Luke 9: 26-27 TLB; “When I, the Messiah, come in my glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels, I will be ashamed then of all who are ashamed of me and of my words now. But this is the simple truth—some of you who are standing here right now will not die until you have seen the Kingdom of God.”

I used to read this scripture and think, all of them died before they saw the Kingdom of God, because the Kingdom of God is heaven, right? Wrong. Jesus talked a lot about the Kingdom of Heaven. In Luke 17:20-21, He told the Pharisees, “The Kingdom of God isn’t ushered in with visible signs. You won’t be able to say, ‘It has begun here in this place or there in that part of the country.’ For the Kingdom of God is within you.”

Jesus also taught that to be great in the Kingdom of Heaven, you must be least. It’s the poor in spirit who see God. It’s being like a child. It’s humility. It’s seeking God with all your heart. It’s right motives. It’s like being a treasure hunter so you can give it all away. It’s planting a tree so that others can enjoy the shade and fruit from it. It’s peace and joy. It’s everything that this world is not.

And last but certainly not least, the story found in Matthew 25:14-29, of a man traveling to a distant land, calling his servants to him and distributing talents. Expecting them to actually do something with them, he found that one had buried his because he was afraid. This one servant did not know his Father. He had heard things ‘about’ God but didn’t truly ‘know’ God. So he not only lost what was given to him, but he was cast from the very presence of God.

My dear remnant friend, it’s not about leadership, it’s about servant-ship. It’s not about obtaining wealth, it’s about distributing wealth. It’s about becoming a servant like Jesus. He washed feet, he healed ALL, he cooked fish, he fed thousands, he gave his life, he took back what the enemy had stolen, he gave us the keys. Be remnant, set apart, followers of Jesus by knowing who lives in you and letting him do with you as he sees fit.

I Peter 2:21-23 Erv; This is what you were chosen to do. Christ gave you an example to follow. He suffered for you. So you should do the same as he did: “He never sinned, and he never told a lie. People insulted him, but he did not insult them back. He suffered, but he did not threaten anyone. No, he let God take care of him. God is the one who judges rightly.

It’s so easy to return in kind, give what’s due, sow what’s been sown. What’s hard is, doing right regardless of the wrong. As humans, we struggle with this principle, but we must remember that this is a worldly principle; doing what’s been done to you. Gods ways tell us to take the high road. To love regardless because love covers a multitude of sin.

I recently had a conversation with a friend about something someone did to her that was so childish. My flesh said, retaliate! and I gave her some very colorful ways of doing so. We laughed, which is something that was needed, however all weekend it’s played out in my head, “That’s not what love does.”

Sometimes love is not how our flesh wants to do it. Ok, that’s NEVER how our flesh wants to do it! But we don’t live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. We can’t react like we want to. We must react like HE wants us to. When our flesh wants something that badly, we must not give into it’s desires, regardless of how good it would feel to do it.

Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

We simply cannot do it in our flesh, it’s impossible. We can try and try and try all day, and never achieve this act of true love. But when we admit, “I cannot, but You already did!”, we are no longer depending on our ability to do right. We are fully depending on the finished work of Jesus Christ. Then it no longer becomes us that does the right thing, but Jesus who already did the right thing for us.

Doesn’t that relieve the pressure? That’s what His sacrifice was meant to do. Take the pressure off us and apply it to Jesus on the cross, once and for all. Forever a complete work. So than what Paul said makes sense, “It’s no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives in me.” Let’s allow Christ full and free reign in us this week.

Growing up, my dad would come into our rooms, flip the light switch on and say, “Rise & shine! It’s daylight in the swamp!” This was always followed by our groans and complaints. Such a rude awakening! He’s been gone since 1967 and as annoying as that was, I would give anything to hear those words once again.

This morning, I seem to hear the same thing in my spirit, ‘Rise and shine!’ It’s a wake-up call to come and visit with the Maker, the Father of lights, the Lord of lords. Yes, that’s you! Wake up. There’s a time for sleep and slumber, but there’s a time to shake it off and come spend time with your creator.

Psalm 108:1-2 Msg says, “ I’m ready, God, so ready, ready from head to toe. Ready to sing, ready to raise a God-song: “Wake, soul! Wake, lute! Wake up, you sleepyhead sun!”

You see David didn’t wait till he felt ready, he made himself ready. He told his spirit it was ready to sing and raise up a song to the Lord. Think about it; how much better is it when your children excitedly enter your room asking, “Is it time to go yet?” Excited to spend the day with you.

When was the last time you were excited about spending time with God? The last time you turned off your phone, sat down with your bible and allowed the Psalms to speak your heart and minister to the Lord. It’s been all about you for way too long, don’t you think it’s time to focus on Him? To offer yourself and your service to the King? Let’s make this day different than the rest.

Father, if not us, than who will worship you? I will not let the rocks cry out in my place. I will worship, I will give you the praise with all my heart. I will bow down and adore you. It’s me, Lord! Can’t wait to do this day together with You. My help and strength come from You and I rely and trust steadfastly in Your grace and wisdom this day. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn’t work. So I quit being a “law man” so that I could be God’s man. Christ’s life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that. Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God’s grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily. Galatians 2:20 Msg

This says it all! When I live my life trying to do right in my own abilities, I only frustrate myself and the grace of God. It’s a FREE gift, one that’s been paid for by Jesus Christ. You can’t buy something that’s free. You can make a donation-but you can’t buy it.

We are remnant. Let’s donate our lives to Jesus and experience the freedom to love and give. This world will only change if we accept His sacrifice as enough and stop trying to be like everyone else. Let’s be like Him.

Have your thoughts ever condemned you? Mine have many times. I’ve been accused, misinterpreted, lied about and that’s just what goes on in my head, lets not get started on how many times people have actually done it. But something changed when I began to truly understand God’s love. Those words don’t stick anymore. It’s as if someone sprayed my mind with weed control and they just can’t take root.

I John 3:18-20 Msg;  My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. It’s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.

Did you see that? Practicing the love of God shuts down debilitating self-criticism, even when there’s something to it. In other words, they just can’t grow in the soil of love. Each time I get down on myself because I just didn’t measure up, I remember that Jesus measured up for me, I rely on Him. When I feel like a failure, I remember that Jesus overcame and because He did, I do. That kind of love has changed my life. He loved me so much that he won and made me a winner too. How many people do you know that share their victories like that?

Father, I seek you and your love today. You are perfect in all of your ways and your way is love. I want to bathe in it, saturate myself in it so that when people come near me, they smell the aroma of your fragrant love. I may not be perfect, but because of Jesus, I’m perfect. I’m your perfect daughter, not in myself, but in you. I will never be a failure because Jesus wasn’t a failure. I will not be afraid because perfect love casts out fear. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

What’s important to God? Is it the clothes you wear or the house you live in? Is it your social status or the church you attend? No, what matters to God is your heart. Is your heart a place that God owns and dwells in or is there only room for you?

This morning I was directed to read 1 Kings 5 and 6, all about Solomon and the building of the temple. I never get tired of reading of how God gave him wisdom in negotiating the timber, preparing the stone work and how Gods favor rested on him. Then right in the middle of it, God speaks to Solomon and this is what He says;

“About this Temple you are building—what’s important is that you live the way I’ve set out for you and do what I tell you, following my instructions carefully and obediently. Then I’ll complete in you the promise I made to David your father. I’ll personally take up my residence among the Israelites—I won’t desert my people Israel.”

What’s important to God is the way you live your life. Jesus said to love the Lord your God with all your heart, not part of it. He than said, love your neighbor as yourself. That kind of takes ‘self’ out of the equation, doesn’t it. If we love the Lord with ALL our heart, we live for HIS pleasure and not our own.

I’ve heard so many people say it is too great of a sacrifice to give up everything they have. It’s not what they have that’s the problem, it’s that what they have, has them. You can have nice things, nice houses, good stuff, but the moment that stuff is too hard to give up, if you can’t walk away from it for the sake of the Kingdom, you’re being held captive and your heart has shifted to ‘things’ instead of God.

We must remember that this world must never be more of a draw than the Spirit of God. Our treasure is in Him. Our hope is in Him. Our strength is in Him. We are remnant. A people, set apart for Him, for His service. No going back to the way things used to be. We have a greater purpose and it’s His. So in the midst of the pressures of life today, remind yourself that you belong to God and your life will reflect His love and service.

Have you ever faced something so terrifying that you froze in fear? Perhaps it was a terminal diagnosis, a bill too large to pay, notice you’re losing your home, your job, your child is missing? I have good news for you; God will not leave or forsake you, He will deliver you.

When Moses took the Israelites out of Egypt, they found themselves wedged between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army. No place to go, no way of escape, no hope. You talk about fear, they lashed out at Moses because that’s what people do. Even after all they’d seen in Egypt, they still didn’t believe God could or would deliver them.

Exodus 14 tells the story:^10-12 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw them—Egyptians! Coming at them!

They were totally afraid. They cried out in terror to God. They told Moses, “Weren’t the cemeteries large enough in Egypt so that you had to take us out here in the wilderness to die? What have you done to us, taking us out of Egypt? Back in Egypt didn’t we tell you this would happen? Didn’t we tell you, ‘Leave us alone here in Egypt—we’re better off as slaves in Egypt than as corpses in the wilderness.’”

^13-14 Moses spoke to the people: “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and watch God do his work of salvation for you today. Take a good look at the Egyptians today for you’re never going to see them again. God will fight the battle for you. And you? You keep your mouths shut!”

^15-16 God said to Moses: “Why cry out to me? Speak to the Israelites. Order them to get moving. Hold your staff high and stretch your hand out over the sea: Split the sea! The Israelites will walk through the sea on dry ground.

So I say to you today, ‘Don’t be afraid. Stand firm on the promises of God and watch him do his work of salvation for you today. Take a good look at your problem, for you’re never going to see it again. God will fight the battle for you.’ What’s your part? Keep your fears and doubts away by speaking the Word of God over your problem. Don’t cry out to God to fix it, speak to your problem! Tell your diagnosis it’s met it’s match! The blood of Jesus set you free from the curse of disease. Let faith arise in your soul.

Jesus said, “Speak to the mountain!” if you don’t doubt in your heart but believe that the God who delivered the Israelites that day will this day deliver you, you will have whatsoever things you say. The problem is, what are you saying?

It’s time to rise up! Believe we must! We are remnant! Who else but us will be the Moses’s of our day? Speak to the Sea you face than stand still and see the salvation of your God.

Isaiah 54:11-17 Msg; “Afflicted city, storm-battered, unpitied: I’m about to rebuild you with stones of turquoise, lay your foundations with sapphires, construct your towers with rubies, your gates with jewels, and all your walls with precious stones. All your children will have God for their teacher—what a mentor for your children!  You’ll be built solid, grounded in righteousness, far from any trouble—nothing to fear! far from terror—it won’t even come close! If anyone attacks you, don’t for a moment suppose that I sent them, and if any should attack, nothing will come of it. I create the blacksmith who fires up his forge and makes a weapon designed to kill. I also create the destroyer-but no weapon that can hurt you has ever been forged.  Any accuser who takes you to court will be dismissed as a liar. This is what God’s servants can expect. I’ll see to it that everything works out for the best.” God’s Decree.

Too often we forget that WE are God’s servants and WE can expect this for ourselves. We think it was written for the Jews centuries ago. We forget that WE are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. We’ve been adopted, grafted in to the vine, His own special people, sons and daughters of the Most High God.

Now go back and read those verses again and put your name in it. Make it personal, because it is. It’s God’s decree to you, his child. ‘Stacy, Rob and Shannon, my grandchildren, Stasia, Paryse and Cipriano, will have God for their teacher-what a mentor for them. How can they fail in life when He leads them into all truth. Walt and I are built solid, grounded in righteousness, far from any trouble-nothing to fear! far from terror, it won’t even come close to us. Any attack on us, our children, grandchildren, our bodies or our finances is NOT of God. You are a good God and want the best for us. Our hope is in You and we trust and rely on You.’

We are remnant, His remnant people. He will always take care of His own.

Joshua 1:1-9 MSG; “Moses my servant is dead. Get going. Cross this Jordan River, you and all the people. Cross to the country I’m giving to the People of Israel. I’m giving you every square inch of the land you set your foot on—just as I promised Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon east to the Great River, the Euphrates River—all the Hittite country—and then west to the Great Sea. It’s all yours. All your life, no one will be able to hold out against you. In the same way I was with Moses, I’ll be with you. I won’t give up on you; I won’t leave you. Strength! Courage! You are going to lead this people to inherit the land that I promised to give their ancestors. Give it everything you have, heart and soul. Make sure you carry out The Revelation that Moses commanded you, every bit of it. Don’t get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you’re going. And don’t for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you’ll get where you’re going; then you’ll succeed. Haven’t I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don’t be timid; don’t get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take.”

What is holding you back from stepping in to cross your river? What part of “I’ll be with you” aren’t you getting? If God you the assignment to do something, He will strengthen you to do it. He’s just that awesome. Just that powerful. Just that faithful. Joshua was in his 80’s when God gave him this word. What’s your excuse? Age? Social status? Money? None of that is a prerequisite for doing Gods will because who he calls, he also equips.
You make the first move, God will do the rest.
We are remnant!

John 14:12-14 ERV; “I can assure you that whoever believes in me will do the same things I have done. And they will do even greater things than I have done, because I am going to the Father.  And if you ask for anything in my name, I will do it for you. Then the Father’s glory will be shown through the Son.  If you ask me for anything in my name, I will do it.”

That’s some pretty strong backing right there! Jesus said that if we ask in his name, he will do it for us. So why is it we don’t see what we ask for? That’s a good question! I believe the answer was penned by James in chapter 4:1-3;

“Do you know where your fights and arguments come from? They come from the selfish desires that make war inside you. You want things, but you don’t get them. So you kill and are jealous of others. But you still cannot get what you want. So you argue and fight. You don’t get what you want because you don’t ask God. Or when you ask, you don’t receive anything, because the reason you ask is wrong. You only want to use it for your own pleasure.”

I like to go back to when Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” You see, when our prayers are always about ourselves, our benefit, it becomes self focused. But when we focus on others as Jesus did, we become givers. Our example is Jesus. He always gave, didn’t he? He served others. He gave his life. He healed others. He raised their dead loved ones. He fed the multitude. Do you not see that Jesus wants us to be givers too?

Father, this is the weekend when we think of the sacrifice you made to cover our sins forever. I just want to stop this morning, Good Friday, and say thank you. Thank you for giving me a Savior, Redeemer, an advocate. I give you my heart and soul for service in your great kingdom. I ask with a clean heart, because that’s what Jesus did, he cleansed me from all unrighteousness. He forever took my guilt, my shame and my blame so that I could freely come to your throne and obtain grace and mercy. Use these hands to touch others in ways that only you can do through me. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen