There is No Other Source for Light

“During all that time the people could not see each other, and no one moved. But there was light as usual where the people of Israel lived.” Exodus 10:23 NLT

No matter if it's physically dark or spiritually dark the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob provides light to those who trust and depend on him. 

“Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.””

John 8:12 NLT

There's no other source for light

The War For Your Soul

A perspective about The War. The War is raging to bring your soul into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ! How do you defeat the Accuser?

“Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, “It has come at last— salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth— the one who accuses them before our God day and night. And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens! And you who live in the heavens, rejoice! But terror will come on the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you in great anger, knowing that he has little time.””

Revelation 12:10-12 NLT

“Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? ” For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Corinthians 15:54-57 NLT

Let's Go See Jesus, Shall We!

““Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.””

John 14:1-4 NLT

Can you imagine your Lord and King being willing and able to serve you so well?!

One day you will have a one on one walk through with Jesus in the eternal abode he has prepared specifically for you. 

He says his thoughts about you are more then the number of the grains of sand on the beaches of this earth!

Your home in heaven will have a personal touch, oh the carpentry, and skill, and care in every detail of what he has for you! The views, the trees, the intentionality of where the swing is placed in the yard. 

“That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.””

1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT

Though you know you will be in heaven forever with unimaginable blessings, your real heaven and what your heart beats for will be the AMAZING relationship you have with Jesus. "Let's go see Jesus shall we !!"

What a hope we have today! 

“For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are.”

Romans 8:16-19 NLT

God Protects Your Relationship With Him

Drawing close to God and sensing his presence is dependent upon honoring who he is. How can I connect with the living God again or for the first time? In Psalms 25-37 you will find there are parameters that God has put into place that protect your relationship with him. Just like any relationship has boundaries, those that God has established are meant to make anyone's relationship with him secure, flourish and ignite. A relationship with God starts with understanding his parameters then honoring them. It's worth the time and reason to get to know Jesus Christ. 

A Relational God's Plea to You and the World

To Plea:

1. an appeal or entreaty: a plea for mercy. 
2. something that is alleged, urged, or pleaded in defense or justification.

What is the Spirit of God saying to lives and a world in crisis (The God who can and will help you and the world)? I believe it is to prepare to have a personal relationship with him, and to pray effectively (John 14). Powerful prayer is conditional. If there is something not right with our relationship with God he wants it to get right in great part for intercession, because it's better to give then receive. Confessing our sins to Jesus, and repenting of them to walk with him, is turning to Jesus Christ for Lordship over our lives. It is the condition for powerful prayer. The prayers of a righteous man are very effective (James 5:16). Your prayers become effective because Jesus puts HIS righteousness over you once you place your trust in that (2 Corinthians 5:21). We could never be righteous alone, but he graciously gives us his when we are finally willing to own it. If we receive the righteousness of Christ by faith it is ours (2 Peter 1:1 ; 1 Peter 2:24), and we can then impact others lives through prayer (Hebrews 7:24-26). Jesus said he is the vine and we are the branches. We are to connect to him and remain connected. He said we can do nothing without being connected to him. We are dead and powerless by ourselves. The world is dead and powerless. Can we not see that? We are of the flesh. He's alive and powerful; the substance and source for life. He is of the Spirit of God. Therefore, if we are one with him we become alive and our prayers in Jesus' name are effective-able to tear down strongholds BY LOVE (John 15). 

So many cowardly terror attacks, fleshly temptations, onslaughts from an enemy, lies from devils can be overcome through prayer rooted in a personal relationship in Christ (2 Corinthians 10:3-4). Do you believe that? He promises to protect those who trust in him (Psalm 91; Psalm 27:5). Why haven't they already been thwarted then? Does the world trust in God? If it won't then will you? The question is, "Is your relationship right with God, ( is there rampant unconfessed and unrepented of sin in our lives), and do we pray?"  

In the words of Jack Graham we find another perspective that keeps us from praying: 

"We have many reasons as to why we don't pray or why we have a hard time praying, but if I had to pinpoint what's behind them all, I'd pin point that we simply forget we are at war. The quality of our prayer lives is solely determined by our awareness of the invisible war. Surely you have noticed this dynamic in your own life: the moment you find yourself unwittingly thrust into crisis mode – your spouse threatens to leave, you lose your job, unhappy creditors call- your prayer life kicks into high gear. Uncanny isn't it? 

Truly, we have no problem praying when the battle confronts us. The problem is that when we don't see visible signs of that battle, we mistakenly believe that our lives are safe. In his classic book on prayer, E.M.bounds writes:

'It cannot be said to often that the life of a Christian is warfare, and intense conflict, a lifelong contest. It is a battle fought against invisible foes who are ever alert and seeking to entrap, deceive, and ruin the souls of men. The Bible calls men to life, not a picnic or holiday. It is no past time or pleasure excursion. It entails effort, wrestling, and struggling. It's demands putting out the full energy of the spirit in order to frustrate the foe and to come out, at last, more than a conqueror. It is no primrose path, no rose scented flirting. From start to finish, it is war.'

It's that last part that gets us, I think. The from-start-to-finish part. We may concede that at times we are at war, but to think that every moment of every day is shrouded by an unseen war? Honestly, we're not so sure. When we stay aware of the war, we will engage in prayer." Jack Graham

Unseen. P.163-164

We'll stay engaged in prayer when we remain in Jesus Christ. When we stop engaging and abiding in the many distractions that keep us from getting right with Jesus, and spending time in the Word of God ( John 6:22-59).  We will experience the transforming power of God's Spirit in our hearts when we turn to him and trust him for our Salvation (Acts 4:8-12). He will cleanse us from all sin (1 John 1:7), give us new desires (Galatians 5:24-25; Philippians 2:13) that are pleasing to him and will awaken our prayer life (1 Peter 3:12)

John 14:

““Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.”

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”

Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do. “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it! “If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.””

John 14:1-4, 6-7, 9-21 NLT

“Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”

James 5:16 NLT

“For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”

2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT

“This letter is from Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ. I am writing to you who share the same precious faith we have. This faith was given to you because of the righteousness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior.”

2 Peter 1:1 NLT

“He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.” 1 Peter 2:24 NLT

“But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever. Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. He is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin. He has been set apart from sinners and has been given the highest place of honor in heaven.”

Hebrews 7:24-26 NLT

““I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.”

John 15:1-17 NLT

“We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.”

2 Corinthians 10:3-4 NLT

“The next day the crowd that had stayed on the far shore saw that the disciples had taken the only boat, and they realized Jesus had not gone with them. Several boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the Lord had blessed the bread and the people had eaten. So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went across to Capernaum to look for him. They found him on the other side of the lake and asked, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.” They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?” Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.” They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do? After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” “Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.” Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But you haven’t believed in me even though you have seen me. However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will. And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day. For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.” Then the people began to murmur in disagreement because he had said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” They said, “Isn’t this Jesus, the son of Joseph? We know his father and mother. How can he say, ‘I came down from heaven’?” But Jesus replied, “Stop complaining about what I said. For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up. As it is written in the Scriptures, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. (Not that anyone has ever seen the Father; only I, who was sent from God, have seen him.) “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life. Yes, I am the bread of life! Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.” Then the people began arguing with each other about what he meant. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” they asked. So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me. I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.” He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.”

John 6:22-59 NLT

“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’ There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.””

Acts of the Apostles 4:8-12 NLT

“But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7 NLT

“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.”

Galatians 5:24-25 NLT

“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”

Philippians 2:13 NLT

“The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the LORD turns his face against those who do evil.”” 1 Peter 3:12 NLT

“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished. If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone. You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! The LORD says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.””

Psalms 91:1-16 NLT

“For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock.”

Psalms 27:5 NLT

God's Response To Man's Sin

What is God's response to man's acts of rage and violence and pride and rebellion and perversion? It is, "come out of your sins and repent, turn from that way, toward my son Jesus Christ who I forgive you through. Outside of my son I must judge your sin. There will come a day when I pour out my anger and wrath upon all rebellion and sin. I desire that none would perish but that all would come to me through my Son. "

Days of Rage or Days of Blessing? You Choose

“Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.”” Luke 21:36 NLT

“For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again.” Matthew 24:21 NLT

We are on the cusp of what the Bible calls the "time of sorrows." Many horrors are happening and in greater frequency, and whether you read the Bible or not you can observe the many changes taking place around the world that will eventually impact us all. 

Why did Jesus say these things in the above verses? A disclosure and an encouragement are in those important statements of his. 

He said it because, so much of life is about preparing or practicing in order to be qualified for the real event. The Bible references athletes, farmers, soldiers, ants... as types that prepare for or ready themselves for final events in competition, harvesting, battling, and storing. We can relate with this. 

In light of urgent current events, most of which is not known in context by the general public, and what the Bible says will happen, also unknown to the masses in context, we can know for certain we are supposed to be readying ourselves for something. 

What is THAT absolute critical thing Jesus is exhorting us to escape and be ready for? Is it all the horrific circumstances coming upon the world; is it the return of Christ? Or is it both? 

The reason I post about God, and try to encourage people in the ways of God through Jesus Christ on facebook, on a blog, in conversations, at work, and through life in general boils down to THIS ONE MOTIVE. It's to encourage people to ready themselves to stand before the living God in a right relationship with him. To see him now/today in faith and heart. This in essence, is to help people escape the coming horrors in the world on this side of heaven and for all eternity after we die. 

The world is going to do its thing, and it's going to be ugly, very ugly, but it is still not final. Meaning, the imploding self destruction of the world is not to be feared. Man, who blows up bombs, and kills people, and hurts people is not to be feared. What is to fear is the finality of dying in your body, and not being ready to stand before God, because then you will either be judged and condemned over all your unforgiven sin or pardoned of your sin and justified, because the blood of Christ  has been appropriated onto you by faith. THAT moment is what life is about. THAT is the finish line we must be prepared for. It's so important to realize that you are qualified or disqualified to enter heaven BEFORE you die in the body. It will be too late after you die. You are qualified to enter heaven for all eternity through one single narrow gate; one single mindedness..... both of which is in the powerful pure redeeming blood of Jesus Christ. If Christ isn't covering you BEFORE you die you will be disqualified. 

I believe we should be prepared for the hard times by first readying ourselves to receive Jesus, and to be prepared to share the good news about him with others.  We don't know when we will die or when others will die so today is the day to magnify and glorify the salvation of Jesus Christ and follow him. By doing so you are ready for anything and everything in eternity and today. 

When you read scripture you realize that the whole world will be under the control of a Beast System where you will not be able to buy or sell anything without having the mark of the beast. That's what all this chaos is about. But be warned, taking that mark is a final eternal decision of allegiance to Anti-Christ, and a final eternal rejection of the true living God. You are anathema ( condemned forever) if you receive it. The real freedom and savior you are looking for is Jesus Christ. Receive his mark, the HOLY SPIRIT, and be Born Again today.

Do not let your days rage. Come into a qualified state for eternal life today. Today can be your Day of Blessing.

Forgiveness will rule your soul. Peace will flood your heart and mind. Your eternity will be secure EVEN WHEN THE HEAVENS ROAR, THE MOUNTAINS FALL AND THE SEAS RAGE, because they are going to roar and rage. The Lord Jesus himself exhorts you to pray that you may be able to escape all the coming horrors and be able to stand before him. Do not be deceived by the Devil, his system, your flesh, nor your will. The last thing you do not want to hear is, "Depart from me. I never knew you," by the Spirit of God. That will be the beginning of an eternity of rage and terror unlike you have ever experienced.

Anger Anger Everywhere! But What Of The Good Kind?

Speaking of anger, there's a good anger and a bad anger. It's ok if someone who has no values nor integrity when they are being held accountable for things that are right become angry. The sin nature resists that which is good. No one's perfect, but that's just the problem (All have sinned and fallen short of God's glory.) Many don't share truly righteous values, and many sincerely believe in what is wrong. They fight for it to the death even. Many can't even see straight anymore about what is really right and wrong, but praise be to God, the Bible is the authority of everything good and right, and if you read it it becomes more obvious.  I know in this age exactly what is right and wrong will be argued until Jesus comes back, but are we way beyond recovering from twisted ideologies both as individuals and as a people? Possibly, because all those ideologies are about to manifest in bigger ways then they already have. The wages of sin is death. Is there a possibility that it can be stopped? Yes, if the real problem is dealt with CORRECTLY in your own soul. I do know that Jesus himself honed in on the real problem which is inside our souls. It was when he came into his Father's house, the Temple, and he saw everyone buying and selling and tricking and deceiving themselves and others. When he saw this he acted in righteous anger...which is actually love if you can see and believe it. Jesus saw the real problem, and in correct timely anger he overturned the tables and forced everyone out proclaiming, "My house is to be a house of prayer and you have made it a den for robbers!" Matthew 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-17. No doubt there is corruption everywhere, but more precise, what about our lives? Our bodies are to be a temple for the Holy Spirit to dwell, yet we have corrupted ourselves with idols, and we deny the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ completely! The Lord wants to clean house for true righteousness and true change for eternity inside our minds and hearts FIRST. He then takes care of the rest. Jesus is the only answer! He is the only one who can deal with the deep problems in our lives and nations. If we don't wake up to that and acknowledge it we are outside of his eternal protection of salvation. Maybe if we ask him to clean up our acts as a people/our nations, and turn over our lives in righteous tough love the attention of God will turn toward us. Holy Spirit please convict us of our sins! Then in our sincere repentance through prayer and faith he promises to restore our souls with forgiveness through Jesus, and even possibly our land according to his will. If there is going to be anger, let's be angry about and deal with the right thing first: the idols in our hearts, and the complete shunning of Jesus in our lives. Then let's pray God puts the good leaders into office who fear him and who God will honor. At least your soul will be saved no matter what happens in the world. There will continue to be terrible things that happen in the world, because of the complete absence of repentance of those who continue in the ways of the world. And there will continue to be a rise in natural calamities. Death may come unjustly, without mercy, without sense, naturally or even accidentally, but I plead with you as Jesus did, do not die without repenting of your sins and receiving forgiveness from Jesus Christ first. Perishing in eternity is not what anyone really wants. Being right with God and enjoying him forever in his eternal paradise is what people truly want deep down. 

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.”

1 John 3:1-10 ESV

“There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."” Luke 13:1-5 ESV

SAME MIND / SAME LOVE / FULL ACCORD / SAME SPIRIT / SAME LORD / SAME GOD / ONE BODY / ONE HEAD / SAME CARE / TOGETHER IN THOUGHT AND REASON / ABOUNDING IN THANKSGIVING / SOBER-MINDED / EAGER TO MAINTAIN THE UNITY / ONE HOPE / ONE FAITH / ONE BAPTISM / ONE GOD AND FATHER OF ALL

People are priceless. Our unity is therefore critical. The Word of God is the resource for real eternal unity and breaking down division globally. One and the Same Spirit will get it done. 

UNITING the dIvIdEd: 

"That there may be no division in the Body"

“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the SAME MIND, having the SAME LOVE, being in FULL ACCORD and of ONE MIND. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have THIS MIND among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,”

Philippians 2:1-5 ESV

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, THINK about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Philippians 4:8-9 ESV

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

Philippians 2:12-13 ESV

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the RENEWAL OF YOUR MIND, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Romans 12:1-2 ESV

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the SAME SPIRIT; and there are varieties of service, but the SAME LORD; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the SAME GOD who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge ACCORDING TO THE SAME SPIRIT, to another faith by the SAME SPIRIT, to another gifts of healing by the ONE SPIRIT, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. ALL THESE ARE EMPOWERED BY ONE AND THE SAME SPIRIT, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. For just as the body is ONE and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are ONE BODY,so it is with Christ. For in ONE SPIRIT we were all baptized into ONE BODY—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of ONE SPIRIT. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet ONE BODY. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, THAT THERE MAY BE NO DIVISION IN THE BODY, but that the members may have the SAME CARE for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer TOGETHER; if one member is honored, all rejoice TOGETHER. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”

1 Corinthians 12:4-27 ESV

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I THOUGHT like a child, I REASONED like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 ESV

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, EAGER TO MAINTAIN THE UNITY of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is ONE BODY and ONE SPIRIT—just as you were called to the ONE HOPE that belongs to your call— ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM, ONE GOD AND FATHER OF ALL, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says,“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all ATTAIN TO THE UNITY of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Ephesians 4:1-16 ESV

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.”

Ephesians 6:10-20 ESV

“For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every THOUGHT captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.”

2 Corinthians 10:4-6

“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, ABOUNDING IN THANKSGIVING. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, WHO IS THE HEAD of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive TOGETHER with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.”

Colossians 2:6-15 ESV

“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in ONE SPIRIT, with ONE MIND striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.”

Philippians 1:27-30 ESV

“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

2 Timothy 3:12-17 ESV

“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be SOBER-MINDED, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

2 Timothy 4:1-5 ESV

“On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, THAT THERE MAY BE NO DIVISION IN THE BODY, but that the members may have the SAME CARE for one another.”

1 Corinthians 12:22-25 ESV

“Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”

Romans 13:8-14 ESV

“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Romans 12:9-21 ESV

“The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!"”

Psalms 50:23 ESV

The Road Map To Freedom In All Circumstances- Four Personal QuestionsToward Commitment Resulting In Peace With God:

The Answers Are Yes:

1. Am I willing to spend time reading the Word of God daily?

2. Am I willing to agree with what the Word of God says?

3. Am I willing to conform my thoughts, and ideas to the Word of God?

4. Am I willing to do what the Word of God teaches?

There will be opposition in this process of renewing the mind and destroying strongholds / mental fortresses / captivating ideas: 

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,”

Ephesians 6:10-18 ESV

“For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.”

2 Corinthians 10:4-6 ESV

“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” Colossians 2:6-15 ESV

From Trying To Doing : Philippians 4:8-9

I've always enjoyed creating word pictures, images hidden within art or charts that help bring understanding to concepts and principles. It's inspiring to create teaching tools, how to guides, flow charts, procedure manuals. When I think back it all started with this little number picture that my dad drew out. It was the coolest thing to me. 

Creativity highlighting layers upon layers of meaning and purpose is very motivating and inspiring. It helps learning and growing in knowledge to be fun and effective at any age. Moreover, the most critical aspect of growing in knowledge, whatever the method, is maturing in truth and wisdom. It is possible to be so smart yet have knowledge with foundations of false information because wisdom is not applied. Wisdom is knowing the difference between what's true or false, good or evil and then choosing truth and goodness. Truth is confusing in the world only because we don't look at Christ, and put into action his ways and his teachings. To do so would change everything, BUT to do so would mean we are obeying him through the Holy Spirit.

Creating tools that help truth and wisdom to be known and applied is critical, motivating and inspiring. The Bible has to be the most inspiring and motivating teaching tool in this regard. Within it are layers upon layers of purpose and meaning, truth, life and encouragement for our souls. If you like word puzzles or story pictures or creative lessons then you can see all that in the parables of Jesus, the stories of the Old Testament, and the symbolism in Revelation about our world. All of it is relevant to us today. There are easier parallels then others, but if you like going deeper and deeper into the good of life then the Bible is your book. The Bible was given to us by God himself, through the Holy Spirit inspiring men who fear God, to guide us into all truth and wisdom. It has been cast out into all the world through the generations for all to learn and ultimately TO DO. 

TO DO what the Bible teaches is the point of life. To experience the resurrection life Jesus has made  possible for us. To not just be hearers of the word but doers, because if we hear it, and don't do it we deceive ourselves. 

So many are caught in the crosshairs of false teachings, our own flesh battles without victory, and the onslaught of the enemy's purpose to 1. distract us from reading the Bible on our own, and 2. to prevent us from seeking our Creator through prayer and fasting. We are caught, but not stuck. The goal is to become free in the Spirit to do the word of God. To stop spinning and trying and to finally do. And this power to become free is found only in the free gift of Salvation through Jesus Christ and his transforming of our minds through his Word. Jesus has said, "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Romans 12:2

What we are doing in this world, and where we have ended up is based upon our thoughts and ideas. And those have been influenced by what we have taken into our senses. God has provided an endless supply of life for us and the alternative is death, and Satan will gladly help us please our senses for death. 

What God said in Deuteronomy still applies to us today. God has said, "For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, 'Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?' Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?' But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it. "See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them."” Deuteronomy 30:11-20 ESV

"When we put on the helmet of salvation each day, we are essentially strapping ultimate hope to our heads. When our minds and our outlook are focused on Jesus and on him alone, we are protected against the despair and discouragement that inevitably come in this life. Salvation reminds us that even the most unfortunate circumstances can't change the fact that our lives are eternally secure in Christ....For every action you take, your brain creates a neurological pathways that paves the way for familiarity, so that the next time you take that action, your mind already knows what to do. As you repeat behaviors over and over, those pathways become increasingly more stable. Think of it this way: a single behavior maps out a dirt road in your brain, creating a basic pathway on which your thoughts travel. But as you repeat behaviors, your brain builds a concrete highway, which allows for increased volume and frequency of thoughts to move about more effectively and more efficiently." Jack Graham

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Philippians 4:8-9 ESV

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13 ESV

Protecting Your Mind With The Helmet Of Salvation

Victory or defeat starts in the mind. The thought life. A bit of distorted thinking brings waywardness. What do we protect our minds with? There is a Helmet of Salvation provided to us by God in Ephesians 6:17.....“and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” Ephesians 6:17 ESV

 "Whenever you or I or any other sin-scarred person at last lays down a heart, lays down a life, to the lordship of Jesus Christ, hope is what we gain." Dr. Jack Graham. 

Our thoughts try to convince that real hope can be found in a secure job, in fit bodies, in a checked-off to do list, in a healthy bank account, in a thriving marriage, in accomplished children, a successful career, the next paycheck, a better president, in a local sports team finally taking the title, a well groomed lawn or managed home - But Satan's arrows are attached to anything and everything, but the Hope of Salvation in Christ alone. So he tips his arrows with these poisonous lies: "God will not provide for me. God will not protect me. He will not comfort me when I am in despair. He won't bring me satisfaction. He won't bring me livelihood. God won't bring me love nor hope nor peace. God has never been there for me, and he will not be there for me now. I'm better off taking matters into my own hands." Those are lies or mind wars that lead to choices. " It is the nature of thought to find its way into action" Christian Nevell Bovee

False securities produce false hopes and Satan can then lie to you. So we do well to remember Paul's encouragement that what protects our minds is, " My Hope is in Christ alone!" That truth protects the mind. That is the Helmet of Salvation. As we pursue proper thinking in our lives day by day, we " hope for" the ultimate reward. 

“Henceforth, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”

2 Timothy 4:8 ESV

Turn Around and Look Into the Eyes of Jesus

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We can receive the goodness of God by turning toward Jesus and then by looking at him. This is an internal heart focus in spirit and truth. He smiles and is full of much goodness. He constantly comes to us in our daily life circumstances desiring to take us deeper with him. We can respond to that how we will, but the point is we can receive him today...now! The cycles of growing and maturing in life are his utmost concern. He desires that none should perish in their sins, and he desires that we grow and mature in faith in him; to trust him. Jesus can not hurt us so as to give us excuse to not trust him. At times, we turn off his path and onto dark distant paths, yet he beckons us back. For some, they have never been on his path, but Jesus invites them on. At other times, we stay close to the narrow road, but graze ever so slightly off of it, and he still takes the time to redirect and sanctify us. "Be Holy as I am Holy" Jesus never gives up on us. He is Truth and he follows us as a Protector, a Shepherd, as the Lord. To know Jesus intimately is the will of God. To worship him and enjoy fellowship with him forever is the reason we exist. Sometimes that means we wrestle with him, we fail, we get back up, and it means to really see him.

By faith, turn back around and look at Jesus. Let the guard down, turn away from old patterns, dependencies, securities, ideas. Look at Jesus and see and hear what he has for you today. He always is there and is ready to hang out and give to you. What Jesus gives is beyond description. 

It is Good.

I received God's goodness this morning. I'm in a get back up cycle in my faith. He hears my prayers, "Dear Jesus, help me to get back up, help me to follow you in greater sacrifice and surrender, in more grace and unconditional love!" So he whispers John 21. He led me back to my favorite Chapter of the Bible; one that I have not read, nor thought about in a while. It uplifted me in the depths of my heart.

All the meaning in those John 21 moments is very encouraging to the heart and soul of man. God's word speaks to us when we turn to it. When we utterly depend on it no matter the state of our faith. Read John 21 below.

And here is a glimpse of the heart of Jesus in Spurgeon's Morning Devotional for today May 20th.

Can you look into Jesus' eyes today and receive him?

God bless you this morning and evermore!

Identity Crisis? vs. Jesus Defines You!

Identity Crisis results in chaos, confusion and pain.  As a result of our sin we are in endless arrays of identity crisis, and sin separates man from God. Doesn't matter who you are. Sin--> Identity Crisis--> Confusing Chaotic Pain-->Sin. The wages of sin is naturally death. How bad does it really have to get before the souls of men repent of their own personal pride before Jesus? He is Deity.  The Deity. In our humanity we either choose to act out in pride or we respond in humility to the Holy Spirit when we experience pain. We've done both. We choose to get more angry or more gentle. We choose to get more perverted or more pure. We choose to get more depressed or more peaceful. Critical or gracious. Repentant or hard hearted. If you don't know your Bible, get into it and read it. It leads you to the Salvation of God FOR YOU. You identify with it, because it finds you! It strengthens a person to successfully deal with the inevitable crisis, chaos of the heart, and battles in the mind. The battles indeed are difficult to overcome, but the Bible reveals that your purpose in this world is to get right with God through Jesus Christ. Jesus understands the battle within our flesh. He came and did win that battle for us. He took responsibility for it because he knows. To know the Word is to survive these times with great assurance, confidence and peace. Even when persecuted, martyred, or hated. Revelation 13 is on the cusps of becoming a reality, and it terrified the Prophets of God when they saw the vision.  "Nations without borders!" are what the World Leaders are touting and working toward; A Beast System with its mark, and its Anti-Christ. What II Peter warns of and encourages us to do is upon us. Isn't it ironic that the Devil and those who follow him call 2016 "The Year of Light." The Devil is working, and his obvious method is Order out of Chaos; To tear down the walls that protect people; To create more confusion in order to REMOVE THE BOUNDARIES so that a New Order can happen. That's the Devils way and it's result is Revelation 13. God called it so we would be ready. Do we remember what he said, "A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls." Proverbs 25:28 NLT Name the identity and you'll find great confusion in it today: Marital, Family, Religious, Gender, Sexual,  Political. And now Satan shouts, "Let the national and race walls fall down." Your enemy will strip it all away if he can, and that's why he hates Faith in Jesus. He hates it when people find their true identity in Christ. It's the identity that wins when all is said and done. How absolutely amazing is this verse when looking at today's issues: “And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.” Galatians 3:27-29 NLT. There are so many levels of pain caused by sin in people's lives that people are now giving up on the obvious positions  of identity. What is a man? What is a woman? What is a husband or wife? What is a family? What is a community? Additionally, not honoring God's ways result in great suffering and creates a stronghold for the devil to redefine who you are according to lies. Do you believe the lies? BUT the good news is that Jesus has shattered the lies, and he's already won the identity battles for us. Read that verse again. Your nationality, race, religion, gender/sexuality etc. does not define who you are. Jesus Defines You! 

The AWESOMENESS of God is seen when you finally realize that He will not force you to accept him, just like he will not force you to reject him. He has offered himself to all who will receive him amidst humanities own sinful chaos. The Righteous will become more Righteous and the Wicked will become more Wicked. Remember Stephen? As he was being murdered for sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ he was asking God to forgive his murderers!! And Jesus revealed himself to Stephen in the clouds. Then he went to eternal life!!!! 

““For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants. ””

John 3:16-21 NLT

Your Identity in Christ is what Jesus says about you! Get your Bible and look these up.

Matthew 5:14

Luke 10:17-20

John 15:1,5

Romans 8:1

Romans 8:17

Romans 8:35-39

1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19

1 Corinthians 6:17

1 Corinthians 12:27

Ephesians 5:30

2 Corinthians 5:17

2 Corinthians 5:18-19

2 Corinthians 5:21

Galatians 3:26, 28

Galatians 4:6

Galatians 4:7

Ephesians 1:1

1 Corinthians 1:2

Philippians 1:1

Colossians 1:2

Ephesians 1:19-23; 2:5-6

Ephesians 2:10

Ephesians 2:19

Ephesians 6:10-20

Colossians 3:3

Colossians 3:4

Colossians 3:12

1 Thessalonians 1:4

Hebrews 3:1

Hebrews 3:14

1 Peter 2:5

1 Peter 2:9-10

1 Peter 2:11

1 Peter 5:8

1 John 3:1-2

1 John 5:18