"Faith In Troubled End Times and Why We Need Jesus Desperately" (Video clip by Andrew Murray, and Video on Prayer) - Inspirational Weekend

Waterfalls can be refreshing to the soul.  Kinda reminds me of the "living water" the Bible speaks of.

  In John 4, Jesus spoke with the Samaritan woman at the well and told her of living water.   

Verse 10 says:  "Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest  the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water."  

 Verse 14 :  "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up unto everlasting life."  

       
   Commenting on verse 14 above, Albert Barnes' Notes says, in part,  "Jesus here refers without doubt to His own teaching, His "grace", His "Spirit", and to the benefits which come into the soul that embraces His gospel."

 In John 7:37-39, Jesus meant the Holy Spirit was living water, because He had not died yet, and the Spirit to come Who would indwell future believers, therefore,  had not yet been sent.  Acts 10:44-45 informs us that the Holy Spirit fell on the Gentiles.  This was, of course, after Jesus' resurrection.

All the previous was written on this post to lead up to what Jesus said at John 15:5 :  "I am the vine, ye are the branches:  He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing."     

  Hopefully you will read all of John 15.

James Nisbet's Church Pulpit commentary informs us on John 15:5: "These words of Jesus might be more accurately translated thus:  "Apart from Me, you can do nothing."     The idea being not merely that the help of Jesus is required in order that we may have spiritual life and bear "Fruit" to the praise and glory of God, but that we cannot even possess spiritual life at all unless we are united to Him as the branch is united to the tree [or vine]."   Nisbet also emphasizes, "There can be no life apart from Christ."  ...."This particular kind of life is a Divine gift, and it is the beginning or germ of " life eternal."..... "There is no union with Christ without faith."

Following is a short 5 minute clip by Andrew Murray on the True Vine:  

Also, on John 15:5, John Trapp comments ( a small portion of his Commentary) :  "Christ is a generous vine, a plant of renown, and all His are "filled with the fruits of righteousness" (Philippians 1:11) and have hearts full of goodness, as those of Romans 15:14 and lives full of good works, as Tabitha at Acts 9:33. Nehemiah never rested from doing good for his people; he was good all over."

This blog has stressed frequently how important it is to develop a close, intimate, personal, loving relationship with the good Lord.  And we do that by much prayer and by much Bible reading.  Only in that way can we draw close to the Lord, which in turn will build our faith.  Like any relationship, you cannot come to know the other Person if you never communicate with Him. And when God answers your sincere prayers, that will also build your faith in Him and help you to fellowship more often with Him and thereby draw closer and closer to Him.

Following is a powerful prayer to help you to be led by the Holy Spirit.  (Remember, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.)  This video is 11 minutes and packed with a powerful and moving message.

In this crazy and chaotic world we now find ourselves "spinning in", many people are fearful and wonder what tomorrow will bring.  If you are not saved and have not put your faith in Jesus Christ as the Savior, things look pretty bleak to you, perhaps.  And they are, because unless you have faith and believe that Jesus' death at Calvary and His shed blood there can wash your sins away (as He took our place on the cross and paid our sin debt in full, so that we could, by belief in His Redemptive work in our behalf, may have eternal life).  .... Unless you are born again by belief in Jesus as the Savior, you will spend eternity in Hell when you die.  (Luke 16:23 and Matthew 23:33).

If you are not yet saved (born again; a spiritual rebirth)  the following Scriptures are for you.

John 3:36 reads, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."

"Jesus saith unto him,  I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me."    -  John 14:6

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."    -  John 3:16

Turn to Jesus now before it is too late.

Soon Jesus will return to take true believers to be in heaven with Him.

Will you be ready?

Jesus will welcome you with open arms to embrace you in His love and forgiveness.

He is waiting to hear from you !


Have a blessed and Christ centered weekend  - and life !!

"The Diamonds And Music Of Heaven" (Video by Andrew Murray) - Inspirational Weekend

Charles Spurgeon has said, "Prayer is the falling of a tear.  Tears are the diamonds of heaven, sighs are a part of the music of Jehovah's court, and are numbered with the sublimest strains that reach the Majesty on high."   

Isn't that a beautiful quote!  This blog has concentrated on articles concerning prayer in the past, but when I read a recent devotion (recent to my Email inbox, that is) by Charles Spurgeon I felt compelled to share it with you.

Spurgeon continues, "Prayers are instantly noticed in heaven....... Oftentimes a poor broken-hearted one bends his knee, but can only utter his wailing in the language of sighs and tears; yet that groan has made all the harps of heaven thrill with music; that tear has been caught by God and treasured in the lachrymatory of heaven."

Psalm 56:8 says, "Thou tellest my wanderings: put Thou my tears into Thy bottle: are they not in thy book?"

 Spurgeon says the above verse "implies that they (tears) are caught as they flow. The suppliant, whose fears prevent his words, will be well understood by the Most High. .......  Think not that your prayer, however weak or trembling, will be unregarded.  ..... Our God not only hears prayers, but also LOVES to hear them. "He forgetteth not the cry of the humble"   (Psalm 9:12 b)  ......He regards not the triumph and pride of man; but wherever there is a heart big with sorrow, or a lip quivering with agony, or a deep groan, or a penitential sigh, the heart of Jehovah is open; He marks it down in the registry of His memory;  He puts our prayers, like rose leaves, between the pages of His book of Remembrance, and when the volume is opened at last, there shall be a precious fragrance springing up therefrom."

"Their prayer came up to His holy dwelling place, even unto heaven."  -   2 Chronicles 30:27

Charles Spurgeon used the above verse as a starting point in another of his devotions delivered recently to my Email inbox.  Here is a partial quote from that :

"Prayer is an open door which none can shut. Devils may surround you on all sides, but the way upward is always open, and as long as that road is unobstructed, you will not fall into the enemy's hand.  We can never be taken by blockade, escalade, mine, or storm, so long as heavenly succours can come down to us by Jacob's ladder to relieve us in the time of our necessities.  Prayer is never out of season. ...... In every condition, whether of poverty, or sickness, or obscurity, or slander, or doubt, your covenant God will welcome your prayer and answer it from His holy place.  Nor is prayer ever futile.  True prayer is evermore true power."

Andrew Murray was a South African Christian pastor, teacher and writer and lived from 1828 to 1917.  Following is a very special audio video from one of his books.  The video is 25 minutes, and is about prayer.  Excellent teaching !

"But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer." -    1 Peter 4:7

"Pray without ceasing."  -   1 Thessalonians 5:17

Romans 10:9,10,13 tells us, (9) "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised  Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Have a blessed and Christ centered weekend - and life !!

"Help In Doing The Will Of God When The Flesh Is Weak" - Romans 7 (With Andrew Murray Sermon Video) - Inspirational Weekend

Spring is here is some parts of the USA, while other parts are facing winter storms and extreme cold.   My photograph above was taken at Descanso Gardens outside of Los Angeles, California, a few years ago.  If you ever are near there, this is a must see, especially in the Spring.   Beautiful flowers and trees and the like always cry out of God's wonderful creation; of His love of beauty and His plans for our enjoyment of His masterworks.

"Time is the brush of God, as He paints His masterpiece on the heart of humanity."   -  Ravi Zacharias

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handiwork."  -   Psalm 19:1  (KJV)

With all of creation shouting God's glory, and majesty, and love and so much more, we should be constantly aware of His presence and of His mercy and long suffering.   We should also endeavor to live as holy a life as possible, with the Holy Spirit's help.  If we are truly grateful for all the good Lord has done for us, we will want to please Him as best we can.   One Scripture I have memorized is also in Psalm 19:  verse 14, which follows:

"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer."

We can please God by much prayer and much Bible reading and studying, because that builds a strong, close, and intimate love relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ.  You learn to grow in spiritual maturity, the closer you are to the Lord.  We cannot expect to know Him and His Word and His will, if we never communicate with Him, and if we never open the Bible to learn more about Him.

In today's chaotic and immoral world, we definitely need to be in prayer for many reasons:  for strength to stay pure and unspotted from the world, for strength of endurance, and to face the future with hope.... the blessed hope of Titus 2:13, which tells us, 

"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ."  

"The best and sweetest flowers of paradise, God gives to His people when they are upon their knees.  Prayer is the gate of Heaven."  -   Thomas Brooks

"Time spent in prayer is never wasted."  -  Francis Fenelon

"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."    -   Jesus at Matthew 21:22

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  -   Philippians 4: 6-7

We may always want to do the right thing, if we are born again believers, but we find that our flesh can be very weak at times and we may give in to temptation if we are not careful.

"Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.  The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak."   -   Jesus at Mark 14:38

The Gospel of Matthew says "the spirit is willing.....".  All true Christians are aware of this battle....the flesh against the spirit.   That is where prayer comes in.   If we pray and ask for strength - spiritual strength - to overcome the flesh, the good Lord will answer that prayer and keep you from temptation and sin.  

We also need to be watchful.  Bible prophecy experts tell us this frequently, and it is a good warning for us to live lives that prove we are watching and waiting for Jesus' soon return to take us home to heaven to be with Him.   But also, we should watch for a way out of the temptation that comes upon us .   Pray for help and strength and guidance.   Pray to recognize the devil's tricks and attempts to lure us off the spiritual path;  he uses the same tactics over and over again, so we need to be alert to his schemes and stay close to the good Lord.  

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."   -  Hebrews 4:16

Romans chapter 7 shows the apostle Paul's struggle and war with the spiritual and the flesh.   I urge you to please read all of Romans 7.  Following are some verses from that Chapter:

(19)  "For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.  (20) Now if  I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. ...(24) O wretched man that I am !  who shall deliver me from the body of this death?  (25) I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.  So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin."

In the following 37 minute audio video, Andrew Murray gives the best discourse I have ever heard on Romans 7 (as well as Philippians 2:12-13).  He answers the question as to why the Christian tries to do their best to overcome sin and imperfection, but  yet still fails.  Murray gives the solution to that dilemma.

Have a blessed and Christ centered weekend..... and life !

"I Believe; Help Mine Unbelief" - (Video Sermons by Charles Spurgeon and Andrew Murray) - Inspirational Weekend

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"Because faith is never perfect, belief and unbelief are often mixed" (so says one commentary.)  I think all of us can relate to that fact.  Let us go to the context of that statement above, "I believe; help thou mine unbelief."

A father brought his demon possessed son to Jesus to be healed, and Jesus told the father,  "......If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth."   -  Mark 9:23

In Mark 9:24 the desperate father replied,  ".....and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief."

Notice how the upset father made a direct prayer to Jesus asking the Lord to help him with his unbelief (or weak faith).   Jesus did not rebuke him, but instead cast the demon out of his son and thereby healed the boy.   The father was not deliberately and stubbornly doubting the Lord; he recognized his weak faith and prayed for Jesus' help in that regard.   The father was sincere and asked - in prayer - for help with his doubting and unbelief.  

Even weak faith, if a person has the proper attitude, the Lord will honor when we have a good and submitting and surrendered heart and we pray for help and forgiveness.   

One commentator has said,  "No man is quite a stranger to the Lord, or an utter unbeliever, who with tears entreats Christ to put away his unbelief."

The help for unbelief is much prayer and strong belief in the Savior.  The condition of Jesus answering prayer and gaining His favor is to have FAITH  and BELIEF.  Jesus was very merciful to this father and his son by honoring what little faith the father exhibited and by honoring the father's sincerity in praying for help with his unbelief or weak faith.

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him:  for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."  -  Hebrews 11:6

Charles Spurgeon said,  "Unbelief is an alarming and criminal thing, for it doubts - in fact, unbelief robs God of His glory in every way, and therefore it cannot receive a blessing from the Lord."

We are now talking about deliberate and willful doubt -  refusing to believe in the Lord and in what the Bible has to say.  This type of doubt is sinful.   As a sin, unbelief grieves the Spirit; but as a weakness mourned and confessed, it secures His help.  Weakness of faith is no sin when it is confessed and help for stronger faith is prayed for.

Jesus Himself is the remedy for unbelief.

I am thinking now about Abraham, who had a strong faith in the LORD.... so much so that he was called the friend of God:

"And the scripture was fulfilled which saith,  Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God."  -  James 2:23

I am also reminded of Zacharias, the elderly priest who was the father of John the baptist.  An angel appeared to him to tell him that he would have a son in his old age, but Zacharias did not believe it.  The angel then said to the elderly priest:  "......  I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.  And behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season."  -  Luke 1:19-20

Following is an 8 minute video sermon by Andrew Murray on the evil heart of unbelief.

"Unbelief is the worst sin of all," says Charles Spurgeon in the following video.   He also says, "If you don't have something besides your own goodness, you will never get to heaven."  This video by Spurgeon is 58 minutes in length, but I pray that you take the time to listen to it.  It is full of wisdom and insight.

In one of Charles Spurgeon's devotions, he has also stated:  "The angels never doubted Him, nor the devils either:  we alone, out of all the beings that God has fashioned, dishonor Him by unbelief, and tarnish His honor by mistrust.  Shame upon us for this!  .....May we henceforth wage constant war against doubts of our God - enemies to our peace and to His honor; and with an unstaggering faith believe that what He has promised He will also perform.  "Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief."

"But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul."  -  Hebrews 10:39

"Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."  - Jesus at Mark 11:24

Mark 16:16 tells us:  "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."

If you are not a believer, not a follower of Jesus Christ, then you need to turn your life over to the good Lord.  Turn away from a life of sin - repent - and ask in prayer for forgiveness and believe in Jesus as the Savior with all of your very being.   

We are living in the end times -  the last hour of the last days -  and time is short and running out.  You do not want to suffer the horrors and terrible wrath of God during the 7 year tribulation period.....nor spend eternity in hell.   Turn to the Lord NOW.

Romans 10: 9,10, 13 tells us:  (9) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  (13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Jesus loves you, and will welcome you with open arms of  forgiveness.  

Jesus will wipe the slate clean and give you a new life and eternal life as well.

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me."  -  John 14:6

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."   -  John 3:16

Have a happy weekend and a Christ centered life !

"Faith And Prayer Work Together" (Videos) - Inspirational Weekend

"And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.  For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.  Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."   -  Mark 11:22-24

I could end this post right now, for those words spoken above by Jesus say it all.   Faith and prayer go hand in hand; they work together.  

The Lord plainly explained that faith held the secret to having your prayers answered.

I am reminded of the account in Matthew 17:14-21 about how the disciples of Jesus could not cast out the demon from the lunatic son.  When the disciples asked Jesus why they failed, Jesus told them in Matthew 17:20 that it was because of their unbelief, and in verse 21, the Lord said, concerning the demon, "Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting."  Evidently, the disciples had not been nourishing their faith;  they had not been in prayer (and they did not fast) so their trust and their efforts completely failed.   They did not have the power because they did not have a strong faith.

"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."   -  Matthew 21:22

You need to believe.  You need to have faith.  So then when you pray, your prayers will be answered.   But remember, you need to be specific when you pray.   Also keep in mind that prayer is, in many ways, dependent upon the Word of God.  God's Holy Word becomes the reason and the inspiration of our prayers.

"If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."   -  John 15:7

Hebrews 11:1 tells us,  "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."     

Faith is believing that God will make a way where there is no way.  Following is an encouraging and up-lifting song of faith by Don Moen titled "God Will Make A Way":

"The Bible recognizes no faith that does not lead to obedience, nor does it recognize any obedience that does not spring from faith.  The two are at opposite sides of the same coin."  -  A.W. Tozer

"If you find your life of prayer to be always so short, and so easy, and so spiritual, as to be without cost and strain and sweat to you, you may depend on it, you have not yet begun to pray."  -  Alexander Whyte

The good Lord wants to fellowship with us.  He loves us and desires to commune with us.   That word "commune" means with intensity, with passion, and with intimacy.  Our prayers should reflect that kind of intensity and intimacy;  I can picture that God cares not for many so-called "Ho-Hum" prayers that have no feeling and no depth.  Remember He is God Almighty, the Creator, the Sovereign of the universe.   Show Him honor and respect, and be in awe of Him when you pray and worship.  You can do nothing without Him;  your very life depends upon His grace and love.  Give God the honor and the glory He deserves and expects.

Following are two short videos (around 16 minutes each) reciting from the works of Andrew Murray.  The first one is about the source of the power in prayer:

The next discourse by Andrew Murray concerns Faith:

But what if you are not saved?   Then the prayer that God will answer is the one where you ask Him for forgiveness, repenting in all sincerity, and believing with all your very being that Jesus is the Savior and also believing in His resurrection.

If you are living in sin and are disobedient to the good Lord, your prayers will not be answered unless you repent and ask Him for forgiveness and for salvation through Jesus Christ, and do this in humility and in faith.

"Neither is there salvation in any other:  for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." -  Acts 4:12

Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me."    -  John 14:6

"Jesus answered and said unto him,  Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."   John 3:3

Many people realize that we are now living in the last days - the end times - and Bible prophecy is now being fulfilled before our very eyes.  Soon Jesus will return again to take true believers to heaven with Him.  They will avoid the horrific 7 year Tribulation period that follows.   Will you be among the true believers that go to heaven with the Lord, or will you be left behind to face the doom and disaster that occurs during the Tribulation?

The Lord loves you and does not wish for any to be destroyed.  

All it takes is one step of faith from you and a true repentance.

Jesus is waiting for you with love and outstretched arms of tender compassion to hold you close in His embrace and in the safety and salvation found in Him.

Time is short.  

Romans 10:9,10,13 tells us,  "(9)  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  (10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  (13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."