We The Redeemed

“For You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.” (Revelation 5:9)

The Throne Room of Heaven is where the following proclamation is made by all those believers who freely gave their hearts to Jesus Christ—prior to the start of the seven year end of days period known as The Tribulation.

It's the Song of the Redeemed.

And it says that they were redeemed by the blood of Christ out of every tribe, tongue, and people, and nation.

It's impossible to miss it, if you are reading and following the flow of the Book, that these redeemed are in the throne room of Heaven before the Lamb—Jesus Christ—begins to open the seven seals, as described in Revelation 6:1.

"So what?" you may ask.

Namely this; you do not want to go through the Tribulation period—particularly the last three and a half years, known as the Great Tribulation. 

Of this period of time Jesus said:

“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved.” (Matthew  24:21-22)

Imagine, throughout history, throughout all of the greatest times of war, famine, and death, a time that is worse than anything that has ever happened, or ever will happen. That is very scary to think about. Jesus Himself said that is what is coming in the Last Days.

One friend of mine casually shrugs it off by saying, "Oh well, I guess I'm going to be one of those people who go to Hell." 

"But you don't have to go to Hell" is what I always reply to my friend.

Do you ever think about it? About what Christ Himself said of the coming Day of Judgement—about how all those who rejected Him will be thrown alive into a lake of fire?

It's no joke my friends. Hell is real and the Day of Judgement is coming, and probably sooner than you may think.

About 2,000 years ago, Paul the Apostle said:

“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,  because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30-31)

"Repent." What does that mean? It literally means to change your mind and think differently afterwards.

"Change my mind about what?"

About the fact that you have sinned and broken God's laws. About the fact that you will never be good enough to work your way into Heaven on your own merit. About the fact that Jesus died on the Cross for you, but you have to choose to believe that truth and accept it. About the fact that you are bound for Hell if you continue to reject Jesus Christ. About the fact that Jesus has demonstrated His love for you but you have done nothing but push Him away.

Please hear the true words of Christ:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” (John 3:16-20) 

Here, Jesus clearly lays out both the love and mercy of God, and the judgment of God.

You need to make a decision about Jesus Christ today...

Tomorrow may be too late.

—God is Love and Love Never Fails.

Joy Juice

“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble." (Psalm 91:14-15)

"Oh Lord, please don't let this come back again!"

A couple of weeks ago, an excruciatingly painful neurological condition I have suffered from since 2012, reared its ugly head again. It's called Trigeminal Neuralgia—also sometimes known as "The Suicide Disease." 

I wouldn't wish this condition on my worst enemy.  It seems to come back about every six months. I have not welcomed its return. It feels like someone is stabbing an electrically charged ice pick into my brain. No bueno for sure!

A couple of mornings ago it was at its worst. Simply blinking my eyes caused it to spasm and stab in the left side of my forehead. I got out of bed and went to my spot on the couch in the living room, and I cried out to the Lord. He soon led me to Psalm 91:

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.” (Psalm 91:1-2)

I was both comforted and convicted by this amazing promise from my faithful God. 

Comforted, because God loves me, and He is faithful to be the perfect Father I have always desperately needed and wanted. And no matter what, I can always trust in Him.

Convicted, because I have not been intentional about dwelling in the secret place of the Most High—spending intimate time with Him every morning, thanking, praising, and worshiping Him for Who He is.

My average morning, I get up, make the coffee, and sit on the couch trying to wake up slowly, just enjoying the quiet, thinking about life. 

But we all know the old saying; "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." In my idle time, my mind tends to wander and the devil can easily tempt my thoughts with all kinds of sinful temptations and fantasies that I have no business entertaining or thinking about. 

But this is exactly what my early mornings have been filled with off and on over the last few weeks. And I confess that it's because I have not gone right to the Lord when I wake up, calling out to Him, desiring to spend time with Him; desiring to hear His voice, and enjoy His abiding presence.

Trust me, an idle mind can be, and is easily distracted and tempted by the Tempter of our souls.

And I fell prey to him.

Interestingly enough, when my sinful thoughts fell to their lowest and worst, my neurological condition resurfaced in a painful way. 

Coincidence?

I don't believe so.

The Bible says: 

"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man sows, that will he also reap." (See Galatians 6:7). 

It's a spiritual law. The principle of sowing and reaping. Some people call it "Karma." Call it what you will. But I'm here to tell you, one way or another, the consequences of our actions will eventually catch up with us.

I don't know how this all works. Whether God directly caused my painful condition to return, or He simply allowed it, is known only to Him.

But the result is, it drew me desperately to Him, and I cried out to Him, seeking Him, repenting of my sin, wanting to be closer to Him. And He met me where I was. He forgave me. And He opened the eyes of my heart and spoke to me through His Word, in the Psalms.

The ending verses of Psalm 91 touched me deeply:

“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.” (Psalm 91:14-16)

That morning, when, in my desperation I cried out to the Lord, He heard me and He answered me; giving me grace to set my love upon Him. He granted me repentance—the ability to change my mind and turn from my sin. And even in my pain, the joy of the Lord strengthened me. 

The Lord encouraged me to the point that I actually thanked Him for the painful condition because it drew me back to Him and to His continuously abiding presence. Back to the joy of the Lord.

As I shared all this with my wife when she woke up, she came up with the phrase, "Joy Juice."

“Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield.” (See Psalm 91:3-4)

I often forget that the primary way God reveals Himself to us is through His Word—the Bible. And right there in the last part of verse 4, it says, "His truth shall be your shield."

Jesus said,

"Sanctify them by Your truth. Your Word is truth." (John 17:17)

“I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)

The Bible is truth. It's God's word. And Jesus is the Truth and the Word.

So, my reason for sharing my story today, is to encourage you who are suffering to draw near to Jesus, by seeking to know Him more through the glorious pages of the Bible.

And it is my hope and prayer that He will heal your cancer, your dying spouse, your lost children, your broken marriage, or your Trigeminal Neuralgia.

But whatever God decides to do, I pray that you will let whatever causes your suffering, to draw you to His side, to set your love upon Him, to cry out to Him, to know Jesus more, and to thank Him and praise Him for what He has already given you; the hope of glory that is found only in our saving faith in Jesus Christ.

“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.” (Psalm 91:14-16)

Set your heart and mind on the imminent return of Jesus Christ. Be alert, watching for His coming.

Jesus promised us:

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.  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. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.  And where I go you know, and the way you know.” (John 14:1-4)

The joy of the Lord is our strength.

"Joy Juice."

Drink it in!

—God is Love and Love Never Fails.

All Things Made New

“The City had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day; there shall be no night there.” (Revelation 21:23-25)

As beautiful as a sunrise can be now, there is coming a time when those who have given their hearts and souls to Jesus Christ will live in eternal light so brilliant, there will be no need of the sun. For Christ shall be the light that illuminates the new heaven, the new earth, and the heavenly city, which God has prepared for those who love Him.

There will also be no night in the new heaven and the new earth. Never any darkness again. Ever.

Can you imagine!

Whenever I get stressed, irritated or depressed, it's because I take my focus off the Lord and look at the darkness and perversity of this current world and its corrupt culture and world system. When the apostle Peter locked his eyes on Jesus, he literally walked on water until he shifted his focus onto the raging storm and waves. 

"But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!" And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:27-33)

I love this! Peter, beginning to sink into the sea, cried out: "Lord, save me!" And it says, "immediately, Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him."

Many times when I have felt like I was sinking in despair, I too have cried out to the Lord, "Save me!" And He has. God is faithful. And though He never does things exactly how or when I expect Him to, He is always right on time. 

Today's message is short and sweet.

Whether you're a Christian who is sinking in despair, or a non-believer who knows of your great need for Jesus, and His great love for you, cry out to Him today; "Lord, save me!" And immediately He will stretch out His hand and save you. 

He is faithful, always.

—God is Love and Love Never Fails.

Moment by Moment...

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

The writer of the song, "Devil with a blue dress on" must have read this verse by the Apostle Peter at least once in his life. I'm sure many fallen men down through the years can attest to just how right-on he was.

The popular cartoon rendering of the Devil is a funny looking guy with horns, a red suit and a pitchfork. But Peter says he walks about like a lion seeking whom he may devour. He prowls about, unseen, crouching low in the grass, the element of surprise one of his greatest weapons in attacking unwary, unsuspecting prey. 

Elsewhere in the Bible it says Satan can disguise, or "transform himself as an angel of light." (See 2 Corinthians 11:14)

"Devil with a blue dress on."

How many unwary men have fallen prey to a beautiful woman and her alluring charms?

An "angel of light."

How many unsuspecting women have been taken captive by a handsome, smooth-talking man, who was only interested in using her for her body.

Devoured by the roaring lion in charming disguise.

I read somewhere this week that "each day is a choice."  What you put in your body. What you say, do and think. Who you associate with. Who you choose to give yourself to...

But the reality is, every moment is a choice.

How you respond to this temptation or that. How you choose to react when someone treats you unfairly. What you look at on the Internet. Where you stop for lunch. Who you have a drink with after work...

As I've quoted so many times before, Jesus said of the Devil:

"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy." (John 10:10)

Satan only comes to steal your heart away. He comes to kill your peace and joy. He comes to destroy your marriage and your family.

And he does this using every cunning scheme and trick that he has carefully crafted and devised over the last several thousand years. He knows every Achilles Heel you have. He knows your weaknesses and blind spots. He has intimate knowledge of exactly who or what your flesh craves most. He knows what time of the day you are most vulnerable—what time he will be most successful attacking you. 

He knows exactly when to dangle the right carrot in front of you.

But the admonition and hope for all followers of Christ is:

"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:6-7)

Humbly submit to God in each and every moment of trial and temptation, casting all of your cares upon Him, because He cares for you.

Jesus Christ—God in the flesh—felt every one of our weaknesses and infirmities. He knows how difficult it is for us living in these fleshly bodies. He knows us better than we know ourselves. The Devil tried to tempt Him in every way he tries to tempt us. 

So cast every weakness, temptation and care upon Jesus; for only He can carry these heavy burdens which we were not meant to carry. Jesus said:

"For without Me, you can do nothing."

None of our temptations are unique. 

"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Only through drawing near to Jesus—abiding in Him—can we bear the constant barrage of temptations Satan sends our way. Fiery, demonic arrows of temptation and persecution, launched by the devil to destroy God's people.

Jesus is The Way of escape.

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)

—God is Love and Love Never Fails.