The Stubbornness of the Heart

The Stubbornness of the Heart 

by David Brenneman 

"Many plans are in a man’s heart, But the counsel of the Lord will stand." Proverbs 19:21

"The fear of the Lord leads to life, So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil." Proverbs 19:23

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6.

Stubbornness leads to many a disaster and disappointment. 

Stubbornness can lead to a victory if the cause is just and honorable. 

A just cause is whatever purpose the Spirit lays on a person's heart for Jesus.  

There's indeed much that I can say that I know. But I also freely admit there's so much more that I don't know.  

The Bible tells us in Psalms 14:1-3 "The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; There is no one who does good. The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men To see if there are any who understand, Who seek after God. They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one." 

"Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts." Proverbs 21:2.

"The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel." Proverbs 12:15.

When you step into today...are you taking Jesus with you? Or is it in the back of your mind that after you might talk with Jesus that you're on your own?

There's certainly no shortage of stubborn people in our lives or in our mirrors. 

The problem arises when we take our eyes off of Jesus, thinking that things around us aren't so bad.

We are just as stubborn a lot as the Disciples. We also struggle with seeing that which the Spirit tries to show us.  

Perhaps you've been around long enough to hear someone have it said of them that they "have the patience of Job". While I disagree that Job had patience, reading it carefully, patience was far from Job.  

We live in a society that wants to see things the way they want to see them.  

Patience isn't a strong suit for most people. For several generations people have been living in a microwave society. Yet even in that they have no patience. 3 minutes in a microwave is just too long. 

We treat our prayers the same way and in this lose our patience and our stubbornness shows.  

We can easily be blinded by wanting what we want when we want it. 

We can often, really, be our own worst enemy.  

If I am going to be accused of being stubborn I would hope it would be in reference to something good. But it's not always the case. 

Everyone trying to do whatever is right in their own eyes only gets a lot of people upset and lives are ruined in the process. 

What lead up to the Great Flood of the book of Genesis was that the thoughts of mankind were evil continually, everyone was doing whatever was right in their own eyes.  

Jesus said that before He comes back that those days would be just like the days of Noah...and for the most part...here we are.

Evil stubbornness is rampant. Sins are celebrated and even enshrined into law. To kill an unborn child is an acceptable behavior. The stubborn refusal for society to not ban this is a testimony toward evil stubbornness.  

The list goes on. Many burying their heads in the sand because they don't want to deal with it. 

Good stubbornness can help you to grow in Christ. For me, it doesn't matter what's transpired, I keep my commitment to still read my evening readings. I could easily sleep in an hour or so more but meeting with Jesus at this hour is better.  

Jesus said that in this world we will have tribulations...troubles would be the modern word.   

Troubles that will either show us things about ourselves or others that need to change or need to go.

Listening to the voice of God is essential in living a life where our stubbornness is kept in check. 

Does God speak today? Why wouldn't God speak to you today?

Moses, in Deuteronomy, told the children of Israel to listen to the voice of the Lord. He wasn't only referring to the written words of the Law. He was telling them to ask of and listen to the Lord. 

In our own stubbornness we tend to get tunnel vision. We get so set in a particular desired outcome we block out other thoughts or needs for ourselves or others.

How are you using your stubbornness? Are you self-centered about it or are you using it to help others?

Persistence is often what stubbornness is taken for.

Being persistent over the right things is always good. Whatever you choose, stubbornness or persistence , make sure it's to the glory of God. Listening to the Spirit along the way.  

Being around other Godly people, sharing life with them, can help keep your life in Christ in check. 

Praying for what God's wanting versus what you might want will help you greatly. 

A right relationship with Jesus is where everything starts. While it starts there we need a daily reminder to keep it cultivated. 

Everything we have in this world is destined to perish except what we do for Jesus.  

Don't let the things of this world cause you to be one who's doing whatever is right in your own eyes. 

Ask yourself questions to see what is motivating you. Are you honoring Christ in what gets your attention?

Are you holding onto that which has God's blessing or your blessing?

Are you engaged in things in your life that you aren't letting go of that the voice of God says shouldn't be a part of your life?

Check your stubbornness n see.

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.

Just for You...Don't Miss It

Just for You...Don't Miss It 

by David Brenneman 

"Therefore Pilate entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?” Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what have You done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.” Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in Him." John 18:33-38.

Pilate missed the invitation to hear what truth really is from The Truth. 

Would it be possible for you to miss the truth as well? Absolutely. 

Am I referring only to those who haven't yet come to Christ for salvation? Absolutely not. 

Was reading in a devotional last night of how people within and outside of the Church craft their ideas of whether or not God speaks to them.

My Dear Reader I can unequivocally state that God DOES speak to people every single day.  

As the devotional read...He speaks through circumstances. He speaks through those people you interact with. He speaks through your prayers.  

But the crux is on you and I to actively listen.  

When the Bible says that everyone will be without excuse before whom we have to do...that is Jesus Christ...it means exactly that.  

You can deny it all you want to but you either have had or are having or will have the opportunity to know the truth. 

We live in a society that's ever changing what they define truth to be.  

In the same devotional...how is it the Maggi knew where to go to find Jesus and did it...when those of the chosen people of God also knew yet never went? When asked they clearly stated Bethlehem. 

What are you in denial about concerning God's truth and sin?

What are you refusing to admit shouldn't be in your life?

What are you consumed with doing that has no place in the plan and purpose for your life in Christ?

"I deserve..." is an on ramp to a highway to Hell's truths. It is a path that leads to selfishness and bitter feelings. It leads to unforgiveness.

"I'm not that bad!" is another on ramp. We are the absolute best at self justification. As the Bible says that everyone does whatever is right in their own eyes.

Interesting that these are common thoughts for both the Believer and the unbelieving.  

Everyone is given the opportunity to know what truth really is. Pilate brushed it off an missed it completely.  

Saul saw Jesus and heard the truth...missed it completely...until later on the road to Damascus. 

Peter oftentimes ran ahead of the truth.  

We all are given a measure of faith to cry out to Jesus to save us. We weren't left 100% defenseless. 

In your life I can assure you that Jesus is wanting a conversation with you. Are you missing it? 

Are you so busy with your ideas of what life in defining your idea of truth that you're missing your invitation?

My Dear Reader stop n have that conversation today and don't dismiss it when answers do come just because it's not what you want or like to hear or know. 

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6.

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.

Tragedy or Revealed Purpose

Tragedy or Revealed Purpose 

by David Brenneman 

It's often very difficult to determine what purpose was or is behind what God allows in our lives or the lives of others we see, hear, or know. 

God isn't off somewhere asleep or even too busy holding the universe together to be with each and every single individual who has the breath of life.

So why? What purpose could be had for tragedies we see or hear or experience ourselves?

Things in life that God allows are not mistakes. No such thing as random happenings or karma.  

Jesus Christ isn't ignorant of what emotional and physical pains people go through. The very Scriptures says He was a man of sorrows well acquainted with grief. 

In some people's lives it takes a tragedy to break through to their hearts. Some will grieve in the ways men and women do. Still others will finally stop running from Jesus because of it. 

Life is already hard. It's made worse by Satan's destructive tendencies. He not only is a liar and the father of lies, he's known as the destroyer. When permitted he takes life.  

We do not know the full extent of the battles in the spiritual world.  

We do know that we have an Advocate for the Believer. One who understands our everything. One who is ready to comfort us in our hour of need, our seemingly darkest hours of life.

My Dear Reader a prayer doesn't always need words. Many times grief doesn't come with words. For the life of a Believer, words aren't necessary. We read in the Bible that when words cannot be found that the Spirit intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. The Spirit prays on our behalf.  

The Spirit is also known as the Comforter. He will comfort those who grieve because He knows. He knows the hurt, the pain, the immense loneliness of loss. He lived it with Jesus when Jesus was separated from His Father on the cross. 

Sometimes none of what we see happening to people makes even a shred of sense. Sometimes for the rest of our lives we will never know nor understand. Job didn't understand the importance of his painful torment on this Earth until after he died. Countless millions of people have been to the pages of the book of Job to seek understanding and comfort. 

Jesus also knows who will be receiving His free gift of salvation and who will not. He knows every single beginning from the end for every single person who will ever live. 

He knows what will get through to someone in order to be able to save them too. Even if it makes no earthly sense. He knows what will motivate you and I. He knows if our future will not include what's important towards a life in Christ.  

Jesus paid the ultimate price in dying once for all. The grief was but for a moment but was so profound it altered human history. It brought hope to eternity for the part of humanity that was going to seek a Savior who is Christ the Lord.  

The grief of the separation of the Father from the Son of God would never be equalled in all eternity. 

We must keep moving forward. 

We must keep moving on. 

The day this day is has already proven that the world didn't stop turning. People are still milling about with lives that must continue on.  

I too have griefs that I deal with on a daily basis. Being a Christian provides no immunity from it. It brings the comfort of my God to bear upon it. My Savior often has His arms around me when I have no works to speak.  

Words are often hollow at times of grief and mourning. We just want back what we lost and deep down know it's not going to happen. A hole is in out hearts that only our Creator knows what to do with. 

Pray for those who are grieving in your world today. If possible just be with them, you don't need to necessarily speak either.  

Just breathe. Pray yourself to accomplish what God wants of you in that moment.  

Our world changes in an instant.  

All it takes is an opportunity and lives are not the same. One moments distraction turns lives on edge. One natural disaster erases a lifetime of effort to build up.  

Jesus is still the same yesterday, today and forever.  

The Spirit is still the Helper, the Advocate, the Comforter.

The Father is still our Father in Heaven, still Holy, still the Righteous One. 

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.

What Kind of Person Indeed!

What Kind of Person Indeed!

by David Brenneman 

"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.  For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.  Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.  Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another." Galatians 5:16-26.

There's more to the life of a Believer than simply looking for the coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ.  

It's certainly not for us to just live life on a whim and choose things to see, say and do of our own accord.

Granted there's must-dos of life.  Providing for yourself and your family.  There's a job to go to that supports that. 

But there is still much more than that.  We are to grow up in all aspects of life in Christ Jesus. 

The deeds of the flesh that Paul wrote about are entirely possible and sadly flourish in the Church of Jesus Christ.  Yet in our world today it's often just dismissed as not being that bad.  As long as you're covering the basics God won't have too much to say about the other stuff. 

Uh wrong. 

Literally if God took the time to write about it then abide by it.  

Our opinion doesn't matter. 

In fact our opinion doesn't count. 

Obeying Christ in life isn't to be open for debate. 

Obeying Christ in life is to be our first consideration. 

We aren't to engage in many aspects this world offers entirely because they fly in the face of Scripture.  

Our forgiveness in Christ is never to be used to off-handedly cover up willful sins. 

We don't need help in sinning. 

We need help in identifying it and avoiding it. 

We need a mindset that's of a follower of Jesus Christ in all areas of life.  

Yes it's going to make us unpopular. 

Yes it's going to make us look different. 

Newsflash: It's supposed to. 

It's all for the glory of God for you in Christ Jesus.  

Are there things in this world that I crave to go after?  Sure.  I am human after all.  Would it be wise?  Absolutely not.  Should I mope and dwell upon them until God says yes? Certainly not.

Our life is to be Christ-centric.  Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.  All these things isn't your every whim of desire.  It's those things that will help you become more like Christ. It's all the things that will help you become a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ.  It's those things that Jesus certainly implied in the Great Commission.  

The Great Commission wasn't marching orders to only the Disciples.  It certainly wasn't only to be passed to the Godly Men leading the Church.  The Great Commission is our mission in this life until either the Rapture of the Church or we are called home to Heaven.  

Scripture says we are to do our best, give our best as unto the Lord. 

Is it right to take that best that's supposed to be for Jesus and give it to useless things that the world holds dear?

If it's important enough that it was written to take every single thought captive to the obedience of Christ Jesus...it certainly must be extremely important. 

To take a line from a popular movie...our thoughts betray us.

Unfortunately it's happening so often we don't even feel remorse. 

Stop and think about that. 

What are you thinking you're enjoying that you really shouldn't be?  

We all have things like those in our lives that are not helping our growth in Christ.

Ask Jesus to open up your spiritual eyes to see what He sees in your life that needs to change, to see what needs to go. 

So that the fruits of the Spirit, the very evidence of Christ Jesus in you, would be evident to all. 

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.

I have Spoken...This is Why

I have Spoken...This is Why 

by David Brenneman 

"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33.

What comes to all of us are joys and tribulations. We all see these as the ups and downs of our lives. 

We face things that by and large appear to be greater than our minds can fathom. We cannot make sense of the why behind it. 

Much of this nation is wondering why God allows the things that have happened to it to have happened at all. The raw power of flooding that has erased the buildings, the historic sites, roadways, even cemeteries from existence. Why would a loving God allow such things?

My Dear Reader, while yes there has been a loss of life, God has not ceased being God. His interests are not founded nor grounded in our possessions.  

Jesus's ministry time on Earth, His betrayal, death, burial and resurrection weren't for anyone's things. Jesus came to seek and save the lost in the world. 

His interest is in a right relationship with Him. Things can be replaced. 

A life that leaves this world steps into eternity. The destination being set in the land of the living. We choose either Heaven or Hell based on our relationship with Jesus in the here and now. 

Job lost everything that the world thought was important. His own Wife thought he should wonder about his standing before God. 3 of his 4 friends offered the worst kind of advice to Job on how to view what was allowed by the Lord Jesus to happen to him.  

The only interest of the One who went through what He did on calvary is to be in a loving relationship with you. It's not about anything else but that. Your past doesn't matter. Jesus had all of humanity on His mind when He was on the cross. He knew every sordid detail of your life and yet died for you anyway. He didn't die for anything you own.

Why do things like natural disasters happen? The simplest answer is to get our minds turned to Jesus and to draw us close to Him.  

Our souls were the reason He bled and died, not houses, cars or land. Not heirlooms not priceless things. 

You mean everything to Jesus. 

Yes. You.

Jesus is offering a comfort to your heart that you cannot know nor understand outside of a relationship with Him.  

He wants first place in the lives of those who love Him and who are saved in Christ.  

Is this so hard to comprehend? You get into a relationship isn't the one you love worthy of being first place in your life?

The promises of God aren't for those who aren't saved yet...save the promise that should you give your life to Jesus and ask Him to become the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life...that He will save you.  

Will He restore what has been lost? Maybe. After someone comes to Christ for salvation priorities change. Things that once were important no longer are. Other things that didn't used to be important now are.  

A wild newsflash for everyone...suppose the Rapture of the Church happens later today. This world will be destroyed by fire in about 1007 years.

The Bible says that there's a 7 year Great Tribulation coming. A time of trouble upon the Earth that's never been seen before and never will again after it happens. At the end of this comes the thousand year reign of Jesus Christ upon this Earth. He will personally rule the world. At the end of this will be the war to end all wars that people are so worried about. Satan will be released from his prison and gather mankind against Jesus, Jesus will speak a word and the battle will be over. End of human history. 

In your here and now your life's choices are really important. The worst kind of feeling is that of loneliness. Isolation. While I go through this life, physically, I might be alone at times. Spiritually I can never know loneliness because Jesus promised never to leave me nor forsake me.  

This relationship is worth everything that I might hold in high regard. 

As a song goes...

All I once held dear, built my life upon

All this world reveres and wants to own

All I once thought gain, I have counted loss

Spent and worthless now, compared to this

Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You

There is no greater thing

You're my all, You're the best

You're my joy, my righteousness

And I love You, Lord

Now my heart's desire is to know You more

To be found in You and known as Yours

To possess by faith what I could not earn

All-surpassing gift of righteousness

Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You

There is no greater thing

You're my all, You're the best

You're my joy, my righteousness

And I love You, Lord

Oh to know the power of Your risen life

And to know You in Your sufferings

To become like You in Your death, my Lord

So with You to live and never die

Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You

There is no greater thing

You're my all, You're the best

You're my joy, my righteousness

And I love You, Lord

Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You

There is no greater thing

You're my all, You're the best

You're my joy, my righteousness

You're my all, You're the best

You're my joy, my righteousness

You're my all, You're the best

You're my joy, my righteousness

And I love You, Lord

I love You, Lord

-Knowing You Jesus

Song by Graham Kendrick.

What will it be for you? 

What is so important in your life that you keep putting a hand up at Jesus saying you're ok. You got this thing called life and you don't need Him. Why would you risk eternity on what you won't let go of?

Heaven is a promise.

Hell is too.  

You decide. 

Why do things like all these troubles in life happen? To cause you and I to stop and consider what's really important. A right relationship with Jesus. 

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.

Days Are Coming

The Days Are Coming 

by David Brenneman 

"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33.

Are you really ready to meet Jesus? 

The truest question is will He be your Savior or your Judge?

The days certainly are coming when the judgments of God as written in the Bible will take place.  

What many people fail to notice is how much of what the Bible has said has indeed come true. 

Jerusalem is indeed a heavy stone that the world fights over.  

The United Nations consistently votes against the rights of the tiny nation of Israel. They don't want them to defend themselves, they mostly all want them to go away by way of annihilation. 

It's no surprise to those who know their Bible. Satan's been wanting to eradicate God's chosen people since they first were chosen of God. 

The days Jesus spoke of concerning how this world will be before He comes for His Bride, the Church, are among us right now. The nation of Israel is quickly becoming, and staying, the focal point of the world.  

Nations are trying to come together to figure out how to disarm and remove Israel's place in the world. 

Read your Bible. The Lord Jesus Christ will defend Israel Himself at the appointed time.  

Read the New Testament of how people in this world will be with regards to how they treat each other. 

Look at the way this world is making it law everywhere to make good evil and evil as good. 

Look at how those who embrace the truth of God are persecuted. 

Even in the United States if a Christian stands up for their beliefs the government tries to silence them rather than defend them as they should, considering this is supposed to be a Christian Nation. 

In the workplace people who are Christians are silenced by management who are also supposed to be Christians by saying its a whole new world and you just have to accept it and adapt to it.  

People are celebrated for mocking God. People are protested against for trying to protect life at conception. 

The days indeed are evil...and it's not just in-your-face evil.   

Evil has countless forms. Evil disguises itself as good and then is forced upon society.   

Evil is promoted through everything from advertising to news broadcasts to television shows and sporting events.  

Franklin Graham, when his Dad was alive, Billy Graham. When he was alive, Dr. Charles Stanley. Other well known Godly men encourage people to pray for Israel. They encourage Believer's to set their minds on the things of God.  

There IS an hour coming when the dead in Christ will rise. First will be those who have passed on before. Then those who are alive in Christ will leave this world to join them in the air to forever be with Jesus. This too is in the Bible.  

Are you really ready to meet Jesus? 

The truest question is will He be your Savior or your Judge?

You are the one who chooses Heaven or Hell. The cross of Jesus Christ brought choice to the world. 

The days, months and years ahead are not going to get better. The climate isn't changing because of people with respect to what governments say it is. The world is being prepared for the rest of the events of the Bible. The final judgments of God. 

Wars and rumors of wars. Jesus said these would take place. Hear of more of these lately?

Earthquakes and famines in various places. Flooding even. Notice anything in the news?

The significant rise in antisemitism. 

Evil parading around and making a mockery of what God intended. 

Days are indeed coming that people yet still say are impossible.  

Guess what. Most everyone thought a global shutdown due to a pandemic was impossible too.

Yet here we are living in that aftermath. 

Nations rage against the Holy God of all Creation.  

Me? I listen every single day for a trumpet to sound and my Savior to tell me it's time to come home.  

Jesus made a promise and He will keep it. He's made a place for His Bride the Church and will come to take her to it. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus so His Church has no place in the Great Tribulation to come upon the Earth. We have stepped out of death into life in Christ. 

Are you listening too?

There are no do overs no second chances once Jesus returns. While you indeed might find salvation in Christ during the coming Great Tribulation, life indeed will be Hell on Earth as the judgments of God are poured out upon it.

Salvation in Christ Jesus is free. 

It is still a limited time offer. 

There will be a day when the Father said it's now.  

Could that be today? Maybe. 

Could be tomorrow too.

Jesus said it will be at an hour that you do not expect. Think long and hard about that. 

Children and babies who don't know right from wrong and adults who are the same as well as all Believer's will leave before those judgments start.  

I am so ready for the shout that will take us out. 

Jesus said to be ready...are you?

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.

Are You in the Fight?

Are You in the Fight?

by David Brenneman 

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war 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 speculations and every lofty thing raised up 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." 2 Corinthians 10:3-6.

Are you one who goes with the flow as they used to say? Do you take time to consider your ways, your words, the work of your life?

Do you ponder the deeper things of God? Do they even matter to you above the offerings of the world?

Something or someone will get your attention. Something or someone will try to sway your mindset. That's how the god of this world works. The Deceiver, Satan, is his name. The liar and the father of lies. He has a vested interest in messing with your life. Don't think for a moment that you're not on the radar of the spiritual forces of wickedness in the world.  

If you're saved, his efforts are going to be to twist and distort the Word of God and the truths of God's Word. Expect it. Every single day, every single Believer, is subject to this. 

If you are not yet saved in Christ Jesus for the forgiveness of sins and Jesus isn't your personal Lord and Savior, his work is to keep you in the dark. Keep you from learning the truth of the Light of Jesus Christ made available to everyone. 

There's a war going on...and it's right where you are. It's as close as your next breath. 

People are discouraged by what they see in the mirror, sometimes what they see in others or in the world around them.  

Jesus is everywhere. Satan tries to be wherever he can be. Satan isn't God. He does not have the attributes of God. He isn't omnipresent, isn't omniscient.  

But he does have his own messengers known to the world as demons. He sends them out. In Heavenly terms Angels are messengers of God. Satan mimics God so he considers his followers his own angels.  

This war over souls is ever escalating. The temptations in this world are crafted, designed, to get people from considering the ways and truths about God, about His Son Jesus Christ. 

The Bible says that in Christ you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.  

You and I get played by the world. 

We really do. Keep piling up the situations in our lives in order to keep our minds and hearts off of the truths of God. Consume our lives with supposed good things and we won't have time for learning more about Jesus. We won't have time to grow in Christ. More importantly we won't be in a position to help set others free from the life of sin they've been in. 

Christians the world over are susceptible to all the same sins as those who aren't saved yet.  

Read of how hard the temptations were on the Apostles. Even despairing of their lives at times. 

We read of the truths of this world in the Bible but do you really believe them?  

Twisted and distorted thinking has come into the Church from within the Church. This too was warned would happen.  

Read that passage again and as the Apostles have said...consider your ways!  

Do you wear symbols of idolatry? That hasn't gone away over the centuries. Idolatry is alive and well in this century. Do you care that your choices in even your wardrobe might cause someone to stumble and sin? Do you care enough about others to watch your words? Do you care enough to be considerate of the needs of others above yourself? Are you so used to some sins that you aren't even ashamed of them?  

Ambassadors are held in high regard. Certain expectations are there for them when they travel abroad. We are Ambassadors of Jesus Christ.  

Jesus is returning for His Bride, the Church of God. He's not going to have His Bride go through the horrible events, the judgments, that are going to come upon this world. The 7 year Great Tribulation isn't about the Church it's about the final week of Daniel's prophecy. It's about Israel and the world. Jesus is absolutely not going to have His Bride beaten, go through horrific events, right before the Marriage!

We are to be ready to meet Jesus. 

We are to be testifying of how He's made a difference in our lives. To show people the way to be saved themselves. To set our minds on the things that are above, of God. 

Are you in? Are you in the fight to be the light of Jesus Christ in your world? Are you really all in? Or do you schedule time in your life for Jesus? Do you try to figure out a few minutes here or there for your Savior? How ludicrous that sounds!

Do you take the joy, the thrill, the excitement that belongs to God and give it to other things, other people?

As the Spirit says...consider your ways!

We don't know the day nor the hour of Jesus's return. 

However, He made it ABUNDANTLY clear...to be ready for you do not know the hour of His arrival. 

You aren't going to have time to get saved at the last second when you don't know when that will be. 

You aren't going to have time to rid your life of sins and sinful acts when you don't know when He will appear. 

You have no promise to make it through today. Today you might find that you're stepping into eternity.  

Get into the fight.  

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.