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Thursday, August 27, 2015

Praise or Complain


Praise or Complain

(Choices: Its your call by: William F. Hill

 

Which force is the greatest in your life—praising or complaining?

We have the opportunity upon arising each day to make a choice or a decision. We can look for the good in that day, or we can expect the bad. We can have faith, or we can doubt. We can be thankful or we can complain. It’s no wonder that multitudes of people love to read from the Book of Psalms in the bible. The Psalms will not leave us in a negative frame of mind very long. Soon we will be reading words of praise and victory. The Psalmist, David, often began a Psalm in a negative note, but soon entered the area of praise.

(Psalm 13:1-4)

“How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? For ever? How long wilt thou hide thy face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? How long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.”

Isnt it good to know that you are not the only one who faces trials and tests? David was not someone who tried to fake his way through. He was a real person with real problems. And yet, he would always break through to victory.

(Psalms 13:5-6)

“But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.”

 Let me challenge you to read all of Psalm 144. Notice the words of David.

(Psalms 144:11-15)

“Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood: That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace: That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets: That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets. Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.”

I have for years been impressed with the words, “….that there be no complaining in our streets.” And then notice, “Happy is that people, that is in such a case…” Complaining makes us weary. It saps our strength. We become easily discouraged and weak. Did you ever notice the words of Asaph in Psalm 73?

He had taken his eyes off God and put them on people. When he did that he almost gave up.

(Psalm 73:1-17)

“Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. And they say, How doth God know? And is there knowledge in the most high? Behold, there are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.”

It is so easy to get our eyes off God and on to others. The victory comes when we look to God.

(Hebrews 12:1-3)

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”

Remember, the battle is taking place in your mind. This is where the battle will be won or lost.

 

 

(2 Corinthians 4:8-9)

“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.”

(Philippians 4:8)

“Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

 

Do you remember in Psalm 13 when David asked “How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? For ever?”

Did you ever feel that way? And did God forget David? It might interest you to know that the name of David appears more times in the Bible than any other name except our Lord. In fact, the name of David appears in the last chapter of the last book in the Bible and is mentioned by the Lord Himself.

(Revelation 22:16)

“I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.”

 

So , what will be your choice? To praise or complain?
 
By Missionary Dinah Ramos

 

 

 

 

Saturday, August 15, 2015

Accomplish the Mission


** There is always consequences to the decision we make in life. It could end fairly well, or it could end up terribly wrong. All through the word of God, there are many valuable examples to what your life could lead to when obeying and disobeying God. Staying on the path He leads you on, and straying off to the side. There are consequences for everything. Where there are people that are conquerors and others that don’t make it out alive. Do you want to know the best strategy on making the right decisions, so you don’t receive fateful consequences in the end?  …..

Think of this: We are special agents for the Lord. New identity (salvation), new ways and strategies of thinking; not like others (Christ and the word), and there is one mission that you have to go on. Like every great mission, there is always cautious instruction.

1.     Keep focused in your mission (Pleasing the Lord, remembering the purpose of doing His works)

2. Know who your enemies are and look out for them (Satan our adversary)

3.     Never break your cover (Conforming and blending with the world, giving up and quitting)

Do you remember Adam and Eve from the very beginning how they had to face the consequences of their disobedience.

Genesis 2:16-17

“And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”

Genesis 3:3-7

“But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good and food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.”

Genesis 3:23-24

“Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.”

 

** In the word of God shows more than enough examples to the consequences of those that disobey God and stray off to the side, and what it truly leads to. And the great thing about the bible is, is that the Lord shows you a way to live, and through accepting Him in your life, He gives you constructive instructions on how we can be truly at peace with Him and be conquerors through Him. **

(Keep Focused)

Ephesians 5:15-17

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”

Ephesians 5:1-11

“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.3But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 5For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.6Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7Be not ye therefore partakers with them.8For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”

 (Know your enemies and look out for them)

1 Peter 5:8-10

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus , after that ye have suffered a while, making you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”

 

Ephesians 6:12-17

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:”

 

 

(Never Break your cover)

Acts 5:28-29

“Saying, did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and , behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.”

Galatians 1:9-10

“As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”

 

Romans 12:2

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

 

2 Corinthians 6:14

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?”

 

John 16:33

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
 
By Missionary Dinah Ramos

Monday, August 3, 2015

End Times Signs


 
1.                People living without regard to whether God exist -

1 John 4:3

And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”

(("We are each free to believe what we want and it is my view that the simplest explanation is there is no God. No one created the universe and no one directs our fate. This leads me to a profound realization. There is probably no heaven, and no afterlife either. We have this one life to appreciate the grand design of the universe, and for that, I am extremely grateful."))-Stephen Hawking

2.                Jesus said that the end will be like the day of Noah when God flooded the Earth because of the sins that are in this world.

3.                Luke 17:26-27

"And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all."


4.    Explosion of knowledge and travel ---

 Daniel - 12:4

But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased."


4. Beginning of sorrows-


And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. 8For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows."


 

5.    Widespread acceptance of immoral behavior

Isaiah 5:20

20Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”


6. Widespread abandonment of the Christian faith -

1 Timothy 4:1-3

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth."


"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;4And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."

7. People mocking the End Times


" Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation."


10. Spirit of selfishness and materialism -


This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,"

 

‘Working 24 hours a day isn’t enough anymore. You have to be willing to sacrifice everything to be successful, including your personal life, your family life, maybe more. If people think it’s any less, they’re wrong, and they will fail.’---Kevin O’Leary
 
Minister Dinah Ramos