He is the God of the Living

“Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the Resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the Resurrection of damnation.”  ~ John 5:28-29

From The Pastor’s Study: Hallelujah! O Glorious Saviour! Once an individual studies in-depth the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, they are changed! The devil hates the idea of Resurrection! Scripture points it out so clearly! God is not the God of the dead, He is the God of the Living. The Spirit of man comes from God, and while the flesh dies because of the sin of Adam, the Spirit of God within mankind never dies! What a Revelation when we see Resurrection through the eyes of our God. Jesus exhorted there in John 5 that “all” will live; the question is where? Today we celebrate the very foundation of our belief system. We will we live again? The true saint of God who follows the footsteps of Jesus will not die! His Spirit belongs to God and He will live eternally!  The Sadducees of Jesus day, could not wrap their head around the Resurrection; Jesus stood before them, and gave them the Message of Resurrection. The Centurion, the very one who pierced Jesus side, proclaimed “Truly this was the Son of God.”  Well, not was, “is” the Son of the Living God! It is so important that Resurrection Day is sincerely celebrated for it is the “Life” of our Salvation. Perhaps some are like Mary, they know there will be a Resurrection, but it is somewhat not real. If she truly knew He was the Resurrection as she said; then why the doubt in her heart. When we are Baptized in water, Scripture says “we are Baptized into His death!”  [Rom. 6:3-6] Vs5 “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall also in the likeness of His Resurrection.” Water Baptism is of great importance to the believer for it is our identity with Resurrection! A famous Scripture which says: “I press for the mark for the prize of the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus.”  [Phil. 3:10-14] This Passage of Scripture deals with the Resurrection – Paul’s heart cry is that He “may know Jesus in the Power of His Resurrection – and in the fellowship of His Sufferings! O Church that this might be our desire, to Know Jesus, to sense the power of God that lives within our heart. It is a powerful Spirit of God, that can overcome death, hell, and the grave! Resurrection awaits the saints of God and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb! What an awesome Gathering of the host of heaven, the Patriarch’s of old, Jesus Christ Himself, and our loved ones who wait for us! O Thank you Jesus for Your Sacrifice, Your Broken Body, Your Poured out Blood that Ransomed us, and has given to us Eternal Life! Always Loving you, Pastor

Palms of Praise

“I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and Palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the Throne, and unto the Lamb.” ~ Rev 7:9-14

Each year as we come to the Season of our Lord’s Suffering and Crucifixion, we remember the eventful journey of Jesus into Jerusalem: the throng of people following Him, throwing their clothing on the ground before Jesus as He came on His way to Jerusalem. The waving of Palm leaves and the voices of Praise filled the air. So often we talk about the “shallow Praise” because too soon, the same “praises” laid down their Palm leaves and began condemning our Lord. But let us see the waving of True Palms of Praise! Here in Revelation we get a glimpse into Heaven and we see a huge enumerable host of heaven standing before the throne of God weaving Palms and Praising wholeheartedly the God of their Salvation. We can do not less!  What an awesome moment in heaven when we are gathered round the throne engulfed in the Highest Praise ever offered unto the God of our Salvation. Praise is of great importance to God, it is our way of thanking Him, honoring Him, and showing our Love to Him. His greatest desire is that our Praise be from the heart and not just from our lips. Jesus speaks about this in Matt. 15:8 “This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoureth Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me.” Thus we have the “shallow praises” as Jesus journeys toward Jerusalem.  The hearts of the those who worshipped Him was far from Him. Perhaps they remembered the wilderness where He had fed them …? But they had not heard the Message of Salvation that He had come to Save them. This brings me to another Message in the Book of Revelation; “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches.” Seven times in Revelation, Jesus speaks those Words. Jesus disciples were dull of hearing, they followed Him, partook of the miracles, saw the dead raised to life, yet their ears did not hear. O God may we as Your Church today, Hear Your voice and offer Praises from our heart. And may we be “alert” as You Prepare to come for us! Loving you, Pastor

Put Me In Remembrance

“Put Me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.” 
~ Isaiah 43:26

Some one said to me: “ Where is Lent in the Bible:”  From year to year I have contemplated that question. Of course it is “right” to honour the suffering of Christ and the Gift of Eternal Life that He has given to us. But today, as I was in devotions, there it was – Isaiah under the unction of the Spirit of God proclaimed that God asked us to “Put Him in remembrance.”  As I followed through the whole Chapter, I found many reasons where God desired to be remembered.  When He says in VS 23 “I, even I, Am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine Own sake, and will not remember thy sins.” Jesus becomes included in this Old Testament Passage of Scripture for He is the One who will blot our sins. Today as we “Put God and His Son in Remembrance, we will note the passion which God Loves us!  Love is such an overused word today, that we often forget the power of God’s Love. His Love that can see our heart and know our inner thoughts. He begins to remind Israel [and we are included] in this Chapter that He is the Creator. He has formed us, Redeemed us, and called us by name and we belong to Him. What happened when our Children did not do what we asked them to do? Hopefully they were corrected. God is still in the correction mode. He send Jesus “justify” us! That is take away our sins, that we might be able to stand before Him ‘Justified’ – just as if we’d never sinned. Not much is said about sin today, yet our whole world is corrupted, and it is effecting God’s people. It was effecting Israel and it is effecting us today. Christianity is vastly becoming numb to the evil in our world. It is hard to get away from it. Sin is consuming the air waves, our government, and seeking to destroy the Church of the Living God!  But God says: Put ME in remembrance, I have created you, Redeemed you and called you, thou art mine. When is the last time that the Holy Spirit nudged you and said “turn away” from something? This is the Lenten Season where we are called upon to “hear His Voice” – stop in our ever-dayness, and “remember” who we are! Who are we? 2 Cor. 5:21 “For God hath made Jesus to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” As God asked us to “Put Him in Remembrance” He reminds us in VS 21 “This people I have formed for Myself; they shall shew forth My Praise!”  Let us continue strong in our Discipline, Loving U Pastor