The Church//Priorities: The prophet Isaiah in prophetic utterance asks two questions that have caused me as well as thousands, yes, no doubt millions before me to search our hearts and especially in the light of His imminent return. Actually it is God who is asking these questions.

In chapter 55 verse 2 the record says "Why do you spend money for what is not bread? And your wages for what does not satisfy?"This quote from the NKJV. Jesus said in the Gospel of John 6:27 "Do not labour for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him." VS. 28 " Then said they to Him, "what shall we do that we may work the works of God?" 29 Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you may believe in Him whom He has sent."
Both of these passages, the reference in Isaiah and the one in John are establishing the truth that whatever we do in this life sets a course for what lies ahead, our future. Jesus said that the real work that God wants for you and me is believing...believing that God says what He means and that He means what He says and He is saying "put Me first....above even your necessary food...above everything else" "Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Look at the next verse, and I am referring to Isaiah 55: 6,7. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God For He will abundantly pardon."
What are your priorities this morning? Is it the food you will eat? I just bought a new car, so I am asking the same question firstly to myself. But still I can honestly say that my hunger for God is still my greatest desire, it is my greatest passion. I have no doubt quoted this verse before and I'm not even going to give you the reference, but Jesus said words to this effect, "where your treasure is there will your heart be also." Where is our treasure? If you are spending all or most of your time seeking after temporal things, then how can you have time for God? You may be doing things for good and righteous causes but that in and of itself is not seeking God. The Bible says "by their fruits, ye shall know them." It shows, my friend...where your priorities lie, it shows becauise you live it out every day of life...you cannot help it.

The raptured church will be a purified church....without spot or wrinkle or blemish or any such thing. IT WILL BE A CHURCH THAT IS WAITING AND WATCHING for the return of the Heavenly Bridegroom. Jesus said in Matt 24: 42-44, "Watch therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known what watch the thief would come, he would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh."
Are you ready for the day of His coming? Am I ready? We do not know the day nor the hour or even the year for that matter... the disciples didn't understand either; when they were asking Jesus about events that they thought He meant in Acts ch. 1:7 (they thought He was talking about Israel as a nation) He was talking about far greater things, He was talking about the birth of the church and also at the same time, His return because He said, "it is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power." Then He said something that has revolutionized the world and is still doing just that. He said, "But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost has come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." Hallelujah! This is what Jesus said just prior to the birth of the church which occurred on the day of Pentecost at the outpouring of the Holy Ghost. Interesting to note the connection in the context that the scripture links together because these last words of Jesus while He was on the earth in His flesh occur ed at His ascension. If you read the rest of the chapter 1 of Acts, you will realize that He was immediately caught up into heaven and two angels stood by the disciples(the KJV calls them men dressed in white apparel) and they said to these disciples, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven." Yes, He is coming back, so by all means......be ready!

The Raptured Church...While traveling in Vermont the other day we experienced the same kind of weather as we did in the Washington area (previous blog). We were actually passing through Vermont's capital city of Montpelier...a nice place to live I suppose. Getting back to the weather, as the wind picked up and trees were blowing, the sky darkening...all the signs were there; a tornado watch in effect, I could not help but notice that the people on the street acted as if nothing was happening...it was as though there was no awareness of the impending storm . It seemed like they were ignoring all the signs. Now make no mistake...all the signs were there. It caused me to think about Jesus warnings regarding His Second Coming and the Rapture of the Church. "When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah's day. In those days before the flood, people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings, right up to the time Noah entered the ark. People didn't realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes." This quote is taken from the New Living Translation. Matt. 24:37-39. I cannot stress it enough...the signs are here, will we ignore them?

While travelling in the eastern United States and in particular, Virginia - Washington, DC area, my wife and I along with two friends found ourselves in the midst of a violent storm near the Lincoln Memorial. Actually our friends were inside the Lincoln Memorial while WE were finding shelter under an overhang projection of an information kiosk, this was near the Memorial.
We noticed that the sky was darkening quite rapidly as well as the wind was increasing fiercely.
My first thought was to move quickly to the sheltered side, so we did just that.
Suddenly the rain and wind came with a great violent action and thunderings and lightnings.
It reminded me of the verse in the book of Rev. 4:8 -- and from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne - which are the seven spirits of God. Surely the day we were in Washington there were thunderings and lightnings and voices as people ran for cover of some kind - screaming as they went. We were fortunate that we did not even get wet, in that we had prepared for it by finding shelter - albeit temporary.
Then after boarding the tour bus and heading out that busy city - in the midst of what was a raging storm which produced much devastation- we noticed a strange phenomena - a small break in the clouds allowed the sunshine, in all its strength, to shine on several buildings in a spectacular golden hue, as if especially selected by the master painter. In the midst of the storm raging about us, I remember the scripture we had read that morning before leaving our room - Ps. 34:7 says- the angel of the Lord encamps all around them that fear Him and delivers them. Truly we discovered that word to be true yesterday.
As I reflect back several comparisons arise, the shelter we found was temporary, but the shelter that God has is Eternal - it lasts forever. We were prepared as we moved quickly to take advantage of the shelter - we were the first to arrive there.
The Bible says "the Name of the Lord is a strong Tower, the righteous ran into it and they were safe."
In the break in the clouds to allow the sunshine to light up some buildings, while others all around were in darkness, we were reminded how some peoples lives reflect the glory of God - even in the dark sinful world. That should be the desire of each and every Christian.