Is there really a God?

This question has been asked by many people and races since man came into existence.  Is there a simple answer?  Short answer: Yes!  Long answer: Overwhelming!

It baffles my mind that some people believe there is NO God.  Really?  Are you blind?  Some say, “I don’t need God”.  If that were so then you wouldn’t even be here now, would you?  Oft times I speak with Atheists and I use these points.

Please show me where anything in life happens without someone doing something.  Consider this please.  The planet Earth is the ONLY planet to date that supports life from what all the scientist tell us.  It is also the ONLY planet that has an iron core that generates our protective layer and holds our atmosphere.  The Moon is 238,900 miles away from us and is one quarter the size of the Earth.  It affects our tides, lights the darkness and if we didn’t have the Moon we would tumble out of orbit and there would be no life.   

Now 92,960 million miles away from us is a big burning ball of gas we call the Sun.  It is one million times bigger than the Earth and it is the only star in our system.  If the Earth were a few miles closer or farther away there would be no life.  There are times when the thing one quarter the size of the Earth blocks the light from the thing that is one million times bigger than us.  I don’t know about you but someone did the math and they did it really well!  Coincidence?  No such thing!  And the answer is…  GOD!

How about this question?  “If there really were a God why is there war, killing and so much suffering?”  Answer:  Man’s free-will! 

I have argued with Our Father that this was one of His biggest mistakes.  Haha!  His intention was to create beings that serve and love Him because they WANT to not because they feel obligated to or want something in return.  Also He will not interfere with man’s will.  Man is the one who has caused all of this.   In my opinion Mankind has always acted self-centered, selfish, egotistical, self-serving, cruel, godless and completely lost!  I include myself within that statement as well. 

We, at times, forget what the most important thing is.  Eternal life!  This physical life is but a moment for us in reality.  We focus on it.  We let it consume us.  It overwhelms us, breaks us, hurts us and throws us to the side never stopping.  We are never satisfied with what we have.  We want more, more, MORE!  WHY?! The simple answer is: Satan!  He causes us to feel hollow and empty so we try to fill that void with something we can hold, believing it is what we need and it will satisfy the urge.  But the more we try to fill that need the more we fail or even go farther into debt because of it.  STOP!  FOCUS NOW!

Stop listening to him and those he sends.  I will give him credit because he is very good at playing with our hearts and desires.  Plus he has been around before time began so he knows us better than we know ourselves.  Are we fools?  Are we unaware of him?  No we are not!  He is always near.  Waiting for us to be at our weakest moment then he steps in and starts to whisper in our ear. 

WAKE UP AND STOP LISTENING TO HIM!  Satan is nothing more than a bully!  All bullies, when confronted, are cowards!  STAND UP TO HIM AND FIGHT!  He has no power over you unless YOU give it to him.  He is the prince of lies, the deity of deceit!  He is the one who has convinced some of mankind that God doesn’t exist.  He is the fool!  I have personally told him that the more he pushes an issue on me and tells me that something the Lord has said is not true the more I know that it really is.  He thinks he is so smart.  PEOPLE, WE ARE SMARTER THAN HE IS! 

How do we combat Satan?  By building our relationship with Our Loving Father, Big Brother Jesus and the Holy Spirit!  It is only through faith and trust in Them that we can win.  Not once has Father lied and not kept His word!  Pray, talk to Them.  Pour out your heart when it aches and when it is filled with joy!  Just say HI.  Tell Them how you are feeling.  Ask Them how their day is going.  Why not?!  Never cease talking to them.  It is not only from hearing the word of God that faith is strengthened.  It is also strengthened through prayer.  

Be strong now!!!!!!!!!!!!

Prayer

I speak to many people from all walks of life and faiths and they share with me their problems and concerns.  After they are finished I ask them, “Do you pray about this and tell our Heavenly Father?”  Most of them say, “No He’s too busy.”  Or, “I'm mad at Him and haven’t prayed for years. It wouldn’t make any difference anyway.”

Most of the time when your life seems to have many struggles or complications and you don’t have any kind of relationship with Father; this could be His way of getting your attention.  He doesn’t punish ever, but He does greatly encourage people to come to Him.  He is not human in any way.  So to Him it doesn’t matter how long you haven’t spoken to Him.  He doesn’t hold a grudge.  He'd just like to hear from you.

Then they say to me, “I wouldn’t even know how to start to talk to Him.”  I tell them to begin like this.  “Hi, my life sucks please help me.”  It's as easy as that.  There's no formal way that you need to approach Him.  I don’t care what any of the religions say about this.  You don’t need to “suck up” to Him or as I like to say; “butter His muffin.”  He's not an idiot or clueless to your situation.  He wants YOU to tell Him what you feel and what you need.  All you need is a little faith and trust in Him.

Prayer life should never be a drudgery.  It should NEVER be habit either.  Don’t pray to just pray!  Don’t repeat things over and over again, either. He’s not deaf!  And yes He can hear you.  You have to treat Him like a friend.  Would you discuss the same things over and over again repeating the same things every day with your best friend in life?  You would not!  They'd probably smack you in the back of the head and ask what’s wrong with you?!  If you are tired as you go to bed at night don’t drone on and on not making any sense.  Tell Him you love Him and you’ll talk to Him in the morning when you're coherent.  He'll appreciate that.

A prayer is but a conversation.  It's intimate, it's to the point and it should be filled with respect and love for Him.  You don’t have to praise Him before you ask Him for help.  If you don’t feel like praising Him don’t.  Again, He sees your heart so you are not fooling Him.

Some people are afraid to ask Him for anything.  WHY?!  Didn’t Jesus say; “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."   MATTHEW 21:22 (NIV)  Do you know that when Jesus was in the garden praying before the soldiers came to have Him crucified that His entire prayer was for Himself?!  He asked Father for all He would need, nothing else!  So is it so wrong to ask Father for things just for ourselves?  NO it’s not!  "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”   MATTHEW 7:7 (NIV)

Many say; “If He knows my heart then why do I need to tell Him?”  Again, how do you build a relationship with someone?  Wouldn’t it be by talking with them and getting to know them?  Have you ever asked Him how His day is going?  Wouldn’t that be a surprise if He told you?!  LOL!

Now what about Jesus?  Do you pray and talk to Him too?  Why not?!  He’s standing by Father’s side listening.  I can tell you there have been many times when I have prayed and prayed and asked Father time and again for an answer and nothing comes.  So the next thing I do is talk with my Big Brother Jesus.  I ask Him to explain to Father why I feel the way I do about this situation and wouldn’t you know a few days later I get my answer.  Try it!

They are as real as we are.  They feel the same emotions we feel.  There is nothing that you could ever hide from Them.  They WANT to hear from you.  Open your heart, build your relationship now.  And be amazed at how fast He answers your prayer.  I DARE YOU TO TRY IT!

Tough Time?

I’m standing now at the end of a grand disappointment.  A promise given but not fulfilled.  So many times an expectation is given and only then I find that it doesn’t come to fruition. It’s then I begin to question everything I know that lies within my heart and soul.  I do not understand or appreciate the process that He puts me through and I ask at times why…WHY?!

I grow angry and I lash out at Him in a fit of rage reminding Him of all I have done in His name and all the lives that have changed because of my faithful service to Him.  I remind Him of all the times I gave to Him and the sacrifices I have made and yet there is no solace, no peace and hope is almost gone. 

Doubt comes crashing in on me and sadness fills my being as I start to question EVERYTHING  and then I hear the voice of an evil angel say; “All you know is a lie!  If He really loved you would He really do this to you?”   But I’m tired, distraught and weak as the evil angel continues,  “He is never there for you when you are like this.  He cannot hear you, He has left you.  You should give up.”

I try to pull myself together struggling to be strong.  And the evil voice still speaks; “You are lost and alone, He will never help you.  You are a failure no one loves you”.   I fall into the abyss that is my life crying out, PLEASE ANSWER ME!  But again no reply.  The evil angel continues to speak and torment me until I grow angry at him and shout. YOU’RE A COWARD!  YOU PREY ON THE WEAK AND THE SICK!  He speaks; “Your faith is empty, you trust Him and yet He never does what you ask of Him, what kind of God is like that?  HE is a Faithful God?  Please!”    

My heart feels as if it will burst out of my chest with the agony and pain of my disappointment.  Hopelessness sets in and I think I have been walled off from Him and He cannot even see me.  I’m left sitting in darkness as my pain and anger feed on the disappointment as the evil angel feeds it to me.  I’m worn out and close to giving in to what he’s telling me.  I break down and cry out as loud as I can.  FATHER I LOVE YOU AND I WILL KEEP MY FAITH!  I AM NOT ALONE!  I AM STRONGER THAN YOU ARE SATAN!  MY FATHER IS WITH ME RIGHT NOW!  I SHINE THE BRIGHTEST IN MY DARKEST HOURS BECAUSE HE IS HOLDING ME!  HE ALWAYS KEEPS HIS WORD AND WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT HE WILL DELIVER TO ME ALL OF HIS PROMISES!  

I seek out this evil angel and I find him hiding in my heart.  I grab him by the throat and hold him in front of me as this little being cowers because the spirit in me is stronger than he.  I tell him; “You are but a pawn in my Father’s game.  He is the one who moves the pieces within the game of my life”.  I stare him square in the eye and ask him; “Why are you so silent?  Is it because you can see MY FAMILY standing behind me now?”  I cast him out of my heart, turn and I am now in the arms of my Father and Big Brother Jesus.

There are times in our lives where WE have to turn and fight!  We are never alone!  Don’t listen to Satan; do not give into his words.  CONFRONT HIM AND HE MUST FLEE!  Our Father always teaches us that we are not weak or helpless. We’re strong because we Love Him and He loves us!

There two things that are yours and you truly posses; One is your free-will and the other is your faith.

BE STRONG!  DO NOT GIVE UP!  STAND AND FIGHT FOR YOUR FAITH BECAUSE THE TIME IS SHORT AND IF YOU WANT TO GET INTO HEAVEN “THE VIOLENT SHALL TAKE IT BY FORCE!”

I dedicate this article to my two special friends who both fight terminal illnesses and have been told by their doctor’s that they have months to live.  These two are not done fighting!

Jennifer Sprengell and Susan Blackport - KEEP FIGHTING!

Puppets

I have not written for a while.  With the events of the past few months I feel it necessary to write something. 

We are living in THE end time right now where everyone is centered on themselves.  There is no more tolerance, empathy, compassion, and there is no understanding for each other.  No one can express themselves without retaliation from somebody.  Everyone is so closed- minded that when someone tries to express themselves they feel threatened. 

Some people are now losing control.  They go out of their way to hurt people in public places because of their religious views or because they are crying out for help or they just want to make a point.  We have countries that are threatening us with war.  It seems that the fabric of society is being torn apart from the inside out.  There is very little peace, stress keeps building and the planet is being swept with fear.

This is nothing new within the history of mankind.  This has been going on for millennia.  Perhaps you would think that all of this is born out of society’s ignorance, or inability to understand ourselves.  And to a point all of this might be true.

There is a side of our lives that very few are willing to accept, understand and work with.  It is not seen with the human eye, you cannot touch it with your hand but you certainly can feel it.  It is a side of our life that everyone knows exists.  Most try to ignore it.  They pretend it's not real.  Or they are so afraid of it that they dare not even speak of it.  Or they accept it when it's a convenience for them. It is known as our "spiritual" side of life.

This side of our life is not completely clear all the time. There are times where we feel we completely understand what is going on within ourselves. Then there are times when we are completely lost.  The one thing that needs to always be there for us is our faith in God.

Most people know that Satan exists, and there are spirits and demons that are active today. Very few people want to accept that these three common foes are influencing them at times. 

Do you know that your thoughts are not your own all the time? Any time a negative thought comes into your mind it originates from them. And because you have your own free will you get to  decide whether you listen to them or not. They simply plant a small thought in your mind and then you are the one who lets it grow. Every argument, every fight and every war started with one person and one thought.

Are you a puppet in Satan's hand? Do you automatically let every thought motivate you; or do you weigh where does this thought come from? Are you a victim of your own mind? Are you helpless? Are you a fool?

I can tell you that every negative thought that comes into your mind is born out of the hand of Satan. His entire purpose is to confuse, to manipulate, to control, to create separation, to create doubt and then, to destroy us!  I would ask this question, why would you listen to him?! Why would you let him control you like some mindless puppet?

I don't know about you but for me every thought that comes into my mind, I weigh. If it is a negative thought I tell that spirit that is behind me to go away. If it is a positive thought then I let it build, I let it motivate me because it comes from God. All positive things that build something good and help are from Him and His spirits.

We are at war with Satan he has had a lot more time than we have to understand who we are and how we react to life. And our Heavenly Father will only allow Satan and his forces to influence us to a point. So I have often told Satan and his evil servants that they are puppets in our Fathers hand.

You are stronger than you think. You are not weak or helpless and you are certainly not puppets! Put your faith in our Heavenly Father asked him for wisdom to know what it is that is talking to you and when you realize it is not a positive spirit you can invoke Christ's name and tell it to leave. This is your life!  You have your own free will to choose what you will do every day. Will you still be a puppet?

A very wise Individual has said to me on many occasions;

“A person who controls their emotions controls their life.”

Have you ever gotten to a point in your life where you felt you just
wanted to give up?  You have nothing more to give to anyone including
yourself?  You are done!?  Last week I felt this way.

Life at times feels like we are on a battle field fighting in a war
that we didn’t ask to be a part of.  Some days we have little
victories and other days we feel major loss.  We fight an opposing
force that never stops, never gives in and never backs down.  As we
advance through our life there are times where we feel we are wounded
so we stop and we crawl behind a rock in the hopes that we can mend
our wound and rest.  It feels good to stop and rest.

As life moves forward we find ourselves staying where we are, because
we are tired, worn out and just DON’T WANT TO FIGHT ANYMORE!  The
wound we have is not as bad as we think so we crawl forward a little
keeping our head down until we reach the next rock to hide behind in
the hopes that we won’t get shot and wounded again, because we still
haven’t completely dressed and started the healing process from our
last wounding.

The battle of life rages on and we have no moment of peace, no solace
to evaluate where we are on the field and soon it over takes us, we
are dragged across the ground getting bumped and bruised and then we
are tossed to the side and we feel lost.  We are now trapped behind
enemy lines, we feel all alone so we hide.  We won’t let anyone or
anything find us because we will just get hurt again.

Soon after this we feel abandon and betrayed!  We now lose control and
go into a rage filled with raw emotion.  We think “WHY IS THIS
HAPPENING TO ME!”  We feel and say things that we don’t really mean
but it feels good at the time to lash out hoping someone on our side
will hear us; someone will find us, SOMEONE WILL HELP US!  But the
help doesn’t come.

We realize that now we have to do this on our own, we build walls to
protect ourselves; we care only for our self, we have to survive!
Time passes and soon we feel disconnected from everything.  We go
through the motions of trying to find our self, find where we really
are in our life but nothing really matters.  It is comfortable for us
to stay where we are because it requires very little effort.  The
easiest thing to do in life is nothing!  So we stay where we are, but
deep in our heart we are lonely, afraid and really want help.

We find that because we didn’t mend our wound it is now infected, the
infection is spreading and we are getting sick.  Now we can barely
help our self.  We feel that life would be a better place without us,
but if we give up everyone will think we are a coward and we are not a
coward!

While we are alone voices come and tell us that we are lost, no one
cares, we are all alone, we are worthless and we deserve all of this.
We realize we are now surrounded by the enemy but we can’t see them,
we can only hear them.  We are frightened, hurt and feel that now all
hope is lost.

As we take inventory of our backpack we find there is very little left
to survive on.  We throw it to the side and something falls out of one
of the pockets, it’s a radio!  We thought we lost it!  We grab it and
start to talk quietly, hoping that someone will answer on the other
end.  We hear clicking and white noise and suddenly we hear; “We see
you!  We are sending in a team now to get you, you are safe, and we
are surrounding you now!  NOTHING CAN HURT YOU!”

You teammates swarm in and remove the opposing forces.  When they
reach you; you are surprised at how many have come to aid you, just
you!  How could so many give of themselves so freely to help you?  You
are nobody special!  Your commanding officer takes a knee and
stretches out His hand to aid you.  As you grasp it you see holes in
His hands.  He stands you up and carries you out of the enemy
territory.

When you are back in camp He says; “I’ve been watching you the whole
time.  And when I wasn’t watching you the General was watching you.
Never at any time were you really alone.  When the opposing force
would come too close to you we would send in help quietly to protect
you.  I’ve been waiting for you to realize that you could not do this
on your own and once you reached out for help We stepped in.  By the
way, this was only a test, and you passed it.”

Why is it that we always give Satan and his forces an ear?  WHY do was
listen to them?  We can’t see them but we certainly can hear them!
Why is it that Satan always comes when we are at our weakest and
lowest moment?  It is because HE IS A COWARD!  He attacks us at our
weakest moment because we forget we are stronger than he is!  You have
the right to stand up against them and say NO!  I WILL NOT LISTEN TO
YOU, LEAVE NOW!

They put thoughts in our head that don’t exist and we run with them.
They play with our heart and our emotions and create feelings that are
false.  They pit family member against family member, friend against
friend and all the time they stand back and laugh at us.  We are their
clowns!

Yes there are times when we just don’t want to fight them and we let
them run wild with us.  The problem is that while we do this we
capture our own loved ones and cause them come along in the wake of
destruction we cause for our self.  It is only after the damage is
done, the words are said the actions hurt others that we realize we
are wrong in what we thought and felt.

“A person who controls their emotions controls their life.”

Before we decide to let these thoughts take root, before we let our
emotions drive us in the wrong direction we need to reach out to our
Commanding Officer and Big Brother Jesus and ask Him for help.  We
need to plead with our General, Heavenly Father for wisdom, strength
and courage!  And then we need to talk to our loved ones and clear the
air so there is no more misunderstanding!  Do you know what the
shortest prayer is?  “HELP!”

Never forget this; Satan may win a battle now and then but we WILL WIN
THE WAR AND GO HOME!

STAND AND FIGHT!

Firstling The Bride of Christ

A friend asked me recently, “Why would I want to be a Firstling?”  I
said that is a very good question!  Some people think that because
they believe in Jesus Christ they have a “get into Heaven” free card,
or those who have been sealed by the hand of an Apostle have the same
“card” as well.  This is just not that case.  It is not enough to just
believe, Apostle James said; “You say you have faith, for you believe
that there is one God.  Good for you! Even the demons believe this,
and they tremble in terror.”  James 2:19 (NLT)

Anything in life that matters takes work.  Faith takes work.  Building
a relationship with our Father, Big Brother Jesus and the Holy Spirit
takes a life time.  It is a daily battle at times.  And the goal we
all seek is HOME.  Our Heavenly Home!  Right?!

Some may think that because of the way they live their life that is
cause for them to get into Heaven but Apostle Paul said; “For it is by
grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from
yourselves, it is the gift of God,  not by works, so that no one can
boast.”  Ephesians 2:8, 9 (KJV)

But then The Apostle James said; “What good is it, dear brothers and
sisters, if you say you have faith but don't show it by your actions?
Can that kind of faith save anyone?  So you see, faith by itself isn't
enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.  James
2:14 & 17 (NLT)

Hmmm, that would seem a contradiction wouldn’t it.  But in fact the
point is that you need faith AND you need to work as well.  This is
not working for ourselves it is “doing good works” for others.

Some may think that once they get into Heaven they will sit back on
their cloud or in their mansion and they will eat and drink and now
have the time to relax and reap the rewards of their faith.  But
Apostle Paul said; “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we
eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in
the Holy Spirit.”  Romans 14:17 (NLT)

What is it that we are doing while we are here on this earth in this
end time?  What is it that drives us to our goal?  Do we really
understand what it means to be a Firstling, Overcomer, King or Priest
and the Bride of Christ?

Since I have been a little boy I have heard all of these buzz terms
and through my life certain definitions have come across my heart.

Firstling - the first of its kind to be produced or to appear.  (Dictionary.com)

Overcomer - to prevail over (opposition, a debility, temptations,
etc.); surmount: to overcome one's weaknesses.  (Dictionary.com)

King - a male sovereign or monarch; a man who holds by life tenure,
and usually by hereditary right, the chief authority over a country
and people.  (Dictionary.com)

Priest - a person whose office it is to perform religious rites, and
especially to make sacrificial offerings.  (Dictionary.com)

Bride of Christ – Apostle Paul said; “For I am jealous for you with
the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one
husband—Christ.” 2 Corinthians 11:2 (NLT)

But what do all of these meanings comprise?

We are to become the ultimate SERVANT!

Servant - a person employed by another, especially to perform domestic
duties. 2. a person in the service of another.  (Dictionary.com)

To be a servant means to do what is asked of you without question.  It
is to give of yourself freely for others, think nothing of yourself
and to give of your strength for their sake.  It is to perform a task
with not expectation of payment or reward whatsoever.  So then why
would anyone want to be a Firstling or a Bride of Christ?  This may
perhaps sound like a lot of work to some people?  And in fact it is!

Jesus was the greatest example of a servant!  Now do we want to really
be like Jesus?!  We will not have to give our life in death to serve
Him or others.  But what we will need to do is sacrifice our own
freewill.  Put aside what WE think.  When we give that up we show our
Father that we trust him completely.  Can we really TRUST HIM
COMPLETELY?!  Do you have that kind of faith that no matter what
happens to you, you will “stay the course”  and allow Him to lead you
to where HE needs you to be so you will become WHAT HE wants you to
BE?!

When you chose to serve the Lord you must understand all of this
completely.  “My son, if you come to serve the Lord, prepare your soul
for temptation. 2 Set your heart aright, and constantly endure, and
make not haste in time of trouble. 3 Cleave unto him, and depart not
away, that you may be increased at thy last end. 4 Whatsoever is
brought upon you take cheerfully, and be patient when you are changed
to a low estate. 5 For gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable men
in the furnace of adversity. 6 Believe in him, and he will help you;
order your way aright, and trust in him. 7 You that fear the Lord,
wait for his mercy; and go not aside, or you will fall. 8 You that
fear the Lord, believe him; and your reward will not fail. 9 You that
fear the Lord, hope for good, and for everlasting joy and mercy.”
Sirach-Ecclesiasticus 2:1-9 THE APOCRYPHA.

This life that we live here and now IS the training and teaching of
tasks that we will perform once we arrive in Heaven.  “Let us be glad
and rejoice, and let us give honor to him.  For the time has come for
the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself.
She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear." For the
fine linen represents the good deeds of God's holy people.”
Revelations 19: 7 & 8 (NLT)

So I ask once again, do you really want to be a Firstling and a Bride
of Christ?  Life is choices.  The time is NOW!  No more excuses, we
are either ALL IN!  Or we are ALL OUT!

I stand behind the statement made by Joshua thousands of years ago;
“But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will
serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the
Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you
now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD."
Joshua 24:15 (NLT)

Power and Authority

A friend after reading my article about Sin offering said;

Hasn’t Jesus already died for our sins and hasn’t the Lord forgiven us
for all past present and future because of what Jesus has done?  How
do we win his favor? I thought God loves everyone.

What I am now going to say about all of this is not going to make me
very popular with the main stream Christians but it IS the truth.

When Jesus came and established His church He said; Now I say to you
that you are Peter (which means 'rock'), and upon this rock I will
build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.
Matthew 16:18 (NLT)

It is at this time that Jesus told Peter that he will be the head of
His church, later He asked Peter; After breakfast Jesus asked Simon
Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?  "Yes,
Lord," Peter replied, "you know I love you." "Then feed my lambs,"
Jesus told him. John 21:15 (NTL) Jesus asked him this question three
times because he wanted Peter to understand the enormity of this
question and soon-to-be task.

Then a short time later the Holy Spirit was sent; Then, what looked
like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them.
And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began
speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this
ability. ACTS 2:22-23 (NTL) And the Apostle ministry was established!

In this current time we live in there are many churches out there that
say “BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST AND YOU ARE SAVED”  “HE FOREGIVES ALL OF
YOUR SINS WHEN YOU JUST ASK HIM” I’m sorry but it is not that easy and
I will pose this question; Where do all of these other churches and
ministers get their power and authority from?  Jesus established ONE
WAY through the Apostles ministry and that has never changed.

Jesus replied, "I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God
without being born of water and the Spirit.  Baptism does not make you
a child of God, it makes you His friend, Holy sealing is a separate
act from baptism, and they are not one in the same.  Last time I check
Jesus was baptized.  Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River
to be baptized by John.  MATTHEW 3:13 (NTL)  And after that He was
sealed; After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the
heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a
dove and settling on him.  MATTHEW 3:16 (NTL)

So if the Son of God had two separate acts performed on him then why
do others think it’s all inclusive?

If you are in prison you can “believe” you are free.  But until
someone who has been given the power and authority to set you free
does so you will still remain bound.

Jesus gave the “keys” to the Chief Apostle Peter; And I will give you
the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will
be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in
heaven." MATTHEW 16:19 (NKJV)

Forgiveness of your sins takes much effort on our part.  We are not
forgiven automatically because Jesus died for us.  I can’t say I have
a four year degree in college never having gone to a college ever, but
say my Dad went to college!  You can’t just say to Him in a blanket
statement; “FORGIVE ME LORD” and then you are done with it.  You need
to ponder over what you have done wrong, why you did it, how you are
going to make an effort to stop doing it again and then spelling it
all out to Him.  You also need to ask Him to forgive you for the
things you are not even aware that you did wrong and really repent and
then ask to truly be forgiven.

I have gone to many churches and when it comes time to celebrate Holy
Communion there is NO mention of the forgiveness of sin, (which by the
way are TWO separate acts that neither one negates the other) there is
NO pronouncement of forgiveness and many times I have witnessed NO
consecration of the bread and wine.  So in fact your sins have never
been forgiven and you are not eating the body and blood of Christ.

If in fact you have asked the Lord to forgive you and you were sincere
in your pleading to Him then what has really happened to you at that
moment of prayer is the Lord lifted your sins from you and put them on
a shelf, you have “atoned” (to make amends or reparation, as for an
offense or a crime, or for an offender) for you sins and they are
still yours and they are NOT paid for by Christ.  Only when a minster
who has been given the power and authority through the Apostle
ministry pronounces forgiveness are they really paid for by Christ!
And only when the elements are consecrated through the Apostle
ministry are they changed into the body and blood of Christ.

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one
comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6(NKJV).  WHAT DOES
THIS MEAN?!  He established ONE WAY through His Apostles.  So why are
there so many churches out there that tell everyone you DON’T need
Apostles today?  Well probably because they don’t have the power and
authority to do anything in Christ’s name!  They can “believe” all
they want that they do but is does not make it so!

For many in this time this is a hard pill to swallow, I ask WHY?
Jesus was very specific about the way He taught.  He kept everything
very simple and basic but within what he taught He also established
certain criteria and the WORLD/MAN has taken what He established and
they have changed it so EVERYONE CAN FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES.  They
have been lying for MILLENIUM to these people and in time the truth
will come out, it is coming out now, and many will find that they have
been “going through the motions” only to find that in the end none of
what they have been practicing will get them to the goal.

You cannot change the path and then not follow the directions given to
you expecting to end up at your final destination!  Jesus left behind
specific direction.  Anyone can change them, and anyone can say all
they want, the truth is in what Jesus Christ said not what man says!
This seems pretty simple to me.  God wants all men to be saved (1
Timothy 2:3-4) but not all men WANT to be saved the way Christ
established, and this saddens me very much.

Jesus warned to be aware of false prophets; Beware of false prophets
who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.
You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act.
Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?  A good
tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit.  A good
tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit.
So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and
thrown into the fire.  Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its
fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.  "Not everyone who
calls out to me, 'Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only
those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.
MATTHEW 7:15-21 (NTL)

Sometimes we think a false prophet is the one who stands on the corner
and preaches against God.  But Jesus said “beware of harmless sheep”.
What does a false prophet do?  They lead people away from the truth;
they give them a false sense of security.  They take the truth and
twist it to fit their needs ALL IN THE NAME OF GOD.  They take the
simple and they complicate it.  Just because they stand behind a
pulpit and preach in a church does not mean they are true to Our
Father.  Be careful…

So how do you find God’s favor?  By following the way He established
through His Son!