Category: Ministry

the work or vocation of a minister of religion

Wake-Up-Call

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Has God given you a wake-up call?

Revelation 3:20 “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” (NIV)

People that travel on business and staying overnight at a hotel, will often use a “wake-up call” service that many hotels provide. When checking in, a person can request that a “wake-up call” be made to the person’s room at a specific time.

This wake-up call is made to ensure that the person the call is being made to, wakes up in time to start getting ready and make it to their scheduled appointment on time. When the hotel makes the call, the hotel has done their part to wake the person up.

If the person that the call is being made to does not answer the phone and get out of the bed when they receive the call, it is possible that they will either be late or miss their scheduled appointment.

2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”(NIV)

I want to ask the question, is it possible that God has given a wake-up call to His people, but some have not responded?

Could it be that those of us that have been so busy with enjoying the pleasures in this world, have not heard the wake-up call that God has been making to us?

Focusing or getting caught up in the pleasures of this world such as money, security, or material items that we possess, can be very dangerous and distracting. They can easily get our attention away from God.

1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (NIV)

As born-again believers, we are in this world but not of the world. We have to remain focused on whose we are, and a tentative to hearing God’s voice that has called us into His wonderful light.

John 5:24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.”(NIV)

Daily reading of the bible and meditating in the word of God, will help with hearing what God is saying.

Romans 10:9-10 “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

I encourage you, the next time you hear your phone ringing, don’t screen the call or let it go to voice mail, answer the phone professing your faith…it just might be a wake-up call from God.

Continuing is His service…Rev

The Bible

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Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth

The answer or solution to any problem that a person encounters in life can be found in the Bible. It is the road map that guides people out of a world of darkness, hopelessness or despair.

Psalm 119:105 “ Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (KJV)

A ship at sea that has been caught in a storm, will be tossed to and fro with the blowing of the wind, if the ship has no rudder or anchor. So the same can be with a believer in the journey of life if they are not grounded, or have no sense of direction.

The Bible will keep a believer anchored when they encounter a storm and will serve as a rudder to help with navigating through deep, and dangerous areas when trials or troubles come their way.

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (KJV)

We should read the Bible:

  • daily
  • study it regularly
  • share it freely
  • quoted it when needed

The Bible will:

  • Satisfy your hunger
  • Quench any thirst that you have

When a person reads the Bible, then applies that scripture in their lives, defeat turns into victory.

James 1:22-24 “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.” (NKJV)

A Pastor that has went home to be with the Lord often opened Bible study asking everyone to stand, lift their Bibles up, and repeat after him saying;

“This is my Bible“

“I am what it says I am“

“I can do what it says I can do“

“I can be what it says I can be”

“I am the head and not the tail“

“I am in the front and not the back”

“I am healed and not sick”

“I am to lend and not borrow”

“I am on top and not the bottom”

“Thanks be to God who always causes me to conquer”

“Heavenly Father, thank you for the Holy Bible that gives your people “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.” As we read and study your word, I pray that it will give your people strength, courage, wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Let the words that are written in the Bible take root in our hearts, minds, soul and spirit, and then grow bearing much fruit for your Kingdom. In Jesus name…Amen!

Continuing in His service…Rev

Not on My watch

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Not on My watch

Psalm 121:4 “Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.” (NKJV)

The phrase “not on my watch” is from the nature of command on board a ship that has different shifts that have been divided and called “watches”. Individuals take turns to be “the person on watch” and is in charge of the ship.

To be the person on watch entails serious status, having a great responsibility for the entire ship itself, also everyone that is on the ship.

Everything that happens on “your watch” is your responsibility. So, if any mishaps, accidents or any kind of damage occurs, the person “on watch” will be held responsible, even if they don’t have anything to do with it.

It is considered to be a bad mark against the person “on watch” if a problem occurs when they were in charge and did not take corrective action to stop the wrongdoing from happening.

Our Heavenly Father is “on watch” 24/7 for His people and will keep them from dangers seen and unseen.  

Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (NKJV)

A believer never has to feel that they are alone or unprotected.

Our Heavenly Father is “on watch”

Psalm 32:7 “You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble;
You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.” (NKJV) 

Because God is a safe hiding place, He can keep his people from any danger that may come their way.

Our Heavenly Father is “on watch”

Isaiah 40:8 “The grass withers, the flower fades,
But the word of our God stands forever.” (NKJV)

No matter what season a person may be in, whether it be day or night, the word of God will persevere in a season of trials or tribulation that may arise.

Our Heavenly Father is “on watch”

Isaiah 54:17 “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord. (NKJV)

God can see weapons that are being formed against His people. Because He is on watch constantly and will intervene on His people’s behalf, He prevents what is being done, or what is being said from prospering and having an effect on His people.

Our Heavenly Father is “on watch”

Psalm 91:10-11 “No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.” (NKJV)

“Thank you, heavenly Father, for being “on watch” for your people and for preventing any evil or plague to come near. Thank you also for encamping angels around and about your people, that keep your people each and every day. You said in your word that you would never leave us or forsake us. Our trust is only in You, in Jesus name…Amen!

Continuing in His service…Rev

Why Did Jesus Fold The Napkin

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The Gospel of John 20:7 tells us that the napkin , which was placed over the face of Jesus , was just not thrown aside like the grave clothes.

The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded and was placed separate from the grave clothes. Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and I don’t know where they have put Him!”

Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other disciple outran Peter and got there first.  He stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn’t go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrapping lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying to the side.

In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant and every Jewish boy knew this tradition. 
 
When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly, and the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating and the servant would not dare touch that table until the master was finished.

Now if the master were done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the “wadded napkin meant, “I’m done! “

But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because… The folded napkin means, ‘I’m coming back!

Continuing in His service…Rev