"Don't Give Up! Keep On Keeping On!" ( With Helpful Videos and Scriptures to Accomplish That) - Inspirational Weekend

[Scene at Dole Cannery -  Oahu, Hawaii]

Today, with its chaotic and troublesome world occurrences, (and that is putting it mildly!) , many people feel like "Why should I even get up and face the day?"  Many troubled souls have also committed suicide as a way to exit this evil world and to end their suffering and hopelessness.

A wonderful sermon by Dr. Charles Stanley is full of encouragement and tells of ways to keep on keeping on.  Dr. Stanley also tells us, in this sermon that, as a follower of Christ, giving up is NOT who we are.  The sermon is 43 minutes, and can be found by going to You Tube and entering "The Courage to Keep Going - Dr. Charles Stanley".   Any sermons in the past by Charles  Stanley that I have given a link to, have been promptly deleted on this blog. Thus, I urge you to go to You Tube and watch this powerful and hope-building sermon!

Dr. Stanley, in the above mentioned sermon, tells us to be strong in the Lord in order to endure.  We do that by reading His Holy Word daily and also by much prayer.  That will build a strong relationship with God through His Son Jesus.  God wants to fellowship with us, and when we pray and read the Bible, we will draw closer to Him.  We will then experience a strong, intimate, loving and personal relationship with Him, and we will grow in strength and trust in Him.  In the above mentioned sermon, Charles Stanley tells us "When everything around us is falling apart, then get on your knees in prayer." And, for us to "rejoice in the Lord when times are tough."

One verse that is of great comfort is Hebrews 13:5 which follows:

"Let your conversation be without covetousness, and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."           

Following is a short daily devotion from Dr. Stanley's In Touch Ministries  titled :  "When Adversity Hits, Look Up".

 Below is a 43 minute video  by Pastor Adrian Rogers) titled : "How to pray  in the Spirit" 

Please, please watch the above video!  

  Below is another video on prayer you will enjoy.

The 15 minute video directly above stresses how prayer can be an anchor to the soul, but so many Christians struggle with prayer by simply NOT praying.  The narrator says that if Jesus needed to pray when He was on earth, certainly who are we to say we don't have time for prayer !

[Haleiwa Beach, Oahu, Hawaii]

"And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.  But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you."   -   Romans 8:10-11

One commentary says concerning verse 10 above:  "Because the spirit of the Christian has been justified, it is not subject to death as is his body."

Romans 8:26 tells us:  "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities [weaknesses] :   for we know not what we should pray for as we ought:  but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."

            

One commentator on Romans 8:26 informs us: "As hope sustains the believer in suffering, so the Holy Spirit helps him in prayer."

When it says in verse 26 about "groanings", it is referring to the Holy Spirit.   In Romans 8:23 it is the believer that groans.  

"And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body."  -      Romans 8:23

If you are not saved (born again - a spiritual birth) by believing on Jesus as the Savior, then you have no hope for the future.  You will face the Lake of Fire.

"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."  -    John 3:36

All of the signs of Jesus' soon return to take his true followers to be with Him in heaven .... all the signs of the "season of His return" are happening now and literally screaming at us to wake up and repent and put our faith in Jesus and His shed blood at Calvary; His redemptive work on our behalf so that we may have eternal life in heaven.  

A wonderful video follows explaining Salvation in a sermon by Pastor Adrian Rogers.

To keep on keeping on, we need the good Lord's help.  If we put our faith and trust in Him, He will mercifully give us help to carry on; He will give us strength to face our obstacles and hardships.  Following are some Scriptures which tell us that the Lord will give us strength and hope,  and will be with us through thick and thin.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  -   Philippians 4:13

"Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord."                -   Psalm 31:24

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."  -    Psalm 46:1

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might."  -   Ephesians 6:10

"And He said unto me,  My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.    Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ rest upon me.   Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."                    -     2 Corinthians 12:9,10

"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost."  -   Romans 15:13

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."   -  Jesus at John 14:27

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

"Whole Lot of Shaking Going On !" (Important Video by Pastor Jack Hibbs and Chad Thomas ) - Inspirational Weekend

My photograph above is a scene near the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii.  As many of you know, Hawaii is often called a "paradise". It is very beautiful here (as well as the other islands of Hawaii that I have visited), but we can be sure that heaven itself will be even more spectacular and glorious than anything on this earth! 

As corrupt and evil as this world has become because of wicked men and leaders, I thank the good Lord that there are still some places of beauty and peace yet to be found here.   But this world is not my home, and if you are a true believer in Jesus and you are a devout reader of the Holy Word, you realize that this dying world is not your home either.  In fact, many comments I read on the Internet by believers that they are of a longing to go to be with their Lord and Savior.  And many feel in their spirit that His return is very, very soon.  

It is not just wishful thinking on their part;  today many things that are occurring are a fulfillment of Bible prophecies concerning these end times or last days we are currently experiencing.  I personally have felt an urgency -  a prodding if you will - to warn others to turn to Jesus in faith NOW  while there is still time.  I have many family members who are unsaved, as many of you probably do as well.

Below is a 13 minute video by Watchman on the wall 88 (Chad Thomas) the "Great Shakings that are currently upon us - the World".  In this video concerning world events and natural disasters such as increased earthquakes, and much volcanic activity, among other things prophesied in the Bible (read Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21) , Chad impresses upon us the urgency of the times and how we need to come to faith in Jesus as the Savior - like NOW ! Chad brings out the fact that even unbelievers know things are not right; that something unusual is occurring right now; and many are very fearful of what might lie ahead, meaning :  Just how bad is it going to get ?!!  Like was stated in a recent post of mine,  Bible sales have skyrocketed since this coronavirus hit.

Many believe in the strong possibility of Jesus returning to take His true followers to heaven in the rapture which could happen during Pentecost of this year !  Chad, and other scholars of eschatology, stress that no one knows the day or the hour, but we can recognize the signs of the end of this dispensation, the end of the age of Grace, the end of the Church age.   And Chad makes a strong case that it MIGHT happen at Pentecost of this year (May 31).  He gives valuable information in a series of 3 videos on this topic.  Go to you tube and enter "Watchman on the wall 88" and search for these 3 recent videos on a possible Pentecost Rapture.  Many scholars agree to the possibility of Jesus returning then, as I just stated, but the Bible says that no one knows the day or the hour.  It could happen on Pentecost, or before or afterwards.  Just live your life in expectation of His soon return, whenever it might be.  Be about the Father's business and preach the Gospel to others, and live your life by always endeavoring to please the good Lord.  We please Him by obeying His commands and putting Him first in everything; by loving Him with our whole heart, and soul, and strength and mind.

(Mark 12:30,31)

Jesus is the only way to the kingdom of heaven !!

"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

As was reported in my previous blog post, many persons are stressed to the max from the lockdown for the virus, and some of it is because people were meant to "socialize" and not to be restricted, for the most part, to isolation in their homes.  Many are stressed because they lost their jobs or businesses, and are having financial struggles.  And as stated in my previous blog post, many have committed suicide.  

Please spend your time at home in reading the Bible and in much prayer !  We are in a spiritual battle !  For our faith and even for the clarity of our minds!  Satan will try to tear us down and whisper to us things that will (he hopes) cause us to sin or destroy our faith.  Following is a short (almost 4 minutes) video by Pastor Jack Hibbs concerning this spiritual battle.

Charles Spurgeon wrote on "Whose Battle?" in one of his devotions under his brief commentaries on his "Faith's Checkbook" devotions. Following is a small portion of it:    He quotes 1 Samuel 17:47  which reads: "And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saith not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD's, and He will give you into our hands."  Spurgeon goes on to say, "Let this point be settled; that the battle is the LORD's, and we may be quite sure of the victory, and of the victory in such a way as will best of all display the power of God.   ......  If we are indeed contending for truth and righteousness, let us not tarry till we have talent  or wealth or any other form of visible power at our disposal.   ....  Let us run to meet the enemy.  If it were our own battle we are standing up for, we might not be confident. But if we are standing up for Jesus and warring in His strength alone, who can withstand us?  Without a trace of hesitancy let us face the Philistines; for the Lord of Hosts is with us, and who can be against us?"

Wow!  Powerful!  Spurgeon has a way with words !   I want to add emphatically here that I do NOT believe in Calvinism!  That is, the belief that certain ones are predestined to salvation and others are not.  Spurgeon was a Calvinist. He, like all of us, was imperfect;  but I, and many reputable scholars and pastors, feel that God used Charles Spurgeon  mightily and that he spoke much truth. 

The Bible, God's Holy Word, is more powerful than any man's inspiring words and is definitely TRUTH  and LIFE through and through.   It should be the main source of our spiritual food.  Following is another Scripture that teaches us to rely on the good Lord, and that He will fight our battles for us:

"The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace."  -   Exodus 14:14

True, the above verse was spoken by Moses to the Israelites as they were pursued by the Egyptians before they crossed the Red Sea.  However, the same concept applies today.  Can't you recall how, in your own life, the many times God rescued you from circumstances that seemed impossible to surmount -- BUT GOD !

"Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."  -  Psalm 46:10

It has been said that the Hebrew word for "be still" probably means "enough".  God tells the people to stop trying to find security in their own efforts and strategies and to instead look to Him for help and strength and security.

"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me."   -   John 14:1

"We see from the words of Jesus to His disciples in the verse above,  that the best and holiest of God's children and servants, while here in an imperfect state, are subject to desponding, and disquieting and distrustful fears; and that no work is more delightful to our Savior, than to comfort the troubled and perplexed spirits  of His servants."  So says one commentator on John 14:1.

And to all of us, the following verses of John 14 are a wonderful hope for all true believers -  the hope of heaven.

John 14:2-4 encourages us: "In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.  And wither I go ye know, and the way ye know."

Those words of Jesus directly above can also apply to unbelievers.  But only if they repent and turn in heartfelt faith to the Lord, and if they believe with all their very being that Jesus is the Savior.  We are not talking about head knowledge of the Lord, or intellectual knowledge of Him.  That does not save you!  We are saying that you must be truly converted, and truly "renewed in your mind" (Romans 12:1,2); believe with your heart that Jesus' redemptive work on the cross is what saves you, not any "works" you may perform for Him.  It is true Faith that the good Lord wants from you.  

"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

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.  Not of works, lest any man should boast."  -      Ephesians 2:8-9

If you are not yet born again (a spiritual rebirth); not yet saved by the blood of Jesus by putting your faith in Him,  then following are some Scriptures for YOU:

"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." -  John 3:36

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 said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life; he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and and believeth in Me shall never die.  Believest thou this?"   - John 11:25-26

"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

"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

Remember the above quote when you have doubts during this current world crisis or about anything.  Better yet, go to your Bible for true Holy Spirit inspired words of hope and encouragement!  God will make a way for those who love Him and trust Him !


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