Making time

We all complain about the lack of time to do this or that. But whenever I want to do something that really matters, and all I hear in my mind is, “I don’t have time for this”, I ask myself:

“What would happen to my schedule in the next few days if something really tragic happened in my life, like the death of a loved one, or a horrible disease, or an ugly accident?”

Any such thing would ruin anybody’s schedule for days, if not weeks. Suddenly, everything would have to wait. Time you didn’t think you had will appear out of nothing, so you can dedicate your full attention to that new crisis.

The next question then is, Why would I need a tragedy to prove to me that I can make the time if I want to? Why not take control of my time right now?

We have all the time we want, to do anything we want. And no, I don’t need any proof, thank you. Do you?

If I had the time

This is one of our favorite excuses. “If I had the time,” I would do this or that.

You say you have so “little time,” but have you noticed how you still find the time to eat, sleep and drink every day? Do you know why? Clearly because if you don’t do these things your body will eventually get sick and die. In other words, they are vital.

Therefore, you will only find the time to do something according to how important it is to you.

If your marriage was of such importance, you would find the time to invest in it, make the necessary changes and repairs to make it better.

If your health and family were more important to you than the fake sense of pleasure from smoking, drinking, or any other addiction, you would find the time and strength to go to the doctor, go through a treatment, exercise everyday and stop everything that harms your body and mind.

So the problem is not time, it’s the level of importance that you give to what you have to do.

What is your faith?

I have always heard that the same faith that heals your body, saves your soul. But that’s not true.

Jesus healed ten lepers and only one returned. He healed the paralytic at the pool of Bethesda and later found him in the temple and said to him: “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” John 5.14  In other words, if he had gone back to his sinful ways something worse would have happened. The faith that had healed him did not guarantee the salvation of his soul.

The fact is, the same faith that makes divine healing, prosperity and other material blessings possible does not guarantee salvation.

"Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Matthew 7.22,23

Many have used faith to prophesy, to cast out demons and perform miracles. Faith in success. However, they did not have faith to obey the Word. Instead, they practiced lawlessness by following fleshly urges.

Why have so many experienced the wonders of faith and then lost their way?

Because miracles of faith require mere belief in the Promises, not obedience to them.

But the miracle of eternal salvation demands obedience.

Obedience to the Word of God.

Repentance is obedience; obedience is repentance. This is the faith that leads to the new birth or to a personal experience with God.

The Holy Spirit convinces a sinner to turn away from sin and obey His Word. Sooner or later this renewed person will be transformed by the Holy Spirit, and become a completely new creation.

HE inspires obedience.

HE inspires forgiveness.

HE inspires repentance.

HE gives the faith both to repent and obey.

In the end, HE leads a sinner to His Son Jesus Christ.

"All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out." John 6.37

Finally, the Lord Jesus says:

"But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?" Luke 6.46

"You are My friends if you do what I command you." John 15.14

Jesus became the Author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. Hebrews 5.9

Does the faith that saves people neutralize the faith that heals and performs miracles?

No, not at all.

"...seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (faith in salvation and obedience to the Word), and all these things (faith for miracles) shall be added to you." Matthew 6.33

The human-being next to you

According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, some of the most basic rights include: freedom of expression and the right to think.

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers. (Article 19)

Why then, in the midst of so many human needs, did the need to guarantee the right for people to think, have an opinion and express themselves come about?

Because one of the most humiliating things, which makes us feel small, is when our opinion doesn’t count. When nobody wants to know what you think. When the right to speak is denied.

This is deplorable in any situation of society. But one of the worst circumstances where this can happen is in a romantic relationship.

When a husband or wife, fiance, girlfriend/boyfriend, doesn’t allow their partner to express their opinion, they don’t try to understand their point of view even for a minute, even if the other disagrees, the feeling of being shunned psychologically and emotionally by their partner has catastrophic consequences.

The human being by your side, your partner, also has rights, just like you. In an argument you could even be in the right but don’t deny them the basic right to have an opinion, even if it’s different from yours.

Let them speak. Consider that perhaps, who knows, your opinion isn’t the only right one. There is another side to the story. Disagree if you need to disagree. But don’t morally abuse the other person denying them the right to think, have an opinion and express it without being attacked.

“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” – Voltaire

One of the biggest signs of great intelligence is the ability to appreciate different points of view without having to necessarily change your own.

When money speaks louder than God

Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets Who make my people stray; Who chant “Peace” While they chew with their teeth, But who prepare war against him Who puts nothing into their mouths: (Micah 3:5)

From the time of Micah, these “prophets” only had one interest: money. That’s why their messages were preached in tune with the listener’s pocketbook. The rich would hear a message of peace because it pleased them, and in return they would give money to the prophets. While the poor, who had nothing to give, were threatened to be cursed by those demons dressed as angels.

Such prophets are present in all religions, in all places, including evangelical churches. False prophets who, for a couple of silver coins, are willing to talk about anything, to preach whatever pleases the ears of those who have the means and those who write checks.

My consolation and need for justice rests on the following words:

“Therefore you shall have night without vision, And you shall have darkness without divination; The sun shall go down on the prophets, And the day shall be dark for them.”
(v. 6)

Please hurry Lord.

Afraid? Me? Of what?

Why are some people "afraid" to admit they are "afraid"?
Only those who have not been born yet or are already dead are not "afraid"!

Take a look at what the Bible says:
“So Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed..." Genesis 32.7

The heroes of faith were only heroes because they overcame their fears, but they were all afraid.

This is what happened with Gideon. If he was not afraid, where was he during the seven years that the Midianites, Amalekites and the people of the East dominated Israel? He was also hiding inside the caves, like the rest of the nation of Israel, helpless before their threats. Gideon was not born the same day that he was called. He was there from the beginning, when the enemy began taking control, but, like everyone else, he was also imprisoned by fear.

I'm sure many are wondering: So, why did God chose him and use him to deliver his people? Because he overcame his fears and understood that as long as he was a slave to his fears, he would also be a slave to his enemies. This understanding made it easier for him to get over his fears. But keep in mind that, even though he was afraid, he was also revolted!

Those who revolt against unrighteousness and the shame that is overpowering their lives will have to face and overcome their fears before facing and overcoming their enemies!

Overcome your fears and you will make all the difference! In the hands of God, you will also be a strong ally in making a change in your life and the lives of those around you!

Bishop Guaracy Santos

Purgatory

People carelessly conceive children without the slight notion of their soul’s final destination. Earth is a Place of Decision between eternal life and eternal death. Here, people decide to follow the path of righteousness or unrighteousness, sin or godliness.

The chances of reaching the Place of Righteousness are minimal.

"...Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it," Matthew 7.14.

Of every 100 people that hear the Word of God, only 25 are obedient, justified and saved. Therefore, just imagine the number of disobedient, plus those who never listen at all.

While on Earth, the righteous and unrighteous must put up with each other. They will only be separated after both have died. Each one will go their way.

The Righteousness of the Righteous Judge cries out for the souls of the righteous, and His angels are sent to bring them to the Place of Righteousness (heaven).

"So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom..." Luke 16.22

But there are no angels when the wicked die. Their soul goes straight into the depths of unrighteousness, hell. There is no waiting room, purgatory or anything of the sorts. Jesus does not mention an intermediate place.

"... The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades..."  Luke 16.22

While on Earth, the unrighteous enjoy a life of wickedness, satisfying the desires of the heart, benefiting from betrayals, lies, deceit, prostitution, hate, grudges, thefts, that is, all sorts of unrighteousness that goes against God's Law.

Through Paul, the Holy Spirit says: "adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God," Galatians 5.19-21

Upon the death of the wicked or sinful, the cry of unrighteousness (hell) claims their souls. And the Righteous Judge cannot do anything about it.

Purgatory is here on Earth. Those who want to have their souls purified of sins must surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ and obey His Word. In order for faith to justify a sinner, he is required to practice the Word of God.

"For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it." Mark 8:35

I know what I have to do

 

“I know what I have to do.” But you don’t do it. That’s where your problem is. Many people suffer due to ignorance, for not knowing what to do. But I believe that there are more people that suffer for not doing what they know.
It was for these people that the Lord Jesus said the following:
“Repent and do the first works.” Rev. 2:5
In other words, you’re used to doing what is right. You know what worked, because you did it for a long time. You reaped good fruits. But for some reason, you stopped. The results were catastrophic.
You know what you have to do, but in between you knowing and doing you know certain barriers exist:

• Pride
• Embarrassment
• Timidness
• Grudges
• Laziness
• Distractions
• Being complacent with your current situation
• Doubts
• Fear of failure and not being able to be who you were
• Indecision
• Procrastination

It seems that you’re so far from your first works that you won’t be able to rescue them. But the truth is that you’re really close, as close as the living room beside you. In order to go into the living room, all you have to do is go through the door. For you to return to your first works, you just have to make a decision to start now. Is it difficult to make this decision? Absolutely not. The difficult thing, probably what you’re thinking, is how to keep up with that decision…
Don’t worry. Don’t be anxious about what will happen later on today, tomorrow or after that. Worry only about right now. Take a decision to do what you know you need to do right now. Just do it. And afterwards, later on, continue doing it. When you feel discouraged or hit any barriers, remember, re-decide to continue your first works. This constant decision to do what is right is the door that leads to success.
It’s that simple. We are the ones who create difficulties.
Think right now about those things that you know you need to do but haven’t done, and make a decision to do them now—at least one thing. It doesn’t matter how small the first step is. Start now, as soon as you finish reading this blog.
Don’t tell me what you know. Tell me what you’ll do.
 

Steve Jobs’ yacht

 

Before he died, Steve Jobs had been working for five years on the design of a yacht for his personal use. The yacht finally took to the water on Sunday, one year after the death of Apple’s genius. The cost was not disclosed but is estimated at tens of millions of dollars. At the inauguration, the yacht was named “Venus”, the Roman goddess of love, beauty, sex, fertility, prosperity and victory. Irony, or what?

I have nothing against those who become rich as a result of their hard work. Jobs worked, created, invented, inspired and enriched deservedly. Unfortunately, he did not live to enjoy the yacht he designed, among other things. He lost his battle against pancreatic cancer at the age of 56, and his entire fortune was not able to overcome death.

It was because of people like him that Jesus told this story:
The farm of a certain rich man produced a terrific crop. He talked to himself: “What can I do? My barn isn’t big enough for this harvest.” Then he said, “Here’s what I’ll do: I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll gather in all my grain and goods, and I’ll say to myself, “Lucky man! You’ve done well! You’ve got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life!” But God said to him, “Fool! Tonight you die. And your barn full of goods — who gets it?” That’s what happens when you lay up treasure for yourself, and are not rich toward God.”

This story is not a condemnation of the rich, but a warning to anyone who is rich and does not recognize the true wealth. God calls them “fools”. They know the value of a yacht, an airplane, a car, a company, a watch, a jewel, etc., but they do not know the value of life and of eternal life for that matter.

Whatever your bank balance may be, are you ready to die tonight? How is your balance in God’s account?