Be A Tough Soldier of the Lord!

Be A Tough Soldier!                                   Capt. Kelly Durant  10-28-12

II Tim 2: 1Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

2. In Bolivia, in LaPaz, I had a few friends in the military and sometimes I would visit the base. On the base everyone would always be jogging. It seemed no matter where you looked the Soldiers were jogging and I asked my friend why are they in such a hurry. He explained that the rule is that if you are a new Soldier, you are required to run all the time while on the base! Only the 4^th year Soldiers were allowed to walk. Interesting training, don’t you think? Soldiers need training!

New Soldiers need preparation to learn to be tough! Spiritual warfare is a different war from what most of us know of war. Each Soldier must do his or her own training to make their selves tough, or strong in the Lord’s grace as mentioned in verse 1.

How do you get strong in grace? Personal prayer time, Bible study time, and obedience to Jesus! But are you really sacrificing and suffering as much as you should? Ask God that question and he will show you! As General Linda Bond says, God does not want mediocre servants!

3. How many of you here have served in the military or know people in the military? Our son Enmanuel, which all of you got to know, served in the Air Force and we saw the difficult training he went through. One of our own Soldiers, Wendy Pantoja, has just gone through a tough training. Isn’t that right?

Being a Soldier for any nation of the world implies doing a great sacrifice, the laying down of your life to die if need be and even people as young as age 18 must die if necessary. In the military your life is no longer yours, you are the property of the state for them to use, and abuse as they wish. A Soldier of Christ must recall that they also are giving up their life to follow Jesus as he states Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.  

Being a Soldier in the world requires hard labor, getting extremely tired, withstanding extreme temperatures, working stressfully long hours, getting blisters, bruises, and cuts, putting up with punishments, humiliations, and yelling, and learning how to dominate an enemy when he is attacking you trying to kill you!

4. I have met quite a few military vets in TSA & they usually say, “Thank God, we are not in the “killing army” anymore but in the “saving army” now! Soldiers of Jesus have hardships, and this includes mental, spiritual, and physical ones. But how do we make war, when our mission is peace and God’s love?

Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall see God.”  That simple statement was a like a double edged sword cutting down all the aggressiveness and authority of the Roman warmongers who took pleasure in mass carnage! Jesus says be a peacemaker, love your enemies? There is no pride in that!

As Christian Soldiers we need to distinguish what our war is all about, it is about living a new life of living in grace. Grace is a clean slate for our sins, and when your sins are gone and you obtain holiness and you are inspired to never sin again, to never want to feel the dirtiness of a guilty conscience. And you are so happy for discovering Jesus that you never stop sharing about Him!

It also means learning the scriptures and then teaching others to teach others about Jesus, which is discipline. Our war is not one in which we desire destruction on those that attack us as those in the world, ours is a war in which we desire the salvation of all those in the world as Jesus gave the example of.

5. Our war is a war on Satan and all the world’s evils destroying people’s bodies and souls.  We seek to save anyone living in ignorance, sin, and suffering. Christian Soldiers must be willing to march into hell for a heavenly cause! What a contradiction, how ironic, from the world, we seek to save our enemy and do good to those that abuse us!

What does the salvation we offer imply? Obviously it includes forgiveness, grace, eternal life, and heaven for the soul. But ours is a salvation that helps people out of poverty, hunger, clothing, and education needs as well. We provide for this in part, but the world’s governments claim that they provide for their people, and they do cover some things, but their help is never enough to really help as needed. The military and government’s role in the world does not eliminate the greater destructive evils of mass deaths in wars, crime, addictions, and violence.

6. A Soldier of Christ will store up their reward in heaven, but to serve the world means you will never get anything without you be charged Cesar’s pound of flesh! If you borrowed from Cesar in Rome, and you could not pay it back in money, you would pay it back in a body part in the amount of pounds you owed!

Contrasting serving Christ with the world; no government prepares the people of the world to answer to God and answer for the consequences of their sin which leads to eternal death.

Governments are sterile institutions and necessary evils set up to put the brakes on man’s abuses or the violence would be absolute as in the days of Noah with anarchy, chaos, and murder non-stop. It is the governments that need soldiers in the end for their self-preservation. Thank God for them. We do want to preserve our nation; we believe that God has Blessed America!

But no government by their programs or military might can save the soul; that mission is up to you the Christian Soldier! Consider this quote from the Salvation Army’s first street Soldier that preached a few dozens of thousands of sermons on the filthy London streets streets…Gen. William Booth   

7. “To get a man soundly saved it is not enough to put on him a pair of new breeches, to give him regular work, or even to give him a University education. These things are all outside a man, and if the inside remains unchanged you have wasted your labor. You must in some way or other graft upon the man's nature a new nature, which has in it the element of the Divine.”  (8. Sp)

In other words Soldiers, you must preach Jesus and serve others in need, but if Jesus does not change a person’s heart, it is not on your conscience. This person who got help with an unrepentant heart may just keep on going down the wrong path in life and the generosity and compassion did nothing. It basically means this person still remains on the wrong side of this war, the one of destruction by living for selfishness, and animalistic passions. Proverbs 10:16The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.

9. But with Jesus it is black or it is white, you are on His side teaching others to save others, or you are by default dividing against Him. The world is in a spiritual war against the rulers of darkness in high places.  Matthew 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. You are either fighting for Jesus as a Soldier, or by default, you will be fighting against Him by living out life in your own prideful stubborn will!

The founder of this worldwide Salvation Army had such a vision for souls, such an aggression and passion to fight for the Lord and save souls, that he started this massive movement that has kept the momentum and the fire burning ever since! I personally have seen dozens of churches start up and then after just a few years fade away but not so with TSA! The SA is still growing strong! In the past 4 years in Miami, between all Corps, we have grown by 200 new Soldiers! There are over one million around the world!

10. We should learn more from the original founding father, the General, of this worldwide dedicated army who by battling the enemy won many victories through people just like yourselves, the priceless Soldiers for Jesus Christ! God’s royal priesthood! He said:

“While women weep, as they do now, I'll fight; while little children go hungry, as they do now, I'll fight; while men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I'll fight; while there is a drunkard left, while there is a poor lost girl upon the streets, while there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I'll fight-I'll fight to the very end”! This is our war! Our mission is to fight until the end of the world! (11. SP)

12. All of us as Soldiers have the challenge to fight in all places to teach others of Jesus and the true doctrines. We recognize evil and what to battle! We must bring more Holy Ghost power in the Corps and in our own personal life, and preach a Jesus that does expect us to repent and be so sorry for our past sins being willing to do anything to live and fight for the right! Are you willing to take a bullet and be made fun of for standing up for Jesus? Don’t get so involved with the affairs of this world that you are compromised. Our fight is to save souls into heaven!

Will you suffer for Jesus? Paul did. 2 Corinthians 11:24-26 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

You are now, as Soldiers of Jesus, going out to start serving Jesus in this Corps with passion and dedication! You are expected to tell others of Jesus, to pray and grow from the study of God’s word, sort through rotten vegetables to serve those in need, visit the elderly in the homes, and do anything in the kitchen or in the community that the Lord needs! There are dozens of ministry opportunities with us. Which one will you choose? How will you show to God and all you are a good Soldier winning some victories in this war against the evils in the world?

Translation of Quotes

"Para que un hombre sea salvo, no es suficiente  poner en él un par de pantalones nuevo, darle trabajo regular, o incluso darle una educación universitaria. Estas cosas son externas, y si el interior permanece inalterado han perdido su trabajo, no vale de nada. Usted debe de alguna manera injertar sobre la naturaleza del hombre una nueva naturaleza, que tiene en ella el elemento Divino." Gen. William Booth

"Mientras las mujeres lloran, como lo hacen ahora, lucharé; mientras los niños pasan hambre, como lo hacen ahora, lucharé; mientras los hombres van a la cárcel,  adentro y afuera,  adentro y  afuera, como lo hacen ahora, lucharé; mientras hay un borracho en la esquina, mientras que hay una pobre chica perdida en las calle, mientras que sigue habiendo un alma oscura sin la luz de Dios, lucharé-lucharé hasta el final "! Esta es nuestra guerra! Nuestra misión es luchar hasta el final del mundo”!  Gen. William Booth

Relational, Doer, or Thinker: Which are you?

Relational, Doer, or Thinker: Which are you?         Kelly Durant 10-21-2012

2. Not long ago there was a piece of paper on the floor in the hallway outside, did you remember seeing it? One person came to me and said, ”We need to spy and see with the cameras who does this”. Then another told me, “You, Captain, need to put up signs and tell the people to stop throwing paper trash in the halls”! Another came to me and said, “We need to get the Corps council together to see what is happening with this situation and discuss how to deal with people who drop paper on the floor”! Another person commented, “We need analyze the situation as to why papers appear, maybe we need more trash cans”?! Another continued, “You have got to preach on people being more responsible to expound on the spiritual repercussions on the soul of undesirable behaviors done in the physical world”. Then, after all the suggestions, one person just bent over, and picked the paper up, and put the paper in the trash! Ha!

All of this is a metaphor, but very close to real life! Did you get the point how each person has a different approach, a different personality type, a different way of thinking, and a different way of resolving an ordinary task?

3. Amongst your selves there are many personality types and ways of doing, talking, being, and thinking from all your different influences of the past, and your level of commitment to God. And despite our different ways, cultures, and styles, each person here is needed! There are people who use all things happening in life as a means to connect to someone, they want just to be with other people and do things together with people, and this is good. Like, “Let’s get together and feel alright”! Some love people.

Also, generalizing, there are people who like to do stuff. These people love action & serving, fixing and doing, and they just do whatever, whenever, however to make things a better standard. These people do not wait on others, they just see a need and pick up the piece of paper! They are the ‘Lead, follow, or get out of my way’ kind of people.

Then, there are also people who use their brain power to plan and organize how to do things in a better way. They come with a plan, and even though others do not always follow through, they use brain power and share great ideas. We need all of these types of people! But, no one should ever boast of their own importance. Everyone is needed!

4. To understand these dynamics for your personal Christian growth, let’s take examples from the scriptures to observe the different ways people. First the relationship kind, and then the doer kind. People often misinterpret the point here.    Luke 10:38-42

  ³⁸Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.³⁹And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.⁴⁰But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.⁴¹And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: ⁴²But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
5. Martha in this case is the doer type person, the server, the one in action, while Mary is the relational one, wanting to spend time with Jesus, to enjoy His company. Both types are needed. The only problem was Martha was in action when she should have stopped for a while to listen to what Jesus was teaching! She was doing what she always does, doing good, but at the wrong time. This one rebuke did not mean she was a bad person, wrong, or bad all the time, Jesus just wanted everyone to know that there is a time and place for everything, a time to serve, and a time to stop and listen.
Each Christian will always need to pray and be in tune with the Holy Spirit to determine if it is time to serve, or not serve, to know when it is time to talk or a time to be quiet learn, and listen, and see if a plan needs to be made. All people are needed and appreciated. Imagine no work getting done in the building, or imagine no attention being given to the spiritual teachings? Too much of either makes a person get out of balance!
The relational one was Mary. We know about the action one, Martha, but what about the thinker? Paul was a thinker. Isn’t it curious how Paul being so intelligent, was also usually doing lots of things like, travelling, preaching, and ministering to the new followers all over Asia Minor. He loved people but he was actually a deep thinker!
6. Satan can never win. The enemy hoped to stop Paul from spreading the gospel by using evil people to arrest him. But Paul being in jail a few years allowed him time to write down all of what God needed from him to share in the way of teaching. It was from the cold, lonely, dirty, smelly prisons that Paul produced some of the greatest theological writings ever produced that have served as the foundation of the Christian faith and practice ever since! Thank God he applied his intelligence recording all of what God inspired him to write.
Imagine, he had a cultural, and educational preparation that was unique so that he could get the first Christians (and us even today) on the right path doctrinally, applying Jesus words within the context of all cultures: those of the past, and those of the future.
The Romans, the Jews, the Greeks, and the pagans were all very different from one another and Paul knew how to write words to each of them exposing their faults to win them over to Jesus. His words keep inspiring and convicting today!
Paul had a gift, a mental ability that only certain people have. Not all of us know how to think and reason and explain, and know how to win over others who have wrong ideas about God and culture and others.
7. Now the question of the day! Which type of a person do you think you are? Are you a doer, thinker, or relational person?
Ask your neighbor right now about that: Am I a relational person? Am I a doer type? Am I a thinker type? Your qualities are usually your strengths, but there are times when your qualities can become your weaknesses. Remember all things must have a balance.
Let me give you an example of how a strength works. In the verses of today, Mary was doing good where she needed to be: her relational part was in order as her priority of paying attention to Jesus which was correct at that moment. She heard him and she was blessed by His every word.
8. Now if Mary gets careless in a weak moment, she could let it go to her head and think that she was the most spiritual one of them all. What if she decided to listen to spiritual things all day and not do her normal chores? People like Mary that take it too far fit the phrase about the person who “being so heavenly minded they become of no earthly good”. Jesus gave her a compliment, but every person who learns spiritual things has to battle against pride since they quite often do have more knowledge than others.
This type of relationship oriented person can love to be with people but almost too much. They seem to have their spiritual life perfect, but they too can get out of balance. I have seen people who are always spiritual and reading, praying, and socializing, but they let the responsibilities of their home, family members, husband or wife, or children go unattended.
A man, or a woman overly spiritual can cause their partner or children to become jealous of their time with God & others and they conclude that God and their church is their enemy! Most of us can get in a 30 minute to an hour devotions of Bible reading and prayer time daily, but after that, there is work to be done. There is a balance.
9. Now let’s look at the Marthas. I am sure Martha in her self-righteousness was angry that Mary was just sitting there! Martha must have thought Mary is supposed to be helping me to wash the feet of the guests, helping me prepare the food, and serve the water. I am sure Martha was angry with Mary, she knew Mary knew what needed to be done and she was working very hard alone while Mary was just sitting there listening to Jesus.
People who are in action are very needed and we need to appreciate them! Just like the one who picked up the paper from the floor without thinking, we need people who can just see a need and just do it! The only problem is people who are doers need guidance, to know what to do and when, and be able to let another do a job when appropriate since they can’t do it all. These types of people often just need to calm down and take some time-out time with our Lord. We, as their friends, need to remind them that is okay to not be busy all the time!
Some doers do go to the extreme and feel they must always escape the spiritual. It is frustrating for a pastor or Captain to work 10 hours preparing a sermon and then right before the sermon 10 people walk out because they want to help in the kitchen, or attend a phone call, or do something else in the Corps.
When the sermon is happening on Sunday, everyone should stop and listen, not suddenly run to the restroom, kitchen, or something else. If people do not listen when the spiritual food is hot, then they will not get the blessings Jesus wants to give them.
10. How could the thinker have helped? Maybe if someone would have helped these 2 women, they would have had more analysis and better preparation for the situation, and they would have gotten together and planned ahead of time how to get it all ready before Jesus got there so they both could have had time to just sit down and enjoy the visit of their Lord together!
The main lesson of Jesus was that when it is time to listen and learn from God, you really do need to stop everything and do just that! Are you stopping daily to listen?
We need thinkers and planners like Paul as much as we need Marys and Marthas, to keep us flowing with good organization. Paul in the letters recommended how to carry out the business of the church. He also took the time to write out God’s Holy word in a way to guide each of us spiritually in the direction each person should go to correct their errors. That is what Romans, Corinthians, and all the epistles are about.
I think Regina and I may have the strong point of being like the doers. We are responsible for all that happens, and we need to make things happen or people notice the disorder. Sometimes our days are already committed to getting done a report, or attending to someone, or doing a building inspection, or the planning of the next meeting or sermon. We have to force ourselves often to be thinkers, doers and we are both sort of naturally relationship oriented as well. We love to be with people! You and I need to know our nature so we don’t overdo one and not do the other!
So what are you going to do to change your habits so you can apply these qualities and make yourself stronger for God’s service? You should already know what kind of a person you are so now how will you apply yourself better?
11. Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.   We need to guide one another as brothers & sisters!
In actuality everyone must strive to have a combination of these 3 qualities! We may be stronger in one, but another one may need to be more exercised to balance yourself out. For example, despite how Regina can be like Martha at times, Regina also most of the time gets in good spiritual time in with Jesus praying and reading.  
Myself, I sometimes get in a good research study time, reading books, preparing myself for future sermons and Bible studies. I love the spiritual part of my work. But I must plan where the Corps people, and Corps building will be in the future so I have to use brain power. And by what I have learned, growth and progress for Christian bodies only comes from time spent with God and from time spent in relationships with people.
12. I pray sometimes to be more a relational person, and when someone comes to the office, it usually is my pleasure is to leave aside all the business and paperwork to attend to them. I also enjoy fixing things on the building working with Ferro or Castillo to get the jobs done. I really like being with others in Bible studies too. As Christians we really must have a love for each other and we must look forward to having each other’s company. You and I alsways need to serve Jesus better by being more balanced, agreed?
Each of us need a balance of doing, thinking, and being with others or we will have an offensive testimony of our Christian faith being out of balance doing the wrong things at the wrong times. Mary gave a right example, we need more time to be alone with our Lord, and we also need time with each other. Do you not agree? How will you apply yourself better then?
If you consider yourself out-of-balance because you do too much of one thing and don’t attend to the other things or attend to people as you should, then now would be a good time to pray and ask God to make it right in your heart. Proverbs 11:1A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.   Come and pray now. 

Christians and Culture: What Mixes                                                         by Capt. Kelly Durant 10-14-12

1 Cor 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God- 33 even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

2.Ever notice what humor is? It is when you know something should be a certain way and it is noticeable different and often comical. I use to have fun in Bolivia going to the markets with Rebeca on my back in a backpack. In Bolivia it is common for the women to carry their babies wrapped in a blanket, but you would never see a man with a baby.  But I was not a Bolivian man, I was a gringo with every right to be forgiven for not following the customs. I use to have fun seeing all the ladies point and laugh at me!

Carrying my own baby was not being offensive, but what I did learn later though was that taking a picture of the “cholitas” in the market was offensive as they believed I could capture their soul by having an image of them. So I took almost no pictures of them to be respectful! You can’t preach love, pray and save souls if you are being insulting to the culture at the same time!

3. Today we will explore the different cultures and nations. What nation are you from and how Godly or anti-christ are they in their cultural practices, and beliefs? Does God see all the nations the same with their differences? Or are some better than others? Well, to answer that we must first we must observe the record of God’s dealings with the cultures in the O.T.  Genesis 22:18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

The plan of God in the O.T. was for the descendants of Abraham to be special and blessed people because they were to be a light and example to all nations obeying God’s statutes and commands living respectfully with everyone (even immigrants) honoring God and leading those nations around them into righteousness. Genesis 35:11 And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;

So the conclusion is that God in the Old Testament was principally concerned for the nation of Israel which descended from Abraham.  God did not promote the culture of the people but rather He promoted His culture of worship and sacrifice. Many of the other pagan nations that had horrible false gods, human sacrifice, and cruel destructive customs were condemned and over time many of them were subdued through those of Abraham’s seed, Moses, Joshua, David, and the other kings.

4.But today we live in the N.T. era under the inclusive love of Jesus. Jesus preached extensively about how God is raising up a new nation, a holy people to live in righteousness and peace.  John 3:16 makes it clear how God now, through Jesus will accept, “whosoever” that will choose Him, and that implies every nation, race, and person!

In the end take into account that God has his own culture of principles and He wants His Kingdom established forever and we as Christians should be in applying ourselves learning about how to live in his Holy Nation which will supersede all cultures. How does God want His holy nation of called out-of–the-world Christians to govern their selves no matter the country or culture they are from?  He wants each of us to live in love and unity, in holiness, practicing real justice, helping all to have all their needs met, enjoying freedom from suffering, sickness, and eventually freedom from death.  And as Paul says in our verses of today, 33 “For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved”, this should be our motto as well!

5.Jesus prayed for God’s will to be done “on earth as it is in heaven” and this implies that a true Christian is implementing the culture of heaven within their home, church, and wherever they go. People of the Salvation Army who have travelled around the world and visited other Corps in Russia, Africa, Asia, or wherever find the same Christian culture and uniformity in our doctrines, the only differences are in the people’s appetites for food, music, and dress.  Actually most Christian churches are very compatible with each other and this is due to the fact that Christ’s way of life is the same everywhere if practiced correctly.

I believe that Jesus established the body of believers, the church from many nations and tongues, as a test for everyone to learn like in a school, how to get along and to practice God’s love amongst their selves. Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.  We are to be one in Christ knowing we will all share heaven together!

6.Let me take this a step further. Those of you here in Hialeah, who have learned to respect and love others from other countries, customs, and languages, have made advancements way ahead of other Christians in other parts of the country and world where little or no diversity of race and culture exists. There are thousands of churches and Corps where they have only one color of skin in attendance, and everyone is from the same nation, the same customs and culture, and there are no challenges to overcome in those places.

But when some new Holy-Spirit filled Captain or pastor starts filling one of these homogeneous churches or Corps with those of another language, or of another race, culture, or color, what happens? Sadly it usually divides the church as half or more of them leave! And this is universal in all churches! The half that leaves are the half that I think really didn’t love God and others as their selves anyway! Those intolerant and incapable of respecting and loving others are simply disobedient children that God will deal with for their sin! 32 “Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God”.

7.Jesus gave us the model for the Kingdom of God and it is one that is totally inclusive and more loving and accepting than what we witnessed in the O.T. It is one in which God accepts any person from any nation, tribe, race, or tongue, and His kingdom is forever! The only condition is conversion to obey Jesus commands; so if anyone will just receive Jesus, God’s Son as the Lord of their life, God will grant them the saving of their soul to inherent eternal life. And why is it this way? John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. The world means everyone on this earth!

8.So why do we want God’s culture to dominate us over our own customs? Let’s look at cultures and their filth as God sees them. I recall back in the 70’s there was a bumper sticker that said, “USA #1. #1 in crime, rape, CO2 emissions, prisoners, and more was on down the list. In reality God is angry with all the nations as they have not submitted to Jesus and His commands as they should. Most nations in the world are half destroyed due to their own sins! So can we promote man’s cultures as good? No! Only a few Christians that obey God from each nation honoring Him are good.

Isaiah 13:9 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. 

Search the word “anger” and see how many times In the O.T. God allowed death and punishments on the nations and even his own people for their disobedience. And in the N.T. we have the book of Revelation confirming God is not happy with the world and its destructions, cruelty, injustice, exploitations, and mockers of His Son, salvation, and love.  The Judgment of all nations and cultures will come to pass in His time!

9.The verses of today from I Cor. are from Paul, and notice that he attacks with great animosity the sins of the Romans, Greeks, and Jews. Think about what you hate the most of your own culture. Is it Biblical to hate? Yes, hate evil! Psalm 97:10 Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.

In the races, cultures, and nations it is not the music and food and dress anyone hates, instead we celebrate these things and have fun! What we hate are the sins that have caused each one of us to suffer personal loss in the past. Each nation has a different measure of the various sins but these sins exist because the nations are rebellious against God!

You and I have been affected by several of these sins: The sins of theft, government corruption demanding excessive payments, fines, and bribes, greed and excessive consumption, alcohol and drug addictions, rape, sexual abuse and exploitation of children and adults, slavery, murders, kidnappings, discrimination, laziness, pride, jealousy, gluttony, and more! But still we love the good, God is good!

10. I know immigrants that have no desire to return to live in their own cultures and countries because there at one time they suffered very cruel persecutions and injustices sometimes including imprisonment over ideologies, religious convictions, or discrimination due to their skin color or their socio/educational/genealogical class in society.  When a immigrant has no option but to adapt, they adapt or die! The nations in the world offer us cruel places to live! Only God in His wisdom can judge the world and start it all over with a fresh start in a heavenly kingdom after the end-time events.

Revelation 21:3-5  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

11.Don’t you look forward to that new nation where everyone is under the authority of Jesus, pure in heart, loving, caring, and uplifting? Revelation 14:5-7  5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

Let’s honor God here and now and leave behind who we use to be! Cultures on earth have some beauty to offer but I want to live in the culture of heaven! And you?  We have it confirmed, God loves those of “every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people”.  Do you love all cultures as well? Prove it by making friends with someone different than yourself and tell them about Jesus! Pray to receive Jesus!

Flawed Thinking: Learn Discernment!

Flawed Thinking: The Reprobate Mind      Learn Discernment!        

Kelly Durant 10-7-12

Romans 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;   2 Timothy 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith

2. How many of you remember seeing little kids argue? We often see how kids are unfair but it is the same with adults! For example, if one kid takes the seat of another, and the one who lost his seat gets mad and punches the kid in the arm, then the kid in the seat yells and accuses, “Look, he hit me!”. So the teacher turning around punishes the kid who hit, and hitting is wrong, but everyone that saw it happen knows the one at fault was the one that stole the seat. What is wrong with that picture? It is faulty reasoning and faulty judgment concerning who has guilt. And simple minds just respond without the facts!

3. Today we can apply the scripture concerning reprobate minds to what we see predominating in society today. People who are not interested in God’s truth, are those who have a reprobate mind, they live and promote lies. It comes from flawed reasoning which has been with us since the Garden of Eden. After biting into a lie the mental confusion sets in, flawed thinking skills take over; erroneous deductions cause a lack of discernment and then we invite punishment. Confusion thinking continues until death unless the person sees the light and ceases to resist the truth, and the passing of guilt on to others. The lesson of Eden is: the guilty one accuses the other one of what he or she is guilty of! A person who lies poisons their own brain and they do not even notice the damage!

Reprobate mindsets are seriously affecting the world right now destroying the values of truth, of right over wrong, of Christ over evil. Reprobate minds promote personal agendas damaging the future of nations through erroneous politics. Their persuasiveness even deceives some Christians who are swallowing up lies as truth not discerning the hypocritical malicious intentions behind it.

People with damaged minds are always quick to accuse others and they are influenced by Satan who is known as, “the accuser of the saints”.  People who judge without all the facts, or worse, they distort the facts and truth, are of false witnesses. Ex 20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. Those who never allow for others to reply when wrongly accused are committing an offense. It was worthy of death in Moses day by breaking this law of the 10 commandments.

4. The error is that people today are often choosing to be lazy and simple-minded in their judgments and deductions. People love to get conflictive with others and emotional over certain subjects. But only fools, according to the Word of God in Proverbs, love to argue and put down not knowing the facts.  Proverbs 1:22  How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners (accusers) delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

Here is the sad part, we observe more and more that Christians are becoming simple minded due to their lack of educating their selves with the facts of current matters and with the Word of God and they don’t even recognize their own poor judgment, accusations on others, and bitterness!

Many Christians today rarely open their Bibles and seriously pray and this lack of spiritual depth keeps them simple minded and in danger of forming and expressing opinions that are of the world and not of God. Anyone can get deceived on the issues at hand whether they be matters in the church or in the nation, and be unaware of the truth God wants to reveal!

 We must mature and be led by the Holy Spirit! If not the results are illogical thinking skills, and opinions with aggressiveness which brings division, not unity and peace. Sincere God fearing Christians will see clearly what is right and wrong and have the conviction to never accept a lie!

5. In Jesus day do you recall how the self righteous hypocrites accused Jesus? These people had some Biblical knowledge but they had reprobate minds and many of them had demons as they wanted to kill Jesus! They accused Jesus of having the prince of the demons in him, Beelzebub, representing all that was evil, while they were the ones who really had him! All Jesus did was good for others and he healed them and loved them but his purity and love, his holiness, exposed their lack of it and all they wanted to do was get rid of him!

Discrediting the good others happens in the church and in society and the critical attacks  come from those who are of a damaged mind, ignorant on matters, envious, or hungry for power. Accusers are the tools of Satan even though they don’t see it that way, they think they are justified in all of what they do. It was that way with the jealous, demon-possessed religious hypocrites in Jesus day.

6. Sometimes people have a legitimate complaint. Not all bad comments or accusations are wrong, some may be valid. As Christians we are always to be objective, discerning, praying, and being led by the Holy Spirit to understand the motives, and see the sources and their intentions.

However, Jesus exposed the lack of truth in many by God’s message of love and doing good works! When the light comes on with Jesus words, then suddenly everyone sees where the sin is, and most of the time the guilty ones are the accusers not the accused!

Key factor: The diversion tactic of those who have an evil mind is to always make the good appear to be evil! This causes their evil to be seen as good?! But God will condemn those who use this tactic.  Isaiah 5:20Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

7. Reprobate minds are in people who live in mental torment as all they do is obsess. What bothers them causes them to go crazy! Mark 3: 2And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. Imagine the obsession of these people that all they wanted him to do was make a mistake and heal on the Sabbath so they could accuse him of working and by this go around and disqualify all His words and works to say he was not being sent from God! Ironic, right?  They wanted to disqualify Him from being their Messiah, the forgiver of sins. From this we conclude, all those that do good works for the Lord be they Soldiers, Officers, Ministers or any type of leader, will always become a target of attack from those who have damaged minds and hearts!

Imagine the context, visualize if you can how Jesus, a person with an unexplainable power, like on the sci-fi movies where they make something transform in from of your eyes, and all He had to do was touch a person and they are healed! You would think, everyone would want to bring him the whole town for healing, and many tried, but due to the resistance from the accusers, His works were cut short. Matthew 13:58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief. Unbelief is the product of a mind resisting the truth.

These are real miracles, the saving of people from being blind, deaf, or lame! But contrast how the other religious devotees, they ones who are supposed to represent God, had no power of healing or helping, how they plotted to entrap him?! Do you see the damaged mind in not recognizing the authority of God in Him? Did they have any power to heal & teach with authority? No! They did not live nor let live!

8. These people with reprobate minds are always in denial of the supernatural facts, blinded by their own agenda and throughout time they have always tried to prove those of Jesus guilty of some violation hoping that the undecided people will lose respect. What they want is to eliminate the competition so that the people would have to accept only their version of the truth!  

Now the important question: Have you ever asked God, how blind am I to my sin? How flawed is my mind and way of thinking about others?  Proverbs 20:6 Most men will proclaim everyone his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

Many people of the world today have the mental illness of hypocrisy, they are very outspoken on their opinions, about what they say is not right, they are quick to accuse, yet they have a closet of sins and no love or good acts of kindness to offer in their defense!

9. Here is an example of today’s flawed thinking ability.  One time I googled The Salvation Army just to see the images I could get and see articles from different places and I came upon a young girl’s accusation against TSA. What was happening was the Salvation Army was closing down a retirement center in some Northeastern State and a few dozen elder people were forced to relocate. The complaints and accusations of this girl, who just happened to get in the middle without knowing anything, was that the Salvation Army is a terrible organization because they are going to just throw old people out in to the streets and not take care of them! She wrote, “They are terrible, never again support them, they are cruel to old people!”

Am I helping you to see the flawed reasoning in the blind simple mindedness of people today? Let’s start with the facts. 1) She did not have the facts of everything happening yet acted as if she was an authority on the matter. 2) She was condemning and critical but offered no good alternative of what to do 3) She attacked the organization without even contacting them giving them an opportunity to explain. This is slander, deceit, and unfairness, yet how many thousands of people were exposed and persuaded to her thinking? The internet can facilitate lies.

Do we not see many leaders today in power using this same tactic of dis-accreditation of others, accusing while ignoring the facts, and unfairly attacking never allowing nor accepting an explanation while they have nothing good in defense as a solution?

10. All Satan wants to do is damage & destruction, and too many people have an appetite for destruction! People with reprobate minds love to hear the bad news to spread it around to everybody, and then later they are deaf to hear the good news! People of this nature will suffer the same punishment of those who are liars since they accept and promote falsehoods as truths. Revelation 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

In this situation, you can be 100% sure no old people were thrown out on the streets to be homeless and die as she implied. They were cared for, or the news media would have definitely reported on that one!  By what I soon read was that a new center was replacing the old one a few miles away, and possibly not everyone wanted to transfer so far away, but other rest homes were also available locally. So once you hear the facts, the story is no longer a story, yet the damage is done and the angry girl will give no apology nor regrets for the unjust damage done.

What was she thinking? Either she was evil and only wanted to attack anything good and Christian, or she was a victim to flawed thinking, a reprobate mind, depraved of correct judgment! Either way Satan was using her!  Who knows how many people may have stopped supporting TSA due to all the many internet comments that are lies!

11. In our Corps here in Hialeah, and everywhere, all true Christians who are active serving and doing God’s will always be subject to attacks from those whom Satan will use.  What we must do is pray the Holy Spirit will guide each of us into all truth and protect us from these unfair attacks. We all desperately need the Holy Spirit that guides into all truth!

People are unfair to accuse. Some people may why do you do so much for the Corps, the Corps will never do anything for you! This is not true, I have seen people serve as volunteers in the Corps and then the Lord opens up doors for them the get a good employment! Blessings come by doing God’s work and will no matter what anyone else comments!

The lesson: please learn and teach others that there are logical steps to A Godly mind and deductive reasoning. For example, the outspoken angry girl should have had a logical mind that would have told her, I must contact the source for more information and facts since I do not understand this scenario, I should do research on the history and record of the Salvation Army to discover if they have a good or bad record, and I must discover what their future plan is for this situation. Intelligent people do their research seeking truth, but fools speak with no knowledge and other fools accept and follow them!

11. In all situations the formula for discovering truth, is as simple. 1. Gather ALL the facts (as much truth as possible from several sources, as the Bible says of 2 or more witnesses). This will help you to never make predisposed judgments and accusations. 2. Contact the sources. Be willing to engage with the leaders or authorities (Jesus engaged in conversation the evil people in his time). 3. Finally, Pray and be objective. This would imply a willingness to change your position according to the discernment God gives through the Holy Spirit.    

Common reasoning skills are being distorted on purpose in society.  In the end, those who govern in spiritual wickedness in high places are not interested in truth and transparency, honesty, righteous judgment and fairness in the community; they are interested only in subduing others to their line of thinking to complete their own political agenda which gives them more power and wealth. This seems to be the repeating policy of Satan throughout the ages who influences men of power throughout time in all cultures.

12. What’s the ultimate purpose of confusing thinking skills and not allowing truth? It is for the discrediting the gospel of Jesus Christ, the supreme authority in heaven and earth!  The evil people of today are trying to set their selves up to be the absolute truth  who givers through and they enforce their politically correct thought by their “truths” to  control and manipulate the masses. In revelation where it speaks of the Beast flooding the world and the world swallows the flood, maost believe this refers to how the people of the world will drink up Satan’s lies and it seems strange today how many people just drink in so many lies not questioning anything!   Rev. 12:15And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. 16And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

Satan hates people who have faith and loyalty to God and his Son, and loyalty to support the church doing God’s work! He uses lies to deceive and control others to not believe in Jesus. He is always trying to get people angry, unhappy, and to strain at a gnat, while they swallow a camel. And what does this mean? He can even often times influence weak Christians.

13. We all know a gnat is like a little fly and they usually fly around your eyes and pester you. You have to keep moving your hands to make them go away. They are a bother but a small one. Now imagine, well, we can’t really, because it is figurative speech, a person swallowing a camel? It would destroy them! The multitude of words, accusations, opinions are often a diversion tactic drawing attention to something tiny in order to keep the attention away from the gigantic deception! Matthew 23:24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

I hope you are now illuminated that flawed thinking reveals a personal hypocrisy and it works like this; people will complain about the smallest things as if these were all that mattered in the world, harbor big sins, camels in their lives, and they let it pass on as if nothing is wrong!   

Jesus was not cruel as they were, he forgave the prostitute and he loved all the sinners and received everyone without discrimination! All except who? The hypocrites! What is different about them? The hypocrites accuse of sin and yet they have greater sins and have no intentions of giving them up! The prostitute caught in her sin knew she was wrong. She also was willing to “sin no more” and make it right! She accepted the truth of who she was, they did not!

Accusations, guilt, sin: It begins with each of us and gets passed on! Adam accused that his guilt was provoked by Eve’s disobedience, Eve accused the serpent of deceiving her, the serpent accused God of being a liar (yet he was the liar) and all three were punished. 3 minds damaged!  

14. We have to be careful with how we think since what people accuse others of; they may be guilty of or worse. Listening to damaged minds can damage yours! Like the serpent saying that God was a liar, and that Adam & Eve would not die, when later it was proven that he was the liar to contradict God! Like the hypocrites claiming Jesus had a demon, and like the many people who do nothing to do good in society and yet condemn others who do. To change, Prov. 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

If you are feeling like you may have been wrong in the past in your way of thinking or about a judgment you had of someone, now is the time to correct it and pray. Do you need more of the Holy Spirit, or more discipline to study God’s word so you don’t make big mistakes in judgment, come ask God to help you! Ask God to guide you to seek all the truth on all matters, as He is in the truth and nothing is hidden from Him. Ask God for a healthy mind full of the truth!

Words: They Kill or They Give Life

Words: They Kill or They Give Life                 Capt. Kelly Durant   10-2-2012

All day long we speak words. An amazing physiological ability really! I recall working with my deaf son as a child and every day for several thousand days it was hard work to get him to learn just a few words each day! An average toddler by age 3 can speak and arrange into sentences over 1,000 words. With 1,000 words you could speak a second language! What is it per day that people speak, 7,000 words for men, and 20,000 for women? That’s 7,300,00 per year!

Words help us express our needs and feelings but there is a serious factor involved with the words that everyone speaks. Our words are drastically affecting our bodies and spirits, and bringing about eternal consequences: either heaviness or joy, either blessings or a judgment. Matthew 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

First, I would like for you to understand a certain precept, God holds us to our words like a words on a contract. Our words determine our vocal acceptance of salvation or our vocal rejection of it. How many of you have confessed with your words Jesus as your savior? You are privileged. Romans 10: 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  The words we speak forge our eternal destiny! Confessing Jesus gives anyone who believes salvation from eternal death! God abides by your own words!

Before we get into a case study on people who speak vile words, let’s first lift up the power of positive words! Do you want to always feel encouraged? Psa. 100:4 I will enter into his gates with thanksgiving in my heart, I will enter into his courts with praise! It really works that you will always feel good when you praise the Lord out loud and lift up Jesus! Words are like air, like it or not, you must take them in and give them out in order to stay alive! The question is how healthy is your air?

Why do people love to listen to music? It is because certain words inspire the hearers and makes one want to live, love and fight for the right! (Unless it is evil violent music, of course) Jesus himself said, John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. And what is the word of life but God’s energy in you?

It is The Holy Spirit which comforts you with words in your mind to make you feel love, joy, and peace like you are in heaven! Don’t you feel you empowered and invincible when you take in God’s word? I do! You gain indescribable strength! But like breathing, you must take it in constantly! Like the song, ‘This is the air I breathe’! However, there are many other times that you or I feel inadequate and stupid. But I have always found comfort in this verse… Psalm 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. God’s word and the Holy Spirit will illuminate you and me to make us smarter than what you or I actually are! Do you believe it? God’s word can flow through us if we are pure in tune instruments.

Here is another precept: The more you fill up yourself with God’s word, the more inspired and empowered you will be! When I first started serving the Lord I would memorize a new scripture everyday just to keep my mind on the Lord. Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. I got up to about 500 verses memorized and I recall many of them to this day and I have them in my mind ready to quote when the situation fits. So one way to keep your mind on the Lord and be encouraged all day long is to memorize God’s word repeating it in the morning, noon, and night.

Another thing I have learned by studying God’s word is to always filter the outside words one is hearing through the Bible’s precepts and wisdom found within the Word of God. Are the words someone is speaking to you of truth? Are they making you mad, sad, or glad? If so, determine if it is a manipulation of your emotions or a justifiable truth that requires an action from you or from someone else. Ask yourself, what purpose does the person talking have in sharing these words? Again, you have the responsibility to define in your mind how the words that you hear are affecting you, for good or for evil. It is amazing how words will either torture you or comfort you! Words always seem to play over and over in your mind. Words either inspire you and heal you, or depress you and make you sick!

Here is a good standard to filter words by, Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. We are commanded sift through words; to throw away the trash or worthless words and just keep the good ones in our minds that are pure and worthy of praise. If something is not in essence glorifying God, then we erase it out of your mind. Forget who said something bad too!

Some of you, I am sadly conscience of, are forced, by your family or work situation, to interact with carnal, selfish, unsaved unloving people that all day long produce nothing but depressing toxic words. Everything coming out of their mouths seems to be a curse word, a ridicule, a complaint, a sarcasm, or a tale with a plot for their benefit. Being around some people, listening to all their bitterness can cause you to feel sick or depressed!

Haven’t you and I observed how some people in this Corps literally get sick due to unkind words from people close to them? And what is our role? To heal them with Jesus words and pray for them and speak healing words to them! We share the joy we have. Proverbs 17:22A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Another thing, consider how words will condemn a person’s soul to destruction, for example, for people who curse God. Matthew 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. The Holy Spirit is an internal voice of conscience and people who practice the occult, or people who oppose the the presence of God when He eternally speaks to them that Jesus really is real, rejecting conviction, these people live condemned by their own choice.

I have always thought that the phrase, “Go to hell” was one of the most terrible curse phrases ever used. Because the person speaking it for one, is not God to make that judgment call (God will never be mocked), and two, the person saying it must be truly evil to wish the flames of eternal fire on someone! Matthew 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. The law of curses is that person will eventually reap what they have sewn.

Words, by God’s design, affect our body’s chemicals producing moods of joy or moods of depression. I recall as a young adult I was disturbed by the words of the Bible! You might say to me, excuse me? Why? Because I was living in sin and the Word was convicting me to change to give my life to the Lord and I didn’t want to give up my life of sin at that time! Here is one passage that disturbed me a lot. Luke 9:26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels. But later when I gave up and surrendered all, and I started living to serve Jesus, these same words brought me great peace, that Jesus would not be ashamed of me because I was not ashamed of Him! Consider this: Words affect you according to how your heart is with God! This might explain why some people love certain sermons and others don’t like them!

Here is another factor on words, we should seek words that bring us wisdom. Proverbs 10:19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise. Proverbs 4:5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

If you are not full of God’s life giving words having your goals on obeying God to gain rewards in heaven and saving others while here on earth, then you are as an open house vulnerable for anything stray to come in. Not being full of God’s words of wisdom means you will be occupied and taken over easily (deceived) by any ones words. People fall into traps because they seek to gratify your own selfish ambitions.  So how can you protect yourself from deceitful words then?

Focus in on, pray over, and analyze the words that others speak to you. If a person sincerely says, “Oh, you look good today”, don’t you feel good inside? People reap what they sew. People who always say nice things to others also usually get nice things said back to them, have you noticed that? Proverbs 16:24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. Literally words can heal! This is what prayer is all about, you are proclaiming God’s words of promises for the healing of your (or someone else’s) body or spirit!

Do a research on positive words. You will find hundreds of books on the powerful effects of positive words. Many self-help books are just a basic guide to getting you to speak positively so you will be more successful, and it actually works! For example, a person that usually would say, “I am too old to learn anything”, would seem to live out just that, an inability to learn. But if the person says to theirself, “I can learn anything I want because God will help me”, this person gets positive results! It is a law of nature to some degree that you pronounce your own success or fate! Of course your will has to line up with God’s will or it will not work.

However, be careful with the non-Biblical optimistic doctrines of speaking into existence your desires. You cannot just say, “I will be rich and I will be a millionaire”, and expect it to happen by magic. God’s will for your life may not be that you become rich but maybe He would prefer you to be rich in souls you would win for Jesus! God is interested in what will last for an eternity and that which is worth a lot more than our desires!

Here is the whole duty of a Christian concerning our words; the words of this verse affected my mind and changed my life. Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.  If you can pray this and practice it you will live blessed!

Proverbs 18:8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. Today we are shocked how many people speak lies and false stories. A few years ago it seemed that we could recognize foolish talk, slander, or bad words at our jobs, or with in our families. Let’s take a typical scenario. Maria is a hard worker and does her job well. But Maria, being one of the prettiest women on the job as the cashier seems to attract all the young men to go to her to register to place their order. What happens? The usual typical reaction is she is getting stories told about her behind her back by the other women workers. Mean things get said about her, things like, “Oh, she is such a flirt (or worse)”. In society, people a few years ago would take this type of talk for granted that it was not true observing the comments were coming from a jealous person.

However, what has changed today is that the people are not verifying the source of the spoken words they hear. The just hear, swallow and repeat. People today are dangerously vulnerable to being deceived since truth is less valued than something interesting like a scandal. Over 70 years ago when Hitler said to kill all the Jews because they were the reason for their economic depression and poverty, everyone believed him!? And they followed through doing just that, killing innocent people. Today we observe that a majority of people live without God’s wisdom, truth, and knowledge, so this is why they just accept any misinformation of words from anyone. So what can we do? Pray for discernment!

Time reveals the evil or truth of words. You and I must resist the temptation to speak on a matter until we know more about it. Ecclesiastes 5:2Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. Proverbs 21:23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

In life each of us experience thousands of words every day and we are being constantly tried and tested and these words attribute to our blessings or to our condemnation. Each of us must choose our words, the ones we will hear, and the ones we will speak. Choose to hear the positive ones from God’s word! You will be happy and encouraged and powerful.

Choose to always praise God and share kind words to others! Choose also to resist toxic words that will make you sick through people who insult God and others. Don’t forget words come to us by personal conversations, by phone, by radio, by TV, by computer, by and news print. We choose moment by moment what we will hear, and what we will repeat. Proverbs 13:3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

Concerning words: measure them by God’s word! Investigate the source, filter the content, and discern the motives behind them. You cannot control the words of others but you can control your words! Pray to gain wisdom! Repeat that which builds God’s kingdom of love, peace, and joy! Words in the end are power, for good or for evil! How many words do you use a day to pray and to bring about healing and good?

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The Storms in Life: What Action To Take

The Storms in Life: What Action To Take                  Capt. Kelly Durant  9-16-12

2. Earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, volcanoes, are all termed in the legal books as ‘Acts of God’. Why? Because these are powerful forces that no human being can produce, manipulate, or control!

As humans, we are, in the end, weak tiny creatures and often all of us get reminded by massive catastrophic events how defenseless we really are! Also we get reminded that we should build on the right foundation, that we need God!

3. We just passed the 11^th anniversary of 911 and sadly even more violence continues to happen abroad. Catastrophic events humble each of us. As Jesus reminded us that we are not like God, we cannot even make one of our hairs black or white. No one is a match to stop the pain of the massive catastrophes or ground shaking events that happen in our lives!

Nature destroys at times, but how sad it is when evil human nature destroys! These are not acts of God but acts of men!

4. I was in New Orleans for the last 2 weeks. Most everyone knows that it is famous for its mix of French and African cultures with the Catholic one. These combinations are similar to Central and South America. New Orleans is known for its wild partying in the streets, creative jazz music, and distinctive Cajun culture. I experienced a variety of different accents, and spicy sea food.  It is a place where the football team has the name “Saints” and the restaurants have the name “Voodoo”!?

It is very coincidentally disturbing that the storm, Isaac, hit New Orleans exactly 7 years to the day as Katrina. If you are superstitious or not, no matter how you look at it, God is in control and He allows everything for a purpose. No one died this time though, thank God he protected life! This is God’s love and mercy to all! But when life fails, consider this:   Ezekiel 33:11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

5. No one should be surprised by these events since we who live on this earth know that man, and all creation, fell from perfection several millennia ago and came under a curse. Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

Physical storms and floods invade the lives of millions every year. This is a product of creation’s fallen nature. Devastation, even without nature’s forces, comes into our personal lives as well. Destructive events provoke great losses, and we wonder, what is God’s purpose in this? God tests our compassion, for one.

6. I, with The Salvation Army teams, fed the victims from the canteen trucks serving the suffering. The people often expressed appreciation for the food that we were providing since they had no electricity for many days. We also gave out cleaning kits and Wal-Mart gift cards.  It was amazing to find most everyone expressed gratitude, even after having lost all furniture and everything, people were still thanking God that they were going to get through it all that and they were glad just to be alive!

7. Pain, apart from making us seek God, should bring us closer together to each other! In my experience the past 2 weeks, I discovered, by hundreds of conversations that many of the people who lived in the suburbs, that were flooded were quite neighborly, looking out for each other, and the elderly. The lesson of the pain of Katrina taught the people of New Orleans to be more united.

Before, in the days of Katrina the situation was much more hostile, but the conclusion that can be deducted is that many people have learned better ways of dealing with crises; by looking out for each other, and applying prayer, positive-ness, patience, and persistence! As Christians these are the qualities we promote!

8. Now, let’s compare the hit of the massive storm of Isaac to our personal lives. There are times that, due to the sins of others in the world, or due to our un-submitted to God nature, we suffer from bad choices. Adversity, loss, and the stripping away of all that we thought we had, may overwhelms many of us at some time or another in our life.    

The experience of people who lose everything by a disaster is not unique in many ways as it is a majority of the people who pass through some life-changing crisis sometime or another.

The storms of life are inevitable. Everyone goes through a storm of some kind. Some people lose everything by bad relationships or break-ups, or the death of a family member or a serious health problem. Other ones, like Job in the Bible, experience devastation due to invading events from the outside. Job kept his faith. Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.  Sadly, however, some people get bitter and blame everyone and God for their bad times. Recovery will not come with this attitude.

9. The frightening reality is that any one of us could lose our property, family, friends, and/or our health, overnight! It is in these painful times that we must exercise even more our faith to get us through. And, if we pray, and allow friends to be there for us, we will come out like pure gold refined in the fire as Job.

Some storms, or turmoil, come from the consequences of us having made bad choices. Why would anyone choose to build in flood area is always a question that reoccurs. Some people are just unwilling to give up their way of doing things to move to safety. But most of all, why would anyone chose to live without being close to Jesus, without establishing their life on the rock foundation, is the question that should disturb us.

10. Jesus points out that some are wise, and some are foolish. Matt 7:24-27   24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

The sand is the world and Jesus is the rock. Without faith and God’s strength, all we have collected over time, our efforts, our productions and goods, all will be washed away without supporting our lives on God’s salvation. People that lose all but have God, remain strong; those who don’t have Him usually go crazy.

11. And consider what Paul writes…

I Cor. 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

God is the fire. Deuteronomy 4:24 For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God. In the final presentation of our souls returning to our Creator, it will be like a person running out of house on fire. He or she will escape alive, but everything that is not of God in their life, or in your life, will vanish into smoke! But what you did for God; that you will get to keep forever!

12. Many people in life have had to start over. What you as a good Christian will not lose, if you are firm on the foundation of God, is your faith, and your place in heaven with your rewards for the works you have done on earth.

In this country, and all around the world, most people are not right now rebuilding their houses due to a physical storm that has devastated their property but rather they are recovering from a personal loss, a heavy spiritual battle that has hit them hard. Many people do want to rebuild on Jesus, but they need help.

We are living in hard times and those not experiencing pain must help those who are in pain. After experiencing a loss, after a deep injury, the biggest question by them is, where do I start to rebuild? We must help and guide one another.

13. Sin, like a storm, destroys not just the one who practices it, but all the ones close by as well. Never is just one house flooded, it is entire neighborhoods!

In society today, when you consider bankruptcy, divorce, addictions, and selfishness, it is more than one in every two homes that has suffered destruction of some kind. Devastation may have come by an act of God, or by an attack of the enemy, or it may also have been brought on by someone’s sin, even your own sin.

It is sad reality that many of our Corps members, amongst everyone we know, we conclude that the storms in life have caused many to end up with broken dreams, broken relationships, and broken hearts, and also end up with no money as well!

The effects of sin we can compare to the destructiveness of a storm. At first it seems far away and few believe it may cause any danger. The reality is very few people ever prepare for a storm with survival goods.  God’s Word, our faith, and His strength in us made perfect in our weakness… is our survival equipment!

So how do we escape the pain of losing it all? Why not just give it all up all to Jesus today? The disciples gave up everything. Do a preemptive offensive.

14. Matthew 4:19-21  19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

When Peter, James & John abandoned their fishing business to follow Jesus they appeared to have lost everything. It was the same as if a storm had blown their ships away. But they gave it all up for Jesus, the One who would reward them forever in heaven for following Him! And they gained the status of being one of the first of the faithful. Multi-millions of Christians have admired, studied, and respected the disciples ever since, and in heaven they have honored seats. Ask yourself, am I willing to give up my ship, my life, everything for Jesus?

15. To gain something better than what you will lose there must be a step of prevention. How do you prevent a fire from burning down a forest? You do a controlled burn, so that no dry leaves on the ground could burn hot enough or high enough to catch the limbs of the trees on fire. This is done in most national parks in the U.S. This is the lesson from the verses in I Cor.3:13.  Are you ready to do a controlled burning up of the things not of God in your life? Purge out the sin!

How do you escape a loss from a flood?  You build in an area where there is no flooding, on a higher ground with a solid rock foundation.

16. Many people in the world, not just in New Orleans, right now are in the phase of rebuilding what they have lost. In many places you see torn out carpet, cabinets, and drywall making huge piles of rubbish near the street.

Don’t worry if people see your trash. You cannot stay alive in a house and not get sick if you do not remove the rotting wood, the slime mold, and the mud filled mattress! A pile of your trash out front is a healthy indicator that you have decided to no longer live with filth!

Burn away the trash! Move away from the flood area! Rebuild your life on Jesus today and nothing in the future will affect you!

Let the old be burned or buried and replace it with the new. The physical things can be compared to the spiritual things in each of our own lives. Start building as of right now a strong foundation of faith in The Lord. Connect more with others of the faith, read & study the Bible more so you will know better how to save and help your own self! Soon afterwards, you will be able to help save others as well!

Christians are survivors! They have endured 2,000 years of losing it all due to persecution and torture and this continues today! If you have gone through a storm or you are going through one now, remember, where there is life there is hope.

Don’t just not do anything and lose it all when you die either! That would be a total loss! Starting today, get rid of the things and people in your life that are worthless, selfish, and self-destructive, in other words don’t tolerate “sin”.

Do what you have to so you will never have to worry about future storms. Storms will come and go but you will be just fine, strong and prepared, because your treasure consists not in the things of earth, but in the heavenly ones.