THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NEAR!

The coming of God is nearer than you may think!

Jesus told His disciples a parable in chapter twenty-one of Luke that would be a warning to all who are living in the last days of the earth as we know it.

And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh (near) at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. ~ Luke 21:29-31

As we have seen the temperatures soar upward in the southeastern United States this week, the trees have blossomed forth, exciting our senses with the colorful bouquets all around us. Isn't it interesting that Jesus, the Lord of all creation would use such a simple yet profound example as an indicator of a time when we should be watching for His return? Just as those colorful blooms excite our senses; so should the signs of the end times bring us joy as we see the day approaching. Most people avoid this subject in our day and time because most of us have become so involved, with the enjoyments and fulfillment of the things of this world, that we don't want to think about leaving this all behind.

With regret, I believe that many who are clinging to the things of this world for their joy and satisfaction in life, may not have to leave it behind after all. Jesus tells us to be watching for His coming to redeem us, rather than living in fear of the things that will be happening on the earth. His power in heaven is now being shaken, according to verse twenty-six. Go back and read chapter twenty-one of Luke and you will see the signs described by Jesus when the kingdom of God is getting near.

As this month passes and the blooms begin to fall from the trees, we will see the new growth begin to take place and the branches once again come to life with the greenery of it's foliage. The trees that appeared to be dead in their wintry state, will now give testimony to the world of it's true life hidden within it's core throughout the hard cold days of winter. We too will see these signs that Jesus spoke of begin to change as His kingdom draws nearer. The earlier blooms will fall and the leaves will spring forth and we will naturally know in ourselves that summer is very near. Well, in the last verse of this passage, Jesus says, "So likewise you, when you see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh (near) at hand."

Isn't it rather interesting that we become so accustom to warning signs and sounds that we sometimes don't even notice them. We'll react to the warning signs automatically most of the time, but sometimes we don't and that's when accidents happen. Will we be ready when Jesus comes to reunite with all who believe in Him? Will we be watching for Him like he tells us in this chapter? You may be thinking,"How can I know that I should really be looking for the Lord's return in my lifetime?". We'll look at this in the next post and you'll see why it's so important today!

If you'd like to go ahead and get a jump on the answer to this question, go and read verses thirty-two through thirty-six of chapter twenty-one of Luke. Selah.

www.Focusontheheart.org

"WHAT IN THE WORLD IS HAPPENING?"

Why are Scientist studying the moon, the sun and the stars?

In my world that seems secure and so far away from those places where natural disasters have occured or even stands a possibility of this type of disaster like we have recently witnessed in Japan, I sit and enjoy my coffee this Sunday morning while reading a passage from the Word. But strangely enough, the references lead me to a passage about a troublesome time when men will fear.
A word that we prefer to avoid? Yes, and rightfully so! Isn't it the Christian's belief that we are to live a joyful life and put our trust in God as we teach our children to do the same? We do not want to focus on anything that could bring us stress and sadness today. After all, Americans spend millions of dollars each year to have someone tell them how to rid their life of this very thing!

And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. ~ Luke 21:25-26

As I read this passage, I realized that most of this passage is describing to the disciples what is going to happen "in the future". I realized this because the verse prior to this says, "... and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled."

Jesus was telling his disciples of these times so that they would document it for the viewing of all those generations to come as well. But wait! Let's look at the beginning of this passage again, "And there shall be signs....". In verse 25 we see that Jesus begins by telling us that Jerusalem will fall and be taken captive to every nation. As we well know, this hasn't taken place, so how would this apply to us? A sign is something that we see before we reach our destination, right?

I was living in a town in North Carolina during a scheduled period of time while running a project there. I'll save the town face by not mentioning the name of this place. While there, I found that the people who had put up the signs had not bothered to think about the experience of those who needed the signs to guide them. A number of times I found myself passing the exit or ramp that I needed to be on because the sign wasn't visible until it was too late! I had to plan ahead when I went somewhere new in that town to be sure I could get there on time. I also knew that I couldn't depend on the signs if I wanted to get to where I was going!

I want to assure you that Jesus didn't mean that those signs would procede the disaster to come to Jerusalem either! The signs that Jesus told us about in this passage will precede this attack on Jerusalem, but it also will precede a much greater and much more important event!

As I read the news this morning, I came across this statement in an article on Yahoo News, "People all over the world have the ability to almost immediately see the disaster on the ground," said Verchick. "And that actually produces psychological and social changes in people and communities all over the world."

This is a time of fear and a time when men and women across the globe can see the disater within seconds! I agree that the changes are being felt all across our globe due to the technology of our time, but look at the relation to what has happened in Japan and what our passage says in the book of Luke, "...the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken."

REMEMBER! These are the words of the Son of Man, our Messiah, our Savior who came to save the world from our sins! He has given us the signs to watch for ahead of time! Jesus told us what is going to happen before Jerusalem falls to the hand of all nations! But the most important thing that I saw in this passage was what Jesus said would happen next! Look with me at verse twenty-seven;

"And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory." ~ Luke 21:27

Dear reader, I want you to always remember this verse, because when these signs are obvious (they are) and they have past, it will be a glorious day for those who are ready for the greatest event of all time! But for those of you who are reading this passage today who have not had a true relationship with God, it will be one of the most heartbreaking moments of your entire life!

We cannot deny that we see the signs that Jesus declares to his disciples! So, I ask you, "What should we do?". Jesus tells the believers what to do in Luke 21:28; "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh ( or near)."

If you aren't sure that you are ready, look at the signs again that Jesus tells us we will see; then look around the world at the news broadcasts! Right now, today I can say, "It's not too late!". Call on Jesus today, before you make that wrong turn and end up on a path that leads to a place you didn't plan to go!

It's high time to repent, believe and follow the words of the Savior

who gave Himself for your freedom from sin and bondage!

"YOUR FAITH WILL CARRY YOU" - CONTINUED. . . Part 3

Posted on March 9, 2011 @ focusontheheart.org
For the "hope for the heart" page

Remember, it's so very important for us to be used of God and live a life, free from sin's bondage!

Why would anyone want to remain bound by sin?

The next passage we'll look at is about a woman who had been experiencing a continuous flow of blood for twelve years and she had been to many doctors trying their remedies and she spent all that she had, but on this day she had heard that the Lord Jesus was coming and she knew if she could only touch His robe, that she would become healthy and have a normal life again! She had come this day with unwavering faith; faith in the power of the Lord Jesus. She believed it with all of her heart! Imagine the joy that filled her life this day!

And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years and had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse. When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, "If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole."
Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said,"Who touched my clothes?"
His disciples said unto him, "You see the multitude thronging thee, and you say, "Who touched me?". He looked round about to see her that had done this thing, but the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth and he said unto her, "Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague". ~ Mark 5:25-34

There was a woman of Canaan who had heard that Jesus was going to be at the coasts of Tyre and Sidon and she believed that Jesus could perform miracles and that He was the Lord. She also knew that she was not of Israel, like others who followed Jesus. Yet she knew what she believed and she wasn't going get discouraged and give up because of her ethnic origin, as often times this could be a major social and religious barrier in this region of the world. She knew Jesus could help her daughter who was controlled by a devil! She had to go in faith.
Her "friends" probably warned her that she wasn't going to be able to be helped, as she was not socially accepted by the nation of Israel. She likely had battled with those thoughts as she made the journey to where Jesus was, but by the time she had arrived she was so sure of His power that she knew if she could just get a few crumbs from the true Bread of Life, that her daughter would be free from being possessed by demons! Let's look at this passage in Matthew and see what happened,

And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil".
But he answered her not a word. His disciples came and besought him, saying, "Send her away; for she cries after us". But he answered and said, "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel".
Then she came and worshipped him, saying, "Lord, help me".
But he answered and said, "It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs".
She said, "Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table".
Then Jesus answered and said unto her, "O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt", and her daughter was made whole from that very hour. ~ Matthew 15:22-28

Men and women who were made whole or who were freed from evil spirits were all changed forever! What I'd like for us all to focus on now, is what made the difference in the lives of the men who brought the paralyzed man to Jesus, what made the difference in the life of the woman who had spent at least a quarter of her life in pain, sorrow and doctor's offices trying to find an answer and what made the difference in the life of the mother and the daughter who suffered from control of a demon that had planned to destroy her body, mind and soul.
The thing that made the difference in the lives of these people and others throughout the Word of God, is that these men and women had come to an understanding; a major realization of the hope that was found only in the Lord Jesus, who had come to earth as a man to seek and to save that which was lost.

You see, they had all come to understand the fear of the Lord's Power through respect and reverence; they had come to understand the love of the Lord in His grace and willingness to forgive people of their sin. That realization was what brought each and every one of them to the understanding of His compassion on them all, as He always recognized their faith and trust in Him as their Savior!

Your FAITH in GOD will carry you through the difficulties and bring you amazing deliverance from the circumstances and troubles of this world.

You will be able to live above the times of crisis and sorrow, when you trust GOD to CARRY YOU as Your Faith will also make You Complete in Christ Jesus!

Many are facing disasters and troubes beyond their imagination internationally today , but my friend, I assure you, "Christ is there for You!"

Let's learn from and take comfort in the words written and passed down to us by David the psalmist.

"Cast your (troubles) burden on the Lord and He will (keep) sustain you! He will not allow the (to live & do right) righteous to be (weak) moved!" ~ Psalm 55:22

Also the words of Isaiah the prophet will give comfort, strength and guidance for you in this time when things may seem so hopeless! You can rely on this prophecy of hope!

Have you not known? Have you not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary?

There is no searching of his understanding.
He gives power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increases strength.

Even the youth will faint and be weary, and the young men will utterly fall:

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings as eagles;

they shall run, and not be weary;

and they shall walk, and not faint.

~ Isaiah 40:28-31 ~

YOUR FAITH WILL CARRY YOU - PART 2

Posted on March 3, 2011 @ focusontheheart.org
On the "Hope for the Heart" page

Faith is a powerful thing to have and to understand!

We excuse our lack of the power of faith in our lives so many times by counting ourselves weak and vulnerable as humans. This isn't what Jesus wants for us as his children and messengers to the rest of the world!

Even still, as people were talking, the disciples had heard rumors of how Jesus was really from the devil and how Jesus had been breaking the laws that had been laid down by the religious leaders concerning the sabbath day. So we must remember all of that when we see the disciples reaction to the miracles Jesus performed on this day in the storm. Let's read on,

And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, "What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" ~ Mark 4:41

It's interesting to read in the previous chapters of Mark how the evil spirits all seemed to know and acknowledged that Jesus was the Holy Son of God and we can also read how that the Holy Spirit descended as the Heavens opened up when Jesus was baptised by John. These same men had been with Jesus to see allot of these things take place, but they hadn't understood and recognized in the time of panic that this same Jesus was the Son of God and has the power to do all things with anything or anyonethat He so chooses!

Do we still struggle with this today in our society of logic and legalistic thinking? Would Jesus ask us the same thing that He asked His disciples; as we think we are so smart and capable that we attempt to get through most of life's most difficult moments entirely on our own?
Do we often feel surprised when Jesus answers our prayers? Why should we, if we truly have constant unwavering faith in Him? He never wavers from His promises as we go through life's difficult circumstances; our faith is what will change the way that things turn out and it is each person's faith in God that will deliver and restore them in the presence of life's storms.

Jesus was there in the ship the whole time! The sooner that we understand that this holds true in our lives, the sooner we will find our lives filled with the unlimited resource of miracles and blessings of God through our faith in Him. The faith of the disciples, or should I say, the lack of faith was the the cause of their distress and panic in this storm. It was their decision to take on the storm all by themselves and did you happen to notice in that last passage that nothing was said about the water in the boat?

Jesus stopped the storm, but they still had a boat full of water!

I just can't help but wonder how they dealt with that situation. That's the problem with waiting many times when crisis comes. We still have the repairs and the cleanup to do as a result of waiting to call for help. Use your faith and call out to God early when a sudden crisis hits you! Your FAITH will carry you safely through the storms and calm the waves and wind.

I'd like to help illustrate this for you. Hang with me, you won't want to miss this!

Question - How does our faith carry us through the times of difficulty?

We must be careful not to think that we are constantly on a battleground and that we must always be ready to fight off the unseen forces of satan. In sharing my final point, I would like to point out how living our lives battling satan would be very different from what Jesus was teaching His disciples during the time that He was here walking amoung men on the earth.

The disciples may have tried to handle their difficulties all on their own at times, but I believe that they eventually found, as we will also, that it is not for us to wage war against the devil and sin by our strength, because we will loose the battle every time!

It is by FAITH in God that we WIN our battles and remain victorious over the evil forces and the difficulties of this world.
That is going to mean giving up our ego trips; putting our own weapons away and trusting in the all consuming power of God! That means we will have fear and respect for the Almighty One who is greater than us all and admitting this daily! Let's look at some verses that illustrate man's Faith in God that carried him through circumstances of difficulty!

The following passage tells us about a group of men who reached out to help a paralyzed man who was completely helpless. They didn't decide to pitch in to get him a new hospital bed or take him meals on wheels. They, in faith, took action to change the man's life forever! They believed in the spoken word of the Lord! By faith, they carried him to where Jesus was speaking.

And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy(paralyzed), which was carried by four men and when they could not come near to him because of the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed that the sick of the palsy(paralyzed) lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, "Son, thy sins be forgiven thee". ~ Mark 2:3-5

It is true that our sins are what keep us held captive in our troubles and it is our faith in the Lord that allows us the deliverance from the bondage of sin and doubt. The faith of these men showed on this day and Jesus recognized it within their hearts and in their willingness to come to Him for help. Remember, it's so very important for us to be used of God andlive a life of freedom from sin's bondage! I ask you,"Why would anyone choose to remain bound by sin?" TO BE CONTINUED. . . .

CRISIS IN CHRIST CHURCH

Posted on Feb. 22,2011 @focusontheheart.org

message for "heart for the home" page

There are many still missing, thought to be trapped under the rubble. At 12:51 the earthquake occurred in Christchurch, so as you can imagine it was a busy lunchtime period, there was a lot of people out and about.
This is the news this morning as we awake from our nights sleep in America. Yes, the people of Christchurch, New Zealand were shocked by yet another earthquake. It was the second major quake to hit Christchurch, a city of 350,000, in five months, though Tuesday's 6.3-magnitude temblor caused far more destruction than a stronger September quake that struck before dawn on a weekend. More than 100 people, including as many as a dozen visiting Japanese students, were thought to be trapped in the rubble as darkness — and drizzling rain — fell Tuesday night. The Prime Minister John Key rushed to the city and describes it as a scene of utter devastation.
Sidewalks and roads were cracked and split, while thousands of dazed, screaming and crying residents wandered through the streets as sirens and car alarms blared. Ambulance services were quickly overwhelmed, and groups of people helped victims clutching bleedings wounds, and others were carried to private vehicles in makeshift stretchers fashioned from rugs or bits of debris. "The government is willing to throw everything it can in the rescue effort," Deputy Prime Minister Bill English said. "Time is going to be of essence."
Troops were deployed to help people get out and to throw up a security cordon around the stricken area, and residents throughout the city were urged to stay home or with neighbors and conserve water and food.

As I was reading this article in the comfort of my home this morning, my heart went out to those suffering in the midst of this crisis, but at the same time I felt helpless. I know they are suffering and that they are experiencing the worst day of ther lives, but I don't know how I can possibly help them. As I began to process this, it occurred to me that this is exactly what we are experiencing in our homes across this country of ours. Lives are being devasated by crisis upon crisis in the home and we don't know where to begin to help, so many times we just stay out of it. The last part of the article I read said that troops were deployed to help and the residents were being urged to stay home.


God help Americans to get out of this rut in the church! Sadly, this describes exactly what the majority of the people in the church are doing today! Why is this? Who told us to stay home and let the pastors go out and rescue the perishing? Can we find insructions in the Word of God to live this way? If you can find it, let me be the first to know about it, ok? Where has the sense of urgency gone for the homes in crisis? How many times do we walk into and out of church on Sunday without even looking for someone who is going through the worst day of their life? Why do we tell people to go to church when their lives are falling apart? As I read this article, I began to think about the people I met and talked to yesterday at the Community Kitchen in downtown Chattanooga Tennessee and saw how many lives have truly been touched through this effort. I talked with those volunteers who have given of themselves to reach a life in crisis. Yes, the homeless are all alone in their individual world of crisis. Every day for them is a struggle for survival, yet many of us go about with our lives as though there wasn't a problem in the world; with our earplugs in and playing our favorite songs completely oblivious to the world around us.
I'm here to tell you mother, father, brother and sister, "It's time to pull out those ear plugs and get out of our recliners and off of the computers! It's time to help the suffering people that are in our own churches, communities and cities who are experiencing crisis in their lives today!"

People who are going through the worst day of their lives without anyone to reach out to for help are out there and sadly enough, they are also in our homes sitting in the next room. Yes, just as the children in this picture have lost their parents in the quake of Christchurch, New Zealand; their are children who have lost parents right in our own churches and homes. How do feel right now for these children who have lost a mom or dad or maybe both in this awful earthquake today? Does your heart reach out to them? If so, you can do something about it! Yes, it's true, I too can do something about the compassion that I felt in my heart as I talk and prayed with the poor and sick men, women and children yesterday at the Community Kitchen.
Let your God given compassion drive you to reach out with with ever you have, to offer hope to the children; the women and the men who have recently lost a job, a spouse, a parent or best friend.

"Where are they?", you may ask. They're at your church on Sunday, at your job on Monday and even at your very own house every day of the week! Take the time to notice them and then do something to help them; offer them hope today! I challenge you tonight to ponder, "Did I really show compassion today?"

"YOUR FAITH WILL CARRY YOU"

Posted on March 1,2011 @ focusontheheart.org
Hope for the Heart page archives

Have you ever had a really great day when everything went better than you had planned? You had your time alone with God and your day was productive from the standpoint of accomplishing your goals; you felt so good that you couldn't help humming or singing a tune in the car on the way home. Then it happened!


Suddenly out of the blue, you get a phone call with bad news or you suddenly realize you've lost something very important; or someone dear to you gets hurt; or someone you care about disappoints you! This is a really good time to do a faith check! It is at this moment that we will usually either panic or stay calm. The faith that you have in Christ will make the difference at a time like this!

The disciples found themselves in just one of those moments in chapter four of Mark when their ship had filled with water in verse thirty-seven.

"And there arose a great storm of wind,(like a hurricane) and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full."

I could see in this passage that the ship is now full of water and Jesus was asleep on a pillow in the back part of the ship. The disciples had ran around in a panic before they went and woke Him up from His rest. Jesus had been teaching and healing people all day long and the disciples needed Him to do something to save them. Let's take a look at what they said to Him.

"And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, "Master, care thou not that we perish?" ~ Mark 4:38

We see in this verse that they addressed Jesus as their Master, which in the Greek means "teacher". Those guys were afraid that their end was near and they would soon be sucked up by the sea! They needed someone to give them a plan of action; a "master" plan, so to speak.

Yes, I believe that these men were pretty much in a state of panic and they wanted Jesus to either come up with a solution or to at least, panic with them!

They asked Him, "Don't you care that we are going to die?". Their understanding was blurred by the circumstances and they were past the reasoning and understanding that they were on a ship in a storm with the Son of God! The same One who had spent days and weeks teaching them about the power of faith and exercising this faith in many different ways.

Can you imagine a team of men in a large ship and the waves are crashing over the deck and filling the ship up faster than they can bail it out? Imagine the wind tossing their boat in every direction and the rain beating down on them as they bail faster and faster to keep the boat afloat.
They have been battling this storm for maybe an hour or more and they're loosing the battle. The boat is quickly sinking under the added weight of the water on board. They probably could hear the boards of the ship beginning to creak and move under the stress and they felt as though there was no hope for survival.

Finally, in this moment of total despair, I imagine someone shouted out,"Wake up Jesus!".

When we read what happens next, it is very clear to me that they didn't wake Jesus up for the purpose of stopping the storm. They didn't wake Him with the purpose of delivering them from the circumstances either, as they believed that they were going to die. I believe they were really upset that Jesus was sleeping and they were all bailing water and they just couldn't stand to let Jesus rest so peacefully while they were fighting for their lives! They acted as though they felt that the calm, peaceful sleep that Jesus was experiencing was a sign that He didn't care about them. They had forgotten all the lessons that Jesus had taught them about the battles and struggles of life's difficulties and they were acting purely on human instinct!

How many times do we do this very thing when something catches us by surprise? Do we feel we should battle our way through it and wait until we are about to sink before we run to get help from our Lord? Why do we wait? Some people will tell us that we should do all we can and that God expects that from us, but I believe that too many times we wait until our boat is full of water before we will call out in prayer!
What do you think would have happened if the disciples had woke Jesus when the storm began? Would this have been a good sign that their faith in Him was strong? Would Jesus have responded to their faith earlier in the storm? I feel sure He would have and we see this in the next passages that follow. Let's look at the next two verses together,


And He(Jesus) arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, "Peace, be still". And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, "Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?" ~ Mark 4:39,40

The same power and authority that we see displayed here when Jesus spoke to the wind and the sea was also available to those pitiful, scared disciples already! Earlier in this passage written by Mark, the disciples were given the power to perform miracles by faith. Jesus had taken them up onto a mountain and ordained them to preach the gospel and to heal the sick and to cast out devils! Jesus had told them that they could ask anything if they had faith. (Even moving mountains!) Faith is a powerful thing to have and to understand! We excuse our lack of the power of faith in our lives many times by counting ourselves weak and vulnerable as humans. That isn't what Jesus wanted for His children as messengers to the rest of the world.
To Be Continued....