I believe that most people who call themselves by Gods name have learned to go to Him in their time of need. Indeed, most Christians believe in the necessity of prayer. Many seek the Lord diligently, coming to Him with tears, godly sorrow and repentance. They pour out their hearts to Him with weeping and heartrending supplications, convinced, as David was, of Gods Word: When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek (Psalm 27:8).
The BIBLE says that in the last days scoffers will appear, mocking the message that Jesus Christ is going to return to set up a new kingdom. Even today mockers are saying, "Where is He? I don't see any evidence that Jesus is coming. Everything continues as it has from the beginning. There's no sign of a new world coming, with Christ as king!"
Recently, the Lord opened my eyes to an incredible truth about patience — something I'd never seen before. It appears in Jesus' explanation of the parable of the sower:
"Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
"They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
"Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful" (Colossians 3:15).
This one verse contains an incredible command: The entire body of Jesus Christ has been called by God to let His peace rule and govern our hearts, minds and bodies!
The peace of God is to be the arbitrator of our lives, sitting as ruler over everything. If ever there was a time this call needed to be sounded, it is today in this hour of turmoil and confusion! Revelation 6:4 speaks of a red horse riding over the whole earth, with this mandate:
"And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth" (1 John 5:6).
Several years ago I was invited to attend a revival meeting in a suburban church just outside of New York City. People had been raving about a "successful crusade" being held there by two young male evangelists. Finally, I went to one of their services, and I was seated up front with the ministry team. Little did I know, I was about to endure a terrible experience!
When Jesus walked on the earth, He was all God - and all man! The man the disciples saw ascending into the clouds was the same Jesus they had walked with, eaten with, learned from - the same man who had washed their feet. And He ascended in the same body that had laid hands on the sick and held young children.
For over a century and a half, America has not had a foreign troop on its soil. We haven't been invaded, attacked or bombed. We have sent our soldiers to fight in many wars, but always in other nations' land. Indeed, we have been spared — we have enjoyed peace and prosperity.
Even now, America breathes a sigh of relief because there no longer seems to be a nuclear threat. We believe Communism is dead, that Russia will never again rise as a world power.
Every true follower of Jesus Christ says he wants to do the will of God. Yet most Christians think of God’s will as something that is imposed on them — something distasteful and difficult, which they are forced to do.
I believe the perfect will of God is a matter of great importance to all who say they love the Lord. And there is a vast difference between submitting to God’s will and embracing His will.
"Judas Iscariot, which also was the betrayer" (Luke 6:16).
He was a handpicked disciple of Jesus Christ: a preacher of the gospel, a healer of the sick, a traveling companion of Jesus. He was so trusted he was made treasurer of the apostolic evangelistic team. He wasn't elected to the position — Jesus personally chose Judas for the job.
According to Augustine, tradition says "Jesus had delivered Judas often from death, and for his sake healed his father of palsy and cured his mother of leprosy, and next to Peter he honored him above all the other apostles."
"But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret, and thy Father which seeth in Secret shall reward thee openly" (Matthew 6:6).
