Over the last quarter of a century, I have read everything he wrote that I could get my hands on.

I devoured the Pulpit Series Newsletter that I received from him in my mailbox every three weeks.

We have lost a great prophetic voice in our day.

I have lost one of my heroes in the faith.

Heaven has gained an obedient servant.

Reverend David Wilkerson is resting from all of his labor.

His deeds are following him.

And I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Blessed indeed," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!" (Revelation 14:13 ESV)

Know that you are loved,
gaj

People have always been fascinated by the notion of living longer as they have searched for that ever mystifying fountain of youth.

People are living longer now than at any other time in modern history.

Longer life is credited to the advances in medical science and health education involving diet, and exercise.

I'm all for living longer and healthier so that we do not cut our mission off prematurely, but I also look forward to the day when I won't have to remember to take my medicine, watch what I eat, and force myself to exercise when I don't want to exercise.

God offers us eternal life.

God's Word is our GPS that gives us direction to eternal life.

Check out this nugget:


Live long my friend.

Do God's will.

Live forever!

Know that you are loved,
gaj

Live as though Christ died yesterday, rose from the grave today, and is coming back tomorrow. -- Theodore Epp

Know that you are loved,
gaj

God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

 -- 1 Peter 4:9-10 nlt

Know that you are loved,
gaj

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. -- Romans 12:6-8 tniv

Know that you are loved,
gaj

"There are many rooms in my Father's house. I would not tell you this if it were not true. I am going there to prepare a place for you. After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back. Then I will take you with me, so that you can be where I am." ~ Jesus, John 14:2-3 (ERV)

Know that you are loved,
gaj

Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

~ Colossians 3:11, New International Version

With Good Friday and Easter Sunday of Holy Week this weekend, I invite you to listen to a message that God laid on my heart titled, "The Cross and the Empty Tomb".  This is probably one of the most important messages that I've been honored to deliver in more than 20 years of ministry.

My prayer is that this message will minister encouragement to you as you listen, and that if you feel led , you will use it to encourage others in your family and sphere of influence.

You can listen on your PC, laptop, or mobile devices including phones and tablets.

You can listen on your PC and laptop at http://lovinggodfellowship.org/bible_messages

You can listen on your mobile devices including phones and tablets at http://lovinggodfellowship.org/m-listen

May God surround you with His grace and peace in ever increasing measures.

Know that you are loved,
gaj

The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

-- 1 Corinthians 2:14

"If a person knows my commands and obeys those commands, then that person truly loves me. And my Father will love the person that loves me. And I will love that person. I will show myself to him." Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But Lord, why do you plan to show yourself to us, but not to the world?" Jesus answered, "If any person loves me, then he will obey my teaching. My Father will love that person. My Father and I will come to that person and live with him."

-- John 14:21-23 (ERV)

Historians have proven that there was a historical Jesus that walked this earth teaching and doing good.

Often times, there are but two opinions of Jesus.

These two opinions separate major faiths around the world.

They have split nations.

They have split families.

They have split relationships.

They have split criminals.

In our work in jails, in prisons, to the homeless, within gangs and in transitional facilities, we have experienced this split firsthand as we have taken the good news of Jesus to the point of need.

Jesus experienced the same split of opinion at the cross.


The one criminal was interested in Jesus only for an immediate fix to his problem saying, "Save yourself and us!"

In his mind, if Jesus was really the Christ, He would have to prove it through an act of selfishness that would have only saved three.

Jesus was all about saving, but He was not selfish, and He had no need to prove anything.

The other criminal had a different opinion of Jesus, realizing his own guilt and Jesus' innocence, desiring to be with Jesus, the Christ, in His Kingdom.

That criminal has been saved and is with Jesus today.

He had the right opinion of Jesus that led to salvation in the presence of Jesus for all eternity.

My opinion?

Jesus is the Christ. 

I'm nothing but a criminal who deserves punishment.

I long to be where Jesus is and choose to participate in His kingdom, which He is ruling over, both now and forever.

What's your opinion?

Know that you are loved,
gaj

How did Jesus walk?

What did He say?

What did He do?

Where did He do it?

Where did He go?

How did He pray?

When did He pray?

Where did He pray?

Why did He pray?

Was He baptized?

Where did He minister to people’s needs?

Who did He hang out with?

What did He seek?

What did He say to the religionists of His day?

What moved Him with compassion?

What commandments did He say were the greatest?

Did He invite people to church (the synagogue in His day) or to participate in His Kingdom?

Did He ask people to be a member of a church?

Did He consider the church building the place to come to receive ministry?

Did He spend all of his time in church activity?

Did He set up camp in a building, and wait for needy people to come to Him on a certain day of the week, between certain hours?

Did He plan super events that would attract crowds?

Did He speak in King James?

Did He make people comfortable?

What did He say about heaven?

What did He say about hell?

What did He teach about the Kingdom?

When did He say the Kingdom would be available?

How did He say one could come into the Kingdom?

Did He ever have a person walk an aisle?

Did He ever have a person say a prayer after Him?

Did He ever ask anyone to ask Him into their heart?

Did He ever tell anyone, “you are saved.”

Did He expect His followers to keep on sinning?

Did He condemn?

Did He judge?

Did He stereotype?

Did He discriminate?

Was He pro or anti government?

Was He a member of a political party or persuasion?

Did He pay taxes?

Did He complain about paying taxes?

Did He promote helping the poor and needy with His words and actions?

Was He radical?

Did He love?

Did He forgive?

Did He extend mercy?

Did He extend grace?

Did He suffer for the sake of others?

These are questions that can be answered and should be investigated by every person.

The answers are found in four books of the Bible; Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

One last question - what would happen in communities if every person who attends church, either occasionally or regularly, would read Matthew, Mark, Luke and John over and over again?

Over and over again.

Over and over again.

And did not confuse point of need ministry with church activity?

And each one walked as Jesus did in their community?

What would happen?

God’s Word says, “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.”   1 John 2:6

I think things in our communities would be a lot different.

Don't you?

Know that you are loved,

gaj

People can be cruel with their words and actions.

This cruelity can come from unexpected or unlikely sources.  

I have personally found that those who claim to be in a relationship with Christ can be the worse offenders of others, but yet a relationship with Christ includes following his teachings, and allowing them to transform us.  

Many believe in Christ, but are not transformed by His life, teachings, and Spirit; they have no relationship with Him.

They offend while professing Christianity.

Sadly, true Christ followers may be stereotyped as being mean and cruel, as these offenders are who believe in Christ, but are not transformed by Him.  

These offenders, oftentimes, substitute relationship with a church or denomination for relationship with Him.  

We are not all like the pastor Terry Jones, and looking for a Koran to burn.

Some of us really do love God and our neighbors as ourselves.

That's the Great Commandment Christ left us with.