What is your beast?

In Revelation chapter 13, John writes about a beast. The beast he refers to is the antichrist. The antichrist is a false messiah who will counterfeit himself as Christ. People will follow and worship him because they will be in awe of his power. He will unite the world under his leadership, and he will control the world economy.

The beast has the power to rule over as in all ways except spiritually.

Which got me thinking. What is your beast? What is ruling over your life? Work? Laziness? Video games? Complacency? When it comes down to it, there are many things that could be your beast. It's crazy because your beast will run your life without you even knowing it and that is why we have to be very aware of who is ruling our life.

The beast that John writes about will rule over God's people. He will establish worldwide dominance and demand that everyone worship him. And many people will worship him - everyone except true believers.

Our beasts have to power to rule over us but we have the power to choose who we are going to worship. We can refuse. We can make a decision that nothing on earth will have the power to rule over us the way that Christ Jesus can.

Refusal to worship may result in temporary suffering for God's people, but they will be rewarded with eternal life in the end.

Refusing to give into your beast might be tough for you, but when you refuse you will be rewarded with eternal life in the end.

My one thing for you this morning is to stand strong in your relationship with Christ. There will be distractions everyday that try to steer you away from the straight and narrow path but you have to remember that small and narrow is the gate to heaven, and the gate to destruction is wide.

Tame your breasts and fully trust in Christ.

where is your desert?

In ancient times, the desert often represented a place of spiritual refuge and protection from Satan. 

Do you have a desert? Or a place you go or something you do when you need to find spiritual refuge and protection from God?

I believe it's important that we all have a place we go to or something we do when we really need God to protect us. Like a place of peace. 

I know for me, I feel the safest and at the most peace when I actually get off the treadmill of life and have some quiet time in the word and having my Jesus time. When I get in that zone, nothing will distract me. I don't have any thoughts that are outside of what I am reading about and what I feel that God is teaching me. 

Another escape for me is getting some shoots up. I don't know if I will ever grow out of this, but for years, this helped. Whenever I would feel stressed or anxious, I just needed get in the gym and work on my game. That always helped me. Never once, did it not. Even to this day...I don't do it as much, but if I go outside to the driveway and shoot my basketball, I feel better.

In Revelation chapter 12, a woman was trying to escape from Satan...

The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she night be taken care of for 1,260 days. (Revelation 12:6)

The woman fled to a place where God was going to take care of her. And he did. 

I have two specific things that I do where I know God will take care of me and protect me. What about you?

I encourage you to really think about that as you read this post. We all need protection and a place of refuge in our daily lives. If you never get off the treadmill, you'll never catch your breath. 

invincibility and vulnerability

Is fear of embarrassment or rejection some of the reasons that we don't share our faith? Satan could threaten our lives, but he doesn't even have to do that because fear is enough for us to be scared. Have you thought about it that way before?

I'm fearful to witness more than I do. I am not perfect and I am no super-Christian.

I've been a part of one person's life when they came to Christ and it was like a feeling that I can't put into words. It was one of the very best feelings I have ever felt. I remember being so locked in on sharing what God has done for me that I was not fearful that I didn't know enough or didn't have all the answers for him. It was powerful. To sit here...and really reminisce on that moment and realize that I will see him in heaven someday because of what happened that day he came to Christ. That day...God changed his life forever.

I'd love to tell you more stories like that...but I can't. I've been too fearful to do it more...are you in the same boat as I am?

If you are. I am all for making a commitment to not let that fear rule my life anymore.

Just think about what God has done for your life up to this point. No matter how good or bad things might be right now I guarantee that God has done good things in your life. Why not want others to experience the goodness of God too?

I think about my life...the things God teaches me on a daily basis...the peace I feel, the faith I have. God is what gets me through everything. Without God I don't even want to imagine how empty and hopeless I would feel.

The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on earth. (Revelation 11:10)

The two final witnesses were a picture of both invincibility and vulnerability. They win, they lose, they win again.

Truth remains victorious, even though human channels fall. Their message - and God's - plan march on in spite of death, for even death proves to be a defeated foe.

If Jesus has truly changed our lives, why don't we let others know? Not to witness represents more than just fear; it represents selfishness.

Rather than making a challenge for you all, let's make a commitment. Let us commit to selflessness. Let's put what God has done for us above all fear that we might have. It's time to stop keeping it to ourselves.

many plans

How often do you make plans and then those plans don't end up working out? I know that happens to me all of the time and I am sure that it happens to you to. 

It's with anything in life. We make many plans. It's what we do as humans, we like to have things to do and to look forward to. Our society is so time-oriented it's ridiculous compared to other countries that I have traveled to. 

We are always on the go because we always have plans to do something. 

Many are the plans in a person's heart,

but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. 

(Proverbs 19:21) 

The Lord's purpose always prevails. 

My one thing for you is to remember that. Next time your plans don't end up working out remember that the Lord's purpose is prevailing. Maybe there is a reason those plans aren't working out. The Lord might be saving you from something or taking you down a different path.

I challenge you to have that mindset at all times. Have that mindset that everything you do is the Lord's purpose for you, not your own purpose for yourself. 

orienteers and advancers

30 million people applied for the small business loans that have been offered by the government and only 1.7 million received those loans...

That is because right now there are two types of people: 

- Orienteers 

- Advancers

(this idea came from my managing director yesterday, I just want to bring it in to light this morning)

When things got crazy about month ago, people reacted in one of two ways. The either look action, or they waited for others do it. 

What did you do? Have you made the most of the opportunity at hand? Or are you sitting here and wishing you would've had a better mindset about things and now you're further behind than most people. 

I bet you can figure out who got the loans...the advancers. They took action as soon as it was offered and it paid off. 

What did you learn from this time? I believe that we are in the future now and this is the new normal?

My challenge for you is to take action when things start to change and to view everything as an awesome and exciting new opportunity. I can promise you, when you do that you will have no regrets. 

I believe this also relates to our faith. We cannot wait on others to dictate what our relationship with Christ looks like. That is something we have to do for ourselves daily. 

My one thing: Be advancers in whatever it is you do! Your marriage, business, career, relationship, etc. Don't wait on others to do things for you. 

be quiet and listen

There are several benefits to keeping quiet. I am sure that each and every one of you have come across some people in your life that are really good at just keeping quiet. No matter what the situation is, they know what they are doing and just do a good job at keeping their mouths shut even if they don't agree with what it being said.

On the other hand, I am sure you can think of a couple people who don't keep their mouths shut. As soon as one thing throws them off they just keep fighting the case. Defensiveness kicks in. People often become defensive when they are guilty and know that they are wrong...they just want to make a point.

The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint,
and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.

Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,
and discerning if they hold their tongues. 

(Proverbs 17:27-28)

This proverb highlights several benefits of keeping quiet:

1. it is the best policy if you have nothing worthwhile to say

2. it allows you the opportunity to listen and learn

3. it gives you something in common with those who are wiser

We have to make sure to pause to think and to listen so that when we do speak, we will have something important to say.

My one thing for you today is to just be smart with your words and always listen first. God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason.

a guaranteed place

Therefore,

"They are before the throne of God
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne
will shelter them with his presence.
'Never again will they hunger;
never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,'
nor any scorching heat.
For the Lamb at the center of the throne
will be their shepherd;
'he will lead them to springs of living water.'
'And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.'"

(Revelation 7:15-17)

A great multitude of people in heaven is going to be comprised of all those who remained faithful to God throughout the generations. No true believer will ever need to worry about which group he or she will be in. God will include and protect each of us, and we are guaranteed a place in his presence.

I encourage you to really let that soak in today. We have all sorts of wants a needs right now but in heaven someday, everything is going to be taken care of. We are guaranteed a place in his presence. I hope that encourages you to put your trust into God who is able to provide that. It's time to stop going after our earthly desires because nothing on earth will be able to take care of us and fulfill us forever like God will do.

My one thing for you today. Focus on what is guaranteed and when you do...it'll be like a snowball affect, and good thing after good thing will happen over and over again.