Kelly Durant’s Sermon Quotes by Subject

Kelly Durant’s Sermon Quotes by Subject

Accusations

Those with a quick mentality to accuse are influenced by Satan who is known as, “the accuser of the saints”. People who are too quick to accuse, too quick to judge without all the facts, and afterwards never allow for an explanation, a reconnection, or reconciliation to determine if they were fair or wrong in their accusations, judgment, or reasoning for their out of control feelings are classified as being “fools” according to the Word of God in Proverbs 29:11 A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.

Apologetics

All your life as a Christian you will be challenged, made fun of, and provoked by those who have everything in their minds mixed up, these are the people with their minds fashioned by the corrupt worldviews of the day and false doctrines. How intellectually prepared are you to defend Christ? To defend you must be opinionated; you have a right to believe what you choose! Never let another person intimidate you that you must accept heresy!

Appreciation                                                                                                                                       

And Jesus said that Mary Magdalene is to be honored; it was pure thankfulness and love in her tears! Think about it, in your lifetime a few times you may have a few shed tears out of thankfulness for something someone special did for you. But his is extreme purity and holiness; this is a passionate crying repentance and love for Jesus as He wishes to see it! I wish there existed more people with this same passion and appreciation today!

Availability 

Usually it is only 3 to 5% of the church people that make their selves available to help with important projects volunteering. Making your own schedule and priorities secondary to the wishes of those being served is a noble act that will gain you heavenly rewards. But the people who are unavailable and always busy with their own things all the time probably wonder why God is not very available for them. Loving God means loving and serving others He created.

Bitterness

Unthankful bitter people lose their perspective of what others suffer. Bitter people are always self-focused. The disciples were not thankful for the tears that washed Jesus’ feet, they were indignant. Bitterness can come in when it is exposed one does not have a radical and total dedication in honoring Christ and someone else beside you does.

Competiveness

Young people and many adults are extremely competitive! They want to show off that they are the best, that they are better than the teacher, better than the preacher and supreme in all things. When they meet someone in their world, in the school or church, that seems more influential, more beautiful, or more talented, the first reaction is to hate them and destroy them. Everywhere, in schools, in jobs, in churches, we see this superiority immaturity! Competition is often nothing but pure hatred out of pride desiring the humiliation of a person who did not desire to do the work to compete fairly in the first place!

Capitalism or Socialism

Corrupt leaders will always be administrating the wealth they have confiscated either by high taxes, or property acquisition. Corruption in all systems has always been, and will always be, that is why Jesus said the “poor will always be with you”. But did Jesus promote a taking from the rich to give to the poor from the passage we just read? Luke 18:22 He in fact did, but within the context of sharing it for the fair & equal distribution in God’s Kingdom! It was to provide for the needs of the desperate poor and the disciples! But this was also about being a test of love. Did he love God and his neighbor enough to share it all? In God’s Kingdom there are many mansions, Jesus idea is that sharing all the wealth makes everyone rich here and in heaven, and with Jesus system there is no lower class of degraded poor! The young man appeared perfect in regards to the law, but he was disobedient, loving money more than God & others!

Church

The church, or this new loving group of called out ones that Jesus established, were designed to be a movement of follower teachers. They were sent to do God’s Kingdom work, to pray, preach, heal, and recruit souls that would teach others to follow Jesus as well. Jesus did not leave engineering plans and then ask his disciples to build impressive structures and then get people to come visit the extravagant cathedral so they could hear God’s word. The early disciples had many places where to meet, such as in homes. The emphasis was to “go” and preach the gospel to every creature. Expensive to maintain, luxurious structures distract the money and the mission away from getting out as Jesus did who made everyplace He went a temple, a place where God is. 

Compassion

They say that giving a beggar a piece of bread is a civil duty, but to give him a bread with butter on it, now that is compassion! Compassion is a divine quality something that is in all cultures with a certain measure, but the sad thing is that it is also very much diminishing in most cultures today. The level of the spiritual development of a culture or people can be measured by how much compassion they have. Being realistic, only Christians throughout time have proven over and over to be the ones to truly shell out millions and with an army of volunteers when there is a need or crisis. As a Christian how much compassion do you express? How much compassion does this community have? It lacks a lot!

Contributions

There is a hymn that says, I gave my life for you, what have you given to me? The Bible makes it clear we are to show our thanks to Jesus by giving Him our whole life, our time, our money and everything for His work! People that choose churches that only ask them their money contribution are getting robbed of blessings! There is a joy in serving others, in the giving of our lives in service as Jesus’ disciples did. But contributions here and there will never give you back the great joy and satisfaction you deserve to be getting as when you contribute all you can.

Correction

Today we live in a society that does not discipline nor correct people for their wrong as they need it! Quite often the right ones who justifiably want to correct someone, to expose the damage and wrong doing, end up with the punishment of ridicule and frustration instead! We live in a world were good is proclaimed as bad and the bad is exalted as good!

Culture

Racial and cultural relations are broken all the time because people are not willing to observe and respect the formalities and customs that are within the culture of the other! The rivalry between tribes, nations, and tongues has been going on ever since the beginning of time but what is our role as a Christian? How should we respond to others different than ourselves? Try to be “one” of them as Paul says to be as a Greek to the Greek, and as a Roman to the Roman.

Discipline

How many people have you ever heard give testimonies of how it was when they were disciplined by God? Here is a big problem: Many people are so unspiritual they do not even perceive when the Lord is dealing with them and understand when things do not come out right that there is a purpose. And the other problem: when people are corrected, they hide it from others so they will appear perfect. Neither way is right. 

Evangelism

 When we as Christians practice evangelism, it is very real like the sewer in the parable.  In Matt 13:3-8   there are 4 seeds and only one turned out to be the amazing one in four to give fruit! What we could conclude is, this is a crazy investment! I get little reward back for all the effort, I get waste and unthankfulness! Only 25% good if that much! But the rewards are in heaven!

Fathers

The first step for a man to be capable of being a good father is for him to recognize that he has a Father over him, who is God. If he gives honor and respect to someone over him, then he becomes a good example to his children and they will in turn honor and respect him. It works both ways, if he doesn’t honor God or anyone, his children will not learn to honor nor respect him and men, or fathers, reap what they sew.

Friends

So, mark out the names of the friends on your list who are not walking in love, or in other words, not living their lives in sacrifice to their family and others as God wants. You do not need friends who are not close to God. Even if only the pastor’s name is the only one left on your list, at least you will have Jesus and one more person on earth to look to whom you can trust and never regret knowing. In life we will always have friends, but who are friends are greatly affects our spiritual walk! Better quality than quantity and the honestly good over the ones with dubious motives who can end up draining the life out of you with their troubles or interest.

Entitlements

Some people believe they should benefit from what others have and should give up. This type of entitlement thinking wants the government, or the church, or their parents, or their husband or their wife or relatives to be continually giving to them all what they want just because they see them as richer, and having more than them. This one type of relationship from this unbiblical way of thinking and acting creates resentments, bitterness, and division. In Genesis the ones taking the best land by being selfish later paid a higher price. To share is Biblical but to share it with people who will appreciate it and not waste it.

Expectations

Some people have the expectation that we will serve them all the time, and that we will keep producing more bread and fish for them as they produce nothing; no souls won to the Lord, no friends converted to Jesus or the church. How sad their souls will be for eternity with nothing stored up in the bank of heaven! People expect, but do they give what is expected of them?

Family 

Jesus confirms that our greater family, the true common blood Christians near us, are the true family we have in God. Family is also friends, not just the relatives we inherited in our lives from our parents. Jesus makes it clear since He said,“I am your friend”, and He was a friend better than a brother, He laid down His life for you and me! He also expects the same standard from us towards our Christian brothers and sisters! Real families love each other and give their lives for each other!

Foolish Men

You can be a man with money, with power, with fame, and with much education, but without submitting to God’s wisdom you can be reduced to being an embarrassing fool! Many men reduce their lives to being in hell now and in hell hereafter, because they allow pride, selfishness, and lust, and to control them.  It destroys not just their life, but the lives of those closest to them!

Greed

What did the scripture say about the man who got a little prosperity and was rich? He wanted even more! When he had no problems, when God was good to Him, what was his attitude? Did he go to the temple and thank God for his prosperity? No! He became more and more selfish, he wanted to build bigger barns! And what provoked God’s wrath on his life? What caused God to decide to not only let Him loose everything but cut his life short? He had a heart that only could think about himself and no one else! He wanted to enjoy life without the bother of seeking or thanking God who gave him his life and his prosperity in the first place!

Hypocrites

People claim there are hypocrites in the church and they do not want to go to church. That’s like saying I do not want to see the doctor because his lobby is full of sick people! And true there always are a few hypocrites everywhere, in families, public office, etc., but usually those accusing are the not converted. They are people overcome with minds that mirror the hypocritical world. Hypocrites? These always are the other people, right? See your own!

Independence Celebrations

Jesus is very interested in the liberty and spiritual freedom of each of us! He wants us to have an Independence Day celebration!  When you first repented and received Jesus that was your Independence Day of sin and death, and it is your rebirth into the family of God with eternal life!

Immigrants

Jesus was an immigrant! He left his celestial home in heaven to come down to this poor unjust earth to be one of us! How many of you are immigrants? How many of you know how hard it is to be an immigrant? Like the immigrants, Jesus Christ had to arrive in humble circumstances! He was amongst the poorest of the poor born where the animals are born, in a manager.

Kingdom of God

Are you so presumptuous to assume that you are bound for heaven? Flesh and blood cannot inherit the “kingdom of God”! In other words you will not enter in if you are who you are now as only the holy, only the pure in heart, only the peacemakers, only the humble, only the merciful, only the honest and just, only the loving and persecuted for God will enter in! If you don’t have these qualities now, you won’t just instantly gain them there in heaven.  Jesus in Matthew 16:19 reveals that how you are now is how you will eternally remain!

Loyalty

Imagine, all of the disciples saw His miracles, they had heard all of His teachings, they probably were proud to boast that they were followers of the newest wave, at how Jesus was so popular. But now, what happens when his teaching no longer makes them feel good? What happen when a certain sermon suddenly makes Him unpopular & persecuted?  Their loyalty went out the door, and Jesus makes it clear they never believed in the beginning.

Nature

If you look up In the Bible the word tree, or look up references to the stars, animals, or any of God’s creatures or creation, you will find that there are hundreds and hundreds of these examples that display the majesty of God. All nature is used in the Bible as a spiritual metaphor as well. It is the devil’s role to try and destroy everything God made, as much as possible, be it the souls of people or any nature life as well!

New Year’s Goals

What you and I see from year to year is that some people are progressing in their walk with God being more loving, winning more people to His mission while others seem to be getting more self-centered, and farther away from God! Some people are looking more towards the things of the earth, and some are seeking more the things of God.  What goals have you made?

Perceptions

Perceptions of people, what they think about you and I, are what mess us up relationally. Godly guided people will understand more and speak more for the things of God in others, but most people do not perceive the whole picture as God does. The perceptions people deduct will cause them to speak up but notice it is usually over what is of their own self interests.  

Prophets

Paul’s definition implies that a prophet is one who follows all the word of God! A believer and transmitter of the message will follow the Old Testament, the Gospels, and the Godly counsel of fellow Christians. All Christians who share God’s message are in reality prophets! But what is a prophet? Isn’t that one of those Pentecostals who suddenly stand up in the middle of church service and yell out a verse or some phrase that tells everyone what they are supposed to do? No, that is not a prophet but a manipulator!  

 

Punishment

I want to ask you does any child just say, Oh I am so happy you are punishing me? No! No one likes punishment and the problem with some people is they have never let God do what He needs to do to clean out the rottenness in their life. They are like the dental patient who stops the dentists work and says, you know what, I don’t like pain so just leave that tooth alone, I’m out of here! But the rot will cause death! We all must learn to appreciate God’s corrections.

Relations With People

Working with people can easily be compared to the job of the snake charmer who dances the cobra with a flute! Most of the times it seems like everyone is happy, and you are happy and a lot is getting done for the kingdom of God, and then suddenly someone makes a human mistake, and then the flow of work & the music gets interrupted and then the fangs come out! Most people are not even aware of their own vicious nature when things do not go as they want them too!  People do not even perceive their own pride nor see with God’s spirit when they attack others with unkind words or defend their actions which are not according to God’s spirit!

Sadness

Sometimes God wants us to cry and be sad not over what sadness we feel from our circumstances but over the sadness He feels over us because we are proud and not clean and obedient. Everyone has a heart that needs a washing by tears but for the right reasons. It is sad that we are not in love with God more, wanting to be closer to Him in prayer and in His Word more every day!

Sin

There are many Christians that accept Jesus but they really never ask God to clean them totally inside. They want to keep having their little sins of gossip and greediness. The drug addicts and prostitutes, and really bad people understand what it means to give it all up to God, but the problem is with many people who grow up in the church, and they think they have not done too much to be so bad and wrong, is that they do not see their own faults. Sadly, there are those here, and there are Christians around the world that go to church but they never do confess their sins and live fully changed lives.

Soldiers

The Christian Soldiers of all churches are a small minority group but they have the privileged and elect status of a Soldier because they are willing to march out there into danger into their neighborhoods just as Jesus did to love the unlovely, to heal the wounded, and to preach the truth of the gospel! Soldiers fight battles with the truth against the dominant evil and each time and place requires its own tactical strategy for effectiveness. 

Teachers

In reality we are all teachers! We are all students too, but we are all teaching something just by our actions! This is evident by the way we live, the habits we repeat in our homes daily; everything we do is teaching someone close to us, our children, our spouses, our friends, what our character is made of whether it be truthfulness or hypocrisy. Whether we are authentically sweet and kind and gentle and loving, or whether we are loud mouthed complainers, unthankful and critical of everything behind closed doors!

Time

Decades pass us by. Returning to my hometown to revisit old neighborhoods is like time travel. The old neighbor next door who drove the old ‘57 Chevy for years finally bought a new Oldsmobile in the 80’s, and now that one is an already antique! Time on all of us without fail takes its toll and degenerates people and communities but only leaders with a vision to renovate and conserve that worth saving bring better circumstances. Everything before our eyes is rusting away, but God is in the renovating, saving, and conserving the good business.  

Uneducated-ness

Proverbs 1:22  How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners (accusers) delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? The verse is basically making it clear that people who are simple and not intelligent enjoy being conflictive with others and are happy when they can bring up a subject that they can speak scornfully about to you, or of someone else. They only show their ignorance. Here is the sad part we observe more and more: Many Christians remain with simple minds due to their lack of educating themselves with the Word of God and they don’t even recognize their own ignorance! Some Christians today only hear a sermon every other week and they never open their Bibles and this keeps them simple, uneducated, and in danger of retaining a small mind and loud opinion that is more carnal than spiritual.

Vision

Your vision influences your personal life and walk with the Lord. Some people have the vision just to maintain enough in life to just get by; some want just enough of God to keep them out of hell, while others want all the blessings they can get out of the Lord! Like in the Prayer of Jabez, his family had a past of suffering, like you may have had, but he wanted prosperity and protection from evil, and God gave it to him! Vision invites reaction, either mediocre or great!

Beware: Satan Can Use You! At Halloween or Anytime

Beware: Satan Can Use You! At Halloween or Anytime    By Kelly Durant  10-27-24

Mark 8: 27 And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?²⁸And they answered, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.²⁹And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.³⁰And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.³¹And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.³²And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. ³³But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

2. Today we are aware that Halloween is this weekend. And why are more and more Christians getting less unattracted to this pagan tradition? Why do some of us choose not to celebrate it? Is it because of how it is not just for fun anymore, but news reports reveal actual Satanists worship and sacrifice on this day? Through the years the costumes have gone from cartoonish to diabolical, right? 

There is no need for me to discuss in detail the practices and works of the devil, satan, or lucifer, on certain holidays; everyone knows of these and how they are manifest in each culture! We do associate satan with just this, pagan customs, and evil manipulative and fearful manifestations at certain marked times. 

Halloween is an easy target to identify, it is obviously playing around with the appearance of evil, even though most every child trick or treating is not engaged in satan worship. However, some people actually do worship satan on Halloween day, and others just take it as a dress up day. You and I reject it most out of it not being something lovely, pure, and virtuous but ugly, not exhaling worship to God, and we “avoid the appearance of evil”. 1 Tess. 5:22

Consider these verses Phil 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.

3. Now back to Mark 8 and how satan comes at anytime. Have we ever examined this scripture before? First it starts off good. Peter is showing that he is the most spiritual, the best student, the most wise to answer. He answered in verse 29, “Thou art the Christ”! He was top of the group; he must have been proud of his confirmation by Jesus that he spoke well.

But then what happens? Jesus starts teaching of his death; he is teaching something supernatural, a prophecy about His rejection, trial, death and resurrection after 3 days. And what does Peter do? He thought he knew all the best answers, right?

Peter has the nerve to rebuke Jesus! Peter had just declared that He was the Christ, but now He is telling Christ that he is wrong to say what He is saying?! What nerve! So, what was Jesus’ reaction? He said to Peter, vs.33 Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savors not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

He rebukes Satan in Peter! That is a very strong rebuke! Let’s look at this a bit more.

4. I find there are only 3 times that Jesus addresses satan personally in the gospels. Jesus did teach about the works of the devil. One example is in John 10:10  ¹⁰The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

But the 3 times Jesus addresses the satan personally is: 1. When he is tempted in the dessert and He rebukes satan, 2. When he addresses him in Peter who is accusing Him 3. When he addresses him in Judas who is possessed, betraying, and scheming violence against him paid by the Sanhedrin in the last supper.

The works of the devil in people are usually obvious. Satan gets others to participate in division by inspiring anger, jealousy, rage, and violence and even killing so that they inflict great damage on God’s work and others doing God’s work. John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

5. Satan is always destroying life, relationships, and corrupting souls for his use. He is a thief and a liar and his deeds get exposed. How many of you know people who have their lives full of broken-ness and destruction? They don’t even realize satan is using them!

It is ironical and hypocritical that many people have hurt others in their past very deeply and yet they complain of the hurt others have done to them! We reap what we sew! But then there are as well people who have just been victims of evil people!

And what about satan’s deeds amongst God’s people? Could it be that there are personalities amongst us as Peter that most of the time are spiritual and even leaders, but sometimes they, out of their anger or pride, damage the good that someone of God is doing? 

6. There is a phenomenon in life. Most people think that they are the center of the universe! Most people never see the big picture of what God is trying to do in their lives, of what God’s long-term plan with the whole group is! This was the case of Peter and Judas! They were accusers against Jesus’ words and deeds and God’s plan! 

Peter was so proud that he was following the “Son of God” so lifted up that he was bolder and smarter than the others, but at the same time so unaware of his own personal defects! Do we see others near us blind to their own personal defects?

Don’t forget Peter denied Jesus 3 times and God let that happen in order to smash his pride into nothing! In order to embarrass him as the least bold in front of all so that he would radically change and finally become useful enough to do God’s will and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ! Can you relate to this in your own life?

7. Peter’s pride was offended that Jesus announced that he would die and be raised up again! No! How could that be the future for the Son of God? Peter did not want to be following a “loser”, he could not let Jesus be murdered like that! His pride and joy leader could not become a symbol of rejection, humiliation, and death! Peter was not a good listener because Jesus says at the time that He will be raised up! That was a supernatural miracle transcending everything!

Peter was accusing Jesus of being wrong! Peter is only focusing on the negative. Peter did not see the bigger picture of God’s work, and that is just like so many of us in the church! How many of you know people who only focus on the negative? They always comment the most negative things for everything because they never believe nor foresee that there is something good at work in God’s plans? 

8. So how can satan use even the best of people? When people do not have things their way, when they can’t be the center of the attention, when someone says or does something that they don’t like, instead of praying, instead of holding their words until they find out more of what is happening, instead of asking God what are you doing and changing in my life even though I do not understand, these people explode like Peter!

I lost count of the number of times I have seen people in their own carnal reactions without the holy Spirit just explode and speak all kinds of evil against other brothers and sisters, against the leaders, against the Captains, against their Corps or the Salvation Army, all done in their ignorance, anger, destructiveness and their unawareness of that they are being used by satan!

That is the accusatory satan that can get into any one of us, “the accuser of the saints” that should be rebuked by someone, corrected by some leader in the church! Jude 1:9
Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee!

9. It is confusing when we see such a strong leader as Peter be so carnal at times! It happens in the church! I believe a person who has had Jesus for years, a person who walks in real (not pretended) holiness having the Holy Spirit as their guide, usually is protected from satan’s attacks, but we all must all watch out & pray without ceasing!

Satan uses any situation to make us explode in anger, to divide us, to make us think we are justified to criticize and condemn someone else over some word or action that they did, but the reality is when we rebuke a righteous person who has God on their side, we are opening ourselves up to get a rebuke, as in the case of Peter! 

I understand legitimate complaints and there are mistakes made by people, misunderstandings sometimes, and these can be fixed over a friendly meeting and a conversation, but people who allow their selves to speak condemnation and accusations as Peter need to ask their selves, is satan using me? Have you seen satan use someone you know in the past?

Satan has used most of us in times past to some degree due to our ignorance and immaturity. But what does God need to do in your life, what humiliation does he need to allow, how hot does God need to allow the fire of the trials in your life to be in order to purge out all of the impurities and carnal behaviors you have?

10. Don’t forget that if you do not accept a rebuke and humble yourself and repent, you will end up like Judas! Peter repented in tears, but Judas wanted to show he was in charge! He was not going to get humiliated by Jesus! Jesus was not doing what he wanted for him nor for the Zealots, so he just betrayed him!

So many so-called Christians betray their own brothers and sisters, betray their own pastors or Captains, and the church they attend because they, like Judas, never accepted that God wanted them to be humbled and radically changed! 

Instead, they always wanted to change the mission, God’s plan of what the church should do! This was Peter and Judas problem! They always criticized and wanted to change the message of the leader and pastor. This was Peter and Judas problem! They always wanted to show off that they knew more than everyone else, that they were more spiritual! Satan used Peter and Judas because they had a pride problem!   

11. The instruments of satan always think they are always right, and others are always wrong! They believe their spirituality is superior and more dedicated than anyone else. They always say divisive things!      

The question is, has satan been in your thoughts and actions lately? Some are so quick to proclaim their own goodness, that we reject Halloween, that one never drinks, that we fast and pray, but how are we on the scale of pride going against Jesus? Pride is everyday temptation and is serious, vs. a holiday that is not taken seriously by some! 

Has satan used you to bring accusations, dissentions, betrayals amongst the saints? Satan knows he is an ugly creature who brings death, but few really recognize him for his subliminal works, for his works of accusing, dividing, and destroying the good that God is doing!

12. We resist satan, the thief, the destroyer, the liar, the murderer, the accuser of the saints and Lord help us to rebuke and expose his words and works when we see them manifest in some weaker brother or sister!  Let’s focus on the good! Let’s focus on the positive! Let’s focus on Jesus!

At the name of Jesus, the devil flees! Especially when a saint is on his knees!

Be aware of satan’s devices, not just on holidays, but remember Jesus beat satan once and for all, Jesus cancelled the death sentence satan brought us, and the wonderful thing is we can call on Jesus anytime! Jesus frees us from satan’s influence, temptations, and subliminally devious cultural traditions.

 

 

 

Astrology: The Study of The 7 Sacred Sciences Part 6

Astrology: The Study of The 7 Sacred Sciences Part 6

God Taught Adam all things, His Sons Corrupted it: A 7 part series

 

 

Psalm 147:4

He counts the number of the stars; he calls them all by their names. Genesis 1:14

Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; Jude 13 raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.

 

2. How many of you love to look at the stars? They are quite fascinating! I think all of us would like to imagine ourselves traveling around the universe zipping past the stars as on Star Trek, Star Wars, and other space story imaginations. Since the beginning of creation, people have wanted to conquer and understand the purpose of everything that is out there beyond our reach. How intimidating it is to know we are so small and that the stars and space are so limitlessly huge!

 

Astrology is the study of heavenly bodies and their influences. If you want to research the stars you will go down one of two paths, the one of a spiritual connections and story-telling of ancient events, or one of man’s recent sterile material physical matter explanations which classifies all celestial bodies as meaningless full of contradictory theories., aka as astronomy.

 

But here is the question today in this communication: Do the stars teach us about God? If so, then we as Christians should consider doing a deeper study of them. We should approach studying this part of God’s creation with an open Biblical mind without being scared away by all the subverted Satanic principles implied by star signs predictions like in the the zodiac, the horoscope, and in the mysteriously unexplained phenomena that celestial bodies communicate.  

 

3. If you go back before the time of Moses you will discover that Job wrote about the stars. Job 22:12

“Is not God in the height of heaven? And see the highest stars, how lofty they are! Job 38:7 When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy? 

 

Most Christian churches today consider it sinful to spiritualize and equate the stars with anything connected to the ancient stories of celestial beings, but then why are these verses here? Was not Job one of God’s favored? How did he learn of these stories that are told in the stars? What are these stories?

 

As in all the rest of this series of messages, I believe it was God Himself who taught Adam all about the stories that the celestial bodies tell and it was Adam’s sons that got corrupted God’s message with the Satanic help of the fallen angels which lived on earth; these are those who invented stories so we would worship them and not God. Satan always adds half-truths and twisted ‘alternative facts’ to nullify God’s story. The Holy Spirit will guide you and me into God’s purposes if we can get past all the filters and mis-directions the world has fed us with!  

 

4. So why do Christians shy away from astrology? It is because they are aware that most astrologers are connected to Satanic false prophesying, as has historically been done by wizards, witches, soothsayers, and zodiac interpreters? Deuteronomy 18: 9 “When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11 or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.  Many people today believe certain days and seasons should influence decisions for occult practices, for instance Halloween is a scared day for the practice of evil. November 1^st is the day of the dead, when certain cultures connect with the departed spirits. 

 

And referring to the zodiac have you not known people who say things like, “I can’t help how I am stubborn natured, ‘cause I am a Taurus!” How deceptive to think you must identify with a supposed bull in the stars and then act like one. That is a mental slavery and sorcery, a spell of an illusion! Christ gives us a new nature no matter what label the world wants to tag on us!

 

The paradigm of the events of the universe, being predetermined by unseen celestial astronomical/astrological influences, has enslaved the human race throughout all time in every culture in all recorded history! This is Satanic and is a perversion against God as God has granted all persons freewill and guidance through Jesus and the old prophets on absolute truth. Massive physical energy bodies light years away cannot bless or curse your life without your consent nor make your character be forged in stone! There could be a story in the stars, but we should only accept the ones told by the ancients who were not idol worshippers, such as the wise men who followed the Bethlehem star.

 

5. Astrology, and the use of it as a prediction of future events, coinciding with the study of the zodiac characters seems to have been the obsession of the first nations as the Sumerians (the first to write about it) then the Egyptians, the Persians, the Greeks, and the Romans, all obsessed over them. This pattern still remains in effect today with ignorant people trying to be spiritual, secret societies, and Satanic cults. The Indian descendants of the Mayans and Incas still remain superstitious, along with the Chinese, and the Caucasians of Europe influencing Americans (Nordic, Celtic, etc.). Basically, every culture not following the Bible is bewitched and cursed if governed by certain so-called signs in the sky because Satan has perverted their original message into a message that subverts the authority away from God.

 

Do you recall how Jesus said that the Jews could look at the sky and know the weather, but they could not discern the signs of the times? Matthew 16:3

and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. This is the problem with those who “see signs” in the heavens, they see things through a very limited lens and their understanding of God, and the truth is damaged by these mental and spiritual filters which they believe is reliable ancient wisdom.

 

To break the curse of these things that subliminally or overtly influence you or me we just have to ask the Lord to help us to replace everything we know about everything with His Word. Romans 12 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

   

If you want to know of an idea of how God must have intended for the astrology story to be told, I suggest you read ‘The Real Meaning of the Zodiac’ by Dr D. James Kennedy, a famous theologian and preacher. The first sign, or the beginning, as he describes it (which does match the Sumerian account) starts with the Ram, or lamb of God and so in reality the story of Jesus was told in the stars and known by the ancient people of the Middle East since 4,500 years ago. It was the original story that God, I believe, revealed to Adam. But recall when the Babylonians had Daniel captive, they were unable to read the stars (because their teachings had been twisted by demons) and only Daniel could discern dreams and in the spiritual realm. The Babylonian astrologers were exposed as fools!

 

6. Don’t think that God is against revealing Himself through the stories in stars. The announcement of the birth of Jesus was told by a very bright star! Imagine that, God used a heavenly body within the scheme that Satan had perverted with ancient teachings to prove He is still Lord of the heavens. It is like he got the last laugh on Satan who tried to use God’s celestial creation for perverse confusion!

 

God had compassion on all the astronomical/astrological scholars and sages and “wise men”, being kings of the east who lived by these celestial codes as they had their minds astonished to discover the King of all time, baby Jesus! 

To some degree we must remain alert to what is happening in the heavens. Jesus Himself announced it, “there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars”, Luke 21:25 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;

 

NASA even published that there were holes on the surface to our sun recently, and of all the mysterious pictures they show concerning the stars makes you wonder, have we been lied to? What else is there out there that is being hidden from us? Are they inventing and photoshopping in order to cover their tracts and appear to be intelligent when they actually are not? Much evidence points to that. ‘Professing to be wise, they have become fools’ (Romans 1:22)

 

7.  So we live in the age of science, “false so called”  1 Timothy 6:20

O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called. And the stars might even be held within a curtain over a dome over us as far as what we know. Only a handful of crazy (i.e.Buzz Aldrin) or already dead men have been to space and back and they are always on a tight leash by the government to speak the right things. But they do let slip things which makes you wonder, was it all a lie? 

 

These secret societies that love following the Egyptians and esoteric hidden secrets, I would like to ask one day, “So do you believe that the stars are over us like a curtain as the Egyptians did?” If so, then do you believe in a flat earth?” There are so many contradictions in Satan’s invented ideas of how the celestial bodies and the forces of science operate. Quantum mechanics and new theories even contradict Newton and Einstein so today we are, as stated in 2 Timothy 3:7

Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

 

So, if the celestial bodies imply a spiritual power or simply a physical one, it still is a mystery how they all came together in a clockwork design to offer all humanity an enigma that intellectuals are still pondering! What more do we need as proof of the powerful vastness of God’s omnipotence!? But the wandering stars, these are out of sink with God’s symphony of lights! Their light is darkness. Jude vs. 13. 

 

8. As Christians we should just take things at face value. Psalms 19:1 “The heavens declare the glory of God” . Never should we degenerate ourselves into worshipping more the creation than the Creator as revealed in Romans 1. Today and before there were ones that worshipped angels (equated each with a star) and these are most probably evil deceptive spirits so be careful. Galatians 1:8

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. (And remember the “wandering stars” as just mentioned in Jude).

 

It is a pity that even in some large denominations and religions that there is a persistence in the worship the of the sun, moon, and stars by symbolic artistic celestial representations. We need to recognize how Satan has snuck in with his perversions that distract from the worship of God in spirit and in truth. 

 

God told the Israelites not to have ‘any graven image before Him’ for good reason! How wrong it is to have one’s mind preprogramed to equate a certain celestial symbol with a supernatural power that God never intended.

 

9. We must appreciate and admire God’s creation! We must never worship it and never accept non-Biblical ideas that God’s creation has a power beyond His own self. Secret societies, Gnostics, Satanic pagans, and even our modern science does not have a true formula of how God’s astrological stars operate, influence, and predict. They are just repeating the stories that the ancients told but no proof exists of their postulations, so they are in effect fools peddling rebellion against God by twisting His creation into a false narrative.

 

Warn others that believe in astronomy/astrology, or prophesy derived from predictions of the alignment of the celestial bodies that these ancient writings originate from those who rebelled against God. To accept them is to defy God and be idolatrous! We embrace all of God’s wonders, but we worship Him alone!

 

God created all things for His glory and there is a purpose in the formations of the stars, we may not understand much about it at this moment, but in heaven God will reveal His mysteries to us. So never fall for a counterfeit explanation or practice which is an illicit esoteric application of God’s creation. Glorify Him in His creation!  

Geometry: God Taught Adam About The Universe: His Sons Corrupted This Sacred Knowledge

Geometry: God Taught Adam About The Universe: His Sons Corrupted This Sacred Knowledge  

A Seven Part Sermon on How What We Know Today Has Degraded From The Original Pt. 5

By Kelly Durant

 

John 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

 

2. Plato made a statement that “geometry will draw the soul towards truth, and create the spirit of philosophy.”  To comprehend this in context you and I must remember that the Greeks pursued all subjects, such as mathematics, out of intellectual curiosity with a desire for pure thought. Beautiful shapes invoke peacefulness; and beauty and truth go together according to the Greeks, but the factor is Satan can fool us by deceptive beauty and vanity!

 

I would say today not many souls are won over for God’s side through geometry, but some are, and we should explore all things that God made and that includes geometrical shapes. I personally find nature’s basic shapes fascinating! I have had  friends that confirm they acquired faith over mathematical constants and were awestruck by the numbers that prove God is infinitely beyond our capabilities!

 

So what is in a shape? Can a certain shape affect you spiritually? I think it can! For example a ring used as a sign of eternalness, which couples put on when getting married. Another shape many Christians would recognize is a triangle as representative of our triune God, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. In other words, a shape in our mind is matched with a memory of what it is connected to.

 

3. However, those involved in the occult equate the triangle with the worship of Satan, homosexuality, and an unholy trinity. You may question, what is the unholy trinity? It is always Satan imitating and stealing the things of God in order to confuse and mock the things of God. Usually, it is inverted or upside down as well. Revelation 16:13

And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.

 

Three in general is sacred and most all things combine with three. For example, for anything to exist it must as any material object be connected to a time and 3D space dimension, or 3 factors for the conditions of an existence.  A geometric shape must have height, length, and width.  

 

The perfectly shaped creations of God have been known since the time of Adam and later after the flood these shapes were studied and recorded by mathematicians who believed in God. We can see God in ever shape created if we look! In electricity he created the positive, the negative, and the neutral, the same as the 3 types of substances as in the atom which aligns in geometrical shapes. 

 

4. Here is a reference to the early use of geometry, but also factor in that several cities were built before the time of the flood of Noah, and conclusively even Noah himself had to use precise calculations in the dimensional construction of the ark. Noah needed geometry and Adam, being alive then, may have taught him as God had taught him. Some believe Enoch was the teacher of high level sciences, but either way, geometry knowledge has always existed.

 

‘The earliest recorded beginnings of geometry can be traced to ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt in the 2nd millennium BC.^[8][9] Early geometry was a collection of empirically discovered principles concerning lengths, angles, areas, and volumes, which were developed to meet some practical need in surveying, construction, astronomy, and various crafts’. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geometry#Euclidean_geometry

 

Geometry is very important! We need it to calculate how to build houses, how to engineer any common machine, and how to build almost anything! God in His creation of all things granted this geometrical knowledge to us, and it is not a secret science that needs to be taught by secret societies.  Today Euclid geometry and other branches of it are so advanced it takes a real skill and study to master.

 

5. And what about God’s beautiful geometrical patterns in nature? Leaves, snowflakes, seashells, and so many things reveal the perfection of God in shapes that are repeating algorithms, Mandelbrot sets, yet no one is the same. 

 

I had a German Christian friend in Bolivia back when my wife and I first married, and she told me that what made her convert from being an atheist to being a believer was observing God’s beautiful patterns and perfection in nature. (Romans 1 speaks about how creation reveals the glory of God)

 

You could conclude she was touched by Romans 1:20 as it states that we can see God in all his created nature and none of us are with any excuse to deny Him. God is not seen with our eyes but our eyes can see the evidence of his complex creations everywhere! And all things coexist in nature in a symbiotic relationship; now that is intelligent design!

 

6. In John 1 we see the word (a sound wave) was the very first creation of God. Cymatics is the study of sound’s effect on shapes. It is His word (through Jesus) that convicts us, that converts us, and takes effect to reshape our heart, mind, and attitudes and His word vibrations fill us with light and love.

 

Another curiosity is how sound affects shapes, either physical objects or life. There are whole sciences on this subject. For example, if a person speaks kind words to plants, they thrive and grow, but if you speak angry and ugly words to them, they stagnate and may even die! Every word has a geometrical sound shape. Here is an article on how sound affects life https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S209531191360492X

 

All of God’s creation is interconnected, the light and sound waves (visible and invisible) everywhere intertwine with matter to create the states of solids, liquids, and gases we are familiar with. God’s geometry is a complex quantum of matter and forces, and as a designer, he is light years beyond our comprehension!

 

7. So, if you want to be healthy, spiritually and physically, what do you need to do? Immerse yourself in Jesus words! Allow the sounds, concepts, and consistent word of God reshape everything inside you. We grow up learning so many wrong and twisted things and it takes years of study, and a daily reading, to untangle all the false paradigms in our misconstrued so-called reality from dubious sources. 

 

Don’t let Satan and his occult representatives own anything! The evil ones always want to own all the shapes! Shapes today are equated with sexual activity, racism, & Satanism. But all shapes belong to God! All things are good in his creation so always highlight this fact. Here are some examples of how Satan wants to own things: The triangle that contains the all seeing eye of Horus (sun worship); the square or cube represents the worship of Saturn (fallen angels and/ or Satan; the pentagram as the devil’s star is used to conjuring up dark powers; the six pointed star, as in the star of David can be symbolic of man (the number 6) or symbolic of the unholy union of the above meshed with the forces below, an abominable false (never occurring) union as God’s holiness will never cross and intersect to compromise with the unholy. Satan uses all kinds of geometric symbols!

 

Thank God that Satan has not appropriated God’s Spirit of seven, but it is often equated with luck (Lucifer’s blessing but he prefers 6s); And eight also accompanies Satan as in the 8 sided temples of ancient and modern Satanic pantheon worship; Nine is always considered as sacred and mysterious in it are some supposed powers which occultists employ. Take into account that occultist depend on crystals and geometrical shapes to channel their spirits and powers and all of this is an attempt to own, misuse, and destroy everything about God’s intended beautiful creation!  The Jewish priest’s wore 12 crystals in a breastplate, so don’t thing Satan own everything or anything!    

 

8. One of the first geographical markers built was the pyramid, a very solid mysterious shape that has multiple symbolisms; some of which are of hierarchy, some of celestial movements, and some of the manipulation of natural forces. 

 

Consider this verse referring to ancient landmarks Deuteronomy 19:14

“You shall not remove your neighbor’s landmark, which the men of old have set, in your inheritance which you will inherit in the land that the Lord your God is giving you to possess.

 

We cannot escape the shapes God has granted to man, they are everywhere. There are diamond rings on fingers, square classrooms, sphere balls for sports, all geometric shapes in our dimension point to God who first established them. We must see all objects through that lens, that God devised the formulas for all the shapes so we could make calculations and triangulation with materials useful for our existence. What an amazing order out of chaos!

 

9. A finally it is the shape of the cross that God has given to us as a reminder that Jesus crossed over into our realm but when He did He had to pay for our sins and die in a horrible way. As people, we live finite lives, from point a to point b. But God intersected Himself from above to us here below and connected a crossroad of redemption to any and all who will accept it.

 

In many countries the shape of the cross is prohibited because it is a reminder of Jesus whom they reject, but for us, the bare cross implies we owe everything to Jesus as He gave Himself for us and then resurrected to offer us eternal life! 

 

God is manifested in all shapes, and we must not let Satan own any of them! Always take into account how God reveals Himself in everything and no one is excused from not being aware of Him! Live for Him and your life will take on a beautiful shape, the unique creation God wants, and His works always turn out beautiful!

Presumptuous Relations

Presumptuous Relations                                                    By Kelly Durant 9-24-11

Mark 10:36-41. 36 And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” 37 They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.” 38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” 39 They said to Him, “We are able.” So Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; 40 but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.” 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John.

A Christian friend told me about a visit one time to a homeless shelter and a person there was being belligerent and imposing asking everyone there, “Hey who is the king?”, “I am”! He was annoying everyone trying be act cool and dominate the group by asking, “Who is the king?” Until he got to this Christian brother who saw that his pride needed to get clipped like you clip a birds wings and when he came to ask him, Hey, who’s the king?” He responded, “It doesn’t matter who the king is, what matters is who is the King of kings”! I want you to meet Him!

Dealing with people often times is like being a snake charmer. You have seen the snake charmers from India who play their flute and make the snake dance out of the basket. The problem gets serious though if suddenly the flute player needs to cough and the music stops. What happens? The snake that once seemed so happy moving to the music of the master suddenly reverts to his evil nature and strikes out at the master to bite him and kill him!

Working with people can easily be compared to the job of the snake charmer! Sometimes it seems like everyone is happy, and you are happy and a lot is getting done for the kingdom of God, and then suddenly someone makes a human mistake, and then the flow of work & music gets interrupted and then the fangs come out! Most people are not even aware of their own vicious nature when things do not go as they want them too!  People do not even perceive their own pride nor see with God’s spirit when they talk bad about others with unkind words.

Today in the scripture we see what typically goes on in any group setting, there is always a few who want to get in good with the boss so that the boss will do extra favors for them.

Here James and John, two disciples that usually are spiritual, that usually behave well, get out of control in their ambition. They are just like anyone of you or me, anyone of us can normally be in tune with God but once in a while we can be very out-of-tune! They are dedicated to Jesus, and they are proud of that fact, just as Peter was proud when he boasted that he would even die for Jesus if he had to but then he went on to deny him 3 times. Pride comes before a fall!

So what has happened here? These two disciples out of their pride and ambitious thinking were being very disrespectful to Jesus authority by their desires for having other recognize they were better than them. Here is the whole matter with people at times:

When things are going how you or I want them to be in the Corps church, when it seems the points are in your favor, then you everyone is happy. But when someone says something without thinking, then anger and hurt feelings can go around.  Who is the blame for the hurt feelings? It may not be the blame of the other person but from your own self!  

Like it or not each one of us have to get use to getting humiliated and corrected at times just as James and John did. We don’t know what God is doing in His plan within His work, and His big picture is more important than our ways. 

41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John. 42 But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Here James and John got a rebuke, a correction.  Do people when they get a rebuke really appreciate it?  Most people get angry that I know. But if a person is discipleship material like James and John, if they are a true Christian, then they will feel bad, maybe angry, maybe embarrassed, but you, or this person, will survive the uncomfortable-ness of the  correction and of the peer group and just keep on going for God!

Jesus made it clear he does not want us to have the mind of the people of the world that in a natural order sets up a hierarchy of the pecking order. In prisons, in our communities with gangs, in schools and in businesses, and yes sad to say, even in churches people naturally fall into a hierarchy of who is more important. Usually the most aggressive put their selves on top, but Jesus showed us a better way. To be a servant one to another! In other words, it is true the aggressive succeed but the aggressive to serve others and do God’s work. He that would be simple like a child. Again we keep reading.    

Lk 9:46-28  “Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest. 47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him, 48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great.”

I personally don’t like over aggressive imposing people, people who want to make their selves out to be better than anyone else, and I think most of us feel the same.  It is the game of politics that we all are tired of.  Just like the disciples were angry with James and John, wanting to get special treatment, it is natural also for us to want equality, justice, fairness and the same rewards for all that do things worthy of getting rewards.

Jesus is saying this, okay, you want to be on top, then sacrifice the most! Be a slave to others! Be the least of your brethren! Give your life in sacrifice to a cruel death! (the baptism he was refereeing to) Be like a child! “Be the least among you all and you will be great.”

Greatness only comes from being a servant and being willing to do anything for God’s service, no matter how humiliating or degrading it may be! It is sad many people flunk the tests of God to sacrifice more, to give all of their lives, to humiliate their selves, and instead they criticize and attack back those guiding them down that path!

Also, these same verses of study today are repeated in Matt. 20:20-22 But they have even more a twist to the story, listen to this… Be careful of the people who tell you to be great. 

20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. 21 And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.” 22 But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”

So now we see even more of the story, it was not just James and John that were ambitious of being the most praised, the most exalted within the group of disciples, it was their mother behind them influencing them! I want to warn each of you, that you need great discernment when you do God’s work! 

I know there are many men and women, and youth, that have other voices of influence in their lives in their homes that tell them, “Don’t let the Captain make you serve food, you are better than that! Don’t do anything unless he makes you leader of the group!” The Salvation Army’s got money, make them pay you! 

The problem I have with serving Jesus quite often is that you can see through people’s hearts, their influences, and their motives! It is the discernment of the Holy Spirit and it also is that I, like all of you here, have been through the school of hard knocks of getting humiliated in front of the group as James or John, but I have learned, humbled myself, moved on and grown spiritually! I recognize proud people because I too was once proud as most all of us have been!

Sometimes we wonder amongst ourselves, what happened to this or that person, we needed them for an important meeting and they did not show up! Sometimes people don’t show up because they don’t want to have to do any sacrifice, but that is failing God!

God sees it all and the whole group sees it all and I am surprised quite often some people have no shame that they are absent when we need them. They are not failing the Captains but failing the whole group of people in the church, failing God’s work, and out of pride not willing to be a nobody!

If you think any task around the church is too humiliating than just think about this, Jesus touched lepers many many times, Jesus escaped almost being killed a few times, Jesus suffered embarrassment from his disciples who failed or were offensive, but did He tell God that it was enough already? Did He say, okay, “Beam me up Scotty?” I am out of here! You can forget all these proud ugly humans and put me back on my throne where I use to be! 

No! Jesus served ‘til the very end and so much so that He was willing to die in a horrible way to show His love for us! After becoming a Christian, any one of us should think, wow, if Jesus suffered that much, then nothing that happens to me is really that bad at all! No matter how humiliating or dirty the job, I will do it for Jesus because He did more for me than what I can ever do for Him!

In the verse 39 Jesus says, “Okay, it is true you will be baptized of my baptism”, which meant that James and John would die serving Him, but even though they went on to die for God, even though Jesus knew this before it happened, He still insisted that they do not out of pride ask for a special reward of recognition! They have a special place in heaven! Imagine, all the angels, all the billions that have ever lived know the names of the disciples! They are famous forever with crowns of glory.

Do you want to be like them, honored by God and honored by others? Then never be ambitious for nothing! Never do the mistake of James & John to think that you deserve more, that you need a special status.  Just be as the verse says  in  Luke 17:10

So likewise, ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.    Prayer…