Tribulations

Tribulations

by David Brenneman 

"‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’"Isaiah 41:10 NASB 

"The Lord is my shepherd,

I will not be in need.

He lets me lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside quiet waters.

He restores my soul;

He guides me in the paths of righteousness

For the sake of His name.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I fear no evil, for You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You have anointed my head with oil;

My cup overflows.

Certainly goodness and faithfulness will follow me all the days of my life,

And my dwelling will be in the house of the Lord forever." Psalm 23 NASB 

"To You, Lord, I lift up my soul. My God, in You I trust, Do not let me be ashamed;Do not let my enemies rejoice over me. Indeed, none of those who wait for You will be ashamed; Those who deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed. Make me know Your ways, Lord; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day." Psalm 25:1-5 NASB 

In our excessively over-sensationalized culture, we can often think that life looks harder than it was decades or even centuries ago.  With cell phone videos and pictures we can be made to believe just about anything in a totally incorrect context.  We can even be lead to believe that which isn't true of the Church of God.

In the last 24 hours things have been mentally challenging for me.  Have been difficult to get through and in praying before going to bed, this morning sort of sheds a little light on some things.  

We cannot live this life thinking that when we come to Christ that life is going to be all sunshine and rainbows.  That health, wealth and prosperity are the defining characteristics of a life of a follower of Christ Jesus.  Because they most certainly are not.  

Jesus said that we would face tribulations of our own because of His Name. Because of being a follower of Jesus Christ.  We would be aliens in this world.  Surely we would see the hand of God doing great things in the lives of those centered upon His Will as well. 

But by far we are not suffering worse than those of the Early Church.  God's protection and ability to protect has not diminished over 2,000 plus years.  

"Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that person ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Now the brother or sister of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; but the rich person is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so also the rich person, in the midst of his pursuits, will die out.

Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. No one is to say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it has run its course, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers and sisters. Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. ¹⁸ In the exercise of His will He gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures." James 1:2-19 NASB 

We read this week about what is written in the Bible about rejoicing always.  Nothing is more confusing to an unbelieving person than to see a situation where we are behaving the opposite of what's normally accepted. 

We see here that which James writes is what we SHOULD be expecting.  Jesus spoke of pruning branches to bear more fruit.  Pruning, trimming, weeding, are all potentially painful things.  Spiritual surgeries are indeed painful things. Brokenness in Christ Jesus is going to be a painful thing.  Believers on Sunday can sing about wanting brokenness but the reality, where the rubber meets the road, we cry out to God to stop. We can't take it  

We can also not see what God sees. 

We cannot see the real battle going on for the souls of mankind.  It's certainly more than the human eye and heart can take in. 

We also, especially in purported to be Christian nations, to think more highly of themselves than they ought to.  No nation is called God's own possession but Israel. The Church isn't Israel. It didn't replace Israel permanently.  The Church was told at its beginning that trials and tribulations would follow any who came to Christ for salvation.  The world hated Jesus it will hate you too Jesus said.

I felt early yesterday that I was being forewarned that there's rough waters ahead.  Looking at the statistics of this blog I can partly see why.  Huge surges in viewership.  But that's not all of what is coming I am sure. 

"Indeed, all who want to live in a godly way in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil people and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:12-17 NASB 

See a theme yet?  See that life has a potential of getting a little bit rough?  See that last part of what Paul wrote to Timothy?  It ties in directly to Ephesians 6 and the full armor of God.  

We must go into each day with the armor on.  In our video-centric world we catch video's of those odd sports injuries. Baseballs hitting players in slow motion and we easily see the pain that registers in their faces.  

We often wonder at the things we go through.  God doesn't.

We often want whatever it is to end quickly.  I know that I often do. 

We often want to believe this or that about the time in which we live, but Biblically speaking, it might not be so. 

We often want the pain to end.  In the weeks of recovery, many years ago, that I went through in the aftermath of an accident, I wanted so bad for God to end the pain and discomfort. 

We cannot see what God sees.  

We cannot truly understand all His plans for us, for every single person around us who is in Christ Jesus. 

We don't know where every single Believer is in their growth as a Christian. 

We only know that we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them.

We only know that those who seek to live in a godly way will be persecuted.

We only know what the Bible teaches and to know that, to have the right perspective on life we need to be IN the Bible to know. 

I indeed lived through yesterday. Overall yesterday wasn't bad bad. I could tell things were happening all around me.  I could tell that here and there situations were bumping into me but nothing hit me directly.  I honestly expect more today and the days ahead because of what little that the Spirit allows me to see without overwhelming me. We would freak out if we saw the battles of each day as the Lord sees or the angels of God. 

I have been purposely driving myself to only focus on doing that which God puts before me each day.  Rough or not.  Was funny seeing a potential t-shirt describing Brenneman as one who doesn't quit when they are tired, but one who quits when one is done.  Not too far from the truth.  I have been accused by former supervisors of getting wrapped around the axle on solving problems.  Yeah I do.  I don't like to lose.  I know that if God's brought it to me that He has a plan to get us through it.  People who aren't Spiritually minded aren't going to get that. I've been branded 'trouble' by former pastors because they refused to see the work of God in me.

Tribulations are part of the life of Believers.  Consider it well that those going into the military face great tribulations. It's called basic training. They are forced to learn to look at life differently.  They learn discipline. They learn what's important and what isn't in service to their commander.  

You who come to Christ WILL receive training in Christ Jesus by the Spirit of God.  Not maybe. Not possibly. Not even accidentally. Intentionally you WILL receive training on what is important and what isn't in regards to what your Commander, King Jesus, wants to see in you. 

Life's going to hurt. Each trial and tribulation will build upon earlier ones. The intent is to toughen you up for the next. For you to share and teach what God's done and is doing in your life to help others.  

As another hymn goes I will go where my Savior leads me.  Where He leads me I will follow as we read in Psalms 23. Never forsaken, never alone. 

Some people are blessed with some things more than others.  It's their growth in Christ Jesus, their part of God's plan, that determines such things.  Some immediately face death upon coming to Christ. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. For some that just means that their only steps in Christ are to enter into glory in Heaven. Some have an unseen role in God's plans to save others. 

Pray without ceasing.

Rejoice always.  

How Strong Do You Think You Are?

How Strong Do You Think You Are?

by David Brenneman 

In Matthew 24, Jesus said that no man knows the day nor the hour of His return.  Luke 19 Jesus says that He came to seek and save the lost.  In John 6 we read that the Will of the Father that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life. 

Further we read in John 10:28-29 NASB "and I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand."

Once we are saved by grace through faith, we receive the seal of the Holy Spirit. We cannot undo what God has done.  We indeed can become Prodigal Son's and Daughter's but what God has joined together no man can separate.  

Some may argue that that cannot be the case, but after reading in Psalms of partial verses being specific prophecies about Jesus, oh yes my Dear Reader it is indeed true.

If the individual meant it when they came to Christ, they cannot lose what was received by them from God.  This isn't to say that on the day we all stand before Jesus Christ to give an account of our lives, what deeds we have done in the body, that some will be more than a bit singed. 

1 Corinthians 3:15 NASB "If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet only so as through fire."

We may indeed face a rough life after coming to Christ. We may not. We WILL face good days and bad days. We are told the following:  1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 NASB "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit, do not utterly reject prophecies, but examine everything; hold firmly to that which is good, abstain from every form of evil."

It's indeed God's Will that all would be saved. After all Jesus said that all the sins of all mankind were heaped upon Him on the cross when He was crucified.  The sad reality is people still choose not to receive the rescue that's been offered.  

The Scriptures also say that there's but one mediator between God and man, that being ONLY Jesus Christ.  There's nobody else in Heaven who can hear prayers but God through His Spirit.  It's foolishness to think praying to anyone else goes anywhere.  I have said to someone this week, since we know it's true that Jesus Himself wipes away every tear in Heaven, perhaps the one person who possibly weeps the most is Mary.  Whole false teachings have created lies surrounding her. People putting a false hope in what's impossible. But that's a sidebar topic. 

In your world and mine we simply are not strong enough to unsave ourselves.  We are hidden in Christ Jesus.  When the Father looks at us He sees Jesus. He sees the scars on His hands and His feet.  We indeed may become dillusional about life, but as long as we have a breath the Spirit will indeed work towards the goal of sanctification in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 4.  At no point does Jesus stop in His work concerning us. We are His workmanship. 

What Jesus begins He always completes.

Name one thing that Jesus began that He hasn't completed!  

Hope is always possible as long as the breath of life exists within a human being. 

In prison, on a desert island, lost at sea, lost a block from your destination, alone somewhere you do not know.  Anywhere a human being has a breath of life, which by the way comes from God no matter who you are, hope exists. 

We aren't strong enough to move the finger of God anywhere that isn't in the plan and purpose of God. We may indeed find ourselves in tha valley of the shadow of death at times but even there Jesus will find you. 

I have been in some extremely dark places in my life, moreso than even the closest people to me knows of.  Jesus still found me there, grabbed me and brought me back out.  Crying out to those who had me "Hands OFF!  This one is MINE! I died for him, I took his place!  He belongs to ME!"

You too may believe anything you do at this moment, but realize that the prayer of Nehemiah can be yours too. I have heard them referred to as bullet prayers.  His whole prayer was seconds long. "I prayed to the God of Heaven".  

Coming in faith for salvation is a requirement to be saved. Romans 10 says it simply and true. "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.”

We may not like where we are in life. Be who you are in Christ Jesus where you are.  We aren't promised health, wealth and prosperity after coming to Christ for salvation. 

We have a path to walk in Christ Jesus that's for us to walk with Jesus. He can never leave us nor forsake us.  He may indeed break us to change us and grow us in Christ but He will never leave us.

Scripture says to be sure of your salvation in Christ Jesus. Be sure you have indeed believed as we read in Romans 10.

1 Peter 1:3-9 NASB "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,  obtaining as the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

It's not always easy to rejoice when life isn't all peaceful and steady.  Setting our minds on the things that are above isn't always easy either.  The enemy of God wants nothing more than to silence those who he has lost.  To either kill them before they are born or kill them, discredit them, shame them into silence.  To make them believe lies and to get them to give up.  I am glad to say that no matter what Jesus does not give up.  He has promises to keep. 

Pray without ceasing. Rejoice always.  Remember whose we are. Remember what great love that brought you to Jesus to be saved.  It's never ending.  It's relentless. 

Today remember and if need be cry out to your Savior and Lord. He's ready for you. He wants what is best for you.  It just might not be what you think, but it WILL be better.

Knowing When It's Not For You

Knowing When It's Not For You 

by David Brenneman 

In talking in the Men's Group that I am in yesterday we talk about what God's been doing in our lives.  

Quite often what's brought up by each stirs me up by way of reminder of things that have touched, or are touching, the lives of people who I know or are things that I have been through or am in the midst of. 

Most Men's groups that I have been associated with lean towards the passage where it mentions iron sharpening iron. Proverbs 27:17. 

I was drawn to remember Proverbs 11:14 yesterday.  It didn't personally happen to me yesterday but that not withstanding I saw it in action with those men. "Where there is no guidance the people fall,

But in an abundance of counselors there is victory." (NASB).

Proverbs 15:22 NASB "Without consultation, plans are frustrated, But with many counselors they succeed."

When Jesus repeats Himself we really ought to be paying attention.  

I have been around Godly Men throughout my life but until recently never so many in one place. 

What does this have to do with knowing when it's not for you?  Everything. 

We will face things every day.  As one in the group said "these aren't problems they are situations". We face situations every moment of every day.  We can either attempt them in our own strength and might or choose to consult others. 

Let's careful consider Luke 14:25-35 NASB "Now large crowds were going along with Him, and He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who are watching it will begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This person began to build, and was not able to finish!’ Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to face the one coming against him with twenty thousand? Otherwise, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and requests terms of peace. So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.

“Therefore, salt is good; but if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned? It is useless either for the soil or the manure pile, so it is thrown out. The one who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Consider as well: "Many plans are in a person’s heart, But the advice of the Lord will stand." Proverbs 19:21 NASB. 

It's a hard thing to learn of when I am out of my element ability wise or out of my element because it's not for me to be doing, but the blessing is meant for another because of my situation. 

I often try to exhaust options before throwing in the towel.  Even at that point sometimes God throws the towel back at me and says to wipe off my face, I am not done yet.

We probably know of the passage that speaks to robbing God.  Malachi 3 if you're interested. 

Do you realize you rob others of blessings because you can press too hard to do things yourself and not ask for help?

God indeed uses events and situations to cause growth in others.  The 4 Gospels are filled with Jesus doing just that.  We often get too prideful in asking others for help.  Humility tends to be brought in by the Spirit to counter that. 

That one part of Luke really lends to this idea "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple."  When we are focused on carrying our own cross our focus tends to be on what Jesus wants not what we want.  

If Jesus wants me to go through something rather than around it there's a reason.  I really like "90 Minutes in Heaven" by Don Piper.  In this book you follow a Pastor whom God allowed to go through some extremely heavy situations. He cried out to God many times. Even in anger at God for not doing something, even though he says later on that indeed God was working.  But it wasn't until he indeed was recovered years later that various people were brought into his life that he saw how God did what He did with him in order to prepare him to minister to people who otherwise weren't going to be open to the salvation message. 

Our lives are not our own, we were bought with a price.  People don't realize the magnitude of that verse, of its full implications.  That our lives, are to be spent on the work that God has lined up for us to be doing. 

I have been on short term mission trips.  On one such trip I learned a rather humbling message from God. I was about to do something for someone rather than them doing it and He had the person assert themselves in a way that pointed out that while I might know what needed to be done and how to do it, it was for them to do it and not me.  That while I saw their possible physical limitations He saw what they could do because He knew them internally. 

The longer I live the more I am not really impressed by what this world has to offer.  I will probably be speechless when I get to see how this world will be transformed for the thousand year reign of Jesus Christ on this Earth.  

Knowing when someone else needs a blessing is often difficult but not impossible.  I can indeed do a great many things through God who strengthens me. I can also help cultivate success in others in their walk with Jesus by not trying to do it all myself. 

My situation might be the lesson someone else needs in order to grow in Christ Jesus.  Ever really really think about that?

My situation might to really be my situation but rather another person's opportunity. 

Pray in everything the Bible says. Set your minds on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world. 

Growth is the hallmark of the branches of the vine which is Jesus Christ.  

You have an Appointment!

You have an Appointment!

by David Brenneman 

Those who die likely do not consider that their life's journey will be the subject of a meeting. In Christ Jesus those who die will receive a reward for what all they have done in their lives for Christ Jesus.  At the end of the age everyone else will have their lives reviewed as well for different reasons. They all who died without salvation in Christ Jesus will hear that their names were not written in the book of Life.  They will be found guilty of all their own sins and will be, glorified body and all, cast into the lake of fire.  The Final Judgment. 

In your day today, do you live your life in preparation for your meeting with Jesus?  

Only in today, while it is still called today, do you have the grace and mercy granted to you and I to live life in the way that we are to live according to the Bible. 

We all have an appointment, but most are doing absolutely nothing to get ready for it.

We know not when Jesus will return. 

We know not when our own time on this Earth will be over.  We have wasted so much time in embracing this world that by far we are not comprehending the magnitude of our appointment. 

We indeed do not take that Scripture to heart of not being presumptuous about what we will do today. But rather we ought to be of the mind that if the Lord wills, we will do this or go there.  That's what the Bible teaches. 

We often are not thinking about our next breath.   Yet that too is grace upon grace. We take that for granted.  

We get excited about sports teams, actors and actresses, musicians, artists, CEO's, movers and shakers but are not thrilled at all about getting ready to meet Jesus Christ face-to-face.

We indeed have gotten too close to the world's ideology and its definition of identity.  We have accepted its lies about the Scriptures even.  We have sometimes even been responsible for it taking others a lot longer to listen to the cry of the Spirit of God calling them to be saved. 

These things impact our interview, impact our appointment, with Jesus. 

Romans 14:10b-12 NASB "For we will all appear before the judgment seat of God. For it is written:

“As I live, says the Lord, to Me every knee will bow,
And every tongue will give praise to God.”

So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God."

1 Corinthians 3:10-15 NASB "According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each person must be careful how he builds on it. For no one can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, each one’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each one’s work. If anyone’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet only so as through fire."

We aren't here to create Heaven on Earth. 

We aren't here to go enjoy the world. 

We aren't here, honestly, for ourselves.

We aren't here to enter into rest as the world gives it.  

We are here with a job to do both in Christ Jesus and for Christ Jesus.  

We are often subject to yearly performance reviews at our jobs.  What would a yearly review look like between you and Jesus?  How comfortable would you be standing, not sitting, before your Savior as He's going through the last year of your life?  How good or how bad are you thinking you're going to look like?

This was a very sobering thought this morning.  Nobody is guaranteed a today let alone a tomorrow.  Jesus was rather pointed and direct in this parable:

"And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. And he began thinking to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and I will store all my grain and my goods there. And I will say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years to come; relax, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself!”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is demanded of you; and as for all that you have prepared, who will own it now?’" Luke 12:16-20 NASB. 

I have relatives who accumulated much in their lives of "stuff".  None of them took it with them when their appointment was called up and Jesus said it was time for them to go from this world.  I live with probably a blessing and a curse. On one hand I want to keep useful stuff and on the other I want to get rid of things if I haven't used them in a year.  That's from both sides of the family. 

I look at who and what I get excited about.  It's extremely saddening to me to watch Believers not be excited about Jesus returning yet they are pumped up about a sports team or player.  They get excited about concerts but not their Savior.  They run off to do things in this world but have no time to be with other Believers or even really quality time with Jesus.  

People completely unprepared for their personal appointment with Jesus. 

They are consumed by seeking health, wealth and prosperity, of security, of this or that in this world and honestly are the people mentioned in Revelation who were told they had forgotten their first love. They are the people Jesus looked ahead to who didn't have the faith.  

"Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God continues to live forever." 1 John 2:15-17 NASB. 

People in this world need to realize that no Jesus will not "cut them some slack". He isn't going to just "look the other way".

Our works, as Believers and Unbelievers, will be passed through the fire of the Spirit. What remains is what was of value.  Those with their names in the Lamb's book of Life will be with Jesus Christ forever. But the test is the Spirit of God.  Read on in the Bible and you read of people who didn't receive Him as Savior and Lord crying out to Jesus to consider all they said they did for Him. He said depart from Me for I never knew You.

Jesus says that those who did listen and come to Him for salvation will be loved by Him and His Father. That we would be with Him forever. 

At your appointment, be it today, this week, this year, this next few years, will you be ready for Jesus?  Are you ready for your appointment with Jesus?  

Much of what used to be important to me was left behind last year before we moved.  In the last probably 10 years much more has been left behind. 

I have often referred to Colossians 3:24-24...extend that to verse 25.

Colossians 3:23-25 NASB "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people, knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. For the one who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality."

Jesus said that not one thing in His Word would fail to come true.  

Many today are being informed that their appointed time to leave this world is at hand. Most don't think that they want to go. Most don't believe that they will end up in Hell. That they think they are a good person. 

There's trillions of "good people" in Hell. 

Only salvation in Christ Jesus separates those "good people" from the "good people" in Heaven. 

If today were your day, would YOU be ready?

Two Ways to Rest...

Two Ways to Rest 

by David Brenneman 

You either rest willingly or you rest because Jesus takes you aside and makes you rest.  In my lifetime I indeed have been subject to both.  

There are just times when I was a child that a rest was necessary. Sometimes even a forced rest.  My perception of the limits of my body and mind were not up to the task of knowing my limits.

In our lives as Believers we need to be mindful of our limitations.  In our physical bodies we are still sin cursed. Until we receive our glorified bodies we will have troubles with this one. 

You may know what HALT means. 

Hungry 

Angry.

Lonely.

Tired.

It's also a key indicator of knowing when we are exceeding our limits.  When we are any of those things we are in danger of saying or doing something we certainly shouldn't be thinking of or doing. 

It's only going to get worse if we persist in our stubbornness in those situations. 

In the 4 Gospels we read of the great many times when either Jesus took Himself out of the realm of people to just be with His Father and or He removed His Disciples.  They were not aware of their limitations or their need to recharge Spiritually.   

We can easily be sucked into this world's way of relaxation. We can easily replace time away with God, with Jesus, with totally absent minded activities or actions.

The passage that tells us to make the most of every opportunity, at least to me, lends itself to much more than what we think.  This is as important as it gets.  Read it here in Ephesians 5:1-17 NASB "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

But sexual immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness or foolish talk, or vulgar joking, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that no sexually immoral or impure or greedy person, which amounts to an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

See that no one deceives you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light  (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), as you try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.  Do not participate in the useless deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says,

“Awake, sleeper,

And arise from the dead,

And Christ will shine on you.”

So then, be careful how you walk, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."

The Will of God for you is your sanctification. 2 Thessonians 4:3.  It's to grow you in Christ Jesus. It's to begin that process of taking us out of the darkness into the light. 

There are those in the Church today who are so weary they aren't remotely aware of how weary they are. They have accepted as right and true things that are completely contrary to the Word of God. A prime example is in that of the sexuality of men and women. God created them male and female, as it says in Genesis. In Psalms we read of the intimate details that God puts into our creation. Of knowing us before we were born, knowing us as our bodies are being created in the womb. 

These people are so out of it that they believe things that God explicitly stated will not happen.  God says specifically who will not see Heaven.  Yet whole church denominations are preaching the lies that those types of people can be saved and remain in the sins they deceive themselves with. 

To come to Christ is to repent and turn AWAY from sin.  Not remain in it, certainly not to celebrate it. 

We need to Spiritually eat to grow Spiritually.  We need Spiritual rest. We need to live our lives in such a way that people see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven.  We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them.  There's a specific plan and purpose to each and every single Believer in the Church. When we come to Christ He places us as He sees fit in His body of the Church to do that which is best for the body of Christ.  We are not our own, we were bought with a price, the blood of Jesus Christ. 

Rest, for some, is a greatly difficult thing. They just don't know how to disconnect.  I can be that way.  I do have a problem with letting go of problems.  Wanting to see a right, good and proper conclusion to them.  Many times God's been adamant about stopping me before I could complete something because of this or that reason. 

Rest is a necessity of life in this physical body with its limitations on physical and mental well-being.  Sin cursed is what these bodies are and this world is.  It will never be a utopia or even resemble one until Jesus reigns Himself from Earth physically for a thousand years.  Sad to say that even after His personal rule over mankind, mankind will still rebel against him at the end of the thousand years. 

What do you do to make your Spiritual health a priority?  How sensitive to your Spiritual well-being are you?  Look back on your life, how many times has Jesus honestly put you in a time-out?  

We have to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.  That's what a Disciple is and does.  A Christ follower.  Where He leads we follow.  

"All the Way My Savior Leads Me" - Fanny Crosby 1875

All the way my Savior leads me
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His faithful mercies?
Who through life has been my guide
Heavenly peace, divinest comfort
Ere by faith in Him to dwell
For I know whate'er fall me
Jesus doeth all things well

All of the way my Savior leads me
And He cheers each winding path I tread
Gives me strength for every trial
And He feeds me with the living bread
And though my weary steps may falter
And my soul a-thirst may be
Gushing from a rock before me
Though a spirit joy I see

And all the way my Savior leads me
Oh, the fullness of His love
Perfect rest in me is promised
In my Father's house above
When my spirit clothed immortal
Wings it's flight through the realms of the day
This my song through endless ages
Jesus led me all the way.

Jesus can and does suggest a rest and recharge or He makes us rest and recharge. We can either listen and do willingly or He will impose His Will for our own good.  Our lives should never mirror this world. They should reflect Jesus. 

What Do You Do?

What Do You Do?

by David and 

Each morning my routine is about the same. Getting ready for the day, making my coffee, getting dressed. One of our cats awaits my getting settled into my recliner to read and write the things that I post. 

In Daniel we read of what was his practice. Of what Daniel did every day in regards to his relationship with Jesus.  He may not have known Him as Jesus but it was Him. In the vernacular of the Church He was the preincarnate Jesus Christ, to him: The Lord. 

I am always in amazement at how my thoughts get organized for these posts, when at other times I want to write, it doesn't seem to happen.  

As the header of my website says, I am attempting to be true to what I feel God's told me to do. Some may agree or disagree with whatever is written but while it's my hand that writes, the content isn't of me.  As I have said in the past, so I say again, I am not that good at writing on my own.  I have had another blog that is much older of things that I have written that were not as inspired by God.  It's received no where near as much attention as this one. 

My thoughts for today or any day are always in wonder at where God might take me, and by extension, you.  

What do you do to cultivate your relationship with Jesus?  In regards to that idea, do you only talk to Him in times of distress or difficulty?  Do you try to only talk to Him when nobody's looking?  Do your thoughts go beyond that of the world's idea of who and what God is?  Do you at all consider Jesus to be your friend? Your closest friend?  Do you at all truly pour out your heart to Him in both the good times and the bad?  Are you at all engaged in your relationship with Jesus?

It's taken years for me to begin to let go of the level of control that I had been wanting of my life to God.  I indeed wasn't cultivating my relationship with Jesus in the way that I should have been doing.  Indeed until my discomfort in life was great enough prayer hadn't been happening. 

Today is different. 

Today after writing things such as this, I will indeed as always pray with my Wife before leaving. Lunch in hand heading out the door. Go to my truck and begin the drive to work. I almost immediately begin talking with my Savior Jesus Christ, spending my time going to work with Him as though He were sitting next to me in the truck. 

Nothing is held back.  All my thoughts, dreams, aspirations, disappointments, desires, thoughts and feelings are on the table.  

What do you do with the beginning of your day?  Some indeed think that I get up way too early.  It's a sacrifice that I am willing to make to do this blog posting in service to my God for all who might benefit from it.  I easily could sleep in and try it later but there's just something special about this quiet time.  This early morning hour that has no busyiness to it.  It's at least an hour or so of my day when I know that I am stress free.  It's peaceful in ways that I have a hard time putting into words.  

Many might not agree with what I write, but from my perspective, that's between them and God. I do what I am told, as unto the Lord.  Colossians 3:23-24.  

I was briefly talking to my former Pastor last night.  Talking about various things, but at least in part we were talking about the things that God's doing in our lives. Of how glad we both are that at long last we don't live so far apart.  

Yesterday I was texting my "Spiritual Dad" about the new charts that he's produced that Biblically prove the solid truth concerning the Rapture of the Church before the Great Tribulation as described in the Book of Revelation.  

God's brought many extremely Godly men into my life.  They have always encouraged me to be strong in the Lord.  To indeed preach the word in season and out of season. 

As Dr. John C. Whitcomb said on probably every occasion that I was with him, that passage that says "Let God be found true and every man a liar". Romans 3:4. 

So what is your "practice" in your day in cultivating your relationship with Jesus?  If we truly believe that we are His workmanship, then we should expect results of His doing things in our lives that both instill good, right and true attributes of Himself, as well as expect those things that are not to be removed. 

The most stressed Christians that I know are that way because of how haphazard their time with Jesus is.  It may mean losing a little sleep, but if Jesus is important enough to you, get up earlier or stay up a little later.  

Jesus isn't someone behind glass in a box that you only break that glass in case of emergency to use.  Jesus isn't your Butler. He isn't some magical person to do your bidding. He isn't sitting in Heaven waiting for you to mess up to come down on you either. He isn't any of those things.  

How does your life show your relationship with Jesus Christ is to you?  DO you at all focus on your relationship with Jesus?  Do people see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven?  Are your thoughts drifting towards things that are of this world or are you intentional about considering what is above in Heaven?

This world is literally in its last thousand and 7 years plus days.  Think about that.  Should Jesus return today as He promised, the Church is taken up to be with Him forever, in just over 1,007 years that's it for this world as it is.  I say plus days because of the days between this very moment and when the Rapture of the Church occurs.  No one knows the day or the hour.  But we are told what to look for that would herald that day. 

Are you putting too much emphasis on being successful in the world?  Are you putting too much emphasis on survival and not enough on the work He’s called you to be doing in His fields?  Nobody who is a Christian is to not be doing something in His fields. Those fields that He says are ripe for harvest. We do not save anyone, the Spirit does. We do not lead people to Jesus, He draws them to Himself. We are to live our lives in such a way that people see our good works and glorify our God in Heaven.  We are to live in such a way that people want what we have in Christ Jesus.  Setting the example.  Living by faith in the Son of God who gave His life for me.  There's no such thing as a part time Christian.  

What do you do in living for Jesus?  That hymn by that name is simple but true in what it says to you and I.

"Living for Jesus, a life that is true,

Striving to please Him in all that I do;

Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,

This is the pathway of blessing for me.

Refrain:

O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,

For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me;

I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne;

My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone."

If life's indeed troublesome and stressful, if you're not engaged in a fruitful relationship with Jesus, stop what you are doing and get started on fixing that today.  If you are and it's still difficult, stay the course, keep in prayer.  God will either move the mountains or move you.  

It's Not About the USA...

It's Not About the USA...

by David Brenneman 

A very popular misconception is the place of the USA in Biblical prophecy and Biblical history.  Way too much emphasis is placed upon what the Bible doesn't teach versus what's perceived.  

One of two things befall nations of this world in the through the eyes of Biblical prophecy.  They either take themselves out of the world picture by way of ungodly people and ungodly living, or God's appointed time for them in His Plan concerning the Written word of God doesn't allow for their existence so He removes them.  

Many Christians who live in the United States have a very unhealthy view concerning this country and the order of things in Biblical prophecy. 

Even the thoughts surrounding the Rapture of the Church are skewed by an unhealthy view of the importance of the United States in Biblical prophecy. 

Plainly put, we aren't on the radar of Biblical prophecy in the end times.  Either we take ourselves out of the world picture or we are taken out of the world picture. 

The emphasis of the wars and rumors of wars, of earthquakes and famines in various places is still the Middle East. The emphasis of the book of Revelation isn't what is commonly thought.  It's no longer about the Universal Church, it's about Israel. It's about the cleansing of this world and Israel.  Preparing everything for the physical return of Jesus Christ to rule on this world, personally. 

We as a people would do well to consider the passage that states to not think too highly of ourselves but to think with sober judgment.  We as a nation do not symbolize the Universal Church. We are but one part of that Global Church of Jesus Christ. 

Some point to the falling away of people that the Bible refers to as the apostasy.  That indeed is happening in the United States but in other corners of the world Christianity is growing.  We ought not judge ourselves more highly than we ought in our importance of this country in the Biblical worldview.  

Even as we sleep or go about our lives here, the Bible is active, alive, still doing what Jesus said would be happening.  It is still the Word of God, still going to come about exactly as Jesus said everything would. 

Many countries in the last 2,000 plus years no longer exist.  They were not part of the Biblical prophecy time-line.  Revelation, Daniel, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Isaiah, others, all write concerning Israel.  

We who are Christians are to do but one thing. Live lives, where we are, in such a way that people see our good works and glorify our God in Heaven.  We are technically not of any nation after coming to Christ for salvation. We are citizens of Heaven. It's not called the United States of Heaven. Americans will not be the bulk of the saved that return with Jesus at the Rapture of the Church to receive their new glorified bodies. Americans who are alive today, sadly, will probably not make up the bulk of the Believers who leave after those people get their glorified bodies.  

Too many Christians today in the United States have the wrong idea on what living here in this land is about.  It's not about fitting in, it's about standing out.  It's not about how well we can live but living our lives well in Christ Jesus.  

We, regardless of country, should all be seeking to hear that "Well done" by Jesus Christ when we meet Him face-to-face. 

We are taught to live lives differently than the world. Not blend in so well that the world sees nothing to attract them to salvation in Christ Jesus. 

Millions go to what they like to call Church in the 195 countries of this world but are not worshiping the God of the Bible. They are not worshiping Jesus as Lord, as the Christ.   They do not hear the salvation message. Are not taught that the wages, what you get, for sin is death. They do not hear of the depravity of their sin and that without salvation in Christ Jesus alone they are headed for Hell.  We as a nation are but 1 of 195. That's it in the true Biblical worldview.  No more no less.

The greater thoughts to be having, way more so than the place of the United States in Biblical prophecy is where are YOU in living a God honoring life?

Where are YOU in living your life in such a way that others see you and glorify your God in Heaven?

I do indeed love what land in which I live, but I refuse to worship it or elevate it to an impossible and highly improbable place in Biblical prophecy. 

Jesus, in what's referred to as the Great Commission had but one command for them and us.  It absolutely had nothing to point to a specific nation. Salvation indeed began with the Jews but the mystery of the Old Testament was revealed at last to include the rest of humanity.  Again, Scriptures point to us as being aliens, visitors, in this world. We are to take up our own cross and following Jesus go and do what the Spirit says. Not being caught up in the things of this world. Again, living life in such a way that people see our good works and glorify God in Heaven. 

I received in the mail yesterday some materials from www.ptnews.org, from who I refer to as my "Spiritual Dad". It was he who lead me to Christ for salvation long long ago.  In the coming days I will likely be writing more about some things that Biblically prove the Rapture of the Church, who it entails and other things. I also received a new chart from that site concerning at least 41 Old Testament passages that were fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. 

For us today: Live in such a way that people see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven.  Live with that in mind. Live with the idea that you do what you do as though unto the Lord Jesus Christ. Colossians 3:23-24.  Let go of the world and the things of this world.  Let go of unhealthy views of things that are not Biblically based.  Remember that the time is short. Far shorter than the world realizes.  There is nothing left in Biblical prophecy between now and the Return of Jesus Christ but the necessary salvation of those who will be saved prior to His arrival to take us who do call Him our Savior home to be with Him forever.  It's possibly crunch time for many who have not taken their time to live the Christian life the way God intended. It's not too late to repent and return to Jesus, who awaits with arms wide open. 

If wherever you attend Church doesn't preach the whole word of God, the salvation message, the need to be saved in Christ Jesus alone, GET OUT.  Those places will indeed still be filled after the Rapture of the Church because of their true unbelief. 

Countries do not matter in the Biblical scheme of things. It's whether or not you are saved in Christ Jesus that truly matters. After you are saved in Christ Jesus what matters next is living the full Christian life as God intended for you, fulfilling your place, your part, in the body of Christ Jesus in the Church today. Looking ahead to facing Jesus and to hear that "Well done!".