2-28-2023 Devotion: Trust

 2 Corinthians 5: 7: "For we walk by faith, not by sight." How could Paul be so sure that when we leave this body we will be present with the Lord? Paul says that we walk by faith. We take God at His Word. I would rather take His Word than anyone else’s word. Faith is taking God at His Word. We are living in these bodies, and we are absent from the Lord. One day that will change. True disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ will one day leave our physical earth bodies and take on a new eternal body to be present with the Lord forever. I don't know about you, but this is a comforting thought for me. One day, no more pain and suffering. We shall see Him face to face. We will see the nail scarred hands and His pierced side. We face challenging times and many temptations from our flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life and Satan and his demons trying to disrupt God's plan and our role in that plan. Let us remember we " walk by faith, not by sight." Remember this the next time what you are seeing is causing you to move in doubt and fear. With God's Word and the faith, He gives us, nothing can stop you from being part of God's Perfect Plan. Don't let your physical senses dominate you, trust His Word and walk in faith.

All reactions:

2Grant Johnson and Darwin Highlen

2-27-2023 Devotion: Weakness

 Today’s devotional:

2 Corinthians 12: 9: "He said to me, "'My grace is sufficient for you.'" Sometimes you and I keep asking the Lord for something to which He has already answered no. If He doesn’t give us what we ask for, we think He has not answered our prayer. More often than not His answer to my prayers is no. And eventually I discovered that His no was the best possible answer He could have given me.  Paul had a thorn in the flesh and asked God to take it away. He said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for thee.” He said He would not remove the thorn but that He would give Paul the grace to bear the thorn. That is the wonderful thing about it all. “My strength is made perfect in weakness.” In other words, it was obvious in Paul’s ministry that he was so physically weak that the Spirit of God was empowering him. “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” This was Paul’s response to the Lord’s answer. How do you respond to a "no" from the Lord? I encourage you to follow Paul's example and receive His grace to endure. Your faith will grow and you will be exactly where He wants you to be.

Revival Series Part 2: What is a Revival and Its Results

   We continue our Revival Series by looking at "What is Revival and Its Results." Prayerfully study this material and search your heart.

There are two phases to this so-called revival, this false "revival." On one hand, there is the orthodox movement where great multitudes are making decisions for Christ, and are being registered as saved, but the vast majority are not getting to Christ. On the other hand, there is what is called the revival of faith healing, which is purely and simply a manifestation of satanic power. Our people are blinded by the god of this world, Satan, and they cannot tell the difference. May I say again, what a dark background, but what a need for a refreshing from the presence of the Lord! Such a revival as we are having today is not stemming the tide of modernism that is sweeping our pulpits into Hell, as well as our men of the pews into the abyss.

We have looked briefly at the background which manifests the need of a true, heartfelt, Heaven-born, Holy Spirit revival. Let's now see, What is a revival? Well, briefly, a revival is an excitement; it's a religious excitement. It is a great and extraordinary excitement. It's an excitement produced among men. It's an excitement created and sustained by God the Holy Spirit. It's an excitement promoted by prayer that becomes an intercession with groanings which cannot be uttered. It is such a refreshing from the presence of God in which souls are quickened, or made alive, unto God. It is the Lord Jesus Christ walking in the midst of His people until hearts are broken down with weeping and brought to the place of repentance realizing that they are lost and going to Hell. It may be limited or widespread; it may be in the heart of one individual or hundreds at the same time.

     A revival in which hearts are quickened, or made alive, in Christ, when Christ becomes real to the human heart, is particularly needed today in a fallen world. Everywhere you turn there is gaiety, betting, gambling, drunkenness, impurity, infidelity, skepticism, books filled with the darkest and most dangerous doctrines. On every hand newspapers, magazines, etc., are crying down the verbal inspiration of God's Word, reducing the Bible to mere fiction. Evolution is widespread, modernism is on the rampage. Movie producers are taking the great old Bible stories and twisting the Word of God and misrepresenting the characters of the Bible to a people who are ignorant of God's Word. The vast majority of our popular novels are Christless and godless, and are filled with infidelity. Immortality is rampant everywhere. The church has lost her spirituality and has been conformed to the world. The church today as a whole is not calling men to repentance.

     In the midst of this spiritual darkness we hear the call of God to His people. I wish you would listen to this call, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" (II Chron. 7:14). Did you hear that call? You say, "It is all right for the other fellow." But this is a call to your heart, friend. God's call to His people is to humble themselves. "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall" (Prov. 16:18). In the midst of this darkness today the church is saying, "We are rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing," and yet above this we can hear the call of God if we will only listen, "Knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire" (Rev. 3:17, 18).

     One of the first manifestations of the convicting power of God's Holy Spirit is to humble man and hide pride from him (Job 33:17). May there come the humbling Spirit in our midst; then will follow prayer. "If my people, which are called by my name...shall...pray." As we listen, we can hear nobody praying. It's a going and a serving and an eating and a banqueting—as a group said one day, "We do not have time for a revival, we have so much church work to do." What a situation we find ourselves in! In Zech. 12:10 we find this great promise, "And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications." My that great promise be fulfilled in our midst today, when the Spirit of grace and of supplications shall fall upon hearts far and near. May the Spirit of the grace of God fall upon our hearts now until He will break us down at His feet in prayer.

     Then He says, "If my people...shall... seek my face," and in Jer. 29:13 He says, "Ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." People are so satisfied with their church work today and with the additions they are having until they do not want to seek the face of Christ. Then He says, "If my people...shall... turn from their wicked ways." Sin is so blatant in our midst today, but one of the great outward manifestations of a spiritual awakening is the turning of the hearts of men and women to God from sin, seeking His face. "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and unto our God, for he will abundantly pardon" (Isa. 55:7). But man does not want to turn from his way; he does not want to forsake his sins. May the God of all grace, and the Father of all mercies pour out His Spirit of grace upon our hearts until we will be willing to turn.

     Brother, a revival is not having folks walk down the aisles and take a stand for Christ; a revival is not having hundreds or even thousands of people making so-called "decisions for Christ." A revival is the hearts of men turning to God from their sins, from their wicked ways, from their self-will, and finding themselves in the dust of repentance at the feet of Christ crying for mercy! We don't hear any mourning over sin like that today, do we? No, we don't. "Then," God says, "will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and will heal their land." May the Lord God rend the heavens and come down (Isa. 64:1).

     Now let's notice, in conclusion, some of the results of a revival. In the time of a spiritual awakening, men's minds are clear; they have been quickened, separated from the world and from sinful practices and brought to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. I know, if things be stirred up by the Spirit of God, men are made alive unto Christ, and Satan will be stirred up also. The devil will come down having great wrath; he will put forth every effort in the world to keep the sleeping church from awaking and to keep unconverted souls from fleeing from the wrath to come. I know that the world and so-called worldly hurch members will sneer and mock and make fun, and this will frighten the timid individuals; then they will draw back and turn away from Christ, and will be more disloyal than they would have been had there been no awakening. In other words, a revival divides the Esaus and Jacobs, the Cains and Abels.

     Then there will be some who will come out on professions and do nothing but talk, talk, talk—not about Christ—but they will be critical of others, and will lead many astray. In such an awakening the devil will do his best to bring about envy and strife, and will cause individuals to take offense where no offense was intended. But, praise God, in the midst of such an awakening God will be glorified. He wll break down all opposition to the progress of His own work. I know the greatest opposition to a Heaven-sent revival will come from inside the church where the self-righteous elder brother will begin to cast stones, and criticize. But, my friend, the only thing we can do is to keep our eyes upon the Lord and move forward. One here and one there will come to know Christ, whom to know is life eternal.

     In laboring for a revival we have to make up our minds to one thing—that is, to walk with the Lord Jesus Christ and turn a deaf ear to the critics, to those who laugh at us, because many will trample our names under their feet as the filth of the street. They will falsely accuse us of everything under the sun; they will make every move possible to keep folks fom believing our testimony. But I am for a revival.

     Will you join with me in this hour to pray for a spiritual awakening, first in your own heart, and then in your own family, in your own community, in your own church, and look to the Lord God of Heaven to break down all opposition to His own work? It is only in a revival that God deepens the conviction of sin in the hearts of His own people. It is during a spiritual awakening that saints will be bowed down and humbled before God. May the revival begin in our own hearts with a confession of our sins, with a humbling of our hearts before God. I believe the greatest joy this side of Heaven other than being saved myself is that of seeing souls saved. If we could only realize at this moment that our loved ones and our friends are sinking down to a devil's Hell, and "Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming," our one cry would be, "Lord, revive Thy work in our midst, and we shall be a willing people in the day of Thy power."

     Now, brother, you are not telling me a thing in the world about the results of an awakening that I haven't faced. We have had it here in First Baptist Church, Algiers, when all hell has turned loose, but praise God, He is able, and out of it some souls will get saved. I believe I am hearing and witnessing the moving of the Holy Spirit again in our midst, because sinners are beginning to rebel against the Word of God and saints are beginning to prick up their ears and listen anew to God's call to repentance.

     May God give us a revival. Will you pray with me for such a revival, first, in your own heart? Friends, will you do it? Will you? How many of you will join hands with me in praying for a spiritual awakening, first, in your own heart; then pray for one in my heart. Pray that He will open my heart. Pray that He will give me His message. Pray that I will not compromise with the souls of men in this hour. Then pray for a revival in your church, in your community, and let the results be what they will. Will you? If you will, let me hear from you. Just sit down and write, saying, "Brother Shelton, I will join hands with you in this hour to pray for an awakening, for a spiritual revival in our midst." I will be waiting to hear from you.

– L. R. Shelton, Sr.

2-26-2023 Devotion: Meditation

 Psalm 119: 97: "Oh how I love your law. It is my meditation all the day." The psalmist meditated in God’s Word because he loved it, and then he loved it even more because he meditated in it. Spending time in God's Word and meditating (means to mutter to yourself) will improve your faith. "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." This type of faith gave Moses the backbone to stand up to Pharoah, Daniel to walk into the lion's den, the three Hebrew children the courage to not be afraid of the fiery furnace, and for Paul not to cease to preach the gospel despite the beatings, sicknesses, and abandonment by those he thought he could count on. Nothing stops a person of faith. Nothing is impossible to the one that has real faith. Faith comes from the Word of God. If you are facing a tough challenge or opposition or emotional hurt from someone you thought of as a friend, know that God has given you His Word to not just get you through, but to be victorious as well. With God's Word, you have all the revelation you need to know His will and the faith to walk in that will. 

2-25-2023 Devotion: Filled

 Acs 13: 52 reads: "And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit." Live by faith. Rejoice through faith. Don't allow discouragement to erupt in your life. Being filled with the Holy Spirit is not speaking in some gibberish the way some teach. One of the first study Bibles used by Charismatics was the "Dake's Study Bible."  In one of the notes, Rev. Dake wrote that after someone spoke in tongues the first time they could do so again because it was in their mental make-up, even in a backslidden condition. Anything that can be done backslidden should not be a test to establish some spiritual advancement. No! One can know that they are spirit-filled when he or she hates sin, confesses Jesus as Lord, and loves to pray and read the Word of God. While it might be easier to scream, "Re-tie my bow tie" or "get a honda" God has a far better test. That test is where is your heart? If you heart is following the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord, and you are seeking Him daily with a desperation that you must be close to Him, you are "Spirit-filled." Be filled today!

2-24-2023 Devotion: Wait

 Isaiah 40: 31 reads: "They who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength." Just as your physical body needs food, water, exercise and rest, so does your spiritual life need refreshments. You need to take several times a day to refresh your soul with heartfelt meaningful prayer to your Lord. Doing so is like taking deep breaths of fresh air for your lungs. As you grab your Bible with enthusiasm to read His very Words to you, you do so with anticipation that His Word will provide clear direction for you. Regardless of what you are dealing with, or whatever decision you need to make, you will find the answers between Genesis and Revelation. His Word is Perfect, Infallible, and Complete. In His Word are the answers. Believe me I know. Whenever I have to make a major decision, I consult the Book of Books, His Holy Word and stay with it until I find direction. He has never failed me and He will never fail you. Pray and study and your spiritual life will mature and you will be able to help others. This is how you "wait."

2-23-2023 Devotion: Believe

 Acts 16: 31 reads: "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved." True salvation requires Lordship. Until you see Him as Lord, you will never know what it means to be saved. You will never see blood redemption and His sacrifice for you. Most churches try to pass off decisionism (a decision for Jesus), or making a profession of faith, or joining the church as equivalent to salvation. The problem is that people think they are saved when they make a decision for Christ and then when problems arise, they believe their faith is useless because it doesn't help them get what they want. True salvation says, "All I want is the Lord Jesus Christ." True salvation says, " I love my Lord above all else." True salvation says, "All I need is the Lord Jesus Christ." It is not about the flashing lights, rock music for worship, or social community, it is all about Him! Do you know what I mean? I pray you do.

2-22-2023 Devotion: More Faith

 We will continue to look at Habakkuk 2:4:: "...the just shall live by faith." The Hebrew word translated "faith" is "muna." "Muna" means faithfulness, trustworthiness, and steadiness. The word has other meanings including being truthful and honest. The person walking by faith will be walking in the truth. Without truth you won't have faith. John 17: 17 states in part, "Thy word is truth." This is why I constantly draw people back to the Word. I had a person begin to lecture me about how "Jesus" has a sense of humor and that humor is something he could identify with. Really! What Bible verse says Jesus has a sense of humor? In listening to him for about 20 minutes I became convinced I was talking to an unsaved religionist. Remember Satan doesn't mind if you are religious as long as you leave the Lord Jesus Christ out. The man never mentioned Holy Spirit conviction, blood redemption, the crucifixion or resurrection. His faith was based on a religious experience involving the emotion of humor. Those of us who know the truth must state that there is no salvation without repentance and recognizing Him as the Lord Jesus Christ. True faith is based on truth. The Word is truth. We follow the Words of life from our Lord Jesus Christ and reject everything else. Stay true to His Word and walk in His faith.

2-21-2023 Devotion: Living by Faith

 Habakkuk 2: 4 reads: "...the just shall live by faith." There are two classifications in the entire verse, being the saints and the aints, the saved and the unsaved, or the damned and the redeemed. The saints, saved, and redeemed are going to walk this life in faith. What does that mean? It means that regardless of what your senses see, hear, or experience, God is still in charge. He is a Sovereign Lord and uses the events in the world to bring about His Perfect Plan for the spread of the gospel. Walking by faith is not about becoming materially rich, it is about becoming spiritually rich. When you can walk into the lion's den, a fiery furnace, jail or even to the cross trusting the Lord, that is faith. God has given you a Holy Book to increase your faith. The Bible does not contain the Word of God, it is the Word of God. If you are lacking faith today, get into the Word and watch your faith begin to increase. 

2-20-2023 Devotion: God’s Will

 1 Thessalonians  5: 17 reads: "Pray without ceasing." This has to do with an attitude of prayer. I don’t think this means that one is to stay on his knees all the time. But it means to pray regularly and to be constantly in the attitude of prayer. This is closely connected with verse 18: " In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." This tells us to “give thanks” in all circumstances, not just once a year, but all the time. This “is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” If you come to me and ask what is the will of God for you, I can tell you four specific things that are the will of God for you: Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in everything and your sanctification. That is the will of God for you. People are constantly trying to "get a word from the Lord." I smile and I say I have a word from the Lord for you. People respond with, "You do?" They will ask if I'm sure. When I tell them that I guarantee I have a word for them and then I give them Scripture. The disappointment in their faces indicates that they probably need the gospel. Listen closely, the Word of God is all you need to know His will. His Word will guide you through life. His Word is perfect. Do you believe that? I do!

Revival Series Part 1: The Present Condition of the Church

 The Need of a Revival

L. R. Shelton, Sr.

    The Lord has laid it on my heart to bring you a message on the subject, "The Need of a Revival." I am using that word "revival" to mean a spiritual awakening, or a refreshing from the presence of the Lord. I do not know why the Lord has laid this message on my heart, but He has—I can't get away from it, so I want us to look into "The Need of a Revival."

I want to show you,
1. The Condition of the Present-Day Church, as it furnishes a background for the
need of a spiritual awakening as we have never faced before.
2. What Is a Revival?
3. The Results of a Revival.

    In Hab. 3:2 we find these words, "0 LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: 0 LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy" What a plea from the heart of this old prophet! The prophet Habakkuk, moved with the spirit of fear, was conscious of something unusual in the air around him. He felt that he was on the eve of some great manifestation of God, and he was afraid. He tells us in that sixteenth verse of the third chapter, "When I heard, my belly trembled...in myself.." The prophet began to see his own corruptness and vileness and depravity, and he was afraid. He felt that God was drawing near, and he did not wish to fight against God. My friend, I wish more people were afraid to fight against God.

    A revival is the Lord God of Heaven becoming real to His people. He does this by first turning the searchlight of His presence upon the individual's heart until he begins to see his own rottenness and begins to tremble before the Sovereignty of God. Then the prophet cried out, "0 Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy." He did not want to fight God. How many of you are fighting God, in rebellion against Him! Let me tell you, friends, you had better not be found fighting God.

     Then in Psa. 85:6 we find these words, as the old prophet gave vent to the cry of his soul, "Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?" You don't like a drought when you begin to see things burn up in the fields, do you? Neither do I like to see a dearth, or drought, in the church when everything becomes stagnant and stale—and there is no moving of the Spirit of God upon the hearts of individuals.

     A revival is Jehovah God walking in the midst of His people showing them mercy. In II Chron. 7:14 Jehovah God speaks to His people, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." Here we have the call of God to His people to return to Him in repentance, forsaking their sins, that He may heal them, that is, save their souls and bless them in mercy. Do you not feel the need of a revival, my friend? All this week there has been such a burden upon my heart, a crying out unto the throne of God's grace, "Lord, give me this people as a trophy of Thy grace."

     Let's first look at the background for the need of a revival. When we examine the present-day church, we find that she has lost the reality of Christ. Now, my friend, I am not critical; I am diagnosing the case. Will you sit there and listen? Will you get everything quiet? Don't jump up and say, "Oh, he's criticizing." My fnend, I am not. When a doctor comes in, sits down by the bedside and diagnoses that case, he's not critical—he is not criticizing that individual. He wants to help. So you listen.

     The church has lost the reality of Christ today. In Rev. 3:20 we have the picture of Christ standing at the door of the church knocking for entrance, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." The church is represented here as being unaware of Christ's absence. They are going about their worship. They have all the outward form, they have all the shadows, but the substance, Christ, is absent, and the tragical situation is, the church is not conscious that He is absent. The reason I call your attention to this great fact is because folks are not talking about Christ when they come to worship. They – no, let me make it personal – You! – you are talking about the happenings of the week; you are talking about business. You are talking about your fishing trips; you are talking about a program. Or, you are talking about your pleasure trips, your parties, your social clubs. Worship has become just a habit and a form.

    The missing note in present-day testimony is the Person and work of Christ. Yes, we have substituted social life and form for the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. There are very few today in comparison who are enjoying the reality of the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember, a revival is the Lord Jesus living again in the midst of His people. Will you pray for me as I continue this message? Pray that God will open our eyes to see our need of a revival.

     We are living in perilous times because the church today has lost the authority of God's Word. No longer does the average church member mold his life by the Word of God. I have never witnessed such a rebellion against the Word of God as we have today within and without the church and the ministry. Young people are revolting against the authority of the Word in shaping their lives. The wicked self-will of the average person is manifested in utter rebellion against the authority of God's Word. In Christ's day (I want you to get this) the religious world made much of the Word, but they crucified Christ; in our present day they try to make much of Christ, but they reject the Word of God.

     The average church member today is governed, not by the Word of God, but by his own opinion. He has substituted a program for the Bible. Man today worships his own opinion. When you preach the Word of God to him in the power of the Holy Spirit, immediately he will say, "Oh, this is my opinion" – "Ah, I don't believe that." He will not have God's Word. Many of you who claim to believe God's Word, when it comes down to brass tacks, you will not have the Word of God to rule over you and shape your lives! Why? Because you are enmity against God: you are not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be (Rom. 8:7). How we do need men today who will go up and down this country under the power of God's Holy Spirit preaching the Word of God, like John the Baptist and others, until it will echo and re-echo in the hearts of men and they are broken at the feet of Christ crying for mercy!

     We have also lost our compassion for the lost, and as a result our tears are dried up. The old-time prayer meetings where men threw their lives in the breach for the souls of men are all but a thing of the past. All through the New Testament it is said that Christ was moved with compassion as He looked upon the multitudes. The Apostle Paul said, "I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh" (Rom. 9:3).

     Where do we find such compassion today? The average church is just a business institution; church membership has been substituted for salvation, and the average person thinks only of getting members into his church, and not of the salvation of the lost. This is a sign that we have lost the prayer chamber and know nothing of the power of prayer, but have substituted banquets, oyster fries, and suppers instead. May God pour out the spirit of prayer and supplication upon us today. May hearts be moved far and near under the power of God's Holy Spirit for the souls of men. That's the prayer of my own heart—may I come to know a compassion for the lost that I have never known. Oh, the need of a spiritual awakening, a refreshing from the presence of God in our midst! Our cry is, "Revive thy work in the midst of the years...in wrath remember mercy."

     We do not see lost souls going down to the vortex of Hell without God and without mercy. Seventy-five percent of our present-day ministry, according to statistics, believe that Hell is a myth. Therefore, to them sin is a virtue and God is such loving God until He would send no one to Hell, if there were a Hell. No such doctrine is taught in God's Word! May God help us in this hour! Wake up, friends. Men are going down to Hell.

     One night an old man, a hunter, was walking down a section of railroad track, where there had been a great flood. He came upon a bridge across the old creek that had been washed away in the flood. He looked at his watch—only a few minutes until that fast express train would be coming around the curve, rolling across that broken trestle! He began running up the railroad track with lantern in hand. Minutes went by. Faster and faster he ran. Then all at once he heard the crackling of the steel rails on the ties. Somewhere around that curve the express was coming at breakneck speed. On he ran, and as the light of the train flashed in his face he began to wave that lantern frantically. He saw the engineer was not slowing down, and just before the engine passed, he leaped off the rails and flung that lantern into the lap of that engineer, crying, "My God, stop that train!" The engineer knew then there was danger ahead and brought the engine to a stop just as he started over that broken trestle. Oh, my friends, that my voice could go across the ether waves as a warning and fall into your hearts warning you of the danger ahead! There is a Hell. There is a sin-avenging God. Wake up, sinners! Wake up, Christians! May the mercy of God rest upon us.

     Then we have lost Holy Spirit conviction of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; therefore, sinners are dry-eyed and unmoved. There is an utter absence of old-time, Bible, Holy Spirit conviction in our midst. There is the absence of the breaking up of the human heart, the plowing and subsoiling and making ready the heart of man for the planting of the seed of truth, which brings forth eternal life. We have substituted the wisdom of men, training, developing, and cultivating the old human nature. This has led to counting decisions for Christ as salvation, which has resulted in folks trying to quit their sins, and reform their lives. This is only religion without life, profession without possession, church membership without Christ. Such stuff cannot even be called religion. Lord, help us in this hour!

     Having lost Holy Spirit conviction, the missing note in present-day preaching is repentance. Modern-day preaching, as a whole, does not produce repentance, bringing a sinner down in the dust and opening his heart until he sees himself as he is. In the absence of repentance, we have only a decision for Christ, which is a mental assent, and not a heart acceptance. All of this is Satan's method of trying to make the world religious without Christ.

     Then we have lost the reality of blood redemption in Christ and substituted religious movies and all other forms of recreation for religious life, and Christ is not known experimentally among our people. He is not real; He is not a living reality to the vast majority of our church members. Our people do not know Him experimentally as their Lord and their Saviour. What a need for a revival, for God to move in our midst! Acts 3:19, says, "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord."

     This is a very dark background, but, my friend, the darker the cloud, the brighter the rainbow. It is in such hours as this that the grace of God stands out the brightest. Oh, that we could see and feel the need of a refreshing from the presence of the Lord and for Christ to walk anew in the midst of His people! Our one cry is, "Lord, rend the heavens and come down; Lord, revive Thy work in the midst of the years. Oh, Lord, send us a revival that Thy people may rejoice in thee!"

     I know, as I have sat here and poured out my heart to you folks in radio land, many will say, "He doesn't know what he is talking about." Someone said one day, "That preacher doesn't know what he is talking about. Christ is real to the people. Why, we are in the midst of the greatest worldwide revivals we have ever known; more people are being saved today than ever in the history of the world."

     My friend, will you listen while I analyze that statement—we are experiencing a great revival of religion on practically every continent and among every class of people, but it is not a revival from the presence of the Lord. What we are witnessing today is not a heart-felt revival. It is Satan trying to make the world religious without Christ. Christ is not becoming real to our people. I know, more people are making so-called decisions for Christ today and joining the church than in the history of Christendom, but it is a false revival! Let me repeat – it is a movement of satanic spirit trying to make the world religious without Christ.

  

2-19-2023 Devotion: Praying in the Spirit

 We shall continue to look at spiritual warfare for the believer. Remember, true spiritual warfare is not about territory, but for the truth. Ephesians 6: 17 reads: "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God...." Today, we look at the second weapon. Our second weapon of offense is prayer—“praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.” Praying in the Holy Spirit is not turning in a grocery list to God. Moreover, it is not speaking in some gibberish that no one understands. I remember being in a church in the 1970s that believed that you needed to speak in tongues to be saved. Around the altar I saw workers grabbing people's tongues and trying to shake them to have the person make noises they believed was the Holy Spirit. Let me assure you, the Holy Spirit does need your help.  Praying in the Spirit means that you and I recognize our enemy and that we lay hold of God for spiritual resources. We lay hold of God for that which is spiritual that we might be filled with all the fullness of God. Paul here distinguishes between prayer and supplication. Prayer is general; supplication is specific. All effective prayer must be in the Spirit. Prayer is a glorious privilege, so why do so many Christians neglect prayer? The answer is that they do not know the Word. Pray without ceasing. More on this subject to come. 

2-18-2023 Devotion: Offense

 We shall continue to look at spiritual warfare for the believer. Remember, true spiritual warfare is not about territory, but the truth. Ephesians 6: 17 reads: "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God...." Today, we look at offense. Most of the armor is designed to protect you from Satan, but you also have weapons against him. Now we have two weapons for offense. The first one is the Word of God, called the sword of the Spirit. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart”. Christ is the living Word of God. He used the Word of God to meet Satan in the hour of His temptation. Out of His mouth goeth a sharp two-edged sword in the battle of Armageddon (see Rev. 1:16. He gains the victory with that sword. What is it? It is the Word of God. We need that sharp sword going out of our mouths today. The Word of God is a powerful weapon of offense. You and I are to use it. This is why we can never compromise the Word, even if it looks like the only way to keep peace. I don't want peace if I have to compromise the truth about salvation, sanctification, blood redemption, Holy Spirit conviction or the Second Coming. We must not compromise even in the fierce pressure from the world. Cancel me, go ahead, but my Lord won't!

2-17-2023 Devotion: Helmet

 We shall continue to look at spiritual warfare for the believer. Remember, true spiritual warfare is not about territory, but the truth. Ephesians 6: 17 reads: "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God...." The helmet protects the head, and God does appeal to the mind of man. I recognize that He appeals to the heart, but God also appeals to the intellect. First, the mind, then the heart. That is why Christians must speak the truth. We can reach a lost person's mind, but only the Holy Spirit can reach the heart. Throughout the Scriptures God uses reason with man. “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool”. “And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee". Paul reasoned with Felix; he appealed to the mind of the man as well as to his heart. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” You must guard your mind from the influence of the world's thinking. Are you protecting your mind from the world?

2-16-2023 Devotion: A Big Shield

 We are continuing to look at spiritual warfare for the believer. Remember, true spiritual warfare is not about territories, but instead a fight for the truth. We will look at the next piece of armor our Lord has provided for us. Ephesians 6: 16 reads: "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." We want to focus on quenching the fiery darts. The fiery darts of the wicked one come fast and furiously, and they are going to continue to come while you are in your physical body. Satan will appeal to the lust of your eyes and the pride of life in an effort to destroy you.The only thing that will bat them down is this shield of faith. It is like a big door. The heavily armed soldiers in the Greek infantry, could move with those tremendous shields, put them out in front of them, and stand protected shoulder to shoulder, while the enemy shot everything they had at them. When the enemy was out of ammunition, they would move in, certain of victory. That is the way to stand against the fiery darts of the evil one. Know that in your own flesh you are no match for Satan, but when you have the spiritual armor given to you by the Lord, you will be able to stand!

2-15-2023 Devotion: Shield

 We are continuing to look at spiritual warfare for the believer. Remember, true spiritual warfare is not about territories, but instead a fight for the truth. We will look at the next piece of armor our Lord has provided for us. Ephesians 6: 16 reads: " Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." The shield covered all of the other armor. The shield referred to is a large shield the size of a door. It was the shield of the heavy infantry soldier. A soldier stood behind it and was fully protected. Christ is both the door to salvation and the door that protects the believer from the enemy without. “Faith” enables us to enter the door: “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture”. That is salvation. What about security? Faith places us securely in His hands: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand”. Faith enables us to lay hold of the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith also enables us to stand behind that shield which will quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. Faith gets us to Christ and faith will keep us secure. We stand behind our faith knowing that Christ will never let anything happen to us without His consent. That is security for the believer.

2-14-2023 Devotion: Shoes

 As we continue thinking about spiritual warfare, we want to make sure we have all the armor God has provided. We will stay with Ephesians 6: 15 which reads: "And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace...." Shoes are necessary for standing. They speak of the foundation. Without good shoes in a battle, you will be at an extreme disadvantage. We need a good, solid foundation, and preparation is foundational. I remember in teaching martial arts, we were taught to make sure we had a secure, balanced base. Are your feet anchored on the Rock known as the Lord Jesus Christ? Christ is your foundation in this world. No other foundation can any man lay but the one that is laid, Jesus Christ. We are to put on Christ. Oh, how we need Him today as we face a world that wants to destroy the Christian faith and ridicule it. There is also extreme spiritual wickedness in the darkness of this world! Stand strong. Stand with the Lord Jesus Christ.

2-13-2023 Devotion: Righteousness

 As we continue thinking about spiritual warfare, we want to make sure we have all the armor God has provided. We will stay with Ephesians 6: 14 which reads: "Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness...."  “Having on the breastplate of righteousness.” Christ is the righteousness of the believer. I do think, however, that it includes the practical righteousness of the believer. His righteousness is perfect and while ours isn't, we should be growing in sanctification (growing more Christlike everyday). Let’s be clear that the filthy rags of self-righteousness are useless as a breastplate, but I do think that underneath there should be a heart and a conscience that is right with God. Only the righteousness of Christ can enable the believer to stand before men and before God, but the heart that is to be protected should be a heart that is not condemning the believer. It is an awful condition to have sin in the life while we are trying to carry on the battle. We can never win it that way. We must hate sin and strive against it everyday. Keep striving against sin!

The Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ Part 4: The Certainty of His Coming

Today, we continue our series on the Second Coming of Christ. When was the last time you heard a message on this topic? When was the last time you heard a man of God call the church to repent? Time is drawing short, the Antichrist is coming, and the great apostasy is happening now. In this series, we will explore the signs of His coming, the manner of His coming and much more. Today, we focus on "The Certainty of His Coming." This will be a series that may read like a daily news broadcast because we are living in the last days. These messages will establish that point beyond any reasonable doubt. This lesson will study false teachings on the Second Coming as well as the words of Christ Himself testifying of His coming again. The texts are undeniable. He is coming again, and soon! Are you ready?

Introduction

Everywhere you turn today the Second Coming of our Lord back to earth again is denied, made fun of, or laughed at. It is no longer the "blessed hope" of the church, as the church today is not looking for the Lord. The church is married to the world so why should it be looking for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ? But bless the Lord, those who are married to Christ are looking for His coming, and we can say with the Apostle Paul that we "LOVE HIS APPEARING." Every born-again believer has no sympathy for or fellowship with those who seek to explain away the Second Coming of Christ, and we will begin with several false explanations about the Second Coming of Christ.

Part 1: False Explanations of the Second Coming

There are several common explanations for denying the Second Coming:

1. It has been taught that Christ came on the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came, and that is the only time Christ will ever come back to earth again. The Lord's statement about the coming of the Holy Spirit is a sufficient answer to this error: "If I go not away, the Comforter (Holy Spirit) will not come unto you, but if I depart, I will send Him to you." Christ definitely said, "If I go, the Spirit will come." The coming of the Holy Spirit does not mean the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The coming of the Holy Spirit is the GOING of the Lord, and the COMING of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost was not the return of the Lord.

2. Some teach that the Lord Jesus Christ came during the siege of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, when the city was destroyed by the Roman prince Titus. In Matthew 24, Christ foretold of the destruction of Jerusalem, but He never said anything about His personal return at that time. When Titus destroyed the city of Jerusalem in A.d. 70, Christ did not return in Person in the clouds of heaven with power and glory. The Scripture teaches us that as Christ went away in the clouds, so He will come back in the clouds and with His cohort of angels. My friend, that has not taken place yet. Christ said, "I WILL COME AGAIN." The Lord Jesus Christ is coming back in Person. You can't explain that away. The thing for you to do is to be ready for His coming. Turn to Christ now as your Lord and your Savior.

3. Some teach that our Lord Jesus Christ comes each time a Christian dies. They will mistakenly say: "I believe Jesus comes back every time a Christian dies, and that is all there is to a Second Coming of Christ." The Bible makes it so plain that when a Christian dies, the Lord does not come to the believer, but the child of God goes to the Lord. II Corinthians 5: 8 reads: "Absent from the body, and present with the Lord." When Stephen was being stoned in Acts 7, he said, "LORD JESUS, RECEIVE MY SPIRIT." He did not say, "Lord Jesus, come to me."

The Bible is so clear as to expose these false teachings for what they are. There is no other book on earth that is twisted and taken out of context as the Bible. The average person does not approach the Bible with an unbiased mind, but instead they read it to prove their opinion. Unbelievers read the Bible to prove their unbelief. Skeptics read the Bible to prove their skepticism. Every false cult uses the Bible to prove their error and uphold their followers in sin. Christ assured the Pharisees of that one thing: "YE SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES TO PROVE YOUR OWN OPINIONS."

Part 2: Old Testament Texts of the Second Coming

Yes, our Lord is coming back again. The whole Bible from Genesis to Revelation, speaks with no uncertain voice about our Lord's coming back again. He must come back! He will come back! He said, "I WILL COME AGAIN." In Genesis you will find the story of Joseph, the son of Jacob in his old age. One day Joseph visited his brothers, and they rejected by them. They cast him into a pitv and sold him into slavery. He was taken to Egypt, sent to prison on false charges, and was ultimately promoted to prime minister of Egypt. He took a wife from among the Gentiles, and at a given hour he went forth with her in his chariot to bring his father into the "promised land" of Egypt. This is a type of our Lord's return for His own. Here in the story of Joseph is typified our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and from the ancient land of Egypt comes the cry, "Behold, He cometh; go ye out to meet Him!" And our cry is, "Come quickly, Lord Jesus, come." Everywhere in the Bible you will see the story of the second coming of our Lord.

One day David climbed the slopes of Mt. Olivet bareheaded, barefooted, his back bending low, his face washed with tears, a man of sorrows, bowed down with grief--a rejected king. One day later he returned with ab great host, with the shout of victory, crossed the Jordan River, entered the city of Jerusalem, and sat a king on Zion's heights. David here is a type of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was a "Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." Our Lord one day, climbed Mt. Olivet, which overlooked the city of Jerusalem, and sat weeping over the city with love crying, "O, Jerusalem, Jerusalem...how oft would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not." (Luke 13: 34) Our Lord was a rejected King, but He knew that one day He would come again with a Victor's shout and the song of triumph! Read 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18. He will cross Jordan from the East, enter Jerusalem, and receive the throne from His Father, and reign as "King of kings, and Lord of lords." The Bible is clear: THE LORD IS COMING AGAIN!!! "The Lord God omnipotent reigneth!" is the cry of every believer.

As David meditated upon the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ back to earth again, he was inspired to sing the following: "Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together before the LORD; HE COMETH TO JUDGE THE EARTH: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity." (Psalm 98: 7-9) Yes, David proclaimed to the world, "THE LORD IS COMING AGAIN TO REIGN."

Across the centuries comes the voice of the prophet with the choicest words to speak and portray the Second Coming of our Lord. Isaiah, looking down through time, saw Jerusalem as the center, or the capital of the new world, and he said: "And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he shall teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem." (Isaiah 2: 3)

This will take place when our Lord returns. Again, the old prophet saw the nations of the world at peace, their armies disbanded, war implements scrapped, and he cried out: "And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." (Isaiah 2: 4) This will take place when our Lord comes back to earth again. I wish every listener could realize that great truth and throw yourself completely upon the mercy of the Lord. Yes, He is coming, my friend!

Then the old prophet Micah announced very positively that when the Lord comes the second time, war will cease and men shall learn its ways no more, and eacj man shall sit under his own vine and fig tree, none daring to molest or make afraid (Micah 4: 3, 4). "Come quickly, Lord Jesus." Satan has ruled long enough, "Come, Lord Jesus, come."

From across the centuries comes the voice of the old prophet Zechariah, who testifies that the Lord is coming, that He is coming with all His saints, and that His feet in that day shall stand upon the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14: 4), fulfilling that promise that "this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall come in like manner as ye have seen Him go to heaven." (Acts 1: 11) He went away from Mt. Olivet; He'll come back to Mt. Olivet. One day His feet shall stand again on the old Mount of Olives, from whence He went back to glory. My friend, are you ready for His coming?

When we open the book of Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament, we do not see our Lord Jesus as the suffering servant, as the crucified One in His first coming; but we see Him in His second coming as the Sun of Righteousness rising with healing in His wings (Malachi 4: 2). The greatest thing in this life is to know Him, and then to wait for Him to come again.

Part 3: The Certainty of His Coming According to the Lord Jesus Christ

The New Testament opens with the voice of angels announcing that the Messiah has been born, and the wise men went their way from the East looking for the Infant King., the Child Jesus, the King of the Jews. Christ grows to manhood, and as He walks over the Judean ills, along the shores of the Sea of Galilee, up and down the streets of Jerusalem, we hear Him proclaiming, "I will come again." He speaks of His second coming in open discourses, He tells His disciples, "I am going into a far country, but I am coming again in an hour when you think not. It may be at evening, morning, or midnight. We are to watch because we do not know the hour of His coming.

Then He compares His coming to that of the bridegroom who comes at midnight to meet the waiting bride, and He cries unto them to be ready "with your lamps all trimmed and burning, for ye know not what hour I may arrive. It may be in the blaze of morning, or at midnight darkness, but be ye ready, as one who watches for the return of His Lord. ARE YOU WATCHING FOR HIM, MY FRIEND? IF YOU ARE SAVED, YOU ARE.

Again, our Lord declares He will come as the King of Glory to sit upon the throne of His glory, as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. In the last discourse to His disciples upon Mt. Olivet, He tells them of multiplied wars, of famine, and pestilence, of shattering earthquakes, of false prophets, of deceitful worker, and distress of nations with men's hearts failing them for fear. "Watch; I'll come as lightening that shines from the east to the west, and with all my holy angels," He declares, "Two will be in the bed; one shall be taken and the other left. Two shall be in the field; one shall be taken and the other left."

At the Last Supper, our Lord knew that the disciples were troubled. They did not understand all that was taking place., but they knew they were facing an hour they had never faced before. Everything was uncertain. Then, the Lord Jesus Christ turned to them with a heart of love and compassion and said, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me." Further, He said, "In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, I WILL COME AGAIN, and receive you unto myself: that where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14: 1-3)

"I WILL COME AGAIN." "I will receive you...." What comforting words. The word "receive" means to be "taken by force." Our Lord was saying that He is coming back someday, and He will kidnap you away! He will take His believers out of the world by force. If you know people struggling with world events today, this is the message to bring comfort. HE IS COMING AGAIN! Satan will be powerless to stop our Lord from taking us away. I so long for that day. Do you? Do you long to leave this world to be with our Lord forever and throughout eternity? Shortly after He said these words, He was betrayed by one of His disciples in the Garden, Judas Iscariot. They brought Him before judges and political and religious leaders to accuse Him. He knew what He was facing and what He would do for His sheep. He said to them, "Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of heaven." (Matthew 26: 64) Wherever you met the Master, He was always referring to His second coming, "I am going away, but I am coming back."

IF THIS MESSAGE WAS SO FREQUENTLY GIVEN BY OUR LORD, WHY DO NOT PREACHERS TODAY GIVE THE SAME MESSAGE? IT IS BECAUSE THEY ARE HIRELINGS AND IMPOSTERS. THEY ARE WORKING FOR THE SIDE OF DARKNESS.

Yes, they crucified the Lord Jesus Christ. He was buried and, in the tomb, and on the third day, He arose again. He spent forty days with His disciples, and as He walked to the Mt. of Olives, and from their midst He was taken up to heaven and received out of sight in a cloud. The disciples stood there gazing into the clouds until He was lost to view, when two heavenly visitors addressed the disciples and said these words:

"Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this SAME JESUS, which is taken up from you into heaven, SHALL SO COME in like manner as ye have seen Him o into heaven." (Acts 1: 11).

Notice the words, "THIS SAME JESUS." The same Jesus that was: born a baby in Bethlehem, at the age of twelve astounded the doctors, who was baptized in the River Jordan, who fasted 40 days and nights in the wilderness and tempted by Satan, who for 3 1/2 years walked up and down the shores of Galilee, over the hills of Judea, Who performed miracles of raising the dead, healing one born blind, casting out mute and deaf demons, who healed lepers, forgave the harlot, who preached the gospel to the poor-yes, "THIS SAME JESUS," who was betrayed by Judas and led captive by His own people, Who bore the cross of Calvary IS COMING AGAIN! I don't know about you, but this stirs me up. Time is running short; we must do all we can to tell everyone of the true message of salvation and of the Certainty of His Coming Again!

"THIS SAME JESUS," who died on the cross as our substitute, who was buried as our Scapegoat and rose again as our Justifier; "THIS SAME JESUS," Who stood in the midst of His disciples the night after His resurrection and held forth His scarred hand, His badge of identification--"THIS SAME JESUS" who walked with His disciples out to Mount Olivet and then went back to heaven SHALL COME AGAIN AS HE WENT AWAY. Yes, He shall come "in like manner as He went away." He went away in a cloud; He'll come back in a cloud. Revelation 1: 7 reads: "Behold, He cometh with clouds!" He went away in bodily form; He'll come back in bodily form. His disciples saw Him when He left and if you are born-again, you will see Him with great joy when He comes back. Praise His Holy Name!

Conclusion

My friend, I am not looking for an event; I'm looking for the personal return of my Lord to earth again. I want to see Him. Do you? We have learned about the Old Testament Scriptures that speak of His return. We have heard the words of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself about His promised return. May every saint of God proclaim, "BRING FORTH THE ROYAL DIADEM, AND CROWN HIM LORD OF ALL." Do you want Him, my friend? To every lost soul hearing this message, I want to throw an obstacle in front of your rush to hell fire. I want you to hear the Gospel message. There is no salvation apart from Christ. Every Buddhist, Muslim, Mormon, Jehovah Witness is headed to hell. I want to help you. Come to Christ before He comes again.

THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS CERTAINLY COMING AGAIN! ARE YOU READY?

2-12-2023 Devotion: Truth

 As we continue thinking about spiritual warfare, we want to make sure we have all the armor. Ephesians 6: 14 reads: "Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness...." “Stand therefore.” This is the fourth time Paul gives this exhortation to the believer. Paul is acting like a drill sergeant. Earlier he said, “I beseech you,” but now he gives the command to stand. Not only are we to be in a standing position, but we are also to have on certain armor to protect ourselves. We are not to be outwitted by the wiles of the Devil; we are to be ready for his attacks. “Having your loins girt about with truth.” In the ancient garment of that day, the girdle or belt about the waist held in place every other part of the uniform of the soldier. It was essential. If the belt was lost, you lost everything. The garments would fly open and the pants would fall down. It is hard to fight trying to hold your pants up. We are told to be girded with truth in the face of the enemy. Truth is that which holds everything together. What is that truth? It is the Word of God.

2-11-2023 Devotion: Stand

 As we continue thinking about spiritual warfare, we want to make sure we have all the armor. Ephesians 6: 13 reads: "Wherefore 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." The Greek word translated "withstand" means to oppose, rebel, resist and oppose. The Greek word translated "stand" means to be present, stop, or establish. The first 3 pieces of armor (girdle, breastplate, and shoes/boots, were worn continually on the battlefield; the last 3 (shield, helmet, and sword, vv. 16  were kept ready for use when actual fighting began.  Since the fall of man, every day has been evil, a condition that will persist until the Lord returns and establishes His own righteous kingdom on earth. having done all, to stand. Standing firm against the enemy without wavering or falling is the goal. We must always have His righteousness, coupled with our obedience, and we will be able to resist the enemy and make a stand without fear of failing. Always be standing!

2-10-2023 Devotion: Sword

 As we engage in spiritual warfare, we want to make sure we have the correct armour and sword to wield. The sword is the Word of God. The Greek word translated "sword" refers to the Roman gladius, a short sword about 2 feet long, used for close hand to hand combat. This is the only clearly offensive weapon the believer carries. As the sword was the soldier’s only weapon, so God’s Word is the only needed weapon, infinitely more powerful than any of Satan’s. It was used both defensively to fend off Satan’s attacks, and offensively to help destroy the enemy’s strategies. It is the truth of Scripture. Notice this is a close range weapon. This tells you that when you are resisting the devil, he will be close to you in temptations appealing to the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, and lust of the flesh. People get in trouble when they "seek a word from the Lord" apart from Scripture, and place their trust in impressions and thoughts. The LORD God speaks through His Word, not random thoughts or impressions. Just like any good soldier, you must be thorough in your knowledge about your weapon. That is another reason you must read the Scriptures daily and study them to be approved. You need a weapon ready to oppose the enemy. That weapon is the written Word of God.

2-9-2023 Devotion: Resist

 We are living in challenging times with both cultural and financial issues facing the Christian believer. How are we to live a Biblical lifestyle in the face of a society that disapproves of our beliefs? This is true spiritual warfare. Spiritual warfare is not so much a battle for territory as it is a battle for truth. Satan is a defeated foe so our duty is not to engage him, rather we resist him. James 4: 7 reads: "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." The Greek word for "resist" means to "stand your ground, stand in opposition, rebel  or oppose." People that think they get up every day to fight the devil are Biblically in error. You don't play the team after the game is over. When it's over, it's over. Well, for Satan, it's over. Our duty is to oppose him and resist him, not fight him. When we approach every day with a resolute purpose to hate sin, fight sin, and oppose sin, that is the spiritual warfare we are to engage in. The war is over, Satan has lost, but let us resolve not to give him a victory in our lives. Ressit him!

2-8-2023 Devotion: Expectations

 We want to continue focusing on developing our devotional time with the Lord. This is to be a time of excitement and joy, not legalism and drudgery. We want to approach this most important part of the day with the proper expectations.  When we pray, we must remember that God is Sovereign and will answer our prayers according to His Perfect Will, not ours.  There are occasions that the answer received may not be the answer sought. God is Sovereign, yet that Sovereignty does not exclude the free moral choices of mankind. Man can choose to meet the conditions for answered prayer or he can choose to neglect those principles and receive the consequences. Regardless, God is the ultimate authority in the universe and it is His final decision on all matters, including prayer. Yet, we are not left to wander in spiritual blindness. God has provided direction to His children concerning the expectations of prayer. The Bible provides instruction specifically addressing the issue of the expectations in prayer. The First Letter of John states: “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.” God, through His Holy Word, has provided us all we need to have an effective prayer life. Let us go to Him everyday seeking His Perfect Will. He is Faithful!

2-7-2023 Devotion: Conditions

 We want to continue focusing on developing our devotional time with the Lord. This is to be a time of excitement and joy, not legalism and drudgery. We want to approach this most important part of the day with the proper expectations. One might think it obvious that there is an expectation that God will answer prayer. Yesterday, we looked at some thoughts on prayer by George Muller who operated many orphanages in England. Through only prayer, without asking for money, Muller raised in today's dollars an amount that exceeds $105,000,000.00. Muller expected that if he met the conditions for prayer, then God would send the answer. Those answers would enable him to provide for the many orphans in his care. He explained the conditions as: “First, he said, our requests must be according to God’s will. Second, we mustn’t ask on account of our own goodness or merit, but ‘in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ’—John 14:12-14. Muller was careful to remind his congregation, however, as he often did, of the verse in Psalm 66:18 ‘If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened….The third condition was that we must exercise faith in the power and willingness of God to answer our prayers….The fourth condition was that ‘we have to continue patiently waiting on God till the blessing we seek is granted.’” Do you believe like Muller that God will answer your prayers? God will answer, don't ever stop believing that.

2-6-2023 Devotions: Expectations

 One might think it obvious that there is an expectation that God will answer prayer. Otherwise, why bother to pray.We want to address the proper expectation one should maintain while praying. Roger Steer said the following concerning the expectations of George Muller (Muller ran an orphanage and told his needs only to God in prayer and he never asked people for money) in prayer: “He enjoyed spending time in his presence. He believed God’s promise. He approached his heavenly Father in the name of Jesus, his Saviour, friend and master. In obedient trust, he expected answers to his prayers—and, as the world knows, he got them.”Muller expected that if he met the conditions for prayer, then God would send the answer. Those answers would enable him to provide for the many orphans in his care. So I ask you, what are your expectations in prayer? Do you believe God answers prayers? Hint: He does but sometimes the answers are yes, no, or wait. We have to approach the throne of glory expecting to be heard, and then acknowledge that He knows best. I trust the Sovereign Lord God, Creator of the universe, and I trust in His Providence to control events that will bring about His perfect plan. That enables me to sleep at night.  

The Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ Part 3: The Reality of His Coming

Today, we continue our series on the Second Coming of Christ. When was the last time you heard a message on this topic? When was the last time you heard a man of God call the church to repent? Time is drawing short, the Antichrist is coming, and the great apostasy is happening now. In this series, we will explore the signs of His coming, the manner of His coming and much more. Today, we focus on "The Realty of His Coming." This will be a series that may read like a daily news broadcast because we are living in the last days. These messages will establish that point beyond any reasonable doubt. This lesson will survey a number of passages from the New Testament to prove the reality of His coming. You will hear from several apostles in different books writing about the soon coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The texts are undeniable. He is coming again, and soon!

Introduction

If the Bible teaches one fact (and it does), it is the REALITY of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth the second time apart from a sin-offering (Hebrews 9: 28). Christ said that His coming would be like a thief in the night, and it will be to all the unsaved religionists and those of the world who do not look for His coming (II Peter 3: 10). But I am looking for His coming and it won't be as a thief in the night to me, because I am looking for Him to come, praying for Him to come and watching for Him to come. Are you?

Part 1: The Role of the Pastor to Preach God's Word

Today, the average preacher is more of a business manager. His purpose is to increase membership, increase giving and increase the financial stability of the church. He tries to get along with everybody, marry the young, bury the dead, collect his salary, and let his congregation go to hell. The God-called pastor is to, "Preach the Word; be instant in season, out of season; REPROVE, REBUKE, EXHORT with all longsuffering and doctrine." (II Timothy 4: 2) To REPROVE is to lay blame on, to persuade, top convince, to convict, to disclose the hearts of both saints and sinners, to lay bare the guilty hearts.

Second, he is to REBUKE both saint and sinner alike, that is to reprimand, to give a sudden blow. It means to sharply censure so that the individual is checked and made to think and turn his steps toward the Lord. The God-called man will lay aside all his feelings; he will not court the love or favor of any man so that he may deliver God's message uncompromisingly. Elijah was an example of such a preacher when he walked into Ahab's court and delivered God's message. John the Baptist is another example, when he stood there and rebuked the Pharisees calling them a "generation of vipers," and when he stood before Herod and rebuked him sharply for living with his brother's wife.

Third, he God-called pastor is to EXHORT, that is, he is to urge by appeal or argument that the individual may throw himself on the side of truth and Christ, and he is able to do this with all longsuffering, patience, and doctrine, i.e., God's Word. In other words, he is to wield the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God with authority.

A God-called pastor, according to Titus 1: 13, will rebuke SHARPLY: "Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men, that turn from the truth." Then he is to speak with AUTHORITY, according to Titus 2: 15, "These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority." God's messenger stands with a message from heaven, from the courts of the King, and he is to deliver it regardless of how man may take it. According to I Timothy 5: 20, he is to rebuke OPENLY, "Them that sin rebuke before all, that others may also fear."

As applied to today's message on "The Reality of His Coming," how often do you hear preachers following these Scriptural commands? The Second Coming is a fact and people need to be warned. This ministry uncompromisingly will preach the Second Coming and follow the commands to REPROVE, REBUKE, and EXHORT. I will do so because I care more about your soul than I do your liking for me. True love tells the truth. Over 75% of the present-day ministry do not believe in the imminent coming and the personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ. How can I say this? Ask yourself when was the last time I heard a message about the Second Coming? When was the last time I heard a preacher rebuke or reprove? You don't and you won't from most preachers because they are not God-called. They are working for the kingdom of darkness and trying to convince people all is well when it isn't!

We must stand for truth and proclaim the truth!

Section 2: The Reality of the Second Coming in the New Testament

A. Thessalonians

In the first epistle to the Thessalonians the Holy Spirit makes it plain that the Lord is coming FOR the redeemed. We spoke in detail about this in the last message: Rapture and Revelation. In the Rapture, the born-again believers, both dead and living, shall arise to meet Him with their new bodies. In the second epistle to the Thessalonians the Holy Spirit makes it plain that, after Christ comes for His redeemed, He will come WITH them, and they shall be associated with Him at the time He overthrows the man of sin, binds the devil and casts him into the bottomless pit for 1000 years and takes over the kingdoms of this world, when there will be universal peace. Paul at the close of each chapter of 1 Thessalonians speaks of and describes the Lord's coming:

1. 1: 10: Paul calls upon the believers "to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come."

2. 2: 19: Paul closes the second chapter as follows: "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?"

3. 3: 12, 13: "And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: to the end he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints."

4. 4: 16-18: "For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

5. 5: 23: "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

This is also true in Paul's second epistle to the Thessalonians; in every chapter he is talking about the coming of the Lord and calls upon the believers to patiently wait for His coming.

My friend, when one comes to pass into eternity without God, and without hope, there is no comfort, there is no testimony you could give him that would comfort him. May you turn to the Lord now while you have the opportunity. He will not turn you away.

What a day of rejoicing it will be when the Lord comes and takes us away with Him! How exciting it will be to see how many have been brought into the Kingdom and saved by His grace, washed in His blood, as a result of any efforts this ministry has made. Yes, when I get to heaven, I am hoping to meet people from all over this nation and the world that came to Christ as a result of our testimonies. Christ is coming my friend. Which road are you traveling, the broad one leading to destruction or the narrow way that leads to our Lord?

B. Timothy

One day the Apostle Paul, while in prison, wrote to Timothy, the young preacher, and said, "Timothy, I am Paul the aged--I'm an old man now: I've come to the end of my earthly life; I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day (thank God, he didn't put a period there!) and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing" (II Timothy 4: 6-8). Paul was about to be executed and the thing that cheered his heart was the blessed hope that his Lord was coming back, the Lord Jesus Christ who had stopped him on the Damascus Road one day and said, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?... It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks" (Acts 9: 4, 5) Just like Paul, any true believer will not come to the end of his life and regret the day he was born-again. I have watched people die with the Lord and without the Lord. The former has peace that comes from being in a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, but the latter is full of despair and depression. The saying goes, "Our people die well."

Yes, Paul knew Christ was coming, and he said, "Timothy, when He comes, He is going to give me a crown of righteousness. He is going to crown all my work and my labors in Him with His own righteousness. Timothy, when He comes, He comes not with a rebuke for me, but instead a crown of righteousness! Friend, are you waiting for Him? Do you long to see Him? One day the battles will be over, and I ask you, "Where will you be standing?" Our Lord will return, and every individual who turns Him down will go down in defeat.

C. Titus

Then the Apostle Paul wrote to Titus, another preacher who was saved under Paul's preaching the following: "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that BLESSED HOPE, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee." (Titus 2: 11-15)

Paul referenced the "BLESSED HOPE". He said the coming of our Lord is the BLESSED HOPE-- and it is, and he commanded Titus to exhort and rebuke with all authority those that deny the Second Coming of Christ. The great doctrines of the Bible e.g., the Second Coming, blood redemption and the virgin birth of our Lord, rise and fall together. If a minister denies or explains away the Second Coming, you will find him denying the other great doctrines.

In view of what I have just said, let us look back at the Old Testament when the Jewish people were under the leadership of Moses encamped in the wilderness. After the Tabernacle was constructed, and the Shekinah glory overshadowed the Mercy Seat, the Day of Atonement came, and Aaron the high priest brought forth the sacrificial goat for the sin-offering. The offering was slain, the blood sprinkled on the Mercy Seat. The blood made atonement and reconciled the people ceremonially to God, covering their sins typically in His sight. This was called the Great Day of Covering. The high priest took the live goat, called the scapegoat, and laying his hands upon its head, confessed over it the sins of the people and handed it over to a chosen man, called the "fit man" or the "man of opportunity." This chosen man put a rope around the live goat's head and led it away into a part of the country, which was uninhabited, that is, it was led into the wilderness where it could never come back. The people waited for the "chosen man" to come back and when he did, there was a shout of rejoicing, because the people knew for another year, they were ceremonially secure from the judgment of God, and they could enjoy the fellowship of God.

This is the picture of our blessed Lord. Christ died on the cross of Calvary for a great sin-offering. When He cried from the cross, "It is finished," He was announcing His covenant promise with the Father had been kept, that He had fulfilled the type and symbol of that scene there in the wilderness at the Tabernacle. Our Lord Jesus Christ was both the Offering, or the Sacrifice, and the High Priest. As the sacrifice, He carried our sins away, as our Substitute on the cross, He died for our sins, as the scapegoat, He carried our sins far away into the tomb. As High Priest, He arose and carried His own blood within the Veil of the Tabernacle in heaven, and there on the Altar full atonement was made. The seat of judgment was turned into a throne of grace, for the blood in on the altar. He left for heaven, but He is coming again soon! Just as the "Fit Man" came back, so will our Lord!

Yes, the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven as the Chosen Man, but praise God, He is coming back soon one day! He is not coming back the second time as a sin-offering; He came the first time as our Substitute, but the second time He comes He will not be a sin-offering but will come for His own who claim Him. Friend, do you know Him? What does Christ mean to you, my friend? Can you look upon Him today and say, "Bless the Lord, He's, my Sacrifice; praise the Lord, He's my Sin-Offering; thank the Lord, He's my Scapegoat who took my sins far away, and praise the Lord He's my Substitute who died in my place."

D. James

Now as we turn to the epistle of James, we find that James testifies in these words, "The coming of the Lord draweth nigh." He said, "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the Husband-man waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door." (James 5: 7-9)

E. Peter

On the other hand, Peter declares we should love and rejoice in the coming of the Lord, "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: BUT REJOICE, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy." (1 Peter 4: 12-13)

Every born-again believer should be rejoicing that the Lord is coming back again. Why shouldn't he? Why shouldn't you want to see face to face the One who paid your sin debt? Then, to the pastor who is the shepherd of the flock of God's redemption, Peter says, "And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." (1 Peter 5: 4) Every true pastor looks for the Chief Shepherd, who will return for the flock, and the one who has been faithful over God's heritage shall receive a "crown of glory" or a glorious crown, that fadeth not away."

F. John

Now let us notice what teh Apostle John says about His coming: "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure." (1 John 3: 1-3)

John says here that the world does not know our Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and they don't. The unsaved world does not know the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God, as Deity, as the One on the throne, as Lord. Neither do they know that we are His sons. Every born again believer is rejected by the world; the world will not put its stamp of approval upon the work of the Holy Spirit--never has and never will--but praise the Lord, when He shall appear, we shall appear with Him, and the worldwill know that we are the sons of God, because we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. Think about this: THE VERY SIGHT OF HIM WILL TRANSFIGURE US INTO HIS LIKENESS AND GLORY! When the shout comes, he Holy Spirit will cause every born-again believer living to look up, and at the sight of Him we will be transfigured--made into His likeness--and rise to meet Him in the air!

Conclusion

The fact of the coming of Christ is not merely empty and vain words but is such a REALITY.  It is our blessed hope. We have surveyed a number of Apostles and their words contained in Scripture. They have spoken a consistent voice on the Reality of the Second Coming. What will you do with this truth? Are you ready to meet Him? Do you have loved ones who aren't ready to meet Him? I do and I pray daily for them to come to the knowledge of the truth of who the Lord Jesus Christ is.

My friend, I long to see you saved. The greatest thing in the world is to know Christ. Do you know Him? 2 John 1: 10 states: "If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed." He says if we do, then we partake of his sins, and God will hold us responsible. Born-again believers cannot have fellowship with those that deny, or make fun of, or belittle the second coming of Christ. If you sympathize with or fellowship an individual who is in rebellion against God, or one who denies the second coming of Christ, you are just as guilty as that individual himself. 

I call upon every born-again believer who loves the coming of our Lord to separate yourself from the world and walk with Christ, that your testimony may be true and ring out and be effective for your Lord, and to wait for His coming from heaven.

"Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus."