The importance is too great upon way too many Godly Men to preach the coming day of the Lord Jesus Christ for it not to be soon.  This is the work of the Spirit of God.  I strongly suggest continuing to follow my blog here, as well as http:\\ptnews.org with Mike Wingfield.  

There's still people to be reached for the harvest is still there.  But that still isn't a reason to not believe that this could be that day.  From the beginning of the Church they looked for the day.  But Biblical prophecy hadn't come true yet regarding Israel. In the last 70 years most of the prophetic Word of God concerning Israel has come about.  There are people being trained in Temple service right this very moment in Israel. They are preparing to build the new Temple.  There's much to point to that the Ezekiel 38 war is potentially ready to begin within 6 months to a year. 

For those who claim to be Christians, are you living a life that says you are ready to meet Jesus face-to-face?  Are you living an unashamed life?  One that shows to whom you belong?

For those who are on the fence about believing in Christ Jesus for salvation. It is a matter of faith, not necessarily facts, that is what is needed.  You may say you need more proof.  Truth is, like the people of Jesus’s day, more than ample proof has existed in your life to know the truth.  Some of you have yet to understand that Satan owns the fence of indecision. He created that fence of doubt that you sit on. Providing questions that you already know the answers to.  He began a few thousand years ago with Adam and Eve by asking them if God really said something. He tried with Jesus for 40 days in asking Him about what God really said.  

Jesus, when He does return, is only calling out to those who do believe who have died in Christ already and to those who are alive and remain.  He's not going to shout out "Last call! Anybody else?".

There's not going to be any warning. Nothing happening just prior to this event. There indeed will be an earthquake afterwards. A global earthquake. My personal thought is the collective shout of joy for all who have been saved in Christ Jesus will cause it. 

Many of you keep thinking that you've got time.  Stop and consider all in the news lately who have died. All thought they had time. I have shared of a story of the husband of a friend who all he did was stand up to get more coffee and fell over dead. No warning. 

You can be among those who are angry at God concerning something that happened to you or someone who you know.  You could be upset because of what God's Word says doesn't fit with your lifestyle.  Being mad at God and refusing to come to Christ for salvation will only get you the judgment of God. You have to let go of your baggage. Time is running out. 

Those people left behind, your life will be horrific. Catastrophes await this world after those who are saved are instantly removed.  Plane crashes, accidents with every type of vehicle, disaster after disaster.  Recovery will be the way of life. The global economic crisis will cause a new World Government to cope with it. A World Leader will arise that you not only will be forced to accept, you will be forced to worship. The currency of this world will become united into one. You will be forced to take a mark on your hand or your forehead. Even in this very moment Mastercard is testing a method of payment that uses a version of this.

Add to the catastrophe of the Rapture of the Church the judgments of God from the Bible. People rage and complain about the millions who have died in recent years, billions will die from the judgments of God.  After the Rapture there's only 7 years of all of this until Jesus sets foot on the Earth to take over and rule on Earth Himself.  

All who have still rejected Him for salvation who have died in those 7 years will be in Hell.  Those who remain will find out what the Earth would have been like with Jesus as Ruler and King.  

Rejection of Jesus as your personal Savior guarantees you that you will spend eternity paying for your own sins.  It doesn't matter what your personal opinion is concerning God's judgment or justice.  He has put His free gift of Salvation out there for a limited time.  

To come to Christ for salvation is freedom to truly live. It's His removing our sin and guilt and replacing it with His righteousness.  It matters not what you've done, what He's done can wipe it all away.  

You cannot afford to be indecisive.  As Scripture says in the twinkling of an eye. Faster than the speed of thought, the Rapture will happen.  Jesus loved you enough to die for you. Romans 10:8-13 NASB says "But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

My Dear Reader please do not delay.  Today COULD BE that day.  

When We Go Our Own Way

When We Go Our Own Way 

by David Brenneman 

We are indeed free in Christ Jesus with the ability to choose to obey or not.  That freedom came from the cross of Calvary. 

Discernment is for sure something to pray for in your life. Understanding is to be prayed for along with it. 

We often think the wrong things when life isn't going to 'plan'. Some who are Christians actually call such things as bad luck. Some even call it karma.  The truth is better to be said and considered rather than coating the facts to appease our conscience. 

Spiritual warfare does exist and if you are a Follower of Christ Jesus you can be in the throws of it. 

Simply choosing to disobey will certainly bring its own brand of trouble. 

There are times when we are indeed being instructed by the Spirit to let go of things, people or places in our lives and we don't.  

The faith that Jesus was wondering if He would find upon returning is upon us to have in use.  The Scriptures say that to each a measure of faith has been given. 

Romans 12:3 NASB "For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith."

But when we don't use it our hearts get hardened.  We don't see it right away but it slowly happens in a Believer's life when obedience isn't the norm.

We can do many things that keep our minds off of being sensitive to the Spirit of God.  We can "turn up the volume" in our lives to drown Him out. 

We can be so busy living for self, selfish ambition, self growth, self this or self that. We can redirect our passion towards what amounts to idolatry.  Which in reality is indeed serving other gods even if our minds refuse to refer to them as such. 

Where do your passions lay?  Where does your mind repeatedly wander to?  Does it wander or is it steadfast on obeying God?

When we go our own way we likely are not going where God wanted us.  

My mind battles often between knowing the necessary things of life and the futility of a life lived for me. I can indeed push for a higher education, for certain possessions. But why?  I am reminded of the imminent return of Jesus.  Is what my desires are focusing on going to bring about what God wants or what I want?  

No where in the Bible does it say that a retirement is part of the life of a Follower of Christ Jesus.  At least four "pillars of the faith" in my life strive or had striven to live out their faith every single day.  One who was called home by God was still writing papers the day before he passed.  The other 3 are always living life as if today could be the day of Jesus Christ returning.  They want to be found by Him doing what they were called to do. 

Every Believer has the responsibility to live as if today were the day of His return. 

We are to be working the deeds of righteousness. We are to be living for Jesus. Many don't see the depth of the truth to denying self, taking up their own cross, and following Jesus. 

Just look at the Old Testament. When the children of Israel obeyed life was better than they could have dreamed of. When they got complacent life became increasingly difficult. When they got to where they gradually left serving God out of their lives life became oppressive. 

We were given choice at the cross of Jesus Christ.  At the same time we were also beginning our lives in Christ that we will give an account of before Jesus. 

When your life is reviewed, when your works done in the body are burned away, will anything be left to show you were a follower of Christ Jesus?  

We indeed may be living the life right now. 

We may have cars, houses etc. But do we live for self or for Jesus?  We were challenged a few months ago to look at the approximate 42 hours left in our week.  To see where our time went.  What does yours look like?  Is it in service to you or to God?

Is what you do including Jesus in your life?

Matthew 6:1-8 NASB "“Take care not to practice your righteousness in the sight of people, to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.

So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, so that they will be praised by people. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your charitable giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

And when you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they will be seen by people. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 6 But as for you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

And when you are praying, do not use thoughtless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him."

We can easily pursue self and get our reward here rather than on that day and have nothing to give back to Jesus for all He’s done for us.

Colossians 3:1-11 NASB "Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

Therefore, treat the parts of your earthly body as dead to sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, rid yourselves of all of them: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you stripped off the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self, which is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created it—a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, and free, but Christ is all, and in all."

Be sure of your motivation in life. Be sure of what had your attention needs your attention. Be sure you aren't where you aren't growing in your sanctification.

It isn't about warming a seat in a church building. It's serving and growing in Christ Jesus in accordance with His Will and Word. 

No matter your age, if indeed you are in Christ Jesus, you are part of His body and have a role and responsibility.

God's Plans Aren't What I Wanted

God's Plans Aren't What I Wanted 

In this second post today God's evidently got a message for someone out there...

It's true that more often than not what happened in my life isn't remotely what I was looking for in my life. Pretty much what God did or allowed to happen was nothing close to what I was after.

Then again look at this question of plans differently.  What if His plans cause other Believers to get upset with you when you obey, go and do?

What if it's God who's the one who offended me?  

First things first.  He is God and we are not. When we came to Christ we gave up any ideas of how our lives were going to be.  Including if what He has in mind isn't 'us'.

Indeed God does know our hearts.  Jeremiah 17:10 NASB "I, the Lord, search the heart,

I test the mind, To give to each person according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds."

God knows what we are like. Yet in regards to life we who are in Christ fall under the same umbrella of "disciple".  We need to understand what that means.  It means we give up living life the way we see fit in order to learn a way of life that the Spirit sees fit for us. 

1 Corinthians 12:4-13 NASB "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

For just as the body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit."

The Spirit places us in the body of Christ where we will be the most effective. 

It's also been said, and wisely so, that quite often we are only in the lives of others for a season.  

So who decides that? Read between the lines of 1 Corinthians 12 that we just read. 

When you get upset that someone moved away, are you setting your interests on you or on what the Spirit is doing?

Peter was rebuked for putting his interests ahead of God’s interests. We would be exceedingly arrogant to not think we couldn't fall into the same trap. 

To some, things like life not happening the way they wanted, its why they fell away from God. 

To some, a major change by God, caused them to stop seeking to serve. They were 'burned' and now no longer walk with Jesus as they used to.  Some have been shipwrecked in their faith.  Life in all intents and purposes has been about existing rather than living. They essentially live in the past, in their memories. They collect back the things of their childhood. 

Some intentionally avoid Church all together. They don't like what God permitted or ordained to happen and they're upset about it but won't tell God that's what is wrong.  It comes back to unconfessed sin. Scripture says that he who knows the good he ought to do and does not do it, sins.

Has my life turned out as I hoped for? My Dear Reader, I will admit there's things in my life that I probably would have liked to do and will not be doing. Does that mean that God doesn't care about what I wanted? No. Not at all. What I wanted doesn't fit into His plans for mankind.  

I know of people who won't outright say that God's plans for us upset them, but the evidence points to the fact that they are upset.  It's between them and God. The Great Commission begins with "Go". Doesn't say go if your family is ok with it. Doesn't say go if your friends are ok with it.  Doesn't say anything but to imply obedience. Just go where you are to go when you know that it's God sending you.

My heart breaks for those who are in all reality mad at God.  I know of people who have walked away from Jesus because of something in their past.  I know of people who are more loyal to people than to God's plan for them so they live unfulfilled lives. 

My heart breaks because as Scripture says they have eyes but don't see and have ears but refuse to hear, they've actually turned away from God. If they would but turn, see and hear He would be ready to heal and restore them to Himself. That's a promise from God. 

This Memorial Day there's many with broken hearts because those who chose to serve our country gave the ultimate with giving their lives.  Some with broken hearts due to those who served who have passed on. 

Some don't realize they are breaking Jesus’s heart by not trusting Him completely with their lives, their future. His plans appear to be something that they don't want or like.  

While I said that there's things that I wanted to do in life that God's not allowed nor will allow, what I have gained instead far outweighs its loss. We are blessed beyond anything we have deserved. Each day in our lives might bring something unexpected to us, but certainly isn't unexpected to Jesus.  

We can choose to live in disobedience and suffer for it or choose to run with the plans God has for us. We can try to live in the past or embrace the future that has us in the center of God’s Will.  We won't know until we obey. 

If any of these apply...

Confess your misplaced anger at God or your anger at others for obeying Him. 

Confess your sins of disobedience. 

Confess that you've been trying for far too long to live your life your way.

Confess that you've put your loyalty to people above your obedience to God. 

Get your life back on track today.  You may even be in the wrong church for you. Ask the Spirit if you really are where you are supposed to be.  Certainly don't go by feelings. One of the jobs of the Spirit is our sanctification.  If we aren't becoming more like Christ then where we are is wrong. 

Be who you're supposed to be in Christ. 

The Coming and You Being Angry at God

The Coming and You Being Angry at God 

by David Brenneman 

It's often been said that the return of Jesus Christ is akin to the old children's story of the little boy who cried wolf. 

It's even recorded in a similar way in the Bible itself.

2 Peter 3:1-9 NASB "Beloved, this is now the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of a reminder, to remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles. Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue just as they were from the beginning of creation.” For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed by being flooded with water. But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly people.

But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance."

Peter wrote of that several thousand years ago.  The answer and some of the reasons are in the last verse.  

Jesus has no desire in seeing anyone going to Hell. 

People choose to either believe and be saved or to not and bear the consequences of that.  In this physical world there are consequences that impact everyone's eternity.

There's the movie saying about onions having layers and people are like onions.  Well the prophecies in the Bible are another layer next to the Salvation issue. Prophecies exist. They were written long ago and as the Bible says of itself the Scriptures cannot be broken.  If God had someone write concerning something, it's either happened or IS going to happen. 

How often do you keep a matter to yourself concerning someone who you care deeply about and yet you say nothing. Your hope is that they gain an understanding by what THEY see or understand.  

There's plenty of evidence and testimonials of the effects of the Spirit of God with those who believe. 

So many people find that they would rather hold to their anger against God concerning what's happened in their lives or the lives of those they know.  They see not how Satan's so manipulated things that their anger and or hatred of God has no basis in truth.  Literally, again as the Bible says, they are blinded to the truth. 

The Bible says that the anger of man does not bring about the righteousness of God. James 1:20.

Some wonder if the world will notice the Rapture of the Church. Well it's going to be accompanied by a global earthquake. My belief is it will be noticed.  Look at how hyper sensitive people have become since the fall of 2019 towards other people.  The loss of millions is impacting lives everywhere. Now imagine what the impact will be when several million or maybe up to the hundreds of millions of people are suddenly missing.  That's what the world will see happening. Those who aren't old enough to be Biblically accountable will be gone.  Those who are alive and are Believers will be gone. Oh the devastation that will result.  Vehicles and machinery of all kinds and sizes will suddenly be unmanned. The result will be a huge surge in people going to Hell as well.  

The earthquake that accompanies the Rapture will have its own effect.  Quite possibly tsunamis will be happening globally.  

Noah preached for over a hundred years of what was coming from God.  People laughed him off.  They mocked him.  Jesus says that life would be like the days of Noah when He returns. 

People will be living for themselves, will be rejecting the notion of Christ returning. 

I am yet still reminded of Jesus's asking will He find the faith when He returns?

Look at Noah's time.  In truth the one one of billions on the Earth who had the faith, MIGHT have been some of Noah's family besides himself.  The world was filled with darkness.  Our world is filling up with darkness.  Believers are increasingly becoming discouraged and disheartened. They are not living out their faith.  We who are in Christ are supposed to be lights in the world. Churches are closing at an alarming rate. People aren't finding it important to follow the Word of God. The faith Jesus was wondering if He would find is slipping away. 

Anger and malice are finding their way into the Church. People are trying to create Churches where the Spirit isn't welcome.  Holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power.  That's what the Bible says would happen and it has happened.

False teachers are entrenched in so-called Churches.  Making people believe what isn't true of God. Man does not create a vision of a church. The Great Commission is about making Disciples of every tribe, tongue and nation. The Spirit is responsible for the Church and making Disciples is adding to the Church. 

Jesus isn't coming to any fanfare.

Jesus is going to come as far as the sky and with a shout will cry out to His own to come out of this world. Will you be one of them or are you still yet unbelieving?  

Your possibly one of those with a grudge against God.  Angry because you think He’s unfair or allowed some loss to happen in your life or the life of someone you know.  Anger eats away at your insides.  You being angry at God accomplishes nothing.  It's the same as being angry with your neighbor and never having a conversation as to why you are angry.  They don't know that you are until you tell them. So talk to God. Talk to Jesus and tell Him why you are the way you are towards Him.  Give Him the opportunity to explain Himself. 

The Coming is always imminent. Of all the things necessary that were predicted to happen in the world, all that really remains is that last person who is yet to be saved to find salvation. 

It just might be you.

When Technology Catches Up to the Bible

When Technology Catches Up to the Bible 

by David Brenneman 

It's an often dismissed idea that the Bible could or would be relevant to today's world. 

Each decade that passes has shared similar thoughts and ideas concerning the value of what the Bible really brings to life. Many point to various places in it to lay claim that it's nothing more than wishful thinking or misguided ideas. 

But what if indeed you overlay the Bible into today's world and you discover that the true reality is that its the world that hasn't caught up to the Bible?

Consider the basic foundations of what has been predicted concerning mankind. 

What has been an apt depiction of mankind was really once dismissed. Not so much anymore.  

2 Timothy 3:1-8 NASB "But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, 

disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these. For among them are those who slip into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, worthless in regard to the faith."

All this describes our last several decades and its intensity has increased exponentially. 

We laughed at the things that were talking about in the Old Testament. Yet here we are modern day countries doing exactly as was predicted over several thousand years ago.  Russia and Iran to name a few. 

We can laugh...but it's not a laughing matter.   Every single prophecy in the Bible has or is coming true. Not one has failed.  Ever single person waking up in Hell has absolutely no trouble understanding the truth of the Bible. 

In recent weeks its been reported that there's a major credit card company that's experimenting with using a face or back of the hand to make purchases.  

Read in Revelation where people left behind will not be able to buy or sell without using the mark on the back of their hand or their forehead.  By this point the recently revealed beta testing will be a proven solution to buying and selling. 

Revelation 13:16-17 NASB "And he causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, and he decrees that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name."

We read of wars and rumors of wars.  We can see nations rising up against nations. Russia vs the Ukraine.  We know of the sabre rattling of North Korea. 

We read in the Bible to look at signs among the stars. Look at the increase in sightings of things in the sky and in space.

We see levels of evil that seem to be getting more daring and dangerous. 

We see people scoffing at God's definition of the sexes. 

My Dear Reader Jesus IS coming back soon.   The single most important thing for Believers is to be found by Him doing that which He commanded.  

Jesus asked the single most important question. Would He find the faith when He returns?   

My Friend, only you can answer that. I can't and nobody else can answer that for you. 

We cannot create God in our image.  We cannot tell Him what is right and acceptable. 

Mankind does not tell the Creator just how things are going to be.  

The Bible is God’s love letter to mankind, to you. If indeed ever single prophecy in it thus far has come about, you can bank on the remaining ones happening.  

I hold to an idea that the days of Noah were far more like today than people imagine.  That indeed technology was far more advanced than we are even close to achieving today.  God’s permitted enough to survive and be found in archeology to prove my position.  Mankind's intellect degraded after the vapor canopy collapsed following the flood and the sun's radiation affected humanity.  Technology is only being reinvented. 

I have seen artifacts of what can only be 50,000 volt transistors.  They date to before the Genesis flood.  We have nothing in today's world to use such an electronic part.  I have seen what can only be a spark plug.  Who knows where technology went.  I just know that in construction of the Ark, Noah didn't use it.  Akin to the modern day Amish. 

It is only the arrogance of mankind to believe that our ancestors were less than we are today. 

Indeed technology is an interesting tool,  with the right positive guidance, much has happened with it.  It's abuses are peppered throughout history.  The cries of the few where technology is abused has not necessarily helped mankind in the long term.  More often than not the innocent pay the price of a few abusers.

It's also a hallmark of technology to introduce complacency.  Getting too comfortable with "not needing God".  We can all too easily lean towards self-sufficiency.  We indeed learn how to not consider our ways, as the Scriptures tell us to.  

We need to indeed be careful of our outlook on life.  If God’s not intertwined in our lives to the degree that we aren't truly growing in Christ, then we need to have the awareness to seek out why. 

Those who are in Christ Jesus are to be seeking to become more like Christ, not necessarily to grow in comfort and ease in this world.  Jesus wants doers of the Word. He wants to find the faith when He returns.  

Are you looking to make your life easier at the exclusion of your relationship with Christ Jesus?  Are you filling it with things, thoughts, that indeed do nothing towards your sanctification, towards the building up of one another in Christ? That do not lend towards the notion of bearing one another’s burdens?  

There indeed is something to be said in making life simpler.  For over 20 years I was heavily immersed in high technology and entertainment things from science fiction to some interest in sports, to television.  Certainly in technology.  It took several times for the Spirit to get me to see the futility of it.  The waste of it.  Misdirected passion.  The tearing down of people over stupid things like sports.  No that sort of thing isn't done in fun. It may not seem big but you are still tearing away at someone else.  You are still violating Scripture.  Call a spade a spade. 

Technology makes life easier at the risk of causing life to decline.  Technology today is becoming increasingly popular. It is also working towards the Tribulation time in the Bible.  It's a huge distraction sometimes.  Because our discontent with it brings about anger that does nothing to lead someone to Christ.  The world is on a track to see the Tribulation start in a few years, maybe even this week.  We never saw the pandemic coming and in a matter of days we were immersed in it.  Technology is indeed catching up to the Bible.  We are quickly approaching the return of Jesus Christ.  

Now go ahead 7 years.  Technology will likely have even less significance to life when Jesus Himself rules from Earth.  There will be no need of hospitals, of most all doctors. No need of most of the so-called entertainment industry.  No pornography will be produced.  No horror flicks. No lawyers, no need for police or investigation people.  

Jesus said to all to be ready for His return.  It will come at an hour when we least expect Him.  It will come when the world's message to the world is around "peace and safety".  Which is the central theme at the United Nation's today.  We cannot go but a few minutes into the news to hear of wars and rumors of wars. We cannot go a week without hearing about earthquakes and famines in various places.  All of which Jesus said would happen before His return. 

You may decide this isn't at all possible.  Even with the facts as presented.  There will be billions left after the Rapture of the Church.  Know full well that in the early parts of the Tribulation billions will be dying.  Just over 8 billion in the world today.  1/3rd of the population dies from just 1 judgment of God in Revelation 9.  

You are who I pray for.  You who don't want to listen or believe.

Jesus is returning.  What's interesting is that Satan believes that more than people do. Demons believe it more than people do.  Everyone in Heaven and in Hell have a 100 percent belief in the truth of the Bible. Only in the here and now do people struggle with it.  Why? Because your eternity is at stake.  Your soul is at stake.  You are not going to be partying in Hell.  You are not going to do anything in Hell but be in torment paying for your sins.  Jesus explained that in His telling of the Rich man and Lazarus. 

To quote my Spiritual Dad in the faith "Get ready for the shout that will take us out!".

The Evil that Men and Women Do...

The Evil that Men and Women Do...

by David Brenneman 

It doesn't take much to look at this world and shake your head in disbelief at the levels of evil in the world.  

What is as bad is the proof of the phrase: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.".

We often do nothing because there's always consequences to involvement.  It leads to accountability and ramifications. 

We live in a sin cursed world. Sin is crouching at the door and its desire is to have us. Genesis 4:7.

Look at what else is said in Genesis 6:5 NASB "Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of mankind was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually."

Left to his or her own devices evil will be the outcome.  As bad as the evil is in this world, it COULD be a whole lot worse.  The Spirit restraints the evil that happens.  

There's coming a day when He will step aside and not restrain the evil in this world.  Whatever you may think you know about evil, multiply that by a few thousand factors.  

Jesus said that it would be like the days of Noah when He returns.  

We live in perhaps the most industrious, creative, enabled culture in human history.

For all the talk about what's the cause...the existence of inanimate objects...the root cause is never going to be addressed. Sin.

Sin is why a perfect sacrifice was required to remove it.

Sin was why Jesus was beaten, tortured, and nailed to the cross.

Sin.  Not this man made object or that man made object. 

The cure for sin is salvation in Christ Jesus, with a life that walks with Him daily.  

We cannot legislate morality. We cannot pass laws to deal with the evil that men and women do. 

Punishing those millions who have done nothing because of the acts of a few is ridiculous.  

Satan is the driving force behind the evil that men and women do. He empowers the sin within.  He easily can bring out the worst in anyone.  

Satan is very real, and it's incredible that people would worship him.  Demanding equal billing in cities along side Christian Churches.  In some cities gaining perks that Churches aren't allowed. 

Jesus called Satan a Liar and the Father of lies.  Read what it says in John 8:42-47 NASB "Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

There's quickly approaching a day when God's judgment concerning sin is going to be addressed. 

In a very short period of time, relativistically speaking, 7 years worth of judgments are coming upon the Earth. 

People once thought the things of the last few years were an impossibility.  Not impossible at all.  A prelude of things to come. 

Sin is the root. Sin can be dealt with because the cure goes to the heart of the matter.  The hearts of men and women.  

The Spirit can go where we cannot. The Spirit can effect change where it appears none can be had.  The Spirit transforms lives.  Coming to Christ for salvation is the answer. It's the beginning. As the Bible says as well, believing isn't enough. The Demons believe and shudder.  Humans don't even do that. 

You can take away all the firearms in the world, mankind would create something else that would be as equally deadly when used for evil purposes rather than the good they were intended to be.  Any hand tool can become a murder weapon. Any object from a rock to a stick can be.  Removing everything would still leave the hands and feet that are still capable of great acts of evil due to sin.

Prayer for the nations of the world changes the world.  Prayer changes people.  Prayers go where words cannot face-to-face.  The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond what we can ask or think.  

I do pray for those who senselessly lose their lives. But I refuse to believe that punishing the innocent on account of the guilty accomplishes anything.  

Satan's not going to give ground if he can help it.  What ought to scare you beyond imagination is the truth that when the Spirit steps aside after the Rapture, evil will go to new heights and new lows. 

He will try to fight back against the judgment of God as shown in the Bible. He will continue to use and discard people in the furtherance of his agenda. 

Pray for yourself, your family, your friends, your country.  Life isn't going to get any easier between now and the return of Jesus Christ.  Pray Pray Pray. 

Stand

Stand

By David Brenneman 

A lot of times in my life I have felt beaten down. Worn down for what seems like decades by the battles with Satan's minions and my own sin nature. It mostly came to a head in 1999 when indeed Jesus reached through all the masses of the sins and lies to pull me out, to stand me on my feet again. To prove once and for all that He saved me, and was yet still going to do a work in and through me.  That the powers of Satan were not greater than the powerr of my Savior. 

I couldn't stand for so long that I think that I had forgotten how to.  Oh the dangers of the battlefield of the mind of man.  

Read this...2 Corinthians 10:4-6 NASB "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage battle according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete."

A grave mistake of my human existence, many decades ago, was to get ahead of God.  To, in my mind, have figured out what He was showing me that He was planning for me and to take off after it.  I ran headlong into dangers that I was never prepared for. The places that I ended up.  To say the least, I felt so trapped at where I was to the extent that suicide became an option. 

But Jesus wasn't done with me yet. I am here by the grace of God.  Now involved in many things that were His intent for me.  I certainly am not who I used to be.  

It's often a difficult thing to stand, for the enemy of God likes to deliver hits below the belt. He likes to follow up with hits to drive us down.  It takes us, interestingly enough to the place and point, where it honestly does us the most Spiritual good. To our knees before God. 

Ephesians 6 talks about more in regards to this battle we are in in this life. We are most certainly not in this life for leisure or for the entertainment.  Those things are for after we pass on from this world.  We who are in Christ Jesus have work to be doing while it is yet daylight. John 9:4 NASB "We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work."

Ephesians 6:10-18 NASB "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints,"

Realize full well that you are in a battle not of flesh and blood. The war is over our thoughts and intentions, of our actions or inaction. The war is ongoing until we are stripped of our sin nature either at death, if we have died in Christ, upon entry into His Heaven or the Rapture of the Church.  Those who die without salvation in Christ Jesus won't be battling their sin nature in Hell, they will be paying for their own sins from this life. 

In this here and now is where and when Satan tries to sway the thoughts and desires of your heart and mind.  It is here where he tempts you to go left when you should go right or vice-versa.  It is here where it's the place where we can get caught up into sins that so easily entangle. It is the now in your life that matters in regards to standing. 

You may indeed have taken a lot of hits. You indeed may think that you have been forgotten of God.  I know that up until the spring of 1999 I really did.  God seemed so far away. I felt so dirty in my sins. I was beaten down for so long.  In one breath of one sincere prayer, Jesus reached through it all and pulled me out.  If you are weary and have become so discouraged, I encourage you to make the most of being knocked to your knees and pray for forgiveness and deliverance. Jesus will not disappoint the person who sincerely means it. 

You must believe. Hebrews 11:6 NASB "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.".

You must be ready to do whatever God's plan for your recovery entails. 

It indeed involves what I like to refer to as Spiritual Surgeries.  It involves the removal of things that have no part or portion with God’s plan for your life.  Indeed it WILL be things that you have grown to "love" in some instances.  It WILL be because remember "sin that so easily entangles".  We are always prone towards things that may not be good for us.  They seem right.  But are not. Proverbs 21:2 NASB "Every person’s way is right in his own eyes, But the Lord examines the hearts." Proverbs 12:15 NASB "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel."

We read in Ephesians 6 the purpose and makeup of the full armor of God.  We are to stand. God does the fighting. Our offensive weapon is the Word of God.  As it says of itself in Hebrews 4:12 NASB "For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.".

To stand after getting a hit often hurts. We are slow to get back up, but getting back up is necessary.  Car accidents can be horrific, but it's absolutely necessary to get behind the wheel again if at all possible to move past it.  

TobyMac had a song along these lines interestingly enough titled the same "Get Back Up"

… You turned away when I looked you in the eye,
And hesitated when I asked if you were alright,
Seems like you're fighting for your life,
But why? Oh why?
Wide awake in the middle of your nightmare,
You saw it comin' but it hit you outta nowhere,
And there's always scars
When you fall that far

… We lose our way,
We get back up again
It's never too late to get back up again,
One day you're gonna shine again,
You may be knocked down,
But not out forever,
Lose our way,
We get back up again,
So get up, get up,
You gonna shine again,
Never too late to get back up again,
You may be knocked down,
But not out forever
(May be knocked down but not out forever)

… You're rolled out at the dawning of the day
Heart racin' as you made you little getaway,
It feels like you've been runnin' all your life
But, why? Oh why?

… So you've pulled away from the love that would've been there,
You start believin' that your situation's unfair
But there's always scars,
When you fall that far

… We lose our way,
We get back up again
Never too late to get back up again,
One day, you're gonna shine again,
You may be knocked down but not out forever,
Lose our way, we get back up again,
So get up, get up
You gonna shine again
It's never too late, to get back up again
You may be knocked down, but not out forever,
May be knocked down, but not out forever!

… This is love callin', love callin', out to the broken,
This is love callin'.
This is love callin', love callin', out to the broken
This is love callin'.
This is love callin', love callin',
I am so broken
This is love callin' love callin

… We lose our way, (way way way ay ay ay)
We get back up, (get back up again)
It's never too late (late late late ate ate ate)
You may be knocked down but not out forever!

… Lose our way,
We get back up again,
So get up get up
You gonna shine again
Never too late to get back up again
You may be knocked down,
But not out forever,

… This is love (lose our way) callin' love callin' (get back up again)
To the broken
This is love (never too late) callin'
(May be knocked down but not out forever)
This is love (lose our way) callin' love callin' (we get back up again)
To the broken
This is love (never too late) callin'
(May be knocked down but not out forever)

… This is love callin' love callin'
Out to the broken,
This is love callin'

We will always hear a voice beating us down.  We will because our sin nature doesn't like nor want the things of God.  We will because Satan's in agreement with our sin nature.  The voice we need to cling to is Christ Jesus.  Only in Him can we grow, move, and stand.  

It honestly is a cold naked world trying to defend against an enemy we cannot see but sees us us, knows us better than we know ourselves.  

He custom crafts lies to fit our situations to keep us from the Will of God, our sanctification. 

As to me and God's plan that I so got ahead of.  You're reading about it daily.  I have dreamed of being a writer.  Outside of this blog I have never been able to collect thoughts into something substantial.  By staying with God’s plan for me, by walking with Him, He makes the impossible happen.  I am often blown away by what comes out of me in a post.  As this began so it continues.  He gives me things to write and it's on me to write them.  Just like the watchman on the wall of the Old Testament.  

Jesus is coming soon.  To be found doing what He wanted of me is far more important than the desires of this world.  As the Bible says: "Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you must be ready as well; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will. Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household slaves, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes." Matthew 24:42-46 NASB. 

God's Not "Just Kidding"

God's Not "Just Kidding"

By David Brenneman 

"Do not be mismatched with unbelievers; for what do righteousness and lawlessness share together, or what does light have in common with darkness? Or what harmony does Christ have with Belial, or what does a believer share with an unbeliever? Or what agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said,

“I will dwell among them and walk among them;
And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord.
“And do not touch what is unclean;
And I will welcome you.
And I will be a father to you,
And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,”
Says the Lord Almighty." 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 NASB 

When you really listen to the passages when Satan speaks in Genesis you can almost hear him laughing at what Adam and Eve said to him in how he responds.  

When he talks to Jesus in the desert he really makes light of what he says in questioning Jesus. 

When humor is mixed with temptation atypical of the result is weakened defenses. We let our guard down.  We read what we just did but read that with this.  1 Peter 5:8 NASB "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."

Part of the process of an attack is often to taunt in order to take advantage of the emotions over the intelligence of someone.  To get rational thought cast out of the equation. 

Believers these days are just not on their guard.  We stumble and fall often because we aren't learning what it is that's leading up to the sinful temptation in the first place. 

God, from the very beginning, wasn't laughing, wasn't joking, about sin and its consequences. 

Mankind has been unable to lift the curse of God concerning his or her toiling under the sun. 

Mankind has been unable to lift the curse of sin which is death. Not just physical but the eternal separation from God. Add to that separation from God the constant torment to pay for those sins. A single sin is enough to cast a person into Hell for eternity. We are born in sin, therefore, after reaching the age of knowing good from evil, that's the guaranteed destination. No joking matter.  In today's world we can easily find videos of people on their death bed refusing salvation in Christ Jesus, crying out in pain from unseen flames as they slip into Hell as they take their final breath. 

In no way is Spiritual warfare a joke. There is a reason why Paul included the depiction of the whole armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-20 NASB. "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints, and pray in my behalf, that speech may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."

We likewise cannot afford to be careless in what we say and do.  We are warned not to give the Devil an opportunity in Ephesians 4:25-27 NASB "Therefore, ridding yourselves of falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, because we are parts of one another. Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity." 

Note that emotions are what's messed with that garner the attention and actions of the Devil. 

Humor is indeed of God, but it too can be abused by Satan. It's commonly known that humor is used in negotiations to relieve tension and lower defenses.  Satan's well aware and uses it to seduce people towards sin. 

We often call some of this "stumbling blocks".  Things that we do or were done that cause problems in the walk of a Believer with Jesus. 

We can also think we are sounding spiritual when in fact the source of what we repeat or post online is not.  Saw this yesterday. Someone posted something concerning a message about reposting it if they missed someone in Heaven.  Sounds innocent enough until you see the source of the message was promoting Mediums...those who attempt to talk to the dead. Servants of Satan. 

Satan easily proves that he will twist the word of God to his advantage. To keep people from salvation in Christ Jesus. He cares not who goes to Hell, just as long as they don't go to Heaven.  

Satan's never been to Hell.  He knows it exists, knows who's there. Knows that many of his fellow fallen angels now called demons are there and he cannot reach them. 

Satan knows that the Bible is the word of God. Knows that and will use whatever means to keep people from it.  Every way he can. From seeds of apathy to physical removal of it. Feelings are his greatest playground to keep people from it. From humor to anger. Emotions are used to sway thoughts away from the truth of God. 

Do you consider the source before you repeat something?  I have caught myself not checking up on things that I repeat.  I have been called out for such things. 

Sin is no joke.

The wages, what we all deserve, is death because of sin.  Read that in Romans 6:23.

Sin is why Jesus had to leave Heaven and go through Hell to make a way to save mankind. 

We don't take the consequences of sin seriously. We often don't think about the reality of idolatry. We live in a world where adultery is considered nothing more than an opportunity or inconvenience. We live in a world that is celebrating sin rather than being repentant of it. Sin is joked about. Hmm. Sounds like where we started today. Satan joking about the consequences of sin. 

We can collect stuff and not even consider that that stuff has been raised up higher in our hearts than our relationship with Jesus. 

We can be interested in various things in this world from entertainment to sports and not realize that we have raised the importance of such things higher than our relationship with Jesus. 

We can take any aspect of life and actually raise its importance higher than our relationship with Jesus. 

We ought to always do checks on ourselves in our walk with God.  We will indeed not be judged concerning sin, but we WILL give an account of the deeds done in our bodies. Romans 14:12, 1 Peter 4:5-6.

To borrow a passage portion: what manner of man or woman ought we to be?

Do we flagrantly show idolatry and not consider that's exactly what it is?

Do we hide behind humor and not realize there could be another reason?

Do we not realize that indeed sin so easily entangles as the Scriptures say?

God's not joking. 

Jesus is returning. Sin is going to be reckoned with. Sin is going to be dealt with. 

Soon the Church will be taken up before the judgments in the Bible concerning the End Times. 

People will be in far more of a panic than has yet been seen by mankind when that happens. They will indeed listen to a world leader who promises great things in order to bring them a sense of normal again.  Including worshipping him. 

Satan hates the Word of God. It's sealed his future. He does not want you to read it. Doesn't want you living life as Jesus said to live it. Doesn't want anyone who has come to Christ for salvation to lead anyone else to Jesus.  

That brings the inevitable. Satan isn't joking either. 

This isn't the red pill, blue pill, thing.  This is living out our salvation in Christ Jesus or not, Jesus says we cannot serve God and anything else.  This is being the light of the world because of the light within us.  This really is a life or death situation.  Our lives are supposed to show people Jesus.  

God's absolutely not joking and Jesus never taught His Disciples to either.  He taught them to take their walk with Jesus seriously.  

In another post the message was to do with Believers unwittingly helping Satan. 

When we don't take sin seriously in all its forms and faces, we are helping Satan. 

Seduction is one of his greatest tools with humanity. He has minions a plenty to know everything there is to know about you. As the saying goes "know your enemy". How well are you trained up on knowing your enemy?  How would you know if you're going down the wrong path? How would you know if you are immersed in idolatry? How would you know?  By being in the Word of God.  To be comparing your life, your actions, with what you read. 

God's Not Joking and neither should we be joking. 

Truth...isn't Subjective

Truth isn't Subjective 

by David Brenneman 

Websters defines Subjective as follows: based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions.

Truth is a person.  Truth is more, way more, than feelings we keep or discard. 

John 14:6-7 NASB "Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”

Jesus made claims and if you look you will see that it's the Father who backed them up by way of the Spirit of God.  The Spirit was in Him as we read in John 1:33 NASB "And I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’"

Next is the Father Himself saying for those who were there with ears that could hear in Matthew 3:16-17 NASB "After He was baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and settling on Him, and behold, a voice from the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”" Again in Mark 1:11 NASB "and a voice came from the heavens: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”" Once more in Luke 3:22 NASB "and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well pleased.”"

Take to heart what it says in Matthew 11:15 NASB "The one who has ears to hear, let him hear."  

Many, to their own detriment, despise or have no room for consideration of the Word of God in their lives.  What's eternally sad is that 1 second after dying their whole outlook on God's truth is forever changed and there's absolutely nothing that they can do about it. 

Jesus made the claim to be the Truth, then, He was confirmed and backed up by the Spirit and God the Father.  

The most challenging change to my yearly reading through the Bible is to do my own version of looking from Moses to the end of the Gospels for the things that Jesus showed others after His resurrection. I have a journal just for things that the Spirit has shown me from the Word of God. 

One of the aspects of the Truth is that regardless of what you think of you, Jesus still died for you. That Jesus still took your place so that you might live. 

We live in a world that's desperate to find something to hope in.  Looking for peace in a world of chaos that seems to keep escalating.  More and more people are looking indeed for a person to swoop in and save the world, caring not in the heat of the moment about giving up personal freedoms or rights. 

You may not believe me, but if you read more in the Bible you're going to see that is a future that was predicted.  After Jesus does return and He does take those who are His out of this world, the people left behind will be in such a state of discontent and fear that they will indeed look for a savior of sorts. They will indeed give up whatever they hold onto in order to regain some semblance of normal. Look at what's happened in the most recent of years. People will indeed trade personal rights and freedoms for something that resembles normal. 

Jesus not only claimed to be the Truth He lived it. In what He said, what He did. The Truth practiced praying often. He did and the Father kept doing more through Him. The Truth spoke of the Pharisees and Sadducees in regards to their motives and revealing them out loud.  Then they are recorded as proving Him right.  

Jesus and that He loves you and wants a relationship with you.  He loved you enough to tell His Father that He would gladly take your place, pay for your sin, so that you could live. He would (and did) die in your place.  This put an offer on the table that wasn't there before. The only condition is that you must accept it, you must take it up, and claim it.  

My Dear Reader, you have possibly lived a decent life, maybe even a good life.  But you have yet to live a real life. Some lack the ability to ask it out loud and in l all seriousness "is there nothing more?".

The answer is yes. More of life is promised in coming to Christ for salvation.  People lie all the time, only Jesus can truly never lie to you about anything.  Only He can provide the peace and hope that the world is so desperate for.  It will never be found in more money, a higher status, a perfect job. Not be found in a perfect family or in spending thousands on your appearance. It won't be found in possessions.  It certainly will not be found in the accumulation of millions who might only appreciate you in this moment of your life. 

Was reading of an interview of a celebrity. 

She succeeded at much, but wasn't happy. She was of all things scared of not finding something more relevant to keep her status before people.  Of how to stay in the limelight.  The fear of being forgotten. 

That's something impossible for those who are in Christ who are saved by Him.  He promised that no matter what the world has to say, we always have His attention. That's a significant truth to hold onto.  We have but one to look to for acceptance and for recognition. Just Jesus.  He promised never to leave you nor forsake you.  You will never find a single person who will do that for you. People both come and go. They pass on from this life. You only begin a relationship with Jesus here, it continues for all eternity.  

That's truth. 

You may think this is a bit much. It really isn't. The truth of Jesus's life has been proven over and over.  The things that you desire in life are for but a brief moment. The feelings you seek to satisfy don't last.  Happiness is fleeting. Joy is hard to lay hold of when the world is offended by most anything and anger rings out practically everywhere.  People can't find peace or security in this world.  Yet they continue to try.  Politicians promise great boasts and garner much attention, yet the reality is they can't deliver.  World leaders cannot deliver. 

We look at the headlines. Jesus told the truth when He said there would be wars and rumors of wars. Read anything about that lately or in recent decades?  Earthquakes and famines in various places? Hmm...He said that would happen too.

In nothing, absolutely nothing, did Jesus ever not tell the truth.  When called out, the Jewish Leaders tried turning the tables on Jesus to no avail. 

This I know: Jesus loved me enough to die for me. He promised never to leave me nor forsake me. He promised the Helper, the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is with me and indeed is in me. More promises kept.  Jesus said that He came to seek and save the lost. I certainly was among the lost.  He was seeking out the likes of me.

Truth still is that He is seeking out you too.

Your idea of life is never going to work. 

Jesus came to give us not just life, but life more abundantly.  He's knocking at the door of your heart. Won't you open it?

What We Go Through

What We Go Through 

by David Brenneman 

"But why?!?" Is probably the most often question asked of God. Right up there with "Why me?!?".

We who have come to Christ for salvation are indeed told that Jesus loves us too much to leave us as He found us, but do we know what that really means?

Some who have yet to come to Christ for salvation look at what those who are Christians go through and are there to exclaim "No way! Not going to go there!".

Back up a little...both of you groups.  Both of you don't even understand what is truly happening if those are your reactions. 

Jesus is not just called the Savior of the world. Jesus isn't just the Christ. Jesus isn't just the many other names given in the Bible. Narrow that list to one for the time being: Great Physician.  He's the Doct of Doctors. The all-in-one Doctor. He handles all forms and types of every facet of human existence and experience.  He's fully prepared to deal with all mental, physical and spiritual matters. Everything. 

Add to this, when you come to Jesus for salvation, His love and care for you will not allow Him to leave you in your wounded state.  

Having been in darkness of this world until I came to Christ for salvation, I had no clue what the grocery list of problems I had.  I knew not of what was wrong with my mind and spirit, my soul even.  

Jesus, however, knew from long before I came to the realization that I needed Him to save me, just what was needed for me.

My soul was in shambles. My spirit wasn't fairing much better. My mind was only beginning to consider His ways, His commands and His purpose for me.

Jesus began His work in me.  Quite often people see what a Doctor of this world does in treating you.  He or she has a regime that is followed to treat things.  There's sterilization, there's identifying the main issues plus collateral issues. There's the decision on procedures. Then there's the big one.  Trusting them to treat you right...which means living with that decision. 

When we came into God's family by way of salvation in Christ Jesus, we also got a new Doctor named Jesus.  His care and love for us goes beyond any we will find on Earth.  

Jesus isn't just going to work on what we see, but He will prepare us for what we don't see.  He is going to have the Spirit teach us that which we need to know to live life to the fullest.  So in this we also get a Guidance Counselor. Not just in relationship to a job but relationships. 

"But what's wrong with my life that He would want it changed so much?" you may ask. 

Look. Seriously. Look. You trusted Jesus to save your life, your soul, your spirit. Why wouldn't you trust Him with what He sees that needs fixing in your life?  

I can testify that some of the surgeries that I have been through have been rough, but all the while He's been with me, holding my hand.

Jesus, as I said, is the Doctor of Doctors. He knows what you are capable of way more than you do.  It's not like stories of parents basically pushing their children into careers they never truly liked let alone loved. It's not like parents who pushed their children into schools they really didn't want to go to.  Jesus sees our end from our beginning. He knows exactly what would happen if we turned left rather than the right. He knows every thought we will have and every implication of those thoughts. He knows what it takes and will take to make us more like Christ. That's God's Will, that's God's plan...our Sanctification.  

"But I LIKED that about me!"  Honestly, I liked a lot of things about me that are no longer true about me because God's plans changed or removed them from me. 

This is the part of trusting your new Great Physician.  Trusting His plan to heal your life. Trusting His plan to guide your therapy. Trusting His plan for you in regards to your part in the body of Christ. 

We can whine or we can grow up. The thing is at no point does Jesus stop His workmanship in our lives.  The passage in question says: "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." Ephesians 2:10 NASB.

Zero in on a few things. The word 'are'. Are is in the present tense.  It means in the always here and now.  

'Created'.  Whe came to Christ we were born again.  A new start on everything. 

'For'. There's a specific reason attached. 'good works'. This means there's a job associated with being born again. 'which God prepared beforehand'. He knew before we were born, let alone before we came to Jesus for salvation, exactly how we would fit into the body of Christ, His Church. 

Lastly 'that we would walk in them'. Obedience.  Obedience is the single most important and beneficial thing in a Believer's life. 

What seems to be seen by the world isn't what's going on in the life of a Believer.  What you assume isn't what is really happening.  

What we perceive isn't necessarily so from both the life of a Believer and that which is seen from the outside looking in at a Believer's life.  Things aren't what they seem to be.  We don't know nor realize what's going on in everything. Only God does. 

So before you jump to conclusions about the lives of yourself and those around you.

Before you think this way or that way, consider that you don't have the "big picture".  None of us do. We who are in Christ are to trust and obey. He puts things in front of us to do, and we're to do them. Akin to the plans of Earthly Doctors thoughts to deal with why we came to them in the first place. 

It's not necessary a life of giving up things that are fun to us or enjoyable to us. For a Christian it's looking to what makes us more like Christ that isn't needed for us to be like Christ.  We are indeed His workmanship. We are only seeing the beginning of that which will be completed when we see Jesus face-to-face.  

"but just as it is written, "THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM."" 1 Corinthians 2:9 NASB