Repent!

Ezekiel 33:14-16  Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.

The efficacy of repentance.


If, on the one hand, the prophet was warned that some seemingly righteous, superficially good, would fail, he was encouraged, on the other hand, by the assurance that some wicked persons would, as the result of his admonitions, repent and convert, and would be brought to true and Divine life.

I THE SEAT OF REPENTANCE. This must be the spiritual nature. The promptings to a better life come from within, from better feelings and better convictions and purposes. Repentance is a change of mind, of heart.
II THE MANIFESTATIONS OF REPENTANCE. These will vary with the previous life, with the special circumstances, the opportunities and position of the convert. In Ver. 15 these practical proofs of repentance are mentioned, and these acts may be taken as examples of the modes in which true repentance will undoubtedly display itself.
III THE REWARD OF REPENTANCE.
1. The evil deeds of the former life shall not be remembered or imputed.
2. The sentence of death shall be cancelled.
3. The penitent and reformed shall live, i.e. in the life of God himself.—T.

Nothing To Boast About,

There are many times that when I think of my past, there is nothing to be proud of. What I mean is how I lived my sinful life. I life now that I am reaping what I have sown. Yesterday I did something without thinking that my son said, "I want to do that." I explained to my son that when I was 13 I learned that. He was like, well dad I am 15 and so I can try that. I told him no son. I am not proud of the things I know and know to do, especially when my son is watching. And when I think of other things, there just ain't nothing to boast about. He told me, dad you were 13 when you started work. And I quickly reminded him that my school work suffered and eventually dropped out. He doesn't understand that he don't need to work. I want him to learn schooling rather then having to suffer later. I have broken my finger, and broken both ankles I almost killed a man when I was 18 and was on a quick road to death my self. Nothing to boast about though. I am not proud of the way I spoke before. I am not proud that words pop in my head that shouldn't be there. I am not proud of what I have done and the people I have hurt. I remember staring into a heart broken father when he realized what kind of thief I was. Even yesterday my pastor said that probably no one here has been in jail. A sat there thinking I have. And I was ashamed for that. I am not proud of that. I wonder why did I not restrain my self. And why now even now that I am saved, why I i struggle. Why so depressed. Why so much questioning of what I am doing. I am not boasting nothing, I am regretting.  I guess I am just rambling. I do know this,  so glad Jesus didn't give up on me. THANK YOU LORD!

Lords Will

I have been in the will of God for years now and I can say it has been great. Yes there has been sorrow and pain. Yes I have suffered loss as well, but to God be the glory He has seen me thru it. When I think about my troubles I am reminded that we don't have a high preist who does not feel as we do. I preached a sermon a while back called,God Knows. And He sure does. I am quickly reminded that when it is tough, I think of how Jesus was in anguish at the garden of Gethsemane. Yet with all that sorrow He went a little further for me. I told my Sunday school class that though when Adam and eve ate the forbidden fruit and said in there heart we don't need God, God said,"I need you" and while yet I was a sinner God demonstrated his love for me by given his only begotten Son. Amen and Glory to God.

Without ashamed

I am a Big B, Baptist, and I say that not with pride or arrogance but of a sound mind and with out apology. I am not a religious man either. I am a man of faith and am kept by the blood of Jesus. Though I was raised catholic I am greatful for the day the Holy Spirit convicted me of my sins and showed me I was lost and condemned. I repented of my sins and asked Jesus to save me. And he did, praise God. I was saved in a Baptist church but I necessarily didn't become a Baptist because of that. When I was baptisted in that local independent church I became a member of that church. Since then I learned that we Baptist were not protestants for we did not from church or organization. Reason why I won't ñame any other then what I came out from when I was lost is because I want to win any that are lost without attacking there belief. I don't see how I can win any by making them mad and expect them to get glad at the same time. I am serious about who I am and gald  for my salvation but I won't compromise my position because of popularity or because you are offended. I understand that there are hypocrites  in religion, but did not Jesus have them in His twelve. One was a theif and the other a baoster, what about the doubter,,, and so on. Yet Jesus used them to proclaim his word. I feel like a just ranted and went off on things but you get the picture. I am concerned for the lost, and pray that God can use me to lead them to Him by the help of the Holy Ghost.

When the power of God came.

Many times I can tell you of my experience of when the manifestation of God was so real. I remember the first time was when Jesus saved my soul. And what a day that was. I tell my Sunday school kids that they probably wouldn't like me if they knew before God saved me. The second that I can remember was at church when Sammy Allen first came down to the valley and preached at victory Baptist church. That night was awesome. Then in 2004 at the campmeeting in Georgia. On Tuesday and Friday. Oh and I remember when God saved my father-in-law, the room was bright as day thought it was about 10 pm and The Holy Spirit just filled the room and showed himself to be true and saved an old sinner. Another time like that night was on soulwinning night. I was with one of my men and we visited a crippled man and his wife. And God showed up that night and saved him. Man we shouted that night. But when the building shook was the one I almost forgot. Bro. Ellis reminded me last night. He said John remember that night and it just çame back to me. I was trying to forget Abbeville but I couldn't forget and I am glad I won't. Bro. Tim brought about 15 men and fixed my old church and house and that afternoon asked me if it was possible to hold a meeting that night for services. I said yes, and started calling folks and we packed her in and my people even brought supper. Well that night we started singing and praising God and testifying that at once we felt the Holy Ghost show up and filled our building and at that time we were meeting in the fellowship hall. And you might think I'm crazy but I was there and Bro. Tim can testify but the building shook. And man did we have a time of worshipping. God did work in Abbeville and I wish in my heart I was still there. I loved it there and my people. Could I have done something different that night the devil fought maybe, but only God knows, but as for me I signed  over the place to God. And he did what was fit for what they did. But I can't deny the fact that there was a day when the foundations did shake.

Romans 6:14

"for sin shall not have dominion over you: ye are not under the law but under grace"

Prior to the cross believers had to do in order to live, they had to keep the law. But glory be to God we are now kepted by the grace of God in salvation. But the law was needed to show what sin is though. So the law was needed. And in keeping the law there was some doing. But according to our scripture we no longer are bound by the law, and let me add that the Jews are no longer bound by the laws yet they try to keep the law, but by grace are we saved through faith. And in salvation sin shall have no dominion in me and hence will not rule my body. We ought not give place to sin nor the devil as a child of God.
I John Yanez need to be reminded through this verse as well. Thank you lord for is inerrant word.

Jesus the only authority

Matthew 19:9 says,
Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery : and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

Let me ask you first, Was the marriage ended  because of fornication? Was her husband cheating on her, was he having an affair , or was she unfaithful? Was it fornication. If it was then Jesus the only authority said there was just cause to divorce. But was there divorce because of fornication? If not and they saperated for any other reason then that, then there is no excuse and she is an adulterers and in sin. And in no doubt Guilty! If there divorce was because of they fell out of love or hatred it is no excuse and they are guilty. Male or female, and anybody who is involved  with them are in sin and accountable. And will answer to God and you will reap were you have sown. Let me ask you, Are you ready to reap the harvest. How will you answer the one who hurts. How will you stand when God removes the rug you stand on. Even with the permission to divorce because of fornication, let me ask, Will you read between the lines to excuse you from remarrying, God forbid. remember most all bible scholars spiritualized alot of there commentaries. I am not ignorant when it comes with 2 falling in love, but like Eve she was told to avoid a certain thing. Christians are to be taught certain things not to entertain. But yet if like Eve take and sin, do you think she was prepared to bury her son.

Quantom

Today I got my first smart phone. It is a windows phone, and I have to admit I love it. I hope to update often.

Update

It has been awhile since I have posted so I figured I would Update. We had a good Thanksgiving Day with freinds and family. Was able to help my mom out a little, I dont make the funds I used to when I lived in La. but God knows. I Pray she gets all the help she needs. I know my little  brother has sacrificed alot to be with her. My mother-in-law she out did her self again, all the food was good, and Melindas step-dad made a good breakfast. I feel so full still.

The Preacher is Tired

Well I can honestley say I am so tired, Myself and John jr. have been cutting yards for extra money and man is it wearing me out, plus the trip to Georgia last week was exhuasting but yet spiritualy fullfilling. I miised my wife and my children so much as well. (my wife more, because I have been with her the longest). God has been so good to this Preacher that I would have to post another day of his blessings. As for right now I am tired.

Job 1:20-21 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

Then Job arose. Not till the last calamity was announced did Job stir. The loss of his wealth little moved him. But when he heard that his children were destroyed, all of them "at one fell swoop," then he could endure no longer, but rose from the seat on which he was sitting, and showed forth his grief. First he rent his mantle, "the outer robe worn by men of rank" (Cook)—a customary sign of grief in the ancient world;1 then he shaved his head—another less usual but still not uncommon sign of grief, forbidden under the Law of the Jews, [Le 21:5; De 14:1] but widely practised by the Gentiles.2 And fell down upon the ground, and worshipped. After giving vent to his natural grief, Job made an act of adoration. Recognizing the fact that adversity, as well as prosperity comes from God, and submitting himself to the Divine will, he "worshipped." How often has his act flashed across the minds of Christians. and enabled them, in their dark hour, to imitate him, and repeat his words, "The Lord gave," etc.!

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Job 1:20
Rent his mantle - Tearing the garments, shaving or pulling off the hair of the head, throwing dust or ashes on the head, and fitting on the ground, were acts by which immoderate grief was expressed. Job must have felt the bitterness of anguish when he was told that, in addition to the loss of all his property, he was deprived of his ten children by a violent death. Had he not felt this most poignantly, he would have been unworthy of the name of man.
Worshipped - Prostrated himself; lay all along upon the ground, with his face in the dust.

Job's resignation.


We cannot but be struck with the magnificent calmness of Job after receiving the successive blows of unprecedented calamities. He is not stunned; he is not distracted. He possesses his soul in patience. With a singular dignity of bearing he is seen to be greater now in his calamity than ever he appeared when at the height of success.

I HOW JOB BEHAVED.

1. He mourned. This was natural, reasonable, and right. He would have been less than mall if he had taken his troubles without a pang. God loves the heart of flesh, not the stony heart; and the heart of flesh must needs feel great trouble very keenly. God's saint is not a stoic. But though Job mourned, he did so with calmness and self-restraint. He did not fling himself down in passionate grief. His rising, his rending his mantle—from neck to girdle, according to custom—his shaving his head, all indicate his marvellous self-possession. He goes through the dreary process of conventional mourning with unflinching decision. His calmness, however, only covers the depth of his sorrow. There is something terrible about that methodical process. The tragedy is sublime.

2. He worshipped. He did not renounce God. On the contrary, he blessed the Name of the Lord. He could not understand the meaning and end of his strange experience. But he knew God, and he never dreamed of doubting God. Moreover, his trouble drives him to God. He falls before God in adoration. The singular thing is that he is not seen praying for help. His trouble is beyond help, and he is not one to whine in weak misery. He loses himself in adoration of God. This is the great secret of fortitude—not to cry for deliverance, but to forget ourselves in God.

II WHAT JOB RECEIVED. He spoke to God, or perhaps uttered a soliloquy, for the relief of his own heart, yet doubtless conscious of the sustaining presence of God. His words show his perfect reasonableness. There is nothing which makes people so unreasonable as trouble. Yet Job was not yet turned one hairs breadth from the line of truth and reason by his fearful calamities. It is a great security to see things as they are. Half our distress arises from our viewing them in false lights of passion and prejudice. If we are only calm enough to look about us, we may discover a strange revealing light in great calamities. They break through the conventional forms, and flash out facts.

1. Job saw his own littleness. In a moment he perceived that he had no natural right to all he had possessed. He had nothing when he entered the world; he could carry nothing out with him. Pride prepares for distresses which humility escapes. When we perceive how very small we are, we cannot be amazed at any loss which we may sustain.

2. Job recognized God's right. He who gives has a right to withdraw. All we have is on loan from God. This truth does not make our loss the less, but a perception of it calms the foolish, rebellious spirit, which is the source of our deepest misery.—W.F.A.

Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, a called


2 apostle, separated unto God's good news, which He before promised through His prophets in (the)

3 holy Scriptures, concerning His Son: who was

4 born of David's seed according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by resurrection of the

5 dead,- Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we received grace and apostleship, for obedience of faith among all the nations for His name's sake;

6 among whom are ye also,- called as Jesus Christ's:

7 to all those who are in Rome beloved of God, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

AN OLD PREACHER'S ADVICE TO A YOUNG PREACHER

(This outline is of unknown origin)
I TIMOTHY 1:18

I. THE ADVICE CONCERNING SEPARATION FROM EVIL; I Tim. 6:11.

1. The young preacher should abstain from fleshly lusts; I Peter 2:11.

2. The young preacher should not have fellowship with unfruitfulness; Eph. 5:11.

3. The young preacher should abstain from all evil; I Thess. 5:22.

II. THE ADVICE CONCERNING GOSSIP; I Tim. 4:7.

1. The young preacher should recognize the error of gossip; James 1:26.

2. The young preacher should not be a talebearer; Lev. 19:16.

3. The young preacher's conversation should honor Christ; Phil. 1:27.

Ill. THE ADVICE CONCERNING PRAYER; I Tim. 2:1.

1. The young preacher should pray with faith; Matt. 21:22.

2. The young preacher should pray with humility; II Chron. 33:12.

3. The young preacher should pray with earnestness; I Thess. 3:10.

IV. THE ADVICE CONCERNING CONDUCT AT WORSHIP; I Tim. 3:15.

1. The young preacher should worship God in spirit and truth; John 4:24.

2. The young preacher should worship with reverence; Exodus 3:5.

3. The young preacher:- should worship with rejoicing; Psa.122:1.

V. THE ADVICE CONCERNING RFSPECT FOR OTHERS; I Tim. 5:1-3.

1. The young preacher should hear the burdens of others; Gal. 6:2.

2. The young preacher should show hospitality; I Peter 4:9.

3. The young preacher should minister unto others; I Peter 4:10.

VI. THE ADVICE CONCERNING BEING AN EXAMPLE TO OTHER BELIEVERS; I Tim. 4:12.

1. The young preacher should be an example in good works; Titus 2:7.

2. The young preacher should he an example in speech; Job 2:10.

3. The young preacher should be an example in conduct; Heb. 11:2.

VII. THE ADVICE CONCERNING CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH; I Tim. 6:12.

1. The young preacher should defend the faith; Rom. 1:16.

2. The young preacher should preach with boldness; II Cor. 4:13.

3. The young preacher should hold forth tile Word of Life; Phil. 2:16.
Conclusion:
A young preacher will be wise to learn from older preachers who have already traveled the road they are getting read to trod. Experience is a valuable teacher. If you learn from those who have already experienced what it is to make right and wrong moves in the church, it may just keep you from heading down a wrong pathway that will lead to your destruction.

What was my past?

I was thinking about my past, and I wondered, Did I have to get so far in the pit for me to see Jesus? No, but I am glad he reached down and got me out, He didn't get in the pit with me but his hand descended and I ascended. I was on a road of destruction and ruin in sin, The Bible says, Ezekiel 18:30 Therefore I will judge you....., saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
I was in ruin, but he got me, Jesus passed by , and I looked and now I live,
I live because He lives, And because HE lives I will one day be in Glory,,,,woooohooooo!
Ezekiel 16:6 And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live.
I was polluted in my own sin, I was in ruins, I was in a horrible pit, my feet was set upon miry clay, I had no foundation, but I thank God I looked upon Him and he showed mercy for me, He paid the debt I owed, and now I am free,
Oh my Past was awful, my past was filled with Sin, But they are gone and forgotten,
Jeremiah 31:34...... for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
That old Devil would like to bring my past up, my friends would like to bring up my past, my enemy's would like to bring up my past, when I worked for my dad, he wanted to bring up my past,,,
but thank God, Thank God I am saved and they are forgotten!!!!
Sin had wounded me, sin had cast me out, and the world classified me an outcast,but my Lord took me up, My Lord healed my wounds and fixed me up,
There was a time when they cried Out,"Is there no Balm in Gilead? Is there not a physician? IS there any hope?"
Oh I say Look up Oh child. look up, For when Jesus passes by there shall be a remedy,
The Lord said in Ezekiel 16, Live ye, Live YE!!
you can live my friend, you can live.
What was my path?
It was my sin, but oh what a day Aug 17 1998 was to me. When he washed me, and cleansed me.,
That old devil would like to convince me I am lost, but I will show him the day, I will shout it and sing thank God I am free,

Galatians 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

I THE DUTY COMMANDED. "Let us do good." Christian life is not a mere easy and decent inoffensiveness. A man is not harmless who does no good. The barren tree is hurtful, because it cumbers the ground and draws to itself the fertilizing qualities of the earth, which would make a better tree more fruitful. It brings forth no bad fruit; yet it is cast into the fire. Therefore we must not only "cease to do evil," but" learn to do well." "To do good and to communicate forget not". [Heb 13:16]


II THE DUTY BOUNDED BY OPPORTUNITY. "As we have therefore opportunity." Cotton Mather says, "The opportunity to do good imposes the obligation to do it." It is not when our inclination or our self-interest or the thirst for fame or gratitude dispose us that we are to do good, but at every opportunity that opens on our path. These opportunities are constantly around us in the common intercourse of life, but they specially arise in connection with suffering and distress. Therefore "in the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand."

III THE SPHERE OF BENEVOLENCE. There is a wider sphere, and a narrower within it: "Do good unto all men, and especially to them who are of the household of faith." There are distinctions even in the wider sphere. We recognize them in the obligations of family life. "If any man provide not for his own, he is worse than an infidel;" we recognize the claims of friendship and of gratitude; yet our beneficence is to extend to all men within the range of opportunity. It is a significant fact that the Apostle Peter, in naming the successive graces of life that are essential to our partaking of the Divine nature, says, "Add to your brotherly kindness charity." There may be a selfish or sectarian feeling that leads us to forget the wider relations in which we stand in the scheme of Divine providence. Yet the brotherly kindness stands first. We are to do good, "especially to them who are of the household of faith;" on the same principle as we are bound to remember first the wants of our family or our friends. The spirit of the Rousseau philanthropy would not tolerate any distinctions of this sort. The household in question, which includes the whole collective body of Christians, is a large, a growing, a loving household, and, in early times, sorely scattered by persecution. There was, therefore, a special need to show kindness to its members. The" collection for the saints" [1Co 16:1-2] is a practical illustration of this nearer relationship.