Yes, I Will

Romans 10:14-17

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.


I haven’t written anything in a while due to wanting to draw closer to the Lord. I wanted to get a clearer direction from Him in the way that I should go. Since coming to the Lord I have felt a strong leading to go unto the lost. The following verse has been a large part of my ministry.


Acts 1:8

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”


Another passage that as been heavy on my heart.


Luke 14:22-23

And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.


Why am I using these verses, because I was recently challenged by some Christians, I know about who I had doing renovations at my home. I was chastised because I was using non-believers. I was not doing justice to the body by not using Christian craftsmen.


I ask the following. Who should I use, I have a calling to reach out to the lost? We are to show them Jesus in us. We are to reach out to a lost and dying world. So why should I not use known good craftsmen, even though they are not believers?


I ask you to read my opening passage. I ask you to pay close attention to this part of that passage “And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent?”


These men would be found in the highways and should be invited in, how are they to believe in Jesus if they do not hear, how are we to witness if we do not get out amongst them?


1 John 2:14-17

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.


Romans 12:2

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.


1 Corinthians  9: 19-23

For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.


I want to bring to the attention of my detractors that I am in this world but not of this world. The above three passages tell us not be caught up in worldly things, but that we must get out with those who need to hear the Word and share it.


It is time for the believers in the world to get out and share, and by share I don’t mean to hit people over the head with a “Gospel 2 x 4”.


I believe in doing what Jesus did, getting out amongst the lost. I believe in inviting them into my home and letting them see the Jesus in us. I am not afraid or ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and it is time, for “Today”, we must share the Word in this lost and dying world, for how shall they hear, for how shall they know, we must invite them in!


Will you?

For Today...

Hebrews 4:7

He again fixes a certain day, “Today,” saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, “Today if you hear His voice, DO not harden your hearts.”

The Book of Hebrews says “Today if you hear His voice...” My question today is how often do you hear his voice?

I have to tell you even though I have been a believer for a great number of years, I haven't always attended church and I haven't always spent time in studying the Bible, prayer and meditation. What I can definitely tell you is when I have not done those things is when I have been the weakest in my life.

Oh, but you are too spiritual for me, I don't have the time to spend time frequently reading my Bible and in prayer. Isn't Sunday enough, the rest of the week I have work, family and the general issues of life to deal with.

I have learned and learned the hard way that I can't go a day without, spending some time reading the Bible, or doing a bit of Bible Study from a set Bible Study, and a day can't go by without prayer.

For today, now and in the next few moments I don't know what is going to happen or come my way. I need to be ready for it. I need to be prepared and ready for the day. I need to put on the whole armour of God

Ephesians 6: 10-19

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.    Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.   For our struggle is not against  flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.   Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.   Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,   and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;    in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.   And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

With all prayer and petition  pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view,  be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,   and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

We need to be ready for Battle. You may think that life isn't a battle. But may I suggest to you that if that is how you see things Satan has you where he would like to have every Christian.

Whether you are a church attender, church worker, Pastor, Evangelist or what ever your roll in life. Everyone of us, no matter our profession or career choice needs to be fully prepared for everyday. That includes time with God on a daily basis.

We need to spend time in His Word and Prayer. We need to hear His voice DAILY – TODAY! We need to keep the shield of faith ready, always wear the helmet of salvation, and have the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God sharpened and ready for use.

Going through the week without spending time with God and in His word is like running through  a week having had your batteries charged on Sunday and as the run down through the week so do you.

You leave yourself wide open to the things the world throws at you. Some one who doesn't spend time in the Word and in prayer has left themselves virtually defenceless to the slings and arrows of life.

Let me suggest one other thing to you, yes your Pastor spent some time preparing a message for Sunday. But what if Pastor had a tough week and ended up quickly preparing so his message isn't up to his usual standard. Where does that leave your batteries?

John 16:33

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Jesus Himself told us that we would have troubles, but that has overcome. The way we have peace and become overcomers through Him is keeping in the Word. Keeping the lines of communication with Him open through prayer. Allowinhg the Holy Spirit to lead us.

We are to have a relationship with Our Lord, we get invited into His presence and God the Father, God The Son and God the Holy Spirit are all there.

A relationship means spending time with one another, it won't work if it is all one sided. Think about your relationships with family and friends. They take time correct? So why should God be thrown to the back of the bus?

In one of my recent messages I shared that there are people telling us that the end is near, some professing the day that the end will happen. I shared in that message the following verse.

Matthew 24:36

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.”

I shared that verse in that message because the Bible tells us that only God the Father knows when that will happen.

I bring that passage into this message because none of us do know when Christ will return. Also the fact that we know that the world is filled with troubles and that our lifes can be troublesome. We need to be ready, and the only way to face the day is to be covered in the full armour of God.

We need to be filled with the Spirit, we need to be filled with the Word and we neeed to have a real relationship with Jesus. Are you ready, are you prepared?

Daily, Today and everyday – time with God!

"God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good"

I can’t tell you how long ago I heard the phrase "God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good". My late father-in-law would say it. When there were hard times he would say "God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good". When there were good times and times when he wanted to praise the Lord Jim would say "God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good"

It has been turned into a praise and worship song. I have heard the phrase enough that it has become part of me. Does that mean I say it all the time, no, but it is increasingly becoming part of my vocabulary.

When my first wife passed away, I hear "God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good". When facing some financial hard times, I heard "God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good"

This phrase has been used in churches as a greeting, it has been used by Pastors stating, “God is good all the time” to which the congregation would respond “all the time God is good.”

We have had some issues this week, our furnace decided it was time to retire. Julie’s mom passed away this week. A still small voice came to me and said "God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good". Yes, I do believe God speaks to us, in His Word, but I also believe that in quiet moments His Holy Spirit will say things to us, even if it is to remind us of words that we know and need to be reminded of.

When my first wife passed away, I was reminded of Ray Boltz’s song the Anchor Holds. This brought me to study Acts 27. Paul being taken to Rome to stand trial. The ship he is on gets caught in a storm, eventually the ship is wrecked. Not a person was lost. The people in charge of the ship didn’t listen to Paul’s advise.

Paul and all aboard that ship could have been done, but God assured Paul he would make it to Rome. At that moment, of great adversity I can imagine Paul thinking and saying "God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good" God was and did bring him through.

That song “The Anchor Holds” is a song that has helped me through many moments in my life. It has helped Julie Annie​ as our life pages have turned. This week has been a week where by Faith and faith alone we have come through. I can say that because our anchor holds, we are anchored in the Word, in Jesus, in our faith that grows daily. Because "God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good"

Look at Psalm 23, The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want… though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil… He offers us comfort and then brings us through to what? He brings us through to banquet “table before me in the presence of my enemies;”

Surrounded by our enemies, in the site of adversity we sit and enjoy a banquet, David closes the Psalm with the following words “Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all my life and I will dwell with Him forever. David in his words was saying "God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good"

No matter what life throws at us, no matter how many times Satan tries to steal your joy and bring you down remember the anchor hold because "God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good"

In The Beginning Faith

Genesis 1:1

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

John1:1-5

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.  In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.  The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Revelation 22:13

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

Ecclesiastes 3:1

There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—

In the beginning God, in the beginning was the Word. He is the beginning and the end. Jesus is, was and forever will be. Before you He was, after you He is and will be!

There have been times for everything, every event. You were born and at some time you will pass on. But those events, those times were set out by God, for in the beginning God.

As I look at life and think about things, I know God has been there and I know He will be there.

My dear friends and family I have never hidden my faith, even though I haven't been a preacher for several years, my kids may say I still do. I must tell you my faith has not weakened, it is growing stronger. In my life I have seen so much, lived through many sad times, tons of good times. I feel blessed and rich with all that I have, as little as that may be. When I have been through hard times, I keep hearing that still small voice reminding me in Who's hands I am.

Some may question my faith; may question how with certain events I can still believe. I can say, "For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day." 2 Tim. 1:12

I am not ashamed of my faith, I am holding strong in Him. No matter what tomorrow may hold, I leave it all in the Master’s Hands. The Anchor holds despite the storm. I admit that there have been times when my faith was low, but it is in those times when I have felt His presence the most.

I'm a rich man because of my faith, my sweet wife, my family - that includes all my cousins and extended family, and all my friends. Know not what the future holds, but I do know Who holds the future!

He was here before time began, He will be here when time as we know it ceases. He created the land, seas, skies and all that surrounds us. Who am I to question His existence when there is proof all around.

In the beginning God, in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word is God.

From Away – A Samaritan

I live in Prince Edward Island, was born in Ontario, that makes me a “Come From Away”. Out here if you are a local, having been born here, you are an accepted part of everything,  but not a “Come From Away.”

As I was sitting enjoying a cup of coffee this morning the story of the Good Samaritan came to my mind as well as the verse from Acts 1 that calls for all of us to reach out beyond our own back yard.

Are we truly, and I mean truly open to people from other places moving into our neighbourhoods, villages and towns?

When I ask this, I mean are we going to allow them into the fold and be part of things. I ask this because as Christians, as followers of Jesus Christ we are supposed to be open, welcoming and accepting of people despite our differences.

I have used the following passage many times when I have spoken about reaching out to the lost, the forgotten people. I have used this passage about our mission field, which isn’t just our own little area where we live. We have a world at our door steps and it starts in your neighbourhood and goes out from there.

Churches are looking for people to come and be part of the fold. But are they truly welcoming? What do they do when a Samaritan, a Judean or another “Come From Away” comes and darkens the door and occupies a seat? Are we truly wanting new comers from all around, are we “praying people in” as I have heard spoken from a pulpit, or are we just speaking the words?

Friends ask yourself what would Jesus have us do?

Acts 1:6-8

So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

This next passage is one we are all familiar with I am sure. In it I see the image of the church walking by and ignoring the needs of the ones who need help, while the ones who are shunned or looked down upon help the ones in need. Jesus reached out and touch many, whether they were clean, dirty, from the wrong side of the tracks or not.

How many churches are reaching out and helping? Are we clothing, feeding, visiting and caring for the lost, the lonely, the shut ins, the sick, the grieving? Are we there for the people who have moved into our neighbourhoods, even if they are from Samaria, Judea and beyond? Do we care to make the “Come From Aways” welcome in our towns and churches?

Luke 10:30-37

Jesus replied and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you.’ Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?” And he said, “The one who showed mercy toward him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do the same.”

All too often in the world today we leave it to others to do what Jesus calls us to do. We put on the appearance of being open, but when push comes to shove, we leave the real work to others. So many “religious” groups have come into our areas and they are doing the work that Jesus has called us to do, they are doing the work that Jesus through His life showed us to do.

In my area I see Buddhists, Mormons and other groups reaching out. I don’t see Christian Churches that are actively going out and letting the world know they are welcome to come in.  I see some churches inviting people to a meal, but not going out and inviting them in.

Matthew 22:9-10

Go therefore to the main highways, and as many as you find there, invite to the wedding feast.’ Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered together all they found, both evil and good; and the wedding hall was filled with dinner guests.

Did you see that, good and evil. Or those who are local or from away, a local or a Samaritan, those who are a farmer, fisherman or a tax collector, those who are respected or from a shady part of life.

Also if they do come do we really want them, are we going to make them a part of things or just leave them on the edges and just nod when we see them.

Jesus welcomed, Romans, Samaritans, Tax Collectors, Lepers, Harlots and more. Do we? Are you prepared to bring a Matthew into your fold or ignore the tax collector and leave him in his tax booth?

Are we going to reach out to a Paul, a religious leader who has been a threat and open the doors to him?

Luke 17:11-21

While He was on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee. As He entered a village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him; and they raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were going, they were cleansed. Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they? Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.”
Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with  signs to be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”

Sometimes we need to recognize that those that aren’t the normally accepted are the ones who will come back and offer to help, they are the ones who often are the most appreciative.

The Bread of Life, the Living Water is for everyone. Everyone is welcome. Jesus welcomes us all. Our churches need to as well. We need to be accepting of those who Jesus sends to us. We need to bring those into the fold and have them become part of the fold.

John 4:7-14

There *came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus *said to her, “Give Me a drink.” For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. Therefore the Samaritan woman *said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” She *said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where then do You get that living water? You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself and his sons and his cattle?” Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”

Let’s tear down the walls we have built to keep people out. Open those doors, we need the Samaritans, the Ethiopians, the Romans, Tax collectors, and more to be part of the fold.

John 10:12-16

He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd.

Jesus told us that the fold, the flock would include others from outside, other sheep. He told us that they would become one flock. Jesus didn’t ignore the Samaritans, the “Come From Aways” neither should we!

Are you open, is your church open to other sheep? Will you accept, and take into the flock other sheep and make them one flock? 

Acts 8-:25

So, when they had solemnly testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, and were preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

My friends, will you make the Samaritans part of the flock, active parts of the flock or are you going to leave them on the fringe?

As I Have asked before, “What Would Jesus Do?” Not sure read the above!

Free Indeed!

Have you ever heard, “He Who The Son Sets Free Is Free Indeed?”

In Christ Jesus we are free. Free from the law of sin and death. Free and with a path set on the way to heaven. Every one who believes in Jesus Christ, who has accepted Him as their Lord and Saviour is on the way to Heaven.

If any one of us hasn't repented of our sins we will never see the inside of the Kingdom of Heaven. As I have said before we must repent and turn our old ways.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

In coming to Christ, repenting of our sins we become a new creature, because the old has passed away. We are renewed, reborn in giving our lives to Christ, or as the world has heard and doesn't understand we are “Born Again Christians”. We give up our sinful ways and walk as Christ did. There is not one of us who is sinless, not one of us can get to heaven on our own accord, because we are all slaves to sin.

Romans 3:9-10

What then?  Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin;   as it is written,

 “There is none righteous, not even one;

All of us were under sin, if you haven't accepted Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour you are under sin. Jesus told us that we are slaves to sin and it is Jesus who told us that any one that He sets free is free indeed. There is victory and freedom in the Blood of Christ, we all need to be washed clean so that we may leave the prison that sin keeps us in and walk free in Jesus Name.

John 8:34-36

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.   The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever.   So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

Everyone of us has committed sin, there isn't one of us who hasn't. We were slaves to sin. Jesus came to give us life, abundant and free. In coming to Christ and turning our life over to Him we are set free from sin and death.

Romans 8:1-8

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.   For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.   For what the Law could not do,  weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,   so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.   For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.    For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,   because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,   and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

For the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. He who the Son sets free my friend is Free indeed. There is no condemnation for those in Christ.

But that is the choice that everyone must make, to accept Christ and be set free, or to turn your back on Christ, stay enslaved to sin. Freedom in Christ leads to the narrow path, enslaved to sin leaves you on the broad path.

If we still keep our mind set on the ways of the world we are on the broad path that leads to destruction, our mind is set on things of the flesh. Fleshly living is living a non-Christ like life. If your not sure ask yourself, “What would Jesus do?”

Jesus wouldn't lie, steal, cheat, or be full of lust. Jesus wouldn't allow some one to suffer in loneliness when there is always time to spend with them. Jesus wouldn't ignore a person in need. Jesus wouldn't take advantage of others.

So the choice is yours, turn your eyes upon Jesus look full in His wonderful face and the things of this world will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. Look to Jesus, turn to Jesus, give your live to Jesus.

Jesus told us that many will not chose Him, and they will live a life that leads to destruction. Those of us who do come to him will walk the narrow path, the path that leads to life and life eternal.

Matthew 7:13-14

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.   For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Few will find the way. You have a choice, just as I had a choice. I chose to follow Christ and live in His ways. That doesn't mean I am perfect, there has only ever been One Perfect Human, and those of us imperfect humans crucified Him.

He is the one who offers us freedom and eternal life. What will you do? Will you choose life?

1 Peter 3:18

For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;

He died for our sins, once for all! All we need to do is accept Him turn from our old ways and allow Jesus to show us the way.

Friends if you haven't repented of your sins you'll never see the inside of the Kingdom of Heaven

What will you do, what have you done? Give your life to Christ, be set free.

Again if you know Christ that is awesome, can I suggest that your share Him with others who don't know Him.

If you need to rededicate yourself, or if you want to give your life to Christ say this following prayer.

Dear God, my Father in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness.

I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin.

You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess the Lord our God and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we shall be saved.

Right now I confess Jesus as my Lord. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved.

Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honour to you alone and not to myself.

Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life. In Jesus mighty Name AMEN.

Friend choose life choose freedom, because He who the Son sets Free is Free Indeed!

The Battle Isn’t Yours

I recently shared a revised version of one of my older messages “Facing Our Giants”. It is my hope that people will see that the can face the giants and mountains, the trials and storms of life because as I said in that message, “If God is for us, who is against us?”

Our relationship with God is stronger the more we know Him. David knew God, he was a man after God’s own heart. We are told in 1 Samuel 13 that God sought a man after His own heart and Acts 13 confirms that He found that person in David.

David knew God, he spent time getting to know God. In David we have a great example of some one who faced the giants in his life. David knew that he could trust the Lord.

We all to often trust in ourselves more than in God. We see an issue that we need to work through, we see the storm coming and instead of placing our trust in God we try to get through that issue on our own. 

Jesus told us to learn from Him that He would teach us how to get through.

Matthew 11: 28-30

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.   Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.   For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

He will give us rest. I want you to notice that He does not say that He will take the burden away. He says the He will give us rest and that we can learn from Him how to go through these storms, how to face these giants. He wants us to lean on Him and learn from Him.

David when he faced Goliath knew he would come through that battle, why? He had previously faced a lion and a bear. He had learned from previous battles. We are to do the same, and we can walk through those times with the Lord and He will teach us.

The one thing I want you to take note of, you must be willing to learn. You must be humble enough to realize that you can’t do it on your own, Jesus will teach us, but we must be willing to learn.

Let’s go a little deeper here. David was a man after God’s own heart, God remembered that and wanted us all to know that. He insured it was known by having it noted in the Book of Acts for all of us to see!

David knew that God was with Him. Jesus told us we would not be alone as He was sending the Helper, the Holy Spirit.

In my message “Facing our Giants” I shared part of the following passage from Romans.

Romans 8: 28-39

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.   For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;  and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

    What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?   He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?   Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies;  who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was  raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.   Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?   Just as it is written,

 “For Your sake we are being put to death all day long;

 WE were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

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

Look at that passage, Good causes all things to work together for good, for who – for those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Also did you see that “If God is for us, who is against us?”

God is with us, He works things together for good for those who love Him, do we all have a Heart that is after God’s Own Heart? Are we desiring, have we got close to God? Do we love God? Take a close look at the words in this part of the passage from Romans.

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

We conquer those giants, we calm those storms, we move those mountains through Him who loved us! There is nothing that can separate us from God, from the Love of God that is in Jesus Christ our Lord!

If God is for you who or what can be against you? There is no principality, power or any thing that can keep us from Him. There is victory and freedom in Jesus Christ!

We all sit back and wonder how we are going to get through this storm, that crisis, get around this mountain. We beat ourselves up for even getting into the situation in the first place. The world is filled with issues that we may have to walk through. But you are not defeated!

You are not defeated! The Lord is with you, we have the Holy Spirit to guide us and teach us. We also can not be held captive. Do you realize that Satan can not lock you up, he can’t even lock the doors to his own house? Jesus has the keys to death and hell. How can we be held captive in a place where the doors cannot be locked? All of you who feel that you are imprisoned, come out because the door isn’t even locked.

Revelation 1: 17-18

When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last,   and the living One; and I  was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.

Come out because He who the Son sets free is free indeed.

John 8:36

So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

You are free in Christ Jesus, come out of that self-imposed prison cell, you are free. In all of this I have been saying that God is with us, He will show us the way, He has set us free, He will teach us, He will give us rest. But my friend there is something I want you to grasp hold of. Yes, He wants our hearts, our whole being, because He loves us. He wants us to have hearts that are after Him.

Do you realize that all those battles we are fighting, those storms, those burdens, are all to be turned over to Him, the victory has already been assured in Christ and the battle in the first place was the Lords!

2 Chronicles 20: 14 - 17

Then in the midst of the assembly the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite of the sons of Asaph;   and he said, “Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s.   Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley in front of the wilderness of Jeruel.   You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the Lord is with you.”

Consider meditating on this “Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s. … ’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the Lord is with you.” “If God is for us, who is against us? “ Jesus tells you that “I have the keys of death and of Hades”

  If God is for us and the battle if Gods, and Jesus has defeated Satan and holds the keys to hell and death, is it not true them that the Battle Isn’t Yours! Because “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”

Facing Our Giants

There are many giants that can come into our lives. Many times, in our life we will come face to face with a giant and have to make a decision. A decision to face the issue or to run away from the issue.

Numbers 13: 31 - 33

But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.”  And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature.  There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”

The children of Israel were waiting to enter into the promised land. Spies had been sent into the land so that their journey could be made from a good knowledge of what was ahead. There were a couple of them who cam back with a good report. There was also those who came back with a bad report.

Those coming back with a bad report claimed that the land would devour its inhabitants. They told stories of giants, that in comparison the Israelites were grasshoppers.  They were afraid to go forward and were painting a picture that suggested that they couldn't be successful.

There are giants in the land!

Are you allowing the giants in the land to stop you from moving forward?

I want to share another story of a giant, one that ended differently. I have spoken of it before in a message about standing in faith. This story has a strong faith message but it also gives us the image of a person uses their life experience to face an even bigger issue.

1 Samuel 17: 3-11

The Philistines stood on a mountain on one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side, with a valley between them.

And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.  He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze.  And he had bronze armor on his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders.  Now the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his iron spearhead weighed six hundred shekels; and a shield-bearer went before him.  Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, “Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me.  If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.”  And the Philistine said, “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.”  When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.

Here is a great example of facing a giant. The Israelites are on top of a mountain on one side of a valley and the Philistines are on the top of a mountain on the other side of the valley.  The Philistines champion warrior, a giant comes out into the valley. The giant, we know is Goliath, stands in the valley taunting the Israelites to send out a warrior to face him.

The Israelites “were dismayed and greatly afraid.” Isn't that a description of how we become when we are having to face some form of giant in our life.

You maybe facing a financial or a health giant, it may be a giant brought about by the loss of a loved one, the end of a marriage or some other kind of giant. This is when all too often we become dismayed, anxious, worried and even greatly afraid.

What do you do when your are facing a giant?

We can wish them away, try drinking them away, or how ever we try to avoid them. Those issues don't just go away.

1 Samuel 17:16

And the Philistine drew near and presented himself forty days, morning and evening.

Goliath kept coming back for 40 days. The Israelites just continued staring across the valley. They kept seeing Goliath daily, hearing him taunt them daily.

Isn't that very much like some of the issues that come into our life? The issues, the giants we are facing, don't just go away.

1 Samuel 17:26

Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

David had been sent to the camp by his father. He asks questions about who Goliath is, who is the person taunting us? Who is this person that they have sent to single-handedly challenge the army of the living God.

David who has had it said of him that he was a  man after God's heart. David is remembered for having a heart after God. He is remembered for his faith.

Acts 13:22

After He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, A man after My heart, who will do all My will.’

This is where we should be, standing in faith, so that when the giants come into our life we have what is needed to face them and stand firm in our faith. We allow the world, the issues of life that the world throws at us change our focus. Satan wants our focus to be on the giants and be “dismayed and greatly afraid.”

The giants, the mountains become too big for us to handle in our minds and we become anxious, feeling the burdens that we allow the issues to become. All we want is for them to go away. But as we see in the passages above they don't go away. As we will see we have to face them, but our lives can help us to face them.

1 Samuel 17:32-37

Then David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.”

But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock,  I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it.  Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.”  Moreover David said, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”

 And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”

David comes “I will go and fight the giant.”  He is questioned about his age and ability. David tells of his past and the giants he successfully faced before. He tells Saul that as a shepherd he has had to face a lion and a bear. He tells Saul that He defeated both of them. David says that the Lord was with him and delivered him from the paw of the lion and the bear.

Here is a lesson we need to - we all face giants, lions, bears, mountains in our life. The victories of our past, our past successes help us to boldly face the bigger issues that come into our life.

David who was raised up, by God, to be king of Israel, wouldn'thave been so bold in facing Goliath if he hadn't faced the lions and bears in the past.

1 Samuel 17: 48-55

Then it happened when the Philistine rose and came and drew near to meet David, that David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.   And David put his hand into his bag and took from it a stone and slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead. And the stone sank into his forehead, so that he fell on his face to the ground.

   Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and he struck the Philistine and killed him; but there was no sword in David’s hand.   Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.   The men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted and pursued the Philistines as far as the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the slain Philistines lay along the way to Shaaraim, even to Gath and Ekron.   The sons of Israel returned from chasing the Philistines and plundered their camps.   Then David took the Philistine’s head and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his weapons in his tent.

David went down to the valley and faced Goloiath. Saul had tried to convince him to do so dressed in Saul armour. But the armour wasn't made for David. The armour didn't fit David, it wasn't his. David set the armour aside and went and faced Goliath as himself.

Goliath sees David and basically laughs at David, seeing Davids age, stature and realizing this was no warrior standing in front of him. The Israelites had sent a young man to face the warrior chanmpion of the Philistine army.

The giants may look at you and laugh, but they don't know you, they don't even know what you have gone through in the past. They are hoping that they can just scare you into submission, bring you to your knees in fear.

But just like David we can face those mountains and giants. David who looked at the Giant, stepped out in his faith in God and attacked! He surprised the giant and won. Goliath lost his head. Goliath was too confident and felt that there was no way he could lose. 

The lesson here is you have come through valleys in your past. You survived smaller issues, you have successfully defeated, lions and bears in your past. Look at this giant, remember that God is with you!

Romans 8: 28-31

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.   For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;   and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

    What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

Do you see that?  God will takes things and work them together for good to those who love God. For those who have a heart for God. 

The one thing I really want to point out is the closing part of that passage, “If God is for us, who is against us?”

“If God is for us, who is against us?” That is something worth holding onto. Remember your past victories with God. When those giants step into your life, stand in faith, stand on your vistories, don't be faced down, don't be taunted and know beyond any doubt, “If God is for us, who is against us?”

David knew he could win, he had to face the giant on his own, as himself laying aside all the things that could have hindered him. He went into battle with his faith in place, God in the forefront and the weapons he knew best. David was successful.

Matthew 17: 20-21

So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.  However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

Unbelief will not bring success. It is faith, faith in God that will bring success. Faith as small as a mustard seed will move that mountain, that giant that is in front of you. Faith in God because with God nothing is impossible.

God tells us that there are times when  we need to strengthen ourselves by getting closer to Him through prayer and fasting. Faith in God is what it takes, and realizing that that faith makes all things possible. Speak to that giant, speak to that moiuntain, speak to that bear, that lion in the Name of Jesus and you will be successful.

Friends when you have issues that are mountain size, giant sized or what ever the issue, bring them to God! The Lord will help you to walk through that valley, He will bring you through. Just as Jesus tells us He will teach you how to deal with all of your burdens.

Matthew 11:28-30

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.   Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.   For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

We can learn from Him how to handle our burdens.  Do face those giants alone, but don't run from them.

Face those giants down, for if God is for us who can be against us!