Tag: Jesus

Hello everyone!  Please read that verse in Romans very carefully and take in the full peace and security of that truth!  I am fired up in the Holy Spirit tonight and I want to make something very clear.  I have seen a disturbing trend throughout my 22 year walk with Jesus of Christians who preach the false doctrine that a person can lose their salvation in Jesus Christ.  Let me get straight to the point here–YOU CANNOT LOSE YOUR SALVATION IN JESUS CHRIST!  Once you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior you are sealed with the Holy Spirit and your salvation is guaranteed!  That’s right, I said guaranteed!

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Ephesians 2:8-9

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

John 3:16

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.  Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession–to the praise of his glory.”

Ephesians 1:13-14

It is all about what God did for us, not what you can do for God!  There is nothing we could ever do for God to save ourselves!  Sometimes as we walk with Christ we can forget that.  We need to remember it was our sin that put Jesus on that cross and we only have eternal life through Him!  Our salvation was bought and paid for in the Blood of Christ!  Please remember that!

Now, that does not mean that a person can just go off and keep living a sinful life after accepting Christ.  No!  Do not trample on God’s grace.  If you keep on in your sins after receiving the Holy Spirit through faith in Jesus, then of course there will be discipline and consequences, but you still belong to Him and you are saved!  Nothing can snatch you out of His hand and our salvation is a free gift from God that we could never earn!

“In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.  And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”

Hebrews 12:4-6

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked.  A man reaps what he sows.”

Galatians 6:7

“Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.  No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.  Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

Hebrews 12:10-11

So, if you keep living a sinful life after you have accepted Christ, the Lord will love you and help you by disciplining you, including rebuking and punishment, so that He can produce a harvest of righteousness and peace in your life.  You are still saved, but there will be consequences and discipline that will be painful.  Believers take heart though!  That means He loves you and He will never leave you!  Your salvation is secure the very moment you put your faith in Jesus Christ!  My Pastor always said, “Jesus accepts you as you are, but He refuses to leave you that way.”  Jesus will empower you in the Holy Spirit to live a righteous life and He will never leave you nor forsake you!

“Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God; trust also in me.  In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I am going there to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Jesus speaking in John 14:1-4

We all struggle with sin sometimes and we are not perfect.  We can fall and mess up, but His grace is sufficient and He will discipline us and pick us back up.  Remember the Apostle Paul’s struggle (Romans 7:7-25)?  God still loves us and we are still His adopted children in Christ!  He will never leave us nor forsake us and don’t let anybody ever try to tell you otherwise!

“What a wretched man I am!  Who will rescue me from this body of death?  Thanks be to God–through Jesus Christ our Lord!..”

Romans 7:24-25

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.”

Romans 8:1-2

“…because God has said,

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Hebrews 13:5

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:38-39

If the Apostle Paul struggled with sin, who are we to think we won’t?  Paul was powerful in the Holy Spirit, but he was human like the rest of us and he pressed on always striving for holiness and perfection!  When we fall, we need to immediately repent and turn from it.  Do not engage in it!  Run from it!  He will forgive, encourage, and strengthen you!  The farther down a dark path we go, the harder the discipline and consequences are going to be.  Believe me, I have been disciplined by the Lord plenty of times in my 22 year walk with Him and it has definitely trained me and produced a harvest of righteousness and peace in my life!  I am not perfect brothers and sisters, but I strive every day in the power of the Holy Spirit and I rest fully in His grace knowing my salvation is fully secure by faith in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

I ask Christians who think you can lose your salvation, why did Jesus have to die for us?  Is there something you can do on your own to save yourself?  Is there something you could have done before accepting Christ or after to save yourself?  No, you were saved by grace like everybody else who accepted Jesus Christ by faith.  All of your good works are dirty rags to the Lord and they will never save you!  Quit beating people over the head with fear mongering based on your misunderstandings of Scripture.

I want to make it clear that I do not stand with anyone who preaches that a believer in Jesus Christ can lose their salvation.  That is not a teaching found in the Bible and you will never hear that from my mouth or in my writings.  The Bible makes it clear that we are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone.

Here is the verse that fear preachers usually use to scare people:

“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed–not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence–continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”

Philippians 2:12-13

You notice Paul didn’t say continue to “work for” your salvation.  The words fear and trembling in the Greek translate reverence and awe.  The phrase “work out” in Greek translates to strive.  He is saying to strive to live out your faith with reverence and awe of God.  He is not saying you can lose your salvation!  Paul makes it clear it is God who works in us by His will and actions according to His good purpose, not us.  We don’t save ourselves and any good works we do are done through Him by the power of the Holy Spirit that we received when we first believed in Jesus.  That Holy Spirit sealed us in Jesus Christ and that is a free gift deposited in us by God that guarantees our inheritance in Heaven!  Thank You Jesus!

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.  I and the Father are one.”

John 10:27-30

I point you to Jesus Christ regarding the salvation He offers every person on earth.  Those are His words.  If any believer wants to argue with Jesus, I don’t recommend it, but okay, you are going to lose that argument every time for all eternity.  Are you greater than Jesus and God the Father?  I pray the Lord comforts and encourages the hearts of any believer who has been under a false teaching of fear.  Jesus Christ finished it at the cross and you are a fully redeemed child of God and nothing is going to change that!

Grace and peace to you all!

“When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.”  With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

John 19:30

 

 

 

That is a very famous verse from the book of 1 John and it is very sobering.  Everything in this world is going to pass away, including us.  In light of that truth and reality that we face daily here in the valley of the shadow of death, it is crucial that we know what the “will of God” is, so we can live forever.  I have good news!  Jesus gave us that answer and His answer is a gift that He freely offers to everyone in the whole world!

“Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life.  He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.  But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe.  All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.  For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.  And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.  For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”

John 6:35-40

The will of God is that everyone believes in Jesus Christ, so that we can live in Heaven with Him forever!  That is beautiful!  Yes, there will be a time when we all pass away along with this world and its desires, but if you believe in Jesus, then your salvation is secure and He will raise you up to the eternal life that awaits you!  That is exciting good news folks!  Believe in Jesus and live!  That promise is for everyone in the whole world no matter what color, culture, or country you are from!  The will of God is that you receive eternal life by believing in His Son Jesus who died for you!

Now you know what the will of God truly is.  That is God’s heart for you!  He is your Creator and He does not want you to perish!  Through faith in Jesus Christ you no longer need to fear death for it has no hold on you any longer!

“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death–that is, the devil–and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.”

Hebrews 2:14-15

“He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning.  The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.”

1 John 3:8

There is no longer any need to fear death!  Jesus defeated our greatest enemy the devil!  Do not be a slave to the fear of death.  Let Jesus set you free!

“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Romans 10:9

This gift of salvation is given freely to you by God and there is nothing you could do to work for it!  No amount of good works will ever save you!  You must turn from your sins and believe in Jesus!

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Ephesians 2:8-9

“This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.  There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

Romans 3:22-24

You will receive the Holy Spirit of God upon believing in Jesus, which seals your salvation in Christ and gives you Holy power for living a righteous life that pleases God!

“Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.  And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off–for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

Acts 2:38-39

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.  Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession–to the praise of his glory.”

Ephesians 1:13-14

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

-Jesus speaking before He ascended into Heaven (Acts 1:8)

We will all pass away someday just like this world and all of its desires, but that does not have to be the end!  Jesus is calling out to you!  Jesus is reaching out to you!  Take His hand and live!

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Jesus speaking in Matthew 11:28-30

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.  I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them.  They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Revelation 21:1

“Behold, I am coming soon!  Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.”

Jesus speaking in Revelation 22:7

Grace and peace to you all!

 

 

 

 

 

Well, I’m done with the dishes and everything is in its place for a new week.  It has been a great weekend of rest and time well spent with my wife and kids.  I wanted to share our beautiful little Spanish style cross that hangs above our kitchen sink.  My wife’s ancestors are from Barcelona, Spain (as recent as Great Grandpa).  I also grew up here in Colorado with a Mother who loves Southwestern art, so I love it.  Colorado history is cool and there is a lot of Spanish flavor here in the Rocky Mountain West!  It is fitting for our home, and it is a beautiful reminder to keep our eyes on the Lord.  Jesus Christ is Lord and He rules our home.  Not me.  I am not the king and this is not my castle.  Jesus is The King and He has all authority here!  He is the center of our family’s love, hope, and joy and I pray every day that our hearts would be centered on Him!

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Hebrews 12:2-3

As we get ready to start a new week, I pray we fix our eyes on Jesus as He leads us in the good plans He has for us.  I appreciate all of you and I want to thank you all for your encouragement and support!  You are all brave for opening up your hearts and sharing your souls with others.  I look forward to reading your blogs this week and I love chatting with you all!  May the Lord bless, anoint, and protect each one of us in the power of the Holy Spirit and may our hearts be fully centered on Jesus!  Amen!

It’s going to be a great week in Christ!

No matter what may come our way, He will see us through!  Buenas Noches amigos!

 

Grace and peace to you all!

 

 

 

Hello Everyone!  God bless you all!  I love that verse and I pray it is an encouragement to you all!  Jesus Christ can and will make you brand new!  If you are in Christ, then you are brand new, free and forgiven, and nothing can snatch you out of His hand!  Your old life is gone, dead and buried, see ya later!  Amen!   Thank You Jesus!

I hope you are enjoying a restful and peaceful Sunday.  That is what we are doing here at the Callahan home!  I love spending time with my family!  It is a beautiful day here in Colorado today!  70 degrees with perfect sun filled blue skies!  The kids have been riding their bikes and we praise the Lord for the sunshine!  I was chillin’ on the deck this morning and took that photo.  There is a little cozy nook in the corner where I like to sit on my fold up camping chair.  As the afternoon sun blazes down, the deck becomes like a sauna.  Even in the winter it can get really hot out there!  That is the view looking east.  The Rockies are out west just around the corner to the right.  Remember to take time to rest today friends.  We all need it!  Be at peace and let the Lord comfort and renew you with His love!

“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”

2 Corinthians 4:6-7

He is the Potter and we are the clay!  All glory to God in the Name of Jesus!!!  May He pour out His Holy Spirit on you all!   Amen!

Grace and peace to you all!

Here is an awesome song called “Tell The World” by Lecrae!  Listen to the preaching in this song, it’s beautiful!  I pray we tell the world about Jesus everywhere we go!  Go all out for Jesus brothers and sisters with all your heart!  Love you all!  We are brand new!

“Your love is so unconditional I get butterflies in my stomach.”

-Lecrae

 

Good morning everyone!  I have been up since 4 something in the morning and I am excited to write about what the Lord has shown me today!  It’s about Jesus ascending into Heaven, the day the Holy Spirit came down from Heaven in Holy wind and fire, how the Spirit spoke through Peter in power immediately afterwards, and how the church first began in that Holy Spirit power!  Hallelujah!

After Jesus rose from the dead on the third day, He appeared to His followers for forty days before He ascended into Heaven.  He spent time with them, ate with them, and taught them about the Kingdom of Heaven.  Just before it was His time to ascend into Heaven and sit at the right hand of the Father, Jesus reminded the apostles to wait in Jerusalem for the gift of the Holy Spirit.  He spoke to them of this promise many times before He was crucified, perhaps the most famous is when Jesus spoke about streams of living water.

“On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”  By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.  Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.”

John 7:37-39

When you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you receive the Holy Spirit of God inside of you!  That is not a metaphor or analogy!  God’s Holy Spirit literally resides within you!  So, let’s take a look at what happened after Jesus was glorified!

“In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.  After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive.  He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.  On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.  For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.  “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky?  This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Acts 1:1-11

How awesome is that!  Jesus hangs out with them for forty days after raising from the dead, He reminds them of the promised Holy Spirit and encourages them regarding the power they are about to receive, He ascends into Heaven, then two angels show up to remind them He will be coming back someday!  33 A.D. was an amazing time to be alive!  How blessed those men were!  Praise the Lord!

This was a dangerous and scary time for the believers.  The Jews and Romans had just crucified Jesus a little over a month earlier.  Christians were being persecuted and staying in Jerusalem was not safe, but they obeyed Jesus and bravely waited for the gift.  This is what happened just a few days after Jesus ascended into Heaven, just like He had promised.

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.  Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.  They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”

Acts 2:1-4

What an incredible gift from God!  I can testify that the Holy Spirit still sounds like a mighty wind at times!  Take a look at my post titled “My Lazarus Moment” to find out why!

As you can imagine, this caused quite a commotion and it drew the attention of many people outside.  In fact, it caused such a stir that a crowd forms and Peter begins to preach to them in his newly received power from the Holy Spirit!  It’s funny how he has to set some of them straight.

“Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.  When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.  Utterly amazed, they asked: “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans?  Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?  Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs–we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”  Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

Acts 2:5-13

Isn’t it just like human beings to mock such an amazing event!  These men are speaking a great variety of languages, which there is no way they could have spoken without God’s power, but still there are people who scoff at God’s wonders!

Peter’s first sermon in the power of the Holy Spirit is given to the crowd who heard the sound of the Holy Spirit coming down from Heaven!  Here is how he addresses the crowd (it’s funny when he reminds them what time it is).

“Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd:

“Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.  These men are not drunk, as you suppose.  It’s only nine in the morning!  No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

” ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.  Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.  Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.  I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke.  The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.  And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

“Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.  This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.  But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.”

Acts 2:14-24

Those are powerful words!  He tells them straight to their faces that they killed the Son of God!  Peter continues by explaining that King David had prophesied about the Messiah and Jesus fulfilled it.  Jesus came through the lineage of Abraham and King David (Matthew 1:1-17)!

“David said about him:

” ‘I saw the Lord always before me.  Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.  Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.  You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’

“Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried and his tomb is here to this day.  But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne.  Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay.  God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact.  Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.  For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,

” ‘The Lord said to my Lord:

“Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” ‘

“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

Acts 2:25-36

What a powerful sermon!  Peter goes step by step through Old Testament prophecy and clearly explains to them that Jesus is their Messiah!  Peter was preaching in the wisdom of God through the power of the Holy Spirit!  Just like Jesus promised, he had received power when the Holy Spirit came on him!  What was the reaction of the crowd to such life changing news?

“When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

Acts 2:37

Great question, and that brings us back to the Scripture pin!  The answer Peter gives still holds power for our time just like it did in their time!  It is also how the church began in the power of the Holy Spirit–check it out!  Here is that pin again:

Did you hear that?!  When you repent (which in Greek is metanoia, which literally means to change your mind) of going your own way and choose to turn to God by receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior by faith, your sins are forgiven and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit!  Yes, the same Holy Spirit that came down from Heaven in a mighty wind and fire on Pentecost!  That eternal promise is for you and your children and for everyone in the whole world!  The Holy Spirit is given freely to all who believe in Jesus Christ!

What was the result of this powerful Holy Spirit filled sermon that came through Peter?  Let’s find out!

“With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”  Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.”

Acts 2:40-41

3,000 people getting saved in one day from one sermon is the power of the Holy Spirit folks!  Praise God!  And what did this new on fire church in the power of the Holy Spirit look like?

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.  All the believers were together and had everything in common.  Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.  Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.  They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.  And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

Acts 2:42-47

That my friends is the historical account of the Holy Spirit coming down from Heaven to earth!  What a beautiful picture of Holy Spirit power and anointed fellowship among believers!  Amen!  May our churches glorify God in the same way!  I highly recommend reading the entire book of Acts to learn of all the wonders and miracles the Apostles were able to do in the power of the Holy Spirit!

If you do not know the Lord Jesus yet, I plead with you as Peter did, save yourselves from this corrupt generation!  Our generation is just as corrupt and sinful as theirs was and we need a Savior just like they did!  Receive the free gift of salvation that only comes through faith in Jesus Christ and receive the free gift of the Holy Spirit!  Streams of living water will flow from within you just as Jesus promised!

Here is a look at what kind of power you will receive when the Holy Spirit comes upon you just like Jesus said!

That is real power for living righteous lives folks!  It’s like having super powers, but it’s even better because it is literally God’s Holy Spirit living inside of us!  The Holy Spirit actually seals us in Christ and it is God’s deposit in us that guarantees our inheritance in Heaven!

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.  Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession–to the praise of his glory.”

Ephesians 1:13-14

Do you want to be set free from sin and death?  The promises of forgiveness of sins, salvation, and Holy Spirit power through Jesus Christ are still being offered to you today!  I pray with all my heart that you receive that great truth today!

Grace and peace to you all in the Powerful Name of Jesus!  He is faithful to His promises and He will come back someday just as He did when He ascended into Heaven!

Thank You Jesus!

 

 

 

 

 

I was surprised and humbled to receive the Sunshine Blogger Award yesterday from Vickie at Vickie’s Book Nook and Meditation Corner!  Vickie loves Jesus with all of her heart!  Check out her site for wisdom and inspiration from the Lord!  Thank you Vickie!  All glory to God!

My whole purpose in life is to reflect the glory of Jesus and glorify His Name!  It is His light within me by the power of the Holy Spirit that shines through me!  Jesus is the Light of the World and it is His “Sonshine” that we all desperately need in our souls!  God bless you all!  This award goes to Jesus for His glory!  Jesus is Lord!

Here are the rules for the award:

• Thank the person who nominated you and provide a link back to him/her.
• Answer the 11 questions provided by the blogger who nominated you.
• Nominate 11 other bloggers and ask them 11 new questions.
• Notify the nominees by commenting on one of their blog posts.
• List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo on your post

Here are the questions that Vickie asked:

Q: Who is your best friend and what do you have in common?

A: My best friend is my wife, but Jesus is our best friend always and forever!  We have so many things in common because we are unified through the power of the Holy Spirit!  I am so thankful for my wife’s friendship and love!

Q: What is your favorite place to go and why?

A: I love going up to the mountains to chill and fish.  The peace and serenity of the high country here in Colorado shines in God’s glory and it is magnificent!

Q: If you watch television, what is your favorite show?

A: I don’t watch a lot of TV because I don’t have the time, most of it is not worth it, and it is so worldly and disgusting I can’t stand it.  I pray for Hollywood.  I like the Outdoor Channel and Sportsman Channel mostly.  I love the peaceful nature and I enjoy watching the brotherhood and joy of hunting and fishing.  Those are the only channels where the men regularly give glory to God, pray, quote the Bible, and speak the Name of Jesus boldly on their shows!  So cool!  We also like Expedition Unknown with Josh Gates.  I sent him an email and a tweet and I am waiting prayerfully to hear back from him!  I pray my book can help him in his search for truth!

Q: What is the book that you would recommend that everyone read?

A:  Without a doubt I recommend everyone in the whole world read the Bible!  It is literally God’s instruction manual for living life victoriously in His power and love!  Jesus died for all of us and He wants you to go to Heaven!  John 3:16, Romans 10:9, Acts 4:12!

Q: What is your favorite thing to do on a daily basis?

A: Talk to my Lord and Savior Jesus, read His Word, and share the Gospel!  Romans 1:16!

Q: Share an interesting fact about your life.

A: I lived in a haunted house possessed by a demon all through my high school years.  I got saved my Freshman year in college in October of 1996, went back to my parents house and cast the demon out in the power of the Holy Spirit over Christmas Break in December of 1996, had two angel encounters in 1998, and then on 4-28-2012 I stopped breathing due to anaphylactic shock, I was with Jesus on the other side for a short time, and the Lord saved me by a miracle of the Holy Spirit!  It’s all in my book: “One Man’s Very Strange Supernatural Life” on Amazon!  Contact me if you would like a free copy!

Q: What is one word that describes you best? Explain.

A: Passionate!  I am passionate about Jesus Christ and helping people come to know Him.  Sometimes that can make me seem intense, but I am just pumped up in the Lord!

Q: If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be and why?

A: Celiac Disease.  Because it is a chronic illness and part of the fall and I fight it every day.

Q: What do you consider to be the priority of your life?

A: Fulfilling the Great Commission of Jesus Christ that He gave us in Matthew 28:18-20!

Q: Tell us your favorite author and why.

A: The Apostle Paul!  Because he wrote the majority of the New Testament and he wrote it in the power of the Holy Spirit!

Q: What is one thing that you wish everyone knew about you?

A: I have a tender heart and I am an introvert by nature, but I am also a lion for the Lord with great boldness and strength from the Holy Spirit!  I want everyone to know Jesus!  He loves you more than you could ever imagine!

My Nominees!

There are so many awesome blogs and I have met so many great brothers and sisters here that it is very difficult to choose only 11…so I chose 23!  I love you all and you have been a great encouragement to me in my walk with Christ!  God bless you all!

Beauty Beyond Bones

Melissa McLaughlin

Sealed in Christ

Adventures in Grace

Chaplapreneur

Kristi Ann’s Haven

Daily Thankful

Becoming His Tapestry

John Eli

Stand Tall For Christ

Abidings

Hope Song Blog

Maria Tatham

Betty Jo (The Journey)

God’s Whispers of Truth

Margaret from soulfood101blog

David Fischer

Jess Kidding

You Are Awesome!

My Journey

God Inspired Art & Quotes

Through Ink and Image

Love and Grace

I am going to stick with the 11 questions that Vickie asked me because they are great questions!  God bless you all!  Have a blessed and encouraging Friday!

Grace and peace to you all!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am really encouraged to be writing this post today!  I have been wanting to talk about John the Baptist for a long time.  He is a very interesting person in the Bible and he was prophesied about in Isaiah!  His main mission from the Lord was to prepare the way for Jesus, so it is very important to know about him!

In order to get the clearest picture of who John was we must start in the Old Testament Book of Isaiah.  Isaiah was written some 700 years before Jesus Christ was ever born, but it contains many prophecies regarding Jesus being the Messiah!  Before I get to the prophecy regarding John, let me share the prophecies regarding the birth of Jesus:

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”

Isaiah 7:14

“Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress.  In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan–

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.  You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.  For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.  Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.  He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.  The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”

Isaiah 9:1-7

“Immanuel” is a Hebrew name, which means “God with us.”  This is confirmed in the Book of John when the Apostle John wrote:

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John 1:14

It is also confirmed in Matthew:

“This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.  Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”–which means, “God with us.””

Matthew 1:18-23

Side note: To learn about how Jesus came from Abraham through the covenant of Isaac please read my post “Nothing Is Impossible.”  Jesus was also born through King David’s line (Matthew 1:1-17)!

Jesus is the Messiah, our Lord and Savior!  Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace and He reigns forever as King of kings and Lord of lords!  There are many more prophecies about Jesus in Isaiah and I cannot cover them all in this post.  The name Isaiah literally means “salvation of the Lord” and Jesus fulfilled all of the prophecies in Isaiah regarding the coming Messiah!  Read Isaiah chapter 53!  By His wounds we are healed!

The Israelites during the time of John the Baptist and Jesus knew the Scriptures in Isaiah and they were waiting for their coming Messiah.  So, when John the Baptist showed up on the scene to tell them He was coming, it was exciting and powerful!  Let’s jump into the book of John!

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  In him was life, and that life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John.  He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe.  He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.  The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.”

John 1:1-9

The Word is Jesus Christ.  He is the life and light of men!  John the Baptist was a witness to Jesus and he testified that Jesus is Lord!

By the way, before I go further, did you know that Jesus and John were cousins?  Yes!  Elizabeth (John’s mother) and Mary (Jesus’ mother) were cousins!  Elizabeth’s son prepared the way for the Lord and Mary’s son is the Lord!  John’s birth was also a miracle because Elizabeth had not been able to have children and she was very old.  When Mary was visited by the angel, Elizabeth was already in her sixth month of pregnancy, so Jesus and John were very close in age.  What a powerful family tree!  You can read about that in Luke chapter 1!  Check out what Zechariah, John’s father, said about his son after he was born:

“And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him…”

Luke 1:76

Isaiah prophesied exactly what John would say, again, some 700 years before John the Baptist and Jesus were ever born!

“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.  Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.

A voice of one calling:

“In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.  Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.  And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it.  For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.””

Isaiah 40:1-5

This is what John the Baptist had to say when he was questioned regarding his identity:

“Now this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was.  He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Christ.”

They asked him, “Then who are you?  Are you Elijah?”

He said, “I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?”

He answered, “No.”

Finally they said, “Who are you?  Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us.  What do you say about yourself?”

John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.'”

Now some Pharisees who had been sent questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

“I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know.  He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”

This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.”

John 1:19-28

That is one powerful testimony!  John boldly proclaimed that he was the voice preparing the way for Jesus that Isaiah had prophesied about!

Matthew records the coming of John the Baptist and the picture he paints is one of a man passionately living for God wild and free:

“In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”  This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

“A voice of one calling in the desert,

‘Prepare the way for the Lord,

make straight paths for him.'”

John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist.  His food was locusts and wild honey.  People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan.  Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.”

Matthew 3:1-6

Here is what John had to say about his baptizing:

“I baptize you with water for repentance.  But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.  His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Matthew 3:11-12

The next day after John is questioned, Jesus comes to him to be baptized!

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!  This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’  I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”

John 1:29-31

Matthew records what happened when John baptized Jesus and it is mighty!

“Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.  But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.”  Then John consented.

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water.  At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.  And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Matthew 3:13-17

That is incredible!  Heaven opened and they saw the Holy Spirit descend on Jesus and they heard God’s voice telling them who Jesus is!!!  John the Baptist was blessed indeed!

“Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.  I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’  I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.”

John 1:32-34

You see, that was John’s entire purpose in life!  He prepared the way for the Lord and made straight paths for him.  He did that by his testimony that Jesus Christ is the Son of God!

After Jesus was baptized, John was nearing the end of his ministry and his life.  He was around 30 years old and he was soon to be imprisoned and killed by King Herod.  Some who where John’s disciples questioned him because people were now going to Jesus to be baptized instead of John.  John is quick to remind them that he is not the Christ and they should look to Jesus now.

“To this John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.  You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.’  The bride belongs to the bridegroom.  The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice.  That joy is mine, and it is now complete.  He must become greater; I must become less.”

John 3:27-30

“The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.  Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”

John 3:35-36

Right after Jesus was baptized by John, the Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the devil for forty days and forty nights (Matthew 4:1-11).  At some point during that time, John the Baptist was arrested.  Jesus found out John had been arrested after His temptation by the devil.  It was at that time that the prophecy in Isaiah 9:1-2 was fulfilled!  Check it out!

“When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee.  Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali–to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:

“Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles–the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”

From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

Matthew 4:12-17

That prophecy was fulfilled because Jesus Christ is that “great light” and He lived among them!  Praise God!  From that time on Jesus began His ministry.  John the Baptist prepared the way for the Lord and he became less while always pointing to Jesus in everything he said and did!

Jesus even talked about John the Baptist in Matthew 11:1-19.  After being imprisoned John seemed to have doubts that Jesus was the One to come.  He was not able to see all that Jesus was doing, so Jesus comforted him and assured him that He had completed his work for the Lord.

“When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?”

Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.  Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”

Matthew 11:1-6

Jesus then says this about John:

“This is the one about whom it is written:

” ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’  I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.  From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.  For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.”

Matthew 11:10-13

Before the miracle where Jesus feeds 5,000 people with only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish, John was beheaded by King Herod.  You will find that history lesson recorded in Matthew 14:1-12.

John the Baptist did his duty for the Lord all the way to death.  The Lord created him to fulfill a prophecy that was written hundreds of years before his time, so he could prepare the way for Jesus, and that is exactly what John did!

My prayer is that all of us who believe would be like John the Baptist and always point to Jesus as we become less and He becomes more!  It’s all about Jesus because Jesus is Lord!  Jesus is our salvation and that is the number one truth John wanted the world to know!

Grace and peace to you all!

 

That is one beautiful Colorado hawk!  We see them flying around here every day, and sometimes they land on the tops of our big Austrian pine trees.  We back up to open space, so they love to hunt for snakes and mice here, which we appreciate greatly!  That is quite a question the Lord asked Job!  After everything Job suffered, the Lord speaks to him in chapters 38-41.  The Lord asks him a series of amazing questions that reveal God’s sovereignty over all of creation.  I am writing this today because I needed to be reminded to trust in the Lord and I want to share how He did that.

I have been struggling with discouragement, so this morning the Lord brought to mind a familiar verse that He has used to speak to me many times.  This is what I heard:

“Why are you downcast, O my soul?  Why so disturbed within me?  Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”

Psalm 43:5

When God speaks to my heart like that I stop, listen, and have a conversation with Him.  I let Him know how I am feeling and I give Him my heart.  He already knows right where we are at in life and He already knows every issue we are struggling with in our hearts, so it is best to be honest with Him.

The Lord has been speaking to me about trusting Him and putting my hope in Him for the last couple weeks.  He knows I have been discouraged about many things regarding this disease and what it has done to my life.  When I saw the photo of the hawk this morning, I looked up verses about hawks and God led me to the Book of Job.  He has used Job many times since I was diagnosed with Celiac on 1-6-2012.  Indeed I felt like Job for many years during the worst of my suffering.  I felt like Job and Hezekiah.

I have had more tough conversations with God than I’d like to admit over the last 6 years and 10 months.  I have asked God many hard questions, some of which I still don’t have answers to.  I was angry for a long time and just like Job I despised the day I was born.  I was angry at being created at all.  Even after the experiences with the demon, God’s angels, and the Holy Spirit miracle where God let me live, sometimes that anger and hurt still rise up and I wish I had never been born.  However, through the power of the Holy Spirit I rise up higher and praise God for giving me life!

Suffering is not something any of us want to go through, but I must trust that He is sovereign over every part of my life just as He is sovereign over all of creation.  That is what the verse about the hawk says to me.  It is not my wisdom that causes the hawk to take flight and spread his wings to the south.  It is God’s wisdom that does such things in His creation!

God loves us and He cares for us even when we don’t understand.  Even when we are hurting and angry.  God carries us and comforts us with His great wisdom and love!  Yes, I feel broken.  My heart is broken.  My body is broken.  But I am strong in Christ!  My life will never be the same again, I know that, but I also know the plans God has for me are going to be more than all I could ask or imagine.

Like Job, I must trust the Lord despite the loss.  Despite the loss of health, despite the loss of employment and income, and despite the loss of strength.  I have questioned God way too much during my time of suffering and I have said things in anger that I had to repent for many times.  I praise Him that He is slow to anger and we can approach Him with freedom and confidence.  If not, I would have been struck down a long time ago!  Praise the Lord for His grace and mercy through Jesus!

My heart feels as Job’s did when He replied to the Lord’s questions:

“I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.  You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?’  Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.”

Job 42:2-3

“You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’  My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.  Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”

Job 42:4-6

May the Lord accept that from my heart as well and may the Lord’s will be done!

I am nothing!  Jesus Christ is Lord!

Grace and peace to you all!

 

 

 

Our daughter had a choir performance last night, so I had to pick up our son from school yesterday.  As I drove west heading out of our neighborhood the sky was lit up beautifully and the rays of sun were shining down through the clouds.  I looked up at the magnificent brightness and I saw a cloud that looked just like an eagle soaring through the sky!  Check it out!  Do you see it?!  The sun is the head and the wings stretch out to the left and right with a perfect tail at the bottom!  I literally stopped my truck in the middle of the street (thankfully nobody was coming down the road) and I snapped that photo with my phone.  God is amazing!  My son said it also looks like an angel.  Either way, angel or eagle, it is so cool!  What do you think?!

Right when I saw it yesterday I thought of the verse regarding soaring on wings like eagles!  Celiac makes me very tired and weary at times and I have been fighting this disease every day for almost 7 years.  I have been feeling angry about the disease again lately, and that can make me feel angry at God.  Yes, even preachers get mad at God sometimes.  We are running out of money and I have no way to make a living due to the disease, so anxiety can creep in along with the anger too.  When I saw that image in the sky yesterday, the Lord reminded me to hope in Him and renew my strength!  I was laughing and praising God when I saw that because it was like He was speaking directly to my heart!  He knew I was struggling and I wasn’t really talking with Him about it either.  So what does God do?  He puts a big shining eagle in the sky to snap me out of it and speak to me!  God is so awesome!

“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Isaiah 40:30-31

It is awesome how God gets our attention and He will even use the sun and clouds to speak to us at times!  This life on earth is hard.  It is painful and sorrowful and it can knock even the strongest of us to our knees.  We must remember to put our hope in the Lord and He will renew our strength!  When I focus on Jesus and I put my trust in Him and lay down all my worries and fears at His feet, my heart and soul soar “on wings like eagles” and I am no longer tired or weary!  When I try to carry those burdens on my own they weigh me down and I begin to stumble and fall.  So, I will choose to give my heart, mind, and soul to the Lord today!  I want to soar high above all of my troubles and watch the Lord work it all out for good!  I know He has good plans for me!  The Lord is faithful and we can trust Him!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11

Trust in Jesus today no matter what you are going through!  He is trustworthy, faithful, and true, and He loves you!

Grace and peace to you all!

 

 

 

Lecrae is one of my favorite Christian artists!  He is bold and courageous in speaking the Truth of the Gospel and in tackling social issues of our time.  I even gave him a shout out at the end of my book!  I respect him for his strong stance in Christ!  His recording label “Reach Records” includes many talented Christian artists that make up the 116 crew (named after Romans 1:16).  This song called “The King” is a song that pumps me up every time I hear it!  It gets me up on my feet praising the True King!  It is from one of his older albums called “After the Music Stops.”  Now I know not everyone likes rap or hip-hop music.  I grew up with it and I love how God has broken through the darkness of the music industry with rap and hip-hop that glorifies His Name!  This is Holy Spirit anointed music right here!  Enjoy!

Yes, I bump this in my big black Chevy as I roll through town!  I’m not ashamed of Jesus!  So, turn this one up, and listen to the truth these men are preaching!  They rap quick, but it is smooth and they glorify Jesus all the way through!  This is for you Lord–you are the King of kings and Lord of lords and I willingly kneel before you and say, “Jesus is Lord!”

“Jesus Christ rule this thing!”

“Call Him the Messiah, Anointed One, the Savior, bro!”

-Quotes from “The King” by Lecrae (feat. Flame)

“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True.  With justice he judges and makes war.  His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns.  He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself.  He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.  The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.  Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations.  “He will rule them with an iron scepter.”  He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.  On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Revelation 19:11-16

Grace and peace to you all!