We all know that 2 + 2 does not equal 5. In God's math, a tough situation plus an open door does not always equal a means of escape. Sometimes God's purposes are fulfilled when we remain in hard circumstances. A "no" from God isn't necessarily rejection, but is often protection. Our Heavenly Father knows the plans He has for us. He sees the bigger picture. Humble yourself, pray and seek godly counsel before fleeing through the open door.

In the last days there will be both calamities on earth and religious deception. This religious deception will be aimed at the professing church of Jesus Christ. Jesus said we must not be deceived by those who try to get us to run here and there to find Him. Jesus Christ is omnipresent and when His church sets their heart to be totally surrendered and completely given to Him then we have the promise of His presence with us always. We are invited to partake of the fullness of His redemption and also be involved in the fullness of His redemptive work. As we open our heart to His purposes, we are given His life and strength to run this race. This messages encourages us not to give up the race after we have come this far. Remember Christ will come suddenly and quickly for His bride. Hold fast He is coming soon!

Much of the spiritual activity in our lives — the "God stuff" — often feels like pushing boulders uphill or spinning plates. We are doing so much work in our own strength while trying to also manage all the "other stuff" in life. This divided mentality is works-based, and it leaves us wearied, discouraged, and often feeling guilty. Jesus doesn't want us to live this way. He calls us to live in His grace, to live all moments as holy moments. He calls us to live in his 'Shalom', His peace. Christ makes the mountains low and straightens our path. We don't have to push uphill. We don't have to struggle with the wood, hay and stubble in our lives, trying to cover our flaws with gold leaf so that we look good to others. God does the transforming work, refining us so that we aren't just covered with a thin layer of gold, but are pure gold throughout.

Usually when we think about conviction of sin we think that we have to experience it outside of the realm of comfort. Sometimes we think that until we deal with the sin we are being convicted of there is no comfort. We are reminded in this message that for the person who is open to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and is willing to grow in certain areas, God says until the process of maturity is completed you can enjoy His comfort. The issues that God is dealing with never challenge our place in His heart. We are invited to lean close to His heart and rest in His love until true change takes place. God cares about us so much that He humbled Himself on a cross so that He can help us change. True conviction comes in the context of comfort.

The Samaritans called themselves "children of Abraham," yet these godly people gave in to compromise. They pulled away from the radical call of God on their lives and mixed their faith with the surrounding culture. Like the Samaritans, we can sometimes let comfort and acceptance dilute our beliefs. The call of the compromised is to not be so serious — just relax! Jesus did not let this distract him but kept his face set on the things of God. When we have our hearts and minds set on God's purposes, Satan, the world and even other believers may try to get us off course. When this happens, press in with all that you have, being fully surrendered to Christ.

Sometimes the temptations we have to endure come at the time of our greatest usefulness to the Kingdom of God. When we come around that last bend as we run this race of truth we will find ourselves violently opposed in our mind and heart. It is in these wilderness places that we will be tempted to abandon the cross of Christ. This message is for those who are fearful of abandoning your life to the will of God. Satan knew that the mission of Jesus Christ was redemptive and he tried to overthrow Christ’s singular focus to do the will of His Father. We too will be tempted the same way. We are going into difficult days and the question is who will not abandon the call of God? God desires to give us an anointing that sets the captives free. Let your theological purpose be for other people and God will give you everything thing you need to lead others to Christ.

Each of us is called to bring something special and unique to the church of Jesus Christ — something bigger than ourselves. We are given a voice to speak to those that don't know Christ, and to bring restoration to believers that have lost their passion and fire for the things of God. The Daniel generation is committed deeply to the call of God, pushing away from the table of compromise. We are not wrestlers fighting alone, rather we are soldiers fighting together in the army of God. There are no facades or masks in the Daniel generation. We are real and transparent before God, and before each other. Pains and hurts of the past are released to God and are now a testimony to His glory. The Daniel generation moves from sorrow to strength, and from brokenness into boldness.

In order to get through the coming days there has to be a moral purity in the body of Jesus Christ. There are certain failings in life that we can seemingly get through unscathed, but moral failing is of another sort. You have no idea what can come into your life when you open the door to immorality. Every sin known to mankind is waiting inside of us to break out. There is a terrible price to pay for this kind of sin but there is also hope in the power and anointing of Jesus Christ to open every prison door and set free all those who are captivated in sexual sin. There is enough power in the cross and blood of Jesus Christ to keep us clean. We don't have to be slaves to sin.

It is God's desire that we all come to spiritual maturity, but many Christians today remain spiritual infants — depending on others to feed them rather than feeding themselves, crying and whining to control others, not working or reproducing. Satan, sin and self are the biggest hindrances to spiritual growth in our lives. God gives us a desire for spiritual maturity, but we cling to sin or strive for victory in our own strength. It is God who brings the growth. God doesn't want our flesh to take any part in the victories in our life. He alone gets the glory. Jesus doesn't come into our lives to be our helper or assistant. He comes to be Lord and Savior, taking complete control and authority. Many of us are living with far less than God has planned for us because we don't have the faith to be fully surrendered to Christ.

If we deal casually with the Word of God we will have no ability to see Christ in the coming storm. We will not make it to the other side in our own strength. As Christians our strength comes from being nourished and sustained by the Word of God. Don't live as a casual Christian on the surface of the Bible. Immerse yourself into the ocean of truth in God's Word and He will give you the ability to pull this generation out of the storms of life. This message provokes us to reach out our hand and grab the baton of truth so we can pass it on to the next generation. The call of God will never take you where the Hands of God will not sustain us. Our cry must be like Peter's cry, “Lord if it be thou then bid me to come.” Are you determined to run this race right and finish it to the Glory of God?