Archive for April, 2017
When it’s time to die
Posted by appolus on April 30, 2017
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, revival, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, The presence of God, the remnant, the state of the church, theology | 1 Comment »
Embracing death is the key to life.
Posted by appolus on April 27, 2017
Embracing your circumstances is not surrender, it is overcoming. The battle within almost every human being is the battle of circumstances. It is the source of almost all fear and all anxiety. Your life is a journey. How will you journey? Will the majority of your journey be taken up with the fear of what is going to happen? If you get caught up in the swamp of despair and anxiety then you have lost your ability to live an abundant life.
But Frank, I have cancer and I only have six months left to live. Question, will you spend your last six months on this earth in the swamp of despair? Will it change your circumstances? I have a theory. There is life in surrender. But Frank, you said that embracing your circumstances is not surrender but that it is overcoming. Yes indeed, but there is two kinds of surrender. The first surrender is the surrender of the world and it could also be known as the swamp of despair and hopelessness. In this place there is only death.
The second kind of surrender is the surrender to God. Oh brothers and sisters this could not be more different from the surrender of the world. This surrender is the entrance to His rest. A place where you have laid down your burdens. A place where you walk in peace, a peace that surpasses all understanding. In this place circumstances are merely vehicles to draw you even closer to God. In the other place circumstances are vehicles for drawing you away from God.
What world do you live in brothers and sisters? Remember, you cannot have a foot in one world and a foot in the other, if you do you will love one and reject the other. I believe God is calling you to step from one world, this world, with all of its cares and anxieties and circumstances, into the other world where those very circumstances are robbed of all of their death and are infused with the light of life. There is no escaping the circumstances of this life, there is only surrender. Which surrender will you choose? The one that leads to despair and hopelessness or the one that leads to life and that more abundantly.
Posted in the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, The presence of God, the remnant | 8 Comments »
Faith is the antidote to fear!
Posted by appolus on April 27, 2017
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, revival, the crucified life, the deeper life, The presence of God, the remnant, the state of the church, theology | 3 Comments »
God of the valley
Posted by appolus on April 24, 2017
It does not really count
If you think its gonna end
The valleys not a valley
If you think you can ascend
When you’re burning in the fire
And all around is darkness
And from the very depths of you
You silently scream…Jesus!
Have you cried that name into the night
When everything has failed
You’re lost and there’s no way ahead
And all your world has been derailed
When you’ve crawled the deepest valley
Where the arrows never stop
Only then are you truly ready
To ascend the celestial mountain-top
The glory of the risen King
Belongs to those who cry to Him
“Even if I burn here in this fire,
my immortal soul will come up higher”
The saint whose traveled down this road
Whom the enemy will often strike
Discovers something other-worldly
The mountain and valley are both alike
On the very highest mountain-top
Or in the deepest valley low
The day and the night are both alike
For He is with me everywhere I go.
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christian poetry, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, poetry, revival, spiritual poetry, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, The presence of God, The Psalms, the state of the church, theology | Leave a Comment »
Arise and shine
Posted by appolus on April 16, 2017
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. (Isa 60:1-2)
In Exodus 10:22-23 we see that there was a thick or gross darkness that covered the land for three days as a judgment on the land of Egypt. It was so dark that men could not see each other “but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.” Even in the midst of gross darkness that covered the land, all of God’s children had light in their dwellings. God caused their dwelling place to be full of light. In verse 17 God said that He would beautify the place of His sanctuary for those who had been forsaken and hated and that He would make them an ” eternal excellence.”
Now I want to encourage you if you are hated and forsaken. God has not forgotten you and He loves you with an everlasting love. We all dwell in darkness right now and the darkness is getting thicker. Gross darkness is approaching and will surely cover the whole earth! Yet, we, the sons and daughters of the Kingdom, the remnant saints here on earth are the dwelling place of God and He has promised that we would be full of light and that this light would arise, for the glory of our God will rise up within us as the enemy comes in with a flood of darkness.
Hab 2:14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. Even in the midst of tremendous judgement and great darkness we see here a promise from the prophet that all of the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of God as the waters cover the sea. All the earth shall see the glory of God as He arises in the hearts of His people. The glory of God shall rise out of the darkness of sin and judgement. Gods children will be a witness, a light unto all the nations of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and then the end shall come.
Lord I pray that you revive the work of your saints in the midst of gross darkness. Lord in your wrath remember your mercy. Let your light and your glory arise in the hearts of your saints and lift the heads of those who cry out to you. And though the fig tree shall not blossom nor fruit be in the vines and flocks shall be cut off from their folds yet shall we rejoice in the Lord. Our joy will flow from our salvation, you are our strength and you give us feet that can cause us to walk in the high places of your presence. Your glory covers the heavens and may the earth hear the praises of you from the saints upon whom you shall fill with your light. Arise and shine and let the glory of the Lord rise above and penetrate the gross darkness. Thank you Lord, be glorified.
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, revival, the crucified life, the deeper life, the remnant, the state of the church, theology | Leave a Comment »
America and its place in the world.
Posted by appolus on April 11, 2017
America is a country that struggles with the notion of being Christian. But in truth, there are no, nor ever have been Christians nations. In the end all nations are secular. Yet nations can be influenced by the majority culture. This influence can be for good or for ill. If the culture is predominantly Christian in nature even if not in actuality, it will still be a force for good in the world.
It will still be a secular entity but will be somewhat restrained by its Christian influence. As that influence wains, then so does the actions that are taken simply because it is ” the right thing to do.” In the last administration we saw a radical departure from the Christian influence. The terrible situation in Syria was one example of expediency of a secular country and leadership devoid of Christian influence. Imagine if you will that some radical Muslim country was the superpower of today. Imagine if Russia or China was the superpower of the day. To imagine that is to imagine a truly dark world.
The world takes for granted the goodness of a superpower that is influenced by a majority Christian culture. As the Christian influence wains in the highest corridors of power in America then the world becomes a darker place. For in the end the true Christian will do what is right and not what is expedient. When that aspect of influence is lost to America then the world will be lost to true darkness. In the last unholy administration that was an enemy to all things Christian, we saw how that darkness effected the world.
I am not arguing for more Christian leadership in politics. My observations are of a Christian culture in decline and what effects that has on a secular world. As the world seems intent on ridding itself of any vestige of Christian influence, it cannot at the very same time mourn the coming darkness of mankind. Only in Christ is there light, all other roads lead to darkness.
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, revival, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, the remnant, the state of the church, theology | 2 Comments »
Touching the Father’s heart
Posted by appolus on April 7, 2017
How is it I could be so lost
In a very familiar place
How can my heart turn suddenly cold
Now my world’s a smaller place
Chorus
I was born to soar into the skies
I was born to look into your eyes
Reaching out to be a part
Of a world, touching the Father’s heart
Verse 2
How can I stay here in this place
With its darkness all around
My heart longs to hear your voice again
Just to hear a heav’ly sound
Verse 3
I can run in, to my high tower
But I know I cannot stay
Im called to come back into the light
Into the light of a brand new day
Verse 4
So if you have run, you’ve run away
From your life with all its pain
It’s time to come back,come back to him
Time to fall in love again.
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christian poetry, Christianity, church of scotland, Daily devotional, Devotions, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, poetry, revival, spiritual poetry, the crucified life, the deeper life, the remnant, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized, worship, worship music | Leave a Comment »
What ifs
Posted by appolus on April 3, 2017
Oh Lord Jesus hear my desperate plea
Silence the “what ifs” that forever plague me
They cry out like sirens from the twisted rocks
They wrap me up in chains and rusting paddle-locks
The ever roaring sounds of what is not
Rattles through my very soul that somehow has forgot
That the Lord is God and He ever rules supreme
And the things we see are not always what they seem
What ifs are like a swarm of angry bees
They encircle and torment me till I fall down to my knees
Stinging out my very life and leaving me for dead
What if suddenly I ignore them and get up and walk instead
What voice shall I listen to before dawn breaks anew
Will the skies be full of clouds or indeed with they be blue
When you listen to the Masters call there is a peace within
That overcomes the anxiousness and sets to flight our sin
Faith is the substance of things not clearly seen
It’s the still waters of my life and it is my pastures green
And yes I walk through valleys that are surely deep and dark
To live an extra-ordinary life is no walk in the park
Oh saint today wont you listen to my plea
Come now before the King to the one who set you free
What ifs are slain in the power of His might
You are the apple of His eye and you are His delight
No spirit of fear lies within you’ll find
But a Spirit of power and a restful peaceful mind
Will raise you up, above, to higher ground
Tis there in golden silence, before His throne you’re found
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, Daily devotional, Devotions, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, revival, the crucified life, the deeper life, the remnant, the state of the church, theology | 2 Comments »
A Call To The Remnant 