As these times you speak about are approaching, and are upon us, all I can do is study them out. For instance I have to teach next Sunday, and I thought the perfect name for the Sermon would be just hold on. I got this title from an old man at work. He was telling me that in times like these when you are at the end of your rope, all you can do sometimes is just hold on. As I think about what Paul said to Timothy NLT 2 Tim 3:1-9 “ 1 You should also know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control; they will be cruel and have no interest in what is good. 4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5 They will act as if they are religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. You must stay away from people like that.
Friends, I’m letting you in on some of my message , but since it’s not mine (really…,but the Holy Spirits) I’m sure He won’t mind. Lol,lol I want to speak about Elijah and how at one minute he had such a great victory, and the next minute he is running for his life and has to wait for birds to bring him food. How bad can our country be in comparison to Israel of old? Victory, then idolitrey, victory, then complaining and backbiting. We have removed God from our schools, we have taken out the Book that has been on the best seller’s list and will remain that way until the Rapture and we have taken away prayer. What is our replacment? Guns being brought to school, free condoms at the nurses office, and we are not allowed to infringe on our childrens lives if they want to walk up and down the school halls, holding the hand of a person of the same sex. Fortythousand more troops in Aphghanistan. Yet, our President doesn’t mind killing baby’s in full term if they are an inconvenience. And I sure don’t need to tell you about the global scene with N.Korea shooting long range missles to see what we or anyone elsae does.
Jesus ask, when He returns to earth, will He find faith. Have you ever thought of how bad it’s going to have to be to even ask a question like that? (back to part of my sermon) “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for they that come to Him must believe that He is/ He is, He is The Lord is my Sheperd , He is, the Lord is my Rock, He is, the Lords is my Rock, my Salvation, in Him do I put my trust and the list goes on. Somehow, someway, I will just have to hold on, by my fingernails if I have to, but I will hang on. The end of that verse says that "He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him"
I am aware that our lives seem to be a series of experiences of up's and down's. What I am up against is the fact that it rains on the just and the unjust, correct? Why is it that it seems that many times it is the unjust that are the one's who so much of the reaping without much sowing. It would be easy I guess to complain or moan here, but then you must remember, I'm not a spring chicken, I have seen much in these few 54 years and I know there are many worse off than I. What would my God say here? MMMMM let me see. Let me look in The Book. Psalm 73 couldn't say it more beautifully if it was coming from mouth. But then it is at times.
1 A psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure. But as for me, I came so close to the edge of the cliff! My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness. They seem to live such a painless life; their bodies are so healthy and strong. They aren't troubled like other people or plagued with problems like everyone else. They wear pride like a jeweled necklace, and their clothing is woven of cruelty. These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for! They scoff and speak only evil; in their pride they seek to crush others. They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut throughout the earth. And so the people are dismayed and confused, drinking in all their words. "Does God realize what is going on?" they ask. "Is the Most High even aware of what is happening?" Look at these arrogant people – enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply. Was it for nothing that I kept my heart pure and kept myself from doing wrong? All I get is trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain.
If I had really spoken this way, I would have been a traitor to your people. So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is! Then one day I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I thought about the destiny of the wicked. Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction. In an instant they are destroyed, swept away by terrors. Their present life is only a dream that is gone when they awake. When you arise, O Lord, you will make them vanish from this life.
Then I realized how bitter I had become, how pained I had been by all I had seen. I was so foolish and ignorant – I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you. Yet I still belong to you; you are holding my right hand. You will keep on guiding me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. But those who desert him will perish, for you destroy those who abandon you. But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign LORD my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.
To my freinds here, thanks for the love, thanks for the uplifting words, the little or big signs you post on my page. I hope you have liked my selection of music. I pray all of you have a wonderful weekend and as we have church on Saturday nights also, I think I'll wake the little woman and be off to the Ecclesia inside the building up the street. Shalom OldSchool777
