Image By Keith Clarkson

1 Kings 17:1 "And Elijah the Tishbite who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word."

 

Give Honor to Whom Honor is Due-

     As I am writing this, I was pondering on the title I chose and I thought I wish I would have titled it, Honoring our Heroes of the Faith. I looked up the word veteran and one of the meanings is an old soldier with long service. And the meaning of the word hero is a person admired for achievements and noble qualities. And one who shows great courage. I prefer the word hero, but I guess both are sufficient. Either one helps us remember those who have gone before us and passed that torch of faith in God right to us! God says, "Give honor to whom honor is due." These people even though they have lived in a different time in history than we are, deserved to be honored and remembered. Yes, they have received their honorable discharge already, but I still thank God for them and honor them. I am so thankful when going through my trials of faith I can read about how they stood in faith and trusted God. This gives me hope! God worked miracles through these people who I am doing a series on in the upcoming blog posts. I don't know how many I am going to cover, but if you stick with me and read all of these I am sure you will be blessed. It will strengthen your faith and give you the courage to trust God, as it does me. Now, all of these people or heroes I am going to remember all had one thing in common. They had one and the same Commander-in-Chief, and that was God. I know people have chosen to call the president commander-in-chief, but I know our only Commander-in-Chief is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is the only one that has the right to be called that. When we come to that knowledge we as individuals and countries are blessed. Last blog post I talked a little about Noah. I am going to go over more about him later. Today I want to remember good 'ole Elijah.

Good 'ole Elijah-    

     I thought it was interesting, actually kinda funny that we don't hear anything about Elijah until 1 Kings 17. Why I think it is funny is because all of a sudden Elijah comes on the scene and basically lays down the law to the wicked King Ahab right off the bat. The Word of God says in 1 Kings 16:33, "And Ahab made a 'grove (pagan shrine for pleasure), and Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him." Now let's read what Elijah says to him, in 1 Kings 17:1, "And Elijah the Tishbite who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word." This is for you if you have been waiting on the Lord to bless your ministry, get ready. God is about to do a suddenly and bring you to the forefront. All of a sudden there you are going to be playing your part at such a time as this in history, in fulfilling "His Story."

     Elijah was bold and had the courage to all of a sudden come into the picture and tell Ahab there will be no rain but according to his word. Talk about trusting God. Elijah did! I was just thinking as I am writing this, where was Elijah before, and what was he doing before he went to Ahab? The Bible doesn't say anything about him up until then. I bet you he was being prepared all of those years before. He probably was being hidden by God. He may have been waiting on God to open the curtain and say, Hey, Elijah, it's your turn. Go to that wicked King Ahab and let him know he isn't in control, but I Am! Like God told Moses to say to the children of Israel, "I Am" hath sent me unto you.

 I Hear the Sound of Abundance-    

     Elijah was just as human as we are. He was a normal man but was chosen, called, anointed, and appointed by God. In James 5:15-17 he says, "And the prayer of faith shall 'save (heal) the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he has committed any sins, they shall be forgiven him. 16. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The 'effectual (unceasing) fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17. Elijah was a man subject to 'like (the same) passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 18. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit." Remember right when Elijah came on the scene he told King Ahab that it was not going to rain until he (Elijah) said so? I love the story in 1 Kings 18:41-46 It rained not until three and a half years later. Now, it's about to rain. Let's read. 41. "And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of 'abundance (much)of rain. 42. So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel, and he cast himself down upon the earth and put his face between his knees. 43. And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said There is nothing. And he (Elijah) said Go again seven times. 44. And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there arises a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stops thee not. 45. And it came to pass in the meanwhile, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. 46. And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah: and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel." 

     Talk about having Faith, Elijah did! The first thing Elijah said was, There was going to be no rain until he called it. Three and a half years later he tells Ahab to go eat and drink there is going to be an abundance of rain. Ahab went up, I guess to Mount Carmel too. He went up to go eat and drink. Probably celebrate. And Elijah went up to Carmel to pray. Now, there wasn't even a cloud in the sky. Elijah and his servant went up to Mount Carmel. Elijah said an abundance of rain was coming, it was coming. Elijah told his servant to go look seven times. Sure enough, the servant came back to Elijah and said, There is a cloud the size of a man's hand. Elijah told his servant to go up and tell Ahab to prepare his chariot and get thee down to beat the rain. The heaven was black with clouds, wind, and great rain. Meanwhile, the hand of the Lord came upon Elijah and he outran Ahab's chariot and beat him to the entrance at the gate of Jezreel.

     I hear the sound of an abundance of blessings on you! Whoever you are reading this Blessings are overtaking you, now in the name of Jesus! Amen!

       

                             

Joseph J. Cotton

      

 Believe First then You Will See-    

     I love this story! When God promises you something, you can mark his words it is going to happen! You cannot go by what your circumstances look like. Your situation may look the total opposite of what the Lord says. That is what faith is- believing first and then you will see it come to pass. Take him at his word, and trust him! Thank God that it is already done what he told you he was going to do. It will manifest! We need to guard our tongues and make sure what we are speaking is in agreement with God. He has promised you something, keep thanking him for doing it, it is already done. Stay in agreement with God and it will show up.  

     I want to cover another story of Elijah. Wait, I just thought of something. What stories are people going to be telling of you, after you are gone? Do you have any signs you have faith in God? Jesus says those that believe signs shall follow them. They shall cast out demons. They shall take up serpents and no deadly thing shall harm them. They shall speak with new tongues. They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover. Let's go back to when Elijah first came on the scene "after" he told Ahab that it wasn't going to rain unless he said so in verses 2-7 1 Kings 17:2 says, "And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, 3. Get thee 'hence (from here), and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. 4. And it shall be, that thou shall drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. 5. So he went and did according unto the word of the Lord, for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith that is before Jordan. 6. And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening, and he drank of the brook. 7. And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land." 

Are you being Hidden by God?-

     There are some good lessons in these stories of one of our awesome veterans of the faith, Elijah. Right after he gave the word of the Lord to that wicked King Ahab, the Lord gave him directions to go to Cherith. The Lord told him to hide there. I wonder why the Lord told him to hide there? Only God knows! You may be in a place like that right now. You may be wondering why doesn't anyone see my Youtube channel, my blogs, my books, or anything else that I have out there. You have even asked the Lord am I hidden, does anyone even see my stuff? Yes, you probably are hidden for a brief moment for your protection, while God is working again behind the scenes. 

Has Your Brook Dried Up?-

     Are you in a place as Elijah was? Has your brook dried up? You know the Lord sent you there, but now the provision has dried up. You are worrying yourself sick about how you are going to survive. Your means of providing for yourself just isn't there. Maybe you are on a job that you once enjoyed and now you can't stand to be there.  You feel like it is time to move on. God may be about to move you on to something better. Just listen for his voice. Maybe you have already heard him tell you to quit your job. Don't be scared or worried about how you are going to pay your bills. God knew that brook was going to dry up. God allowed it to dry up. God would have just kept water in it to keep sustaining Elijah. He didn't forget about him. The brook Cherith was only a temporary place for a season. If God ever told you to quit your job or you lose it somehow, don't worry, God can be trusted! Always remember this story of Elijah, how God "commanded" the ravens to feed Elijah. God also made the brook fresh water so Elijah could drink from it and not get sick. Never forget that it was God who created this world, and every living thing in it.

Hans

God is the same Yesterday, Today, and Forever-

     Yes, it appears in the natural that Elijah is in trouble. His provision dried up. Elijah knew the same God that told him to go to Cherith was the same God that was going to instruct him on what to do next and where to go now. He knew his God was not going to leave him high and dry. And sure enough, 1 Kings 17:8-16 says, "And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, 9. Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongs to Zidon, and dwell there behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to 'sustain (feed) thee. 10. So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman "was" there gathering sticks, and he called to her and said, 'Fetch (bring) me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. 11. And as she was going to bring it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a 'morsel (piece) of bread in thy hand. 12. And she said, As the Lord thy God lives, I have not a cake but a handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a jar and behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. 13. And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. 14. For thus says the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth. 15. And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat 'many days (a full year). 16. And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah."

Alexa Pixabay Images
 

  

God Supplies All of our Needs-

     Check out how God supplied Elijah's needs. He "commanded" a widow woman to 'sustain (feed) him. This widow woman was special because the bible says, in Luke 4:24-26 "And he (Jesus) said,  Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. 25. But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah when the heaven was shut up three years and six months when great famine was throughout all the land. 26. But unto none of them was Elijah sent except unto Sa rep ti, a city of Sidon unto a woman that was a widow." Why was Elijah only sent to her out of all of the widows in that land? Jesus tells us in verse 24. No prophet is accepted in his own country. That one widow woman right there was special because God knew she was going to believe and accept that Elijah was a true prophet of God! We will read about that further on as we read more of how she told Elijah she knew now he was a true prophet of God, after the next story. But getting back to how faithful our God is in supplying our needs. Look how God ordered Elijah's steps to where he had already made provision. The word of God says, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delighteth in his way." Elijah had a "relationship" with God, and he knew his voice. God instructed him to go to Cherith. God commanded the ravens to feed him there. The brook dried up and the Lord instructed him to go to Zarephath where he commanded a widow woman to feed him. In all my years of reading my bible, I never noticed until now as I am writing this, how God "commanded" the ravens and the widow woman to 'feed or sustain Elijah. Doesn't that release you of any worry or fear? God sees us every step of the way and he has gone before us preparing whatever we are going to need to do what he has called us to do! We do not have to worry and fear! He will have the right people supporting us and he is taking care of everything. We just have to get to know his voice and follow him. 

Prawny

No Need to Worry or Fear- 

     When the time comes and there is a famine on this land, you have no need to worry or fear. Read Psalms 91 KJV. We can look at all of these great men and women of the faith who have gone on before us. We can see how God brought them through some pretty scary situations. God is no respecter of persons. If we will have faith in God like these people he will do the same for us! Faith is what pleases God. Having a relationship with Father God and Trusting him is what these heroes of the faith had. They were willing to "go" when God told them to go. They were willing to "say" what God wanted them to say, even to kings. They were willing to "do" whatever God instructed them to do. They knew he had their best interests at heart, and he saw the whole picture. They were also ready to "be" what he said they would be. He told Abraham he was a father of many nations. Abraham believed. I want to be like Abraham, Noah, Elijah, and others. Don't you?

Part 2 coming soon!

My email is hopefulhappyandwhole@gmail.com

I would love to hear from you!

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

 

    Playing Hide and Seek-

     I have been waiting on something for quite a while now that Father God has promised me, and he said, "The time is now." Praise God! However, I feel nervous today, and anxious. I have been quoting the Word of God and Praising him while I am waiting, but I still feel ansy, (yeah, Grammarly, I know it is not a word.) If I want to say, "ansy", I will. It's ok! I feel as though I am standing in a dark forest, behind a skinny, tall pine tree, trying to hide. Have you ever tried to hide behind a pine tree,  a skinny one, while playing hide and seek? It doesn't work. I used to think my nose was sticking out. Today I felt like a soldier hiding behind a pine tree with enemies lurking all around me. I felt as though I am looking around the tree dodging this enemy and that enemy. While at the same time I was anxiously looking up to the sky for my Commander-in-Chief to send a helicopter to drop down my provision. I felt also, that God was being silent, but watching me. I know the teacher is always silent during a test. I know everything is in God's perfect timing, but I really need him to send provision or work a miracle somehow, like "yesterday".

Please, Hurry Lord!

     I personally with my natural eyes do not see any way except up for provision to happen. In the natural, I appear to be in trouble! I really need my Commander-in-Chiefs' (Jesus Christ), help right now! Not tomorrow, but today. So, with my eyes of faith, I know God is making a way or has a way already planned. I know that what he has promised me is already done! It's just got to manifest on this earth. I am celebrating and rejoicing, but it's like okay, please, hurry Lord. I know you aren't going to fail me. I Love you. I trust you, please, hurry! I know I am not the only one that has ever felt like this or been through this. You may even be going through this at the moment. Only you know, but rest assured God knows! He sees you! You are not alone! You have Father God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, and Angels all around you. The Word of God says, "The angel of the Lord encamps round about them who fear him and delivers them." You have Heaven watching you and backing you up! They are cheering you on and encouraging you to keep believing and keep going. Have faith and don't give up. Father God is faithful! Jesus is not a man that he should lie to you. If he told you he was going to do it, he will do it. It's done!

Honoring our Heroes-

     We can take a lesson from all of those heroes of the faith who have gone before us. They stood brave and strong and fought the good fight of faith and didn't give up. They have been where we are right now in our journey. They are an example to us to keep standing in our faith and belief in God. They trusted God and he brought them out with a mighty outstretched arm. He made a way when the Israelites came up to the Red Sea with nowhere to go and the enemy coming fast up behind. He parted the Red Sea. He made a way out of no way. He delivered them from lions. God even brought provision down from the sky. So as we honor some of our heroes and veterans of the faith that have gone on before us, I would like to say, "To God Be All Of The Glory, Honor, and Praise!" We acknowledge that it was all him, but he does say, to give honor to whom honor is due. He does want us to be reminded of how they stood in faith and follow them. So without further ado. Let's honor some of our veterans of the Faith today!

Noah-

     Noah lived in a time probably pretty much like it is today! The Bible says in Genesis 6:5 "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart." Let's look at what verse 11-13 says, "The earth also was 'corrupt (wasting) before God, and the earth was filled with violence. 12. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. 13. And God said unto Noah, "The end of all flesh has come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them from the earth." 

     God said that back then to Noah, what do you think he is saying to us today? When he looks on this earth right now in 2022, do you think he is saying the same thing, that the earth is 'corrupt (wasting) and filled with violence through them? I think so! It looks pretty much the same to me. If Noah could stand in faith in his day, we should be able to do, likewise. 

     There was one man that the Lord could count on out of all of them back then, and it was Noah. Genesis 6: 8,9 says, "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. 9. These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God." 

     Think how Noah must have felt building that Ark. Do you think he thought, wow, this is taking longer than I thought? Or I wonder how he felt year after year the people ignored him. I am sure they mocked him, and they probably said he was crazy. I wonder also, if anyone said, Hey, Noah, why don't you get a "real" job? Or I wonder if they shook their head at him and thought he was wasting his time and he was delusional? Do you think people turned their nose down to him and thought they were better than "him" because he wasn't chasing money? Follow Me For More About This On Next Blog.

Image By: Coco Paris Sienne (Pixabay)

 

Shall He Find Faith?

     Luke 18: 8 KJV "I tell you that he will avenge then 'speedily (at once). Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, shall he find faith on the earth?"

1. The Devils Believe and Tremble - 

     If you think you are going to coast into Heaven, you are believing a lie. The Bible says the devils believe in God and tremble. What is it that sets people apart from just saying you believe in God like the devils do? It's Faith! Faith in Jesus! What "he" has done for you on the cross, personally. It's the kind of faith in him that moves you to really "know" him. Having a real relationship is what it is about. To where you commit your whole self to him. Where you love him with your all. It is more than just going to a church building and just saying, yes, I believe in God or yes, I believe there is a higher being somewhere. Or yes, I believe in the big man upstairs. Many, many souls are perishing on earth and in Hell already by just claiming they believe in God, but do not have a relationship with Jesus. Some say, isn't that all you got to do, is believe? What is the kind of faith that Jesus is wanting to see when he comes? Endure to the end with me, and we will see. 

2. Keep the Faith! - 

     I used to know someone who would say, "Keep the Faith", instead of saying goodbye. He would say that Keep the Faith. I didn't really know this person. He was an acquaintance and a friend of a friend of mine. Now I am not judging but this person didn't know Jesus and didn't want to know Jesus, but he would say, keep the faith. I would wonder why he would say that because he didn't have the true faith that matters, I mean you can say and think you are keeping the "faith", but if it isn't faith in Jesus, it's not going to matter. 

3. Faith and Works? - 

     Matthew 7: 21-23 Jesus says, "Not every one that says to me, Lord, Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22. Many will say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not 'prophecied (preached) in thy name? and in thy name have cast out 'devils (demons)? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23. And then will I profess unto them, I have never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24. Therefore whosoever hears these sayings of mine and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock. 25. And the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house; and it fell not; For it was founded upon a rock. 26. And every one that hears these sayings of mine, and does them not, shall be 'likened (the same as) unto a foolish man which built his house upon the sand. 27. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, and it fell, and 'great (terrible) was the fall of it."

4. Faith that Moves You!

      When Jesus says, Shall I find faith on the earth when he comes, he is talking about the kind of faith in him that moves you to obey him. The faith that moves you inside to love him, to sacrifice, to please him. Faith that will move you to seek him with your heart, soul, spirit, and strength. Father God is seeking those who worship him in Spirit and in Truth. Read John chapter 4 KJV. Jesus is talking about the Faith that will make you worship him and nothing else! Jesus is talking about the Faith that will move you to endure to the end. Faith that will make you persistent! You ever heard that saying, "Have Bull Dog Faith?" A Bull Dog will hang on with everything it has in him. With all of his might. I encourage you to read Hebrews 11.

     Hebrews 11: 6 says, "But without Faith, it is impossible to please him. For he that comes to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that seek him diligently seek him." Do you seek him? Do you cling to him for dear life? You know when you meet someone and fall in love, you want to know everything about that one. If you care about your relationship you want to spend time with them and know what pleases them, don't you? I hope! All the more we need to be like that with our relationship with Jesus.

5. Faith That Persists-

     We were reading Luke 18 earlier in that same chapter, verses 1- 8 Jesus says, "And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray and not 'faint (lose heart). 2. Saying, There was in a city a judge which feared not God, neither regarded man; 3. And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, 'Avenge me (help me against) mine adversary. 4. And he would not for a while but thought within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5. Yet, because of this widow troubles me; I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. 6. And the Lord said, Hear what the 'unjust (corrupt) judge say, 7. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cries day and night unto him, though He bears long with them? 8. I tell you that he will avenge them 'speedily (at once). Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, shall he find faith on the earth?"

     This widow had persistence! She had that kind of faith that pleases God! She had the kind of faith that Jesus is talking about. Faith that persists and endures to the end. Jesus says, "Because sin shall abound the love of many shall wax cold, but he that endures to the end, the same shall be saved." This widow had faith that held on until she received her miracle! She held on until she was avenged of her enemy! Even by a judge that did not fear God, nor regard man. When you have this kind of faith, you do not have to see it first or have a sign. You just know that if you keep going, keep persisting, keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking, that door will be opened! You will get a miracle! God can make some sinner out there give you what you need! When you persist and put your faith in Jesus, that he is a God of Justice to avenge you of your enemy, Satan, you will not be disappointed! When you do not give up because you know that God is a good God and He is Faithful, you will be rewarded! When you put your Faith and Trust in Jesus he will not fail you! 

6. Faith That Lifts Up Jesus!- 

     When we look around this world today, in these times we are in, how many do you see that have the kind of faith that lifts up Jesus alone? I see a lot of churches being built. I see many souls claiming to know God. Famous celebrities are "preaching" and going to church. Maybe you know who I am talking about. That is going to be another article or blog. However, I do not see too many who are lifting up Jesus! Some I have seen speak of "faith" but leave out Jesus, and lift up themselves. I have seen some businessmen who go to church just to "network". They say it is good for their business, However, God knows our hearts and he checks our motives whether what we do is for him or ourselves.

7. A New Age - A New Faith?

     I was talking about something to my 30-year old daughter, recently, something about me coming from the "old" school. She said, "I" need to get real, this is a New Age we are in, Mother, and things are different now than they used to be!" She proceeded to say that "her" generation does things differently than the "old" school. I kinda muttered under my breath, yeah, and your generation is causing confusion, chaos, and disorder! I didn't say it, though! I know there may be some her age reading or listening to this, but most of the younger generation that I have seen do not have a clue about putting their faith in Jesus, and the ones I have tried to talk too, are not teachable but are rebellious as they come! It breaks my heart! I hope and pray if you are of the younger generation that you do not get offended at what I said. My neck of the woods may be different than yours! I pray you are one of the few "teachable" ones of the younger generation. Jesus says, "Broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many there be that go in thereat. Straight and Narrow is the way that leads to life and few there be that find it." I pray you are one of the few that find life! In Jesus' name! Amen!

      This is why I have a blog called, "Passing On the Torch of Faith!" I am still here to Pass On the Torch of Faith to the next generation! You guys are "fighters"! But God, wants you to use that fire for him! He put you here for such a time as this! You are here for a reason, a purpose! God's Purpose!

8. Fight to Keep the Faith in Jesus!

     I have a Blog called, Passing On the Torch of Faith. A Website called, Inspirational eBooks- Home Improvement For The Times We Are In

https://www.homeimprovementforthetimeswearein.com/

 

I have a Podcast https://podpoint.com/it-s-all-about-jesus

I have a YouTube Channel (actually a couple of them). https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSVuCtzoYOD7swmVMtgtTrQ

Also, books are out there! And the only reason I am saying this right now is definitely not to lift myself up, but to Give God All Of the Glory! This is why the devil hates me! This is why it takes me a while to write a blog post, or video, or podcast. I really battle with distraction! Not only that, the devil has tried to take my life many, many times. This is why I have to fight to keep my faith in Jesus! This is why Satan tries to steal my faith in Jesus! He tries! But has not succeeded! I will explain why next blog post! It is all because of  JESUS! Praise God! Watch for the next blog for Part 2 of this subject. God Bless You!

 

 

Keeping It Real

     It has been a while since I have been able to write here my blog. Life goes way too fast, doesn't it? It does for me. I know my purpose for being here is to worship God, lift up Jesus, and snatch people out of the darkness and bring them into the glorious light of the gospel. However, it is not that easy as it sounds. It is a fight! The Devil hates anyone who loves Jesus! Actually, he hates everybody because he hates God! He is out to destroy, steal, and kill everyone. He wants everyone in Hell with him! However, when you love Jesus and care about souls, Satan will hate you even more! He will do anything and everything to stop someone from spreading the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Oh! He doesn't care if someone goes to a church building, just don't be part of God's true church! He doesn't care if someone is religious. He just doesn't want us giving our lives to Jesus! Satan will allow you to sit on the same church pew to where the church pew is starting to stinketh from your foul spirit of religion! That is why they call it a "pew"! Satan is laughing about it until you realize there is more to this than just going to a church building. When you begin to get a hunger for more and realize it is Jesus you are hungry for and start pursuing him, then the fight is on!  Satan will try everything he can to stop you! But, don't let him! Don't settle for religion! Just going to a church building does not mean you know Jesus. No! Realize you are a sinner in need of a Savior. Romans 3:23 KJV bible says, "For we have all fallen and come short of the Glory of God." If you have been in church maybe all of your life and you have never realized you were born a sinner in need of a Savior, then I encourage you, to ask Jesus to save you of your sin. Thank him for dying for you on the cross for your sins, and ask him to come into your heart and life and to forgive you. Ask him to wash you clean with his blood and write your name in his Lamb's Book of Life so when you pass away you will be assured of a home in Heaven. As Peter says, "Repent and be baptized every one of you for the remission of your sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Repent means to turn away from your sin and be baptized. Even Jesus was baptized in water in the river Jordan by John the Baptist. He was dunked, not sprinkled like some "religions" do! He was dunked all the way under! Matthew 3:11-17 says, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 12. Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. 13. Then comes Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14. But John stopped him saying, I have to be baptized of thee and come thou to me? 15. And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now, for thus it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he permitted him. 16. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water, and, lo, the heavens opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him. 17. And lo a voice from Heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Did you catch that what Jesus said, "Suffer it to be so now, for thus it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness?" Then after he was obedient to God by being baptized in water (leaving us an example of what to do to fulfill all righteousness and to please God) the Heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him like a dove. Listen to what it goes on to say in the next verse in chapter 4 verse 1. "Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil." Jesus also said, (it becomes us) to fulfill all righteousness. In other words, just as he needed the Heavens opened and he needed the Holy Spirit here with him he needed to be obedient to have God's fulness of the Spirit. He was about to be led into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. He would not have made it without God's Holy Spirit. When Jesus came up out of that water the Heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him and God spoke from Heaven saying, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Heaven is watching you and anticipating for you to be obedient to God if you haven't asked Jesus to forgive you of your sins and repented and been baptized to receive remission of sins and to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost then please do so. All of Heaven loves you! The bible says the angels rejoice when one sinner repents. It will become you to obey God because you are going to need the fulness of God in these days coming ahead. Just as Jesus was led right after into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan, you do not know what is up ahead. You will need Father God, Jesus Christ, and Holy Ghost for strength to overcome Satan! You will need an open Heaven over your head and over your family! You will not make it on your own! Make Jesus your Savior and Lord and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. He is your helper, read John 16: 7-16 KJV. And Jude 17-21 says, "But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken in the past by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18. How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly passions. 19. These are they who cause divisions, sensual, having not the Spirit. 20. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost. 21. Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." This is where it gets serious! We are at the beginning of the end! God is wrapping this thing up! The Word of the Living God tells us right there that there will be mockers in the last time (days) walking after their own ungodly passions having not Spirit. Then there those who are building up their most holy faith praying in the Holy Ghost. I know I am one of those building up my faith, praying in the Holy Ghost. I thank Father God so much for Jesus and for the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues and helping me keep love in my heart in these last days. People can be mean as junkyard dogs sometimes. God tells us in verse 21. Keep yourselves in the love of God. Jesus tells us in Matthew 24 speaking of the last day, "Because sin shall about the love of many shall wax cold. But he that endures to the end the same shall be saved." Do you think you can keep yourself in the love of God without the Holy Ghost? I don't think so! It is going to be hard! People are either a Mocker (Anti-Christ Spirit) or a Holy Ghost Filled Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ in these last days. Which one are you? It is up to each of us to choose. Choose Wisely! Jesus Loves You! Choose Him! God Bless You!

     

     

 

  

You Are One Of A Kind!

     Someone needs to hear this! You are Beautiful and One of a Kind! There is no one like you on the face of this earth! Oh! Someone may have told you that you are just like your daddy, or you are just like your mother! Maybe they have told you that in a critical way, but don't believe that any longer! You are You! No one is exactly like you! You are Special and You are Loved!

          

Photo by sergio souza from Pexels

     Maybe, you have been controlled, pushed around, and bullied most of your life, and lately, you have felt so low. Lower than you have ever been in your life! You may have come to the conclusion that not even one person really loves you! Just know right now that you "are" loved! You are very much loved by the one who created this beautiful world we live in. Even though sometimes it doesn't seem like such a beautiful world, it is! The very one that put the stars in their place and even named them by name, put you here, for such a time as this! He knows where you are at and he knows what you are going through. He has a purpose for you being here! You are special. God loves you! He wanted to remind you. 

2 Corinthians 13: 11-14 KJV

Ephesians 3: 11- 21 KJV

 THE FALLING AWAY

     In the bible in 2 Thessalonians 2: 2,3 Paul says, "That ye be not soon 'shaken (upset) in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition."

     What does "falling away" mean? Paul is talking about falling away from the faith. In the Long-man dictionary, one definition of falling away means to 

become separated from something after being fixed to it. In the Merriam/Webster dictionary it means: 1. a. to withdraw friendship or support. b. to renounce one's faith. 2. a. to diminish gradually in size. b. to drift off a course. 

 

     Falling away means to be separated from something you were once fixed to. Also, to denounce one's faith. I do not know how many, recently, that I have seen who said they were "renouncing" their faith in God. Denounce means to: publicly declare to be wrong or evil. And inform against. Renounce means to: formally declare ones abandonment to. I don't know what has made them come to that conclusion where they choose openly to be separated from God. I can tell you one reason I believe God is showing me for many falling away from the faith, is because they have been taught the "rapture" is going to happen before they have to go through any tribulation or trouble. I was taught that teaching when I was growing up when I had "religion". I did not have a "relationship" with Jesus until I was twenty-eight years old. After I met Jesus and he called me to write books, and teach, it was then that the Holy Spirit taught me Christians "are" going to have to go through some junk. We are going to have to go through part of the Tribulation. Let me explain before you go get all upset with me. 

     The Holy Spirit told me many in the churches are going to be deceived in thinking that he (Jesus) is going to beam them off of that pew, out of here before they go through the Tribulation. Ephesians 6 says, "Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and 'having done all (overcome all), to stand." 

    It bothers or troubles me when I hear preachers tell their congregation that they aren't going to go through the Tribulation period. It deeply concerns me that they tell them they are not going to have to go through any famine or pestilences, or anything including any persecution because Christians are going to be outta here "before" any of that stuff happens. Oh! Big name preachers are telling that to many people. Every time I hear it I cringe and think, "What is it, why are they telling their congregation that? Do they think they have "one-up" on people that they can "assure them" that Jesus is coming "before" the Tribulation period? Well-known preachers have told many people that they do not have to worry about anything, that we are going to be in Heaven before then. Preachers who are not preparing their flock for persecution, trouble, or tribulation are doing their flock a grave injustice by not helping them be prepared! Most of them are world-wide preachers.Those who preach that are going to be the cause of many souls falling away from the faith when they are being persecuted and Jesus has not returned yet! Let me explain further. 

But first, here is the link to get a copy of my book that will help you be spiritually prepared for the days ahead. It's called, "Raising up of an Army! One by One! By Sheryl M. Franks Get your copy today! 

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Raising+up+of+an+Army+by+Sheryl+M.+Franks&i=stripbooks&ref=nb_sb_noss

     

     When people who have listened to you informing them over and over that the rapture is going to happen "before" the Tribulation, they are not going to be prepared for any spiritual attack! What they are going to be thinking is Jesus let me down! My pastor let me down! I thought he would come back by now and beam me outta here! They are going to be angry, confused, bitter, and fearful instead of standing in their faith in God with their armor on. Matthew 13: 20, 21 says, "But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that hears the word, and anon with joy receives it. 21. Yet has he no root in himself, but endures for a while for when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, by and by he is 'offended (stumbles). This is possibly why the "falling away" happens. Cause what happens when all of these people are taught Jesus is coming "before" the Tribulation and they are still here being persecuted and snatched out of the synagogues or churches like Jesus says in John 16: 1,2 "These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be 'offended (upset). 2. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time comes that whosoever kills you will think that he does God service." Get ready for Jesus to return or for whenever your time comes to pass on into eternity. So whenever it happens and however it happens you will know for sure you are ready. Stand and endure to the end whenever that happens to be for you, with all of your armor on! 

     Don't get me wrong, I am definitely watching and waiting for my Jesus to return, however, I am standing whether he comes in the second watch, or third watch. Jesus himself tells us how it is going to be before he comes back, in Matthew 24. Prayerfully read this chapter.  

     Over and over Jesus is telling us to watch. In Luke 12: 38- 40 Jesus says, "And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. 39. And this know, that if the owner of the house had known what hour the thief would come he would have watched, and not have allowed his house to be broken into. 40. Be ye therefore ready also; for the Son of man comes at an hour when ye think not."

     

     Basically, Jesus is saying is to Watch and be ready whenever I return. He is saying to just be ready and stay ready for we do not know the day or hour. Just keep looking up and stay ready no matter what you go through on this earth until then. Purpose it in your heart whether he comes the second watch, or third watch, you will be ready! Jesus will find you faithful to him! I love Jesus and am thanking him for helping me and my family to stand and endure to the very end, whether it is Pre-Trib, Mid-Trib or whenever! I just want Jesus to find me and my family faithful in standing for him until we are in Heaven!

     Jesus encourages us to endure. He says in Matthew 24: 12, 13 "And because 'iniquity (sin) shall abound, the love of  many shall wax cold. 13. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."Jesus wants us to purpose it in our hearts and spirit that we are going to stand strong and endure whatever happens on earth until the end (until we are in Heaven)! Jesus is saying to us all to just get ready and stay ready for Heaven whether you go by the rapture of by death. It is just that simple! 

     In 2009 I went back to school to become a Licensed Massage Therapist. It was an eight month course, with a lot of teaching crammed into eight months. I didn't know it was so much to it when I joined. I "informed" everyone to not ask me to go anywhere or no babysitting or anything until I had that license in my hand! I did not say until I finished the eight month course. No, I said until I passed the main test and had that license in my hand! Actually, until I had a regular job after also, and was on a schedule! I was determined I was not going to be distracted but I was enduring to the very end of whatever that entailed! That is what the Lord Jesus wants from us concerning these last days on this earth!

     I want to give you some scriptures the Holy Spirit led me to. After I met Jesus and was filled with his Holy Spirit at age twenty-eight, he changed what I was taught concerning the rapture.

1 Thessalonians 4: 16-18 "For the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." 

1 Corinthians 51, 52 says, "Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed, 52. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."

     I was led by the Holy Spirit to that verse right there where he says, "Behold, I show you a mystery;..."The words mystery and last trump jumped out at me! So I started searching. I was led to read the book of Revelation. I read about the seven seals. 

First seal - white horse with a rider with a bow and a crown (the Anti-Christ) conquering and to conquer.  

Second seal- red horse - war. 

Third Seal - black horse-famine. 

Fourth horse - pale horse - fourth part of the earth - Death. It kills a fourth part of the earth, with sword, and hunger, and with death, and with the wild beasts of the earth. Some say the pale color is greenish meaning pestilence or plague.  

Fifth seal - persecution of the saints - martydom. 

Sixth seal - a violent earthquake, sun becomes black and moon red as blood, stars of heaven fall to the earth, the heaven departs as a scroll and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 

Seventh seal - Silence for half an hour then prayers of the saints. An angel takes a censer filled with fire off of the altar and casts it to the earth and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake. 

     After those seven seals were opened John saw seven angels with seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. Now, remember what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:52 "at the last trump". We are just now getting to the seven angels with seven trumpets. So, at the last trumpet. 

     In Revelation 8 "The first angel sounded the trumpet and there followed hail and fire with blood- cast upon the earth- third part of trees burnt up and all green grass burnt up. 

Second angel sounded the trumpet - John saw as if a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea- the third part of the sea became blood; - third part of creatures in the sea, died, third part of ships in the sea were destroyed.  

Third angel sounded the trumpet- there fell a great star from heaven burning as a lamp, it fell upon the third part of the rivers and fountains of waters, the name of the star is called, Wormwood. Many men died because the waters were poisonous.

The Fourth angel sounded the trumpet - third part of the sun, the moon, the stars was darkened, the day shone not for a third part and the night also. 

Listen what the angel says in Revelation 8: 13 John says, "And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!" There is three more angels with three more trumpets. Remember what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15: 52 (at the last trump). Let's see what happens with the fifth, sixth, and seventh trump. 

The Fifth angel sounded the trumpet - a star fell from heaven- to him was given the key to the bottomless pit- he opened the pit and there arose smoke as of a great furnace; the sun and the air were darkened- there came out of the smoke locusts with the power of scorpions to torment for five months those who do not have the seal of "God" on them (those who have not given their lives to Jesus). I believe it is fallen angels tormenting them for five months, as the torment of a scorpion when he strikes a man. They are given orders not to kill. Not to hurt the grass or the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree. They have a king over them Abaddon or Apollyon which is the angel of the bottomless pit.

The Sixth angel sounded the trumpet - a voice sounded from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God. the four angels which are bound at the great river Euphrates are Loosed that have been prepared or waiting there. John saw an army of 200 million mounted troops killed a third of all mankind.

Before I talk about the seventh and last trumpet to sound let's go to Revelation 10, after the seven "seals" and after sixth trumpets have already sounded, and there is still one "trumpet" left. The last and final one, look at what the Holy Spirit showed me. John says in Revelation 10: 5-7 "And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, 6. And sware by him that lives for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: 7. But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the 'mystery (secret plan) of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets." 

Look at what John says in the verses above, "before" the seventh and last trumpet! 

Also, remember what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:51,52 "Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. 52. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed."

In the above verses in Revelation 10 the angel swore by he who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and earth and all things therein, that there should be time no longer. Then look at what the angel says next, v. 7. But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel (the last angel with the last trumpet), when he shall "begin" to sound, the 'mystery (secret plan) of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

Wow! That tells us right there the rapture is going to happen right when the angel begins to sound that last trumpet. The angel says, That there should be time no longer! But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound. The 'mystery or secret plan of God should be finished as he hath declared to his servants the prophets. Praise God! Jesus says, "No one knows the day or the hour." He does say we can know about when or around the time or season we can expect it to happen. Oh! There is more he showed me! We will read what happens at the seventh and last trumpet.

I am so excited! Can you see what Holy Spirit is revealing to us there? Let's see what is going on in Heaven right when the last trumpet begins to sound. Remember 1 Corinthians 15:52 (at the last trump). Here we go. In the next chapter, Revelation 11: 1-12 the Two witnesses have come on the scene. God calls them back to Heaven in verse 12. Then that same hour there was a great earthquake and the tenth part of the city were slain of men seven thousand: and the "remnant" were frightened, and gave glory to the God of Heaven. Verse 14 says, 

"The second 'woe (trouble) is past; and behold, the third woe comes quickly." Ok! Look at what happens in the next verse! Verse 15. We Go Home!

Revelation 11:15, John says, "And the Seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. 

The Seventh and last trumpet -  The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. Let's go ahead and read the rest of this chapter. This is after the last trump and the rapture takes place verses 16-19.

16. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshiped God. 17. Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which are, and was, and art to come, because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast  reigned. 18. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou should give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints and them that fear thy name, small and great; and should destroy them which destroy the earth. 19. And the temple of God was opened in Heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thundering's, and an earthquake, and great hail." Look at what it says, thy wrath is come, the time of the dead to be "judged", and it was then that the servants the prophets and saints received their "reward". 

     Praise God! Jesus has delivered us from the wrath to come! 1 Thessalonians 1: 10 says, "And to wait for his Son from Heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come." After the seven seals and the seven angels with seven trumpets and we have gone home at the last trumpet, now, comes the seven bowls of

wrath. 

     

He has trampled out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored. His truth is marching on! Glory, Glory Hallelujah! Glory, Glory Hallelujah! Glory, Glory Hallelujah! His Truth is Marching On!

      

     Revelation 14: 19, 20 John says, "And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great wine-press of the wrath of God. 20. And the wine-press was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the wine-press, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of 200 miles." 

     In Revelation 15 as John saw another sign in heaven, he said was great and marvelous seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. This is going on while the last seven angels with the last vials of wrath are about to be poured out. In Revelation 15: 2 he says, "And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. 3. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints."

     How awesome! John saw those who had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, playing the harps of God and singing a new song! Hallelujah! 

     

     In chapter 16 of Revelation the seven angels start pouring out their vials of wrath. You do not want to experience God's Wrath! Read this chapter when you can. I personally use the King James Version bible. 

Get into a habit of Giving God all of the Glory Now! Get God's Word into your heart and let it take root! Ask the Lord to create in you a clean heart and renew a right spirit within you. Psalms 51: 10. Ask the Lord to prepare your heart so his word will take root. You can read the word of God or hear it but your heart has to be soft and tender to the word of God to receive it and for it to bear fruit. Let's read Matthew 13: 1-3 "The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. 2. And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that they went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. 3. And he spake many things unto them in parables, Behold, a sower went forth to sow:" Then Jesus goes on to talk to them about how some seeds fell by the way side. Read this when you can, how he talked to the multitude in parables. But talked to his disciples more in-depth and in detail. Further down in Matthew 13:10 "And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why 'speak (talk to) them in parables? 11. He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the 'mysteries (hidden truths) of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given." 

Amos 3:7 says, "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, except he reveals his secret unto his servants the prophets." 

     Father God has so much that he wants to share with us! He has secrets and mysteries (hidden truths), that he wants to reveal to you. But just like us, we don't share our secrets or mysteries with the multitude, or just anyone. No! We only share those things with those whom we have a covenant with! We only share secrets or mysteries with those we know we can trust, who have proven themselves trustworthy. The disciples gave up everything to follow him. Call on Jesus today, because he wants to show you hidden things! Commit your life to him and get to know him, he will show you hidden things. He wants you in the light and not in the dark about anything, especially what he is doing or going to do on this earth. He wants you to be prepared!

      The Word of God says in "Jeremiah 33:2, 3 "Thus says the Lord the maker thereof, the Lord that formed it, to establish it, Jehovah is his name. 3. Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and 'mighty (hidden) things, which thou knowest not."