We are all born with a heart that is self-centered that wants all of our needs met and we want to be the center of attention. We see this in the life of babies. When a person accepts, Christ as their personal Savior, it requires a heart change. This may be the most difficult process that a new Christian may have. How does one surrender their self-centered nature to having a desire to become a servant for Christ? Scripture tells us we are to become Christ-like. Can we take on the nature of a servant and obey the Commandments to love God with all of our all our heart, soul, mind and strength and love our neighbor as ourselves? How many Christians have done this? There are no shortcuts to working out our salvation. God does not expect us to work out our Salivation on our own. This is why we have been given the Holy Spirit.

When it comes to salvation, God knows everything. He foreknows who will accept Him and who will reject Him from the very beginning. Scripture is saying that our salvation totally depends on God. We are not saved because we have earned it. We did not convince God to save us. The mystery of salvation was conceived in God’s mind long before we were conceived. It may be hard for us to understand how God could have accepted us. Because of Christ we become holy and blameless as God sees us through the eyes of Christ. He looks at us as if we had never sinned. We must thank Him for His wonderful love to us. If we are truly saved, God expects us to become Christ-like and that requires a servant’s heart.

No one can live a holy life without complete dedication to the life-purpose of knowing Christ. We have previously written that the apostles fled at the crucifixion of Christ and hid out. After Pentecost and receiving of the Holy Spirit they boldly proceeded to preach the gospel. It appears the source of Peter’s power was the resurrection and the confidence that Jesus was still alive. Jesus having conquering the grave gave all the apostles a new confidence that changed them personally. How unlike Christ are we? We have family, friends and neighbors who are unbelievers. How passionate are we when we pray or our lack of witnessing? Where are our strong crying and tears? Would we count no sacrifice too great and do everything we can until they seek salvation? Are we willing to be a servant for Christ?

Philippians 2: 5-8 – “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! “(NIV)

Have you been in churches where Christians have selfish ambitions or vain conceit to humble themselves or to have hearts for others and a willingness to witness for Christ? Some seemed conceited about their own opinions, without reason or basis. They looked down on everyone who disagreed with them. There was an absence of any encouragement, comfort, fellowship in the Spirit, or tenderness and compassion. Many put their needs and desires ahead of Christ and others. Too few are willing to make a total commitment to become a servant. Paul also told the Philippian church, being a servant meant working with others within the body to rid themselves of discord and division. We are to be careful in what we believe and how we live our lives.

True humility is having the proper perspective of ourselves. It does not mean we are to put ourselves down. A humble person is always seeking the good of other people. Christ came as a servant of God with a desire to do those things that He knew would please and give joy to God. Often I pray that God will help me do those things that will please Him. There are times in making decisions; the Holy Spirit will check me. However, seeking the good of others does not necessarily mean we are to give to every person standing on the street with a sign begging for money. If we see a need, I believe the Holy Spirit will inspire us to meet that need. Helping some, only causes their dependency on others. We are not required to be enablers.

Mark 9:35 – “He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.”

To be a servant you must allow the Holy Spirit to give you the fruits of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22 – 23 – ” But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”

Scripture tells us that Christ’s purpose was to give those who accepted Him a rich and satisfying life. Some Scripture says Jesus said He would give us an abundant life. We are told that we will not live a life without troubles but we can live it with joy and a trust in God. I believe the problem many Christians have is they do not really know God. If you don’t truly know God nor have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, those problems that we endure can be horrible. God must become the center of our lives or He is not in our lives.

John 10:10 – “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” (NLT) No matter how many times you may have attended church or Sunday school and heard all the Bible stories does not mean that you have a personal relationship with Christ and know God. Scripture states there are two ways to develop a relationship and it requires studying the Bible daily, and having time for prayer.

Many have found that finding a secret place to pray is helpful. Matthew 6:6 – “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” I have found that having a place to pray each day has been helpful. The Bible tells us praying must be a high priority and it is always best to pray on our knees. One of the Apostles had knee problems because he spent so much time on his knees in prayer.

This is a time to ask God if we are being obedient to His ways and listen for an inaudible answer. Earlier as a Christian I prayed daily asking that God would show me His purpose and His plan for my life. Now that I know what they are, I pray that my family might also find their purpose for life. I pray for myself and others that need physical healing.

I am continually thanking God for meeting my needs. As the above Scripture promises, God has rewarded me abundantly and has kept every promise He has made. Praying daily has given me encouragement and that personal relationship.

Matthew 6:5 – 6 – “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” (NLT)

The prayers of I Chronicles 4:9, Ephesians 1:17-21 and Galatians 5:22-23

God bless me with your Spirit of wisdom and revelation. Bless my “being” by enlightening my heart with the hope of eternal life with you. Please continue to change the disposition of my heart to that of a servant. Please give me your resurrection power, your ascension power and your dominion power that you used to take Christ to heaven.

God bless me with the fullness of the Holy Spirit that will give me love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control as well as my family, my church family and my small group. Please increase my spiritual responsibilities and widen my area of influence. Please expand my potential that I might impact more lives spiritually. Allow your supernatural power of the Holy Spirit to protect me from Satan in all areas of my life. God help me to be totally dependent on you. God bless my career/my business that I might increase my tithes and offerings to the church and beyond.

You will not really know God or have a personal relationship with Christ without studying your Bible. In this world, one can become prosperous and feel they no longer need or depend on God. We must learn to trust God to do what He says He will do. Without Bible knowledge trusting can become difficult.

1 Timothy 6:10 – “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” NKJV

I have written 784 Christian blogs. I could not have done so without knowing God and having a personal relationship with Christ. I have been inspired by the Holy Spirit as I write each one. The above is what I have learned from praying daily and daily reading my Bible. I hope this will encourage you to do the same. My family and I have been truly blessed and so can you and yours.

God created our planet and Adam and Eve to last forever. Lucifer’s rebellion in heaven and Adam and Eve’s sin caused God to curse both man and creation. Man dies and the earth begins to decay. God tells man what it will take to get back to the original creation. Man rejects God’s ways and continues to rebel and be disobedient to God and His Commandments. God, through man, writes the Bible and tells what He expects, tells what will happen if we reject Him and what the results will be. For those who follow His ways and accepts His Son, He promises a life that had been originally planned for Adam and Eve and the planet.

In the last days, the earth’s decay increases rapidly. As the earth groans, man becomes more inhumane and immorality becomes popular. There will be wars and rumors of war, earthquakes, pestilence and climate change. There will be no time ever like it.

Matthew 24:21–25 – “In those days there will be very much trouble and pain and sorrow. It has never been this bad from the beginning of the world and never will be again. If the time had not been made short, no life would have been saved. Because of God’s people, the time will be made short. “If anyone says to you, ‘See! Here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it. People who say they are Christ and false preachers will come. They will do special things for people to see. They will do great things, so that if it can be done, God’s people will be fooled to believe something wrong. Listen! I have told you before it comes.”

Can you imagine things getting worse? Are you prepared for the trouble, pain and sorrow that are coming? Have you ever thought that things will be so bad that none would survive without the return of Jesus Christ? The world will go though the war of Armageddon, a war to end all.

When this happens Jews will realize that Jesus is the Messiah. They will see Him standing on the Mount of Olives. Zechariah 12:9–11 – “On that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that attack Jerusalem. ‘And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. On that day the weeping in Jerusalem will be great, like the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo.”

Not only will the Battle of Armageddon prove the Old Testament prophecies but also the New Testament. Those who doubted the authenticity of Scripture must accept the truth of the gospels. The entire nation of Israel will go into mourning and accepts Christ’s leadership. They are blessed and become prosperous.
Do you think world politics will improve? Will America in 2016 elect a president who reads, studies and believes the Bible? Is there any chance that peace in the world and morality will improve in our time? If not, then prepare for what is to come. What may we expect? It all depends on whether you are a Christian or not. The hope for a Christian is tremendous.

Matthew 19:28 & 29 – “Jesus replied, “I assure you that when the world is made new and the Son of Man sits upon his glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life.”

When Christ comes a second time the earth will be restored to its original condition. If God can create our planet can He not rehab? This time it will be inhabited by those who have been chosen because of their personal relationship to God and Christ. Christ will reign for 1000 years before God gives us a new heaven and a new earth to live on forever and ever. We are also promised a hundred times as much. What is more important to you: the here and now or the future with God and Christ? There offer is greater than what Satan offers.

Isaiah 11:6–9 – “The wolf will live with the lamb. The leopard will lie down with the baby goat. The calf and the young lion and the young fat animal will lie down together. And a little boy will lead them. The cow and the bear will eat side by side. And their young will lie down together. The lion will eat straw like the ox. The nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra. And another child will put his hand in the hole of a snake whose bite is poison. They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain. For the earth will be as full of much learning from the Lord as the seas are full of water.”

We will live on a completely different earth. There will be complete peace and love for each other. We will follow the rules that God provided for Adam and Eve, Moses and the Israelites. We will be in a new Garden of Eden given a second chance with Christ in our midst. Instead of living by faith we will know and see the actual. All questions will be answered.

Revelation 11:15 – “Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices shouting in heaven: “The world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever.”

Revelation 20:4b – “They had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They all came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”

Micah 4:3–4 – “The Lord will mediate between peoples and will settle disputes between strong nations far away. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore. Everyone will live in peace and prosperity, enjoying their own grapevines and fig trees, for there will be nothing to fear. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has made this promise!”

I don’t know about you, but it seems eternity has much more to offer than the here and now. I am willing to live, in accordance to Scripture and develop a personal relationship with Christ, believing what God says will happen in the future. For more than 50 years, living for Christ has been a real plus. The world hasn’t offered anything better.

Our church, Central Christian Church in Henderson, NV, is expanding its sanctuary to approximately 4500 seats. This will allow us to seat more in our 5 or 6 weekend services. In addition, we have a number of satellite churches plus our outreach to 7 or 8 prisons. This past weekend, a great number gave their lives to Christ. We are preparing for a spiritual revival in Las Vegas.

As you study the Old Testament, Israel was constantly being punished for disobedience to God and worshipping idols. When it seemed they hit spiritual bottom God would punish them and then He would cause a revival to take place and they would then again worship God. When they worshipped God and lived by His Commandments He prospered them as a nation. When He punished them, their crops would not grow, there were wars where they were defeated and they became slaves to other nations. Many would die before they would awake and have a revival. The process happened over and over again because they never learned from history.

A 2012 poll indicates many Americans have no religious attachment whatsoever. According to the Pew Research Center poll of 35,000 indicates that fewer adults yearly are affiliated with any Christian or religious organization. Their poll shows that 19.6% have no affiliation and the numbers have been gradually rising. Many of those with no religious affiliation indicated they were politically left of center. As a number of Americans are being raised with no religious background they developed a different set of morals. In fact, some seem to have little understanding of the difference between what is right and what is wrong. They have no religious moral compass to guide the direction they are headed. So what direction is America headed?

Deuteronomy 28:1–9 “If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God: You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed. You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out. The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven. The Lord will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The Lord your God will bless you in the land he is giving you. The Lord will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the Lord your God and walk in obedience to him.” NIV This promise has also occurred in America from our very beginning.

You may think that America today has become more immoral than at any other time. History tells us there have been worse times. There was a great revival in 1730’s to 40s. Again, America had a great revival in the 1800 to 1840 when 15% of America’s population belonged to a church. Another occurred in 1857. Then the Civil War revival in which occurred from 1861 to 1865. We again had a revival from 1875 to 1885. America had another revival in 1905 and 1906. It happened again after World War II. One I remember, was Bill Bright beginning Campus Crusade for Christ and in 1949 Billy Graham’s revival that started in the Los Angeles crusade when millions watched on TV. We had a revival in America in late 1960s and early 1970s.

Why does God continue to allow Israel and America to continually repent and begin worshipping again?

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

Scripture tells us that God’s foreknowledge knew everyone who would become a Christian prior to our birth. Are we coming to the final days when we will be given a chance to become saved by God’s grace through Jesus Christ? If you knew the end was soon, would it make a difference?

1 Peter 1-5 tells us that God’s elect, who have been chosen, according to the foreknowledge of God the father, to be obedient to Jesus Christ. Verses 3–5 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Most national revivals start with Christians repenting and beginning to worship God and allowing the Holy Spirit to witness to the unchurched. God’s commission to every Christian was to spread the gospel to the world. A revival occurs when Christians begin living a Holy life and caring about others.

All prophecy has been fulfilled that tells what will happen prior to the end times. It is just a matter of time. However, I believe that God is allowing one more chance for everyone who will become a Christian to be a part of a national revival that’s due.

Having spent many years in management and having worked with thousands of people I believe using Christian principles can be a tremendous benefit in becoming a leader and being successful. Being a Christian gives one tremendous advantages.

There are bosses who have quarrelsome attitudes. No matter what is said they need to state their opinion. In some situations they need to prove that their way is the only and best way. There are bosses who are unwilling to listen to anyone under their authority with different suggestions. They limit one’s ingenuity and effectiveness by not allowing an employee to take ownership in what they have been asked to do.

Scripture teaches us that power or money must be a by-product from services rendered. If money is our goal it can become our god. My business or one’s job must be part of their ministry for Christ. I hope most people understand what this means. We are not to put ourselves before others and should be doing our job to help others. We are to live by the “Golden Rule” to do unto others as we would have them do unto us. I have found over the years that an employer cannot afford to lose good, qualified and capable employees. In normal times these people have unlimited opportunities. Good leadership surrounds themselves with superior employees and makes conditions conducive to keeping that help.

Promotions to supervisory position can often make some become over-confident and self-absorbed with their new found power. Bosses who have allowed power to make themselves conceited can create demoralized employees. According to the apostle Paul it is best that a person have time in service and understand what needs to be done and how to do it. A Christian leader should not be placed into a leadership position until they are well-founded in their faith and truly understand Scripture. They must not allow pride to make them believe they are more important than they are. Many times we put people in leadership positions and then find they have missed paying their taxes, have been stealing or have had or are having sexual escapades that damage their reputation and that of the church or for whom they are working.

I attest to the fact that I have found these Christian principles will work for any leader in any setting. As we enter into a political season, I would like to see two traits that each political leader would have. I would hope this coming November we would elect political leaders who would listen to their constituents and second, they would tell the truth. I believe one’s integrity and morality is a must. It ought to be a characteristic of every Christian. Some of the things I have seen from both political parties have been deplorable. But we have a choice between Capitalism and Socialism. Instead of voting for a person we should vote for what that person represents.

1st John 2:18 states that in the last days the “antichrist” will come. Many theologians believe the beast, in Revelation, is the antichrist who is the false messiah. The dragon is believed to be Satan. People will accept the antichrist because of his many miracles and his unlimited power. He will fake a false resurrection having been pronounced dead (fatal wound) and then comes back to life. The world will be united under his rule. He will control the world’s economy. God will allow the antichrist to have authority over the world for only a brief period. Everyone will be required to worship him.

Revelation 13:7 & 8 – “And the beast was allowed to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation. And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life before the world was made—the Book that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered.” NLT

If you believe Scripture, the above verses tell us there will be a one-world government. It could not be any clearer. He will dominate over the world and there will be a one-world religion because all of the non-Christian people will worship him. Presently there are four main religions: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism. Which do you think the one-world religion might be? Who is teaching world domination besides the Radical Muslim Brotherhood? Besides verse 7 tells us the antichrist will wage war against God’s holy people and conquer them.

I point this out to ask: is America getting ready for becoming a part of a one-world government? With open borders we will no longer be a nation that puts God first. We will have a government in complete control with tremendous regulations and laws. The constitution will not be our standard and our freedom and gun ownership could be gone. Who we select as president will tell us about the future of prophesy. How close are we getting to the end times?

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal covered the number of Christians who refuse to get their health treated by doctors. They believe if they have enough faith, God will heal them. Having had medical problems of my own, I find it hard to believe that a person would not seek medical health treatment when they are having problems.

James 5:14 and 15 – “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.”

Having been a church Elder for a number of years, I have had the opportunity to pray for Christians with health problems and anoint them with oil and pray that they would be healed. With that prayer I would pray for their doctors and nurses that God would provide the necessary medical treatment needed to recover. Never would I recommend they needed only to have enough faith that God was required to supernaturally heal them. Yet, I did encourage them to continually pray that God would intervene.
Acts 5:14–16 – “Yet more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord—crowds of both men and women. As a result of the apostles’ work, sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter’s shadow might fall across some of them as he went by. Crowds came from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those possessed by evil spirits, and they were all healed.” NLT

It does not say some were healed but all. Scripture says that the sick and those possessed by evil spirits from the cities surrounding Jerusalem were brought into the streets to be healed. What the apostles were doing was exactly the same thing that Jesus had been doing. God was giving a sign to all who would believe that Christ was the Son of God. His followers were there to carry on with His ministry and had been given many of the same supernatural powers.

The apostolic gift of healing, meaning everyone was healed that they touched without exception, is no longer available in the church today. We know of no one who has the gift of healing as described in Acts. We know some have a gift of healing but their gift is limited. Otherwise, they could go into every hospital world-wide and heal the sick and demon-possessed.

Many believe that God has given the ministry of healing to church elders. The elders are told to anoint with oil. Oil in Scripture was often symbolic or sacramental. Kings were anointed with oil as were prophets & judges. Jesus also was anointed with oil. (Luke 7:46) Oil has a purpose and may be more than symbolic. Oil in the Old Testament was also symbolic with the Holy Spirit.

Does everyone who is prayed for get healed? Not always, but often times they are healed in different ways. I have been told by some that the Holy Spirit took away all fear when they went into surgery. They were healed through surgery as most are and we shouldn’t believe prayer always takes the place of surgeries and doctors. Others have said God gave them courage to battle through some tough times and they came out healed. Others have had life changing, miraculous healing experiences. Some were taken to heaven where there will no longer be any tears or pain. Once we have done what Scripture tells us to do, we must expect God to answer prayer and we are to accept His will; whatever it may be.

Medical statistics prove that those who are committed believers in Christ and believe that prayers heal and have Christians praying for them have a greater chance of being healed and recovering faster. Statistics also show that those who do not believe in prayer, on average, have poorer results.
Don’t let pride stop you from asking to be anointed with oil and prayed to be healed. The sick person or family it seems is obligated to make the effort. (“Crowds came from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those possessed by evil spirits, and they were all healed.”) Supernatural healing is a possibility. However, God has provided many in the health industry with tremendous knowledge on how people are healed and how they should be treated.

Physical and spiritual walls must be broken through if we are to be free to stretch our endurance, abilities, and potential. Athletes learn that they can catch their second wind only when they are willing to go through the pain of breaking through a wall of resistance. Once they push through that physical wall, their task becomes easier and their energy and endurance increase exponentially.

I played basketball, baseball, and track in a small Christian college. I ran in the 100 yard dash, the 880 and one-mile relays. A good coach won’t let his runners give up, stop, and rest when they come to that wall where they feel they can’t run another foot. A good coach will train the runners to break through it because he knows that if the athletes push, they will catch a second wind and start running like they were on air. Once that resistance is broken and the runners get their second wind, the next race they run they will know they can get through that wall—and hope it will happen sooner rather than later. I know about getting a second wind. It’s a fantastic feeling breaking through the physical wall of resistance. But there is also a mental wall of resistance that must be treated just the same.

When I coached at a small Christian high school, I taught my students about getting a second wind by hitting the wall and breaking through. However, some kids were not willing to put forth the effort and therefore never experienced getting a second wind. In basketball we played a full-court press defense and a fast-break offense, which required tough physical endurance. Many times we won by wearing out the other team. My job was to help players realize that to stretch their physical endurance and potential they had to push through the wall of resistance at least once. Nothing is more important than adequate preparation and hard work to build confidence and stamina.

Just as athletes experience a physical wall of resistance, Christians encounter a spiritual one. It’s called fear. Most often this barrier is more difficult to break through because the Devil and his spirits of darkness often put the “wall of fear” before us.

God did not create Adam and Eve to have fear. We know that Christ lived without fear. Genesis 3:8–10 tells us that once Adam and Eve sinned, they became fearful. Before God cursed the earth, because of Adam’s sin, nothing was worthy of fear. But when God cursed it, fear immediately entered man.

Now two kinds of fear exist: positive and negative. Positive fear keeps us from standing in the middle of a busy freeway and challenging oncoming cars. Negative fear keeps us from using our full potential or abilities. It can be a fear of failing, thus an unwillingness to try something that requires faith, trust, or confidence.

Anytime you attempt something that seems impossible you will run up against a wall. Many have a first reaction to quit. As a store manager, I found many who did not want additional responsibility. It could be they feared failing or just didn’t want to put in the effort. Of course, not everyone has a competitive spirit. It is not that they don’t want to be a winner; they just do not want to enter the race.

I believe God gave us His Spirit to help us in life. It bothers me to see a Christian young person who is not doing well in school. I understand if there is a handicap. What about a student with a decent mental ability? To some, they reach a “wall” in math or Chemistry. They hit the wall and can’t understand what they are being taught. The first reaction is to find an excuse to give up. The problem is we are making it too easy for our young people to be excused and not push them to break through the wall and put more time understanding. I have found each time a wall was in front of me, was to find a way around or through it. What made Steve Jobs different from most of us? He didn’t give up and found a way to get on the other side of the wall. As a result, he was known as a genius. I like what I read about Edison who invented so many new products. He worked a year and one-half to develop the incandescent light. He hit hundreds of walls before he finally broke through.
Here is where doing the impossible comes in. I believe God gives us ideas that will improve ourselves or others whether it is spiritual or material. However, to us there is a wall in front of it. No matter how much encouragement we receive from the Holy Spirit we just ignore what God is telling us. I have seen so many athletes and employees with exceptional ability and talent; fail to do what I felt they were capable of doing.

If a person believes God has a special task to perform do they not think that the Holy Spirit will help them accomplish it? God would never ask a person to do something they cannot do. Nothing in Scripture indicates that God opposes successful careers, wealth, position, or the pursuit of personal interests—recreational or otherwise. In fact, we have every reason to believe that God will bless us in these endeavors if we keep everything in perspective. Scripture confirms it: “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Ps. 37:4). (This is just one of many verses to commit to memory that remind us of what the Spirit desires and what we receive by yielding to His desires.)

The Apostle Paul had every reason to quit as he was always hitting walls. But God either got him through or around everyone of them. Through it all he was rejoicing knowing the power that was in him. II Corinthians 11:22–28 – “Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.”

I believe in self-fulfilling prophecy. We can become what we want to be—a success or a failure—depending upon how we think of ourselves. When we think positively, we can become highly motivated and more productive. If we think negative thoughts about ourselves, we become less enthusiastic and block our full potential. When you are doing something and you see a wall in front of you remember: the Holy Spirit can help you do the impossible. He did it for Paul.

Lincoln was president during a time when America was very divided. History tells us that Lincoln was raised by Christian parents; however, he did not belong to any Christian denomination. What made him so different was during his term in office, He made nine calls to public penitence, fasting, prayer and thanksgiving. He was preparing number ten when He was assassinated. He was the president that established Thanksgiving Day.

It was his administration that established “In God we Trust”. He read from the Bible every day. A personal secretary stated that Lincoln spent time in prayer each day in the White House. He said there were times where there was no place to go for the answers but to God.

Read Old Testament Scripture and there were good kings and bad ones. When a good king ruled, the nation prospered. When a bad king was their leader, they were under continual punishment. Does it make a difference who is president of the United States?

Presently, we have one nominee who wants to change America into a Socialistic economy. The other states, we will continue a Capitalistic economy. Having studied the economy for many years, Socialism hinders incentives. People want the government to take care of them and meet their needs. Under Capitalism, those having incentives and goals realize that their prosperity comes from their ability to be a producer. Socialism has a tendency to deny there is a God or not to rely on Him. Capitalism believes there is a God who controls when it rains and when it doesn’t. It also teaches the Golden Rule that we are to have the faith, that if we become a believer in Christ, we too will receive a certain amount of prosperity.

Will America become prosperous and confident again or will it lead to the end times as predicted by Scripture? Matthew 24:7–11 “Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come. “Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people.”

In Matthew, Jesus warns that sin will be so rampant everywhere and people will lose their love for others. Jesus does not promise immunity from persecution and death but He does tell us to preserve and face what will happen and those who do will be saved. Revelation 2:10 “Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.”

Mark 13:9–23 “For there will be greater anguish in those days than at any time since God created the world. And it will never be so great again. In fact, unless the Lord shortens that time of calamity, not a single person will survive. But for the sake of his chosen ones he has shortened those days. “Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah,’ or ‘There he is,’ don’t believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones. Watch out! I have warned you about this ahead of time!” (NLT)

Do Americans understand how important this election on November 8th means to our nation? Who we select as a president can mean the future of the world. Is the end time getting close or will God allow America to continue on by repenting and stop falling away from His commandments and His ways?

Scripture says they will be a great falling away as the end comes. We no longer follow God’s rule for marriage, abortion, etc. It appears our leaders give little credence to what God requires of His people. Is there any difference between today and similar situations that occurred in the Old Testament when God would become angry with His people? God hates sin! How would you rate the morality of America? Would a president who follows the example set by Abraham Lincoln make a difference in America’s future?

Let’s assume we have been living a Christian life for a period of time and we have become content with where we are spiritually. Is it possible to lose our passion to become more spiritual? Can we lose our desire to hunger and thirst to be more holy?

It is possible for Christians to let the Holy Spirit become dormant in their lives. If that is you, there are some things you may do to activate the Holy Spirit to again become active in your life.

Matthew 5:6 – “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Jesus is saying that if we have a hunger and a thirst for righteousness, we will be filled. Filled could mean with a righteousness that only the Holy Spirit can provide. Christ is not necessarily saying we are to begin working harder in living a more pure life. I believe He is requesting that we become more obedient to God’s Word and more submissive to the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

What is it that God wants from each one of us as Christians? He is looking for a body of believers that will live with Him through eternity. What is the number one requirement to enter that final destiny? The answer is love through our relationship with Christ. He wants our unconditional love toward Him and the same love to others. Can you visualize living in an eternity where everyone had that kind of love for God and for others? How do we obtain that kind of love? It will only come through the Holy Spirit’s help and a maturing spiritual life.

The Bible repeatedly says God is not interested in our works but He cares about what is in our hearts. Is His love really in our hearts? If so we have learned there can be no hate or a lack of forgiveness. What God requires can only be obtained by allowing the Holy Spirit to change who we are. This is why we cannot allow the Holy Spirit to be ignored. We must let the Holy Spirit become very active in our daily lives. If we are not seeing supernatural occurrences from time to time we probably have not made the Holy Spirit our partner. So shouldn’t we expect the Holy Spirit to be manifest in everything we do? He will if we pray and ask for His help. He will not force Himself onto us.

Start each day with prayer asking specifically for the Spirit within us to guide in everything we do throughout the day. When we are driving to and from work we can pray, without closing our eyes that he will bring the same love God has for us so we can return that love to Him and to others. The last thing each day, take a minute and thank the Holy Spirit for being active in our lives. After a time, we will begin to realize and recognize that God’s Spirit lives within us and is actively changing our behavior. We will then begin to realize that we as Christians have been given a unique advantage in living our lives. We too will learn there are many blessings that God wants to give to us through the Holy Spirit within. Are a few minutes daily, worth God’s blessings?

I have found that spending maybe 15 minutes, the first thing each morning in prayer, gives me a reassurance that the day is starting well. It is time just talking to God and asking for His guidance and protection. It is unbelievable how it has become an inspiring time.

One of my major goals in life is in preparing to live with God in eternity. The thought of having a new body, no pain, a peaceful co-existence and knowing that all our needs will be met, is worth living according to God and Christ’s ways while on earth.

In the Old Testament most people on earth, including many Israelites, denied the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They worshipped all kinds of Idols. Many were possessed by demons. Evil filled the world with wars and fear of the enemy. Cities built huge walls to surround each city for protection. People stood on the wall 24/7 in case an enemy was about to attack.

Prophets were sent to the people to tell them how God wanted them to live. The people ignored God’s prophets and lived committing detestable sins. As a result, God continued to punish them by allowing their enemies to destroy them.

Hopefully, everyone will understand that we are constantly being influenced by demonic forces. If we are not living by God’s ways, we are living under the influence of Satan and his emissaries. Most cannot accept what the Bible teaches. Not everyone, according to the Bible, who professes to be a Christian, is one. Not everyone who is an evil person is possessed by demons but many are.

Christ cast out demons and Paul confronted demonic forces in his ministry and taught the church to recognize the spiritual forces of wickedness. Do you believe demons have faith? Do they believe in the existence of God? Yes and they believe Christ is the Son of God. Luke 8:31 says demons also recognize there is a hell.

James 2:18 – 24 – “Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” 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. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith. He was even called the friend of God. So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone.”

James again is saying, we can have the knowledge and even have stirring in our hearts and be lost forever. To professing Christians and not committed Christians, demonic forces will convince them salvation and faith is all that is needed to be a Christian. Works and deeds are not necessary. Saving faith involves more, it requires a changed life and James says, I will show you I have faith by my works and deeds. Being a Christian involves trusting Christ and living for Christ and as we receive life we must reveal life.

James describes true ‘saving faith’ as follows: It is based on the Word of God. It is different from being confidant. It is a saving faith that results in a true-life change. It is faith that causes one to repent or change their complete direction in life from self-centeredness (worldliness) to Christ centeredness (Godliness). No matter how much faith a person has, if it is not directed on God it will accomplish nothing spiritually. Faith takes more than believing, it requires action, even demons believe.

Faith without works, even though it is motivated by love and obedience, is not a saving faith. Faith requires a positive action of serving. It may be no more than witnessing and the willingness to help others. Scripture says, you do not light a candle and then put a lid over it. You light it that you might see. Once we receive the Holy Spirit into our lives our response is to share with others. (Our light is to shine so other may also see.)

A person could deceive themselves by intellectually agreeing with a set of Christian teachings but do not have the faith to allow the Holy Spirit to transform their lives. A person whose life remains relatively unchanged does not practice the truth they claim to believe and can be deceived.

Is James contradicting Paul’s teaching that man is not saved by works or deeds but by faith and grace?
1. The Judaizers believed you had to become a Jew first and follow the laws to become a Christian. Paul rejected this teaching and emphasized that salvation is a gift of grace received by faith. He never said that you should not put your faith into action by doing deeds.
2. James is not talking about working to become a Christian; he is saying the faith that saves you will produce deeds, works of faith.
3. The devil tries to convince people that once saved, it is o.k. to continue living as you have been. There is no need to change. How are we to measure change and our faith?
4. Does our walk measure up to our talk? Do we reach out and respond to the needs of others?

Our faith in Christ and how we live makes a difference where we end up in eternity. I once learned the difference between heaven and hell. Picture hell as every prisoner in the U.S. was released from prison. At the same time all police departments were shut down. All the people’s guns were taken away. What kind of life would you be living and that would be like living in hell. Heaven is where everyone lives by the Golden Rule. There would be no prisons needed and police enforcement would not be necessary. Where do you want to spend eternity?

Having spent 29 years helping people Plan financially for retirement, I find most do not have the discipline to prepare adequately for retirement. Most will find themselves having a much lower standard of living. It seems to most, preparing for heaven, is more difficult that planning for retirement. It is so hard for most to prepare for the future. It is all about what is best for me TODAY?