dennis j adams

The distance run and the reward given all relates to the commitment one applies to the to Lord and His Word.  Often we only want to do what seems comfortable or what bring the greatest response (or the most appropriate one) to the issues at hand.  When the Lord calls us to His side He commands commitment to His every word.  The Lord declares in the Book of Isaiah that His Word comes down from Him like rain and snow and goes where He commands it to go and does what He commands it to do.  He also sub-notes this truth by stating that His Word will never return to Him void.   He maintains this relationship with us by a gauge entitled – “OBEDIENCE”.  As the writer of the Book of Ecclesiastes stated that all that really should be understood and the way to lead life properly is to – Fear God and obey His commands.  What a simple term obedience is and what a difficult one for so many to accept and respond to.  The reason for this is quite obvious though, the fall in the Garden of Eden caused man to have a sinful nature that has it roots in rebellion.  With all this in mind and all this being applied to the heart of man we draw a conclusion of utter concern, what will happen to man?  Well this can be answered in the same processional way of words that we have already attained in this note: The end will bring the answer.  Christ will judge everything that we do during our sojourning here on this earth.  What is the purpose of all this?  It is quite simple if one would just understand what the purpose of life is.  It is to serve God and to live according to His commands.  To have reverential fear and to apply this reverence to the Almighty God who created all mankind and this universe as we know it.  The last responses will not be a man’s last words to His loved ones or even his epitaph on his wearing gravestone.  It will be to the Lord when He sends fire to judge the works of a man’s life.  So what is the long and the short of it or if you want to reverse that order and say what is the short and the long of it?  The answer is quite easy to write and to say and is only easy to live out when one is surrendered to the Most High.  That answer is this: Fear God and do all that He commands for this is the responsibility of all men. 

Dennis

The day that we live in definitely calls for a choice to be made: that choice being to serve God or to continue is sin!  There are two testimonies that come to mind when I realize the importance of making that choice and what it entails.  The first one is found in the Book of Joshua when Joshua came to the end of his days and was giving his last address to Israel.  He made this statement:  ”And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15 ESV)  He stated plainly and with great purpose just what he believed.  Not only for himself but also for his family.  True leadership must come into the homes of America where the priest of the household would stand for the Word of God! He led the people of God out of the desert into the Promise and when he was done with his service he left that great challenge!  I trust in and rely on the Lord and I declare to you that His Word is truth and full of power!  God is our Savior and Deliver and we can count on Him!  The other testimony that really speaks of family and the relationships that can be an example to this society is found in the Book of Ruth.  The story is very interesting and can be summed up with this in mind: Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law was going back to her home after loosing her husband and son’s to death.  Ruth had a choice to go back to her own people, the Moabites, but she took a stand with God!  She stated this:  But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.(Ruth 1:16 ESV) This statement has so much commitment to God in it that I can only look up to heaven and say Father You are so worthy of praise!  She could have gone to be with her people and she would have found, most likely, a new husband and lived well.  But she chose to follow one who followed the Lord.  I am sure that Naomi’s testimony was great and an example to all that knew her.  I hope and pray that each of you have that testimony that others can follow and that also you will say I will serve and my family will serve the Lord!  Be committed to Him and He will bless your life abundantly.

Dennis

When the Lord proceeds in giving a promise He expects the receiver of such a promise to realize that there will be a climb.  Faith does not manufacture ease it consists of the rough roads and the tearing down of “stuff” that would normally keep us from gaining the “fullness” of the Lord’s promise.  When the scripture is really read or studied you will find that both men and women alike were always given the promise before the climb.  A good example of this is when Moses received His promise from God and he began his climb to the completion.  He actually went through a process that is found in Hebrews 11:24-28. 

By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,  choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them. (Hebrews 11:24-28 ESV)

He refused to be initiated or approved by the “mind-set” of the society that was ruling in Egypt.  The Lord always wants us to be committed to His “kingdom’s” work and “mind-set.”  The second thing that Moses did to declare his trust in God and to move up in His promise was to consider the reproaches of Christ to be more valuable than the riches of the worldly economy of his day.  We must always consider our commitment and the cost when serving God.  Do you consider this in your relationship to Him and His promise to you?   The third thing that Moses did was he endured even though what was spoken to Him was yet invisible.  Times became rough on him and he had to really bear up under the pressure of the people and the complaints of his family!  Consider what it must have been like to be surrounded by cliffs, mountains, a sea and the armies of Pharaoh just moments away.  But he Lord told Him to ‘Go forward!’(Exodus 14:15)  That is actually what He is speaking to you right now; are you listening?  The fourth thing that he did was to worship God with sacrifice.  He did this because he realized that God would rest upon the worship of His people. (Psalm 22:3)  His presence would be there and this would cause victory in the lives of the families of God.  The fifth thing that Moses did was to go against the impossible in the midst of critics and scoffers.  He went forward towards the seemingly impassable Red Sea and did not look back.  God ask Him to keep climbing – God did not tell Him to give up.  When the Lord declares a promise into your life continue to praise Him and move forward in the fullness of God.  Moses identified with God and the promise was fulfilled by faith and trust in the Living God.  Do you identify with God and His promise to you? 

Dennis

The love of God is able to do all that we ever could ask or think.  Hey! Wait a minute!  That scripture, in Ephesians 3:20, talks about the power of God. 

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, (Ephesians 3:20 ESV)

Your right it does and what this really speaks is that God love you and cares about you.  Let me explain.  The Lord God saw the fall of man in the Garden of Eden and He was moved with such compassion (which is rooted in LOVE) that He sent His only, that’s right His only begotten Son to come to this earth, which He created, to save mankind.  Wow!  What a loving and kind God.  That is just the beginning.  Jesus Christ, God’s Son, suffered and died for all mankind.  The reason is because He loves us.  It is so wonderful to know that.  In this world where we dwell there is so much pain and suffering.  People are crying out to be loved.  Jesus not only suffered and died but He rose from the dead.  He is alive for evermore.   He now intercedes for us in heaven.   This is found in Hebrews 7:25. 

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25 ESV) 

 When Jesus ascended into heaven to be again with the Father, He sent His Spirit to dwell amongst us and in us.  The Lord our God, His love and mercy, dwells in us.  We are empowered by Him and His love.  Jesus said that you would know them (His disciples) by how they LOVE one another. 

 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35 ESV)

Not how powerful they are or what their name is or the city they live in.   This is so qualifying the fact that God cares about His creation.  The Word also states that His love covers a multitude of sins

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8 ESV)

This is why I believe that Ephesians 3:20 is speaking to us about love.  We need the power of God in our lives to keep us fervent in love with one another.  This world offers so much pain and anguish that we can be empowered to love and see lives changed for His name!  Love covers and Love heals.  Even when the grass withers and the flower wilts His love will always be willing to forgive and embrace.  Are you willing to be His vessel in the time that we live in?

Dennis

Soon after the morning of the Resurrection the disciples were waiting for the promise of the Father…Luke 24:49, as a matter of record, there were 120 people waiting in an upper room (different from the Last Supper’ location) for this promise.  The application of the promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit was highly expected.  Everything that the Lord had said was coming to pass…their understanding was widening and their hope was growing and becoming even more secure.  The world was on hold waiting for the birth of the “church” – the body of believers that would take the message of the “Good News” to the world.  When the “experience” of the promise that was spoken came into fruition, those that had been waiting were now energized to “further the application” of the Gospel to a needful world.  Apathy and lethargy are not part of the personality of an energized son or daughter of God.  After the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit these men and women were delighted in the Lord and came forth in boldness and in full praise of the “One who baptizes”.  When Peter spoke his message to the crowd (Acts 2:14-40) the response was awesome…3,000 gave their heart to the Lord…in other words the application of the “Gospel” was furthered.  The “Church” today must apply, with energy, the Word of God…the promise continues as found prophesied in the Book of Joel…The Lord will pour out His Spirit on all mankind!  Peter spoke this and applied to the listeners these words of encouragement…And Peter said to them, ”Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ  for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” (Acts 2:38-39 ESV) If one can only hear in these words the promise and the confident security of the Lord: Oh, what could this world be like even today…! The whole application of His presence on this earth was to bring the creation back to the Father…we have a task to do and that is to “further the application” so that all may hear the “Good News” and receive the promise from the Father.  After they received from Him they went out to all parts of the earth…bringing the knowledge of His great love to all that would listen…we need laborers for the harvest.  Will you visit the upper room and receive the promise from on high?

Dennis

The Word of the Lord often challenges us to consider the Lord or even consider alternatives.  Some call these alternatives choices or “must” made decisions.  In the Book of Hebrews in chapter 3:1 we are asked to consider Jesus.  Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,… (Hebrews 3:1 ESV) When you consider Him what do you choose?  Is He superior to all others in your life?  The Word calls Him the Apostle of our confession.  He is the One sent by God to represent God in the lives of  (the) His “Body.”  He is also the perfect example of a mediator through this also.  He represents God in us and to us and then in turn He represents us to God as we are reconciled to the Father through and by His precious Blood.  He is the High Priest of our hearts and lives.  In other words He is the sacrifice that made it possible to be called the sons and daughters of God.  He became the sacrifice that we could not become so that we would be forgiven of all our iniquities.  What a blessing to our souls!  We are partakers of the heavenly calling.  All of us that are saved through Him share in this heavenly calling.  We are companions together on the work of the Lord.  We must consider Him in all that we do and say.   To grow in wisdom and to distance yourself from disobedience consider the Lord and His Words in your life.  Elsewhere in the Word we are highly encouraged to look unto Him who is the author of our lives (Romans 12:1-3).  We are not to let anything come in between Him and us.  No, not one thing!   Our motives of love and confidence come through Him into our minds and hearts.  His Holy Spirit is in us to remind of the goodness of the Lord.  Have you considered Him during a trial, a bad moment, in sickness, in failure or even facing death?  He is there to mediate and comfort, uplift and deliver, heal and sanctify, bless and give light.  Look to Him and consider His great Love for you right now and forevermore.  

Dennis

Everyday there are situations that appear which must be conquered.  Circumstances arise that we must live above not below.  The Word of the Lord declares that we can be and that we are victorious in Him who has saved us.  We live and move and have our being in Him (Acts 17:25).  His kingdom resides in us and we have been given knowledge by His Spirit to amply have all that we need in every situation.  By our God we can do all things! 

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philip. 4:13 ESV) As we face each circumstance we must have total faith in the promises of God.  He can and will do all that He has promised — For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. (2 Cor. 1:20 ESV) With the Lord on your side we cannot loose for if God be for you what can man do to you!  He has encamped an angel around you to deliver you out of all your troubles.  You can have perfect peace because your mind is steadfastly upon Him. With our God …I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. (Psalm 18:29 ESV) All that the enemy may bring against you cannot separate you from the love of God. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39 ESV) As each disciple begins to serve the Lord they begin to also face certain difficulties that will challenge their faith and their commitment to the task at hand.  The odds may be against them and all may seem to be crumbling before them but God…He is there to bring victory and to answer each prayer request.  To raise the standards of His kingdom to conquer each and every enemy that may raise up against the will of God.  So they shall fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come like a rushing stream, which the wind of the LORD drives. (Isaiah 59:19 ESV) The Lord knows what you face each day and He has the answer to each situation – when it gets to challenging He states this - You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’  Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you.” (2 Chron. 20:17 ESV) Or if you sense that you can handle the challenge, He offers this for you also…“…stop and consider the wondrous works of God. (Job 37:14 ESV)

Dennis

Water baptism is not a light matter nor is it to be considered as an action that is part of the process.  When we give our heart to the Lord He receives us as we are.  There is a death to ourselves that must take place for us to be able to live unto Him.  In a sense we must be buried and then be risen in Christ.  The Word of God is very explicit on this mater.  Christ died for sin and He rose from the grave, alive forevermore and He no longer was bound to the flesh and it mastering ways.  In Water Baptism we do the same thing in a spiritual sense.  Want we must come to understand is this – the baptismal where we are immersed in water in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost becomes a “water” grave.  It is where we say to the carnal nature or the “old man” you know longer have your mastery over me and I now live for the Lord in purity and as a servant to Him.   In Acts 2:38 Peter made a statement about baptism that must begin with repentance and end with the close relationship of the Holy Spirit. - And Peter said to them, ”Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ  for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38 ESV)  In Paul’s writings to the Romans he made this powerful reference to Water Baptism - What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:1-4 ESV)   What we should glean from this note is that when we are “Water Baptized”, we must remember it is an act of obedience. Stating that we believe we are saved by grace through faith and that we are making an “action” statement that tells all witnesses present and in the future that we are risen in Christ. If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Col. 3:1-3 ESV)

Dennis

Has the “Church” forgotten the Great Commission?  Has the words “Sanctification” and “Holiness” becomes historical terms in the theological conversations in the modern day we live in?  Has the “Power” of the “Presence” of God been nullified with the apathy of the hour?  Being in “vogue” is not the process of the church; it is the process of the world. The “Church” must stay on course with the image given by the Lord Himself.  The “Map” of the Gospel is to continue in the likeness and image of the One who created us and not to expel Him and embrace the “fashion” of the world’s system!  When the Lord spoke to His people He declared His desire to have a people that is separated from sin.  He declared that if one is going to be part of the world he must come out from the world’s system and be employed by the system of the Word of God…If my people, who are called by My Name…(2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV) To much has been applied to becoming like the world to win the world…that is not true at all!  We must seek first the Kingdom of God and receive His desires into our hearts and then live out His desires on this earth! To “look” like this and that so we can “fit” into what the popular is does not fulfill the directive of the Great Commission! Go therefore and make disciples…(Matthew 28:18 ESV) speaks of change and that change comes from the being born again into the image and likeness of God!  What do we see today with all this modern application of discipleship? We are stamping out disciples that are in vogue with the world.  Christian “Superstars” that have not been “stretched” nor “schooled” in the ways of the Lord; the pattern has been broken!  His ways are much higher that ours and when we become like this world we “break the pattern” of the Gospel message!  God so loved the world that He gave…(John 3:16 ESV)…but we have taken this gift and tarnished it by not really changing into what we are to be and staying, as we were, to be comfortable in our “Christianity”.  Being a Christian is not being in “vogue” – it is living the fashion of the Gospel outwardly and inwardly that all may see that He is the Savior and Deliverer of our soul. If you want to be in “vogue” then live “holy” and seek Him daily for direction and destiny.

Dennis

What is hope?  Who has Hope?  How far can hope bring you?  These are important questions that have very positive answers.  If I was a person who had no hope I would be a person in deep despair!  Thank God for hope.  Thank God for the joy that He gives us when we become a child of God.   The Word of the Lord speaks about hope as a major part of our walk with Jesus. 

In the Book of Hebrews,  We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain,(Hebrews 6:19 ESV). We are shown here that when the storms of life comes our way we can be stabilized by hope. 

Hope can be defined as: To wish for something with expectation of its fulfillment.  To have confidence and trust.  To expect and desire. The theological virtue defined as the desire and search for a future good, difficult but not impossible to attain with God’s help.  So we see that hope can be summed up with two very positive features that help us in our faith:

1: Confidence

2: Expectation. 

I am confident in the Word of God and also when I read or hear the Word I am given great hope (expectancy) about what the Word promises.  We are promised an eternal home called “heaven” and with that home dwells the City of God – the New Jerusalem.  We are promised a mansion in that city!  Praise God I am feeling a deep sense of hope right now as I writing this article.   I believe that if you are reading this article that you also realize that the hope that is being explained here is not the false hope that the world offers!  You know what I mean – hope like a bag with a hole in it!  But the hope that we have belongs to God’s children and it is sealed with the Blood of the Lamb.  The length of a man’s days will be the length of his hope.  For when we reach the Eternal City we will have no need for hope for we will have reached the mark of the high calling of God.  Hope has been promised and God has no holes in His bag!

Dennis