Luke 24:23-26 in the King James Version of the Bible tell us: "And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.   And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulcher, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.   Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

This is a very important section of scripture. Two of Jesus’ believers are taking a lonely but thoughtful walk on the Road of Emmaus.  They are talking about something they had heard.  That same day they heard about the resurrection of Jesus.  They thought about what they had heard and they discussed the events.  Now should they believe it to be true or not.  Same question I would guess we all would have discussed.  As they were discussing what they had heard, Jesus drew near but He did not reveal Himself to them.  Jesus asks them what they are talking about.  Why are you men so sad?  Then one of the believers says:  We are sad about the things that have happened.  Jesus says: What events?  They answered Jesus’s death for He was a great prophet, he was crucified and He was thought to be the Messiah.  They speak about the empty tomb and all the perplexing and confusing reports.  Reports of visions and reports of Jesus being alive AND the reports were confirmed!

The Lord, Jesus Christ, in speaking of His resurrection, did not show them the prints of the nails in His hand to prove it.  He referred them to the Scriptures rather than to the nail prints.  What did Jesus say? He said “You should have  believed  what the prophets said.”  A little bit of a mild rebuke.  His death and resurrection were necessary and then He explains the Scriptures.  Here, we get a glimpse of of our Lord’s attitude  about the Bible.  We see Jesus after His resurrection meets some believers who are speaking of those things that they had witnessed and heard of on the Road to Emmaus.

Things are no different today.  The day in which we are living we see that people doubt the Word of God.  There are people who are actually saying  that you cannot  be intelligent and actually believe the Bible.  Many people  are afraid  that they will not be considered intelligent if they say that they actually believe what the Bible says is true.  In reality,  it is the most subtle and satanic trap of our day to discount the inerrancy and integrity of the Word of God.  Christ says that a man is a fool not to believe the Bible.  Christ says that a man is a fool not to believe it.  He gave an unanimous and wholehearted acceptant of the Bible’s statements with no "ifs, ands or buts".

The disciples in today’s passage were very much like that. The work was only half done, and their sadness was rooted in misunderstanding and unbelief. Now they believed part of what the prophets had spoken, but they did not believe or understand it all. They had the discouragement of confused hearts. When we don’t understand the Word of God, that can lead to discouragement. I have met many Christians who get discouraged because they don’t understand the Scriptures. They miss the fulfillment of Jesus because He doesn’t work in the way we would expect.
 
Let me give you an example that might help you to understand:
Once, a little boy  came into the kitchen and his mother was baking a pie. So he  stood and waited until she took the pie  out of the oven. But this young boy said that he had never  been so disappointed and angry in his  life. He looked and there was no pie in the shell. He  thought either his  mother was extremely mean, or she had gone out of her mind. He literally ran out of the house.  He  can remember that he went a whole half-block murmuring to myself. When I returned, he  learned the rest of the story: She was not finished with what she was doing.  In baking terms it is called “Blind baking.”  To blind bake pie crust, prick the crust all over with the tines of a fork and line the unbaked pie crust with aluminum foil, or line the crust with parchment and cook the shell for about 15 minutes so this way if you  put a filing in that is liquid or one that does not need to baked like chocolate or lemon pies or even a quiches  the crust will NOT be soggy or uncooked.  So the pie is not completed to yet enjoy.

Well the two on the road to Emmaus…they were short-sighted and had unbelief. 

           The Scriptures are not ALL yet fulfilled...but one day soon, they will be!

You see we are witnessing much of this today, me refuse to accept a risen Lord.  A risen Lord means that a man must subject himself to the Lord and obey and serve him.  Yes, we should be knowledgeable about the Death of Jesus Christ on the Cross BUT we must also  be engrossed in the Resurrection of the Lord.  Jesus told the Believers that they were dull and slow to believe.  They were fools, they were without excuse, for their minds and hearts were capable of  more than that.  The two disciples were feeling hopeless and perplexed, full of sadness and despair for one simple reason: unbelief.  All they saw was the death of Christ  and they could not see beyond Jesus’ death  They were willing to accept and admire a dead Savior, a great prophet who had been martyred but they had great difficulty in accepting a risen Lord.  They would not believe the reports of the women, the glorious news of the Living Lord.

What about you?  Will you accept the glorious news that Jesus resurrected from the death and that means do you accept it or do you only want to believe in a dead martyr.  Christ arose from the dead and that is our hope as Christians.  Yes, we are all terminal we will all die but if we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior when we die we will go to heaven and be resurrected in new glorified bodies.

Those disciples had to respond when Jesus took that bread and blessed it.  They had to decide that the risen Christ was not a spirit, not a vision, not a phantom, not an hallucination or any other figment of their imagination.  He was the risen Lord- bodily- not someone else, nor some other spirit.  His body was that of Jesus, the carpenter of Nazareth.  He had physically risen  from the dead and His body was real. It differed  a little but it was His body.  It was perfected and no longer subject to the limitations and frailties of this earth that we live in and its laws, it was now glorified by the power and spoken Word of God.  That is what is awaiting us.  Praise God!

​Matthew 24:10-13 
And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.    And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.   And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.    But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

As we see in Matthew, the first book of the New Testament Jesus is stepping from His personal and private life into His public ministry (Matthew 4).  After Jesus' water baptism  He steps forward to carry out the plans for which He came into the world.  To die for sin.

This is where we read what is referred to as the Sermon on the Mount.  The Sermon on the Mount is found in The Gospel of Matthew, specifically chapters 5, 6 and 7. This section of the Bible contains a collection of Jesus' most famous teachings and sayings, including the Beatitudes and the Lord's Prayer, which outlines the characteristics of a life lived in God's Kingdom.
 
The text that we just read is found a few chapters later in Matthew 24, when Jesus is speaking these words telling His Disciples about the signs of the end times.
 
Jesus talked about a time of extreme persecution for anyone or any group who might consider following Jesus and He tells His disciples that many will be offended.
 
Have you noticed that today everyone is like a pin cushion?  Everyone is easily offended.  Just as if they were being stabbed by pins. Listen carefully.  The Greek word translated offended is “scandalizo”.  You can probably tell from the sound of that word that we get our English word “scandalize” from it.  That word means being ripped up, offended and scandalized.   This is exactly what JESUS foretold when HE said many will be offended. 

Have you noticed how many Christians are being martyred today all over the world?  Yes, I know the media does not mention it but God gets the information out!  We also see young people abandoning the faith of their parents because they are scandalized and offended by the teachings of the Bible. They want to do things their way or as the world thinks it should be done.
 
Have you also noticed that people are also offended by anything that seems to restrict human behavior?  They are scandalized that anyone would dare call them sinners and the things that they are doing is a sin.  Today we even have pastors not wanting to offend members of their congregations .  These Pastors work diligently to find ways to keep people in their churches without scandalizing them.  Sometimes they go to extremes and actually deny God’s word because they don’t want to offend.
 
Remember, Bible prophecy said it would happen. 
 
Have you listened to even comedians telling you that doing comedy in this atmosphere is very difficult because they fear that they will be cancelled because they offended someone or some group.  Today advertisements trigger outrage.  Yes, I realize that sometimes the public relations companies deliberately offend in an attempt to be stylish and edgy and to bring in the next new trend.  Announcers calling the ballgames offend.  Actors offend.  Screenwriters offend.  Politicians are offensive. Billionaires are offended. etcetera, etcetera.
 
Offending and being offended have become lifestyles.  It is a lose-lose situation for us human beings because it destroys communications while it undermines  friendships, family and mutual respect. Oh…… But it is win-win situation for satan, the evil one because He knows all people, yes all people are members of one group or the other.  Are you the one being offended or are you offensive?
 
We can be separated by skin color, your sex, your faith or any one of a thousand different characteristics.  So for satan-so for evil -it Is a rich playground.  We are offended by everything.  We are ashamed of nothing.  We believe we are entitled to everything and we contribute nothing
 
Believe it or not, Peter says we are to earnestly desire the end of the present world. You may say, “That sounds pretty morbid!” Nevertheless, the apostle writes that we are to anticipate the dissolving of this evil age, let's take a look:
“Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?” (2 Peter 3:11-12, NKJV).

Now, this does not mean that when destruction comes we are to shout happily, “Look, it’s all burning.” No, Peter’s words here are meant to sustain us. Whenever we become discouraged in this life, we are to rejoice, saying, “It’s all going to go up in smoke anyway.”  His truth also is meant to stir us up about the kind of people we are to be. When you read these words about a great fire coming and a bright, new world where righteousness will reign, do you rejoice? Perhaps, instead, you cry, “Oh, God, I believe what your Word says. I believe one day you are going to send your fire to melt down this sin-cursed world. I believe a new, holy world is coming; but I don’t believe I measure up with all holy conversation and godliness. I don’t feel I meet the standard Peter writes about, and I’m afraid I won’t make it.”

Beloved, I have glorious news for you. I can show you, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that God greatly desires to preserve you for his coming world. You need his life-giving truth in your heart to sustain you when the enemy comes against you like a flood.  Here are several verses about what the Lord has pledged to do for you.

• “The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; he shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore” (Psalm 121:7-8).
• “For the Lord loves justice, and does not forsake his saints; they are preserved forever, but the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off” (Psalm 37:28).
• “You who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the souls of his saints; he delivers them out of the hand of the wicked” (Psalm 97:10).
• “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

Be Blessed today and focus on the hope that Jesus gives to all...and remember the words of JESUS "...HE THAT SHALL ENDURE TO THE END, THE SAME SHALL BE SAVED...".   ENDURE!

I read an article about Alfred the Great, the 19th century king of England who is credited with saving England from being conquered by the Danish.  At one point  during his wars with the Danes, Alfred was forced to seek refuge in the hut of a poor Saxon family.  The woman of the house did no recognize her visitor, but she had to leave her house to go on an errand so she asked this visitor to watch some cakes she was baking. However, the king had other things on his mind and he did not notice that the cakes were burning.  Upon the woman’s return she realized that the cakes had burned  and she gave her sovereign a hearty scolding!.  The woman showed no respect for the king because she did not know who this man really was.
 
In many ways 21st century Christians are just like this ninth century woman.  We show no respect for God because we do not know who HE really is.  Just as this woman viewed her king as a mere commoner so we today have brought God down to our level.  He is now no more than the “big guy up stairs”.   Listen to the easy unconcerned statements people make in casual conversations, the way God is depicted in movies and  television programs and talk shows and by influencers that are supposedly based on who God is and how He deals with men, they all have one thing in common.  They prove how far from God we have moved.
 
Unfortunately, the sad truth is that God it seems, is misunderstood and misrepresented by christians and the church in general today.  It is difficult for us to get our head around the fact that God is a Spirit.  We forget that God is:

•         Omnipresent: everywhere at once and there is nowhere that He is not.
•         Omniscient: God knows all things  and there is nothing He does not  know
•         Omnipotent: God is all powerful

 
We have to remember that GOD IS UNCHANGEABLE, GOD IS HOLY, GOD IS RIGHTEOUS, GOD IS GOOD, GOD IS TRUTH, in the most complete and perfect sense of all these terms.
 
This is not an exhaustive study of the general knowledge of God and His essence and attributes, but it gives us a sort of working knowledge from which to proceed.  If you can get just an inkling from these things, of the immensity and eternal nature of God, it should make the things we study about Him even more amazing and astounding.
 
How can this amazing being condescend to take any active role in the lives of men?  How is it He can even notice us? The scriptures reveal a God who has intellect, sensibility, and will. He is represented as speaking, seeking, hearing, being angry and compassionate.  He is said to be Creator, Upholder, ruler and sustainer of all things.  John wrote  it best when he said “God is love.”
 
Do you want to know who God is?  Jesus gives us a great answer when He said "I and the Father are One".  The unimaginable, the uncreated Master, the maker and monarch of eternity wants a love relationship with His creation, and has stopped at nothing to gain it back, even the sacrifice of His only Begotten Son -Jesus!
 
If you have ever read the Bible you will begin to understand God’s chief complaint against His people is that they study and see his works; they ask for miracles, they seek help in all their troubles and they pray for blessings all daylong….but they do not want to know Him.
 
Look at Jesus, believer, and see the Father - He is real, and He wants an intimate relationship with you and He wants you to know Him.  So what do you think of God?

Matthew 11:28 tells us: “Come to Me all who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest”.
 
In this verse, which was spoken by JESUS, we see two pictures. 

One picture is of a person who is extremely weary and tired. This is the person who has gone as far as he can; he can go no farther, he cannot take another step.  The other picture is a person under extreme pressure.  This is the person who is  about to explode, he cannot take anymore and he knows he will soon explode like a volcano under pressure. 

Jesus offers an invitation: ”Come unto Me.”   Did you know that this invitational phrase, “Come unto Me“  is used nearly 3,000 times in the Bible and nearly always refers to a simple invitation with no stipulations, no one left out.  An invitation stating that ANYONE can Come.  ANYONE includes; the wealthy, the poor, the famous, the peasant.  ANYONE- without limitations!  The important inference is that when we come to Christ we are promised rest and freedom from all the cares of the world.
 
Several years ago, the Wall Street Journal carried a story about a young girl named Sally.  She was an overly conscientious youngster who made herself miserable over the smallest failures and setbacks.  Early one fall, while the leaves were still on the trees, there was an exceptionally heavy snowstorm.  Sally’s grandfather took her for a drive and said : “Notice those elms, the branches are so badly broken that the trees may die.  But look at those pines and evergreens.  They are completely undamaged by the storm.  My child, he said, there are two kinds of trees in this world, the foolish and the wise.  An elm holds its branches rigid.  As it becomes weighted down it reaches its limit and eventually its limbs break.  But when an evergreen is loaded, it simply releases its branches and lets the burden slip away.  Be like a pine tree, granddaughter.”
 
Christians who give up all their cares to the Lord can face life’s burdens much better than those who try to bear the weight themselves.  Charles Spurgeon, a 19th century evangelist said “The message of our gospel is the gentle word, ”Come”.  Our Lord says “Come unto Me and I will give you rest.  But the law says, “Go and do.”  The law says “Go and take heed to the path in which you walk.  Break the commandments and perish; keep them and live.”  The law drives men with a whip; but God draws men with cords of love.  The law repels; but the gospel attracts.  Christ is the good Shepherd who goes before His sheep and says “Come. I will give you rest.”
 
In a third-century debate on Christianity, Celsus said to Origen. “When most teachers go forth to teach they cry, Come to me, you who are clean and worthy, and they are followed by the highest caliber of people available.  But your silly master-Jesus cries; “Come to Me, you who are down and beaten by life” and so He accumulates around Him: ”A group  of rag, tag and bobtail of humanity."   Yes that is true BUT Jesus does not leave them that way.  Out of material you would have thrown away as useless, he fashions men and women giving them back their self-respect, enabling them to stand on their feet and look God in the eye.  They were cringing, broken things but God’s Son Jesus has set them free.”
 
So today, if you are heavy burdened come to Jesus.  Respond to His invitation.  Do you realize how special that statement is? It speaks to anyone….anyone in this earthly world who wants  to hear.  It invites people of all colors, all beliefs, all tribes, all nations, all situations.  It speaks to those addicted to drugs, alcohol, pornography to gambling, even to those addicted to their careers and it even speaks to those who go to church every Sunday.  That word “Come”  speaks to each one, quietly and individually.  COME and He will give you peace of mind and rest of heart.
 
The invitation has been sent will you accept HIS invitation?   If you are still not sure, be sure to check out the information on the "SALVATION" tab above.   We pray that your RSVP to HIS invitation is AFFIRMATIVE!

One of the most joyful sounds of the season is the singing of carols. There are nearly 10,000 songs about or for Christmas. Since the average song runs approximately 3.5 minutes, it means you would have to sing Christmas songs 24/7 from December 1 to December 24 to sing them all...Bring a throat lozenge!!
 
The carols that we sing each year do a magnificent job of underscoring who Jesus is and why He came. However, it makes me sad when I hear secular musicians sing Christmas carols who make no claim to believe in Jesus. They sing of the birth but they have no idea what or who they are singing about.Perhaps you are in a similar place, familiar with the tunes of Christmas because you have heard them every winter season, but you have never stopped to consider all their lyrics. I just want to mention one of these songs and the deep truth that it proclaims.
 
On Christmas Day, 1863, during the American Civil War, Longfellow wrote the words to “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” as a poem. Later on it was set to music. He wrote this after facing personal tragedy, the death of his beloved wife, his own deep, dark depression and his son’s injury in battle. The words
reflect Longfellow’s struggle to reconcile the traditional Christmas message of “peace on earth, good-will to men” with the surrounding reality of war and personal suffering.
 
Not unlike Longfellow, we also live in a violent world. Throughout the world, armies and organizations, who think they are God, are planning and preparing for military operations to control the world. We see and hear of political injustices, interpersonal strife and violence. But violence is nothing new, and do not
believe that God is not aware of it. Christmas is not just about baby Jesus. It is about the warrior-king Jesus who is coming back again to redeem His people.
 
From Genesis 4 with Cain killing his brother in cold blood and all the way to Revelation 22 we see throughout the pages of the Bible and read of: murder, violence, deceit, greed, hatred in every form. And so it continues. The same world we live in today, was the backdrop to the birth of Christ. Today, we love to focus on Hallmark movies, parties and gift giving to shape what we think Christmas should be. But it is easy for us to misread the story of Christ’s birth. We must see the warfare imagery that is attached to Christmas. The birth of Jesus was not a holiday, it was the fulfillment of an ancient promise that God would fight for His people. In fact, Mary the Mother of Jesus in (Luke 1:46-55) sings a song known as the Magnificat that magnifies the Lord, Jesus Christ as her Savior.   That song praises God for the way He would exalt the humble and humble the exalted.
 
Jesus did not come to proclaim a holiday season. He came to proclaim peace to those far and near, and to pay for our sin nature so we can spend eternity with Jesus Christ our Savior. The sentiment that Longfellow captured in his poem long ago was the promise of God’s unfailing Word. We can have
confidence that what the Bible says is true-the the bells we hear on Christmas, keeps us focused on the Day when the Prince of Peace, Jesus, will establish peace on earth. Yes, there is tension we all face at Christmas. But, all the way from Genesis to Revelation we read that the baby born in the manger was not given to us as a sentimental token of God’s love. No! The Lord Jesus promises: forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life to all who will come to Him.
 
When Jesus came the first time as a baby, there was chaos, and the world rejoiced at the death of Jesus just as we see the world rejoicing at evil today. But there will come a time when people will rejoice because of God’s glorious promises being fulfilled. The world is gloriously dark now because we are being prepared for the glorious Son of God who will bring great light.

This is a difficult topic to condense into a few paragraphs for a blog, but I believe it is an important topic for all of us to know about.

The title "Son Of Man" is used repeatedly throughout scripture to describe Jesus.   Did you know that in the Old Testament book of Daniel (Chapter 7), He had a vision of Jesus in which he saw HIM as the Son OF MAN?   Many books have been written on this topic and to adequately write about Jesus is like trying to gather the ocean in your hands - it 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 more often when referring to Himself.

This title expresses His humility and allows us to see His lowliness.  The One "whose yoke is easy and whose burden is light".  This title refers to Him coming down from heaven, leaving HIS position in heaven to become the sacrifice for our sins.

In Matthew 24:30 Jesus is speaking of Himself and HE says: "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. (This is how Jesus refers to Himself at His second coming).

One interesting fact is that nowhere in Scripture - not in any portion of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation -  does satan - the enemy of Jesus - ever refer to Jesus as the Son of Man.

• Do you remember when Satan went to tempt Jesus in the wilderness he 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, kept following Paul and Silas did not say that the Apostles were servants of the Man Jesus but called them servants of the most high God.
  

Throughout the Bible, satan concedes the divinity of Jesus, but does not want that we address Him as Man-God. This is one of the reasons why the Apostles insisted in their writing and preaching on the Mediator, the Man Christ JESUS.

The Bible clearly teaches us that 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. Christ Jesus -Himself- the MAN.

Jesus was never ashamed to call us brothers and sisters, for He participated in the same things as us. 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 the 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 not only felt our infirmities but He also bore our griefs and sorrows. Our griefs and sorrows really cannot be explained.  Those times when we experience a heavy atmosphere which seems to envelop even the most consecrated life.

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 His Only Begotten Son 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. John 3:16 KJV says 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.

As we celebrate the Holiday Season, let us remember that JESUS is the SON OF MAN who came down to earth to give HIS life so that we can spend eternity in heaven with HIM!   If you have never done it before, turn your life over to JESUS, the SON OF MAN, today!​

I remember one Church service where I spoke about "No Retirement In The Bible".  As you can assume, there were many who were not happy with that message.  In fact, I received many calls asking me: are you saying that I can't retire from physical labor? That I must keep an actual job the rest of my life!!!!!!!??????

Working in order to provide food and shelter is what every man must do; it's part of the penalty of sin. Prior to sin, man had responsibility, but he didn't have to work to ensure he could eat.   By the sweat of your face You will eat bread, TILL YOU RETURN TO THE GROUND, Because from it you were taken; . . . —Genesis 3:19 (CAPS added for emphasis)
 
Well is retirement mentioned in the Bible? The short answer is no. When 21st century Americans think of modern retirement, we need to remember that it is a relatively new concept which the Bible doesn't specifically address.
 
Our purpose here on earth is to serve God until we die. Scripture doesn't teach that men are to save up so they can stop working at some point.  Obviously, as people get older, they might have to change from physical work to some other type of work or ministry or project.  However, we are to stay active and use whatever gifts we have been given for as long as God wants to use them.  Our modern version of saving and planning for the future might just give us more flexibility so that we can be free to do whatever GOD has called us to do.

As Christians approach retirement age, they often wonder what a Christian should do during the retirement years. Do Christians retire from Christian service when they retire from the workplace? How should a Christian view retirement?     Here are a few thoughts based on scripture:

1. Although there is no biblical principle that a person should retire from his work when he reaches a certain age, there is the example of the Levites and their work in the tabernacle. In Numbers 4, the Levite males are numbered for service in the tabernacle from ages 25-50 years old, and after age 50, they were to retire from regular service. They could continue to “assist their brothers” but could not continue to work (Numbers 8:24-26).
   
2. Even though we may retire from our vocations (even “full-time” Christian ministry), we should never retire from serving the Lord, although the way we serve Him may change. There is the example of two very old people in Luke 2:25-38 (Simeon and Anna) who continued to serve the Lord faithfully. Anna was an elderly widow who ministered in the temple daily with fasting and prayer. Titus 2 states that the older men and women are to teach, by example, younger men and women how to live.
   
3. One’s older years are not to be spent solely in the pursuit of pleasure. Paul says that the widow who lives for pleasure is dead while she yet lives (1 Timothy 5:6). Contrary to biblical instruction, many people equate retirement with “pursuit of pleasure” if at all possible. This is not to say that retirees cannot enjoy golf, social functions, or pleasurable pursuits. But these should not be the primary focus of one’s life at any age.
   
4. 2 Corinthians 12:14 states that the parent ought to save up for the children. But by far the greatest thing to “save up” is one’s spiritual heritage, which can be passed on to children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Generations of descendants have been impacted by the faithful prayers of an elderly family “patriarch” or “matriarch.” Prayer is perhaps the most fruitful ministry outlet for those who have retired.

 
The Christian never really retires from Christ’s service; they only change the address of their workplace.

In summary, as one reaches “retirement age” (whatever that may be for you) the vocation may change but one’s life work of serving the Lord does not change. Often it is these “senior saints” who, after a lifetime of walking with God, are able to convey the truths of God’s Word by relating how God has worked in their lives. The psalmist’s prayer should be our prayer as we age: “Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come” (Psalm 71:18).
 
We are not saying men, as head of the home, shouldn't save money as God allows. Just that the purpose is not to stop working.

The Bible speaks positively about providing for oneself financially through work. In 2 Thessalonians 3, Paul gives a warning against idleness. He reminds the Thessalonians of how he and his companions worked to provide for themselves while serving the church, despite the fact that they had a right to receive monetary support from the church. In verse 10 Paul says the rule is that “the one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” It seems, then, that we are responsible to provide financially for ourselves when possible. The question becomes whether we should save money during our working years in order to provide for ourselves during our retirement years, when we are unable to generate income.
 
The book of Proverbs has many admonitions that promote saving money and other resources. Proverbs 21:20 says, “The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.” Proverbs 6:6–8 uses an insect as an illustration of the need to save: “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.”
 
Recognizing a future need and making provisions for it today is a biblically wise thing to do.  Financial stewardship now, including saving for retirement, can enable us to better serve others later.

We see Joseph exemplify the wisdom of saving in Genesis 41 when he stored provisions for the prophesied famine to come. We could even say that God’s command to the Israelites to gather enough manna on the sixth day to provide for both Friday and Saturday is a form of saving for a future need (see Exodus 16). Of course, “some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none” (verse 27). In their failure to plan ahead and save, they went hungry.
 
On the other side, we have passages like Matthew 6:25–34 in which Jesus encourages us not to be worried for tomorrow or to seek after the things of the world. Later, Jesus tells the parable of the rich fool, who had such an abundance of crops that he planned to build a larger barn to store up provisions for himself so that he could “say to [himself], ‘You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry’” (Luke 12:19). “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’” (verse 20). Jesus concludes with this application: “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God” (verse 21). The issue in both passages seems to be one of heart. Jesus is not speaking against saving now for needs in the future. What He is talking about is where our hearts should be focused. We are to value the things that God values, trust in His provision instead of our own wealth, and also live wisely.
 
Christians are wise to examine their current spending patterns and their perceived future financial needs. When considering how to save for retirement, it is good to pray over the matter, search the Scriptures on the appropriate use of money, and meet with a financial adviser. Saving is wise, and trusting God is wise. As we save for retirement, we recognize that the goal is not a selfish enjoyment of a lavish life after years of work. The goal is not even self-sufficiency, since our dependence is always on God.

The goal is to exercise godly wisdom in providing for our needs in future years and having enough to continue giving to others. Our trust is not in government programs or 401(k)s or individual retirement accounts. Our hearts are set on things above, where our true treasure is. Ultimately, our money belongs to God and is directed for His purposes.
 
Perhaps this is a good time when men and women can give back and do some work for the Lord.  Ask GOD what HE would have you do for HIM today!

I don't usually like to talk about satan, but I thought it was appropriate for this time of year. People’s beliefs concerning Satan range from the silly to the abstract—from a little guy who wears a red suit with a pitch fork in his hand to poke you to a guy with horns who sits on your shoulder urging you to sin - to go against God’s commandments.  None of these extremes are accurate, however, the Bible gives us a clear portrait of who satan is and how he affects our lives.

Put simply, the Bible defines Satan as an angelic being who fell from his position in heaven due to sin (his sin was and is pride-he wants to be God ) and he is now completely opposed to God, doing all in his power to stop God’s purposes and plans.
 
Here is what the Bible tells us:

• Satan was created as a holy angel. 
  
• Isaiah 14:12 possibly gives us satan’s pre-fall name as Lucifer.
  
• Ezekiel 28:12-14 describes satan as having been created as a cherub, apparently the highest created angel.
  
• He became arrogant in his beauty and status and decided he wanted to sit on a throne above that of God (Isaiah 14:13-14; Ezekiel 28:15; 1 Timothy 3:6).
  
• Satan’s pride led to his fall. Notice the many “I will” statements in Isaiah 14:12-15.
  
• Because of his sin, God permanently removed Satan from his exalted position and role.
  
• Satan became the ruler of this world and the prince of the power of the air (John 12:31; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2).
  
• He is an accuser (Revelation 12:10),
  
• a tempter (Matthew 4:3; 1 Thessalonians 3:5),
  
• and a deceiver (Genesis 3; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:3).
  
• His very name means “adversary” or “one who opposes.” Another of his titles, the devil, means “slanderer.”

 
Even though he was cast out of heaven, he still seeks to elevate his throne above God. He counterfeits all that God does, hoping to gain the worship of the world and encourage opposition to God’s kingdom. Satan is the ultimate source behind every false cult and world religion. Satan will do anything and everything in his power to oppose God and those who follow God. However, satan’s destiny is sealed—an eternity in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10).
 
Years ago I remember teaching a Sunday school class and the message that day was on forgiveness.  I had a young man in that class ask this question: "If Satan asked forgiveness from the Lord, would the Lord forgive him and even bring him back into the Kingdom of Heaven?"
Good question and unfortunately, I had to answer "NO".   There are two reasons which confirm this answer. The  Bible tells us:

1. It is written by God (and it WILL come true): And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. —(Revelation 20:10 ).                                                       
2. Remember hell was created by God for Satan and his demons not for man.  But man chooses his future for eternity.).  In Ezekiel we are told that The devil is an angel (Ezekiel 28:14) and Jesus came to redeem mankind (not angels); therefore Satan's sins were not paid for on the Cross.   You were the anointed cherub who covers,  And I placed you there. You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked in the midst of the stones of fire. —Ezekiel 28:14   . . . there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved —Acts 4:12 . 

 
Satan and his lesser satans or demons  act as executioners: they tempt people into sin, accuse sinners for their misdeeds, and finally execute divine judgment as angels of punishment.  This angel satan became the devil and was banished from God's presence.  In the Book of Revelation, satan appears as a great red dragon, who is defeated by Michael the Archangel and cast down from Heaven. He is later bound for one thousand years, (during the Millennial Kingdom) but is briefly set free before being ultimately being defeated by God and THEN cast into the Lake of Fire for eternity.
 
Not such a great ending picture is it?   Today, remember, that we need to be aware of our adversary, but DO NOT need to listen to our adversary!   Choose this day whom you will serve!   If you are on the fence, just look at the final picture...satan will be in the Lake of Fire  while JESUS will be on HIS ETERNAL THRONE leading us in the New Heaven and the New earth!   Choose wisely...choose JESUS today!

There was a Christian hymn made popular by Mahalia Jackson many years ago.  The Song was His Eye Is On the Sparrow.  The words are:
 
Why should I feel discouraged?                                                                           
And why should the shadows come?                                                                                  
And why should my heart be lonely,                                                                   
And long for heaven and home?                                                                                    
When Jesus is my portion,                                                                                     
My constant friend is He                                                                                              
His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me.                                                          

I sing because I’m happy.                                                                                     
I sing because I’m free.                                                                                                               
His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.
                                           
It’s so comforting to know that our Savior, every moment, is watching over and looking after us. (Matthew 10:29-31;Luke 12:6-7)
 
The Christian life is not an easy life (1Peter 4:12-13) - but it is an abundant life as is written in John 10:10. God knew we’d need to depend upon His strength, not our own.  He knew that we needed to let Him work through our weaknesses and strengths as we surrender our bodies as living sacrifices to Him - to not be conformed to this world’s value system but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Rom 12:1-2).  

He put His Holy Spirit into us, so that HE can lead us to experience the abundant life promised by our Good and Gentle Shepherd, Jesus Christ. (John 10:10).   The Holy Spirit leads us into all truth (John 16:13) through a balanced diet of His spiritual vitamins and supplements for the soul.

In addition, God allows trials in our life.  We have no control over them, only how we handle them.  He comforts us in those trials so that we can comfort others in their trials (2 Corinthians 1:4) with the same comfort God gives us in our trials.  And we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37) in every trial and suffering.

What problems and difficult circumstances have you come through?  You may even be experiencing some difficulties right now. 

Scripture gives us many reminders of why we should be encouraged today!

• Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending (Revelation 1:8) - The Blessed Controller of all things. 
  
• He sees the end from the beginning and HE works all things together for good to those who love and serve Him (Romans 8:28).  
  
• His Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path (Psalm 119:105). 
  
• The steps of a righteous man are ordered of Him (Psalm 37:23). 
  
• We have become that “righteous man” because He who knew no sin became sin for us so that we could become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). 
  
• He tells us to “Trust in the Lord with all [our] heart and lean not on [our] own understanding; but in all [our] ways acknowledge Him and He will direct [our] path.” (Proverbs 3:5-6). 
  
• Those who ask Him, receive from Him.  Those who seek Him, find that He has already been searching for them, and He runs to embrace them.  Those who knock on His glory-filled throne room, find His door immediately opening to them! (Matthew 7:7-8; Luke 15:11-32).

So, what hardships have come upon you?  What difficult situation(s) have you gone through?  What difficulties are you facing today? 

• Have you been beaten and robbed on the Jericho road? (Luke 10: 29-36) 
  
• Have you been born blind? (Luke 18: 35-43) 
  
• Have you been crippled since birth? (Acts 3: 1-8)  Have you been suffering with disease for 38 years? (John 5: 1-9) 
  
• Are you one of the ten lepers who came to Jesus to be healed?  Or maybe even the only one who returned to say thanks? (Luke 17:12-19)  
  
• Have you been a notorious tax collector thief, who wishes he’d been a better person? (Luke 19:1-10) 
  
• Have the soldiers of this angry world pressed a cruel crown of thorns on your head?  Have they led you off to a hill to punish you like a common criminal? (John 19:1-3, 16-18) 

The Bible tells us:

• “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?...But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:36-39).
  
• Let the joy of the Lord be our strength (Nehemiah 8:10).  He sees our courage in the battle with what appears to be overwhelming odds.  But each of us and He together, represent overwhelming firepower! 
  
• Do you remember when Elisha’s servant saw all the horses and chariots of Aram surrounding them?  Elisha prayed that his servant’s eyes would be opened.  And when they were opened, he saw that the horses and chariots of fire from God far outnumbered all the others. (2 Kings 6:8-23). 
  
• As believers, we are reminded that:
  
  • He who is in us is greater [by far] than he that is in the world (1John 4: 3-4). 
    
  • No weapon formed against us shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17)! 
    
  • With every trial or temptation, our Lord provides a way of escape (1Corinthians 10:13). 
    

Trials in our lives are to make us better not bitter – the difference between the two is whether we see and embrace an “e” (representing eternal outcomes) or an “i” (representing immediate outcomes). 

The eternal outcome is that we are always being shaped into the image of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  As the Apostle Paul proclaimed, “…that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead….Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3: 10-14).

So, today let’s trust in the Lord and be encouraged.   Let HIS word encourage you today, no matter what you are going through!

  The Gospel of JESUS CHRIST in scripture is often referred to as The Good News.  Some have even called it The Great News!  

The good news is that Jesus came to earth to die for our sins and gave HIS perfect, sin-free life as payment for our sins.   JESUS sees our belief in HIM and in HIS promises and HE not only gives us the "free gift of salvation, but HE gives a reward for those of us "eagerly awaiting" His appearing (Philippians 3:20).  The Apostle Paul even goes on to tell us that there is a specific crown for those who "have loved his appearing" (2 Timothy 4:8).   Please know that this reward is not a salvation issue, but the promise of a special recognition for those who live in anticipation of Jesus' imminent appearing, even if it doesn't happen in their lifetime.
 
In our day, there's an even greater cause for rejoicing.  We not only have the opportunity for SALVATION, but we have an opportunity for REWARDS!  To make it event better, we won't have to wait too much longer for these rewards.   We live in an unprecedented time when a myriad of signs point to the soon onset of the Tribulation period and thus to the Rapture.
 
Believers today have a valid anticipation of being alive at the time when Jesus appears. Paul wrote that when the Rapture occurs, Jesus will transform the bodies of the living saints into imperishable ones and then catch them up to meet Him in the air (1 Corinthians 15:47-55; 1Thessalonians 4:17). 
                                                                       
JESUS’ PROMISES
 I love the promise that's embedded into Jesus' words to the church at Philadelphia as recorded in Revelation 3:10-11:   Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
 
The word "kept" immediately captures my attention. In the Greek, it signifies the idea of guarding something so as to keep it in its current state. It denotes a treasuring of Jesus' words such as His promise recorded for us in verse 11, which accurately translated is "I am coming quickly." 
 
This is the Rapture. It's Jesus protecting His Church from the time of testing that will come upon the entire earth, to test "those who dwell on the earth." He does so by "coming quickly" to take us to the place He's preparing for us.  The Second Coming is not a sudden event, but rather an extended event where Jesus and His host, which will include us, parades across the sky, defeats the armies rallied against Jerusalem, kills the antichrist, sets up thrones, and raises the dead Tribulation saints (Revelation 19:11-20:4).
 
In Revelation 3, Jesus promises to come quickly for us and reward those who hold on to His words until He appears. When the apostle began writing about the Rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-5:10, he claimed that his words came directly from the Lord. Our anticipation of Jesus' imminent return to take us to glory is based on Jesus' direct promise to us (see also John 14:2-3).
 
Regardless of the ridicule, false teaching, and silence from the pulpits in churches today regarding our hope, our anticipation of Jesus' soon appearing rests on solid ground. In fact, Jesus' preeminence verifies our hope in His soon appearing.
   
Bible scholar and author, Dr. David Reagan, recently said, "We are living on borrowed time."

He is so right. How much longer can it be before the Savior appears to take us to the place that He's preparing for us??!!
 
Take heart! It's not easy keeping our focus on Jesus' appearing; so many factors war against it. However, Jesus is coming for His Church just as promised. And He will reward those saints who remain steadfast in watching and waiting for His appearing.
 
Our hope rests in Jesus, the great Promise Keeper. He is coming for us in the near future; He will not fail to keep His Word to us, recorded throughout the New Testament, regarding His appearing to take us home to glory.
 
Jesus' Promise for Those Who Wait Expectantly
 As saints eagerly awaiting Jesus' appearing, we sail through uncharted seas. There's never been a time quite like this. Never before has there been so much evidence pointing to the nearness of Jesus' appearing than today. At the same time, never in recent history has there been so much unawareness and disbelief regarding Bible prophecy as we now see in churches that claim to believe in the inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture.
 
False teaching abounds. The most popular views of the end times contradict God's Word by claiming there's no Tribulation, no restoration of a kingdom to Israel, and no thousand-year reign of Jesus. Pastors either openly deny the Rapture or do so subtly with their emphasis on this life to the exclusion of any mention of eternal life.  Listen carefully to what you are hearing and reading in your Word-the Bible.  It is in there all the information that you need!!!!

Today, take a moment to ensure you have received HIS FREE GIFT OF SALVATION!   Once you have done that, be ready for there is more good news coming soon!   May HE find us all waiting expectantly!