Avenger God! & 12/21/2012 Doomsday Exposed – ‘Jesus Speaks 2 U’ Part 2

Today I’m continuing the series ‘Jesus Speaks 2 U’ however, before we get started I’ve had several requests that I get into the Mayan Calendar/ End of the world on 12/21/2012 topic. It’s a real short message so why not..

Ready, here it go: Maya scholars agree that the ancient Maya would not have seen this day as apocalyptic however, rumors have spread that a cosmic event may end life on Earth on 12/21/2012. The Mayan’s could not predict the end of their own civilization. Why would they be trusted with prophesy regarding the end of ours? Jesus covers the rest in Matthew chapter 24. Anyone preaching with their foundation being a failed societies sun calendar is a false prophet at best and we should abstain from such scum.

“For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” ~Jesus (in Matthew 24:24)

Please don’t misunderstand me. Not trying to be funny, rude or short. I prayed and this is all the council that I’ve been given on that subject. Much to cover in these last days that will come to pass my friends.. Only prophesy we need is straight out of God’s never failing word:

“..men always ought to pray & not lose heart” – Luke 18:1

“There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ” …Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. “And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? “I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the Earth?” ~Jesus (in Luke 18:2-8)

Right at the top of the chapter we are given the meaning of the story. “..men always ought to pray & not lose heart” – Luke 18:1 .. What other elements are applicable to our lives in these days & times? Do you think the judge was symbolic of God in this story? Jesus calls this judge an ‘unjust judge‘ also that he ‘did not fear God nor regard man.’ Clearly this judge is not at all God in any way. In fact this judge just did not seem to care until he was sick of hearing from her. It was then that he acted. Jesus brings to light the judges we have to face in court today. They see so many cases that often they are desensitized to the plight of each individual. In contrast to today’s judges, God “will judge His people, And He will have compassion on His servants.” Psalm 135:14 “For the LORD is our Judge, The LORD is our Lawgiver, The LORD is our King; He will save us” Isa. 33:22

If this unjust judge will hear and avenge the widow how much more will God hear our prayers while we are in our troubles and not act? God cries back to us, “Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin.” Ezekiel 18:30 “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die..?” Ezekiel 33:11 He loves us and does not want sin to break the connection. Sin separates us from God so keep your phone line clean with true repentance.

Does God hear from us day & night? Jesus said, “shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him“ meaning our connection in prayer is key. Paul said, “pray without ceasing” 1Thessalonians 5:17 also in another place he exclaimed, “without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day” 1Timothy 1:3. A great example of keeping our Heavenly connection active as Jesus waits with loving anticipation by the phone daily for our call. Why leave our savior hanging on..call & connect.

I would be doing you a disservice if I did not let you know something that most preachers don’t want to get into. Whether you pray or not, Satan will be getting at God, talking about your shortcomings & defects. Unlike the Mayan calendar this is a prophesy that is fact. It effects each of us. Yes, indeed Satan, “the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.” Revelation 12:10 So we ALL need to “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” 1Peter 5:8 … Ultimately, the devil is the source and creator of our drama. Therefore Satan is in God’s cross hairs and will feel the full force of His wrath. If Earth is court and God our righteous judge.. Satan is the sleazy lawyer in the three piece suit giving crooked car salesman testimony against us daily. This makes prayer even more vital.. no chance of a twisted story if the lines of communication are open & with frequency.

God will avenge. Now there are those people that, despite our best efforts.. make life hard for us. It’s like they watch a soap opera and want to make their life and everyone they come in contact with just like it. Miserable, unhappy, mad, frustrated. Playing games with family relationships.. extending feuds. Setting people on a collision course just to watch the aftermath. Now, they get a sick pleasure out of it and we can only shake our heads. You know who I’m talking about..that person. Remember the reward in heaven we spoke about a few Sabbaths ago.. “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” ~Jesus (in Rev. 22:12) Those doing dramas work, like I just mentioned.. Well, in the New Heaven & New Earth there will be toilets to scrubbed & floors to be swept. Every seen that show ‘Dirty Jobs’ friends? There is a job for those who are saved but yet play games and remain unrepentant here on Earth. Don’t think God will not avenge you my friends? Remember, a thousand years is a day to God. If the Almighty assigns them to scrub bathroom floors for a week..and they dared to do nasty dirt here.. it ain’t gonna be for a week like we think of a week. Can you say 7,000 Earth years? Ouch, but a truth for the adversaries of the Gospel. You see Jesus, “He is . . . a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” Isaiah 53:3 and He knows our situation and He will repay. Nobody getting away with nothing! There is hell to pay.. & payday comin’!

When you lose heart, pray. It’s not natural for us therefore it takes practice, effort and due diligence. God takes no pleasure in payback. He must clean house in order to make New Heaven and New Earth really and truly new for you and me. No old junk, old mess, old drama and trouble makers.. simply not allowed. Doomsday for Satan & his angels! “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Revelation 21:4,5

Jesus leaves us this final question, “when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the Earth?“ ~ by Pastor Pete Walker

—next up ‘Jesus Speaks 2 U’ Part 3‘ —

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Got Fruit? ‘Jesus Speaks 2 U’ Part 1

“A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. “Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ “But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. ‘And if it bears fruit, well.

But if not, after that you can cut it down.’ ” ~ Jesus (Luke 13:6-9)

I’m beginning a series today that will go thru the next few weeks on what Jesus was saying to us personally in these last days. Exploring, very closely the stories that He told & discovering the mysterious meanings and how they apply to our lives. This is the season that planet earth chooses to celebrate Jesus birthday, when He came down the first time. So what better occasion to behold what it was that Jesus was saying to us. He’s coming back soon so in preparation, He speaks to us today from His word:

Oh, the audience around Jesus got the meaning fine! You see, God’s chosen people still had a message of ‘repent’ ringing in their ear which came just before the story from our savior about the fig tree was told. Focus was off God & on Pilate & the emotional turmoil news of their day. Living crisis to crisis rather then pray and connect. God gave Israel so many traditions, council & ceremonies so that the ‘vine brought out of Egypt’s chains’ would be bearing good fruit so “..That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.” (Isa. 61:3). When Jesus came down to earth from Heaven, none were found. All that God effort over many years, no response from the ground.

That was then. This is now. If Jesus were to crack the sky & stare us in the face right now what would He find? What are we about this day? Resisting evil or going with the flow? Doing what feels good, giving into lusts & temptations that happen our way, witnessing only to the mirror? ..?

Jesus, in His endless love and infinite mercy can steer us back on course. He is the one crying out on your behalf, “Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. ‘And if it bears fruit, well.” You see the dirt, where you’ve been planted (life) God “dug it up and cleared out its stones, And planted it with the choicest vine. He built a tower in its midst, And also made a winepress in it; So He expected it to bring forth good grapes.” (Isa. 5:2) This is for us saved in relationship with Jesus.. Jesus died to supply us a new life. It cost His life which is the choice vine & the winepress His blood, the tower His mighty protection of our behinds provided by His Spirit. We all “brought forth wild grapes.” (Isa. 5:2) … If our focus is back on Christ life who gave us a perfect example of “a vineyard On a very fruitful hill” (Isa. 5:1) Fill up your vine with God’s word & apply it to your life so the Lord will shout, “I, the LORD, keep it, I water it every moment; Lest any hurt it, I keep it night and day.” (Isa. 27:3) God input that’s applied to life makes a two way relationship that will produce the fig that God is looking for. Warning: It’s Godly growth or sin gonna grow & bring.. (see James 1:15).

God says to us today, “I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, For My anger has turned away from him. For the ways of the LORD are right; The righteous walk in them.” Hosea 14:4,9 Do it today fam, don’t wait with bones dried by idleness only to to be cut down. ~Pastor Pete Walker

   — on deck, “Avenger God!” ‘Jesus Speaks 2 U’ Part 2 —

Clean Soul in a Dirty World

“..become blameless & harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life..” Phil. 2:15,16

This world is corrupt. Don’t need me to fill you in on that, right? You need only take a walk down the street to find out. We have a water store on our block that is run by a wonderful Christian family. Our conversations when we go there are so deep in fellowship and they have Gospel literature for all who go there available for free.. however, just outside their door (no fault of theirs) is smut magazines advertising pornography. Sometimes we pass folks making drug sales or see gangs giving mad dogging looks as we pass by. A strip club on every corner.. internet makes all kinds of sin easily accessible. In a world like ours it’s no wonder that some would suggest sanctification by isolation. In simple terms, withdrawing from the world we live on to keep it from rubbing off on you. Seems logical.. Is this what Jesus wants us to do?

“I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.” John 17:14,15

Notice that Jesus did not ask His Father to take us out..did not say isolate them. In contrast He says insulate them when he remarked, “but that You should keep them from the evil one.” (John 17:15) This messages goal is to give you some heavenly skills to help you stay clean in this debased environment we live in.

When we say ‘world’ we are referring to the mindset and lack of morality of this sin sick world around us. Just wanted to be clear. The three foes of Christianity are the world, the flesh and the devil. We tend to look at the flesh and the devil.. but this here is about the worldly philosophies that Christ was speaking about in John 17.

The world system is handled by the cunning gloves of Satan. The apostle John understood that the devil was the puppet master of the world when he wrote these lines:

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world–the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life–is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” 1John 2:15-17

The true battle we have is to switch from temporary world way of thinking to a forever heavenly Christ mind set. While we contemplate the carnal or earthly pulls and attractions of the earth few understand that our spiritual power is rotting into decay. It is universally understood that whenever we refuse to use our God given powers these powers decrease and perish. Something that the devil does not want you to know. If we live not the truth.. basically taking what we read in God’s Word and apply it to our life, that truth loses its life changing power and its healing virtue. Learn it from God and apply it to your issue. Peter, did not think there was time to kick back and no time to be passive. Check the verbs as they jump out at you:

“Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” 1Peter 1:13-16

It’s so easy to be sucked into the worlds intoxicating attractions that fuzz up our minds. Peter implores us to shake ourselves out of that dizzy spell and resist the power it uses on us. Bookmark this part of 1Peter chapter 1. We are coming back to it soon for the conclusion.

Paul underscores this change of lifestyle and mindset when he exclaimed:

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:1,2

Time to upgrade our skill set. A change that will get us living clean despite this messed up world:

1. Walk in Fear of your Father in Heaven“And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear” 1Peter 1:17 .. If we are to truly recognize our Father in Heaven, as Christ did then we should conduct ourselves here in a way that honors Him. If the destination is Heaven then we ought to filter each of our actions like we will sit in our Father’s lap and give a good account of what we did here on earth (see Romans 14:12). Any loving father has rules and boundaries for the child’s betterment. How much more does our heavenly Father want the best for us. We can’t lose our salvation that we have by faith in Him, we can lose our reward (see 1Cor. 9:24-27). That’s something we should all fear. Think on the athlete competing in the Olympics losing out on the gold medal they worked so hard for because he tested positive for steroids. We need to be careful to not test dirty with sin and disobedience to God daily. After all, this fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (see Proverbs 9:10).
2. Focus our Minds on Christ ““knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.” 1Peter 1:18-21 … Notice that the first thing our Lord and savior did was deliver us from our aimless conduct (vs. 18). Whether we knew it or not, we were trapped in a dead end lifestyle handcuffed to sin & without hope. Christ paid the ransom to free us from that life, not with silver & gold but with His precious blood (vs. 19). The second thing Jesus did for us was to be manifest in these last times (vs.20) for you. This is very personal. He saw our emptiness and wanted to offer you His life as an example so that your faith and hope are in God (vs. 21).. Not in a world that is going to pass away. But with Him who alone can raise us from the dead. He who understands our inability to free ourselves stepped out of the safety of heaven to die for our dirty deeds. “”Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” Phil. 2:5
3. Be Vigilant by giving Satan no room to breathe … First, pay attention to what you put in front of your eyes(Col. 3:1,2). Second, give greater thought to the consequences of sin rather that its pleasure (Proverbs 7). Third, Start each day by renewing your reverence for God (1Peter 1:17, 2Cor. 7:1). Fourth, take time (make time) each day to focus fully on Christ (Heb. 12:2). Fifth, stay connected in prayer to Jesus without ceasing (1Thes. 5:17).

Putting these techniques into immediate life application, you will experience what it is like to be in the world but not of it. You can walk through that jagged situation, whatever it may be, no matter how immoral it is and stay clean. Believe that!  Go be that light your were created to be..  ~by Pastor Pete Walker 

Bear fruit or become a vegetable

“You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? “Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

     “Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” ~Jesus (in Matthew 7:16-20)

Who better then our creator & redeemer to make His point by using a product of creation. As illustrated last week, we must test everything in these last days by God’s word lest we be fooled by the father of lies which is Satan. The words of the Apostle John always come to mind when I’m testing the fruits of men to see if it is of God or not: “Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” 1John 3:7,8

A doctor practices medicine, right? A lawyer practices law. So those who profess Jesus as savior are obligated to practice Christ. To be Christ-like should be the goal of every saved individual. There is an old saying, “idle hands are the works of the devil.” If we put that up against what Jesus said it should be obvious what we ought to be doing when He says to us today, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few..” Matthew 9:37

God and His great commission for us to carry the Gospel around this big blue planet is a goal. Shouldn’t we be about it? Jesus last recorded words were in Acts chapter 1 and verse 8, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” After that a cloud received Him and off to heaven He went. Does a person’s last words mean something to you? Oh, this was no person brothers and sisters this was the Son of God. Jesus, in His endless love did not abandon us to chance. He gave us God the Holy Spirit upon departing earth. Impossible to do righteousness you say? Jesus did not think so. No, it will not add to your salvation nor gain merit with God. Christ’s righteousness that clothes us & His blood covers us. Yet, Jesus said we shall “receive power” when the Holy Spirit has come upon us. Then He told us what we are to do… get that gospel to this globe we be spinning in.

No need to get into bad fruit.. or has God not opened our eyes to the wickedness of these last days? Sodom & Gomorrah ought to receive an apology in comparison to what is passed as OK or politically correct in today’s society. So called family shows or movies have sin as just another day, no biggie. Children disrespecting parents as if there is no commandment to honor and obey Mom & Dad. In TV land Dad’s are typically the village idiot, not the spiritual leader of the home. Christian characters are paraded as mean people who persecute, beating other people over the head with ‘holier then thou’ religion or simple uneducated folk who ‘get the message’ (by the end of the episode) when they are told that sexual immorality is now OK. As if God somehow changed his mind.. God is perfect and does not change His mind regarding inequity, my friends in both the old and new testaments, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 … “As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.” Psalms 18:30

This does not by any means give us right to use angry words and be mean to others for God has NOT commissioned us to do that. God’s word says, “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Eph. 4:31,32  … Mean spirited individuals bear only bad fruit when they attack rather than approaching in love. We are even to rebuke fellow believers in love. A disagreement can be another wonderful opportunity for us to share Jesus and let our flesh step aside.

Good fruit.. Do you want to produce good fruit or good works? Holy Spirit up my people! Sure Paul and Peter and all prophets and apostles and evangelists that have come before have done well in their good work and produced fruit in their day. What of this generation? Imagine for a second sitting before God, in the end and God asks you specifically about the people you come in contact with everyday by name (see Romans 14:11). And you answer is… ? If we study Him; I’m talking about Jesus and He becomes our example as it is written, “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” 1John 2:6 This does not indicate that we are perfect but we move into a deeper relationship with Jesus where our sins have no place to take root and we thereby begin to produce good fruit and live a richer life that we can carry into the next. In heaven, sin won’t make it only our ‘good for God done here’ will. Again, the question is asked, What of reaching this generation? God has an answer for us all, “you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. 1Peter 2:9,10

So great was Jesus sacrifice both in His mission and on the cross. If this generations response to such great love shed for us is silence then God help us all.

If this place is going down like the titanic why cant we reach our hands out in loving mercy, save life and share Christ? Let the words of the Apostle John speak to us today: “And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. And now, ..abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him. 1John 2:17,18, 28 & 29  Amen!

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” Rev. 22:12 … Time to get busy!

~by Pastor Pete Walker

God is love

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.  Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” ~Martin Luther King jr …

Man’s ways are not God’s ways. We must lead on gently, like the shepherds of old especially with our enemies. Love shows us the way as a light in the darkness. Love shows us the way away from hate & angry feelings.  Jesus gave up all so that we could have a glorious opportunity to reflect His love on our neighbors. Who is our neighbor? Each & every person you come in contact with.  What is your hearts reaction to what Jesus did on that rugged cross of Calvary if not to let that love go out from your heart and share it with others around you??   God is love, let’s be about that fam!!

~ Pastor Pete Walker