THE LAST DAY

12-31-08- THE LAST DAY

Ok, here we are. The last day of the year. What does 2009 hold for us? Another year gone and another year before us. What did I accomplish last year that was of eternal significance and what will I do this next year that will change eternity for me and for others? I love this time of the year. It causes me to think what I’ve been doing with my life and what will I be doing. Blessings to all you out there that take the time to read these blogs and I hope your lives are changed in a positive matter and that you come to know Christ in your lives as I have. Blessings and enjoy the last day of this year.

DRESSED OR UNDRESSED?

Rev 19:7-8
7 Let us be glad and rejoice and honor him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself. 8 She is permitted to wear the finest white linen." (Fine linen represents the good deeds done by the people of God.) NLT
** We the bride will be united with Christ very soon. Note verse 8. Whatever we wear will reflect what we’ve been doing. If we are lazy and are not doing the works of God here on earth, then we will not be wearing fine white linen. If we are doing everything we know to do and doing the works of God, then we will be wearing fine linen. Good deeds. This verse is not taking about salvation but the robes that all saved people will be wearing after we have been brought into our eternal resting place. Our works do not get us into heaven, our works create our wardrobe we wear when we get to heaven. It’s obvious that there will be some that will be dressed and some that will not be very dressed. I don’t know if there will be opportunity to be dressed thru works once we get there and then find out we have not a robe to wear because of our lack of works here but I do know that I do not want to test it but rather work the works of God while I have a chance now. These works, I believe include tithe and offerings and helping the poor, serving others and honor to those who oversee our lives here on earth. So, dressed or undressed, white linen or blue jeans for the wedding? It’s your choice.

ONE HOUR

Rev 18:16-17
Woe, woe, the great city, she who was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls; 17 for in one hour such great wealth has been laid waste!' NASU** Just one hour! 2 things I get out of this verse. One, this definitely has to be an a atomic bomb that is dropped on Babylon to have destroyed everything in just one hour. And who is Babylon? Iraq. This prophecy is yet to come and I believe will probably happened once we move our forces out and the country is taken over by evil again. I also don’t believe that the church will be on the earth at this point because I believe we will be raptured …. pre-wrath of God. (that’s what the seven bowls represent.) Two, it reminds me who to put my trust in . if a complete city can be destroyed in just one hour then so can anything else that we put our trust in that is earthly. It makes me pay closer attention to what God has called me to and to focus on eternal things.

WHEN?

Rev 13:16-18
16 He required everyone — great and small, rich and poor, slave and free — to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. 17 And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, which was either the name of the beast or the number representing his name. 18 Wisdom is needed to understand this. Let the one who has understanding solve the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is 666. NLT** I don’t know when this is going to happen. Many believe that it’s going to happen in our life time but I’m not sure it will. I’ve heard many stories about this mark and I’ve believed that any of them could be real. I don’t know if we will be here or not when this mark is made available. In my Christ mindedness, I can’t imagine that we will be here on this earth when it happens because we (true followers of Christ) will be taken in the rapture of the church. I try not to speculate what is going to happen but one thing I do, I prepare myself to be a great and mighty warrior for the Lord to use for His glory no matter what happens down here. I must fill my self with the word of God and continually KNOW Him. I’ve had people ask me when I thought that Jesus was coming back to take His church home. Today! I try to live each day as if Jesus was coming back today. The mark, the anti-Christ and all the things that are packed in Revelation, is going to take place weather or not we believe it. The important thing is that we keep pure and undefiled and fear God.

FAITHFUL AND TRUE

Ps 117
1 Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. 2 For great is his love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.
Praise the LORD. NIV
** His faithfulness endures forever! Faithful and true is what He is called when He returns to the earth. Jesus can always be depended on to follow thru with His word so when we read the bible and all it’s promises and actions we can know that because He is faithful and true, that His word can be faithful and true because He is the word.
John 1:1
1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. NIV
** His Word can be depended upon as fact because anything that stands up against the Word of God is nothing but a lie wanting it’s way. Of course I have to mention one of my most favorite scriptures in His Word…. Heb 10:23
23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. NIV
Faithful and True, Faithful and True! I thank God for His faithfulness to me and His faithfulness to His Word to watch over it until it is fulfilled:
Jer 1:12
12 The LORD said to me, "You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled."
NIV
And my friend….. THAT IS THE TRUTH!

FRIEND OF GOD

John 15:15
15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. NIV** God loves me so much that He wanted to be friends with me! How awesome it is for the God who created the universe and all the amazing wonderful things that I see around me, chose to love me and prove to me His love by sending Jesus. This season should be a special season for all people who are followers of Jesus Christ. I’ve heard people comment that they just can’t wait for this season to pass because of all the commercialism of the holiday and yet I think it would be sad if for my birthday, because of all the misuse of my birthday, that everyone wanted my birthday to pass quickly. I’ve got an idea! Why don’t we who truly love Jesus and follow Him, spend this time of the season doing what we’re suppose to do…… Admire Jesus! If you don’t like the way others have commercialized this season, then don’t follow them….. follow Jesus! Ok, so it snowed again!!!! I’m not going to even start to say what’s the weather doing tomorrow….. but I do know one thing….. I’m putting my focus on Jesus……. “It’s HIS birthday!”

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS

It's amazing that a church such as Celebration would go thru such lengths to impress the Father. Yesterday was a test of great love and strength and character. CFC, you have greater character than any church I’ve ever seen. Even when you knew there was no one there to watch you share your gifts and talents the production went on. Even when during the second performance there were only a handful of people to watch, you performed like it was a stadium filled with people. Character happens when no one else is watching and I saw character in you yesterday as I've never seen it before. Each and every one of you performed for the King of Kings and He was pleased! Your sacrifices thru the snow, ice and wind will not go unrewarded. God is faithful and will bless you beyond what you could ever ask or imagine.... but that's not what its about with you is it? Just knowing that you did what you were suppose to do and doing it to the best of your ability. THANK YOU..... You guys alone make being a pastor a joy and worth all the time spent raising up disciples of Christ.

Pastor Dave

ALL OF ME

John 13:5-9
5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" 7 Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."
8 "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."
Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."
9 "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!" NIV
** I like Peter’s heart here. If Jesus is going to wash me, then don’t just was my feet wash all of me! I want it all. I don’t want to be a Christian who is just a part time follower or who goes to church part time. I don’t want just parts of Jesus, I WANT ALL OF ME TO SERVE AND LOVE ALL OF HIM!!!! Lord, are you going to bless my feet? Then bless ALL of me. Are you going to bless my hands? Then bless ALL of me. Wash me ALL clean because I don’t want to leave any of me out of your cleansing touch. ALL OF ME!

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

John 6:5-7
5 Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?" 6 This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do. 7 Philip answered Him, " Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little." NASU
** The thought of being tested is scary at times. I mean, if Jesus tested His very own disciples and we are called his disciples too, do you think that we will be un-tested? Here Philip was put to the test to see if he would start a miracle in process. “Phillip, what do we do?” Pastor Dave, what do we do? Sam, what do we do? Beth, what do we do? Every disciple of Jesus will be asked this questions many many times in their lives because Jesus wants to help us perform unbelievable miracles. It may be in finances, during times of sickness or even an opportunity to perform random acts of kindness but the question He will ask you is “what are we going to do?”

LOVE LIGHT OR DARK?

John 3:19-21
19 "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20 " For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 "But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God." NASU
** The reason people don’t like to go to church is not because it’s boring but because they don’t like the light. If man likes doing evil and the church preaches to not do evil then why would that man even want to go where he was going to be told to stop doing evil. On the other hand, if a church does not preach against sin and just fluffs up the gospel, that man would not mind attending such a church because he would not have to experience the conviction from the word of God and stay doing evil deeds. An example to this is pastors who believe they can be homosexual and not be walking in sin. I mean let’s get real. Since the bible teaches that homosexuality is a major sin (one of the sins that God gets extremely angry about) and the head person of the church is practicing this sin, then I can get away with any other sin since my leader has God’s permission to walk in this sin.?....? I don’t think so. Scriptures are very clear about the life of homosexuality. God forbids it and has destroyed complete cities because of it. There is no way, if you are a person that walks in the light, that you can give way to this sin. Are you in the light or in the dark?

COMING SOON

2 Peter 3:3
3 First, I want to remind you that in the last days there will be scoffers who will laugh at the truth and do every evil thing they desire. NLT
**How about that! Is this happening now or what? Nobody even knows what the truth is…. So they laugh at the truth because the truth makes us walk in righteousness and people don’t want to walk in righteousness. Jesus said “you will know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” That is why we have so many bound up people in prisons and trapped. They laugh at the truth and therefore they cannot be free. This is so true for today. This is happening right before our very eyes. I choose this day to trust the truth, to study the truth, to seek after the truth and to love the truth because Jesus said “I am the way the TRUTH and the life, no man comes to the father except by me.”

ALIENS

1 Peter 2:11
11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. NIV** Aliens and strangers…. This is why people do not understand who or what we are when we call ourselves Christians. I’ve even noticed that people who call themselves Christians don’t even know what a Christian is. Many people want to be like us but they don’t even know what it is to be a Christian. So they call themselves Christians but are nothing closely related. We are strangers, aliens, different. We don’t even want to be like this world or the desires it has. This reminds me of the sitcom along time ago called “Mork and Mindy.” The funny thing about it was that Mork (an alien) tried to be like this world but he always looked funny trying. Mindy would look on with laughter at all the quirky things Mork would do. We, like Mork, don’t belong here. Everything we do as children of the Most High God is strange to those around us. But one day, He will be back to pick us up!!!!! And we who love Him long for that return. Even so, come quickly Jesus!

GROW UP

Heb 5:12
12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! NIV
** I can’t tell you how many Christians I’ve seen in this condition. Now I’m not talking about everyone being pastors etc. but I’m talking about Christians that have been Christians for a long time (to me over 10 years is a long time) and they still don’t know how to walk in victory in Christ. These people still have a hard time picking up the word of God at least 4 times a week and feeding themselves. I’ve seen Christians struggling in all areas of their lives and some are laying in the hospital physically in trouble and when I stop by to see them they don’t even have a bible in the room. It’s amazing though how much time they have to watch the TV in their rooms and consume their time with petty spiritually un productive stuff. Now don’t get me wrong, I love to watch a good movie and sit in front of the tube and vegetate. But I will not give in to spiritual laziness. Oh and just so you’ll know, these people are the ones that are constantly unhappy and complaining about anything and almost everything that goes on in the church. They’ll criticize TBN or some other Christian station (even though I’m not a avid Christian station watcher) an put down other Christians on TV and yet they turn to MTV or other stations that curse the name of God and all He stands for….. ok, I’m done for now standing on my soap box. In closing I want to say when I see these people, I really do see the great potential they have in Christ and it does make me angry that they just choose to do nothing about the great gifts that God has blessed them with.

ACTIVE?

Philem 6
6 I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. NIV
** Everyday we need to be active. I like that word “active.” It shows production. It shows that we are not lazy nor are we controlled by fear of sharing our faith story but that we are in active or acting out that which Jesus Christ has done in our lives. Note what he says here… “so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing WE HAVE in Christ.” It tells me that those who do not understand what they have in Christ are those who are not active in sharing their faith. I find that to be true not only in my life but in others that I see. When we become so self centered we are tunnel vision and can’t see all the good things He has already done for us. Active or in-active, the choice is ours everyday.

KNOW THESE THINGS

Titus 3:8
This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men. NASU
** “These things I want you to speak confidently.” Know what you believe! I must admit that for many years from a child to an adult, I didn’t know very much about what I believed. I just accepted what everyone else around me (my pastor, parents, friends etc.) believed and I assumed that they were right. I can understand why so many of our youth, when they go off to college to these universities, and fall away from God, because they didn’t know what they believed in the first place. We as families and churches need to teach and train our children so well in the ways of the word of God, that when they go out into the world, they will be able to speak confidently and not be distracted by what others who don’t know the truth teach and say. How do I learn to speak confidently? Practice. Practice all the time speaking and finding evidence of what you say is true. Is Jesus really the only way to heaven? Every follower of Christ will say yes! But how do they know that? What makes them any more right than the men who commit suicide for their religion? Feelings are not good enough. Attending a church is not good enough. Having parents who believe it is not good enough. WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE AND WHAT PROOF DO YOU HAVE TO BACK IT UP? If you don’t have this confidence, then it won’t be long and someone will talk you out of it.

MAKE ME

Ps 119:35
35 Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, For I delight in it. NASU
** Ok, so this really messes me up in my though process. I always have thought that if someone delighted in something, they would not have to be made to do it. Here David says “Make me walk…. For I delight in it.” I would suppose that it’s the same with all of us. We like the out come of being healthy, but we don’t want to work out or eat right to see the healthiness? That would make more sense to me. It’s kind of like when Paul was saying, “the things I want to do I do not do and the things I don’t want to do, I end up doing.” Here David makes his commitment strong and clear. “Sometimes I just don’t want to walk in the paths of Your commandments, so make me walk in them because in the end run, I really do delight in them.”

REBELLIOUS?

Rom 13:1
1 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. NASU
** Sometimes I think I am such a rebellious person. I know that this verse is very clear and if you read the whole chapter it is very clear Paul is talking about the wild and undisciplined Christians that were doing things not only un-spiritual but also un-lawful:
Rom 13:13-14
13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
NASU
So what do we do with authorities that do not carry with them the fear of God? I mean those who do not obey the bible and commit sin against God?
Here are some examples that I am dealing with right now. The new administration coming into power in our government in January believes and follows these principles:
** Re-instating partial birth abortion. (this is where the pull the baby out of the womb even as grown as 7months pregnancy) legs first and then leave the head in the birthing canal. Then they use a sharp object and shove it into the back of it’s skull from the back of the neck. Then when the baby dies, they pull it a part piece by piece.
** Using tax payers (mine and yours) dollars to pay for abortions to other countries.
** The appointment of a lesbian minster to the white house for spiritual advisory.
These are just a few things I cannot submit to, nor do I believe God requires me to. Will I pray for this administration? Absolutely! I will probably pray more for this administration that any other in the past. I pray for wisdom and I pray for conviction of the Holy Spirit to change their sinful ways and turn from their wicked ways and humble themselves and ask God to forgive them for the babies that they are allowing to be aborted. I pray this and have prayed this for years during many administrations. God will not bless a country who allows this to go on and He will not bless people who have put these people in authority over our country. I pray that the TRUE church of Jesus will rise up and be the great example that they are suppose to be instead of following the worlds culture. I’m talking about the TRUE church who DOES NOT FOLLOW those who just say what they want to hear. Ok, Ok so now I’m preaching again…..

DISAPPOINTED?

Rom 9:33
AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED." NASU** So many people disappointed. What is it that disappoints us? Usually when we think things should happen one way and then it doesn’t happen our way or not happen at all. If we believe in Him, then we accept everything He has for us. If we truly believe He has the best plan for us and wants us to exceed in all we do then following His plan and will shouldn’t be so difficult huh? If I could just get rid of this human nature of sin and selfishness, then I could worship Him freely. It takes great discipline to become greater than my flesh and I have to work continually to keep my body under control. Especially during this time of the year when all I want to do if EAT! I don’t want to be disappointed so I will truly believe in Him. I will follow His commands and trust in Him.

WHY IS HE TALKING ABOUT ME?

Rom 7:14-25
14 The law is good, then. The trouble is not with the law but with me, because I am sold into slavery, with sin as my master. 15 I don't understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate. 16 I know perfectly well that what I am doing is wrong, and my bad conscience shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 But I can't help myself, because it is sin inside me that makes me do these evil things.
18 I know I am rotten through and through so far as my old sinful nature is concerned. No matter which way I turn, I can't make myself do right. I want to, but I can't. 19 When I want to do good, I don't. And when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway. 20 But if I am doing what I don't want to do, I am not really the one doing it; the sin within me is doing it.
21 It seems to be a fact of life that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God's law with all my heart. 23 But there is another law at work within me that is at war with my mind. This law wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.
NLT
** What more can I say? Paul is obviously talking about me! This is my life wrapped up in 12 verses…. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin? THANK GOD! THE ANSWER IS IN JESUS CHRIST MY LORD! I find that the more I stay close to Jesus the less miserable I am. However the farther I am away from Him, the MORE miserable I am. Duh! The answer is very simple but the act of obeying it is the hardest thing to do in my whole life. There is a war continually between my spirit and flesh and my mind goes crazy trying to mediate between the two! Thanks be to God who always causes me to triumph through Christ Jesus my Lord!