You Can Cast All Your Cares Upon Jesus!

2 Tim. 3:1, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy.”

In the succeeding verses, Paul continues to delineate the characteristics of these last days. I believe Paul is describing the self-absorbed attitude that exists in the world today. It is hard to find people who are more concerned about others than themselves. Jesus said to love our neighbor as ourselves. People who are totally focused on themselves cannot love others. Consequently, the driving force in their lives is to gain for themselves.

When we are so self-focused, we can miss the greater plan that God has for all His creation. It is difficult for us to understand the needs of those around us. Our role in God's plan is to affect our world for the cause of Christ. If my attention is given fully to the issues of my relationships and the responsibilities of daily care and provision, then there is little room for others. That is why the Lord invites us to cast all our concerns on Him and exercise our faith in His promises for us. Satan will attempt to distract us from our mission but the Lord will sustain us and keep us on course.

1 Peter 5:6, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

“The word for 'careth' in Greek is 'mel'-o' which means 'to care about.' It is a verb which means it is an action word. Jesus understands our needs and cares to the extent that our needs move Him to action.” He stands ready to intervene at the very moment we need Him!

If we will follow the Lord Jesus Christ, He will see to it that our needs are met. We must place our total faith in His promise to do that. Therefore, we are not distracted by the menial tasks of life and can prepare for this spiritual war with our adversary, Satan. Peter says, “Whom resist stedfast in the faith...” We must resist Satan while remaining steadfast in the faith that our provision and sustenance are in Christ’s hands. Jesus invites us to give Him all our cares, the things that bring anxiety and cause us to be distracted from His plan. He cares for each one of us and will move into action if we will TRUST Him! You Can Cast All Your Cares Upon Jesus! 

The Only Remedy For Sin Is Repentance! by Myra Boozer

“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil. Evil is running rampant in this world but also in many churches. The toleration of sin is a mockery of God's holiness and majesty. It is a mockery of the shed blood of Jesus on the cross." This is from a post by David C. Cooke, “Quit Calling Sin a Mistake.” It is strong, powerful, and cuts to the heart of the matter, but it is Truth. The world is not hearing much truth these days.

Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Titus 2:11, "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.”

Better to know the truth than to believe a lie and be lost. Jesus’ own words in Luke 13:3, "Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish." The Word of God has been so watered down! So much of the Word has NOT been preached to this generation which has led us to where we are today. People just pick and choose whatever they want to believe because there is a smorgasbord of doctrine out there. There is ONLY one Way and it is the BIBLE way! We are not free to change it to our liking!

We must seek God with an honest heart and know His Truth. That is what will SAVE us in the end, and time is running out! The clock is ticking and the midnight hour is almost here. Just listen to the news. Prophecy is being fulfilled! We have a Savior who wants to make us pure holy and acceptable in His sight. We must surrender to His call and walk in His approval if we want to go to heaven. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." We need to stop calling sin a mistake. The Only Remedy For Sin Is Repentance! 

Getting Ready To Leave? Or, Getting Ready To Stay? Conclusion

(for part 1 see 2/5/25)

God will put people of like character into the same lot together and bring them into judgment. In Luke’s version of Jesus’ ministry, he accounts for numerous parables that Jesus used to illustrate Divine principles. It is interesting how Jesus used the parable of the rich man and Lazarus to characterize the life of a believer and an unbeliever.

Luke 16:19, “There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day...”

The rich man represents an unbeliever. Not that a person has to be poor or lack possessions and money to be a believer but that the rich man allowed his possessions to stand between himself and God. The rich man had fine things IE…purple and fine linen and had a lavish lifestyle (fared sumptuously). However, it was not the things that he possessed that hindered his relationship with God but the mindset that possessed him. For him, life was one continual party and evidently, he gave no thought to the needs of others.

What is the mindset of a rich man? Jesus gives us an example in Luke 12:16, “And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Life, at its best is short. Our focus should be on completing the assignment God has given to us as His servants.

Back to chapter 16:20, “And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores...” Now we see the other side of the coin. Lazarus was laid at the rich man’s porch or front gate every day. The need was obvious. There was no avoiding the dilemma of this poor man. He was really sick with sores all over his body (probably leprosy). He had to be carried not being able to walk alone. He was probably poor because he was sick. His sickness led to his total deprivation. So, why was he sick? Could it be so that God might touch the lives of the people around him? Could it be so that God might challenge every person that crossed his path? Here was a hungry, homeless, sick brother, and how many people stopped to give him aid?

Then comes the final hour! Luke 16:21, “And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.” Lazarus died and was carried by angels to Heaven. The rich man died but his outcome was much different. “And in hell...” (Hades-Greek) Parallels with the Hebrew Sheol both mean “realm of the dead.”  The implication is the eternally dead are without hope or deliverance.

The two people in this parable represent two different lives, two different deaths, and two different eternities. Both individuals had a choice. Though Lazarus had a life of struggle, he chose to believe in his creator. The rich man, however, chose to follow his own selfish desires avoiding the needs of those around him. Lazarus sacrificed his mortal life to inherit his eternal life with Christ. The rich man sacrificed his eternal life with Christ for his mortal life. What will be your choice? Only you can determine your destiny!

Hebrews 9:26, “...but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” Getting Ready To Leave? Or, Getting Ready To Stay? 

A Prickly Nest! by Myra Boozer

As I recall, a mother eagle pulls out all the fluff and makes the nest prickly before those young birds want to take flight. I really think God is doing that for us today! It is getting mighty hard to feel at home in this world anymore. God knows that many are fearful of the unknown and leaving the place we have grown accustomed to is not highly favored or on our bucket list.

When you wake up and hear of so much hatred and evil happening all over the world even in your own hometown, you wonder what will happen next! It's just not a safe and peaceful environment anymore. Too many angry people are fighting to voice their opinion and do their thing no matter who it hurts.

People are arguing about politics and politicians as though they are going to change someone's mind. It isn't really going to happen. Those who have their minds made up will continue until God shows them differently.

How can people declare to be Christian and say they are looking for the return of Christ when they condone the evil acts and deeds that plainly go against the Word of God? I don't see them changing by my conversation. It will take strong conviction for people to change.

Sinful deeds and those who condone those deeds are in the same category. It is not okay to go against the Word of God for any reason. When the Word is mocked as is being done today by people who call themselves Christian and stand for a woman's right to abortion they are denying the Word of God and putting judgment upon their heads. The word clearly states "Thou shalt not kill."

A true child of God wants no part of what is going on! Yes, God is allowing the fluff to be removed and the thorny world we live in is piercing our very souls because of the evil that is taking charge. Heaven is sounding sweeter all the time! 

Getting Ready To Leave? Or, Getting Ready To Stay?

Hebrews 11:8, “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”

Your answer to this question will determine your eternal destiny. Will you assimilate into a world system governed by carnal man or will you be a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven governed by God? The two are as different as light and darkness. Man’s ways are not God’s ways and God’s ways are not man’s ways.

In recent years we have heard many world leaders speak of the globalization of systems and nations. Globalization appears to be the dominant worldview. It simply means the development of an integrated global economy marked by free trade, free flow of capital, and tapping into cheaper foreign labor markets. Finance is the driving force behind most organizational entities in the world. Money is power and power is money! However, there is much more at stake here than money. To be a world player, one must be prepared to make concessions. You cannot expect to hold one hundred percent to your ideals and values and still participate successfully in the global economy. Presently, the powers that be, are colluding together and many are bowing to the promise of financial power.

As children of God, we are not citizens of this world! We were not created to function in this environment that engulfs all of mankind. We are created for a better world and for a much greater purpose than what this world can offer. We were made to walk with God in the midst of His creation. We were made to share in an intimate relationship with God to share with Him in intimate communion all the days of our lives. We were made to be free from all the human encumbrances that sin has brought upon this world.

We are not citizens of this world! We are citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, we must be separate from the worldliness that seeks daily to invade our lives. Manipulation is of the devil. A spirit of control is orchestrated by Satan. People in leadership roles must beware lest they be influenced by the desire to control the outcome. God is the only true standard and His Will is the only blessed outcome! (continued) 

The Healing Of Our Nation! by Myra Boozer

Tragedy brings people together. It also brings people to the place of feeling helpless, needing someone to care about them. When broken, people become open to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He is THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE. Wouldn't it be wonderful if our churches would join hand in hand, praying for the HURTING and praying for the SALVATION of this WORLD?

Churches are so divided by Doctrine and Traditions. They hardly communicate with each other...SAD...JESUS died for ALL and loves us all. We need to UNITE in HIM! He is our "Common Ground." Instead of looking at all the differences, we need to stand together in the UNITY of THE CROSS of JESUS CHRIST. SATAN IS PLEASED when we are divided. GOD IS NOT!

Lord, please help us to reach out to each other...to ALL who believe in YOU...those who have the same HEART CRY...those who LOVE YOU and desire to walk in YOUR WAYS...those who feel the pain and suffering of the broken and destitute. BRING US TOGETHER IN LOVE FOR YOU and ALL THOSE WHO NEED YOU.

Please help me pray for this to begin in all areas of our world. There is strength in numbers and strength in people visually seeing that the CHURCH CARES.

It doesn't take much to show you CARE. But, it can make a world of difference to the person hurting. LET'S DO THIS! Pray and ask God to direct you in joining with OTHERS for a great purpose...THE HEALING OF OUR NATION! 

It Is Time!!!

Many voices in the Church are calling the Body of Christ to Prayer. Today, we stand at the door of one of the greatest times in human history. We dare not move forward without fully understanding the gravity of our response to God's call and the effect of that response on ourselves and all that our lives might touch. Our future will be defined by what we do in this moment of our choice.

Many have already been praying! Those prayers have brought us to where we are now. But, we can't stop! After 9/11 we had an opportunity to seek God and turn this nation around. But the praying didn't last. After only a few weeks we drifted back to business as usual. We cannot afford to take for granted the opportunity God is giving us. This is our last chance as a nation. Pray, Church! Pray like our lives depend on it. Because they do!

Can we pray? Father God, Lord Jesus Christ, we do here and now accept your challenge to pray in travailing prayer for our lost and broken world. We desire the Spirit of prayer to intercede. Open our spiritual eyes and ears to see and hear the cries of the lost, the beaten, the debilitated.  Teach us to understand what they are facing. Guide us to see and hear them as you do. Give us the compassion and love that you have for them so that we are inspired to join in their redemption. Lift us up in the power of Your Word being fully dressed in faith to lead the captives free. Anoint us with your power that we may speak to the mountains before us and they will be moved into the sea. Let us see the prison doors spring open at the mighty thrust of Your Presence. Help us to run into the battle with such passion that others are seized with the same fervor. I can hear the sound of mighty armies engaged on the battlefield. Can we pray? It Is Time!