It Is Time to be Alert

And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. Romans 13:11.

My brethren, you must have Jesus enthroned within, and self must die. We must be baptized with the Holy Spirit, and then we shall not sit down, saying unconcernedly, “What is to be will be; prophecy must be fulfilled.” Oh, awake, I pray you, awake! for you bear the most sacred responsibilities. As faithful watchmen, you should see the sword coming, and give the warning, that men and women may not pursue a course through ignorance that they would avoid if they knew the truth.

The Lord has enlightened us in regard to what is coming upon the earth, that we may enlighten others, and we shall not be held guiltless if we are content to sit at ease, with folded hands, and quibble over matters of minor importance. The minds of many have been engrossed with contentions, and they have rejected the light given through the Testimonies, because it did not agree with their own opinions.

God does not force any man into His service. Every soul must decide for himself whether or not he will fall on the Rock and be broken. Heaven has been amazed to see the spiritual stupidity that has prevailed. You need individually to open your proud hearts to the Spirit of God, You need to have your intellectual ability sanctified to the service of God. The transforming power of God must be upon you, that your minds may be renewed by the Holy Spirit, that you may have the mind that was in Christ.

If the watchmen sleep under an opiate of Satan’s and do not recognize the voice of the true Shepherd, and do not take up the warning, I tell you in the fear of God, they will be charged with the blood of souls. The watchmen must be wide awake, men who will not slumber at their post of duty, day nor night. They must give the trumpet a certain sound, that the people may shun the evil, and choose the good. Stupidity and careless indifference cannot be excused. On every side of us there are breakers and hidden rocks which will dash our bark in pieces, and leave us helpless wrecks, unless we make God our refuge and help.—The Review and Herald, December 24, 1889.

This devotional is taken from Ye Shall Receive Power by Ellen G. White.

Learning to Reverence the Lord through His Word!

“And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:” -Deuteronomy 17:19

We are to read and meditate in God’s word all the days of our life! I would submit that we cannot learn to “fear the Lord” our God without diligently studying and respecting His word! We must hear it and study it much. We must learn about the God who can turn waters into blood, who can drive back oceans, who can call the dead to life, who can create creatures from nothing and humans from dust.

 Learn of the God who can open blind people’s eyes, cause the deaf to hear, the lame to walk, and the dumb to speak. Learn about the God who rebukes disease and sends demons running and cowering in fear. Learn about the One who can change the heart of a sinner (you and me) and make us to desire holiness and seek it forever. Learn about the God who can forgive the hated and despised of human beings and make them into a person you could love and respect. 

Know the God who put our Solar system into orbit and who is soon coming again to re-claim this planet, to take it over, and who will destroy all evil. Get to know Him today while mercy yet lingers! Who cannot fear, reverence and respect such a God? Let us learn from His word to deeply respect/reverence (fear) and follow Him. 

Only with such a relationship with God can we be overcomers and grow in His Holiness. “By the fear of the LORD men depart from evil” (Proverbs 16:6). And only through the Bible (plus prayer and contemplation of His mighty works in nature) can we learn to love Him! Go and fill yourself daily with His Holy words!!! Be blessed in Christ Jesus today!

Benjamin Burkhardt

Letters to Heaven

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we May obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16.

Prayer is not an expiation for sin. It is not a penance. We need not come to God as condemned criminals, for Christ has paid the penalty of our transgression. He has made an atonement for us. His blood cleanses from sin. Our prayers are as letters sent from earth, directed to our Father in heaven. The petitions that ascend from sincere, humble hearts will surely reach Him. He can discern the sincerity of His adopted children. He pities our weakness and strengthens our infirmities. He has said, “Ask, and ye shall receive.”

Many of the human family know not what they should ask for as they ought. But the Lord is kind and tender. He helps their infirmities by giving them words to speak. He who comes with sanctified desire has access through Christ to the Father. Christ is our intercessor. The prayers that are placed in the golden censer of the Saviour’s merits are accepted by the Father.

Every promise in the Word of God is for us. In your prayers, present the pledged word of Jehovah and by faith claim His promises. His word is the assurance that if you ask in faith, you will receive all spiritual blessings. Continue to ask, and you will receive exceeding abundantly above all that you ask or think. Educate yourself to have unlimited confidence in God. Cast all your care upon Him. Wait patiently for Him, and He will bring it to pass.

We are to come to God, not in a spirit of self-justification, but with humility, repenting of our sins. He is able to help us, willing to do for us more than we ask or think. He has the abundance of heaven wherewith to supply our necessities.... God is holy, and we must pray, “lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting” (1 Timothy 2:8)....

We are to seek “first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). We are to be ready to receive the blessing which God will bestow upon those who seek Him with the whole heart, in sincerity and truth. We must keep the heart open if we would receive of the grace of Christ.

This devotional is from In Heavenly Places, by Ellen G. White.

Let Me Take You There

"He leads me..." (Psalm 23:2).

Have you ever been looking for something at some huge warehouse-type store? You finally stumble upon an unsuspecting employee and blurt out what you're seeking. He doesn't even make eye contact with you as he continues stocking shelves and mumbles, "Right at the diapers, left at the chainsaws, straight ahead past the TVs."

You start on your adventure, become more lost than ever, then come upon another employee. She greets you and asks if she can help with anything. You repeat the object of your quest and she smiles warmly. "Let me take you there."

God doesn't just give us directions and wish us luck in life. Leading us means He walks with us; He takes us there. Wow! The Ruler of the Universe is not only willing, but eager, to walk with you and me today!

Have you ever...

Have you ever looked at the stars and wondered how they emit their light?
Have you ever contemplated about the functional components of the nucleolus of a cell?
Have you watched in awe and wonder at the birds as they take flight in the skies?
Have you gawked at the majestic mountains or the swelling turquoise oceans?
Have you stopped to think that God made everything so very beautiful and good?
Praise the Lord all ye saints of the earth and rejoice for your God reins!

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him. Colossians 1:16

Jesus Saw a Man

“As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office” (Matthew 9:9).

Jesus saw a man. The hated Romans occupying Palestine recruited Jews to collect taxes from other Jews. Tax collectors made big money because they were authorized to take whatever they wanted on top of the tax rate. Other Jews and even those of other nations saw a traitor and a greedy, harsh, devious scum-of-the-earth heel, but Jesus saw a man. And by seeing him, Jesus connected with him.

Jesus saw not only this man, but He also saw into his heart. "The Pharisees had judged Matthew according to his employment, but Jesus saw in this man a heart open for the reception of truth" (The Desire of Ages, 272).

I would really love to be able to see into the heart of someone today, to see a man when everyone else sees something less, maybe even something terrible. Is it possible? Can I be like Jesus in this way and really connect with someone?

Heaven is Waiting

Heavenly intelligences are waiting to cooperate with human instrumentalists, that they may reveal to the world what human beings may become and what, through their influence, they may accomplish for the saving of souls that are ready to perish. He who is truly converted will be so filled with the love of God that he will long to impart to others the joy that he himself possesses. The Lord desires His church to show forth to the world the beauty of holiness. She is to demonstrate the power of Christian religion. Heaven is to be reflected in the character of the Christian. The song of gratitude and praise is to be heard by those in darkness. For the good tidings of the gospel, for its promises and assurances, we are to express our gratitude by seeking to do others good. The doing of this work will bring rays of heavenly righteousness to wearied, perplexed, suffering souls. It is as a fountain opened for the wayworn, thirsty traveler. At every work of mercy, every work of love, angels of God are present. {LHU 275.3}

If It Were All About Me

If it were all about me...

I'd be:

Upset,
Fearful,
Hestitating,
Depressed,
Distracted, and
Worried...

I'm soooooooooooooooooooooooo thankful that...
It's all about Jesus!!!

Now I'm free to be:

Peaceful,
Calm,
Confident,
Joyful,
Focused, and
Trusting...!!!

Imagine God's Eyes...

Imagine God's eyes when He thinks about His beloved human beings.

Deep, deeper, the deepest multi-colored eyes sparkling like soft light dancing over the blue ridges of a lake tickled by a cool, sunset breeze. His eyes dance, but it is a waltz whose tempo is slowed by pain, the echo of a faraway evening when He danced with us. His eyes ache with burning anticipation of another evening when the music resumes, we take His hand, and His constant, throbbing, black and white daydream He's dreamed for millennia is colored in with our presence.

"That where I am, there you may be also" (John 14:3).

Keep gazing into those dancing eyes.

--Steven Winn

Show Love and Compassion

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:17

Great responsibility comes to those who have been baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Strive to understand the meaning of the words “Ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” In the new life upon which you have entered, you are pledged to represent the life of Christ....

The old sinful life is dead, the new life entered into with Christ by the pledge of baptism. Practice the virtues of the Savior’s character. Let His word “dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” ...

These things are to be presented in the churches. Love, compassion, and tenderness are to be revealed among us. Put on, as the elect of God, mercy and kindness. The sins that were practiced before conversion are to be put off with the old man. With the new man, Christ Jesus, are to be put on “kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering.”

Those who have risen with Christ to walk in newness of life are the elect of God. They are holy unto the Lord, and are acknowledged by Him as His beloved. As such, they are under solemn covenant to distinguish themselves by showing humility of mind. They are to clothe themselves in garments of righteousness. They are separate from the world, from its spirit, its practices, and they are to reveal that they are learning of Him who says, “I am meek and lowly in heart.”

If they realize that they have died with Christ, if they keep their baptismal vow, the world will have no power to draw them aside to deny Christ. If they live the life of Christ in this world, they are partakers of the divine nature. Then, when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, they also will appear with Him in glory.—Manuscript Releases 19:236, 237.

Praying Powerful Prayers Part Two

2)You must be thankful. 
“Don’t worry about anything. Instead, tell God about everything. Ask and pray. Give thanks to him” Philippians 4:6. Giving thanks to God humbles us. God is worthy of praise and thanksgiving. When we give thanks in prayer it solidifies our belief in God that He hears our prayers and will grant our prayers if it is according to His will. It is easy to focus on the negatives. Being thankful makes a cheerful heart (Proverbs 17:22).
 
3)You must be at one with God. 
 Jesus said. “If you remain joined to me and my words remain in you, ask for anything you wish. And it will be given to you” (John 15:7). It is important to continue to have a relationship with Jesus and keep His words. This shows our love to God. In 2 John 1:6 it says “This is love, that we walk according to His commandments.”  Our prayers will be much more effective if we keep His commandments and have faith in Jesus (Revelation 14:12). Because of God’s love and grace, these motivate us to love Him and desire (want) to do His will.

4)  Surrendering to His will.  
“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (1 John 5:14 NKJV). Prayer requires us to surrender ourselves to God and trusting Him to work in our lives, to grow into the person He designed us to be. Being able to surrender completely to God means we have to know God. We have to believe that He loves us unconditionally (without limit). He will not forsake us. He has the best plans for us. It puts God in control as we surrender our lives to Him and allow Him to change us into Christ’s image or character.

5)  Cherish no sin. 
“If I enjoy having sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened” Psalm 66:18. This does not mean we need to be perfect before we approach God. Jesus invites sinners to call on Him. The verse means unless we are sorry for our sins and are willing to  turn away from sins and be cleansed by God, then our prayers will be more effective. If we pray for selfish reasons such as winning the lottery, He will not hear our prayers. “When you do ask for something, you don’t receive it. Why? Because you ask for the wrong reasons. You want to spend your money on your sinful pleasures.” James 4:3.

We can come to Jesus in prayer and tell Him our needs, our struggles and our troubles. God will not turn us away empty. He invites, "Come to me, all of you who are tired and are carrying heavy loads. I will give you rest” Matthew 11:28. “The prayer of a godly person is powerful. It makes things happen" James 5:16.

Amanda Colgan

Praying Powerful Prayers Part One

Growing a relationship with God is the most important thing in a Christian person’s life. When a man wants to date a woman, they go out on a date to get to know each other. It is the same with God. To have a relationship with Jesus is to spend time with Him. One of the ways we can grow in Jesus is Study the Bible; not because you “should” but because you want to hear from God and learn what He is saying to you through His word. Talk with Him in prayer. Pray not because you have to and not  to just to ask Him for a list of things, but as a way to know Him and experience Him. That’s what God desires, for us to spend time with Him. As we spend time with God, we will naturally grow in Him. Our minds will become more aware of His will and His plan for us.

Prayer plays a big role in our relationship with God. There is no right or wrong way to pray. Prayer requires faith to believe that God will answer. God will not say ‘yes’ to everything we ask for in prayer but He will answer to our prayer even though it’s not what we asked for. Most often times His answers are far better than what we ask for!

There are some factors (points) that help prayers to be answered more effectively. Let’s go through some of the factors:

1)  Have faith. 
Mark 11:24 “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” Jesus said to "pray and believe." We can believe if we are asking according to God's will. Whaen God promises He cannot go back on what He says He will do. Unfortunately, many of us do not believe that God is true to His Word and the reason we do not have the faith is because we do not really know Him (Hebrews 11:6). We do not trust Him because we are not really walking with Him. We are not really diligently (carefully) seeking Him, so we do not know Him. “And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith” (Matthew 21:22 ESV).

Will continue tomorrow morning...

Amanda Colgan

Righteousness: Connecting with God and One Another - Part 3

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin." 1 John 1:7

Third, we need to share righteousness by faith. This is where connecting with one another comes in. As we connect more and more deeply and more and more consistently with God, we will be inspired to connect more and more deeply and more and more consistently with one another. Paul wrote that he wished believers were "knit together in love" (Colossians 2:2). In John 17, Jesus prayed that believers would be "one." Now, it's not enough to just come together in unity. 

We know that the last-day powers under the enemy's control will be promoting unity under force of law. But we must not let the enemy's false unity distract us from what Christ desperately prayed for among believers: unity in Him. Let's strive for answering Christ's prayer for unity among believers! 

How can we be "one" in Christ if we don't seek to connect with each other? How do we connect with each other?  

By really listening to one another, demonstrating Christ's delight in one another, and looking for the good God has placed in one another. It's not solving each other's problems but just being with one another as we patiently and prayerfully wait for God to show us what to say and what to do. It is committing to one another that nothing they say or do will make us leave them to fight their battles alone. By letting them know that no matter where they've been or what they've done, we will allow Christ to live His desperate, never-ending love for them through us.

 God designed church to be a place of worship, but He also designed it to be a place for genuine community. A place of genuine community is a place where we know each other, trust each other, support each other, listen to each other, and accept each other with the astonishing, unconditional acceptance that Christ has lavished upon us. Christ commanded us to love one another as He has loved us.
--Steven Winn

Righteousness: Connecting with God and One Another - Part 2

"...Not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith--"Philippians 3:9

Second, we need to experience righteousness by faith. So how do we connect with God? It's not by doing the right thing. It's by acknowledging God's overwhelming greatness, acknowledging our overwhelming weakness, and saying yes to the connection God desperately desires and sacrificially offers to us.  

We experience righteousness by faith by gazing wide-eyed at our God who unconditionally accepts us as we sit in a pool of our own filth. Because we don't deserve His gracious, complete acceptance of us, we are then filled with a deep appreciation of Him. This appreciation is the only door through which Christ can come in and begin the process of living His victorious, perfect life within us (Galatians 2:20). Christ our Righteousness desires in us, thinks in us, speaks in us, acts in us, and reacts in us more and more completely every day.
--Steven Winn