Are you longing for Heaven?

" But the truth is that they were yearning for and aspiring to a better and more desirable country, that is a heavenly [one]. Hebrews 11:16. My friend, are you longing for a heaven? Well are you?- when buddies on the beer commercial saying, 'it doesn't get much better than this?" or "It's a real thing" or "don't leave home without it" as if that company is your great rich uncle. What is your mind set when we are appalled by national news? Two Christian teenagers on their "outreach" round knocked one door to find a frenzied mother of four with a vacuum cleaner in one hand and screaming baby on the other, food burning on the stove and the living room so messy it looked like a tornado zone. "Are you interested in eternal life"?- Boys asked. "Frankly I don't think I could stand it", said the mom. Of course, we want suffering to stop,clean air, honest politician (Ummm), ceaseless beauty, end of loneliness and war. In another words we want heaven, right? It is difficult for many to conceive of anything that is really much better than this life. How upsetting for many that we won't be able to watch American Idol or Foot Ball in heaven! Heaven better have a great golf course in the sky, a friend of mine said. Bro: We must not be mistaken! We will not be prepared for heaven if our preoccupation with the things of this world eclipses our longing for things of the world to come. And it is a terrible mistake to be unprepared for judgment, if we do not take seriously our need to live faithful obedience to the Lord. Death and judgment are inevitable realities. Let us live with confident assurance that heaven will be our home because of God's grace and the Holy Spirit that has given to us! UNCHANGEABLE SUPREME GOD'S LAWS ARE THERE FOR US NOT SUPREME COURT'S.

STORM IS COMING, ARE YOU READY?

"...A wise man who built his house on the rock. THE RAIN CAME DOWN, THE STREAM ROSE, THE WINDS BLEW AND BEAT AGAINST THAT HOUSE, YET IT DID NOT FALL, BECAUSE IT HAD ITS FOUNDATION ON THE ROCK... a foolish man.. sand. The rain..it FELL WITH A GREAT CRASH. Matthew:7:24-29. Well, CAN YOU FACE THE STORM THAT COME AGAINST YOUR HOME? Hey, Jesus here removes the myth of having no storm after you becoming a Christian. Both the wise man and the foolish man faces storm. Both houses look same from outside. Materials and structure is the same. Same rain, same floods, same wind. Let me tell you friend, You can be a college student or a professor, widow or widower, newly wed or celebrating 50 year anniversary, recently came to this country or a born citizen, living in a one room apartment or a mansion, house in a 3 cent land or a 1000 acre estate, riding a bicycle or driving a Bentley, physically small or Mr. Universe, while you dance, Hip-hop, cat walk, wander with friends, partying.. Well, THE STORM IS COMING!! Does not matter WHO built the house and WHERE it is built, YOUR HOUSE WILL FACE STORM. Are you ready? ARE YOU REA...DDY? You see the wise man built his house on a ROCK. Another words, IT'S THE LOCATION. HAVE YOU BUILT YOUR LIFE ON THE ROCK OF SALVATION, JESUS? WELL ARE YOU? IT'S TIME BUDDY. Well, sorry, the preacher came out this morning. Today is Sunday, right?

Somebody encourage me!!

"May the Lord grant His mercy to the family of Onesiphorous, for he often showed me KINDNESS AND MINISTERED TO MY NEEDS COMFORTING AND REVIVING AND BRACING ME LIKE FRESH AIR". 2 Timothy 1:16 Amp. MY FRIEND BE AN ENCOURAGER. Everyone needs encouragement at one time or another. God's Word addresses this universal need for encouragement. In the lives of Paul and Barnabas we see encouragement. From the Book of Job, we see the right ways and the wrong ways to respond to someone in trouble. The two disciples on the road to Emmaus received greatest encouragement from Christ himself. More than ever, our children, our spouses, our friends, and the people around us need consistent and honest encouragement. What can you do to promote peace in the world? Brother, go home and love and encourage your family. Let us take care of the children, for they have a long way to go. Let us take care of the elders, for they have come a long way. Let us take care, encourage, and love those in between, for they are doing the work. God the Father encourages, God the Son encourages, and God the Holy Spirit encourages. Buddy, WE NEED TO BE ENCOURAGERS. RIGHT???

Don't be complacent!

"Submit yourself, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" James 4:7 NIV. You see my friend, accept the fact that the devil is your adversary and he doesn't give up one inch of territory without a fight. You see the principle in the Word? SUBMIT TO GOD, THEN RESIST, THEN HE WILL FLEE. Submission involves: 1) We must implement the armor of God! (Ephesians 6:10-18). 2) We must saturate ourselves with God's Word! (Matthew 4:4). 3) And we must pray! (John:15:7& Ephesians 6:18). Now you are ready for the battle. Brother, you don't have to be a doormat for the devil. The devil was defeated on a hill called Golgotha by our Lord Jesus 2000 years ago. If devil was defeated, why I have to keep fighting him now- you may ask? You know what? When a battle is fought and won, the conquering army doesn't walk away and go home and rest, NO, they must enforce the conditions of the victory to keep enemy from coming back and infiltrating that has been secured. Same with Christian life. Don't be a victim but be a victor! Did you understand that buddy. Now DON'T BE COMPLACENT! It's not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog that counts! DEVELOP A FIGHTING SPIRIT MAN. you can do it., can't you?

Listen before talk!

"Wherefore, my beloved bretheren, let everyman be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath". James: 1:19. My friend, when God created man He gave two ears and only one mouth. That means you don't have to respond to fifty percent of what you are hearing. Did you get it? A word can cut more than a sword or heal more than an ointment. Words, words, words! Sometimes they come in gallon while the thoughts come by the spoonful, right? Think before you speak; and if you do, sometimes you may not speak at all. And if your mouth misfire, be careful about reloading! Hey hey: never talk if you have nothing to say, your words come heated, it hurts another, if it's a rumor, untrue, and you you don't know what you are talking about. Even silence can have an eloquent tongue, do you know that buddy? TAKE TIME OUT, CALL TIME OUT! STOP, THINK, THINK. Huhh...

Shake it and GO!!

"Behold, God, my salvation! I will trust and not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and song; yes, He has become my salvation". Isaiah 12:2 AMP. My friend, It is perhaps an understatement to say that families are undergoing major changes and experiencing great stresses during this time of financial, social, and relational uncertainties and crises. My suggestion to you is handle feelings constructively. Family crises often make our feelings seems exaggerated or difficult to handle. Some people find that they become quite anxious and afraid of what is happening. My sister, learning to face our fears and NOT LET THEM become consuming is vital during this time of crises. Others get extremely angry at family members they feel have caused or causing the problem. But, again, anger is a feeling that needs to be channeled constructively so that it does not become harmful to others or to ourselves. Please do not compound the problem by directing the anger towards you or others. Remember, God is our salvation and our strength, trust Him. "When angry, do not sin; do not let your wrath (your exasperation, your fury or indignation) last until the sun goes down. Leave no room or foothold for the devil (give no opportunity to him) Ephesians 4:26-27. It's temporary, a ditch in your journey, a flat tire, OK. Fix the flat and gooOOOOO. You have a lot more living left to hang around this huddle!! Y'ALL HEAR ME!!

Are you Fatherless?

"My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him, for the Lord loveth he chasteneth , and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth". Hebrews 12:5,6. My friend, when Jesus was teaching His disciples, the very first word He uttered is "our Father" who is our provider, protector, guide, girder- OUR FATHER! But How we relate to our Father determines our life and how we relate to His discipline determines our DIRECTION and LIFE. But on this father's day, let me ask you "Do you like His discipline"? A teacher said to a child who has been misbehaving, "Tony, this is the fifth time this week I have had to punish you. What do you have to say?" Tony replied, "I'm glad it's Friday". Ending of the school week would not end the problem- it is deeper than that. A 3 1/2 year old kept standing up in his highchair, although his mother kept reseating him and telling him to stay seated. After the fifth time he stayed down, but he testingly said, "Mommy, I'm still standing up inside". The Hebrew writer explains the role of a father in the house as a disciplinarian. It is not a pleasant role. A chastiser not an abuser. Chastisement is correction for protection. Years ago I told my son Sunil "ride the Bicycle in the driveway- Didn't I tell you not to go out of the Driveway? Do you want me to take the Bicycle away? Stay your hip inside the driveway. Huh, I see your lips stick out. Staying inside the driveway is better than what might happen! Daddy, "Timmy get to ride on the street- was his answer". Timmy doesn't have anybody to correct him, protect him. But YOU have someone who sets boundaries for you. Let me ask you my friend on this Father's day- Do you have a Father? Umm Heavenly Father? How is your relationship with Him? You like His correction and boundaries? If not, you are a Bastard (Fatherless)- I didn't say it King James Version says it! Tada.

SHARE THE GOSPEL!!

" Today the salvation has come to this house..." Luke 19:9. My friend, if you are a Christian, the task of sharing the good news of salvation through JESUS is yours! Hey, Christianity is not a cafeteria where one may pick and choose what he or she wishes and reject the rest. We are not free to choose the blessings and reject the responsibilities, and the responsibility for winning souls is ours, whether we like it or not. We can do this in JESUS' WAY! Zacchaeus was a marked in the minds of his people as a money-mad collaborator with an enemy nation. But the entrance of Jesus into his experience completely transformed his life. Jesus contacted the man and made arrangements for a visit in his home and there the winning of the man was accomplished. Remember, Jesus always had concern and time for one individual, even one whom others might despise and shun. People may call you "friend of publicans and sinners" though. How about you? Oh yes, "Jesus said, follow me, I will make you fishers of men". But we like cleaned fish, they are only welcome, right? We don't have time to share the gospel, right? Too busy? How about Jesus? Limus test! Church is not big building Folks!! Well, preacher came out today!!

FOCUS!!

"He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed". Proverbs 13:20. Hello graduate and all my friends, I have a word for you this morning. YOUR COMPANIONS ARE LIKE THE BUTTONS ON AN ELEVATOR. THEY WILL EITHER TAKE YOU UP OR THEY WILL TAKE YOU DOWN! To attain the result of great success you have to have TOTAL FOCUS! Tada! You have to disassociate yourselves from people who are not focused, who are not running the same race as you do. If you have friends who are living ungodly, seekers of temporary pleasures, wasting their time, money, and life away and ultimately, they will never reach their full potential in their life- Do you want to be like them? Focus man, focus! Have a goal and target. Your God is with you and He will help you to attain the destiny He has for you! Y'ALL HEAR ME!!