Tag: Devotional

WHoly Christian, Wake up Call part two

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Excerpt from my book “WHoly Christian”:

Pray for wisdom.  We are once again living in a time when it is not particularly popular for people to speak up for their faith in Christ Jesus or be so audacious as to say the Bible is true and it is God’s message to humanity.  Openly mock Jesus and His followers? No problem.  Dare to proclaim Jesus as the one who has changed you life and can positively change the lives of others?  “Houston, we have a problem.”

In his day, G. K. Chesterton commented on the prevailing attitude of that day regarding Christianity.  Middle aged and older Americans can remember when the pendulum had swung in favor of Christianity and the prevailing attitude had changed from Chesterton’s day because folks recognized they were reaping what they had sown by pushing God from the public square.  But the lesson has been forgotten and the old attitudes have returned, the pendulum is in the far left’s arena once again and they are trying to keep it there in spite of the consequences of their policies which we are already experiencing.  One may say: Ozzie and Harriett have moved out and Ozzie Osborn has moved in.  Most of us are longing for the return of Ozzie and Harriett even as some on the left are trying to erase the proof that those days ever existed.  “Houston, we have a problem;” of course, this metaphorical “Houston” is the command center of Heaven and we have been given permission fro God Himself to request wisdom at any time.  Actually, not only do we have permission but God is waiting for and encouraging us to look to Him because He alone has the knowledge, ability, and power to set at naught the Adversaries’ schemes.

  He who refuses to learn from history is forced to repeat its mistakes – George Santayana

All new news is old news happening to new people – Malcom Muggeridge

You are free in our time to say that God does not exist; you are free to say that He exists and is evil; you are free to say (like poor old Renan) that He would like to exist if He could.  You may talk of God as a metaphor or a mystification; you may water Him down with gallons of long words … and it is not merely that nobody punishes, but nobody protests.  But if you speak of God as a fact … as a reason for changing one’s conduct, then the modern world will stop you somehow if it can.  …it is now thought to be irreverent to be a believer. – G. K. Chesterton

The heights of Christian attainment are available to every person.  It’s a shame to live a life short of what God intended your life to be.  Despite appearances, everyone lives forever; the good and the bad, the difference is the quality which is directly linked to the presence or absence of God.  Despite whatever protestations may be offered to the contrary; you do not believe what you do not live.

It is quite possible that improper activity and beliefs regarding the arena of politics may potentially have a profound effect on your forever as well as your now.  If a man’s religion and his politics don’t mix there is something wrong with his spiritual condition and his politics, to say the least.  Therefore, if a person chooses to support or refuses to condemn something God condemns then that one may count on enduring the consequences of that choice.  If that person is fortunate the consequences will be experienced in this life, thereby affording an opportunity to repent and begin making reparations.

There are “monsters” in our near future if we do not wake up soon and start taking action to stop evil in its tracks.

    Pray for wisdom

–Pastor Ward Clinton

Christian purity

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Another excerpt from my book, “WHoly Christian”

Our Lord, Jesus the Christ, has called us to walk in Christian purity, also known as holiness of heart and life, and He has assured us that He will enable us to do that walk if we request His help.

We all instinctively know what is meant by being pure because when we talk about the purity of things around us, we mean that they are clean and unadulterated.  That is they are not only without dirt or filthiness, but have no inferior substance mixed with them.  When we say that a man is pure in a religious sense, we mean that he is right and honest and true inside and out; that he not only professes, but practices the things that have to do with his duty to God and man.  Only a minority of Christians have dared to brook the difficulties and go on to that possession of the full promise available to every follower of Christ Jesus.  Those who press forward stand as examples of the power of faith amid surrounding sterility and desolation, and at the same time are inspirational witnesses to the Church of her present privilege and reproving her or her inexcusable shortcomings; inexcusable because the Holy Spirit stands ready to empower each and every follower of Christ Jesus just as He promised.

Exercise your grace or Satan will exercise your corruption.

–Pastor Ward Clinton

WHoly Christian, Wake up Call part two

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Excerpt from my book “WHoly Christian”:

Pray for wisdom.  We are once again living in a time when it is not particularly popular for people to speak up for their faith in Christ Jesus or be so audacious as to say the Bible is true and it is God’s message to humanity.  Openly mock Jesus and His followers? No problem.  Dare to proclaim Jesus as the one who has changed you life and can positively change the lives of others?  “Houston, we have a problem.”

In his day, G. K. Chesterton commented on the prevailing attitude of that day regarding Christianity.  Middle aged and older Americans can remember when the pendulum had swung in favor of Christianity and the prevailing attitude had changed from Chesterton’s day because folks recognized they were reaping what they had sown by pushing God from the public square.  But the lesson has been forgotten and the old attitudes have returned, the pendulum is in the far left’s arena once again and they are trying to keep it there in spite of the consequences of their policies which we are already experiencing.  One may say: Ozzie and Harriett have moved out and Ozzie Osborn has moved in.  Most of us are longing for the return of Ozzie and Harriett even as some on the left are trying to erase the proof that those days ever existed.  “Houston, we have a problem;” of course, this metaphorical “Houston” is the command center of Heaven and we have been given permission fro God Himself to request wisdom at any time.  Actually, not only do we have permission but God is waiting for and encouraging us to look to Him because He alone has the knowledge, ability, and power to set at naught the Adversaries’ schemes.

  He who refuses to learn from history is forced to repeat its mistakes – George Santayana

All new news is old news happening to new people – Malcom Muggeridge

You are free in our time to say that God does not exist; you are free to say that He exists and is evil; you are free to say (like poor old Renan) that He would like to exist if He could.  You may talk of God as a metaphor or a mystification; you may water Him down with gallons of long words … and it is not merely that nobody punishes, but nobody protests.  But if you speak of God as a fact … as a reason for changing one’s conduct, then the modern world will stop you somehow if it can.  …it is now thought to be irreverent to be a believer. – G. K. Chesterton

The heights of Christian attainment are available to every person.  It’s a shame to live a life short of what God intended your life to be.  Despite appearances, everyone lives forever; the and the bad, the difference is the quality which is directly linked to the presence or absence of God.  Despite whatever protestations may be offered to the contrary; you do not believe what you do not live.

It is quite possible that improper activity and beliefs regarding the arena of politics may potentially have a profound effect on your forever as well as your now.  If a man’s religion and his politics don’t mix there is something wrong with his spiritual condition and his politics, to say the least.  Therefore, if a person chooses to support or refuses to condemn something God condemns then that one may count on enduring the consequences of that choice.  If that person is fortunate the consequences will be experienced in this life, thereby affording an opportunity to repent and begin making reparations.

There are “monsters” in our near future if we do not wake up soon and start taking action to stop evil in its tracks.

    Pray for wisdom

–Pastor Ward Clinton

The Christian Ideal, part 2

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last days

Theologians whom I have a good deal of respect for have spoken of a point of grace to which all Christians are called to abide in that is as high above ordinary Christian living as ordinary Christian living is above the strictly secular state.  Some of them did not openly subscribe to John Wesley’s way of understanding of the holy Scripture but they still acknowledged, in their own way, that all Christians are called to holy living in this life in the pursuit of purity which honors our Savior.

Generally speaking, Christian dominion in the west has largely become a mass of pagans masquerading as Christians.

Pagans who are openly pagan seem to be more aware of those Christian’s spiritually powerless condition than they are and, of course, the pagans gleefully use every opportunity to cast all of Christendom in a bad light.  Therefore, it is all the more important for all Christians to check themselves and make sure we are correctly connecting to the power which is found with the Spirit of God and pursuing purity which is our high and holy calling.

Most low-level Christians (Pagans masquerading as Christians) have no idea that they have lost their moorings, are not connected to the power source which can make them godly, and are drifting further and further away.  Attempts to warn them often illicit hostile reactions rather than repentance.  We find that there is a tendency towards the worse a person becomes, spiritually speaking, the less he tends to be aware of that fact.  It is not unlike when frostbite and the process of freezing to death begins to settle in that the feeling of warmth replaces the uncomfortable sensitivities.  Many a person who has frozen to death has been found to have tossed aside most of the protective gear and clothing shortly before death occurs.

God sent warnings to America and her Christians via the 9-11-2001 attack and for a brief moment He seemed to have gotten our attention.  For the most part, it lasted about three weeks.  There have been a few more warnings since.  Judgment is coming upon us if there is not a real, genuine repentance and Awakening.

It appears that we have completely lost our moral compass and, unless we find it, we are going to lose our civilization; we are well into losing our civilization already.

Alarmist?  I hope so but I fear not.

  • Pastor Ward Clinton

Hear our Prayer

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2 chron

Anti God Liberals 

One nation under God

Pastor Ward Clinton

Obey God

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Acts-5-29

Obey God

Stand Strong

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young uncle sam

A word of encouragement to our pastors, who, now more than ever, are on the front lines of the culture war given the assault on marriage and religious liberty.

John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg, a lesser-known hero of the War for Independence, was a pastor and a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses. In 1775, he preached a sermon on Ecclesiastes 3:1 — “For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven.”

Pastor Muhlenberg closed his sermon with these words:

“In the language of Holy Writ, there is a time for all things. There is a time to preach and a time to fight. And now is the time to fight.”
He then removed his clerical robes and revealed to the congregation that he was wearing the uniform of an officer in the Continental Army.

Pastor Muhlenberg’s example of a man of God fighting for our God-given rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness should give increased fervor and devotion most especially to those who lead us in the fight for faith, family and freedom.

Like few times in our nation’s history, this is a time to fight for the values we cherish!   — Gary Bauer

If anyone wonders whether the founding fathers thought the federal government should define marriage and not the states, and whether it should interfere with our religious beliefs, here is what Thomas Jefferson thought:

Thomas Jefferson letter to Samuel Miller

Date: January 23, 1808

I consider the government of the United States as interdicted by the Constitution from inter-meddling with religious institutions, their doctrines, discipline, or exercises. This results not only from the provision that no law shall be made respecting the establishment or free exercise of religion, but from that also which reserves to the States the powers not delegated to the United States. Certainly, no power to prescribe any religious exercise or to assume authority in any religious discipline has been delegated to the General Government. It must then rest with the States.

It is times like this that we need to strengthen ourselves by reading the book most hated by liberals which was penned by their greatest enemy whom they can never defeat.

1 Peter 1: 19-21  And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Morals

Pray, pray and never give up

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prayGood Morning everyone.  People are still coming to Christ Jesus each and every day.  Yes, it is easy to let all the bad news occurring all around us to lose heart and hope but those of us who are followers of The Holy One of God need to keep praying.  Let each one of us begin the day with God.  Let us make an appointment with our Father in Heaven and refuse to break it, especially in a day such as this.

As believers, we may often wonder if there is anything we can do to counter the attacks our enemy hurls at us. We might even ask, “Can we, as Christian couples and parents, stand in the gap for our marriages, our children, our homes, our state, our country?” Let me say a resounding, “Yes, we can, and we must stand united in the victory Jesus has secured for us.”

P – Pray

U – Until

S – Something

H – Happens

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus gave us, among others, this promise:

Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Matthew 7:8 For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.

Every promise which God gives us is attached to a duty.  Concerning any duty it is not enough to do it, it must be done according to the prescribed methodology.

God desires that we should have a clear understanding regarding the certainty of prayer.  Never be afraid of being too earnest.  “Knock.”  Note that this is a repeated statement.  As big as the Bible seems to be, it is actually quite concise; therefore when we see something repeated we really should pay closer attention it than we otherwise might have.

Jesus gave us the model prayer and then on the night that He was betrayed He gave us a strong guarantee regarding the efficacy of prayer.  Some people wind up wondering why their prayers don’t seem to be as effectual as those of some other individuals.  For those who wonder why their own prayers don’t seem to have much of an effect as they should according to promise perhaps this particular blog entry may be of assistance.

Watch in prayer to see what comes.  Foolish folk who knock at the door but then fail to stay till someone comes to provide a response will fail to see the door opened but the desperate soul will tend to persist in knocking and will see an answer.  Some don’t believe in prayer because all they have ever done is to knock and run.

Ask, whom?  Not of angels, not of saints but make your request to the only One who is everywhere present.

Ask, when?  Anytime; some times are better than others.  For most, morning is best.  Daniel prayed three times a day at set times.  George Washington followed the example set by Daniel and would not permit anything to interrupt his prayer times.  He knew to ask of the One who is every when present.

Ask, why?  That is the methodology that God has chosen.  In His economy if we don’t ask, He won’t act.

Ask, How?

a.  Orderly; think about what you are going to ask.  Forget that “prayer language” stuff, because if you don’t actually know what you prayed for how will you know if it has been answered?

b.  Earnestly.

c.  Repeatedly: until you receive an answer.  In your own style – you’re talking to your daddy.  If you have not yet accepted Jesus as your personal Savior then God is not yet your daddy.  Popular foolishness says “We are all children of God,” but that is not backed up by the Holy bible.  First, one has to petition for adoption because we are all, in fact, children of Adam and, as such, alienated from His Kingdom biologically whether we be Jew, Gentile, and especially the Ishmaelite.  He desires that each one of us become a part of His forever family whether we be Jew, Gentile, or Ishamaelite.

d.  In faith.  In the name of Jesus; see John chapter fifteen … that is not a magic phrase – it is a privilege extended to us by the Savior and a recognition of whom it is that has guaranteed our ability to have a right relationship, and communication, with the God of the universe.

To pray is to put the understanding in motion.

To pray is to put the affections in motion; to open the heart.

To pray is to put the will in motion.

Praying is frequently thought of as a passive activity and when it is merely a rote recital of the model prayer or some other one without any real thought or effort put forth that may be an accurate description.  However, when the three above ingredients are all put into the mix it becomes a real work with a special dignity of its own.

Prayer, proper prayer, places the soul face to face with facts of the first order of solemnity; with its real self and with its God.

It is noble, because it is the work of man as man, it quickens the interest of man to that which is beyond the range of petty daily and material interests while enhancing proper interest in them by igniting higher enthusiasms into life, and of man becoming more aware of his being and destiny with a vividness which is necessary to him as no other occupation may.  The nobleness of a man’s best form of toil falls infinitely below that of a spirit which enters consciously into converse with the eternal God.  However that toil, no matter how mundane, may be elevated to an almost sacred level once the work of prayer has consecrated it.

If prayer is to be persevered in, it must be based on the conviction that it is heard by a living being.  If God exists, if He be a Personal Being, then surely we may reach out to Him if we actually want to.  If God be not merely an infinite intelligence, but a moral being, a mighty heart, so that justice and tenderness are attributes of His, then surely we may appeal to Him with some concern that we may have.  It is upon this solid ground that God is said to hear prayer in the Holy Bible.  That He should do so follows from the reality of His nature as the one true God.

The laws of nature are not self-sustained forces; they are God’s laws and God can use His own laws.  They have not escaped His control.

Prayer is a forseen action of man, and is embraced in the eternal purpose of God.

Probably the biggest barrier to effectual prayer is found in a person’s perception of his own self-sufficiency which is frequently demonstrated in the attitude and practice of, “When all else fails, pray.”  No, no … no.  Prayer should be our first resort, not our last.

2nd Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

The Wonderful Promise of Prayer

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PrayerGood Morning everyone.  People are still coming to Christ Jesus each and every day.  Yes, it is easy to let all the bad news occurring all around us to lose heart and hope but those of us who are followers of The Holy One of God need to keep praying.  Let each one of us begin the day with God.  Let us make an appointment with our Father in Heaven and refuse to break it, especially in a day such as this.

As believers, we may often wonder if there is anything we can do to counter the attacks our enemy hurls at us. We might even ask, “Can we, as Christian couples and parents, stand in the gap for our marriages, our children, and our homes?” Let me say a resounding, “Yes, we can, and we must stand united in the victory Jesus has secured for us.”

Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Matthew 7:8 For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.

Every promise which God give us is attached to a duty.  Concerning any duty it is not enough to do it, it must be done according to the prescribed methodology.

God desires that we should have a clear understanding about the certainty of prayer.  Never be afraid of being too earnest.  “Knock.”  Note that that is a repeated statement.  As big as the Bible seems to be, it is actually quite concise; therefore when we see something repeated we should pay closer attention than we otherwise might have.

Watch in prayer to see what comes.  Foolish folk who knock at the door but then fail to stay till someone comes to provide a response will fail to see the door opened but the desperate soul will tend to persist in knocking and will see an answer.  Some don’t believe in prayer because all they have ever done is to knock and run.

Ask, whom?  Not of angels, not of saints but make your request to the only One who is everywhere present.

Ask, when?  Anytime; some times are better than others.  For most, morning is best.  Daniel prayed three times a day at set times.  George Washington followed the example set by Daniel and would not permit anything to interrupt his prayer times.  He knew to ask of the One who is every when present.

Ask, why?  That is the methodology that God has chosen.  In His economy if we don’t ask, He won’t act.

Ask, How?

a.  Orderly; think about what you are going to ask.  Forget that “prayer language” stuff, because if you don’t actually know what you prayed for how will you know if it has been answered?

b.  Earnestly.

c.  Repeatedly: until you receive an answer.  In your own style – you’re talking to your daddy.  If you have not yet accepted Jesus as your personal Savior then God is not yet your daddy.  Popular foolishness says “We are all children of God,” but that is not backed up by the Holy bible.  First, one has to petition for adoption because we are all, in fact, children of Adam and, as such, alienated from His Kingdom biologically whether we be Jew, Gentile, and especially the Ishmaelite.  He desires that each one of us become a part of His forever family whether we be Jew, Gentile, or Ishamaelite.

d.  In faith.  In the name of Jesus; see John chapter fifteen … that is not a magic phrase – it is a privilege extended to us by the Savior and a recognition of whom it is that has guaranteed our ability to have a right relationship, and communication, with the God of the universe.

To pray is to put the understanding in motion.

To pray is to put the affections in motion; to open the heart.

To pray is to put the will in motion.

Praying is frequently thought of as a passive activity and when it is merely a rote recital of the model prayer or some other one without any real thought or effort put forth that may be an accurate description.  However, when the three above ingredients are all put into the mix it becomes a real work with a special dignity of its own.

Prayer, proper prayer, places the soul face to face with facts of the first order of solemnity; with its real self and with its God.

It is noble, because it is the work of man as man, it quickens the interest of man to that which is beyond the range of petty daily and material interests while enhancing proper interest in them by igniting higher enthusiasms into life, and of man becoming more aware of his being and destiny with a vividness which is necessary to him as no other occupation may.  The nobleness of a man’s best form of toil falls infinitely below that of a spirit which enters consciously into converse with the eternal God.  However that toil, no matter how mundane, may be elevated to an almost sacred level once the work of prayer has consecrated it.

If prayer is to be persevered in, it must be based on the conviction that it is heard by a living being.  If God exists, if He be a Personal Being, then surely we may reach out to Him if we actually want to.  If God be not merely an infinite intelligence, but a moral being, a mighty heart, so that justice and tenderness are attributes of His, then surely we may appeal to Him with some concern that we may have.  It is upon this solid ground that God is said to hear prayer in the Holy Bible.  That He should do so follows from the reality of His nature as the one true God.

The laws of nature are not self-sustained forces; they are God’s laws and God can use His own laws.  They have not escaped His control.

Prayer is a forseen action of man, and is embraced in the eternal purpose of God.

Probably the biggest barrier to effectual prayer is found in a person’s perception of his own self-sufficiency which is frequently demonstrated in the attitude and practice of, “When all else fails, pray.”  No, no … no.  Prayer should be our first resort, not our last.

2nd Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.