Monday January 9, 2012

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."  This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert. 'Prepare the way for the Lord. make straight paths for him.'"

Good Monday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters, and well, it is almost Monday morning, but just the same, this is my writing for Monday. Monday and the day we pray for our leaders, those who have authority over us. We need to be praying for our leaders daily, and we need to pray God's protection over them and also pray that they would talk to God and bring events to God and listen to Him for answers on how to handle them. Yesm pray for the leaders in Washington, in your state houses and also those local offices.

Please pray for Carry The Light Ministries and about a portable office building that might become available to us. This would be used on our property to expand the operations of the ministry. Also pray that the price might be right, and the transportation be affordable. It is an oversize building and need to be permitted to transport over our highways. This would be used as a "Santa House" where we could bring in children and tell them the story of Jesus and give them toys, or clothes. Toys would be stored in the building and clothes we receive would be there to give those in need.

Please pray for the family of Kathy, who went home to be with the Lord. Please keep Vicki in your prayers, I am telling you her health issues are many, and she needs our constant prayers..

Who is that bearded man, some call wild? Matthew 3:1 - In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, 2 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert. 'Prepare the way for the Lord. make straight paths for him.'" (NIV)

This week we are going to be taking a look at John The Baptist, the forerunner of our Lord Jesus. John was about six months older then Jesus. You will recall how when Mary, the mother of Jesus, told Elizabeth who was in her sixth month carry a baby boy in her womb, who was to be named John. You will also recall how this baby in the womb of his very old mother, Elizabeth,  who was about 100 years of age, jumped when Mary broke the news of this special child to her relative Elizabeth. We are going to look at how John went ahead of people and telling them about the coming of Jesus...

So the Bible tells us that John was preaching in the desert and what was he preaching back then? The very thing that we who preach and teach about Jesus should be telling people today. REPENT, REPENT, REPENT for the Kingdom of heaven is near. So let me take a look at these scriptures and let's just relate them to what we should be telling our flocks today, and brothers and sisters, one of my flocks are those of you on this line. And I love all of you dearly, so today I want to bring you these words...

REPENT, REPENT, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near. So what does repent really mean? Folks, it means that we are to turn and walk away from our sins. It means for some that a radical change in lifestyle is needed, while maybe others the change is not as radical. Most of us, however, when we came to Christ to be saved, when we first became born again, we did need to make that radical change. I know in my life, I had to change a lot. So I ask you this day, are you ready for whatever change might be needed as you REPENT for the kingdom of Heaven is near? So you ask me, Pastor, how near is the kingdom of God? Folks, as far as when the Lord is going to return, I don't know, but it could be, listen to me on this, it could be as soon as your next breath of air. And remember till Jesus does return, and He does not know when that might happen, but we must be ready for a lot of us will get the call one at a time. So again I tell you this. REPENT FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS NEAR. Ok, so we repent and now let's look at the rest of this scripture that God gave me for today.

Matthew 3:3 - "Prepare the way for the Lord. Make straight paths for Him." This means to me that after we repent, after we have cleaned up ourselves so that we are now born again, we should be like "John The Baptist" and we should be working in those fields of Harvest and we should be the ones today telling people this... REPENT FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS NEAR. What if John would not have gone out telling people about Jesus coming and that they were to repent... And what if we did not do it as ordered by Jesus and recorded in our Bibles in Mark 16:15? What if no one would have told us about our Lord Jesus, the one who was sent to save us all from our own sins?

So today as I close, let me put it to you this way... REPENT FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS NEAR, Pass it on!!

Over the next weeks, up to Easter and beyond, we will be walking and talking about Jesus and yes, with Him. In fact, let's have a talk with Him right now.

Dear Father in Heaven, Thanks for Your words today and thanks for looking in our prayer requests and please honor them according to Your will for us. Lord, help us repent, and more so, Lord, help me to repent. Yes, Lord, I confess I, even after being saved, still sin and I need to turn and walk away from it. Help me to repent, and help others to do the same and help us all to get the word out that repentance is needed. Help us, dear Lord. I love You, Jesus, and I pray in Your name. Amen.

Now go forth and repent of your sins, and share those blessings that our Good Lord has given you. Love ya, Pastor Dan.