JESUS CHRIST, THE LIGHT FOUND IN DARKNESS

Close your eyes for a brief moment and imagine you are lost in a place of darkness. You try as hard as you can but you can not see your way out. Then imagine you are also hungry, lonely, desperate, ashamed, hopeless, and confused. This is how sin makes us feel. When we sin against God, those sins bring all these feelings rushing back to us and leaving us in a state of hopelessness. God is our one true hope and in order to obtain a life of precious promises given by Him, we must give our lives completely to Him. Living as He would have us to live, building godly characteristics that will give us a personality that reflects God instead of the world. The Bible tells us in 2 Peter 1:3-10; "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:". Sin has brought people to places in their lives that have brought them much heartache, pain and shame.
Jesus Christ can mend the broken hearted and heal ALL pain. He will bring comfort to the comfortless and a light into their darkness so they can find their way! Salvation comes through the truth and the truth is found in the word of God. The Bible tells us in Matthew 18:11,"For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost." 2 Corinthians 4:3 "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:" 2Peter 1:19-21 "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; where unto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:" 20"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation." 21"For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
Acts 26:18
"To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me."
2 Peter 2:4
"For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;"
Now lets imagine ourselves finding a distant glimpse of light in the darkness. As we draw nearer to it the brighter the light becomes and the more clear our surroundings become. We are able to find our way out of the darkness. We feel the awesome presence of God and He is lighting our path as we walk closer to Him. We feel unspeakable joy and hope they we never felt while in darkness. There is peace that passes over us giving us a huge sense of relief. We are no longer afraid but we feel comforted and loved because we know we are no longer alone!
This is what the power of God can do for all of us! As long as we put Him first and live our lives according to His unfailing word, He will give us direction and strength. He will never let us fall!

LIVING LIFE THROUGH PRAYER AND PURPOSE!

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty." Psalm 91:1

Psalm 91:3-5 "Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, Lord," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors."
1 Kings 1:5 "Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, "Get up and eat."
1 Kings 19:6-8 "He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, "Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you. So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God."

Jesus knew that Elijah would need strength in order to fulfill the plan and purpose He had for him. Without that God given strength, Elijah could have died in that desert. There was still work that needed to be done by Elijah. God sent an angel to Elijah in one of his weakest and most hopeless moments. Why did God come to him under that broom tree? God came to him because Elijah first came to God. Elijah prayed intensely for God to take him, he was in such a state of hopelessness that he felt the only way he could escape was if God would take him. Even in that state of mind, Elijah found hope in God and the way he reached God was through prayer. There is power in prayer! Elijah had a deep relationship with God. He talked with God and knew God was with him. Many have not prayed a prayer of desperation like Elijah prayed. God loved Elijah the same way He loves us and He desires for us to pray and talk to Him throughout our days as well. He took Elijah in a unique and awesome way, 2 Kings 2:1 "When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal." "the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective"(James 5:16). Through all the trials Elijah faced while standing against the wickedness of Israel, he prayed! He earnestly, whole heartily, intensely prayed with purpose! That is exactly how we should go to the Lord! He is anxiously waiting for us to come to Him. It is His up most desire! We should pray expecting God to deliver us, and answer our prayers. We need to know He is with us every step we take throughout our lives. He never leaves us or forsakes us. He longs to draw closer to us and us to Him. He desires for us to think on Him when we awake in the morning and when we lay down to rest at night. We can have absolute trust and confidence in Him, knowing that He works according to what is best for us in our lives. We can't for tell the future, but we know who holds the future! The Bible tells us "all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."(Romans 8:28)

Psalm 91:11-16 "For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands,so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will 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 will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

LET'S TAKE A WALK

"Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee." Psalm 143:8
The word of the Lord tells us to not fear storms and trials that come up in our lives. To trust in His infinite wisdom and power through whatever comes our way. "If we live in the Spirit let us walk in the Spirit." Galatians 5:25
We can securely and boldly go where ever the Lord leads us knowing God's faithfulness will never fail us. He is our own personal GPS system, directing us and keeping us headed in the right direction. I am so thankful for His unfailing love and guidance in my life.
"And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8
God is merciful and faithful. His Spirit lives within us, and together we can go where ever He leads us on this endless walk with Him!
"I have called you by your name; you are Mine." Isaiah 43:1

LET EVERYTHING BUILD ON FAITH!

What is faith? The Bible tells us in Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Our relationship with God builds on the foundation of our faith in Him. "One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all"(Ephesians 4:5-6). This verse again confirms baptism should be under no other name expect JESUS CHRIST. Every time an instance or circumstance arises, we depend on Him for the answers and Him for change. We ask Him and believe with confidence, knowing that He will never fail us and He delights in answering our prayers. Believing with absoluteness that God is in control of all and we are powerless without Him. There is nothing He can not do or change. He is the only hope for change with any of us! As soon as we are faced with a problem, we should be prayerful over that problem, asking God for help to sustain, lift, and even carry us through it! HE WILL! "We cannot please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6), and whatever is not of faith is sin" (Romans 14:23). With faith comes miraculous power, the Bible says if we have as much faith as a mustard seed than we can move mountains! That is powerful! Our problems can sometimes seem like mountains. Immovable, unshakable and to BIG to get over or around! Praise God, with a little faith and His power, those mountains will move and we will make it through any obstacle that comes our way. Because WE ARE IMMOVABLE, UNSHAKABLE, AND TOO POWERFUL THROUGH THE SPIRIT OF THE HOLY GHOST! There is no satan ridden hindrance that can come against us and prevail. We are children of the most High and even satan himself fears God and His children. He recognizes the power of God and trembles with fear because of it. After all, even satan knows where he came from. Satan was once a man made by God, but he turned against God and thought He could take the place of God. At that moment he was thrown into the pit of hell where he belongs. It was power that motivated satan then and power motivates him today. He can only gain power over the soul through the mind. If he can convince one to have a made up mind to sin he can posses their soul. Satan is out to kill, steal and destroy lives. The enemy does not want us to prosper or experience love, joy or peace in our lives. When we are at our weakest moment is when we feel the most threatened by satan, but if we keep our eyes, and minds and hearts on God, He will protect us! HE will give us the power to be conquerors and He will sustain us. We don't have to fear what the future holds because we know who holds our future! There is no sickness, physical or emotional hurt that can keep us bound. Through the God given power of our faith in Him, we can cast out or move these afflictions out of our lives! (Mark 16:16) "He who believed and was baptised shall be saved;"
(Acts 15:11) ) "for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.(Philippians 2:12) "Who are being kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."
(1 Peter 1:9) "Receiving at the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls."
God gives us "a measure of faith". (Romans 12:3)
If we don't use it, we will loose it!

LET'S GET READY!

1 Corinthians 15:52-54 "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory."

1Thessalonians 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."


Time To Be Ready
by Bernice Ward

Oh its time, yes its time
Jesus will return for His Church,
He has prepared a mansion for us in the sky,
Just be ready for He will return by and by.

He promised, He would come again
And take us home with Him,
How we long for Him and feel His embrace,
But most of all to look upon His lovely face.

We don't know when He is coming,
The time is getting nearer,
Do keep pressing on and trust in Jesus,
So we'll be ready when He appears.

He wants all His children ready
When the trumpet call will sound,
Just a little longer, "My children"
Hold on, we will soon be glory bound!

THE SAMARITAN WOMAN

The Samaritan woman was more than just a woman from Samaria. The Bible tells her story as a woman who was drawing water from her village well. Usually the young and strong did this chore. It was a heavy chore but because this was their only means for water, they carried their heavy vessels full of water to their home many times a day. When Jesus came to the well He was tired and thirsty from the heat. He asked the Samaritan woman who was there at the well drawing water to give Him a drink. The Samaritans had developed a reputation for having questionable beliefs and the Jewish people usually avoided contact with Samaritans all together. She knew the man (Jesus) was a jew and was suprised that He spoke to her, a woman from Samaria. She asked Him "Why do you ask me for a drink, a Samaritan woman? Jesus responded by saying, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that is saying to you 'Give me a drink' you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water"(John4:1-10). Jesus began talking with the woman and explained to her that when one drinks of ordinary water they will surely thirst again, but one who thirsts after the Father would never thirst again and He would give one eternal life. He then spoke to her about her past five husbands and of the man whom she was living with and yet not married to. The woman was amazed that He knew so much about her. She knew this man was different and she thought He must be the Messiah. Jesus told her the Messiah was coming and had arrived, and it was He. Now the woman felt her feelings about Jesus were confirmed and she went throughout the town to tell the people what had happened and to come see Jesus. Once the people came and heard Jesus they believed in Him and accepted Him as the one and only true Savior. The Samaritan woman acted much like an apostle. She left her vessel behind at the well and went to tell others about Jesus. Her testimony caused others to believe. "He told me everything I have ever done. So when the Samaritans came to Him, they asked Him to stay with them, and He stayed for two days." (John 4:39-42)
In order to experience eternal life we must draw from Him. Nothing on earth will satisfy us for long. These things are only temporary or for a season. God is the only one who can satisfy the soul indefinitely. We must act as the Samaritan woman, telling others our own personal testimonys of what the Lord has done in our lives. Spreading the "Good News", and persuading others to believe in Jesus. We have a responsability to tell as many as we can so others can draw everlasting living water and inherit eternal life! We all need Jesus in our lives and it is important that we all trust Him and obey Him. "Love the Lord with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and,'Love your neighbor as yourself,'" Luke 10:27. How can we truley claim to love our neighbor as ourselves if we can't share the gospel of Jesus with them. Just as the women filled their vessels full of fresh water from the well, we must fill every living vessel we meet with the word of God!