The Mothers of Salvation (Army)

The Mothers of Salvation             5/9/10 Re 5-11-25   Kelly Durant

Eph 6:2-3

2 "Honor your father and mother"-which is the first commandment with a promise- 3 "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."   

 

2. The other day a woman applied for her driver’s license and the lady at the window asked her what her profession was. She said that she was a:

Research Participant on the behavior of infants in domestic and communal environments. The woman giving the driver’s test not really understanding exactly what profession that was asked her, can you explain that in plain language please? The woman replied, yes, “I am a mother!”

 

3. God expects mothers to be strong characters that defend what is right and raise their children in the Word of God! They must be influencers and leaders in society. William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army had a strong character, and Catherine, his wife and mother of their children, had a very strong character too! Listen to this example of what happened in a street sermon open air one time.

 

4. A man hearing Catherine Booth’s sermon shouted, “Shut up! You are a woman, you need to keep silent, it says in the Bible for the woman to be silent in the church!”  Being full of the spirit she replied, “Well young man, to begin with I am not in a church, I am on the street, and second Paul wrote that only to the women in the Corinthians, and I am not a Corinthian, and third, in the same chapter Paul, recommends that the men remain single as he was, but I see you have a wife!” Embarrassed, it became his turn to keep silent!

 

5. This heckler was not respecting her and the problem in society is that we are not teaching people enough how to respect women and mothers and the word says: 2 "Honor your father and mother"-which is the first commandment with a promise- 3 "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."  This implies life will not be good for you if you do not honor both of them! I have seen that, people who often mess up and have a hard life, most usually, were people who did not respect and obey their mothers. 

 

6. Did you know when the Salvation Army was founded in 1865 that 60 to 70% of the initial members were young mothers and they were valiant street preachers too! And today in this Corps, we expect the mothers to be leaders to their children, and leaders in society as well winning many souls to Jesus! It is selfish and boring to just be home always, not getting out and spreading the Christian family values found in Jesus!

 

7. Paul states that men and women, fathers and mothers, are spiritually the same in Christ, each should be led by the Holy Spirit. Gal. 3:28. Gal 3:28

 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. The sad thing is few churches practice this, only the true ones do! Ephesians 4:7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

 

8. Christianity is a liberating and socially just religion because it teaches us to honor and respect all! However, more than 80% of the women today in the entire world are under other religions or communism, and the word woman or mother is virtually synonymous to the word slave! In China today still millions of girls are aborted or abandoned each year because the husband and government want boys! Pagan worshippers never respect women or mothers, and this is a disrespect to God, our creator, who created everyone with a high value!

 

9. But it should not be that way with Christians! Christians both men and women have been bringing more light and liberation through the centuries. In the Renaissance era of the 1600’s more respect for women and mothers awakened due to the actual reading of God’s word which had not been read by the common people before!

In all cultures, mothers, being more defenseless and weak, are often the oppressed sufferers who need to be defended and helped by those who have the power positions to do so. It is your and my job as husbands, fathers, and sons to honor mothers!  They may be weaker in some areas, but they need our support! They sacrifice everything for you and me!

 

10. It is often the women throughout history that have been the ones to bring about a real change in society, in their homes, and with their children! In the mid 1800’s in England, there was terrible corruption, in particular in the poor areas of town like in East London; even children used to buy liquor at Gin houses where every house in five was a store that sold alcohol. Oppression, exploitation, adultery, thievery and alcohol addiction were the norm! And the Salvation Army’s women prayed with many to convert these lost dark souls to Jesus, and it worked because they used tears from the heart! 

 

The Salvation Army used to march in the streets with their instruments and then preach to the crowds (both men and women preached) but as you can imagine, they soon became not so popular. Those living in sin do not want anyone coming down their street to remind them that they should repent and not make more money selling liquor! Or in today’s world, drugs! Jesus made it clear that, John 15:19 “Because we are not of this world, therefore the world hates you, John 15. Also, II Tim 3:12, “If any man will live Godly in Christ Jesus, he shall suffer persecution.”

 

11. But why did those women preachers and mother’s have so much success? 700 souls in the street one day, and 500 the next?  It is because they sincerely loved the people they were preaching to! 

If you don’t know the power of water, wait until you experience a woman’s tears! And women are often the first to start serving others in need!

Their sermons were powerful, and as William Booth said, ”When all else fails, try tears!” 

 

The Salvation Army has dozens of thousands of buildings all around the world to prove their love for mothers, children and others that are weak by providing shelters for the homeless where children can stay, orphan homes and also safehouses to escape the danger of leaving the lifestyle of prostitution, drug-alcohol  rehab centers, health clinics, boarding schools, and our international causes contribute to free others from oppression! For men and women!

 

12. You have seen the hats the women use in the Army? Before they use to be bonnets, which would protect them from the cold, but do you know what else it protected them from? All the tomatoes and eggs and things the evil people would throw at them while they would preach the gospel on the streets! There are many accounts of their tears being shed for the lost and it touched people’s hearts to know they were being loved by God and by them despite the evil deeds of those in the town! When there is resistance, it proves a lot of effectiveness is happening!

Only the Holy Spirit can touch hearts to accept Christ, but we all must learn the lesson of letting ourselves get out of the way so Jesus can shine through! The Bible describes the woman as the weaker vessel and also, we know, God “chose the weak things of the world to confound the wise.”

 

13. Each person is different, and we must learn to accept and respect each person. We must learn to value who we are in God and be thankful for how God has made us different and find our place in his body. 

 

You are all serving in many ways! And another thing about all the original soldiers of the Salvation Army (the ones I told you were 70% women), did you know they were people from the ordinary working class that worked in factories? And the English were very class discriminatory at that time! 

(Many of them still are!) God uses the foolish things to confound the mighty!

 

I know many of you here may think, I can never do anything big for God because I don’t know much, I am just a worker. Or a mother may think, I cannot do anything with a bunch of little kids at my feet. But history proves the contrary, women, and anyone can change a whole society if they work together! Teaching kids about Jesus everyday will pay off one day! 

 

14. Jesus will make you and me smarter and braver and, if we will put our pride away and die to our selves, He will use us mightily and give us rewards in heaven! Jesus said to take up your cross and follow Him! I don’t know about you, but I want to live with Jesus forever in Heaven and any family or friend that we lose now (because they reject us) cannot compare to what glory will be ours for eternity! 

 

If we deny Him here on earth, (either by not telling others about Him or by our poor example) He will deny us before His father in heaven. Take a stand today to be bold and courageous like the founders of the Salvation Army’s men and women! 

 

Because one man and one woman obeyed the calling of God over 160 years ago, today we have the great work of the Salvation Army that saves hundreds of thousands of souls every year! And provides basic needs to dozens of millions! But you and I must do our part as a soldier of this Army in this community! Have you prayed with someone lately to accept Jesus? Let’s pray for the mothers who teach their kids about Jesus, who sacrifice and work day and night, and who comfort so many in sadness and ill health! Thank God for the love and beauty in the women of God!

 

What A Soldier, or Christian, Battles

What A Soldier Battles             Major Kelly Durant 1-10-16 Re 5-4-25

 

2 Tim 2:3-4 2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 You therefore must endure hardships 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. In the trench warfare of WWI each side would make long trenches and no one could pass from one side to the other. The reason? Every time someone put their head up to try and run to attack, they would get shot at! The land between ally and enemy trenches was coined, “no man’s land” as no one could be there without getting shot! That is the way our enemy, Satan operates. As long as you stay comfortable in your trench he doesn’t bother you, but when you come out and proclaim some victories for Jesus, or when you expose his sin spreading in the world, he attacks you. The attacks come in many different ways.

 

We are God’s soldiers and the only way to fight this war is to be disciplined! Discipline implies not being so busy with distractions that you are not battling what you enlisted for! What is our discipline? Prayer, the studying of the Word of God, and standing up for Biblical causes, obeying and proclaiming Jesus as the Savior and commander over all commanders is what wins the victories! 

 

3. Soldiers, when you have a hard time standing for your Commanding Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, remember, when you are weak and can’t seem to get up, then that is the time you should kneel! Kneel and get strength from outside yourself! Prayer works! 

 

Remember also you are not in this war alone and there are more than 1 million Salvation Army Soldiers in the world! Statistics claim there are more than two billion Christians too! In this Corps everyone does pray and care for those who are weak and in need.

 

I sincerely hope all of you are praying for each other. If you are a friend and a help to someone, they, or someone else God will send, will be a friend with you! We must be communicating during the week, supporting and loving each other helping with each other’s needs in the same way the disciples watched out for each other! Post and speak up when you need it.

 

4.  The Salvation Army uniform can be taken as symbolic as being dressed in service to Jesus similar to what Paul talks about in. Eph 6:12-18

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;

 

The uniform in most countries is very well recognized and just think… people are being reminded of our Lord Jesus when they see the uniform. It will often open doors and bring you respect.

 

5. Those are the classic verses in Ephesians on being prepared for battle and it was the uniform of the Soldier in Jesus’ and Paul’s time. We must pay attention to these verses and do what it says, or we might get a hit in a weak spot, and it will take months to heal if it doesn’t kill us! Eternal security requires eternal vigilance!

 

The uniform helps you in battle, but do you know how? It identifies you as representing a Kingdom and it is not a killing army, we are a saving army. We are at war with evil! Just as a firefighter in his uniform is prepared to fight fires, just as a policeman identifies himself as the keeper of the law, we as Christian Soldiers represent the fight for righteousness, purity, love serving the suffering ones who do not know Jesus! 

 

Most of all we represent our Commander and Chief Jesus Christ! Every day we fight for what is right! Even in heaven we will have a pure white uniform to wear reflecting the light and purity of God! So, a uniform on earth is actually a good practice for wearing one in heaven!

 

6. As you know we do not train to fight with a rifle or a gun, we train to fight the enemy with the sword of the Word of God, quoting scripture to the enemy, and after him being resisted, he will flee from us!James 4:7

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you

 

In the verses in Timothy we see that we are to endure hardships, as the soldiers of the world do, for our Lord Jesus Christ. And when you think about when Paul was writing, the Romans had a very strict code of conduct, and they would march on foot for months carrying heavy metal armor and they suffered many hardships! Much worse than what anyone of us experience!

 

Today we will cover three basic battles or hardships a Soldier faces; The one with Satan in your head in yourself; the one with those close to you, your family & friends, and the one with the evil people of the world.

 

7. One of the first attacks, how our accuser and adversary confronts us, is with discouragement in our minds! You and I may be doing good for a while happy with Jesus, just like many that come awhile but then leave, because Satan, the tempter, will get into the head and feed any weak one with pride for your successes, or attack you over the opposite for your failures with discouragement.  He tells you… look at you, you are a failure, or he will say you are powerful like a God, and either extreme of exaltedness or debasement is not of God. 

 

Often you and I are either tempted to think we do not need God since we are so smart or tempted to think that there is no God. It is human to get out of control and prideful or to sometimes feel abandonment, depression, or rejection! You know you are a sinner and hating on yourself, or anyone else for sin makes you destructive to yourself and to others! Satan always schemes to destroy and tries to make you confused in your mind, which will make you sick in your spirit, which will make you sick in your body as well! 

 

So how will you get the will to fight from God then? You must yell in your mind and with words when needed, “Get behind me Satan! I claim the blood of Jesus!” Pray, Lord, take away my pride, take away my thoughts and give me your thoughts only renewing my mind! (Romans 12:1,2)

 

 

8. 1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. Thank Jesus for giving His blood as a redeeming atonement!

 

You will tell Satan, I am God’s child, I am invaluable since Jesus died for me to have eternal life, and any sin that I may have, Jesus has cleaned me from it! Pray, Jesus, heal my body, mind, and broken heart!

 

So, the first battles with most Christians begins with your own evil self and discouragement; but remember Jesus will get the victory if you get encouragement from the Word, pray and get others to pray too, and you let God work doing your part! 

 

9. Battle two: With others, you will have to be tough with those closest to you, with those people in your life, those in the church and those in your family.

Matt 10:34-36

34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

 

When you live as a true Soldier for Jesus Christ, doing what is correct, pure, and Godly, you will get enemies without even trying! In both Regina and my families there are some people that have no desire whatsoever to see us because they know that we love God and usually talk about the Bible, and since they love the things of the world more than the spiritual things, they do not want us around them making them feel uncomfortable. In this battle you will lose some friends and family, but you will gain others that are more helpful and loving than the ones you had before!

 

This church Corps, and all true churches, are like family! But sometimes there are brothers and sisters who say and do things in their carnal nature, not praying over their words, and they can confuse you if you do not have your eyes on Jesus! Never focus on the complainy neighbor or the critic of your decisions, focus on the ultimate commander, Jesus!

 

Remember, people will always fail you and even some Soldiers even go AWOL, but Jesus, He is a friend forever! Be prepared to have some bad experiences sometimes, it is a part of the battle. But God answers prayers, and blesses those who remain dedicated, pure, loving, and patient!  Those who get off the trail, like the stray sheep, usually get hurt falling in some ditch before Jesus the shepherd brings them back. Turn these types of people over to God’s hands, and let Him deal with them. You will not be able to fix some people, only God’s Holy Spirit can do that!

 

10. And finally battle number 3, you will have war with the evil people of the world!

When the people who practice sin and do evil see peace and love in your face and eyes, and they see your deeds done from a servant’s heart full of compassion serving the needy, it makes them angry and they will often attack you. Remember how the hypocrites wanted to kill Jesus! Some demonic type people want to see everybody sour and bitter, and angry at the world like they are! Never go to their level! Live in peace, turn the other cheek, but don’t let them destroy you! When necessary, say, “I rebuke you in Jesus’ name!” I have had to do this 1,000s of times in my lifetime.

 

As Soldiers and Christians, we have contrasting mindsets with those in the world and when we expose them then we are engaging in a spiritual war.

2 Timothy 3:13   But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

 

The evil ones in the world love death, and war, and abortion but…

  We love life, and peace, and children!

The evil ones in the world love exploitation, material wealth and pride but…

We love righteousness and justice for the poor, and we seek spiritual wealth, desiring to be humble!

The evil ones in the world love to accuse, condemn, hate and create scandal but…

   We love forgiveness, we do not condemn, and like the prostitute forgiven by Jesus, we just let God deal with it! We are peacemakers!

 

11.The values of the world, under its evil empires, carrying out anti-Christian attacks, reveal who is our enemy. Governments, colleges, news outlets, movies and songs, all promote anti-Biblical values 24/7! Bottom line, Satan hates Christians with a passion, and he is at war with every one of us! There is a very active war of propaganda to destroy all values of purity and love by all means possible. It is done by the promotion of the acceptance of perverse sexual behavior, the stripping away of human rights under totalitarian politics, and the demonization of the people of faith. There are continuous lying attacks done on good people and it all comes from the evil powers that control behind the scenes. 

 

Satan exalts everything that is totally diametrically opposed to God’s values insulting and challenging Jesus and all Christians. (But he is always the loser!) And notice, one does not win a defensive war. We all must speak out for God and His love, defending His basic principles that produce respect and dignity through the high standards of values as we fight for the right!

 

The Lord wants exaltation of absolute love, dedication, and loyalty and His Kingdom! And He is the only One who is worthy of fighting for! The very first commandment is to… Love God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind! But if you give your loyalty to men on this earth, they will always let you down and there are no rewards! 

 

12. We are all blessed to be representing as soldiers Jesus the King of Kings! You have a Commander that is all loving, all forgiving, all-powerful, and He knows where you will best serve Him, and you must serve Him with honor.  You and I must battle the enemy and obey His call! If we do not choose to be governed by God, then we will end up being governed by some evil oppressor, even some cruel tyrant! 

 

Just think how many people are stuck on this earth all of their lives as slaves to evil men and not to God! Satan wants to enslave every person with vices, crimes, temptations and sins, creating a sick body, mind, and spirit! Today we all are given an opportunity to serve our true God like never before! 

 

We must fight with the truth to free the souls of men and or they will have hell to pay! You have to fight to keep your own soul and body strong in the Lord!   Philippians 2:12

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

You are the chosen ones to represent your Lord in battle, so march forward to the prize of the high calling of God! Prayer…

Jesus Disciples: The Criticized Misfits!

Jesus Disciples: The Criticized Misfits!                                    Kelly Durant 4-27-25

Luke 5:27 After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” 28 So he left all, rose up, and followed Him.29 Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And there were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them. 30 And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, “Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”31 Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

2. How many of you have had or have unusual friends? People whom are not usually liked? Let’s do a test right now and raise your hands, how many of you have ever befriended (though Jesus with no bad intentions) a prostitute?  Or a drug addict or alcoholic?  Or a Hedonistic partier? Or an extremely poor person living in a very poor house or homeless? What about vulgar people, ex-cons, and misfits? 

Well, these are just a few of the extreme types I have befriended in my life! That is the beauty of Jesus, you and I are able to mingle and converse with all kinds of people and by friendship lead them to grow spiritually and live a better life once they are saved!  

Here is my unusual circumstance; I have been friends most of my adult life with people who do not even speak English but rather Spanish, Portuguese, or sign language! I have had several friends dying of cancer, friends with artificial limbs, mentally challenged friends, friends who had no friends at all; plus thousands have been immigrant strangers living outside their country of origin. I have ministered to people in the markets in Bolivia who made less than $10 a day, and then in the afternoon walked into million dollar mansions of rich factory owners to tutor their children. Through the years I have had opportunity to spend hours in the homes of professional musicians, converse in parties with governors, senators, and mayors, and experience friendships with an extreme mix of cultural, racial, and social status backgrounds. How is this possible? Because Jesus led me into it for His mission! I just pray to adapt and relate! I thank God all the time for the wealth I have, and have had, in friendships of all kinds!  

3. Here is the circumstance: many people forget that Christian Churches, especially the Salvation Army ones, are places where all the misfits and sinners are welcomed without question. William Booth our Founder said, “Go for souls, and go for the worst!” And I have tried my best to do that, but I know not everyone accepts that, nor does that their selves, but that is the mission! It should be the mission of everyone who is saved, we are saved to serve.

I recall in one Corps I attended that there were just a few families that came for years and the Corps Officers were trying to recruit new people. It turned out that over time a new homeless shelter was opened up and all the folks from there started coming in. I was happy to see that, but not all of them there were! It turned out many of them smoked and right after service there would be half a dozen people smoking right in front of the Corps and many were very unhappy and gave them ugly looks! The unwelcomed looks, were harmful!

As you can imagine many complained that we cannot have smokers around like that, others said nothing hoping it would go away, and I looked upon it as just one of those challenges we face when we include new people with the love of Christ!  The contradictory thing is that I, along with some others there, had even smoked in our ancient past, so we were no one to throw stones. Some people stopped coming due to the ugly vibes and in transition people were constantly moving on, but I never will forget that some long time Christians did have a problem accepting new people which were not up to their expected standard. We must all remember from whence we came as David, Psalm 40:2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps.

4. I’ll share with you this, I have a problem with modern day churches that do not include others, be they misfits, immigrants, or the poor. When we were Cadets everyone in the school went to visit a few mega-churches in Atlanta as a group (an experience for writing a lesson) and we got to ask questions to some of the leaders there so we could redact what we observed.

My wife asked one of them, “In your area here 1 in every 3 people are Hispanic, what services do you offer them?” Do you know what the response was? The reply was that their church was focused only on the baby-boomer audience (the middle aged white class with money) and that they did not see a need to reach out to the Hispanics as that was not in their mission objectives?! Their mission did not include helping the poor either, and their church was very rich.

It is sad but there is discrimination in the church today and some of it comes from the majorities, and some of it comes from the minorities as well. That’s why I had been studying the 7 churches in Revelation with you, the church today is no better off today than what they were in their beginnings; the people still are committing mistakes that they are blind to. Those that know me know that no one can ever accuse me of not trying to mix all kinds of people together for the greater good of God’s kingdom! But I am embarrassed by some other Christian denominations that are either too closed minded, or too open minded as they are accepting certain sins as just part of the trends we need to accommodate. Not all mixing is correct to do.

5. So what about Jesus and his motley crew of sinners? The verses of today in Luke 5:27 reveal that people were very offended that he partied with the tax collectors and sinners.  Jesus put the self-righteous ones in their place and stopped their negative judgement by letting them know He was there for the sinners, that sinners are people who are hurting and needed healing. He was not going down to their level but rather bringing them up to His.

Jesus is the great physician, and thank God Jesus does heal all kinds of people, even the worst of sinners such as the thieves and prostitutes.  We see that God and Jesus gives people second and third chances but we as humans are not so holy in this regard. It is natural that when someone has taken advantage of you or me (such as a tax collector, customs official, or a dishonest repair shopman) that we are not so forgiving. We want restitution and justice!

It is hard, it hurts, but you and I have to let grudges go. If we see God is doing a work in someone’s life, no matter how low our concept of that person, we must conform to the fact that God is doing the work we cannot do and just get out of the way and let Him work.

6. We can allow certain heathen, pagans or sinners practicing sin, in our midst for a time to see if they are people searching for God’s truth for a new start, or see if they are just people hanging around because they like our kindness towards them. Anyone who comes to Jesus must start showing fruits of repentance, or if not, that person is just playing with God and everyone else, and that is unacceptable. 

From this verse we learn we are to show tolerance and patience, so that they might learn God’s truth and gain salvation. 2 Timothy 2:25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,

On the flip side, those who remain unrepentant, in other words they show no progress of improvement in behavior, character, or deeds of kindness and no increased love for Jesus, if they prove that they have their own ideas and opinions and they are not willing to allow their total transformation of heart and mind through the Holy Spirit, then there comes a time we must show them the door.

7. Here, in these verses below, are some harsh words for those who want to hang with us but their motives are to remain being their same old sinful self.  

2 Peter 2:12 But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, 13 and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, 14 having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children.

There comes a moment in time when we all must evaluate if a person is in Christ, or in their own rebellion. But I have even more to say about this.

8. I have known people that have been in our alcohol and drug rehab programs that have pretended to be good for a while, but then leaving they to go back to their old sins again but wait to hear the full story. You know how the word describes this?  We are in 2 Peter still. 2 Peter 2:22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”

But despite the ugliness, foul smell, and repugnance we get from seeing people go back to their horrible sins destroying them and others around them, we still must have a certain level of patience. 

So here is where I was going, some people have been in and out of our rehab programs lasting 6 months up to three times and then finally after the third time get a breakthrough and then remain clean 10 or 20 years (or the rest of their lives) ever since. 

9. So be open to mix with all kinds having the vision that one day they might accept Jesus and start a new life, living in purity and holiness as you did.  People can be drinking, smoking, and cursing around you and you are just letting it ride because in the end you are not going down to their level, you are on a higher level on the Rock, Jesus, that cannot be moved. 

Most people resist change, and if any church or Corps is going to grow, they must be willing to take in new people that are like new born children.  And babies grow to be toddlers who fall down and wreck the house, they spill food all over the furniture, and they scream when they don’t like something, but we still help them along to grow into adults. 

So be mature in your inclusive love!  Some things like your race, social status, and character you and I are just born with! But a positive change in Jesus can occur when a person realizes that the standard the of the world, of doing all of what your partying friends are doing,  is not the standard of Jesus. When Jesus (Jesus in you!) is in the house (or party) then those who realize their lives are a big mess and need Him get awestruck by His transforming words and love. How well do you represent Jesus to others? And representing Him to others you may not even like?  

 

Easter: The Uncomfortable Reality!

 

Easter: The Uncomfortable Reality!           By Kelly Durant     4-20-25

 

Mark 16: 14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

 

2. How many of you have seen the classic movie “Risen”? I thought it was extremely well portrayed with much detail as it was in Jesus’ day. It was about the story of the resurrection from the point of view of a Roman Soldier that was sent to investigate what happened at the tomb. Try to rent it or see it, it is well worth it! 

 

My favorite part was when the Roman Soldier found the ropes that sealed the rock frayed from being burst open. This Roman knew what a cut rope would look like, but ropes burst apart? I am sure many people in Jerusalem experienced revelations that caused them to believe in the resurrection as in the story of this soldier! 

The truth is no one will respect or follow a leader once they are dead if they were an oppressor, liar, or a con. However, Jesus’ teachings still rule over thousands of millions even today because He was pure love and truth! 

 

When an evil person dies, as in the case of King Herod, the whole town celebrated! When Jesus died, many mourned but few, we observe by scripture, really expected Him to rise up out of the tomb. The first Easter, His resurrection, transformed humanity into a celebrated victory over death! But the first Easter did not exactly start out as a celebrated moment though.

 

3. Let’s go more into depth of the verses today. It says in Mark, “He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen”. I don’t know how you feel after getting rebuked for doing something wrong, but personally I feel embarrassed and humiliated! I would not feel too festive and happy. We celebrate Jesus’ resurrection today but the first encounter with Him made everyone feel afraid and ashamed of themselves.

 

Imagine witnessing a person die in such a horrific manner as Jesus did, and fearing the Sanhedrin might come to arrest and kill you now, but then you see the crucified Son of Man walking around with holes in their hands and feet, I think it would make any one of us so scared we would faint. It is like when you see a ghost, you feel mortified because you know it is a creature with supernatural power. Jesus showing himself to be supernaturally alive contradicted what is understood concerning reality, logic, and the physically possible!

 

So, to prove it is Himself, Jesus appears out of nowhere to sit down at the table with them to talk. In another instance, He also ate fish with them on the beach. He took time with them but despite being undeniably in this world, they doubted in the beginning. Jesus does not like to see people afraid and doubtful and many times he repeated to all who saw Him the word, ‘peace’! For the doubters and unrepentant Jesus’ presence brings fear, but for those who love Him His presence brings peace! John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”. 

 

4. To illustrate it was not such a celebrative moment at first, recall that the disciples when they first saw Jesus, they were full of fear. Jesus had told them all several times that He would be killed and then come back, but it almost seems as if none of them really believed Him. Mark 8:31 “And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again”.

 

Imagine seeing all the miracles the disciples had seen and then still not believing that He had resurrected! Remember these are dedicated followers that had given up everything to follow Jesus, they had no hopes to go back to their old life, and they saw dozens and dozens of miracles and yet they still doubted?!

 

It just goes to show how we cannot depend on all those who say they have experienced Jesus’ power to remain totally faithful and doubtless through every moment of their lives. Even the most dedicated have their weak moments but the comfort is that Jesus will still love you and receive you even though He may have to rebuke you and correct your lack of faith.

 

5. So, take it to heart, if Jesus rebuked the disciples who were in it all the way until their own martyrdom, how much more you and I should expect to get rebuked by Jesus for our lack of faith, unbelief, and obedience! John 5:21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.

 

Our world today is the same as it was in Jesus’ time, there is a vast majority that will not even believe though there is proof that one was raised from the dead. And then there is also a large group that will not believe because they have not personally seen it. Both are hopeless doubters choosing death over life because they love darkness rather than light.

So, what are we left to work with? 

 

Christians or believers that believe… but have doubts! But the hope is they will come around to have real faith and trust and obedience to what Jesus taught because the Holy Spirit will convict them.

 

6.  Easter then, in many ways, is an uncomfortable rebuke to the world! It is a mortal blow to Satan and his followers who can no longer reap dead men’s souls when those souls have been cleansed in the redeeming blood of Jesus. Jesus’ resurrection stripped away Satan’s power of maintaining a death over humans; that is if that person is repentant, believes, and obeys Jesus. 

 

Easter, being a supernatural event, puts to the test every human mind and heart. A test usually provokes fear but after passing it, relief and peace come. It is amazing to me how many people in this life chose foolishly what they will believe in, thinking they will never answer for their actions. Read the Proverbs, they teach much about fools who refuse to fear and honor God, and their own destruction comes by their own choices. 

Easter is a reminder that Jesus rebuked the doubting followers! 

 

Year after year during these special moments of celebration we must face the fact that some of our Christian brothers are not living pure repented lives displaying that they truly fear God, believe His word, and obey. Once you realize Jesus is alive and present in the here and now through the Holy Spirit speaking in your mind, it will make you be afraid as the 11 disciples at first were!

 

7. The most foolish thing one can do in life is to doubt something that gives you a win win situation such as is the case in believing in the resurrection of Jesus. If you and I simply accept and believe, then we can be sure that we are saved by faith: saved meaning saved from the judgement for the wrongs we have done and also saved from a second death (spiritual one) and be resurrected. Romans 10: 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

 

What have you got to lose by proclaiming Jesus as risen except losing a dozen worthless prideful friends who are materialistic atheistic self-lovers? Start talking about Jesus to everyone you know for a week and see how many still keep you as a friend! They will be a good friend indeed if they are brave enough to allow your light of Jesus to shine in their darkened heart. I lost a few dozen so called friends at age 21 when I got on fire for God, yet I have gained thousands of trustworthy loving Christian friends in dozens of cities in return! You here are my friends that I never would have met if I had not taken the path of proclaiming Jesus risen!

 

The resurrection is real as 2 billion Christians proclaim today! However, if one were to entertain an idea that it were not real, we would be as Paul states in I Cor 15: 16 “For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.” But I KNOW we will not be disappointed! He will make us rise up as He did!

 

8. You and I have full trust that these ancient records in the Bible are truth and come from God’s anointed; that Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John and all the 11, plus the hundreds of other men and women, had a supernatural experience witnessing Jesus’ presence in His resurrected body. This is an experience you and I have not personally had but choosing to believe their story will unexplainably fill your spirit full of hope, peace, and a sense of eternity. When you believe, you inherently know it is truth and you will even die for it!

 

I also trust the testimonies of the millions of Christians that have lived before me sincerely having convictions of the truth of Jesus resurrection. If His resurrection was not something real, then what miserable lives Christians have lived being tortured, martyred, and humiliated by most every evil government that has ever existed! And remember how Jesus even showed himself to doubting Thomas.\

 

Here is a personal belief, I think that people who ask God if Jesus is really who He says He is or not, that God reveals His truth to them. Jesus in a dream revealed to me I had a mission to stop being who I was and to go into the world and save souls. And I obeyed the call! I have been reading testimonies from Christian news sources that many Muslims are getting revelations that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus is here, now awakening!

 

9. Now back to our verses of today. Did you catch how Jesus rebuked the 11 for not believing (vs14) “those who had seen Him after He had risen”. Who is He referring to? That was Mary & partners! Jesus showed his resurrected body first to her. What does that mean? It means He trusted her to be the witness to all the others and it seems they thought that she was just a woman being emotional and delusional.  

 

So, Mary was in essence being praised while they were being rebuked. The pride of man is an evil thing. Then the next uncomfortable part is vs 15. And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature”. This verse, in my opinion, has been one of the least obeyed verses in the Bible. Very few Christians, dedicate their lives to travel in all the world just to preach Jesus. Thank God every first disciple obeyed! Soon afterwards every believer obeyed and went out preaching Jesus after gaining power from the Holy Ghost as we read in Acts 1. 

 

Conclusively then, doubting the resurrection and not recognizing the first Easter as a reality will get you a rebuke from Jesus! Not listening to those who make you uncomfortable with the good news will get you a rebuke from Jesus. But being spiritually uncomfortable is the way God gets you and me to move out into action! Conviction is what changes you and me!

 

10. And the final inconvenient uncomfortable reality is vs.16 “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” How clear is that? If you believe that Jesus lives, you will live as well! If not you will be condemned to let nature’s death taking its course; it’s as simple as that. 

 

And the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a must! John states in Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 

Do you feel uncomfortable at Easter? Let Jesus peace come in!

The fire of God is what purifies our hearts and minds of all sin. It brings on the full repentance bringing us into holiness, obedience, and most importantly, living our lives motivated by God’s love! The Salvation Army’s mission statement makes it clear; we are “motivated by the love of God!” 

 

Today, if believing that Jesus is as alive as He was over 2,000 years ago has not penetrated your doubtful heart, come and pray to accept Him in your heart and then Romans 10:9-10 will be a reality for you. You will be saved and resurrected when He returns. John 6:40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” Pray!

Jesus: Praised by People and by Rocks

Jesus: Praised by People and by Rocks                 Re: 4-13-25   by Kelly Durant

 

Luke 19:36 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;

38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.

40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

 

2. How many of you have ever heard a strange sound and you can’t tell what it is or where it’s coming from? I recall one time I was in an English class in Santiago, Chile, in the Mercurio Newspaper where I had a student and there was a strange loud whistling sound outside the building. I asked the people in the office what that strange sound was that sounded like an alien invasion with a mystical musical tone. They said that that was a beggar below playing a saw (like for cutting wood)! He played for money, but he had talent enough to produce a song for a Star Trek movie! I later went down to see him, what skill he had!

 

Have you ever noticed some people like music loud and others hate it that way? It depends on the music right? If it is a famous and magical song then loud is just fine, but if it is some mechanical machine sound with talentless verbally slurred words it is an irritation, agreed? A river flowing over stones is a southing sound, agreed? 

 

Now, have you ever noticed that the worship of God always involves sound or music, no matter the culture? Muslims pray with their loudspeakers blasting at certain hours in all their cities repeating a prayer. Hindus repeat the ‘Omm’ sound until the vibrations induce an altered state, and Christians usually shout out, ‘Praise the Lord, Hallelujah, Glory to God!’  All of these involve the human voice, and praise with music added will often be very moving. God created us to crave sound! All of nature is producing vibrations and sound!

 

3. Our ears are amazing! God created them to absorb Him and his good vibrations of creation, and His Word came before all things! John 1 ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God’. Then came His light. So, his spoken wisdom in word went out when light was created, how amazing all of John 1 is!

 

Romans 10:17 ‘So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God’. We hear sounds and words all day long, but only by hearing God’s word do we reach a point of understanding His love, depth, and wisdom and get a connection with Him.

 

So, what could Jesus have meant by saying the rocks would cry out in praise to Him if the people were to shut up? This statement, like so many that Jesus made, seems to echo the message in other verses. Like when Jesus explained that God would raise up followers and if it none came from the people, that He would even raise up stones. Matthew 3:9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.   

 

4. We are celebrating Palm Sunday today, glory to God in the highest! All around Jerusalem where Jesus was entering in were rocks and stones. Israel is mostly desert with stones everywhere!  I once wrote a 5 page report paper on how the stones speak to us concerning all the history that occurred around Jerusalem.

 

You and I are aware that in the Old Testament altars were made of stone to support the sacrifices of the lambs and animals. When one looks at 3,000-year-old round stone altars that the Philistines and other heathen cultures made in Israel, I could almost hear the screams of the children crying out that had died as human sacrifices with their blood dripping over these cold hard stone platforms. Rocks and stones can tell a story and they may even supernaturally speak to you and me if God wants them to!

 

Isn’t it interesting that God told Moses while in the desert with the children of Israel to speak to the rock to get out the water? All of God’s nature is under His control and knowing that man was made from clay (being rock in a soft state), it is not so far-fetched to believe that God could raise up praise and His people from the stones.  

 

5. The palm branches (used to show peace and praise) and the shouts praising Jesus while entering Jerusalem were what God desired, as they witnessed to the whole city and the world that Jesus was the Messiah, the awaited chosen one, and the Savior of the world! Blessed are those that praised Him then and us who praise Him now! We did not see Him in person as they did, but we do sense His presence in our lives!

 

Imagine Jesus was defying the so-called spiritual authorities of His day telling Him and everyone to shut up from their praises and He threatened them with having the rocks praise Him! I wish the rocks would have spoken up, that would have scared them to death, right?  

 

It is just like today, there are many people from liberal universities, from pagan nations, and from amongst our own communities and families mocking us who praise Jesus telling us to shut up! But we can’t! Even when some are silent, others show up to give Him praise! Jesus overwhelms the place when He shows up!

 

6. Another focus, take into account rocks are also used as killing instruments and we all know about people dying by stoning. If a person broke the law and committed an abomination, they would be stoned to death. The Jews and most nations no longer practice this, but many Islamic nations still do. You can see a person murdered by stoning by Muslims on Youtube (if they did not erase them), if you want to. But God himself will stone the wicked in the latter days for cursing at Him and at His Son Jesus, Revelation 9:18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone (stone!), which issued out of their mouths. 

 

Stones and landscapes may stay put or idle for millennia, or stones may be cut and transported for construction, no matter how they are used, afterwards they bear a testimony which can tell a story of how God, or men utilized them. 

 

7. God is connected to all of nature, and He is aware when blood is spilled on the ground or on the rocks.

What did God say after Cain killed Abel? Genesis 4:10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. God is in pain for all of the atrocities man does to His fellow man and destroying the precious life on earth. 

 

All of creation bursts out in praise to Jesus when Jesus is near, but in the meantime the situation of our earth and nature is sad and cruel because few praise Him. Due to evil men, and Godless mockers, our creation is under stress. Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

 

We usually think of stones as rough, dumb, heavy, common as dirt objects, but they can be more than that. Jesus referred to himself as a stone! Matthew 21:42 ‘Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?’

 

Because we love and praise Him, God wants us to become as a precious stone as Jesus became, did you know that? The scripture infers that we, the believers are as precious stones fitting along side of Jesus. 1 Peter 2:7 ‘Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner’.

 

8. And considering the palm branches that were used for praising, Jesus also described Himself as the vine, and we are His branches that must stay connected to Him in order to stay alive. John 15:1 ‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.’

 

One other thing about stones, certain ones actually communicate! When I was a kid I was fascinated that you can make your own radio, that quartz could absorb radio waves and you could hear through the quartz. A friend and I built one and a fence was the antenna. Quartz is also used in fine watches to get the exact seconds of measurement. 

 

The Hebrew priests had breastplates with 12 stones, symbolic of the 12 tribes of Israel. So precious stones have been communicating and praising God from the beginning. Don’t mystics always use their crystals to connect to the spiritual realm? But I doubt the things they claim to hear! We are warned not to listen to the soothsayers!

 

Precious stones make up the structure and the walls of heaven! We have studied this before in Revelation 21. So, Jesus’ connection to stones is evident. Jesus’ connection to all of creation, even within inanimate objects like stones precious or not, is evident as His presence invokes praise.  

 

9. Shutting up when Jesus is near? It’s impossible! He is always the center of attention as a huge rock in the middle of the road. You either embrace Him or hate Him, but no one escapes ignoring Him.  Romans 9:33

As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumbling stone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. It is our calling to honor Jesus as the only rock and foundation upon which we should build our lives. 

 

Jesus’ humble entrance in Jerusalem invoked praise and He got the red carpet greeting, or I should say green carpet greeting with the palm branches! Not everyone praised Him though, the Pharisees and indifferent faithless didn’t. That is symbolic of how it has been for perpetual generations, some loudly praise and love Him, while others observe and think the praisers have lost their minds. But we haven’t, we recognize who He is, we feel Him, and we tremble with His vibrations (Word).

 

We will praise Jesus when we float into the gates of heaven, into the New Jerusalem. We will share heaven with many in that same crowd that praised Jesus on Palm Sunday in Jerusalem. So, praise God as they do in heaven. Praise Him every day, in every moment of the day, amen!