When Jesus Left the World

 When Jesus Left the World                                 by Kelly Durant 6-22-25

 

Matthew 28:20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

 

2. Have you seen an advertisement about a web company, a site where you can post things to sell called, ‘Let Go’? You might see a person holding on to some old bowling ball or machine taking up space in the house for years not being used and then it is offered for sale and then someone out of nowhere comes to buy it.

 

This simple commercial represents many things in life. Sometimes we hold onto too tightly to many things but then there comes a time when we have to just ‘let go’ and accept the fact that we no longer can keep holding onto the past. 

 

As humans, we tend to hoard and collect too much stuff. We also as humans have a hard time moving on to see new horizons. Are you familiar with the phrase that says something like this, ‘In order to see new lands you have to be willing to say goodbye to the shore you are leaving’?

 

3. This is a difficult subject. Everyone by now knows we have a new appointment and that we are leaving this Corps and it is not easy at all! It is easier to let go of stuff that it is to let go of people! But always remember that every time God knows what he is doing when a change comes. We love you and will miss you! 

 

Changes are difficult and we are reminded that we are not always in control of everything. Do you recall this verse, Matthew 5:36 ‘Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black’? No matter how hard I concentrate my hair will not change back from grey to brown, so whether we like it or not we cannot stop all that happens to us in this life. We live in a fallen, decaying world and kids grow up, and people pass on to the next life.

 

I think I must have been 2 or 3 years old when I found out that no matter how loud I yelled and cried in the store, if mama wasn’t going to buy ice cream for me there was nothing I could do about. All our lives we discover over and over that some things may go as we want, yet others will not. God has His plans for us, and we have our plans for ourselves, and others have their plans for us, but life can only be lived well by allowing God to guide and take us using us where we need to be. And many times, we do not understand it at all, but we will one day, if not on earth in heaven!

 

4. My wife and I have had to say goodbye to our loved ones and friends too many times in our lives! Remember that even before the Salvation Army we moved around a few dozen times. We do have deep holes of sadness and joy in our heart remembering our friends in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Atlanta, and many places. We would love to have them and you with us all our lives everyday, but it is not possible.

 

What is wonderful though is that from time to time we are able to see a few friends at some camp, but it is not the same, it is hard to catch up on years gone by when you only have a few minutes to chat. Thank God for heaven because there we will be able to spend eternity together and we will finally be able to hear the complete story of everyone’s life, not just parts, and that is fascinating to me. I thank God for your lives and how we know you and that we will spend heaven together.

 

I remember very well the first shepherds or pastors I had in Oklahoma that helped me learn the Bible and prepare me for mission work. I only knew them for about 6 months but when I had to say goodbye to them to go to the mission field. I cried a lot as they prayed over me saying goodbye. I used to never cry but the experience of being loved, and the fact that one has learned to love by someone teaching you God’s word, is invaluable! It is emotional. God’s love takes away our stone hearts and gives us a heart of frail flesh that can feel love and give love!

 

5. So, at age 21 I got my first taste of what it is like to have to say goodbye to your mentors, to my brothers and sisters in Christ. And I said goodbye to my mother! I was afraid, I thought I would not make it, but what I discovered is God will always put good people in your path! In God’s work I have never lacked for friends who loved and cared for me and my family. No matter who you have close to you, you always learn to get along and do the mission God has for you.

 

Do you ever wonder what happens to your friends after you leave a place? There is nothing more satisfying than to hear that one of your friends went on to do good things for God and others. Some of our Corps Cadet kids we met by soccer in Atlanta went on to become Officers! Not everyone has the calling to move around, not everyone can be Officers or missionaries, but we always respect what everyone can do for God. Each person has great value when living governed by love and holiness. We are always made happy remembering our friends that we got to share at least a few years together.

 

Each of God’s children are important to him and God wants you to do great things for Him. Never think that the mission is over just because you have to say goodbye to your Captains or pastors, it only means that your mission is just starting! New is always different, but we adjust and then all becomes well.

 

6. What did Jesus say right before he ascended into heaven? 28:20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. There is nothing more I could add to that!

 

What Jesus is saying, and all of what we can say when we say goodbye is that we hope that our legacy is this, that we taught you to obey God’s Word to do the mission God has for you. And this verse is very meaningful to me because what Jesus saying to you and me is that ‘He is with you and me always, even to the end of the world.’ That means not just until we die, but until the very end of everything! 

 

Jesus is absolutely real! So, when we pray, when we are in danger, when we study God’s Word, it is then we can sense His presence still here. He is still here and alive and His Holy Spirit moves in us. It really doesn’t matter that this world is degrading into hell, Jesus is with us to the very end, and He has the salvation of our souls in His power and all that really matters that He saves and has a heavenly place for us. There is a line in the hymn of “A might fortress is our God” that says, ‘Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also, the body they may kill, God’s truth abideth still, His kingdom is forever!’ These words are powerful!

 

7. One way we experience the love of Jesus is by loving each other. That is Jesus’ legacy.  John 13:35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” It really does change you when you are loved by someone! I have given love, and I have been loved back hundreds of times by so many, no matter the culture. Jesus in us is powerful when we connect by His love!

 

If there is a take away from what we have taught everyone, we pray that it is obedience to Jesus: that you learned how to love, you learned how to be humble, to get hit on the cheek and roll with the punch, and that you learned of your importance to God so you serve Him and others with all your heart in holiness.

 

I was thinking about it, in 2 years if you multiply an approximate 50 times a year you have heard me and my wife preach, it means that you have heard an approximate 100 sermons! And double that with Bible classes! And the number of hours spent together on Weds. and Sundays, and at camps or on visitation implies a few thousand hours of our lives spent with most of you! All of this time, and the experiences through the good and bad times, is an unforgettable treasure we are very thankful for!  

 

8. Here is something to consider, that you and I are never alone, Jesus brought God’s Spirit into the world in His absence, and everyone can receive from Him, and we all share that together. John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

 

I have found it amazing that so many times when you are witnessing to someone, counseling, or praying, it often seems like God puts the words in your mouth. You are amazed thinking, where did that come from? How did I remember all of that to say? Wow, that’s God’s wisdom in me! It comes from the Holy Spirit! So many times, we experience Jesus guiding you and me, agreed? We get guidance direct when pastors are not nearby to rely on, so this is a great advantage.

 

So, no matter who your pastors are, Jesus is there, the Holy Spirit is there, and you are never alone in this Christian life. That is what I always have loved about serving God; you are never alone, someone will be there for you, at least a few.

 

9. Everyone deserves our love and respect, and we have given it and received it! We forgive as Jesus taught, and you do as well. You know as time goes by one usually forgets anything bad about the person, and all you recall is the good, or at least I am that way. How amazing is our God of love, amen?

 

Real friends who love one another as Jesus taught have the supernatural Holy Spirit with them all the time. Real friends never forget the good and remain friends all their lives! If we get to see you again a few months from now, we trust that our love and connection will be as it is today! 

 

Memorize this beautiful promise of Jesus Matthew 28:20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  Jesus will return for us all and we all will share heaven together! I can’t wait for the day we are united with Jesus and all our loved ones! 

Men in the World vs Men of God

Men in the World vs Men of God (Fathers?)      Kelly Durant 9-15-13 Re 6-15-25

1. I Tim 5: 17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.

2. Have you heard about the woman waiting for the perfect man? She waited and waited and then so much time went by that she just never seemed to find him! (See image of skeleton) Ha!

It is a very complex problem when we want to analyze men being perfect. How can men be perfect in his relationship involving the treatment of the woman, his children, and in relation to the treatment of his fellow man?

The real issue of men being perfect is in them having the character God wants. This is found in spiritual maturity, wisdom, and a connection to God that provokes a passion to treat everyone with respect, loving and guiding them into God’s truth by words and deeds. Men must mature, and maturity means learning to be humble and doing God’s will in everything. Altruistic love is the foundation. 

3. Men maturing into men of valor as God intended contrasts the opposite image to what the pride of the world projects. There is a glory in men being strong; we all like to see strong soldiers. But consider this, the strongest man who ever lived was Samson, and he killed a lion with his bare hands, but look how the ultimate strongman ended up without faithfulness to God! He became a blinded slave over an evil woman who seduced him!

The ultimate question is, what does God want from me and you, or a man in general? All cultures have different ideas of how the perfect man should be. Usually when you say the word “man”, an image of how a man should dress, talk, and act is usually shaped by the expectancies of that culture and by the standard of the women of that society. 

Woman live concerned about what the men do in relationship to them, so they are usually focused on the home and family. Men care for the women, but men usually live very concerned about what other men might do to them and they think more about the society at large preparing their selves for survival, protecting their children, and making a living within their hostile environment.

4. Ever since the murder of Able by Cain men have worried how to protect their selves. They govern the society with police and armies and write laws and carry arms to help protect their selves from their own fellow man, and in particular defend their selves from those of other tribes, gangs, belief systems, or countries. For millennia men have had the tendency to scheme how to conquer and dominate their part of the world and this comes by cruel brute organized force.

I will confess as a man when I go out in the community, I subconsciously put myself on high alert and I focus in on any danger or threat that could be around me either while walking or in the vehicle. It is a natural tendency, right?

The sad reality is men, due to the sin of pride in the world, have failed in their mission to stop all hostility and greed and just love and obey God and enjoy Him! To believe in Jesus and obey Him is the first step! Men were created to love, have a family and be a good dad, not to fight, kill, and the inflict pain. Pain and trauma create the broken hostile, sad world of men today. Why are there so many addicts in the world? Men (and women) are often trying to drown out their pain! Sin, either committed by the individual, or imposed upon a man or woman, causes deep pain but seeking Jesus does heal it and take it away!

5. God created men and women to give and receive love through their families and friends and fellow brothers in the faith. Every person in life gets an interest in knowing God usually because someone who loved God was loving, caring, and helpful to them. Doesn’t it seem that way? Love changed them and they gained hope, faith, and a new happy life. But only the Christian faith expresses correctly the most important concept of God that exists…that God, our Father, is love!

What is the final purpose for man’s existence, anyway? Why am I here on earth we often ask ourselves? Ecclesiastes 12:13 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. Jesus said to love God with all your heart mind and soul as well! Men analyze: If God made me in the womb, then He is the Father I must obey. But those who hate, steal, and do violence of course hate God even though they know inherently He exists. The demons fear God and tremble! Hell ultimately is a prison for the rebellious souls who will not stop their destruction.

Imagine how perfect, holy, and righteous a man could be if he would just practice the wisdom of God as in the Bible! The men who truly understand God’s word always want to live to teach and preach it! It becomes their burning passion! 

6. Reviewing the verses of today, a man highly honored by a double portion in God’s view is one who teaches His Word. And any man can teach his own children! I Tim 5: 17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. Here is the example; the ideal man is esteemed by God and others when he learns the Holy Scriptures so well, that he practices them becoming responsible in his home; also, in church he becomes qualified to teach as well.

What God wants from a man, which is his love, service, and obedience transfers into living a life of teaching & preaching, and what about loving your neighbor as yourself? Who is your neighbor closest to you? Usually, your wife and family, right? How a man treats his wife and family reveals everything about his character! 

7. Expounding more on a women’s definition of a perfect man she might describe him as one that is faithful with no other loves, (no adultery!) one that is faithful to provide and protect for her and the kids, who does not lie, kill, abuse, and loves her always, caring to listening to her intimate concerns and communications.

Do not these desires remind you of something? They sound a lot like the list of things included in the 10 commandments, right? 

The Mosaic laws set up a good control and in most parts of the world, most of these basic commands are applied in some form because it is true justice and righteousness to punishment those that offend God and harm others. The Law may guide and teach so to deter man’s natural born abusive nature, but only love can transform him into a self-controlled exemplary model for others.

8. Christians in the church, or the body of believers, are compared to being the bride of Christ. In the real world men must submit to other men in their jobs, schools, & etc., Women submit to men as well, but the ultimate submission of everyone must always be to Jesus & God’s will. Submission brings on freedom and protection and in our case with Jesus, eternal life as well! 

Romans 7:4  Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. 

Men were created to live in relationships. God desires a deep connection with each one of us. God also desires that we have a connection with one another and that being one with love. This brings health, happiness and progress. 

9. Sadly, a majority of men in the world today are deceived and not being real “men” submitted to God and loving as we have covered so far. The defamation of the character of men in the West (USA) has been happening for decades. It is a Satanic ploy to disintegrate respect one for one another and crumble our society. The media and the dark higher powers promote the feminization of men, the mocking of men’s roles as fathers and authority figures, and music & sports influences the debauchery of men by having them copy the narcissistic arrogant violent stars. The lack of good men role models is devastating communities indiscriminately! Good leaders always come under attack just as Jesus exposed.

Men, nor women, are upholding God’s standard and enforcing laws and responsibilities in society demanding the standards that maintain families, happiness, and peace, so the end product is broken dreams, frustration and violence and perverse sins. What ever happened to good, involved fathers?    

10. Another male problem are the undesirable customs of ancient man still influencing modern man today. In 80% of the world with the Arabs, Israelis, Native Americans, Hindus, Asians (past and current), the men are expected to principally be spiritual teachers in the home and community, and they are expected to fight and defend, hunt, or do commerce. The women are expected to work hard but usually in the home. This sort of resembles many cultures, even some macho Latino cultures as well, don’t you think? 

Some people are happy with this ancient way of life but not many. It seems like a good life for man, but often the women hate it. Willing service and servitude are distinct things. The oppression of men, women, and children today is at an all time high! Look at Africa and the world, look at most governments. Mafias, gangs, slave labor, the sex trade, and abuse of all kinds are on the rise and being ignored, how sad! 

In the West (USA), today, it is expected that the men help with the duties of the home in order to share the daily workload. This is love manifested in deeds of service and this is a noble thing to be respected. This shift of men helping at home occurred in part because the women started work in professional jobs and they did not have the time to serve in the home as their grandmothers use to. In today’s modern world, men must also learn professions but also how to be handymen at home because to call a painter, tech man, or plumber over to your house can cost you in a day what you earn in a week or a month! 

11. Let’s go back further and look at the position of men for millennia. Men in most cultures in history have not really ever had the chance to be in the role of being a good father, provider, and lover. Why is that?

The reality is that most men throughout recorded history have been at war defending and building their cities, or fighting to acquire more land and all of their energy is consumed with just basic survival. The training to fight, and the fabrication of war weapons, or the actual engagement in conflict is what most men have been forced into ever since the beginning of time. In the end men have suffered greatly under other men who never learned to submit to God and love!

Consider how it was to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem for Nehemiah. 4:17 They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.  All of what we enjoy today was defended and built by the blood, sweat, and tears of the ones before us and we should always honor them!

12. All of the former so called “great” world domineering societies, the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans had within their own practices the suppression of other men being slaves, women, and children. Socrates stated “I thank god that I was born Greek & not Barbarian, free man & not slave, man & not woman, but above all, I was born in the age of Socrates”. This arrogant attitude was due to their worship of false cruel Gods. 

Only 500 years ago with the Renaissance, which was the product of the Church Reformation under Martin Luther who translated the Bible, was a new light shed and only then did respect and esteem open up for men, women, and families. The Bible clarifies how we are to love God and our neighbor and keep his commandments, but evil men cannot be successful to oppress, deceive, and dominate other men who learn these values of God. God’s word liberates our souls with wisdom and with Jesus and we are appalled by injustices and we are moved to do something about them.

13. So where do we stand today with men and fathers in our corrupt societies of the world today? Most men today have never been taught to, “Fear God and keep his commandments… the duty of all mankind”. Men today have lost their role as loving true fathers, defenders, and providers. Men today still have an innate desire to conquer and govern, but the problem is when they obtain a high position without a fear of God, they rapidly fall into corruption keeping the cycle of oppression and destruction alive. Laziness and idle time is becoming the enemy of many souls of men as well due to the manipulation of our societies.

Today, men, I challenge you, will you be thankful with the freedom to love and serve God? Also, will you love and serve your families and help in the community? The world history of mankind is dark, cruel, and bloody, and it can only change when we, as illuminated Christians who know the “duty of man”, take a stand in wisdom against our own pride and then take a stand in the home supporting our children, and in the community fighting against the injustices of man to man and against women and children.  

Instead of Socrates statement, we as men of God could state, “I thank God that I was born to be in Christ & not continue as a Barbarian, a free man & not a slave to sin anymore; born a man, but a woman I will love as equal to my own self; but above all, I am glad that I was born in the age of Christianity”! The world is suffering because too few men teach God’s wisdom! Souls are being lost because people have not accepted Jesus love because no one shared it! Be ready at all times as honorable men to teach and preach the word of God to your families and friends!  Be a good father, as you father in heaven is to you! 

   

Live and Let Live: And Do Something! (for God)

Live and Let Live: And Do Something! (for God)     Kelly Durant     6-8-25

1 Corinthians 3:13-15   Whatever we build on that foundation will be tested by fire on the day of judgment. Then everyone will find out if we have used gold, silver, and precious stones, or wood, hay, and straw.¹⁴ We will be rewarded if our building is left standing. ¹⁵ But if it is destroyed by the fire, we will lose everything. Yet we ourselves will be saved, like someone escaping from flames.

2. There were two friends that were proud in nature and they got together for a cup of tea. The one getting served said, “I should have the pleasure of serving you!” The one serving said, “No, The pleasure is mine to serve you!” Not to be outdone, the one served said, “Well, no the pleasure is mine, to be here.” The one serving said, “But the pleasure is mine you are here”. The one getting served said, “No, the pleasure is mine that you serve me.” The one serving said, “Well, I am serving, so more the pleasure is mine. “ “The pleasure is mine” argument went on for the rest of the afternoon, ha! 

As humans we are often too competitive to show off our humility, right? I really wish people here would argue over who gets to serve! How concerned are you about how others see your humble service to God? Some a lot, some nothing! What should concern us all is how God sees you and me! Are we serving one another in love only concerned that Jesus’s work gets done?

No one here can give God any excuse for not serving God, the Word is clear that we are to serve God and one another in love. (Gal 5:13) Hebrews 12:28 “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:”

3. When we consider what serving God is like and how we all perceive it, I try to describe it as others would see it that come in from the outside to church. Picture this analogy: Think of church as a huge unconventional classroom where you have a great variety of mixed ages and grades, all different intellectual levels, all different talents, and people with all different commitments apart from the study that they are committed to. The classes are from Pre-K all the way to college, some are still illiterate and ignorant while others are honor students and giants who have done their homework and accomplished great things.

Some of the people in the group have served God for decades and are on the master’s degree level in college, and some have served off and on and are comparable to being in elementary school. There is another group of people or ones that have never listened or served and years and years have passed. They have remained in class but not with the intention of learning or obeying, so they remain in the pre-K level. They do not know anything about what it means to be in the program denying yourself for Jesus, sacrificing their time, talent, and treasure for the use of God serving others with their God given capacities.

This dedication to God gap dynamic is in all churches, and it is very hard to manage! Usually a very small group of people will serve until they drop, until they are way too exhausted and the pastors have to intervene and say, “Stop!” In the meantime, others sit quietly by and do nothing and they don’t feel any guilt about seeing others killing their selves working so hard! This is not a very fair work distribution load, right? You have heard the phrase, ‘share the wealth’? Well that has already been done by God, Jesus gives everyone or “whoever” that accepts and obeys him the wealth of eternal life. But what about ‘sharing the work?’

4. The reality is in all community groups, be they people mixed together in churches, governments, civic groups, schools, or clubs, there will always be a disparity within the group of who pulls the weight and who does not, of whom is respected for leading and who is not. Don’t think doing nothing goes un-noticed!    

Jesus was aware of this work load disparity and He never let anyone off the hook! He never allowed for an elite few to be a ‘do nothing’ class within his disciples. They all had to do the Father’s work as Jesus himself did it, preaching, praying, and serving. When He sent them out each one did as He had taught them.             

Matt 10: 5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

5. An important lesson Jesus taught about serving was that He led by example, He did not just say, “You go and you do”, He went and He did, to show His followers (us) how to do it. In the end His obedience cost Him everything, and it cost the disciples as well but the results are that His works, His glory, His worthiness of adoration to sit on the right hand of God, has never been outdone by any other because He was the true Son of God! And try to absorb what love God has for you and me to have come down to our level to be one of us and then die for us! 

So what happens in the workplace when someone does not carry their load? They get fired, right? Definitely yes! But often people in power in the nations of today who do nothing, make horrible mistakes, and waste the country’s resources don’t fire their selves for a lousy job!? Today, disparity and the wrong message abounds! It’s embarrassing and infuriating when we experience people who are working but not doing their job just because they think they can get away with it! 

6. I recall one time in Atlanta a friend got a minor infraction and was in jail and needed my help to get him out with only $180. (He repaid me, ha!). I arrived at 10:00 pm and guess what time we got out? 3:00 am?! I paid at one window and then had to go to 5 different windows and they would take the paper and disappear for an hour or more, and I could see them just talking doing nothing in the back office. And these are my tax dollars at work, yeah right! And when I complained a little the attitude was, oh, complain or not you are just going to have to wait because I am in charge! How inefficient! How unjust and frustrating!  

People with the lazy proud, don’t-tell-me-anything, I-am-in charge of my life, I-am-an-untouchable attitude are destroying this society! They are everywhere, in authority positions (undeservingly), in unions, in companies, and even in churches. No wonder sloth (or laziness) is historically listed as one of the 7 deadly sins that will take you to hell! It is a sin from hell when someone remains uninvolved in the things of God. People forget all will be lost when death comes!

Do nothing people with zero initiative for Jesus & church will be very embarrassed on judgment day. Luke 12:47 “And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes”. In other words, those that have heard that they need to obey Jesus week after week, year after year and do nothing will suffer a hotter hell than those who never knew. How much do you really fear God? Honestly, not everyone does!

7. What did Jesus say to the good servant with the talents when he invested his time like money for God’s use? Matthew 25:20-21, 20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou delivered unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

But the one that did nothing for God, what happened? Matt 25: 26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Not applying your life to Jesus use when you know deep inside you are called to do it will cost you a punishment that is horribly beyond imagination!

8. Referring back to the verses of today in I Cor.3:13-15, Paul warns Christians not to be building personal kingdoms that are like straw that will be burnt up but rather be investing in God’s work.  Doing God’s work serving and sharing the gospel is like investing in gold and jewels, the souls saved are the jewels and only the things done for God on earth will last in heaven. 

On the History Channel or in Science Journals we discover the speculation of how the earth would be destroyed in the future. They all point to fire! It could be by a solar flare or a plasma, a massive earthquake with lava, a massive volcano, a comet strike, a nuclear meltdown, WW III, and a dozen other ways (which we can read about in the book of Revelation).  Prophecy is real and we can see it here…

2 Peter 3:12 “You should look forward to the day when God judges everyone, and you should try to make it come soon. On that day the heavens will be destroyed by fire, and everything else will melt in the heat.” 

There will come a day when everyone will lose everything and everything ever built on earth will be burnt up on that day, but soul and life energy are eternal. So saved people who worked so hard for the materialistic things of vanity, and invested little in God’s work, they will be saved, but like a person running out of their house on fire! They will have their life saved, but no valuables. Those who work for God though, will have their souls and works invested in the new heaven!

9. Another problem with the group dynamic of some people doing good and God’s work is that others not doing much are provoked to jealousy. When there is a person who shows up often to do the work, the others who do not want to appear as not doing enough start criticizing the ones who are doing good?!  

Gossip happens at the workplace, on the news, and in the churches from those who put down others so they appear more than them. People will say, “Oh they work so hard here because they are interested in some personal gain”. “ I don’t trust them”, and the people murmur, asking, why is this person recognized, and I am not?, “I have been here longer than these new ones”. 

10. It is not a Christian value to put others down in order to lift yourself up. When someone does something good, something of value for God, we should all praise them and share the glory with them. Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. In other words, be thankful others help and do God’s work, recognize them and honor them! No one is getting glory for their vanity.

But in the end, no one answers to the Officers (pastors), or to anyone but to God for all of what they do! None of us are wise enough to judge motives and who is the most dedicated. So, if someone is doing something that helps God’s work, then my message is ‘More power to them’, and ‘Live and let live!’  

Like in the verses of the message theme from Mark 9:38, the disciples were concerned that some people were doing what they thought only they could be doing, and that was casting out devils, and what did Jesus say? 39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. 40 For he that is not against us is on our part.

11. William Booth coined the phrase, “Do something!” Everyone that is doing something good, something for God, something in the way of helping others as a testimony so they learn about God’s goodness, is doing God’s work; and the only feelings we should have for them is gratitude that they are serving God and humanity in need. Agreed?

The main attraction of our Corps, and of the dozens of ministries in The Salvation Army, is that we are people who serve, we serve the needy with food, shelter, with relief in disasters, and most of all spiritually with council, prayer, Bible classes, camps, and rehab. People who love churches with the main focus on the praise band, or on the pastor, or on how to get rich quick, who never do anything for others except their selves for their own recognition are not attracted to our serving ‘others’ focus and our uniform wearing ‘Heart to God, Hand to Man’ calling.

12. To do work that goes unnoticed and ignored by the vast majority in society, ignored by the anti-Christ press, ignored even by Christian brothers who are friends is a humbling discouraging thing. Not everyone can survive doing good works year after year doing what could appear to be unappreciated and ignored. But, if you are doing it for Jesus, you do not care for what the world thinks or says, you just do it because ‘you love Him because He first loved you!’

We are in a tug-o-war against serious evil and the enemy is gaining strength because many Christians who ‘know to do good and are not doing it’, and they are not pulling their weight here in the Church (Corps), or in the community. So by disappointing God, they (possibly you) are storing away for their selves judgment and a punishment for their proud selfishness, lack of commitment, lack of obedience, and unashamed ‘do nothing’ laziness.   

Do you feel conviction today to do more for God? It is a decision day today, you must choose Jesus as your Savior first and then trust God that He will give you the strength to do things you normally wouldn’t do. Don’t let your life pass by and be like the one who escaped a burning house with only his life. Invest in heaven now! 

Troubles & Worries, But No Despair

Troubles & Worries, But No Despair     Kelly Durant    8-8-15 (Re 6-1-25)

2 Corinthians 4:7-9

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 

2. Have you every screamed out loud, really cried out, to the Lord for help in distress?  One time my wife and I were traveling between Bogota & Cucuta in our 1984 Ford Fairmont. (In our 14 years abroad, we only owned a car for 2 years) There are many steep mountainous cliffs on the way there and no ledges to pull off onto and many crashes occur when one semi-truck passes another between the mountain and the cliffs. The problem is coming around the curving mountains you are blinded to never know when you will face 2 trucks head on, head on with one passing another! 

This very scenario happened to me and my wife and by a miracle a small edge appeared by the cliff side, and we pulled over on it to break to a frightening stop as 2 trucks passed us on that pitch dark single lane road. My wife and I both cried out, “Jesus, Jesus save us!” Instead of going off the edge of a mountain we were saved! How could God time it so precise with that ledge to save us! God has saved us from death many times, actually! Thanks be to God we did not die of heart failure either!

A near death experience, a sudden fear, or an accident will drive you seek God! It is just a natural response to either cry out to God, or to curse God, depending on your heart’s condition! Many times, bad things happen to good people and in the end only God knows why, He does allow freewill and we may be near someone evil in action. All we can do is accept that God has a plan and obviously His will is being done even though we may not like it, agree with it, or understand it. 

It is painfully hard, but we have to accept that we are just frail people in frail bodies living in a broken sinful world where many tragedies happen daily! Our bodies, and our spirits housed within them, are not of iron but of clay and they can break easily. But if we seek Him, God can be our strength keeping us together. 7 “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” The power we have to endure all our fragilities living in these jars made of clay comes from God! To Him is the glory forever!

3. Each one of us here have had times of troubles and despair and most everyone relates to King David’s clamors to God in the Psalms. Psalms 3:4 I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. Have you ever yelled out to God for help? I have often!

The anguishes and pains we suffer in this life are very real and do hurt so much they often leave us with a scar. How many of you have scars on your bodies? What about a scar from a traumatic experience? Pain changes each of us! We either become close friends with God praying the whole time for hope and healing, or we may become embittered as those who have no faith, who curse God for allowing evil to happen to them or a loved one. I have met many bitter people in my life, and some of them have even been “so called” Christians. I hope you are not one of them here today!  How sad, right?  Here is a poem to reflect deeper …

       THE SCAR    by Kelly Durant

1-Writhen tissue

A deadened stain

Disfigured past

Evident pain

 

2-Nakedly exhibits

Itself indifferently

To the cringing, ill world

Indiscriminately

 

3-Exposed surface

Imbedded screams

Painted trauma

Recanting dreams

 

4-Cruelty left its mark

Let it be diminished

By the hope of God in

Surroundings unblemished

Cursing God gets no one anywhere! Job’s wife saw Job so miserable after losing his wealth, health, and family (who were killed by robbers) that she in Job 2:9 said this, “Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die!” If Job would have done that he would have died in despair, failure, and humiliated by Satan, but He answered her to the contrary. 10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

4. Sometimes our pain in life can come from empathy as we suffer when someone we love suffers. Some Christians have this compassionate quality of love, but not all! People that truly love others are capable of putting their selves in the shoes, mind, and body of another. This connectedness causes you or me to want to help, console, and show compassion in the very way Jesus intended for us to do it in our love for one another.  Matthew 14:14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. Please strive to be a healer and consoler! 

In desperate times our prayers need more desperation! You may even need to scream and cry and let God know how hurt you feel! A little silent prayer will not do when you or I are under stress and afraid for an uncertain or difficult future. Let God know how you feel! God loves to feel us, hear us, and answer us! That is how David did it! His passionate prayers and songs in Psalms are an encouragement to us even 3,000 years later!

To obtain comfort from God we must converse with Him in prayer! We must gain strength from Him by reading His Word! And we must support one another by doing what we can to make life easier in some way! 1 John 3:17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 

5. The verses of today continue, 2 Cor.4:8 “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;” After you let it out and vocalize it in prayer, what should you do?  Should you stay awake and worry? Worry does nothing except bring you bad health! Over time it will bring you depression and insanity as well!  

God knows that everyone will have troubles in this life but through Him and the Holy Spirit, He desires that none of us suffer to the point of becoming psychotic, crazy mad, or falling into a manic despair. Despair should never be a condition of a Christ following child of God! God will comfort us with the Holy Spirit if we ask for it. (John 14:26)  It has been so hard for me to practice this next verse, but I have done my best in the past. Psalm 3: 5 “I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.” 

This seems so contradictory, David is distressed for his life as He could be killed any day by his enemies or Saul, but yet he writes that he is able to go to sleep in peace because he is trusting in God! Now that is faith and trust in God for real!

6. So what do we need to learn when we are in terrible situations? To take an attitude that after you cry out, after you pray, that you will trust God for the answer to the point you let God stay awake and not you!

David gave all his burdens to the Lord and then he went to bed! Have you ever prayed and trusted that intensely? Have you felt that intensity of peace from God’s Holy Spirit after prayer and then gone to sleep like that? This is true confidence, when a calm trust comes over you!

We hope in God knowing that He is the one who will do the miracles. After all He is in control of everything and there is nothing we can do that is going to override His supreme will. Our prayers will often get positive results, but God does want to see if we will honor Him or not.

7. Pain also is often the results of man’s cruelty to man. I sometimes get very concerned and worried over the current and future persecutions of Christians. I know their pain is very real and I suffer with them! After all about 13 million Christians have recently been displaced in the Middle East and are living in tents hiding from religious persecution. We want to save and heal in the name of God, and others want to kill in the name of their false god. Psalm 3:6 “I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people that have set themselves against me round about”. 

Being afraid is something that grips you making your insides shake but it is something that God wants us as Christians to reject because we ultimately trust in Him for our lives and for our deaths! Multitudes of horribly evil people in society around the world are against you and me as Christians, but we do not tremble, despair, or lose our minds! 

What is David referring to here? He was at war with the pagan nations around him! They all hated him and were hunting for him wanting him dead. Have you ever felt like, that thousands are hating you? We are at war against the world’s evils and it never is God’s fault that men chose evil instead of good. God and Jesus are there to save and heal us, but always recall suffering is Satan’s idea as a means of destroying us in this life and in the one to come.

8. If you are truly righteous, telling your friends about Jesus, you will be hated by Satan, his demons, and those who do evil! I want to tell you something shocking, if you really stand up for what is right, it is inevitable, you will have enemies and you will be afraid at times! Satan at some time or another will put you to the test as He did to Jesus.

And this takes us to the last part of the verse in 2 Cor.4: 9 “Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;”  As Christians we are persecuted by our adversary, the Devil, and he sometimes may cause us physical harm. We must also recognize that our enemies are often those who make us worry and stress, and invoke on us spiritual anguish! 

Evil people may even attack us! Persecution often includes more than just offensive words, it may mean a loss of a job, an embarrassing defamation of character, or as in other countries, a loss of home and belongings with the possibility of death or the death of one’s loved ones. 

9. The pain we suffer in life often is an attack from Satan, but even in the midst of the trial we can recall that we can defeat Him as Jesus did when He was tempted. You may be faint, you may be sick but in the end, God will win the victory for you if you do not give up!   

Amongst Christians though, each of us must be united to stand against those who are evil! We must fight when Satan harms any one of us in any way! Remember the fight is not amongst ourselves as Christians (unless someone is obviously violating God’s principles) but our fight is against the principalities of darkness and spiritual wickedness!

Apart from the evils of accidents and sicknesses in this fallen world, we witness right here in our community many people practicing destructive devices from Satan. There is amongst all races exploitations and abuse, sexual trafficking, immigrant trafficking, voodoo, gang activities, and more! Drugs, prostitution, and fraud are everywhere, and these evils bring cruel suffering upon our neighbors. We are called to do our part to save the victims and alleviate the suffering!

10. The question is, if God hears the cries of you and me and of everyone who is a victim in distress, are you willing to also hear, see, and show compassion and do something? God has no hands but ours to do good! You and I are called to love as Jesus did, and to put bandages on the broken as the Good Samaritan did while on his way to Jericho. The reason the Salvation Army exists and came to be was for its compassionate members to bless others with love, compassion, and prayer in this horrible hell of a world! But when a Christian loses their salty flavor, when they have no compassion or love, then God’s heart and many people suffer!

What is our response when there is pain? 1) To cry out to God praying to Him when in troubles and distress!  2) To trust God totally claiming His Word to us calm down so we sleep   3) To trust that God will avenge those who persecute or do evil, and   4) In the end, accept that salvation and blessings will come from God over time for trusting in Him!

Psalm 3:8 “Salvation belongs unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people”. It seems so simple, but it is true, God bestows to us who trust in Him healing, salvation, and blessings! How many of you feel like you are in a desperate situation right now and you need to cry out to Jesus? Trust in Him and accept His will and you will live in peace.

Attending a vigil where 2 boys were killed by a wild puma: San Ignacio, Bolivia 1977

On a trip one time to Trinidad, Bolivia I went on a cargo plane over the Andes Mountains from LaPaz, Bolivia to land in San Borja not knowing what to expect. I had not looked at a map and I did not know I would need to ride in the back of a pickup on dirt roads an additional 10 more hours to get there! I was in the middle of the jungle, and it was quite beautiful with many exotic birds and wildlife. However, not all wildlife is beautiful but dangerous. After travelling all day from San Borja to San Ignacio I arrived just after the sun went down and I went downtown looking for a place to spend the night. There was a city hall office on the corner of the main Plaza, and about 100 people were gathered inside of a crowded room, many of them crying. I asked someone there, “Why are the people here, what’s going on? That person replied that everyone was there to support a certain family in a vigil as 2 of their young boys had been killed by a wild puma. What, a wild puma?! I was shocked and overwhelmed by the grieving and heavy spirit there, so I decided to stay for an hour to pray with them, accompanying them in their extreme sadness. Another person mentioned that some hunters had already gone to scout the land and hopefully kill the wild cat that had caused so much pain. Most of us live in large cities and the dangers there are quite district from what is in the jungles deep inside the provinces. What I experienced there was sobering. It was a reminder of how weak we are as human beings and how we must be sober and vigilant as our adversary is as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. It was inspiring to witness an entire town supporting this poor family in their grief. Everyone of us must support others in pain, even unknown strangers, when they are at their most despairing and sad moments.

Solid Soldiers: Countering the Anti-Soldier Culture, Remembering Memorial Day

Solid Soldiers: Countering the Anti-Soldier Culture, Remembering Memorial Day    Kelly Durant

 

2 Timothy 2:3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. :4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

 

2. I grew up in the 1960s and there were several TV shows with Army Soldiers as the main characters. These characters were usually funny, and most every American enjoyed seeing all the funny situations. Have you heard of Gomer Pyle USMC? Mash? How about Hogan’s Heroes? If not, look them up someday, they will make you laugh! These were all Soldiers in typical settings living their daily lives in the barracks. Soldier characters were loved and applauded.

 

In the 1960s the population of the USA was half that of today, and probably about 1 in every 5 men back then had been in the armed forces in WW1, WW2, of the Korean War. In that time period every family had someone in it who had served in the Armed Forces. 

 

After World War 11 it was exposed how Hitler and others had horrifically killed mega millions of people and everyone was relieved that the USA, England, and Russia won. The Japanese were suicidal demons as well and if either of those demonic powers had succeeded, they would have killed and enslaved the whole planet! It was God’s grace, and the bravery and death of many Soldiers, that saved us from a hellish kingdom of Satan on earth. Soldiers were the heroes!

 

3. So, what happened to the popularity of the Soldier? Why is it today some comfortable rebellious people decide that soldiers and uniforms are not cool, that they represent repression and evil war, that young people should be rude, disrespect, and be belligerent and speak up against them? Good people with common sense know that the soldiers that stop evil killers are the heroes. How diabolical to mock and shun the ones who prevent warmongering Satanic murderers from having free reign! How absurd to propose that any aggressive attackers should just murder, rape, and pillage innocent ones as they please! Divisive abusive destroyers deserve no pity! Murder and evil has no justification! Excuses of well, “They just had a bad government, Oh, that’s just their religion, or Oh, that’s their culture’. Stop the sympathy for Satan! Evil is evil and only righteous judgement and Soldiers on God’s side stop vicious pagan murders.

 

The seeds of disrespect were sewn in the 1960s. The Vietnam era was a time in which 600,000 U.S. men went to war and 300,000 returned injured with about 60,000 killed. It was very unpopular because it seemed that battling with small battalions invading villages and caves that the war would never end. The basis of the war was to prevent the spread of communism, but the noble sense of mission got lost once all the suffering of both sides was exposed by the press. The press has always created controversy and brought division, but they get to go home and be comfortable while the rest of the people suffer the consequences of their divisive misinformation supporting the evil side. Bad fruit of news groups, owned by Satan’s demons!

 

So, what happened in the 1960s? I think we are all still trying to figure that out! Why all the protests? It was sad that the returning soldiers were not treated with the respect they deserved; they needed jobs, medical, mental and spiritual attention but that was too scarce. The wave of protests was not for the favor of the hurting soldiers, it was mostly about countering the evil establishment that propagated wars. It was ironic hippie clothes that included military shirts with flowery bell-bottom pants! And no honor for the dead soldiers!

 

4. The system was exposed as corrupt, making certain politicians filthy rich through the sale of arms and young people were infused with the idea they could make a better world with love and peace. These ideas came from the liberal colleges and from music that had the most amazing new sounds, message, and creativity ever heard. The protests were spiritually and morally reinforced by the gathering of people at concerts and, the rebellion to stop the war was so great that Pres. Ricard Nixon had to announce that we were pulling out because it was not winnable; The draft stopped. The Communists got North Vietnam, and peace meant they won.

 

After many millions of Vietnamese dead, the communists seemed to be the victors, as the world ended up with a North and South Vietnam, not long after having to accept a North and South Korea. It seemed the world was divided, made up of huge nations with suffering people behind iron curtains, enslaved under dictators, getting paid pennies per hour, getting killed for speaking against the system, while the rest of the world was free from tyranny. ‘Freedom’ was the buzz word for the 60s generation, but that freedom always has cost the sacrifice of heroes.

 

The American Soldier for the longest time represented the good guys, the liberators, the brave sacrificial victorious ones who countered the worst murderous evil empires. Despite the evils in this country, I still believe that it is the U.S. military that keeps at bay the armies of Satan who would impose world dominion if not resisted. Enemies within disagree though, they think our sins of war are worse than others and think that the U.S. Soldier is evil, but statistics prove other Soldiers throughout history are more horrific. Evil ones have killed hundreds of millions!  

 

5. Just now I gave you a very brief history lesson on the role of the good Soldiers in the world, which is to fight the cruel, murderous, enemy invaders. So, why then do Christians often identify as Soldiers? Who are we fighting? Is it good to appear to fight when all the world seems to be tired of fighting and hating, and some Christians are convinced we should just give up and let evil win and not fight at all?! After all, we don’t want to appear bigoted or racist!

 

You are aware we live in the times of apostasy. There are many church denominations that have been invaded by Satanic doctrines of late and they are, after hundreds of years, rejecting many foundations of the original founding fathers of the faith. Some churches even ban songs, songs like, ‘Onward Christian Soldiers’ as they feel that a militant display of Christ is incorrect. Is it incorrect? Do we not represent a fight against evil? Jesus was a fighter for God’s values and truth boldly combating against the false doctrine of the religious zealous, despotic hypocrites, and the self-righteous, and He liberated the demon possessed!

 

I think showing your Christian faith as a faithful Soldier for Jesus is an honor! That is what the scripture of today implies. Also, several times the New Testament the brothers are addressed as Soldiers. It is unique that no one adopted uniforms as The Salvation Army did before we did. Philemon 1:2 “to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house”. No one can deny that it is Biblical to compare the Christian to the Soldier and remember Jesus had compassion on the Centurian who had more faith than others in all Judea!

 

6. So, what are the characteristics of the Christian Soldier that are distinctly different from the Soldiers of the nations of the world?  We never physically kill anyone but instead we lay down our lives as Jesus did to serve God, to proclaim His righteousness, truth, and salvation.

 

Read here how we are to be equipped as God’s Soldiers to fight evil: 

Ephesians 6: 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

 

Our representation as God’s Soldiers is to fight against evil and to save the souls of the lost, who are the confused people entrapped by the indoctrinations of the world and enslaved by evil sins reinforced by the demons of hell! 

 

7. Today sadly, there is amongst a few, an anti-authority, anti-police, anti-soldier attitude. But before one joins the sheeple (people who follow the trends of the world without any spiritual discernment or analytic investigative judgment), shouldn’t one question these movements? Is anarchy really going to make a better world? What should Christians defend, isn’t it not the right to proclaim Jesus freely, the right to love and live in peace and prosperity, and the right to stop evil when it is destroying others? Especially when it destroys and enslaves the weak and innocent ones as we have seen with human trafficking, drug abuse, & sexual perversions?

 

The question you should be asking is what is the source of these instigations, of these belligerent, rebellious, violent, rioters? Paul, in Romans 13:1, makes it clear to submit to the authorities. May the Holy Spirit give us, the Christian Soldier, the wisdom on which battles to fight! Resistance, mockery, and criticism never stopped a dedicated soldier defending truth.

 

Shouldn’t the Christian be prepared with the Holy Spirit’s discernment to know who is worth hearing out with a legitimate complaint and who is just emotionally sounding off false words in order to bring on in-fighting, discord, and confusion? Fight against Satan’s divide and conquer tactics! Proverbs 6:16 These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

18 An heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

19 A false witness that speaks lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

 

 

8. The pattern of Satan is to always, ‘divide and conquer’, so it is Satan that always wants the breakdown of order so that his people, in the midst of the confusion, may come in and dominate with their abominable lies which will lead others into His enslaving destructions. 

Satan is too alive and well in our schools, universities, governments, and churches!  

 

The twisted values of our current world were prophesied over almost 2,000 years ago.

2 Timothy 3 (The same epistle that describes us as soldiers) “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good”.

 

As Christian Soldiers, all of this described in these verses, is what we must fight against amongst those in the community and even in our own families. We fight to expose the cruelty and hypocrisy of the selfish, jealous, proud, carnal, aggressive, blasphemous, disobedient, unthankful, unholy, perverted, lying, accusing, emotionally fierce, demons who hate God’s good people. So, with a uniform on or not, we fight against these evils! If the uniform makes one a target, well so be it! In our Salvation Army, we wear it to show we are serving Jesus!

 

There is no question, we are in a war, some think it is cultural, some think it’s generational, but we know it is spiritual, so we must fight as Soldiers or evil is going to win. Soldiers in the world take on extreme disciple and can take apart and put back together their guns in the dark. How I wish all Christians knew the Bible (The Sword) as the Soldier knows his weapon! 

 

9. It may seem like Satan is temporarily winning. His propaganda machine is sewing discord in society and amongst the Christians 24/7. As the Christian Soldier population decreases, the Satanic opposition increases. But the Satanic opposition has physical armies with real guns and swords, and nuclear bombs, and they intend to enslave and kill all the Christians they can! History proves this fact! Why in history are Christians targeted when they are not aggressors?

 

We must remain firm and solid, continuing to shout out our ‘War Cry’ countering evil by exposing it and replacing it with goodness, purpose, love, and salvation. So, can you shame me for wearing a uniform and proclaiming I am a Soldier of Jesus? Never! I chose sides 50 years ago, and each of you must chose the side you will be fighting on every day! Are you on the side of God with his righteous holy ones, or on the side of the degraded, debauched, betraying, lying, dumb as a rock political hypocrites who always seek division, dominion, and pride?

 

All history reveals that fighting physical wars is disastrous and atrocious!  Too many always die, and many take advantage to gain wealth, but in the end, war is often a necessary evil when the aggressors are hell bent on imposing a Satanic oppressive doctrine and system upon the people enslaving and murdering them. Before a physical war comes, a spiritual war ensues. When too many leave the faith over the dividing concepts of the world, horrible consequences follow. The bigger war is coming! You had better fight in the spiritual war now on Jesus side or your loss will be with the ones who chose the wrong side! Be a proud solid Soldier of Jesus and He will be proud of you putting honors on you in heaven once the final battle is over! We remember those who have been killed or martyred, but we ourselves must be ready to die as well so we will gain a crown of life being faithful until death!