HOW TO BE A SUCCESSFUL NOBODY

John 6:1-13

A librarian commented concerning a woman just leaving her desk that she could get more out of a mystery novel than anyone she knew. “How is that?” asked her co-worker.

 She replied, “She starts in the middle so that she not only wonders how it comes out but also how it began.”

This illustrates what a great many people are doing with life today. They have no idea how things began, or of how things will end up. All they look at is the middle of the story. They see the contemporary scene only, and the result is that they have too much mystery on their hands, and life is confusing.

We’re going to look at an incident in the Bible that left many people guessing and see the little pieces that Christ put into action to make it all work out.

Do you have your Bible handy? If you do, open it up to John 6:1-13 …

5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” 8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. 12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are leftover. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. 

Who was that little boy? … Would you say he was a “nobody”?

 NOBODYS DO MORE THAN WE THINK: 

A very famous organist was giving a recital on a new organ. The wind was pumped by a small boy behind a screen. The boy pumped his heart out at this recital, and he was glad for the intermission halfway through the program.

 Out in the vestry of the church, the boy looked up at the great organist and said, “Aren’t we wonderful?” The prideful organist responded, “Who’s we?” Saddened, the lad returned to his pump for the climax of the recital.

The organist pressed the keys for the opening chord, but only silence came from the majestic pipes. The signal must have failed, the organist thought, and so he repeated it and then pressed again for the thunder to come. No thunder came. There was only a small voice from behind the screen saying, “Now who’s we?”

The title of this message is, “How to be a Successful Nobody”

It’s a blunder if we fail to recognize the importance of obscure, behind-the-scenes people. Some of the greatest and most famous people in the Bible are people we don’t even know their names.

 You can do great things too if you learn 2 secrets:

 THE BOY MADE AVAILABLE WHAT HE HAD – HIS LUNCH (John 6: 9)

WHAT ARE YOU MAKING AVAILABLE?

The question is not, how much do you have, but are you making what you have, available?

 The widow had only a penny, but she gave it all to God, and this made her great in the eyes of Christ. ( Mark 12: 41-44) ⁴¹ And He sat down opposite the treasury and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury, and many rich people were putting in large sums. ⁴² A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. ⁴³ Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; ⁴⁴ for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.”

 The Good Samaritan: We don’t even know his name, but we know that he had was available. He had time, compassion, and some degree of wealth, and God used him.

The boy with 5 loaves and 2 fish. He didn’t have great resources. God doesn’t ask for what you DON’T have, only that you give what you DO have. Jesus didn’t expect the boy to feed the 5,000, all He needed was for the boy to give what he had. Christ will do the rest.

 EVERYBODY HAS SOMETHING TO GIVE

Marion Simms, in “Your Life,” told the story of a girl who wanted to give her older sister a birthday gift, but she had no money in her bank. But unselfish people always have something to give.

 When her sister opened her package she found three colored slips of paper. One said, “Good for two dish washings. Good for two-bed makings. Good for two kitchen scrubbings.” These were among her most welcome birthday surprises. 

 WHAT HE HAD WAS MADE ADEQUATE- CHRIST USED IT

God can take our small investment, and our weak and inadequate gifts and use them to be a blessing to many. Certainly, this lad had no idea what Jesus could do with his little lunch, and we have no idea what He may do with what little we have if we make it available to Him. This unknown boy became famous in God’s history book.

 TRUST GOD TO DO WHAT YOU CAN’T DO

 A pilot of an American airline DC-6 was flying 21,000 feet over the Colorado Rockies when his plane threw a propeller which crashed through the fuselage and ripped the engine from the wing. With half the controls gone he brought it into Denver for an emergency landing.

A reporter at the scene asked him what He did. He said, “In a situation like that you just move over a little bit and let God take over.” That’s what the boy did with his lunch!

 EVEN KIDS HAVE SOMETHING GOD WANTS

 Every one of us has some resource that Christ needs to accomplish His goals. Others may do a greater work, But you have your part to do, and nobody else can do what God has called you to do!

 One time Jesus’ disciples didn’t realize how important & valuable kids were; they tried to shoo the children away from Jesus. But Jesus loves all children, and told them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these”. (Mathew19:14)

That little boy (with the lunch) would have laughed at you had you told him that God would feed 5,000 people with his lunch that day. We need to learn that “little is much when we make it available to Jesus.”

The story is told how, as a boy, he worked long hours in a factory in Naples. He longed to be a singer. When ten years old, he took his first lesson in voice. ‘You can’t sing. You haven’t any voice at all. Your voice sounds like the wind in the shutters,’ said his teacher.

 The boy’s mother, however, had visions of greatness for her son. She believed that he had a talent to sing. She was very poor. Putting her arms around him she encouragingly said, ‘My boy, I am going to make every sacrifice to pay for your voice lessons.’

Her confidence in him and constant encouragement paid off! That boy became one of the world’s greatest singers — Enrico Caruso!

. Not many will become as famous as Caruso, but every one of us is given an opportunity to make something worthwhile out of our lives and be equally rewarded. The important thing is not what we have or don’t have, but what we do with what we have.

 If you ever feel like a nobody with very little to offer for the kingdom of God, don’t despair. You’re just what Jesus is looking for to demonstrate again that He loves to make much of little. He did it with the boy and He’ll do it with you.

 How many of you want Jesus to use you to bless others?

 How many will give all you have to Jesus so He can do something big with your life? 

It’s called trust and commitment when your willing to give all to further God’s kingdom. Really … where are you at in your walk, have you done all you can to help a ministry of your choice, or are you waiting thinking someone else is going to step up?

I’m not asking you to answer me or support this ministry, but you will have to answer someday, I wonder what your answer will be then …

Until we get together again, stay safe, and many blessings to you and your family.

My prayer for you:

Our heavenly Father, your love abounds and your grace is never-ending. You wait with open arms for us to come to you and I know it breaks your heart to see where this world has gone, filled with so much greed and self-gratification. I pray for revival to fill our land and our leaders to repent and bring our country back to its roots. I ask forgiveness for our sins and the truth to be made clear for all to hear. Father, we need you, I pray you hear our cries and change hearts starting this very moment.

In the precious name of Jesus, I Pray,

AMEN

As our country titers on the brink of destruction from within, just as Abraham Lincoln said could happen, we as Christians in prayer are seeking answers on how to turn things around and bring our nation back to the Godly country it was meant to be. Well if you are one of the ones doing this, praying that is, then you’re on the right track. However … take some action physical too! Read these scriptures and then read the full message. I pray this gives you hope and trust in the Lord to help you through this time of peril and instills in you the need for action…

Judges 2:6-14 *v.14

Jdg 2:6 And when Joshua had let the people go, the children of Israel went every man unto his inheritance to possess the land.
Jdg 2:7 And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel.
Jdg 2:8 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being a hundred and ten years old.
Jdg 2:9 And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath-Heres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash.
Jdg 2:10 And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.
Jdg 2:11 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:
Jdg 2:12 And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger.
Jdg 2:13 And they forsook the LORD and served Baal and Ashtaroth.
Jdg 2:14 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.

Let’s get started!

In this passage of scripture we have read, we find the Israelites during a period of time following the death of Joshua. They had entered the “Land of Canaan,” had experienced partial victory, and are now entering into the routine of everyday life. We see in verse 14 where God has let them become overtaken by their foes of freedom.

Our country is faced with several dreadful enemies or foes of freedom today. Most think of social issues like alcohol, drugs, etc. when they think of enemies of the state. True, one out of every two homes is affected by the problem of alcohol but I’m talking about other foes of freedom.

Drug addiction is definitely a problem in our society. Drugs are found in every grade-school today. The degradation of our homes is astounding. Premarital sex, homosexuality, rebellion, corrupt government, and uncontrollable economy, are all on everyone’s list of public enemies. They are definite foes of freedom.

But I want to discuss the root of all of these giant enemies and problems facing America and true Freedom. What are our real foes of freedom in the spiritual realm?

I. Emancipation is one of our Foes of Freedom (Worldly Freedom)

• Emancipation Defined. The definition of emancipation is being set free from servitude, bondage, or restraint. It means to gain one’s freedom.
• Emancipation’s Source. Society is looking for freedom in the wrong places. The American public cries out for freedom. In fact, wars have been fought and are being fought to give us our freedom. Lives have been given for the freedom of the American citizen. But freedom cannot be found in the halls of the Supreme Court. Freedom cannot be found in the White House. The Department of the Interior cannot guarantee freedom. Freedom comes from only one source. Any other so-called source of freedom is really one of our foes of freedom.John 8:31-32
  John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
  John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free
• .1. John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, the life.” The Truth makes one free. A person that is in bondage or a slave to sin can become free only when he knows and follows the truth.
• 2. Truth is the deliverance from sin, the atonement for sin. The truth about drugs will make one free if he will accept the truth. The truth about alcohol will make one free if he will accept the truth. The truth will make one free from sin.
• 3. Too many people are satisfied with only half the truth, but where do you stand if the half you get is the wrong half?
• Emancipation Misunderstood. Secular society today thinks freedom authorizes anything. But freedom bears with it responsibility.
• 1. Freedom does not grant the total release of morals and sanity.
• 2. Freedom has guidelines. A running back in football who breaks free at the line of scrimmage must still run within the boundaries on the field, or that freedom ceases to function as freedom…he is out of bounds and can’t continue.
• Emancipation Misused.
• 1. The liberal element has destroyed the true meaning of freedom. Three or four decades ago we saw the many rises and cry, “Freedom, freedom, we want freedom.” In the ’20s and 30’s the cry was, “Bring on the Booze.” In the ’40s and ’50s (the rise of the great labor unions) the cry was, “Blast the Boss.” In the ’60s and ’70s and ’80s, it changed to “Butcher the Babies.” In the ’90s and 00’s we hear the cry, “Bury the Bible.”
• 2. The purpose of the liberals is to try to “Blot out the Babe of Bethlehem.” He is the only real source of freedom and cries for this kind of freedom is really one of our foes of freedom.
• 3. The problem with this group is they need to be “Bathed in the Blood of the Lamb.” This group of Anti-Americans is not wanting freedom or seeking real freedom. They are not wanting freedom from bondage or slavery…they want the approval of sin. But freedom from any other source than Jesus brings bondage and slavery, and that is an enemy. Anything that takes prisoners or causes bondage must be an enemy of that society, a foe of freedom…real freedom anyway.

II. Excitation is one of our Foes of Freedom (Worldly Fun)

Our nation is an excitement-oriented society and with each generation the level of excitement intensifies. When I was growing up, teens were satisfied to get together at a friend’s house and play “Monopoly” or “Checkers” or have a backyard basketball game. Very few had cars and very few had money. We walked or rode our bicycles.

Then came the television and folks would sit around every evening and watch such mind-tingling shows as “Our Miss Brooks” and “Father Knows Best.” Then of course that great educational telecast of “Mickey Mouse” came along. But the next generation brought the need for more excitement and then more and more and more.

• Excitement is an outward extension of the flesh. A person that is under the control of his body, his flesh or self, seeks excitement. Excitement comes from the world. The Spirit-controlled person has joy. Excitement brings on habits and slavery to them. Excitement intensifies and never satisfies. Joy deepens and brings peace. Excitement, when finished, brings boredom. Joy brings contentment. Excitement is a never-ending process. Joy is complete within itself.
• Excitement addiction reveals a person. A person that has to have excitement constantly is either a saved person controlled by the flesh or unsaved. Excitement is an over-expressed desire and one of the foes of freedom.
• 1. Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of your heart.” If you will stop your excitement quest long enough and turn to the Lord, He will fulfill your longing and your emptiness.
• 2. Psalm 107:9, “For He satisfieth the longing soul.” That void in your life can be met. You don’t need all the excitement from the world because Jesus will satisfy you.

III. Exaggeration is one of our Foes of Freedom (Worldly Fantasy)

Everything we do today is in exaggeration. We exaggerate just about everything. You hear about the mother speaking to her son one day when he just told her some exaggerated story, “Billy, I’ve told you ten million times not to exaggerate.

• We Exaggerate the Physical. The physical will be destroyed one day. But that doesn’t keep them from building more and more physical fitness centers. Nearly everyone belongs to a spa because we exaggerate the physical. I’m not against eating right and staying in shape but don’t let it be your god. Paul instructed in 1 Timothy 4:7-8, “For bodily exercise profiteth little…” What Paul is saying is “Physical exercise only lasts for a little while but as he explains later “Godliness is profitable unto all things…” Rather exercise yourself spiritually unto godliness. America has exaggerated the physical so much until nearly every human is in love with themselves. Many spend more time to and from the spa (and to and from the mirror) than all spiritual involvement combined. No wonder America is in trouble. The body is corruptible and will return to dust. The Spirit lasts forever. Why not exercise the eternal more than the physical?
• We Exaggerate Pleasure. Do you know what the general conversation is now? “What are we going to do for kicks?” “There’s nothing to do around here anymore.” It has been exaggerated so much until this generation has very little incentive to work. That’s one of our foes of freedom. The digital age has all but consumed the total time of the American youth. More money is spent by our teens on video games and computers than on evangelism and missions. And that’s an exaggeration. 1 Corinthians 6:12, “All things are lawful unto me…but I will not be brought under the power of any.”
• We Exaggerate Peace. The American public has forgotten there is no peace without sacrifice or war. I’m not a war-monger. I would rather our boys and girls come home and not put their lives in danger. But peace brings with it a price. And the best way to maintain peace is with a strong defense system. A little guy is not going to pick a fight with a giant of a man. No, he will try to talk peace and settle without conflict. America has allowed our greatest asset of peace to escape us. Our defense against the attack of an aggressor will ensure peace. Our talk not backed up with strength is viewed as weakness.

IV. Experimentation is one of our Foes of Freedom (Worldly Fads)

Everything evil or questionable today has posted beside it a test sample. I read about a “wet paint” sign one time right beside it was a small panel that read, “Use this as a test sample.” In other words, if you have to touch the wet paint to prove it is wet paint do it here.

God says, “Thou shalt not.” We say where is the test sample? Let’s see if it is really like God said it is. The last several generations have challenged God. There was a time when if a generation stumped its toe the former generation could come in and pick up the casualties and salvage most of the remaining generation. But now the older generations are in as bad shape as the younger ones.

We have experimented with everything from abolishing marriage to legalizing murder and drugs immoral behavior. We have experimented with sin to the ultimate. That is one of our foes of freedom. There are some things that cannot be experimented with.

• We must accept Love without Experimentation. Love never needs testing. An experiment block or panel with love chokes the seed by which love grows. Love is not tested before marriage.
• We must accept the Bible without Experimentation. You can’t take God’s Word and experiment with it because experimentation with the Bible will cause doubt and criticism of the truth. Experimentation is for the satisfaction of the flesh. It eliminates faith. Cultists are the result of Bible experimentation. The American public says, “We believe the Bible but to be sure let’s test it first. Then if it passes the test, we will accept it.” God says accept it first. That’s faith.
• We must accept the Savior without Experimentation.
• 1.  John 8:24 “…for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.” You better not experiment with that.
• 2. If you experiment with “ye shall die in your sins” you will wind up in hell.

 The sad thing about this whole message is that there are some of our own fighting forces lined up with the enemy and are actually foes of freedom themselves. They are on the wrong side of the fence because they are more interested in fleshly emancipation, excitation, exaggeration, and experimentation than in real spiritual freedom.

We need to get on the right side and line up with Jesus.DON’T be afraid to stand up for what’s right and Godly, if you are saved but you have been way off somewhere out there not being used by God, then come home today, get back in the fight. Our country needs you … God wants you in His army … HE WILL PREVAIL!

If you are unsaved you need to come and repent and receive and believe Christ as your Savior today before it is too late. Come to Jesus.

We, here at “On the Road for Christ” are always available to help you in any way we can. All of our contact information is at the top of our home page. We are back on the road and would be blessed to come and minister at any upcoming event you may be having. Contact us, let us pray for your needs. We truly love ya all in the Lord and until next time stay safe and may the Lord Bless your lives!

My prayer for you: 

Father, I ask your forgiveness for our sins and I pray each person reading this includes themselves in this request. 

Lord, give each one of us boldness to proclaim your righteousness and the strength to stand against our enemies. Reveal those that would come against your word and open the blinded eyes and the closed ears so these deceivers will get their just punishment.

Father, we need a miracle, our country needs you. I pray for a great revival in our land and our people to return to the Godly nation we once were. 

We ask for mercy, we ask for your grace … in the precious name of Jesus we pray,

AMEN

After reading a very intriguing book by Howard Blum, titled; “The Gold Of Exodus”, it’s about the search for the real Mt. Sinai. It’s a true story and it got my mind wanting to go back and dig deeper into the teaching and lessons we can learn from that epic journey Mose and the Israelites took across the desert. I pray this message that the Lord gave me while reading this book will help you grow in your walk with our Lord. 

Exodus 3: 1-15

The Burning Bush

 Now Moses was pasturing the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; and he led the flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. ² Then the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush, and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not being consumed. ³ So Moses said, “I must turn aside and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burning up!” ⁴ When the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” ⁵ Then He said, “Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” ⁶ And He said, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

⁷ And the Lord said, “I have certainly seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt and have heard their outcry because of their taskmasters, for I am aware of their sufferings. ⁸ So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. ⁹ And now, behold, the cry of the sons of Israel has come to Me; furthermore, I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians are oppressing them.

 The Mission of Moses

¹⁰ And now come, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.” ¹¹ But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?” ¹² And He said, “Assuredly I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain.”

¹³ Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” ¹⁴ And God said to Moses, “AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “This is what you shall say to the sons of Israel: ‘AM has sent me to you.’” ¹⁵ God furthermore said to Moses, “This is what you shall say to the sons of Israel: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is the name for all generations to use to call upon Me.

J. B. Phillips in his book “Your God Is Too Small” tells of how he asked a group of young people to give a snap answer to the question, “Do you think God understands radar?” They all said no, and then they roared with laughter as they considered how foolish their answer was. It showed that in the back of their minds they thought of God as an old man who lived in the past and was rather bewildered by modern progress. Nothing is more pathetic than a mature person with an immature concept of God. Such an adult is seldom a dedicated Christian or an active servant of God. More than likely they reject God completely. They mature in all other areas of life, but in their concept of God, they remain childish. To make things worse, they think the rest of us are worshipping the God of their immature conception. They think we are quite simple and unacquainted with the hard facts of life.

These people have not rejected God, for they don’t even know Him. They have only rejected a god who doesn’t exist anyway except in their own mind. What these people need is the true biblical concept of God. This is what we all need, for our conception of God controls our attitudes and actions, and it determines the measure of our devotion to Him and His will.

Is your God just a spare time God you call upon only in emergencies?

You answer that by your commitment to Him. The person who gives his God only one hour a week of his life has a very small God and not the God of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

One cannot stand in the pulpit and hand over to you an experience of the greatness of God any more than one can measure the horizon with a ruler. This can only come when a person says with Moses, “I will turn aside and see this great sight.” A man has to be willing to forsake his old concepts if he would grow in the knowledge of God as He really is.

When Martin Niemoller was in Hitler’s prison he had time to think, and he turned his thought toward God. He had to give up his old opinions about God. He wrote, “It took me a long time to learn that God is not the enemy of my enemies. He is not even the enemy of His enemies.” He had to give up the God he had created in his own image, and he came to see that God is love.

Moses needed to grow in his knowledge of God as well. God had prepared him to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. The first 40 years of his life he gained the best education possible in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, but this knowledge was not enough for the task God had for him. He needed some good practical experience, and so God in His providence saw that he got it, and for the next 40 years, he was a shepherd in Midian where he learned the ways of desert life. He learned about the plants and animals, and about water sources and hardships. Now the second 40-year training period was over, and all Moses needed now was to meet God, and this he did at the burning bush, which is the Damascus Road experience of the Old Testament. We want to look at this experience and draw from it the 3 things which God does that enlarges our concept of Him.

I. HE DEMANDS REVERENCE. v. 4-5

You will notice that God appealed to the curiosity of Moses. Some people feel that faith and curiosity are contradictory, but this is not so. The impulse to inquire and learn is essential to a growing faith. God says, “Come now let us reason together,” and all of nature is a stimulus to an investigation. Curiosity is what made Watts ask why the lid on a boiling kettle bobbed up and down? His search for an answer led to the first workable steam engine. Curiosity is what made Sir Alexander Fleming investigate a mold, which led to the discovery of penicillin. Curiosity is what led Zaccheaus to climb a tree to see Jesus, which led to his conversion. It may have killed the cat but curiosity saved him and many others.

God wants people to investigate, but we see that when Moses came near He stopped him and tells him to take off his shoes. This was a sign of reverence and God demands that. If one is going gain from his search he must come in reverence and humility, for neither God nor His creation will reveal its secrets to the proud and irreverent. “Moses was led through the gates of curiosity into the sanctuary of reverence. Those who come to God or nature in pride to force the truth from them are courting disaster. You can count on it that those working with atomic energy are reverent before its power, and they are not careless and proud as if they needed no caution in its presence. To do so would be as foolish as for a Jewish person of old to stumble into the holy of holies. The great men of science such as Copernicus, Newton, Kepler, and Edison have been men of reverence in their inquiry. Edison said, “I sit down before the law. I try to find out how the law operates. I try to bring my mind and mechanisms into harmony with the way things are, and the more I obey the law, the more the law obeys me and serves my purpose.” Success in science comes through obedience just as success in the Christian life does. This is the only way to know God and His will. You must adjust to reality and not try to twist reality to your proud and preconceived notions.

A proud self-sufficient tourist went through one of Europe’s famous art galleries looking at many great masterpieces. As he was leaving he said to the custodian, “I don’t see anything so great about these paintings.” The custodian replied, “Sir, these pictures are not on trial, those who view them are.” So it is with Scripture, God, and His Word are not on trial, but you are. You must come in reverence seeking to know God if you expect to grow. The poet wrote Earth is crammed with heaven, And every common bush aflame with God, But only he who sees takes off his shoes. The rest sit around it and pluck blackberries.

II. HE PROMISES HIS PRESENCE. v. 11-12

Moses said, “Who am I?” Forty years before Moses felt he could handle things and he killed an Egyptian, but now he is more mature and humble. He wondered how a shepherd like him could walk into the palace of Pharaoh and persuade him to let hundreds of thousands of slaves go free. It can’t be done was his thinking, and he was right if he thought the success of the plan depended on his eloquence and ability to charm Pharaoh. Without the promise of God, “Certainly I will be with you,” Moses could not have succeeded. This is the case with the Apostles as well. Without the promise of Christ to be with them, they could not have succeeded. Nor can we, or anyone else, for we all need God’s presence to be successful. With His presence comes all the other promises. If God wills it then it can be done.

The poet has written, Never say it can’t be done, It simply isn’t true. What you mean my son is it can be done, But can’t be done by you. One of the greatest fallacies in the world is that one does not count. All of history proves it to be a lie, and yet we believe it. What can I do? Problems are too big for any one person to make a difference, and so I ignore the problem and become a part of the problem. It is true that you cannot do any more than Moses could on his own, but could we believe and claim the promise of God to be present with us, then we could say with Paul, “I can do all thing through Christ who strengthens me.” When David Livingston returned to Scotland after 16 years in Africa where he suffered 27 attacks of African fever, had one arm rendered useless by the bite of a lion, lived among a people whose language he did not know, and whose attitude toward him was often hostile, he said, “Shall I tell you what supported me through all these years of exile? It was this, ‘Lo I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.'”

There has never been a power that has been able to conquer people who live and believe in the presence of God. When Julian the Apostate was Emperor of the Roman Empire he did all he could to destroy churches and erect idols. Libanus, one of his friends, asked a Christian one day, “What is your Carpenter of Nazareth doing now?” The Christian responded, “He is making a coffin.” And soon Julian was in it and all the idols were swept away. In his dying breath, Julian cried out, “O Galilean! Thou hast conquered!” The early church believed that there has always been a success where there have been one or more persons who believe that God is with them and that through them God can accomplish His will. Moses said, “Who am I?” But that is beside the point said, God. It is not who you are but who is behind you and with you, that counts.

III. HE REVEALS HIS ESSENCE v. 13-15

To try and define God is to confine Him. Our minds cannot fully grasp His nature. This should not surprise us, for we cannot fully understand anything. The Psalmist cried out, “O Lord, thou hast searched me and known me. Thou understandeth my thought afar off.” But when he reverses the process and considers God he says, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, it is high, I cannot attain unto it.” This does not mean we must join those who think of God as a vague blur. We cannot find out by searching, but we can know who God is if he speaks to us and what he has done.

Paul constantly urges us to grow in the knowledge of God, and we can only do so by searching His revelation. Someone said, “We can never attain a maximum love of God with only a minimum knowledge of God.”

A virtuous godly man may be ignorant of many things, but his ignorance is not one of his virtues, nor is it the cause of his godliness. It would be strange if God could be loved better by being known less. What I am saying is that theology is not just for the theologian, but it is for all believers.

Imagine telling a man who is going to drive across a field and over a hill that he better watch out for the tree just over the hill, and he says, “Don’t talk to me about trees. I’m a motorist and not a botanist.” This is carrying specialization too far, for that tree is not only a fact of botany but a fact of life. Likewise, God is not just a fact of theology, but He is the greatest fact of life.

The first and most basic fact that God reveals here to Moses is that He is a Person and a God of persons. Those who know God only as He is revealed in nature come to think of Him as a power rather than a Person. They call Him the first cause, the unmoved mover, the cosmic organism, or the stream of tendency. It is easy to see how they arrive at this conclusion, for power is what nature reveals. A prominent physicist tells us that if we had to pay for the light bill from the sun at one penny per kilowatt, one-hundredth millionth part of a second would cost us more than World War II. Thank God he doesn’t charge for His power. The Bible tells us that this power has its source in a Person, and it goes further yet and even says He can be known as a Father. God is not a power that is unconcerned for us, but He is a Person whom we can know by faith in Jesus Christ. The Christian attitude to the wonders of the universe is in the words of the hymn, “This is my Father’s world.” All of reality should take on new meaning to one who knows God.

A mother rushed up the stairs as a thunderstorm broke loose thinking her little boy would be frantic with fear, but she found him at the window with his eyes bright with excitement. He was shouting loudly with every clap of thunder, “Bang it again God! Bang it again!” He had no fear of the power because he knew the Person behind the power.

The second thing God reveals about Himself is that He is the Eternal Present One. God never began, but always is. If He began then whatever caused His beginning would be greater than God. When the skeptic asks when did God begin, he is contradicting himself and does not realize it because of his false concept of God. He is asking when did that which had no beginning begin? God by very definition is without beginning. How far down is a bottomless pit?

Bottomless by very definition eliminates the possibility of giving any meaning to the question of how far down? How long is eternity? This is asking when does that end which by definition has no end. If you ask where was God before creation, you are asking where was God when there wasn’t anywhere, and where was God when there wasn’t any when. You might say that you don’t get it, and you are not alone, for eternity is just not part of our experience. About all, we can say about it is that it is not time, and we cannot think apart from time.

Eternity is ever-present, but in contrast, time is never present. You might say that it is right now, but that is not so for even in saying the word now you see the constant flow of time. By the time you say the w the end is already past, and when you finish the word the time you referred to is already gone. The present is so short, and so all of life is either in the past or the future, whereas in eternity all is present. The present is just the hole in the needle through which the thread of time passes for us, but for God, it is where He dwells beyond any of the limitations of time.

What God says to Moses implies many things about the nature of God. The important thing is that we begin to see that the God of Scripture is greater than any concept that man has. The gods that many atheists reject are puny concepts that have nothing to do with the God of Scripture. We do not believe in the gods most people reject either. They are often the product of man’s imagination and not God’s revelation. On the other hand, we do not believe in the many gods that others create in their own image. The god of the alcoholic is liquor and they are deeply devoted to their god. They love neither father nor mother more than it, and they will go to any length for it. There are many such gods that people are devoted to, but they are not the God revealed in Scripture through Jesus. He alone is worthy of our worship and devotion.

God taught Moses that He demands reverence, promises His presence, and reveals His essence to those who seek Him and obey Him. Your God is not big enough if He is not this God who revealed Himself to Moses and more completely through His Son Jesus Christ.

God taught Moses that He demands reverence, promises His presence, and reveals His essence to those who seek Him and obey Him. 

Until we get together again …  Peace and remember … God’s love to you!

My prayer;    

Lord, thank you for standing by us and loving us through our sins. We ask you daily to forgive us and know your heart breaks for those who are lost. Show us how to do more for your kingdom and the strength and wisdom to do it.

In Jesus name, we pray,

AMEN

Romans 8: 37-39

³⁷ But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In this message today I am approaching a topic that weighs on the hearts and minds of many people. In fact, during this Covid pandemic/lockdown suicides in our country have reached a pandemic state of its’ own. This particular message is the one  ALL believers need to approach with reverence to God’s word, not with what they think or have been misled to believe but to follow the directions in the word.

Suicide has been said to be a permanent solution to a temporary problem. The name suicide comes from the Latin word “sui”, meaning “of oneself”, and –cida, meaning “to kill”. And statistics show us a wide range of people have contemplated and committed suicide. Over 25,000 Americans commit suicide each year. Over one million will try but only one out of fifteen will succeed. It is the tenth highest killer in the U.S. More will die by suicide than by murder. The model age for attempting suicide is 32 for men and 27 for women. The model age of succeeding is 50-54 for men and women. Men kill themselves twice as often as women, but women attempt suicide twice as often as men. There are over 5,000 suicides among teenagers each year. Some 10,000 college students will attempt suicide in a year. It is the second-highest cause of death among young people aged 15-24 surpassed only by accidents. Thirteen young adults each day consider life not worth living. That is twice as many as ten years ago and three times as many as twenty years ago. One report indicated that as many as 12 percent of all school-aged children will contemplate suicide at least once in their formative years. The bad news is these numbers were calculated before Covid 19 hit. Some studies indicate these numbers, in some demographics, have already doubled.

These startling statistics should give us pause, especially as we approach ministry in the church. Too often, the subject of suicide is something that is swept under the rug as a church addresses given needs. We like to talk about other ministry issues, but when suicide is present, the church is nowhere to be found, and experts outside of the church are left to mend the trail of broken hearts. However, I believe the church must recapture its ministry in this important area by addressing both what the Bible has to say and presenting tools to individuals who have suffered through this experience.

While the Bible itself does not include the actual word suicide, there are at least seven different times in Scripture where a person took his or her own life.

In Judges 9, the son of Gideon named Abimelech committed suicide. As a wicked ruler, he killed his seventy brothers in order to rule Israel, and during a revolt, a woman dropped a millstone on his head from a tower above. And before he was to die, Abimelech called his armor-bearer over and asked him to kill him because he didn’t want it said about him that a woman killed him.

In Judges 16, we remember the story of the powerful Samson, who fell in love with Delilah, and eventually allowed her and the Philistines to know that God granted him strength through his hair. After the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes, they chained him to the pillars as they held a great sacrifice to the god Dagon. In one last thrust of power granted by God, Samson pushed the pillars with all his might and collapsed the entire structure. Just before he died, Samson prayed to God, “Let me die with the Philistines!”

In 1 Samuel 31, Saul and his men were also fighting the Philistines, and when the effort grew fierce, the archers wounded him critically. Saul then asked his armor-bearer to draw his sword and run him through, but when his armor-bearer refused, Saul took his own sword and fell on it. And when his armor-bearer saw what had happened, in a state of hopelessness he too fell on his sword and died.

There are also the stories of Ahithophel and Zimri. In 2 Samuel 17:23 when Ahithophel realized his advice had not been followed as a respected prophet, and so he saddled his donkey, went to his hometown, put his house in order, and then hanged himself. In 1 Kings 16, Zimri murdered the king of Israel Elah and took his place. When the rest of Israel learned what had happened, they pursued him, and Zimri retreated to the king’s palace. There he set it on fire and remained inside.

Probably the most memorable to us of all the suicide accounts is the story of Judas, the disciple of Jesus who sold him out to the Roman authorities for his arrest. Matthew 27 tells us that when Judas saw that Jesus was condemned he was seized with remorse and went away and hung himself in his despair.

And so from those in Scripture who committed suicide, we are able to gain a window into some of the thoughts and expressions experienced by a person contemplating suicide. Feelings of hopelessness, despair, utter disappointment, pride, anger, and frustration can all be present.

But there are also other Scriptures that discuss the temptation of suicide. In fact, we learn through the Bible that even the very best of individuals were tempted to commit suicide. Take Jesus for example. During his struggle in the wilderness, the devil took Jesus to a high place and said “throw yourself down”. Some even speculate that since Jesus’ purpose in life was to eventually die for the sins of humanity, that act of his death on the cross could be considered the fulfillment of suicide since he allowed it to happen. Or how about Paul? When he wrote to the church in Philippi he shared, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know. I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but there is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.” And so Paul also struggled with his longing to see Christ and expedite matters instead of completing his ministry through God’s timing.

But for those temptations or thoughts that occurred, the Bible states plainly that suicide is unacceptable. As Christians, our lives have been bought and paid for through the action of Jesus Christ. Paul shares in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” And so selfish behavior on our part is not an option. In fact, Romans 14:7 & 8 states, “For none of us lives to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”

When a person commits suicide, it can be a very selfish, unthinking act—designed only to gratify themselves and cause remorse for those around them. In those circumstances, a person does not consider God or his plan for their life. But there are also other times when suicide is the result of a mental illness or incapacity of rational thought. Some people who go through the difficulty of bipolar disorders, or suffer from severe depression can be dangerously susceptible to suicide, especially if they are not receiving medical treatment or counseling.

And so there’s a wide range of thoughts, feelings, and actions that are present in suicide, which leads us to our question of if suicide is unforgivable. Of course, it’s important to point out at the very beginning that this is a slanted question. For many years, the conventional thought of many in the church is that suicide is an unforgivable sin. Augustine argued in the fifth century that suicide was a violation of the sixth commandment, “You shall not murder.” Later, Thomas Aquinas, being catholic and believing that confession of sin must be made prior to departure from one world to the next, taught that suicide was the most fatal of all sins because the victim could not repent of it. This is based on the fact that if a person dies while they are committing a sinful act, they are unable then to confess that sin and ask for forgiveness.

These are incredibly damaging and unbiblical views. Merely from our own personal standpoint, these ideas can be easily refuted. All I need to do is ask you two questions. First of all, do you sin? The obvious answer is yes. And secondly, have you confessed each and every sin that you have committed in your life. The obvious answer is no. There are sins we forget, there are even sins that we commit that we are not aware of. And so by that logic, each of us would still be susceptible to the eternal fires of hell and still unable to receive the grace given through Jesus Christ. But Scripture tells us that is not the case. John 5:24 informs us, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”

You see, the problem with the view that suicide is unforgivable is that it represents a gross misunderstanding of eternal security. We are saved by the grace of God, not by works. Ephesians 2:8 & 9 tells us, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” And we are told in Romans in our text for this morning that God has the ultimate ability to bridge the separation between us and him. Romans 8:38-39 says, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Those who want to say that suicide is unforgivable attempt to make suicide an elevated sin—a sin that is heightened to a status that even God himself cannot forgive. There are two problems with this. First, such a stance limits the conditions by which God can or cannot forgive someone—resulting in us essentially placing God in a box. Secondly, there is only one unpardonable sin that is ever mentioned within the Bible. In Matthew 12:31 Jesus says, “Every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.”

Sometimes in our desire to have things cut and dry, black and white, we run headlong into extremist views without allowing compassion and mercy to be present. And unfortunately, the church has frequently erred on the side of judgment rather than mercy. I’ve known churches that have refused to host a funeral service for someone who has committed suicide. In years past, people who committed suicide were not allowed to be buried in the church cemetery next to their family or brothers and sisters in Christ. In those instances, the church has lost critical opportunities to minister and has unfortunately turned people away from the loving presence of Jesus Christ.

But still, it is important to be incredibly cautious of our approach to this issue. Suicide cannot be condoned, and it should not be dealt with lightly. I dare to say that not every person who has committed suicide will go to heaven, and not every person who has committed suicide will go to hell. In essence, those decisions are not ours anyway, they are God’s.

It’s important that we minister effectively in such critical times, and if you are contemplating suicide, or know someone who is, there are some insights that can help you in those difficult times. First of all, don’t be afraid to call someone and ask for help. Don’t let pride get in the way. Much of Satan’s power to convince those who feel unloved and hopeless is found in his ability to keep them isolated and removed from those who can lift them up.

Secondly, ask Jesus Christ to give you new hope and to give your life meaning. His life indwells you, and His resources are constantly available in your most desperate moment. If you are not the one struggling with the issue of suicide but have a friend or someone in your family who seems to have given up, there are some things you can do to help that person.

Be able to recognize clues the person may be giving, either consciously or subconsciously. Look for symptoms such as depression, signs of hopelessness, lethargy, and so on. Listen for threats and words of warning, such as, “I have nothing to live for.” Be aware of whether the person becomes withdrawn and isolated from others. Trust your judgment. If you believe there is an imminent threat of suicide, trust your instincts. Don’t let others dissuade you from loving intervention.

Tell others. Don’t worry about breaking a confidence if the person is obviously contemplating suicide or says he or she has a plan. As soon as possible, involve the help of others, such as parents, friends, spouse, teachers, ministers, physicians, anyone in a position to assist the distressed individual.

Stay with the person. If you believe the person is in danger of carrying out the plan, do not leave the person alone. Wait with the person until medical help arrives or the crisis has passed.

Listen. Encourage the person to talk to you. Refrain from giving pat answers that could further depress the person who is on the verge of giving up. Listen and empathize with the person.

Urge professional help. Stress the necessity of getting help for the individual. And finally, be supportive. Show the person that you care. Do what you can to help the person feel worthwhile and valuable to you.

Lewis Smedes, professor of theology and ethics at Fuller Theological Seminary was asked this very question about suicide in the July 2000 issue of Christianity Today. He summarized his thoughts by writing,

“I believe that, as Christians, we should worry less about whether Christians who have killed themselves go to heaven, and worry more about how we can help people like them find hope and joy in living. Our most urgent problem is not the morality of suicide but the spiritual and mental despair that drags people down to it. Loved ones who have died at their own hands we can safely trust to our gracious God. Loved ones whose spirits are even now slipping so silently toward death, these are our burden.” God desires for us to have life, and to live it abundantly. As painful as your experiences are in your days on this earth, we serve a God who helps us overcome those feelings to experience a deeper meaning of his love. The pain of suicide can run deep, for those who have been tempted by it, and for families who have experienced its darkness. In those times of despair and sadness, it’s critical that we allow God to take over and carry the burdens we bear. It is only through God’s grace that sorrow can be turned into joy. And the cross of Christ has the power to heal even the most painful of circumstances.

I pray this message helps those in need that are suffering and need the light of hope to shine. We, here at; “On The Road For Christ” are ready and willing to listen and come alongside to help you work through your difficult time. Nothing is too big for God, give us a call (907.315.3394) or text us. Our email address is prospectorsforgod@gmail.com. If you’re in a ministry we’ll be glad to agree in prayer for your needs too. 

Until we get together again, may God’s mercy and grace abound in your life and all your prayers are answered.

My prayer for you:

Father, forgive us, help us to understand and help the needs of others. Give us a caring heart and always reconize that alone we can do nothing, but through You, we can do all things.

I pray comfort and peace overall in turmoil and if they don’t know you someone will come along and show the way to obtain a peace beyond all understanding. 

We thank you Lord and give you all the praise and glory…

In Jesus name, we pray,

AMEN

Job 14:14 “If a man dies will he live again?”

Is this all there is to life? What happens when we die? If we die is that it? Are we simply absorbed into the cosmos? What lies beyond the grave? Is there life after death? Death and dying are inevitable parts of human life. We are all going to die? But will we all live again?

What do philosophers and religion say about life after death? What does the Bible tell us? Let’s take a look …

What the world says about Death

1. Cessation of Existence -“When you’re dead—you’re dead.”
2. There are those who teach that you cease to exist when you die – you are annihilated. Death ends everything; it leads to utter nothingness. It is the same as never existing in the first place.
3. Such a belief fosters the Epicurean philosophy of life.
4. Reincarnation – “You are a cuckoo bird appearing through windows of time in various forms and stages”
5. Reincarnation is the belief you have lived many previous lives and after you die you will return in another life form. If you have lived a good life, you come back as a higher life form, but if you haven’t, you will be reborn as a bug or snake or even a slug.
6. Leo Tolstoy – “As we live through thousands of dreams in our present life, so is our present life only one of many thousands of such lives which we enter from the other more real life and then return after death.”
7. Soul Sleep – R.I.P. – between the time of our individual deaths, and the time of the final resurrection and judgment, we will be in an “unconscious” state.
8. Soul sleep’ is the idea that after death the soul ‘sleeps’ until the final resurrection. The soul is said to hibernate until the resurrection- when it is then awakened and reunited with its body. A belief held by SDAs, JWs, Christadelphians, and various cults.

1. Universal immortality – God is good all the time and won’t condemn anyone.
2. Universalism is a belief that all people will be “universally restored” after they die. In other words, it teaches that everyone regardless of how they lived their lives on earth will eventually end up redeemed in heaven.
3. Mormonism teaches that “We either go to a Spirit world or to a place called Paradise. People, who received the gospel and were baptized into Christ’s church by someone having authority in this life, go to Paradise to wait to be judged according to the work and deeds in life and to be rejoined with their resurrected (renewed) bodies. If you didn’t have the opportunity to accept the gospel in this life then you have the opportunity to learn more about it in the Spirit World and will have the opportunity to accept it there as you are waiting to be resurrected. Thanks to our Savior Jesus Christ we will all live again.” (copied – mormon.org)
4. What the Scriptures teach about Life after Death
5. Luke 16:19-26 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores. So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Then he cried and said, ’Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ’Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. ’And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.”
6. There is Eternal Consciousness after Death
7. Verse 23 – “And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.”
8. Some day you will read in the papers that D.L. Moody of East Northfield, is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it! At that moment I shall be more alive than I am now; I shall have gone up higher, that is all, out of this old clay tenement into a house that is immortal- a body that death cannot touch, that sin cannot taint; a body fashioned like unto His glorious body. I was born of the flesh in 1837. I was born of the Spirit in 1856. That which is born of the flesh may die. That which is born of the Spirit will live forever. – D.L. Moody
9. When John Owen, the great Puritan, lay on his deathbed his secretary wrote (in his name) to a friend, “I am still in the land of the living.” “Stop,” said Owen. “Change that and say, I am yet in the land of the dying, but I hope soon to be in the land of the living.” – John M. Drescher.
10. One Retains His Individuality after Death
11. Verse 24 “”But Abraham said, ’Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.”
12. After death, Lazarus was still Lazarus and the rich man was still the rich man.
13. You will still be you after you die.
14. The Bible says that hell is a place of conscience and memory where should you not come to Christ, you will remember your opportunities to avoid going there and what suffering you could have spared yourself.
15. You will Either Spend Eternity in Suffering or Comfort
16. A recent poll reveals that 89% of Americans believe in Heaven while 73% believe in Hell. When asked where they think they will go when they die, 3 out of 4 think they will go to Heaven while only 2% believe they will end up in Hell.
17. Verse 23-25 “And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. “Then he cried and said, ’Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ “But Abraham said, ’Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.”
18. Your Decision in Life will Determine Your Destiny After Death
19. There is no way out. Once you are there that is where you stay
20. Verse 26 “And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.”
21. Once in Heaven, always in Heaven; once in Hell, always in Hell. No one can pass from one place to another.
22. “It’s choice, not chance, that determines our destiny.”–Brian Tracy
23. In Acts 24 we read that the Apostle Paul presented the Gospel to Felix, and Felix was so convicted by the Holy Spirit of God that he actually “trembled.” He had heard the Gospel and now had to make a decision either to trust the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior, or reject Him, and continue on the broad road to Hell. Well, what was his decision? He said to the Apostle Paul, “Go thy way for this time when I have a convenient season I will call for thee.” Friend, he made the wrong decision… Proverbs 27:1, “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” Listen, you and I have no guarantee that we’ll be alive at this time tomorrow. In fact, today’s date may be on our tombstone as the date of our death. Solemn thought, is it not? Yes, and that’s the reason that you, who are still “in the valley of decision,” should make the right decision today, and accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your own and personal Saviour. Tomorrow may be too late! 
24. I pray this message has helped you understand your real future, not this life’s future, we’re only here for a vaper. I’m talking about where you’ll spend eternity… It’s your choice.

Until we get together again stay safe and many blessings to you! 

My prayer:

Father, I ask on behalf of all that read our messages that they will accept you as their Lord and savior and in doing so they will secure their future in your kingdom for all eternity. It’s by grace and not by deed that we can be accepted. We thank you for your Son, only through Him will we enter.

Lord heal our land … our world and bring a great revival over us. We ask these things in the precious name of Jesus … AMEN

Disclaimer: No claims of originality are made. Source material for this message has been gleaned from many different sources. I have attempted to acknowledge these sources whenever possible.

Reminder: Our latest gospel album is available to listen to, just go to the home page, click on it and enjoy!

Everyone who reads this needs to go to; rumble.com  and click on Mike Lindell Absolute Proof 

This will shock you to the soles of your feet, then pass it on. Blessings to all.

I love all of you in Christ Jesus. I pray that all of God’s children would read this and find solace in what I’ve been trying to pass to them what the Lord has been telling me all along. (Read the message before this one.) Of course, there will still be naysayers but remember what I’ve been teaching … Fear is the opposite of faith. Do you trust God or not? That has a yes or no answer, no middle of the road, Revelation 3:16. Carefully read what was released today from the same people who lied to you in the first place;

_________________________________

The number of reported COVID-19 infections has plummeted 40% in the United States in just one week and 30% worldwide in the past three weeks.

And the primary reason is not the distribution of vaccines, contend, experts, who point out that only 8% of Americans and 13% of people worldwide have received their first dose, DailyMail.com reported.

A New York Times COVID-19 case tracker indicated cases in the U.S. were down 30% from just last week, according to Marketwatch. Statistics from Johns Hopkins show the nation’s seven-day rolling average is down 40%.

Daily cases have dropped 45% since the latest peak on Jan. 11, according to data from the COVID-19 Tracking Project.

The World Health Organization said Monday its World in Data graphs show the daily infection rate has fallen by 30% over the past three weeks.

Some public health experts told DailyMail.com it’s possible that more people contracted the virus than previously thought, and some regions could be experiencing herd immunity.

Many epidemiologists have noted the coronavirus, in a second wave, is following the bell-shaped pattern of epidemics predicted by Farr’s Law in 1840, regardless of mitigation efforts.

Further, in January, the World Health Organization officially acknowledged that the “gold standard” test used to diagnose COVID-19 has a high rate of false-positives that make it unreliable.

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In a July podcast that resurfaced in December, Dr. Anthony Fauci admitted the widely used PCR tests pick up harmless fragments of the coronavirus, resulting in many false-positive cases that result in overstating the threat. In August, the New York Times examined PCR testing data in three states and found “up to 90 percent of people testing positive carried barely any virus.”

In an advisory to lab workers issued Jan. 13, the WHO recommended a second test to confirm any diagnosis for people who aren’t showing any symptoms of the disease.

“Where test results do not correspond with the clinical presentation, a new specimen should be taken,” the guidance says.

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The WHO warns that most PCR tests “are indicated as an aid for diagnosis,” meaning health care providers should consider at least seven other factors to confirm any test.

WND reported in December an external peer review concluded a major paper supporting the PCR test for COVID-19 has 10 “serious flaws,” resulting in many false-positive cases.

A briefing published by four British scientists concluded PCR testing is “distorting policy and creating the illusion that we are in a serious pandemic when in fact we are not.”

“A false positive pseudo-epidemic is a well-described phenomenon in the medical literature which results in an exponential rise in diagnosed cases and deaths but no excess deaths,” the British researchers write.

Until the next time we get together … KEEP LOOKING UP!

My prayer for you;

Father, what a rollercoaster ride we’ve been on, if it wasn’t for You we’d be surely lost. In this time of scare tactics, the evil one is using we thank you for the TRUTH and give you all the praise and glory.

We thank you for holding us in the palm of your hand and loving us so much. I pray you continue to bring the truth to light and the evil ones would get the punishment they deserve.

I also pray for you to heal our land and open the eyes of non-believers and bring our country back in line with your word, protect the unborn, heal the sick, and use in a mighty way to help build your kingdom…

In Jesus name, we pray,

Amen

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9.

Forty years of wanderings in the wilderness are finally over! But, Moses the man who brought the children of Israel out of Egypt is dead. Now, it is time for Joshua to take the staff. He is named as Moses’ successor, and the time has come for Israel to cross the Jordan River and take possession of their Promised Land. If they could get over this one last obstacle, they would finally be home. On the other side of Jordan is a land flowing with milk and honey, the fulfillment of all dreams. But standing at the edge of the River and not knowing what lurks ahead, Joshua became fearful. And he had every reason to be afraid! Canaan was occupied by giants! The cities to be captured were fortified. And yet the Lord tells Joshua, in Chapter 1, Verse 6, “Be strong and of good courage.” Meaning, to succeed in his new assignment, Joshua needs to overcome fear. God tells him this again and again. Indeed, He wasn’t “asking,” “requesting” or “suggesting” to Joshua not to fear. God was issuing a command!

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.” Isaiah 43:2.

As we stand at the start of the year 2021, God’s telling us not to fear. As we are embarking upon a new path that we’ve never been to, there is a danger that we too can become anxious and fearful. But God has given us a sound mind! We are exhorted to be strong and courageous! God’s given us power so we can overcome every obstacle, and He’s given us love. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7. So there is no reason for a child of God to be gripped, controlled, paralyzed, and destroyed by fear. The Almighty tells us not to fear because He is in control of every situation. He is our refuge and strength! God is our help in times of trouble. So we don’t have anything to fear! God will be with us. He knows our name and knows what we are going through, so we don’t have to be fearful of the unknown. We can face the future fearlessly.

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10.

Have you ever been afraid? What do you fear? What is weighing heavy on your heart? Like Joshua, we all face fear! Is it of height, of failing, or of how things will turn out? Do you fear criticism? Some fear poverty, old age, or the prospect of separation or divorce. We worry about the future, about politics, and our health. Fear is a human emotion. It can make a grown man squeal like a child. Fear often results in depression. It stops your spiritual life. Fear paralyzes. It freezes. Sometimes it can rob us of quality of life, or lead us to make bad decisions. Fear will cripple even the strongest. It can prevent us from moving forward to receive all that God has for us. Fear is a torment! Fear brings turmoil in our hearts and minds. When we are filled with so much fear, we can’t think straight. The only time fear is mentioned in a positive light in the Bible is when it refers to reverence for God. Fear is everywhere! Everywhere we turn we hear the voice of fear. The media industry fills our ears with the noise of unemployment, murders, and a failing economy. The doctor’s report flood our ears with cancer, HIV/AIDS, heart attacks, tumors, COVID-19, etc. Friends and family speak their fears into our lives and it weakens our faith. “Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.” Isaiah 24:17. Still, we don’t have to listen to those noises. We don’t have to agree with them. And we don’t have to line up ourselves with them. “For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.” I John 5:4. Therefore, we can overcome these noises of fear by our faith. Even though we hear these noises every day doesn’t mean we have to be afraid. Faith will silence these noises as soon as we activate our faith.

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” Ephesians 6:10.

According to Strong’s Bible Concordance, the Hebrew word for courage means: “to be strong, alert, courageous, brave, bold, solid, hard; to be determined, to make oneself alert, strengthen oneself, confirm oneself, persist in, or prove superior to” Courage is not the absence of fear, it’s acting in faith in the midst of fear! Meaning courage is having the strength to do something despite being fearful. Hence, to be courageous means having the confidence to do what God wants them to do. Three times, the Lord told Joshua to be strong and of good courage. He also gives us the same promises He gave to Joshua today. “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5. Whatever challenge we face in this life, God is with us! We can be assured that He won’t let us down. There may be an obstacle in front of us today, but God will part it. There may be opposition in the year ahead, but God will give us victory over it. Our role is to trust Him completely and genuinely. God will never leave us.

ABIDE IN HIS PRESENCE:

“And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14.

The secret of Joshua’s strength, courage, and fearlessness in the presence of God. And the assurance of this divine presence also applies to all who are in Christ today. The night before His death, Jesus told His disciples in John 14:16: “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever.” Even in His last words on earth, He promises to be with us. “18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen..” Matthew 28:18-20. No matter what is going on in your life, Jesus is there with you. By abiding in His presence, we will be given the strength to overcome.

Here are some directions to follow and important things to always remember;

1. Know who you are. When you put your faith in Jesus and became His follower, you are adopted into God’s family and became one of His children. You’re now a child of God! The Holy Spirit is in you. The same Spirit that raised Jesus Christ from the dead is in you. Nothing will come your way in the next few days, weeks, months, or years, that should trouble you. You’re precious in God’s eyes! He’ll give you the power you need to be victorious.
2. Let go of the past. “Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” Philippians 3:13-14.
3. Refuse to focus on your fear. Guard your eyes and ears. Don’t let your fear continuously rob you of joy.
4. Don’t let it paralyze you.
5. Realize that God is with you. We must not fear because God is with us. “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” Psalms 118:6. If God protects you from all forms of danger, why should you fear?
6. Pray always. “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Psalms 34:4. When we seek God with all our hearts, He will hear us and deliver us from all our fears.
7. Confront your fear. You will never win until you rise and confront the thing that is causing you to fear.
8. Trust in God. Every time we are afraid, we must see it as an opportunity to surrender everything in God’s hands. Trust that He will provide all that you need. God is still good. He is still faithful. He will never leave you.
9. Remember what God has done in the past.
10. Meditate upon the Word of God daily. The Hebrew word for meditate means: “utter, muse, mutter, meditate, speak.” It comes from a root word that means whisper. We should not only ponder and think about the Word of God but speak it out even in a whisper. The Word of God is powerful.
11. Be filled with love. “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” I John 4:18. When love prevails, fear stops from existing.
12. Fear God. Every Christian should have this fear.

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” John 15:4.

God is longing to pour out His favor and blessing upon us in the coming year. He has an amazing plan for us. Plans that are so extraordinary that you can’t even begin to dream about. The wilderness is not where He wants His children to be. The place of fear is not where He wants us to reside. God doesn’t want us to be held back by fear. So move into your place of abundance. You’re not alone! God’s with you. He will not leave your side. God cares for you; He will never forget you. He watches over the sparrows and He watches over you. Troubles will come, but God never stops loving you. If He remembers each sparrow, you can be sure He remembers you too.

“25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? ” Matthew 6:25-27.

Today, you can overcome the spirit of fear and express your faith in Christ Jesus by saying this prayer: 

O LORD, I come to You now. I know I am a sinner, forgive me. Lord Jesus, from today, I accept You as the LORD of my life. Change my heart from a disobedient heart to a heart that will obey You. With my new heart, I believe that it is because of me that You came into this world; You died for my sins, take away my problems, fill me with Your Holy Spirit, write my name in the Book of Life, and make me brand new in Jesus name.

PRAYER POINTS:

1. Father, I thank You that You’re always with me.
2. O Lord, help me to remember Your promises and to trust in You whenever I’m afraid, in Jesus’ name.
3. Lead me, Lord, through the unknown in my life. Make Your path clear to me, in Jesus’ name.
4. Father, I lift my fears, worries, and concerns to You today. Help me to keep moving forward, in Jesus’ name.
5. Heavenly Father, thank You for Your promise to be with me wherever I go.

God is your Father and loves beyond your wildest imagination …

Talk to Him … He’s listening!

I pray you receive this message and you focus your life on the one, true living God, Jesus Christ.

Until next time … Many Blessings and  “Keep Looking Up!”

Dusty