“Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep.”  Psalm 127:1-2

I don’t know if you remember what Solomon, the wisest man in the world stressed about his life.  In reality, Israel’s famed and wise king shocks his readers when he says: In spite of everything that he had learned, done, possessed and achieved, Solomon hated life.  He states in Ecclesiastes that life is empty and meaningless without  God.  Yes, the wisest, richest and most powerful man of his time, who also had 1,000 wives and concubines for his pleasure, said that everything the world had to offer-pleasures, possessions and power none of it brought  fulfillment.  His life was empty and meaningless because he had forsaken and ignored God.

Here in Psalm 127 Solomon echoes  the message of Ecclesiastes which basically  highlights three major priorities in most men’s lives:

1. building a house or family,
   
2. protecting your family and your community
   
3. working to provide for the family

​Solomon is emphasizing that all is in vain without the Lord.  Yes, someone will tell me oh that is written from a man’s perspective but the message of this psalm is true for men and women alike.

When we check out history this psalm was written as the remnant returned back  to Jerusalem from Babylon to rebuild their city and their society.  This song now - remember the 150 Psalms  in the Bile were Israel’s hymnbook.  These songs strengthened their resolve to make the Lord the foundation of their lives, their homes, and their nation.  Without God’s blessing, their best efforts would all be in vain.

Take a look at life today.  For the most part, men  and women today still spend their lives building homes and families, protecting them, and working to provide for them.  But at the end of the day, a good number of them feel empty inside.  Try talking to people and listen to what they say.  In time, their marriages crumble, their families fall apart and  everything they have worked for vanishes.  Why? Because they have left God out of it all.  They have a weak foundation, a  weak defense  system and absolutely no satisfaction.  We forget that the sin we have  since we were born in sin- it has to be dealt with.

I know most people do not want to admit that they have a sin nature.  I have heard it over and over: I am a good person, I give to the poor, I did not murder anyone, etc. etc.  but let me give you an illustration that describes our sin nature.

Imagine you are at the pool and there is a beach ball in the water. You could keep it under the water as long as you sit on it. But suddenly it pops up to the surface again. Even if you have two or three people trying to keep it under, you can only hold it down so long before it comes back up. That’s the way people often fight sin. They say, “I’m not going to do this anymore. I don’t like this. I’m against it.” And they put it down in their minds, but then it just comes to the surface again. And they are fighting a hopeless battle.

Let me tell you one way to keep that ball sunk. Let the air out of it. You need to let the air out of Satan’s lies too. One way is to remove temptations. This is also a way to help others avoid sin. Ultimately there is absolutely nothing you can do to keep your kids from sin because God gave them a will. But I’ll tell you one thing I don’t want to do: I don’t want to build a home that is dangerous for children. If they want to climb over the wall and jump off, that will break my heart. I don’t want to have the kind of home where they fall accidentally because I have not removed the temptations from that home. Do you understand what I am saying? You need to at least build the wall.  Teach your children, grandchildren and even great- grandchildren about Jesus Christ and what He did for them on that Cross.

Pray and repent and surrender your will and your desires to Our Lord.

Choose Faith

Choose Wisely

Choose Jesus

Choose Today
​

Some of you who have been in church for a while, may know exactly what I mean when I mention the "Rapture".  However, there are many...especially UNBELIEVERS, who have no familiarity with this term.  The "Rapture" is the term used to describing the soon coming event in which there will be a  "snatching away" of believers to the LORD.   When the Rapture takes place, the world will be in chaos and distress will be everywhere— but nothing will compare to the pain of parents losing their babies, or teens being left alone in this world without a parent. The only hope is to PLACE YOUR TRUST IN JESUS CHRIST!
 
This is NOT a mere story or a fable or a fairy tale  — this event will be an actual fulfillment of Bible PROPHECY!
 
People will be stunned, shocked, fearful, and remorseful when they witness millions of people suddenly disappearing. Anyone they knew who had believed in Jesus alone for salvation would have been taken to Heaven by Him.
 
They will experience the MOST shocking event in HUMAN HISTORY!!
 
The Rapture is described throughout scripture, but most notably in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17:  "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And thus we shall always be with the Lord."
 
Every person who wholeheartedly believed and accepted the sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has been eagerly expecting His glorious return. When the rapture occurs, the Church will witness the fulfillment of Christ's promise when He said:   "I will come again and receive you unto Myself, so that where I am, you may be also."
 
When the Church disappears, (not the buildings but those people who believed in Christ as their Messiah),  chaos will unfold as firefighters, police officers, and emergency workers of all kinds go missing. Cars will veer off roads, and planes will crash from the sky. It may take several months to clean up the initial disasters caused by the rapture of the Church.
 
There will most likely be an attempt to DECEIVE YOU into believing that it was caused by some UFOs, or some aliens, or give other false explanations. It will be nothing but lies! DO NOT BE DECEIVED! All the narratives they are pushing now will be multiplied.
 
Shortly after this event is when the Antichrist will emerge and be revealed. He will be a very charismatic man who will bring peace out of the chaos. People will be desperate for a world leader who can protect them and provide for their needs, and he will appear to be the perfect one. Peace and safety will be his mantra, his model.
 
One of his primary goals will be to sign a peaceful 7-year agreement with Israel and allow them to rebuild the third temple in Jerusalem. He will introduce to the world the mark of the beast which people will need in order to buy and sell.  What will follow are the most HORRIFIC years that humanity will ever experience, after he sits at the temple and declares himself as god.
 
INSTRUCTIONS FOR ANYONE WHO IS LEFT BEHIND:

• Parents: Your baby is safe in heaven, surrounded by the love of God and everything he or she will ever need —  Stay strong, there is still hope!  Turn to the LORD NOW!

 

• Teens: If your parents are missing it's because they believed and placed their full trust in Jesus. Perhaps you disagreed or hadn't decided for yourself yet whether or not you wanted to follow Christ, this is why you are still here — Stay calm, there is still hope!   Put your faith in JESUS CHRIST NOW!

 
DON'T TAKE THE MARK OF THE BEAST!!!!
No matter what happens, even if it means facing death or torture.  The mark signifies a complete and final rejection of God and His mercy and grace - at this moment your destination is sealed— YOU WILL GO TO HELL! The number is referred to in the Bible as 666. What 666 means we do not know.  All I can advise you is to not take the Mark of the Beast.  You will need it in order to get food or even a bottle of water.  You will have sealed your end, your doom.
 
In the Book of Revelation there is the mention of The Two Witnesses: Be extremely attentive when two witnesses emerge in Jerusalem, defying the Antichrist. Pay close attention to their message and make sure not to disobey them, for they are sent by God! The names of these two witnesses have been debated for years but just listen to them for they are sent by God to warn you.
 
In the Book of Revelation there is the mention of The 144,000: There will be also 144,000 Jews who are sealed by God to tell the Gospel message.  They will have special protection from God. Their mission will be to evangelize and proclaim the gospel during this shocking time. Believe what they are saying because they are appointed for this time - TO SAVE YOU!
 
In The Book of revelation there is the mention of The 3 Angels: There will be three angels, one flying in the midst of heaven proclaiming the Everlasting Gospel to every single person alive on earth, another warning about the fall of Babylon, and another warning you not to take the mark of the beast! TAKE HEED AND LISTEN TO THEM!
 
It doesn’t make any difference, at this point, why you’re still on Earth, the point now is you have another chance!  
 
For those reading this BEFORE the rapture...make sure that you are saved NOW.   Be ready for HIS return is VERY NEAR!

​CHOOSE WISELY DO NOT MISS IT!!!! 

​As a Pastor I have heard this many times, over and over again.  People ridiculing the "accuracy" especially  regarding the New Testament.   They constantly say: have you seen that a recent study  of ancient manuscripts has shown there is "documented proof" that there are over 200,000 errors.  As a matter of fact people can say anything they want and others who have not read the Bible or have never even known anything about God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit, will say these things. You see people can say anything they want and as we have seen, fact-checkers are usually wrong or are liars and they try to make a point to confirm their beliefs! Or they try to push their narratives.  They think that if they say it over and over again it will be true.  Or if they scream it at you they will think they are right.  Do you know that the phrase "Cleanliness is next to Godliness" IS NOT IN THE BIBLE?  How many times have you heard that phrase said?  It is not biblical.

The truth of the matter is that there is overwhelming evidence in support of the accuracy and reliability of the text of the New Testament. Did you know that as a fact there are over 14,000 copies of the New Testament available to study in the form of Greek manuscripts and ancient translations?

For a fact these handwritten copies of full and partial portions of the New Testament date back to the first century.  And in addition, there are over 36,000 quotations by the early church fathers (from the second to fourth centuries). Did you know that there are enough quotes to reconstruct the entire New Testament minus only 11 verses?

"200,000 errors?” This is how the ancient New Testament manuscripts are often referred to in academic circles and liberal seminaries. These, however, are not actually errors but variations, the vast majority of which are strictly grammatical. For example: just like the spelling of colour in the British grammar but color in the English grammar. Same word but different spelling.

I have read that they are spread out in over 5,000 manuscripts, so that a variation spelling in one letter of one word in one verse in 2,000 manuscripts is counted as 2,000 errors. In reality, only about one in sixty of these variants has any significance—leaving the text 98.33 percent pure and accurate.
​
Only 400 of these variations changed the meaning of the passage, and only 50 were of any significance. More importantly, NOT ONE affected the meaning of faith or Christian duty that was not abundantly sustained by other undoubted passages.

When a wise man has a controversy with a foolish man,  The foolish man either rages or laughs, and there is no rest. —Proverbs 29:9
 
Professing to be wise, they became fools —Romans 1:22

As is true with any historical work, not every single detail in the Bible can be directly confirmed. Because as one friend of mine said years ago used, unless you were there you cannot even be a witness in a court of law. Most of those who criticize the reliability and accuracy of the Bible are basically saying that they do not want to believe its truth.   As other pieces of history have confirmed those things that occurred in Bible times (Josephus who wrote history of the times and Tacitus both confirm things said in the Bible and they never became Christians!) The Bible cannot be called unreliable simply because it contains parts which cannot be confirmed or have not yet been confirmed. What’s reasonable is to expect it to be accurate where it can be checked. This is the main test of reliability, and here the Bible has a stellar track record. Not only have many of its historical details been confirmed, through archeology and writers who were alive at the time, but many of those who confirmed that there was a Jesus and The Way (the name of the first Christians in the Bible) and certain portions that were once in doubt have all now been verified.                                                                                 
Another area of contention has to do with  the capitalization of pronouns referring to our Lord and Jesus. All of my upbringing has taught me that these are proper pronouns and as such must be capitalized, but often I see them printed in lower case. Why?
 
Well, when we check this out, the original manuscripts were written without distinguishing between upper and lower case. In fact, to save valuable parchment space, there was no punctuation at all, which has caused some problems when translating it into English. Today, many people capitalize the personal pronouns referring to Jesus and God simply to give honor to whom honor is due (Romans 13:7), but it is by choice, not by law or rules of grammar.

I hope this information helps you along your spiritual journey.

The Bible tells us that there are two primary judgment events which will occur in the end-times. The first is known as the Great White Throne and the second is called The Judgment Seat of Christ (also known as the Bema Seat).  So to answer the obvious question: Do Christians face judgment from God when they die?  The short answer is YES.  So what is the difference between these two judgments?

According to the Bible, Christians will not be a part of the Great White Throne Judgment.  The Great White Throne Judgment is a condemnation judgment. Instead, believers will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ, which you may have heard called the Bema Seat.   This is a judgment for rewards based on our earthly works.

If you have ever been to church or have read a Bible or have heard a Gospel message inviting you  to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and to humbly bow to Jesus. sometimes it is referred to as that born-again experience or a salvation message.   It is a choice that you must make before you die.

The Great White Throne Judgment: A Judgment of Condemnation
The Great White Throne Judgment is described in Revelation 20:11-15. It's a judgment of the unsaved dead. In other words, it’s for those who never accepted salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. You do not accept that Jesus died on the Cross for your sin.  It’s a judgment leading to eternal separation from God. The end result is referred to in the Bible as the 'second death', the eternal lake of fire or better known as hell.  REMEMBER: HELL IS FOREVER (and that's a REALLLYYYY Long time) AND THERE ARE NO EXIT DOORS IN HELL!!!!!   So, be sure to choose wisely today!

The Judgment Seat of Christ: A Judgment of Rewards
As already stated, we see from scripture that the Great White Throne Judgment is not for those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior!  The Apostle John tells us in John 5:24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life."

While believers escape the Great White Throne Judgment, we are reminded in scripture that we will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ. This event is mentioned in 2 Corinthians 5:10 "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,(Bema Seat) so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."

Unlike the Great White Throne Judgment, this judgment is not about salvation or condemnation but rather rewards. It is an evaluation of a believer's works during their lifetime. Just like a review is at your work or in school when you get a report card.
 
Eternal Rewards, Not Salvation
It's important to understand that these rewards are not equal to salvation! Salvation is a free gift of God through faith in Jesus Christ, not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9).  You must receive Christ while you are on this earth.  That decision must be made before you die.  The judgment at the Bema Seat is about how believers have lived out their faith, the ways they have served Christ, and the motives behind their actions.

In 1 Corinthians 3:12-15, Paul describes how our works will be tested by fire. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will still be saved.

A Call to Faithful Service
This understanding of the Judgment Seat of Christ should inspire and challenge us to live faithfully. We should serve Christ wholeheartedly, not out of duty, but out of love and gratitude. As we sow seeds for the faith here on earth, we look forward to the day when we stand before Jesus Christ, not to be condemned, but potentially for rewards that reflect His grace and mercy and our faithful response to it.

So Christians can have assurance that they will not face the Great White Throne Judgment (Punishment).  However, Yes, all Christians will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ, which calls for an earnest reflection on how we spent our time, talents, and treasures for God's kingdom.

Remember and keep in mind that we live in a society where homosexuals lecture us on morals.  Where transsexuals lecture us on humans biology.  Where baby killers lecture us on human rights.  Where communists lecture us on economics and where satanists lecture us on religion.

Choose Wisely, Choose Christ, Choose Faith,  Choose Today!

This is a difficult topic to condense into a few paragraphs.  This title is used when speaking of Jesus as the Son of Man.  Books have been written on this topic.  To adequately write about Jesus is like trying to gather the ocean in your hand - is is just not possible.  However,  it is important to realize that even though Jesus has many titles and names in the Bible He used the title Son of Man often when referring to Himself.  That title expresses His humility and allows to see the lowliness whose yoke is easy and whose burden is light.  This title refers to Him coming down from heaven.

In Matthew 24:30 Jesus is speaking of Himself and HIS Second Coming when HE said:
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 

One interesting fact, is that not in any portion of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation does satan, the enemy of Jesus, refer to JESUS as the Son of Man.  Do you remember when Satan went to tempt Jesus in the wilderness?  In this account satan said: If thou art the Son of God.  Even when demons came in contact with Jesus they always cried out, Son of God, never Son of Man.   Do you remember the young maid,  who was possessed by the unclean spirit?  She kept following Paul and Silas and did not say that the Apostles were servants of the Man Jesus but called them servants of the most high God. 

So throughout the Bible Satan concedes the divinity of Jesus, but does not want that we address Him as Man-God.  This is why the Apostles insisted in their writing and preaching on the Mediator, the Man Jesus.  In fact, Jesus came to earth to win man back to God.   Paul reminds us that there is One Mediator between God and men, the MAN-Christ Jesus.  

Jesus was never ashamed to call us brethren for He participated in the same things.  He was tempted in ALL things like we are but He never gave in to the temptation.  In this way we can put our  trust in Jesus.  Hebrews reminds us  that we have not an high priest that cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities. 

So  we can know that Jesus has compassion on us because He was tempted in everything that we go through, yet without sin.  This is why Jesus can make forceful invitations: “Let us, therefore, draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help in time of need.”                  

Jesus feels our infirmities.  He is relatable.  Jesus is the Savior to the uttermost, a perfect Redeemer  who saves us from ALL things. 

We also read that Jesus felt our infirmities but He also bore our griefs and sorrows. 

Perhaps a good lesson we can learn from Jesus is to not want great titles, neither proud degrees because all we are doing is distancing ourselves from one worm to another.  The Bible tells us that those who humble themselves shall in due time be exalted. 

This title Son of Man lets us know how much Christ loves us. 

The incarnate One did not do so in the dark. When He brought forth the only begotten into the world, He said, "Let all the angels of God worship him." It was told in heaven; it was not done as a dark secret which Jesus Christ would do in the night that none might know it; but all the angels of God were brought to witness the advent of a Savior.  The Bible says that Jesus the Son of man came to seek and the save that which was lost.  That includes the entire world.  

Scripture tells us that  "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. "  (John 3:16)

Will you worship HIM today?  HE ALONE IS SON OF GOD AND SON OF MAN!

“Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything byprayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God,which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:5-7)

What are you zealous for?

Some are zealous for sports teams, some are zealous for cars, others are zealous for things; but what ought we to be zealous for, what is it that should consume us?  It should be our ZEAL FOR THE LORD.

Can I remind you what a true zealot is? 

• A zealot is partisan - that means there is no doubt about which side he is on.
• A zealot is a fanatic - he is full throttle for his cause. We too should be zealots, but not for our preferred "cause of the month",  but for the Lord.
• A zealot gets satisfaction and contentment from what they are pursuing.
• A zealot is happy about what they are doing, it is not just out of duty. They are truly excited about that of which they are a fanatic.

So what exactly is zeal? According to 1 Corinthians 2:13, it is a word of the Holy Ghost. 

• Zeal: Intense ardor in the pursuit of some end; passionate eagerness in favor of a person or cause; enthusiasm as displayed in action.
• Ardor:  Heat of passion or desire, vehemence, ardent desire; warmth of emotion, zeal, fervor, eagerness, enthusiasm. 

Zeal for the Lord is a good thing!  Know that Godly Zeal Is Contagious, but Godly Zeal also has enemies. Zeal can provoke others by giving them an example of a fervent spirit and shaming them for their apathetic and lukewarm spirit.  BUT…. Applied Zeal Is What Counts. This is the key point!

Are you zealous for the priorities God has already set for your life? You likely know what you should be doing in your life.  Zeal gives you the force to do it! 

There is a zeal that is divisive, destructive, and deadly. You can take a hammer and build a house with it, or you can cause someone harm with it. Anything taken to an extreme can become bad. We need to learn the difference between zeal and moderation. Let your moderation or your gentleness be known unto all men. Zeal and moderation are not enemies; they're friends.  That doesn’t mean we compromise our beliefs, but we need to learn to live by grace.

The cause of Christ has been hurt by misguided zeal many times. When Jesus was in Samaria, the Samaritans were mistreating the Lord Jesus Christ. James and John were with Jesus, and they became very zealous for Jesus. They said to Him in Luke9:54, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?”  But Jesus turned, and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them” (Luke 9:55-56).

The manner of spirit they had was that of a misguided zealot. They saw the way the Samaritans were living, and they said “Lord, let’s get them”.   The cause of Christ has sometimes been hurt far more in the house of its friends than in the house of its enemies.

What is an issue that easily riles you up? How can you guard against misguided zeal? When have you been tempted to take justice into your own hands?  Zeal in Christianity is a burning desire to please God, to do His will, and to advance His glory in the world in very possible way.  It is a desire, which is not natural to men or women. It is a desire which the Spirit puts in the heart of every believer when they are converted to Christ.

Talk to another Christian who knows you well and ask where you tend to have misguided zeal. Ask your friend to keep you accountable for submitting those things to God. 

The Bible, however, looks at zeal not so much as an emotion, but as an expression of faith. You become zealous because you have come to know God. 

My grandmother had a sign in her living room that said: ”Only one life, will soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.”

So how do we know if our zeal is God Approved?

1. Our zeal should Harmonize with Divine Will (Numbers. 25:6-11 Rom. 10:2). 
2. Our zeal should be directed toward God, not Men (Num. 25:11-13) -It is the “thy will be done” mentality that drives one to have a fervent spirit in doing the will of God – cf.Matt. 7:21-23 (Rom. 12:11).
3. Our zeal should be directed toward “Good Things” at all Times – Not to please men (Galatians 4:18 Phil. 2:12.
4. Our zeal should be Works & Prayers for the Spiritual Well-being of Others – Col. 4:12-13.
5. Our zeal will not harm the cause of Christ & His church – Phil. 3:6. 6.
6. Our zeal should grows out of Genuine Conversion – 2 Cor. 7:11.

Fanatics are those who seem to live in extremes. Many who are called spiritual “fanatics” are simply those who are more devoted than ourselves. But when you stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ: Would you rather be told you believed too much or you believed too little?  Would you rather be told you cared too much or you cared too little?  Would you rather be told you tried too hard, or you didn’t try hard enough?  Would you rather be told you were too forgiving or you were too judgmental?  Would you rather be told, “Well done, thou hyper-hopeful, risk-taking servant” or “Well done, thou cautious, play-it-safe servant?” 

Choose to be TRULY ZEALOUS for the LORD today!   

It is important for us as believers to know the tools that the enemy uses against us.  In light of this, we wanted to share the following illustration: 

The devil decided to have a garage sale. He laid all of his well-used tools, each with its own price tag, out on the table. All of those he used regularly against humanity were there: lust, malice, greed, hatred, envy, pride, deceit, and so on. But there was one tool that had its own table. This tool looked the most worn from use of all the other tools. Those walking by the table were astonished at the exorbitant price the devil was asking for it.  The tool was discouragement.  People were puzzled and wanted to know why this one tool surpassed the others in use and value. Satan snidely replied: “This tool is the one which I can hide behind the most. I can enter my victims’ minds and so convince them of their worthlessness, stupidity, and fear that they don’t even realize it’s me who is planting those thoughts. Those thoughts become the truth to them, even though they are lies.  Before any major damage can happen to my kingdom, I can thwart the best God-given plan before it ever has time to become a reality. Discouragement affects all human beings, no matter how close to God they are. I can convince almost anyone that he or she is not in a close relationship with Him through this one tool.

When the devil was asked why this particular tool was the most expensive, he said, “Because this is my sharpest and the most useful tool; it is called discouragement. With discouragement I can do anything I want with anybody regardless of their education, religion, wealth or fame. It always works; never fails."

Discouragement is the Devil’s most powerful tool. It brings along with it a feeling of helplessness and hopelessness that leads to overwhelming and crushing sadness. Discouragement doesn’t happen all at once. It usually starts with a trigger and then builds up. It starts with anger, disappointment, frustration, anxiety, guilt, or some such thing that makes us feel uneasy and sad.

These are normal emotions and we have them from time to time. "I could have done better. I am not as smart as she is or he is. I should have studied more, etc.".   Discouragement can happen to anyone at any point of time. Regardless of your. health, wealth, fame or power, none of us is immune to this assault.

Along with discouragement comes depression. Consider these names: Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Robert. Schumann, Ludwig von Beethoven, Edgar Allen Poe, Mark Twain. They are very. well-known politicians, musicians, and writers. These incredibly talented. individuals had their expertise in different fields. But they had one common. experience. They all battled the debilitating disease of severe depression.

Listen to this man and guess who this might be. He wrote, “I am now the most miserable man living. If what I feel was equally distributed to the whole human family, there would not be one cheerful face on earth. To remain as I am is impossible. I must die or get better.” Do you sense a severe depression in this man? Do you know who wrote it? It was Abraham Lincoln.

Consider another man. During the World War II the Prime Minister of England, Winston Churchill told his people, “Never give up, never, never, never, never give up!”  He was one of the most courageous and positive-thinking people in history. But he called depression a “black dog” that followed him all his life. He was affected by depression again and again throughout his life.

Even spiritual giants that we read about in the Bible, were not protected from depression. Moses, for example, was once so deeply depressed that he asked God to end his life. After the Israelites came out of Egypt, they had a difficult life in the wilderness. Yes, the Lord provided manna and water., but still it was a harsh life in the wasteland, no doubt. After a couple of years in the wilderness they really missed meat in their meals. They wanted to eat meat and they demanded Moses to provide some meat for them. Moses couldn’t do that for the huge crowd. There was no way he could provide them meat. So, Moses cried out to the Lord. He said to the Lord, “Why have you brought this trouble to me? Why did you pick me to lead these people? God did provide meat for them.

What about Elijah? Elijah was a great prophet of the Old Testament.  In 1 Kings, chapter 18, we are told that after defeating and killing 450 prophets of baal on Mt. Carmel, Jezebel (the queen and a baal worshipper herself) was furious.    She sent a message to Elijah saying that she would surely kill Elijah just the way he killed those prophets. We are then told that Elijah ran away and hid himself and fell into a deep depression. And he said to the Lord, “I have had enough, Lord. Take my life. I am no better than my ancestors. I cannot live like this. It is better for me to die than to live. Elijah was severely depressed and very discouraged - even though he had just won an amazing victory! 

Did you know that King David also battled depression? In Psalm 42:5 we read, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted in me? King David was asking himself this rhetorical question. He was basically saying, “I am really depressed. I know I need to trust the Lord and I am trying. But I don’t have peace. I don’t have comfort. I don’t have assurance that God is with me. What I have is anxiety and fear. I don’t feel the presence of God.” David was desperately trying to escape from his depression. But he had not been able to. So David confessed in verse 3. “My tears have been my food day and night.” All day long, I weep and cry."

I want you to know that we all do get depressed and discouraged from time to time. And there is nothing sinful with getting depressed or being discouraged.. But that doesn't mean we should just stay depressed.

The Lord does not want us to remain in the condition of depression or discouragement all the time.

So, what can we do to come out of depression and the spirit of constantly being discouraged? I have a few suggestions:
Don’t isolate yourself, but go out and serve others.  Someone once asked Karl Menninger, the famous American psychiatrist, for some advice. He said: Don’t isolate yourself, but go out and serve others. Actually the person who asked the question was expecting to hear, "Go see a psychiatrist.” But that is not what he said. Instead, he said, “If you are really severely depressed, do this: Lock the door behind you, go across the street, find somebody that’s in need, and do something to help them.”   He knew that we find meaning in life when we do something that positively affects other people. We find joy when we see value in our lives. We see value in our lives when we make a difference in other people’s lives, even in a small way. And when we find joy in life, we come out of depression.

Put your hope in God.  In Psalm 43, verse 5, King David says: “Put your hope in GOD, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my GOD.”   David took his eyes off of himself. Instead of looking at his circumstances, he looked up to the Lord.  Let me give you another example: Horatio G. Spafford was an American Lawyer and businessman in Chicago with a lovely family - a wife, Anna, and five children. However, in 1871 their only son died of pneumonia. And in that same year, much of their business was lost in the great Chicago fire.  But, by God’s mercy and kindness the business recovered quickly. Two years later, in November 1873, he and his family wanted to spend a winter vacation in England. However, Horatio still needed to take care of a few things so Anna and their four daughters left first on a ship to England.  Unfortunately, that ship collided with another ship as it was crossing the Atlantic and sank quickly. There were 313 passengers on board and 226 people died among them the Spafford daughters.  As soon as Anna reached land, she telegraphed to her husband: “Saved alone. Children lost. What shall I do?” Horatio was on the next available ship and left to join his grieving wife. On that ship, near the place where the tragedy had occurred, he wrote the words to the song: It Is Well With My Soul When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrow like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot Thou hast taught me to say. It is well, it is well with my soul.  Wow!  What is an admirable faith.  “Why are you cast down, O my soul? Why are you disquieted in me? Put your hope in the LORD and praise Him for He is your help and your salvation, your hope for the future.

Turn to CHRIST for Help.  Remember in HIS word, JESUS said, "Come to me all who are tired and weary, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) Paul also confirms for us, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." (Phil. 4:13).  Jesus Christ who gave His life for us on that Cross on Calvary can really make a difference!

Let’s face it discouragement, depression can get into our minds and color our actions and our belief systems. It can even take control of our health producing anxiety and blood pressure issues and incorrect reasoning.  Most of us can fill in the blanks on how we are affected.    The legend in the illustration says that the devil's price for discouragement was so high that it was never sold. He still owns it and is still using it.

Are you experiencing, depression and discouragement today?  Let me encourage you to: Turn to Christ for Help,  Put your Hope in GOD and then GO OUT and Impact others for Christ!    Yes, the devil hasn't gone out of business and is seemingly working overtime to discourage many today.   However, be encouraged, because the devil is a defeated enemy and his tools are powerless over JESUS.  Keep your eyes on the LORD and remember what we are told in 1 John 4:4 "...greater is HE who is in you than he who is in the world."

​The title of this blog was inspired by a question I was asked many times as a Pastor - "Does satan know my thoughts?".  My direct answer is that it is "unlikely Satan knows your thoughts".

In Daniel 10:12-14, there is a spiritual warfare due to Daniel's "words," but not his thoughts.  Then he said to me, "Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words.  But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. Now I have come to give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision pertains to the days yet future.” 

This passage tells us that from the first day Daniel prayed and his words were heard by God.  We read that God commissioned Gabriel to come to him.  Now…who is this prince of the kingdom of Persia?  This refers to an evil angel appointed by satan to control the Persian Government, which was done of course, without the knowledge of its earthly king.   So, this passage appears to reveal that satan places an agent in charge of every nation - that is a fallen, evil angel.  This explains why we see and read so much of national hatreds and national movements. 

Scripture is clear that God has His Angelic Angels operating in opposition to satan’s evil angels.  Also, the Bible is clear that only God is ever mentioned as knowing the thoughts of man.  Consider what the Bible says in 1 Chronicles 28:9 "As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever."  See also Psalm 139:23, Isaiah 66:18, Ezekiel 11:5.

Satan certainly can hear you, and he knows your sin nature as he is your natural "father" (before conversion).   Remember John 8:44 tells us "You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies."    In this capacity, satan knows where to tempt you and he knows where you are weak.

The main thing to understand and remember to encourage us today is that God, living powerfully in you, is much greater than Satan and your sin nature. Therefore, there is absolutely nothing to fear, even if you are praying out loud.. . . greater is He (Jesus) who is in you than he (Satan) who is in the world. —1 John 4:4