Several years ago I wrote a 3 part series on The Spiritual Battle and I believe that it is real and active today. The enemy will attack me in many ways: Me Personally – My Family – My City – My country.
 
Pastor Shaun’s sermon this week was about two of the believers that were walking down the road after Jesus had been crucified and there was an empty tomb. I have to believe that they were feeling The Spiritual Battle all around them and where asking themselves “What do I do?” My study Bible has a great explanation about these two disciples as they were walking and then Jesus joined them.

“The two disciples returning to Emmaus at first missed the significance of history’s greatest event because they were too focused on their disappointments and problems. In fact, they didn’t recognize Jesus when he was walking beside them. To compound the problem, they were walking in the wrong direction – away from the fellowship of believers in Jerusalem. We are likely to miss Jesus and withdraw from the strength found in other believers when we become preoccupied with our dashed hopes and frustrated plans. Only when we are looking for Jesus in our midst will we experience the power and help he can bring.

           I would have to say that I am like these two disciples at times when I feel The Spiritual Battle is all around me and like them I become confused. “What do I do?” When I am in the Midst of The Battle there are several things that I can do.

1. Recognize that Jesus is walking beside me at all times and that he will give me the power to overcome the enemy.
2. After I have done this – I need to start walking in the right direction :).
3. Prayer is a must.
4. This is one of my special prayer items.   I like to pray for the Angels to come down and protect me and my family. One of Frank Peretti’s books talks about the Angels are just waiting for me to call upon them – so I do.
5. Then I must go into Battle with other Christians beside me. I like the visual from the book “The Barbarian Way” by Erwin McManus when he describes a group of Christians going forward like a Crash of Rhinos. The enemy that is out in front us must beware what is coming.

 
I believe that The Spiritual Battle is going on strong today….   So my questions to you is:

What do you do in the midst of your Spiritual Battle?

Do you recognize Jesus is there to HELP?

Remember the Battle is REAL!

 
Bobbyg

Sometimes I think we forget who we really are, how we were designed, what’s been purchased for us. So here’s a quick reminder on a small portion of your amazingness!
All things work together for your good.
You were created in the image of your Creator.
You were knit together in your mother’s womb.
You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Every hair on your head is known.
You are of a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, you are His special possession.
If He is for you, who can be against?
You are more than a conqueror.
You are free from all curses.
You are blessed coming in and going out.
No weapon formed against you shall prosper.
The enemy must flee from you.
Everything you put your hand to shall prosper.
You are sealed by the Spirit. Its deposit in your heart is your guarantee.
You have a spirit of boldness and courage.
If you ask, you shall receive.
You are heir to the greatest estate ever.
You are holy, perfect, justified, and redeemed.
You are equipped to do every good work.
You have authority over the enemy.
You have good treasure in your heart.
You produce good fruit.
You have life and life to the fullest.
Hey, you’re even worth more than a fallen sparrow.
Your leaves are always green.
You are hidden in His hand.
You are free.
Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
As He is; so are you in this world.
You lack nothing.
You have a constant intercessor.
You rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
You are more than you can think or imagine – a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over!
You, my friend, are eternally and unconditionally loved!
Tom Cassidy

​​”But we know where he’s from.” ​Some of the people dismissed Jesus out of hand because they knew where he had been raised.​ ​”He is from Nazareth,​”​ they reasoned​… “​he can’t possibly be the ​Messiah: the one to follow.​“​ How often do we do the same thing, keeping Jesus at a distance with simple nonsensical objections that almost always begin with “​but​”​?​

​”I’d love to follow Jesus, but…. ​”
​      ​ ​”I really need healing, but….​”
​      ​ ​​      ​ ​​”I want my life to ​c​hange, but….​”
​Whatever our struggles, whatever our failings​: habitual sins​,​ disordered attractions, addictions ​of one kind or another — Christ​’s​ love and mercy is far greater​!
He spends his eternity to overcome the strange time-bound​ tyranny of a very small word : but….
​________

Good morning my Brothers in Christ! Been praying on what the Father would have me share. I want the Holy Spirit to be my guide!
There are brothers and sisters going through some difficult trials, to the point of praying for a miracle: for 15 more years of life on this side of Heaven… as did Hezekiah when he prayed to our Father for this. The eyes are seeing, and the ears are hearing what is on the outside. And it does not look promising.
But we have a God! And His Word says (1 Corithians 2:9 KJV): “But as it is written, Eye has not seen , nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them who love Him.” We are continuing to pray and hope with expectation for our Dearest Father, to move on behalf of our brothers and sisters for a miracle! (Like  Mark 5:22-43, with the woman with the issue of blood, and Jairus’ daughter.)
My brothers, don’t give up and don’t stop believing!
Lester

Here is a moving and poignant testimony from our brother Ryan.  Let us keep this family in prayer!
+~+~+~+~
My wife gave birth to our third child about a month ago. All of us were sick during that time but none more than my wife. She had a chest cold along with a sinus infection. The birth caused both of her eardrums to rupture because of the sinus pressure which has temporarily damaged her hearing. If I had to guess her hearing is still only at about 50%.
It has been a rough month. I can’t have a conversation with my wife without speaking very loudly. It’s a strange thing because even though my wife is present with us, she seems to be absent in a way. Anybody that knows Susie will confirm the fact that she’s a very energetic and talkative person. Because of the lack of hearing and other residual effects from the birth, she does a lot of sleeping and sitting which is very unlike her. She watches us with eyes of someone who is looking into a room from outside the door that is eager to participate but can’t get in.
I say all this to make the point that we take so many of God’s blessings for granted. Before this happened, I don’t remember appreciating the simple but HUGE blessing such as hearing. Now I think about it everyday. I miss my wife and my kids miss their mom simply because she can’t hear very well.
I’m not sharing this to complain but just the opposite; to recognize and rejoice how we were all fearfully and wonderfully made! I know when Susie gets her hearing back, she will appreciate every word that enters it. And we will appreciate every word we speak to her.
You are blessed-
Ryan

GMM President Jim Schamerhorn shared this:
I read an article recently that made me think about our leadership team as a “recipe for success.”
God is the “Master Chef” who has equipped each of us with gifts for success in this life. He has blessed each with talents, abilities, strengths, sensitivities and perspective. They include a full range of human emotions or lack thereof to enable us to represent him to the best of our ability (according to the power that works within).
Think of a recipe when cooking or baking. We put together a number of different ingredients: the best flour, good salt, and tasty spices. But separately they cannot be complete or effective, as they are meant to be in combination.
For  instance, when experienced on its own, flour is bland and can leave an unpleasant taste.  However, when combined with sugar, yeast, milk and other ingredients… it brings forth an amazing and wonderful loaf of bread.
Individually each of our team brings their specific gifts or strengths that ensure the overall success of GMM. These are a group of good and Godly men the Lord has put together in a “recipe for success.” They form the ingredients of a strong & cohesive band of brothers. However, as with any good recipe the constituent parts need an opportunity to interact to experience the benefit of the good and final product.
I’m looking forward to seeing what God cooks with us.

     I was wondering what it would be like if Satan was before God and was asking permission to test Bobbyg…   Hmmmmmm –

Here are a couple of verses about Satan doing just that:

1. Job 1:6-8 > One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.” Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”

2.Luke 22:31-32 > “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
I suppose this would be considered an honor if Satan were to go before God asking for permission to test me and I would hope that my Faith would not fail.                        But it is a great question to ask of yourself: “Have you considered my Servant (Your Name)???” how would you respond.
 
I had breakfast with a very good Pastor friend of mine (Jason K.) and he is the best person I have to give me a positive fix. He left me with a verse to meditate on and it has brought me back to the question above.
 
Isaiah 66:1 > This is what the Lord says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be?
 
If I am the Footstool of God and he has trust in me – then I should be excited to be His Helper.   Being connected to God is all I need to face the enemy and I cannot be touched or defeated…   I do want to be God’s Footstool. So this helps me in answering the question “: “Have you considered my Servant Bobbyg???” but I do know that I have to be in prayer all the time to be obedient and successful if I am picked.
 

So how are you going to get ready if you are picked?

Is your Faith strong enough to be successful and obedient?

Be honored if you have been chosen?

 
Bobbyg

     I have been doing a Bible study on the book “Life with a capital L” from Matt Heard (GMM Speaker of 2016) and the 9^th chapter was about Illumination.  This is about how the Bible is our light and through it we can experience LIFE.   One of the quotes in Chapter 9 is:

“The power of the Bible is that it leads me not to all the answers but into a relationship with the resurrected Christ who promises to walk with me in whatever difficult and dark terrain I might encounter.”

     So this has me looking at the Bible in a new way.   So now when I read the scripture or hear it being read – I want to try and imagine that I am there.   So today when Pastor Shaun was reading from Luke 22 there was a section of the scripture that I did this with.  

 Luke 22: 8 > 13   Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.  He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’  He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.” They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

     So now my thoughts went to:   What if I am walking with Jesus as the disciples were and he instructed me to do this – “would I go”?  I would hope that I would do just as the disciples did. 
 
          I have to believe that we can experience the same today as did the Disciples who were walking with Jesus.   Jesus may not be talking directly to us, but He does instruct us in different ways – I just have to be alert to those callings.   Then the question comes:  “When I know what Jesus is asking of me, am I being obedient to His calling?”   I have learned that I need to trust and have faith that He will do the same for me as he did with His disciples. 
 

So what is Jesus asking you to do?

Can you visualize Him right next to you?

Are you being Obedient and Trusting in HIM?

Bobbyg

     This last Sunday was one of those days where my wife and I got up late so we decided to watch our Church on TV via a Live Podcast.   Pastor Shaun has been going through the book of Luke and was finishing Chapter 22.   During his sermon he talked about the different views on the last days and when Christ will return.   There are several beliefs on what that looks like, but I do like Pastor Shaun’s version that has Christians being raptured.   **That is the way I want to go…..
 
          The scripture that I enjoyed was one that was meant for a special period in the end of times but should be one that we need to live by today.  It talks about living in such a way that we should be ready for Christ to return as if He were coming today. 

Luke 22: 34>36

“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

          I know that for me to live this way, I must be aware of how I am presenting myself and be careful not to get caught up in all the little things that will distract me.  As the verse says “Be Careful or our hearts will be weighed down”………..   I am one that can be distracted really easy and the next thing I know: my whole focus is on something that really does not matter.  Recently for me it has been such things as:

1. An Insurance claim that I am working on.
2. Finishing up some details about my Dad.
3. Helping those around me.
4. What am I going to write about.

When these little things start to consume my thoughts – it really takes me away from my Relationship with Jesus.   These items have to be taken care of, but I have to be careful that they do not weigh me down.   It takes practice…
 
          Now back to my title of this Blog:  “Raptured or Left Behind” – as the sermon of the live Podcast was ending it went black… My wife and I looked at each other and said:  “Did Pastor Shaun just get raptured and we were left behind?”  We laughed a little, but it was a serious moment also about if Christ were to come today – would I be ready?  As the verse says we must be always on watch and praying so that we may be able to stand before Jesus.
 
So my question to you is:

If Jesus were to come today would you be raptured or left behind?

Are you living in such a way that you are ready?

Read the passage above once more….

 
Bobbyg