Alhamdu lill ahil-lathee ahyana baAAda ma amatana wa-ilayhin-nushoor

“All praise is for Allah who gave us life after having taken it from us and unto Him is the resurrection.”

[Reference: Fortress of the Muslim]

Dear Friends,

“Be care-full for nothing, BUT in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God…” (Phil. 4:6)

The Amplified version amplifies the truth here just a little more:  “Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, BUT in every circumstance and in everything by PRAYER and petition (definite requests) with thanksgiving continue to make your desires known to God.”

Here is the alternative to being full of care – or filled with anxiety:-  Don’t worry about anything. But rather –  pray about everything; tell God your needs and always maintain an attitude of thanksgiving.

The little directive, “Pray without ceasing” I think has been a bit of a puzzle to some.   Perhaps that is because prayer has too often been thought of as a religious exercise that was a requirement for spirituality – a form of words to be spoken at specific times under certain circumstances.  As Eugenia Price says, the depth of its meaning is passed by as being impossible.  Or mystical.  Or out of reach.  For the old days, perhaps, when people had time, but not for today.  (1 Thess. 5:17)

But it IS for today.  If anything, more important than ever.  Really, this simple little verse tells us that we can live continually, minute by minute, in direct contact with our Lord.  All human hearts are created to be near the Heart of God.  We need to be in constant contact with our Heavenly Father.

I have certainly found in my own experience that I can “pray without ceasing” and still get my work done.  I can “pray without ceasing” and still drive the car and write letters and wash dishes and make beds and sleep and eat and laugh and weep and “live out my days as a member of the human race.”  One writer calls it living on two levels at once, and I think that is well said.  Living on the human level requires attention to the project at hand, sometimes with great concentration.  But on the Spiritual level, there is an ongoing awareness of the Presence of God.  Praying is being aware of God;  praying without ceasing is being constantly aware of Him.  It is wonderfully possible to be inwardly aware of His Presence even in the midst of pressures at work, demands at home, and fun at play.

Our loving Father invites us, no, commands us to pray “always with all prayer and supplication…with all perseverance.” Again, He tells us to “rejoice in all that God is planning for us, be patient in trouble, and persistent in prayer.” (Eph. 6:18; Rom. 12:12)

I like to use the illustration of a husband and wife in the home.  Though they are not always talking, there is an awareness of one another’s presence.  The minute one does speak the other responds.  There are times when they will sit down and carry on a lengthy conversation about a particular subject, or subjects.  At other times, it will be a question requiring an answer;  or a request requiring some action.  But always there is an awareness of the other’s presence, and the line of communication is open.

We are assured, over and over, of the continuing Presence of the Lord.  He has promised to “never leave you, nor forsake you.”  “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” More than that, He literally dwells in the heart of the believer – makes it His residence.  So what is required of us?  Simply to recognize and acknowledge His Presence, and respond with thanksgiving, praise, and worship.  And He invites us to express our requests.  (Heb. 13:5; Matt. 28:20)

Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire, uttered or unexpressed;
The motion of a hidden fire that trembles in the breast.

Prayer is the burden of a sigh, the falling of a tear,
The upward glancing of an eye, when none but God is near.

Prayer is the simplest form of speech that infant lips can try;Prayer, the sublimest strains that reach the Majesty on High.

Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath, the Christian’s native air;
His watchword on the daily path;  He enters Heaven with prayer.

(James Montgomery, 1771-1854)

King Solomon, in his wisdom, asserts that the Lord hears the prayers of the righteous and James tells us that the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.  (Prov. 15:29; James 5:16)

May the God of your HOPE

so fill you with all joy and peace in believing –

through the experience of your faith –

that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound

and be overflowing with HOPE

(Romans 15:13 Amplified)

In Agape, Eulene

Welcome back, brothers & sisters!!!

Thank you for joining us today in supporting our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world  in praying over this week’s prayer requests.   

Here are this week’s prayer requests:

• Please pray for Kevin.  This young man found out the day before Thanksgiving that he has stage 4 lung cancer.  Please pray for him and his loved ones to receive the Lord’s covering & comfort through this time.
• Please pray for Mary’s dad in the Philippines.  He is receiving chemotherapy for stage 2 cancer.  Let’s lift our brother up in prayer and pray the Lord’s covering & comfort over him and his loved ones during this trying time.
• Please continue to pray for a young married couple with children to receive the Lord’s blessings over their lives.  The mother recently lost her job due to lay offs.  The dad works, but the hours available to him are few due to the light workload at his employer.  Furthermore, the dad has a heart condition that is potentially life-threatening.  Please pray for these two to remain steadfast in their faith and to continue trusting completely in the Lord & His blessed promises throughout this trying time.  Furthermore, please pray for this time to be one of joy for this family and for all the extra time they are spending together right now to be precious time that yields much spiritual growth and many fond memories.  Lastly, please pray that the mother’s current pregnancy would be a healthy and uneventful one, culminating in the birth of another precious child several months from now:-)
• Please join with me in praying for a young man in his 30’s that has been physically debilitated by the ravages of MS.  This young man clings to his faith in the Lord fiercely.  Please pray that the Lord would pour out His mercy, grace, and healing on this young man so that he may find some relief from this disease that has been ceaselessly attacking him for over 8 years now.  Furthermore, please pray that his faith would be renewed and that his grip on his faith in the Lord would remain firm at all times.  Also, please pray for this young man’s mother to also receive the Lord’s peace, strength, and comfort as she takes care of him through this ordeal.  Pray for them both to realize that they are in the Lord’s hands, and that is always the best place that any of us can be.
• Please pray for a recently separated couple with two young children to receive the Lord’s intervention in their hearts.  The dad left 3 weeks ago and wants nothing to do with the children.  The mother has just had to let go of a prized position at work so that she can be home for the children.  Please pray that the Lord would comfort all involved and that he would cause the adults to re-examine their choices and their motivations for those choices.  Pray that whether or not they get back together, that they both become active and positive influences in the lives of the children.  Please pray that the healing process would begin immediately, even if just in gradual measure.  Lastly, please pray that any acrimonious feelings between the two adults would begin to fade, and that they would turn to the Lord for guidance during this turbulent time in their lives.
• Please pray for a large group of low-income people that just found out that their jobs will be moving away in the next few months.  Pray that they would trust in the Lord to deliver them and that their fears would be relieved by their faith in Him.  Pray for them to be blessed with open doors to new opportunities, despite the dreadful economic conditions currently in place.
• Please continue to pray for the president of the United States of America to seek the Lord’s guidance and will so that he may better fulfill his leadership role.  Pray that he would turn away from the lies that he frequently perpetuates and from the power plays that he continually makes, opting instead to be a faithful and obedient servant of the Lord God Almighty.  Please also pray for our members of Congress to also seek the Lord’s guidance and will, rather than primarily seeking more backroom deals and re-elections.  The United States was intended to have a government not under the control of man-made religion, but the founding fathers did intend for the United States to have a government that acknowledged and abided by the will of the Lord God Almighty.  Pray that this country would awaken to that truth before it is too late.
• Please continue to pray for a man in his later 30’s that has embraced atheism as a result of the wrongs that people have continually subjected him to for all of his life.  This young man has fallen for Satan’s lie that if there was a God, he would have been spared from all of these things.  Pray for this young man to realize that the only thing that has allowed him to survive all of these trials is the very grace of God.  Pray that he would realize that God has been there with him through every trial, sustaining him and propelling him forward. 
• Please continue to pray for one of our sisters in Christ Jesus.  Her name is Tiffany, and she has been diagnosed with a form of scoliosis.  Let’s pray for the Lord’s healing over our sister and that she would also receive the Lord’s strength, peace, and comfort as He leads her through this tough time.  Pray that she would feel His presence continually and be restored to full health quickly. 
• Please continue to pray for a two year old girl with cancer.  Pray that this little princess would receive healing in the name of Jesus Christ, and please pray that the Lord would comfort her throughout this ordeal.  Furthermore, please pray that the Lord would bless the loved ones of this little princess to be filled with His peace, strength and comfort during this trying time.
• Please continue to pray for a middle-aged woman that is suffering through the affliction of having liver cancer.  This sister loves the Lord with all her heart.  Please pray that the Lord would sustain and strengthen her as she battles this disease.  Please pray in Jesus’ name in faith with thanksgiving and supplication that the Lord would unleash His complete healing power over our sister, healing her mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
• Please continue to pray for the people of Israel to recognize that the long-prophesied Messiah is none other than Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God the Father.  Recognizing this will enable many more Jewish people to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, so that they may be reconciled unto the God that chose them as His people so many thousands of years ago.  Many Jews have converted to Christianity in the last several years.  Let’s pray that a great many more do the same:-)  Furthermore, let’s pray for the Lord’s continued protection and blessings for Israel in the face of the world’s disdain for this nation.  As many of Israel’s enemies will find out the hard way, the Lord will not forget His chosen people:-)  Praise God for His ceaseless faithfulness, perfect and enduring love, abundant mercy, and amazing grace!!!
• Please continue to pray for those churches and Christians that have abandoned Christ by embracing abominations such as homosexuality and humanism to see the error of their ways, repent, and return to the Lord.  There is a rapidly growing movement of churches and people seeking world unity through diversity of faith in order to gain acceptance from the very world that rejected Jesus Christ.  Please pray that they would reverse course and esteem seeking the Lord’s will, rather than giving in to man’s will. 
• Please continue to pray for a young man that is currently lost in homosexuality.  Pray that his heart and his mind would be opened to the Lord’s word, truth and love and that he would see the error of his ways.  We pray that this young man will repent of his sins, accept Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, and be freed permanently from the chains of bondage that this world’s ways have wrapped him with.  Please join with myself and this young man’s parents to pray for him to be awakened to the Lord’s truth and love.
• Please continue to pray that Christians around the world would be filled with the Holy Spirit and would boldy go about proclaiming Jesus Christ and sharing the Lord’s word, truth, and love to all peoples everywhere.  Pray that they would not be intimidated into silence by the ridicule and persecution that this world will meet them with, but rather that they would be energized by knowing that they are being blessed with the honor of sharing in Jesus’ suffering for us.  Jesus told us that all that would follow Him would need to take up their own cross.  Please bless Christians to remember this and to be filled with the strength, courage, and faith to boldly carry their crosses through this world in proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ!!!

If you have not yet given your life to Christ Jesus, but you would like to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior right now, please join me in praying the following prayer:

“Lord God Almighty, I know that I am a sinner and that I am lost.  I know that I need to be saved from sin, but I also know that I can’t save myself.  Lord Jesus, I know that only You can save me.  I know that you paid for my salvation with your own life and blood on the cross.  I know that when You rose from the grave on the third day, you conquered death and provided everlasting life to all who trust in You.  Right now, I lay down my life and let go of my pride, my vanity and every other sin that has kept me from You.  Lord Jesus, I now completely trust my life to You.  I open my heart to You, Lord.  Please come into my heart.  Please forgive me of all of my sins, and please accept me as Your child.  From this point on, I commit my life to You.  Please guide me and provide me strength as I begin to live the rest of my life for You.  In Your precious and matchless name I pray.  Amen.”

If you just prayed that prayer sincerely, then you have now been born-again in Jesus Christ.  Your sins of the past have been forgiven, and you now have a clean slate with which to begin living your new life for Jesus Christ.  You will still have trials and challenges in this world, but you will never again face them alone.  Get to know the Lord better by regularly studying His word (the bible) each day, by speaking to Him frequently through prayer, and by seeking fellowship with other Christians.  Welcome to the family, beloved!!! 

As always, if you have a prayer request, please send it along so that we can join you in prayer over your request(s).  You can either submit your prayer request(s) in the “Comments” box at the end of this message, or you can email your prayer request(s) directly to me at jasonthurwanger @ dellmail.com (no spaces).  We are always happy, thankful & blessed to join you in prayer in looking to the Lord for His blessed support and intervention:-)

Thank you for joining us in supporting our brothers and sisters around the world in this week’s prayer requests.  I hope you will be able to join us for our next message on Monday.

Remember, if you would like to order the new book “Strapping On the Whole Armor of God – Suiting Up For Spiritual Warfare), please visit my website at http://www.yourbrotherinchrist.com .  If you prefer to order by mail, you will also find the mailing address on that website.  This book is very valuable in helping people understand how to go about securely and effectively putting on the whole armor of God that the apostle Paul refers to in Chapter 6 of Ephesians.  We are praying that many people will receive this book and be blessed in their walk with the Lord by reading it.

Have a wonderful and blessed weekend, and be sure to share Christ Jesus as freely and lovingly with others as you have been blessed to receive Him by the very grace of God!!! 

May the Lord bless you, keep you, guide you, and make His face to shine upon you and your loved ones always.

Your brother in Christ,

Rev Jason Thurwanger

There are holes in the line where my friends stood in Jumma and now they are gone……………..

Right as we speak they are entering the Masjid el Haraam and as they lay eyes on the House of My Lord, they are stunned and speechless…………………….I close my eyes and I am with them, right beside them gazing at the House of our Lord, and I too am speechless………..

The doors of the Masjid el Haraam:courtesy: http://www.flickr.com/photos/53967601@N00/2335040068/

The dua for entering the Masjid

‘I take refuge with Allaah, The Supreme and with His Noble Face, and His eternal authority from the accursed devil. In the name of Allaah, and prayers and peace be upon the Messenger of Allaah.

O Allaah, open the gates of Your mercy for me.’

I close my eyes and I am there, I open my eyes and I pray that I will soon be there, Inshallah!

1) Ascribing Associates To Allah, the Most High (Shirk)

The worst major sin is Shirk. It is of two kinds:

a) To hold that Allah has an equal, whereas He has created you, and to worship another with Him, whether it be a stone, tree, sun, moon, prophet, sheikh, star, angel or other. This is the greatest shirk mentioned by Allah, the Most High, the Almighty, says,

{Allah forgiveth not (the sin of) joining other gods with Him; but He forgiveth whom He pleaseth other sins than this; one who joins other gods with Allah hath strayed far, far away (from the right).}
(An-Nisa:l16)

{False worship is indeed the highest wrong-doing.} (Luqman:13)

{Whoever joins other gods with Allah; Allah will forbid him the Garden, and the Fire will be his abode.} (Al-Ma’idah:72)

The Qur’anic verses concerning this are very numerous. It is being absolutely certain that whoever ascribes associates to Allah and dies in such a state is one of Hell’s inhabitants, just as whoever believes in Allah and dies as a believer is one of the inhabitants of Paradise, even if be should be punished first.

The Prophet (pbuh) said,

“Shall I tell you of the worst major sins? Worshipping others with Allah, showing disrespect to parents, giving a false statement, and testifying to the truth of a falsehood. ” And he kept repeating it until we were telling ourselves (out of sympathy for him because of the strain of repeating it), “If only he would be silent.”1

“Avoid the seven heinous sins.”2

and he mentioned ascribing associates to Allah.

“Kill whoever converted his religion (Islam).” 3

b) Ostentation

Allah, the Most High, says,

{Whoever expects to meet his Lord, let him work righteous, and, in the worship of his Lord, admit no one as partner.} (AL-Kahf:llO)

i.e., does not show off in good works

“Beware of the lesser shirk.” They asked, “What is the lesser shirk?” He said, “Showing off in good works. Allah, the Almighty will say when recompensing the mankind for their deeds: Go to those whom you showed off to in the world to see how they could recompense you. .” 4

The Prophet (pbuh) said,

“If anybody associates something with Me, I am not affected. If anyone associates somebody with Me, in any way, I reject him and his act of associating.”5

The Prophet (pbuh) said,

“A person who does some good work in order to boast will have his faults exposed by Allah Most High and a person whose motive in doing some good deed is to show it, Allah the Most High will treat him as a hypocrite.”6

The Prophet (pbuh) said,

“There may be a faster who does not gain from his fasting but hunger and thirst.”

A wise man said, “Just as the one who shows off in good works is the one who fills his purse with
pebbles and leaves for the market to buy food. If he opened it before the seller he will be stoned with it in his face. He gains nothing but the people’s inquiry about what fills his purse, nothing more. Thus, the one who shows off in good works will have no value but the people’s saying that he did good and he will not be rewarded in the Hereafter.”

Allah, the Almighty, says,

{And We shall turn to whatever deeds they did (in this life), and We shall make such deed as floating dust scattered about.} (AI-Furqan:23)

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said,

“On the Day of Judgment some groups of people will be brought near Paradise. Having smelt its fragrance, and seen palaces and blessings therein, they will hear a call saying “Take them away, it is not for them.” Accordingly, they return so sorrowful that no one could have such feeling. They will call upon Allah, “0 Lord were we entered into the Hell-Fire before seeing what You have prepared for Your Friends, it would have been better.” Then Allah will say, ” That is what I want. When you were alone you defied Me with grievous sins, but when you meet people you showed off in good works, You only respected people not Me, You only refrain (from things) for their sake. Hence, today, I will severely torment you in addition to depriving you from My bountiful reward.” 7

It was related that a man asked the Messenger of Allah (pbuh)

“How can I be redeemed?” The Prophet said, “If you do not deceive Allah” The man asked, “How is Allah deceived?” He replied,

“When you do something which Allah and His Messenger commanded you to do but you intended other than pleasing Allah.

Beware of ostentation, it is the lesser shirk (polytheism);

On the Day of Judgment, the ostentatious will be called at the presence of all creatures by four names:

O Ostentatious,O traitors,O corrupt,O loser;

what you did is wasted and your reward is nullified. We will not reward you, go and get your reward from whomever you acted to deceive?” 1

A wise man was asked, “Who is the sincere one?” He replied, “It is he who hides his good deeds as he does with his bad deeds.” Someone asked, “What is the good of sincerity?” He said, “When you dislike to be praised by people.”

Al-Fudail Ibn Eiad, may Allah be pleased with him said, “To refrain from an action for the sake of people is ostentation. To do something for their sake is shirk (polytheism). But sincerity is to be aware of them.

O Allah! Let us be away from them and forgive us.

FootNotes :

1 Reponed by Bukhari, Muslim and Tirmidhi.
2 Reponed before.
3 Reponed by Bukhari, Ahmed, Ibn Hibban, An-Nasa’i and Abu Ya’la.
4 Reported by Ahmad.
5 Reported by Muslim. It’s a Qudsi Hadith.
6 Reported by A1-Bukhari.
7 Mentioned by A1-Siuti in “AI Laiali AI-Masnu’ah” who related that Ibn Hibban said that it is false and has no reference.

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دعا

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(اقبال)

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يا رب! دل مسلم کو وہ زندہ تمنا دے
جو قلب کو گرما دے ، جو روح کو تڑپا دے
پھر وادي فاراں کے ہر ذرے کو چمکا دے
پھر شوق تماشا دے، پھر ذوق تقاضا دے
محروم تماشا کو پھر ديدئہ بينا دے
ديکھا ہے جو کچھ ميں نے اوروں کو بھي دکھلا دے
بھٹکے ہوئے آہو کو پھر سوئے حرم لے چل
اس شہر کے خوگر کو پھر وسعت صحرا دے
پيدا دل ويراں ميں پھر شورش محشر کر
اس محمل خالي کو پھر شاہد ليلا دے
اس دور کي ظلمت ميں ہر قلب پريشاں کو
وہ داغ محبت دے جو چاند کو شرما دے
رفعت ميں مقاصد کو ہمدوش ثريا کر
خودداري ساحل دے، آزادي دريا دے
بے لوث محبت ہو ، بے باک صداقت ہو
سينوں ميں اجالا کر، دل صورت مينا دے
احساس عنايت کر آثار مصيبت کا
امروز کي شورش ميں انديشہء فردا دے
ميں بلبل نالاں ہوں اک اجڑے گلستاں کا
تاثير کا سائل ہوں ، محتاج کو ، داتا دے

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Translation:

By Dr. M.A.K. Khalil

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O Lord! To the Muslim’s heart grant that live Longing
Which may warm the heart, which may restlessness to the soul grant

Again brighten up every speck of dust of the Valley of F«r«n
Again  Longing for the Spectacle, taste for the asking grant

Again to the one deprived of the Spectacle the discerning eye grant
Whatever I have seen, to others also its  sight grant

Again guide the strayed away deer towards the £aram
To the one  addicted to city, vastness of wilderness grant

Again  in the forlorn heart create the Last Day’s  tumult
Again to this empty camel-litter the lover of Lailah grant

In the darkness of this age to every perturbed heart
That mark of Love which may embarrass the moon grant

In elegance raise the Muslims’ goals to the level of  Thurayyah
Self-respect of the ocean, freedom of the sea shore grant

Love should be pure, candor fearless should be
Grant Light to hearts, hearts like crystal grant

Grant the feeling for signs of the calamity
In today’s tumult concern for tomorrow grant

I am the wailing nightingale of a ruined rose garden
I am the supplicant for acceptance, O Benevolent one alms to the beggar grant

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Farida Khanum & Amanat Ali Khan

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Shaukat Ali Khan

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Abdul Rauf  Rufi

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Ejaz Qaisar

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Shehzad Roy

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Bismillaah

“O Allah, I seek protection in You from that I ascribe partners to You knowingly and I seek forgiveness from You for those things which I do not know.”

(Ahmad 4/403 Authenticated by Al-Albaani, Sahihul-Jami As-Saghir 3/233)

Number one:

Commiting Shirk in Supplication

“Now, if they embark on a boat, they call on Allah, making their devotion sincerely (and exclusively) to Him; but when He has delivered them safely to (dry) land, behold, they give a share (of their worship to others)!- “

Quraan 29:65

It is permissible to ask a living person to help you. Allah says: “Help ye one another in righteousness and piety.”
[Sûrah al-Mâ’idah: 2]

However, it is not allowed to ask a deceased person for help of any kind. This is a pure polytheism. This is what Allah severely warned us against and sent prophets and messages so that people would avoid it.

It does not make a difference who the deceased was, not even the Prophet (peace be upon him). The Companions, who are our example to follow, used to ask the Prophet (peace be upon him) to pray for them during his life time. However, after his death, none of them would come to his grave and ask him for help regardless how severe their conditions might have been and regardless of whether the problem was general or personal.

The essence of polytheism is to seek from other than Allah.

Wadd, Suwâ`, Yagûth, Ya`ûq and Nasrâ – the idols of pagan Arabia – were originally names of pious people, the same as Sheikh `Abd al-Qâdir al-Jîlânî. People made statues at their graves to remind each other of their pious conduct. However, after some time, they requested things from these people, though they were dead, and sought their help in fulfilling their needs.

This is an act of polytheism. The same applies to al-Lât. He was a good man. Sheikh `Abd al-Qadr al-Jîlânî, al-Husayn and Zaynab were doubtless pious people, but unfortunately, people began visiting their graves and asking them to fulfill their needs.

Allah says: “Is it not to Allah that sincere devotion is due? But those who take for protectors others than Allah (say):
‘We only serve them in order that they may bring us nearer to Allah’.”

[Sûrah al-Zumar: 3]

Those who worshipped statues thought that they represented pious people and their intention in worshipping those statues was only to be granted intercession through them to Allah. This is always the reason used by those who try to justify calling on the deceased for help.

Some who join Gods besides Allah in the Islamic era have gone further than the polytheists of pre-Islamic times by describing their Gods of being able to maniputate the universe. Some of them have gone so far as to say: “O `Abd al-Qâdir al- Jîlânî O you who have dispensation of the universe.”

Then what is there left for Allah? If such a statement is not deemed pure polytheism, what then would be pure polytheism?

The person who told you that you were doing the right thing by asking `Abd al-Qâdir in his grave, and considered that as being from the Qur’ân and Sunnah is indeed a liar. You will never see in Allah’s book and the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him) anything that condones such conduct.

In fact, the Qur’ân, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and all other books and Prophets were sent to spread monotheism and the loneliness of Allah in worship. Allah says:

“Not a messenger did We send before thee without this inspiration sent by Us to him that there is no god but I: therefore worship and serve Me”
[Sûrah al-Anbiyâ’: 25].

Allah warns us in many verses not to call upon the deceased. He says:
“Verily those whom ye call upon besides Allah are servants like unto you: call upon them, and let them listen to your prayer, if ye are (indeed) truthful”

[Sûrah al-A`râf: 194]

and says: “If ye invoke them, they will not listen to your call, and if they were to listen, the cannot answer your (prayer) On the Day of Judgment they will reject your ‘partnership’, and none (O men) can inform you like Him who is All-Aware”

[Sûrah Fâtir: 14].

When is it that Allah (sw) accepts repentance!

[Say: ‘O My servants who wronged against their souls, do not despair of Allah’s mercy! For Allah forgives all sins; for He is indeed Forgiving, Compassionate.] (Az-Zumar 39: 53)

“O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me, and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you. O son of Adam were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth, and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it.”

<Hadith Qudsi>

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said,

“Allah accepts the repentance of a person as long as death has not reached his collar bone (i.e., as long as it is not done in the last pangs of death ).”

Did Prophet(peace and blessings be upon him) Repent ?

Yes he also Repent around than 100 times a day … see this hadith…

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said,

“O people! Turn to Allah in repentance and seek His forgiveness, for surely I make repentance a hundred times every day.”

Reported by al-Aghaar ibn Yasaar & collected in Saheeh Muslim (eng. trans. vol.4 p.1418 no.6523).

He accepts it if it meets the following conditions:

1. You must admit the guilt, knowing the prohibition of the act you have done.

2. You ought to feel remorseful for your sinful deeds. This indicates that, from the bottom of your heart, you feel sorry for that mistake.immediately becoming occupied in whatever good deeds that u can in order to wipe out his past sins.

3. If a person happens to be the victim of wrong actions, compensation must be made, i.e., a person robbed of his property, for instance, must be indemnified, either through restitution in integral or by paying back for damages. Thus, to prevent dissension and dispute, people’s rights huquq-l-`ibaad (rights of God’s servants) must be settled.

4. You must make resolution that you will never look back, i.e. you must enter into a sincere covenant with God that you have completely closed those dark pages, and that you will never open them again.

5. And, of course, you must pray to Allah for forgiveness

Repentance, as stated above once accomplished, will undoubtedly wipe out one’s sins, and guarantee him a clean record.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said,

“One who repents from sin (sincerely) is like one without sin.”

HASAN – Reported by Abu ‘Ubaidah ibn ‘Abdullaah & collected by Ibn Majah Authenticated by al-Albaanee

If the Muslim achieves all these conditions, then repentance will be accepted insha’Allah, without punishment on the Day of Judgment.

rest Allah knows best !

so,Repent as many times as you can,as No one knows When DEATH will knock your door….

May Allah SWT Forgive me if i’m wrong at any place,
May Allah SWT Forgive all muslims and have mercy on them,
Ameen!

KING
slave of ALLAH!

The Major Sins

–Al-Kaba’r–

The major sins are those acts which have been forbidden by Allah in the Quran and by His Messenger (SAW) in the Sunnah (practise of the Prophet), and which have been made clear by the actions of of the first righteous generation of Muslims, the Companions of the Prophet (SAW).Allah Most High says in His Glorious Book:

If you avoid the major (part) of what you have been forbidden (to do), We will cancel out for you your (other) evil deeds and will admit you (to Paradise) with a noble entry. (al-Nisa 4:31)

Thus by this verse, Allah Most High has guaranteed the Garden of Paradise to those who avoid the major sins. And Allah Most High also says:

Those who avoid the greatest of sins and indecencies, and forgive when they are angry (al-Shra 42:37) Those who avoid the greatest sins and indecencies, except for oversights, (will find that) surely your Lord is ample in forgiveness. (Al-Najm 53:32)

The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “The five [daily] prayers, Friday to Friday, and Ramadan to Ramadan make atonement for what has happenned since the previous one when major sins have been avoided.” It is therefore very important to determine exactly what the greatest vices, technically called “the major sins” (Kaba’ir), are, in order that Muslims should avoid them.There is some difference of opinion among scholars in this regard. Some say these major sins are seven, and in support of their position they quote the tradition: “Avoid the seven noxious things”- and after having said this, the propeht (SAW) mentioned them: “associating anything with Allah; magic; killing one whom Allah has declared inviolate without a just case, consuming the property of an orphan, devouring usury, turning back when the army advances, and slandering chaste women who are believers but indiscreet.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas said: “Seventy is closer to their number than seven,” and indeed that is correct. The above tradition does not limit the major sins to those mentioned in it. Rather, it points to the type of sins which fall into the category of “major.” These include those crimes which call for a prescribed punishment (HADD; plural, HUDUD), such as theft, fornication or adultery (ZINA), and murder; those prohibited acts for which a warning of a severe punishment in the Next is given in the Qur’an or the tradition; and also those deeds which are cursed by our Prophet (SAW). These are all major sins.

Of course, there is a gradation among them, since some are more serious than others. We see that the Prophet (SAW) has included SHIRK (associating someone or something with Allah) among them, and from the text of the Qur’an we know that a person who commits SHIRK will not his sin be forgiven and will remain in Hell forever.

Allah Most High says: Surely, Allah does not forgive associating anything with Him, and He forgives whatever is other than that to whomever He wills. (al-Nisa 4:48 and 116)

01. Associating anything with Allah
02. Murder
03. Practising magic
04. Not Praying
05. Not paying Zakat
06. Not fasting on a Day of Ramadan without excuse
07. Not performing Hajj, while being able to do so
08. Disrespect to parents
09. Abandoning relatives
10. Fornication and Adultery
11. Homosexuality(sodomy)
12. Interest(Riba)
13. Wrongfully consuming the property of an orphan
14. Lying about Allah and His Messenger
15. Running away from the battlefield
16. A leader’s deceiving his people and being unjust to them
17. Pride and arrogance
18. Bearing false witness
19. Drinking Khamr (wine)
20. Gambling
21. Slandering chaste women
22. Stealing from the spoils of war
23. Stealing
24. Highway Robbery
25. Taking false oath
26. Oppression
27. Illegal gain
28. Consuming wealth acquired unlawfully
29. Committing suicide
30. Frequent lying
31. Judging unjustly
32. Giving and Accepting bribes
33. Woman’s imitating man and man’s imitating woman
34. Being cuckold
35. Marrying a divorced woman in order to make her lawful for the husband
36. Not protecting oneself from urine
37. Showing-off
38. Learning knowledge of the religion for the sake of this world and concealing that knowledge
39. Bertrayal of trust
40. Recounting favours
41. Denying Allah’s Decree
42. Listening (to) people’s private conversations
43. Carrying tales
44. Cursing
45. Breaking contracts
46. Believing in fortune-tellers and astrologers
47. A woman’s bad conduct towards her husband
48. Making statues and pictures
49. Lamenting, wailing, tearing the clothing, and doing other things of this sort when an affliction befalls
50. Treating others unjustly
51. Overbearing conduct toward the wife, the servant, the weak, and animals
52. Offending one’s neighbour
53. Offending and abusing Muslims
54. Offending people and having an arrogant attitude toward them
55. Trailing one’s garment in pride
56. Men’s wearing silk and gold
57. A slave’s running away from his master
58. Slaughtering an animal which has been dedicated to anyone other than Allah
59. To knowingly ascribe one’s paternity to a father other than one’s own
60. Arguing and disputing violently
61. Witholding excess water
62. Giving short weight or measure
63. Feeling secure from Allah’s Plan
64. Offending Allah’s righteous friends
65. Not praying in congregation but praying alone without an excuse
66. Persistently missing Friday Prayers without any excuse
67. Unsurping the rights of the heir through bequests
68. Deceiving and plotting evil
69. Spying for the enemy of the Muslims
70. Cursing or insulting any of the Companiions of Allah’s Messenger

The best fear that a person can experience is to fear the consequences of one’s deeds for the Hereafter. This is the fear that softens the heart, channels the spirit, and helps a person govern his impulses.

`Umar b. al-Khattâb – whose piety and faith we all attest to – feared falling into hypocrisy. This is why he went to Hudhayfah, the person whom the Prophet (peace be upon him) disclosed the identity of Madinah’s hypocrites, and asked him if he were one of them.

Hudhayfah said to `Umar: “No, you are not one of them. And I will never again attest to anyone’ status.”

Scholars have said that after considering `Umar’s feelings, none of us should feel secure that we are free from hypocrisy. Who else can possibly feel more secure than the Companion who held the title al-Farûq – the one who can judge between right and wrong?

This fear is certainly something good. However, it should not get to the point that it overwhelms us. It should not make us crumble in despair. Despair is a very bad feeling. It makes us abandon our good deeds. When we succumb to despair – when we lose hope – we simply give up trying. When we give up trying, this is when we fall to perdition.

This is why it is so important for us to navigate a course between hope and fear.

Whenever we feel fear overwhelming our religious sensibilities, we need to cultivate the certitude in our hearts that Allah, our Lord, is most merciful. His mercy encompasses everything. His mercy is always closer than His wrath. He forgives our sins, no matter how numerous those sins may be. All we have to do is turn to Him in sincere repentance.

If we feel that our feelings of hope are getting the better of our good judgment and making us feel complacent, then we need to cultivate our fear. When we start feeling that our deeds are so very good, we should remind ourselves that Allah may not accept our deeds from us. We should remind ourselves that He could call us to account when we are being heedless and that he is indeed severe in punishment.

If we get smug and start feeling as if we are doing Allah a favor by our good deeds, this is a great way for us to have those deeds thrown back at us.

We should remind ourselves about those desert dwellers who embraced Islam during the Prophet’s time and acted as if they had done Allah and His religion a great favor.

Allah revealed the following verse of the Qur’ân about them: “They impress on you (O Muhammad) as a favor that they have embraced Islam. Say, ‘Count not your Islam as a favor upon me: Nay, Allah has conferred a favor upon you that He has guided you to the faith, if you be true and sincere’.” [Sûrah al-Hujurât: 17]

We can make our navigation of this course between hope and fear much easier by remembering Allah often, and by being constant in supplication, charity and voluntary worship. We are strengthened by this and by carrying out all of our religious obligations properly.

We should remember to seek refuge with Allah from ever falling into polytheism knowingly – and ask Him to forgive us for what we might fall into unawares.

We should never confuse our fear of Allah with misgivings. We should not pay misgivings any mind, for they are but the whisperings of Satan.

Satan tries his luck with us. He suggests some misgivings to our heart, then waits to see how we respond. If we take the bait, he tries to get us preoccupied with doubts, until we get to a point where we are drowning in a sea of uncertainty.

Allah says: “And if a whisper from the devil reaches you (O Muhammad), then seek refuge with Allah, for He is the Hearer, the Knower.” [Sûrah Fussilat.: 36]

The Companions complained to the Prophet (peace be upon him) about this problem. One of them would inform the Prophet (peace be upon him) that such a bad thought came to his mind that he would rather fall from the sky or be blown off a precipice then ever think such a thought.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) just said to him: “That is real faith.” [Sahîh Muslim (132)]

When we understand this, we will never let misgivings trouble us. We will simply seek refuge with Allah from Satan and go about our business, ignoring whatever those misgivings would have us do.

Source: Islamtoday

Hello again, brothers and sisters!!!

Before we get into today’s discussion, I just want to briefly say “thank you” to those of you who have been regularly taking part in these discussions, as well as those of you who visit whenever you are able.  I would also like to thank all of our first-time visitors.  It is a blessing and a genuine pleasure to have you all here:-)

For today’s discussion, we will review the parables of the treasure and the goodly pearl.  While these two parables were a couple of the shorter parables that Jesus shared, they are certainly just as important as all of the other parables.  Jesus was speaking with His disciples when He shared these parables.  The parables are as follows:

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field;  the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:  Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” – Matthew 13:44-46 (KJV)

Both of these parables are making the same point, right?  Let’s break them down, shall we?

The man seeking treasure, and the merchant-man seeking goodly pearls, are played in real life by sinners seeking the truth, redemption, and salvation.  The treasure hiding in the field and the goodly pearl, represent the kingdom of God found through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who is also the Living Word of God.  So with that being the case, why would we have to sell all that we have in order to buy our way into the kingdom of God through Jesus Christ?  Doesn’t that run contrary to salvation being a gift given freely by grace through faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior?  It sure does.  however, the point of these parables is not that we are “buying” our way into the kingdom of God. 

The point is that once we have discovered the kingdom of heaven by accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we should value nothing else as much as this “treasure/goodly pearl”.  Beloved, when we find the kingdom of heaven through Jesus Christ and His word, we should value the Lord, His word, and His kingdom above anything else in our lives.  As obedient and faithful servants, there should be no price we are unwilling to pay in order to serve Him completely.  If we live in complete submission to the Lord’s will, then there is no room for competing interests.  Just as with the Apostle Paul, all former things we held dear we must be willing to count as lost once we are saved.  Why?  Well, once we are saved, serving the Lord is to be the focal point of our lives, and our vision is to be focused like a laser on doing so.

Interestingly, in these two parables that Jesus Christ shared with us we can also Him as the man/merchant-man seeking the treasure/goodly pearls.  Think about it.  Jesus gave up all that He had and suffered death on the cross in order to pay our sin debt.  In so doing, beloved, we were saved and purchased by His blood.  The treasure being “hid” in the field refers to those who live in Christ being granted access to the kingdom of heaven, which is a place that someone who serves sin cannot find or gain access to.  Once we belong to Christ, He protects us from the enemy.  We are effectively “hidden” in His protection, as once we belong to Christ Jesus, we cannot be snatched away from Him.  As Jesus said:

“I told you, and ye believed not:  the works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me.  But ye believe not, because ye are not of My sheep, as I said unto you.  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me:  And I give unto them eternal life;  and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.  My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all;  and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand.  I and My Father are one.” – John 10:25-30 (KJV)

Brothers and sisters, let us rejoice that the Lord considers us His “treasure/goodly pearl” and was willing to pay everything in order to save us!!!  Praise God!!!  Thank you, Jesus!!!  Furthermore, let’s praise the Lord God Almighty for His lovingkindness and longsuffering, and let’s show Him that He is the only real treasure that matters to us, as well!!!  Beloved, do you know what the word of God, the truth, salvation, entrance to the kingdom of heaven, light, love, peace, life, faith, wisdom, and understanding all have in common?  I’ll tell you what.  We find and receive all these things when we find Christ and turn our lives over to Him.  Jesus is the Truth.  Jesus is the Living Word of God.  Jesus is the Prince of Peace.  Jesus is the Author and Finisher/Perfector of our faith.  He is the Way to the Father and the kingdom of heaven.  Jesus Christ is the Life.  The Lord is the Light of the world.  You get the point, yes?

Beloved, besides the praise we offer to the Lord in the form of prayer, song, and worship, we need to commit ourselves to praise Him through our lives and actions.  That we belong to Christ Jesus should be obvious to all not just by the words we speak, but also by the things we do.  It should not appear to others that we live for money, or for the approval of man;  rather it should be clear to all that we live to serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Just as Jesus paid for us by giving up all that He had for our sakes, we ought to esteem our treasure, found in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, above any passing “treasure” that this world has to offer.  Remember, beloved, the treasure of this world lasts for a limited amount of time and diminishes.  The treasure of the Lord is forever.  Suffer any necessary hardships, persecutions, or trials in this world in order to serve the Lord obediently and faithfully.  By so doing, your treasure in heaven will be waiting for you, and increasing, and will be with you forever:-)

Beloved, the Lord will always provide for, and take care of, those entrusted to Him.  It is, however, up to each one of us to make the decision to seek the Lord and His kingdom.  If we are willing to walk through the thorns, rats, mice, and bugs, and other treacheries of the field in order to find Him, then we will find that our “treasure” is more than worth the jouney.  Remember, beloved, hidden treasure only has value to us once we find it.  In order to find it, we must seek it.  As Jesus said:

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness;  and all these things shall be added unto you.” – Matthew 6:33 (KJV)

Precious one, we cannot claim hidden treasure that is never discovered, because we have no idea where it is.  Once we seek and find our treasure in Christ Jesus, however, we have the greatest treasure of all.  This is real treasure.  Everything other treasure pursued yields only fools gold.  So often we allow the cares of this world to distract us from searching for our hidden treasure.  Jesus was telling us not to get consumed/wrapped up in the concerns of this world.  He was telling us that we should put our whole focus on seeking the Lord and His will.  We can do so while not being overwhelmed with thoughts of what we will eat, where we will live, or what we will clothe ourselves with, because God will see to our needs just as He does with the birds of the air and the grass of the field.

Please pray for all those who have no idea of the hidden treasure available to them.  Let’s pray that they go searching for it, willing to brave the trials of the journey, in order to find the only treasure that really counts.  Furthermore, let’s pray that once they find that treasure, they see Him for who He really is and turn their lives over to Him as their Lord and Savior.  Jesus Christ is our treasure.

If you are ready to discover your hidden treasure, and claim your eternal inheritance from the Lord God Almighty, you can do so by accepting Him as your Lord and Savior today.  If you would like to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior today, and be saved, please pray the following prayer with me:

“Lord God Almighty, I know that I am a sinner and that I am lost.  I know that I need to be saved from sin, but I also know that I can’t save myself.  Lord Jesus, I know that only You can save me.  I know that you paid for my salvation with your own life and blood on the cross.  I know that when You rose from the grave on the third day, you conquered death and provided everlasting life to all who trust in You.  Right now, I lay down my life and let go of my pride, my vanity and every other sin that has kept me from You.  Lord Jesus, I now completely trust my life to You.  I open my heart to You, Lord.  Please come into my heart.  Please forgive me of all of my sins, and please accept me as Your child.  From this point on, I commit my life to You. Please guide me and provide me strength as I begin to live the rest of my life for You.  In Your precious and matchless name I pray.  Amen.”

Beloved, if you just prayed that prayer sincerely, then you just found your hidden treasure.  I would encourage you to find out what’s all in the treasure chest by exploring it through God’s word, through prayer with supplication and thanksgiving to the Lord, and by asking Him to reveal the fullness of the treasure to you.  The treasure you have, precious one, is priceless.  God set aside this treasure just for you through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.  Welcome to the family:-)  The angels in heaven are rejoicing this very moment at your decision to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.  Find out about this and much more by exploring God’s word that He had written just for you:-)  This relationship with Christ is the most precious and important relationship you will ever have.  Invest yourself in growing the relationship as much as possible.  Seek the Lord’s will in all things, and let your will be completely surrendered to Him.

Thank you for joining our discussion today.   I hope you are able to join us on Friday to pray over this week’s prayer requests. 

Remember, if you would like to order the new book “Strapping On the Whole Armor of God – Suiting Up For Spiritual Warfare), please visit my website at http://www.yourbrotherinchrist.com .  If you prefer to order by mail, you will also find the mailing address on that website.  This book is very valuable in helping people understand how to go about securely and effectively putting on the whole armor of God that the apostle Paul refers to in Chapter 6 of Ephesians.  We are praying that many people will receive this book and be blessed in their walk with the Lord by reading it.

Have a wonderful and blessed rest of the day!!!  Walk in faith, knowing that you are loved by the Creator of the heavens, earth, and all life, and knowing that the treasure that you now carry in your heart and soul is priceless:-)

Have a happy, safe, and blessed Thanksgiving Day tomorrow!  Give a special thanks to the Lord for all that He has done for you and your loved ones.  Without Him, we’d be in a very bad place:-)

May the Lord bless you, keep you, guide you, and make His face to shine upon you and your loved ones always.

Your brother in Christ,

Rev Jason Thurwanger

Welcome back, brothers and sisters!!! 

Today we are going to discuss the parable of the ten virgins and the bridegroom.  Jesus was talking to His disciples about be ready for the last day when He shared the following parable:

“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.  And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.  They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:  But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.  While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.  And at midnight there was a cry made, ‘Behold, the bridegroom cometh;  go ye out to meet him.’  Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.”

“And the foolish said unto the wise, ‘Give us of your oil;  for our lamps are gone out.’  But the wise answered, saying, ‘Not so;  lest there be not enough for us and you:  but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.’  And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came;  and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage:  and the door was shut.”

“Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’  But he answered and said, ‘Verily I say unto you, I know you not.” – Matthew 25:1-12 (KJV)

Brothers and sisters, the message of this parable is very sobering.  Let’s break this parable down and discuss the thrust of the message.

First of all, cast in the role of the bridegroom is the one and only begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ.  The ten virgins represent us, believers and non-believers.

Okay, so now that we know the cast, what is the tie-in to the oil and the lamps?  That’s simple, actually.  Why do we need lamps?  Lamps help us to see where we are going, right?  We are blinded when we are surrounded by darkness.

The lamps, beloved, represent our spirits/souls.  Why do I say this?  Consider the following scripture:

“The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly.” – Proverbs 20:27 (KJV)

So if the lamp represents our soul/spirit, what does the oil represent?  The oil represents the Holy Spirit, which is attained through Christ Jesus.  Remember, beloved, that though Jesus is not present with us physically on earth anymore, He lives here in our hearts through the Holy Spirit.  This is the same Holy Spirit that God the Father filled Jesus, His only begotten Son, with after He was baptized by John the Baptist.  Brothers and sisters, Jesus Christ is also known as the Light of the World.  Having His light in us, we can rejoice in knowing that our lamps will be lit and shining brightly at the moment that Jesus comes for us.

You see, beloved, the Holy Spirit is the oil that shines brightly enough that all can see our light, which is the presence of the Lord in our hearts.  How can people see that light?  Well, let’s look at the type of light that the Holy Spirit emanates, as described by the Apostle Paul:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance:  against such there is no law.” - Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV)

You see, beloved, when we live in Christ, we are to be faithful and obedient servants of that which He blesses and graces us with.  Frankly, the manner in which we live should be a strong witness for Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.  Remember, brothers and sisters, as His servants, our lives should be lived in such a manner as to reflect to others our service to our Lord and Savior.  That means we are to let the Lord’s light shine through us for all to see.  Jesus said the following about this:

“Ye are the light of the world.  A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick;  and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” – Matthew 5:14-16 (KJV)

Beloved, the 5 virgins that heed the Lord’s word, and live by it, are those that He will find doing His work when He returns for His bride, which is the church.  The church is comprised of all those who have accepted salvation given by grace through faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.  Only those that have Christ in them will be called home to be with the Lord.  Those that do not have Christ in them have souls/spirits filled with darkness instead of light.  Since there will be no light found in such people, they will be passed over when the believers are called home.  Consider the parable of the ten virgins, and listen to what Jesus said would happen when He calls His servants home:

“Then shall two be in the field;  the one shall be taken, and the other left.  Two women shall be grinding at the mill;  the one shall be taken, and the other left.  Watch therefore;  for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.  But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.  Therefore be ye also ready:  for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh.  Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?  Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.  Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.  But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, ‘My lord delayeth his coming’;  and shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;  The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites:  there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” – Matthew 24:40-51 (KJV)

Brothers and sisters, no one knows when Jesus will return.  Jesus Himself said that only the Father knows the appointed hour.  The point is that we are supposed to constantly live our lives doing the work of our Lord and Savior so that in that “twinkling of an eye” when Jesus does return, we are found as faithful and obedient servants, diligently doing His work and will.

Unfortunately, beloved, there are many that live without Christ in their hearts.  They do not have the oil of the Holy Spirit burning brightly within them and emanating His light in their lives.  This, brothers and sisters, is all the more reason for us to constantly have our lamps lit with the oil of the Holy Spirit.  By sharing, embracing, and living the Lord’s word and love, we will be more effective in shining His light through the darkness in order to reach those that are presently lost.  Just as we were once lost before being found, we are incredibly blessed with the opportunity to help gather many of our Shepherd’s lost “sheep” by lighting up the path that will lead them home to Him.  This is our mission, beloved, and the time is now to carry it out.

No one should take for granted that the Lord will not come back for “x” amount more time.  We simply do not know the Lord’s return date and time, as only the Father knows.  Jesus could return in 5,000 years, 5 months, 5 weeks, 5 days, or in the next 5 seconds.  Regardless of how long it is until Jesus returns, we need to commit ourselves to doing His work every single day of our lives.  When He returns for us, let’s bless and glorify Him by meeting Him with as many well-oiled lamps as possible!!!

I would like to ask each and every person taking part in today’s discussion a few questions.  If the Lord Jesus Christ were to return in the next few seconds, would you be ready?  Would the Lord find your lamp lit brightly by the oil of the Holy Spirit?  Just as importantly, are you confident and assured that all of your family, friends, and loved ones would be found ready if Jesus were to return in the next few seconds?  Are you confident that hte majority of people in this world are ready to meet the Lord?

Let’s be honest, beloved.  There are a great many people that are not yet ready to meet Jesus Christ.  If Jesus were calling His faithful servants home today, an incredibly large number of people would be among those left behind.  Evidence of this can be found all throughout the world today.  Just turn on the 6 o’clock news, or go for a drive through the city, and you will see that much of humanity is spiritually lost and adrift at sea, without boat or life jacket.  This, brothers and sisters, is the urgency of our mission.  Just as with the 5 foolish virgins, those who are not ready to meet the Lord when He calls His faithful home will find out the harsh reality that the time for making the decision to commit their lives to Him has passed.

Beloved, ask the Lord for the endurance, strength, perseverance, and courage to work tirelessly to share His love and His word with as many people as possible.  The Lord will give you the words and the guidance you need through the Holy Spirit.  The time is now, beloved, for us to increase our staffing levels of faithful and obedient servants to take part in the Lord’s harvest.  Let’s get to work!!!

If you have not yet accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, but you would like to, please pray the following prayer:

“Lord God Almighty, I know that I am a sinner and that I am lost.  I know that I need to be saved from sin, but I also know that I can’t save myself.  Lord Jesus, I know that only You can save me.  I know that you paid for my salvation with your own life and blood on the cross.  I know that when You rose from the grave on the third day, you provided everlasting life to all who trust in You.  Right now, I lay down my life and let go of my pride, my vanity and every other sin that has kept me from You.  Lord Jesus, I now completely trust my life to You.  I open my heart to You, Lord.  Please come into my heart.  Please forgive me of all of my sins, and please accept me as Your child.  From this point on, I commit my life to You.  Please guide me and provide me strength as I begin to live the rest of my life for You.  In Your precious and matchless name I pray.  Amen.”

Beloved, if you just prayed that prayer then you can rejoice in knowing that you now have the presence of the Lord in your heart.  While you will still face trials and tribulation in this world, you will never again face it alone.  Nurture your new relationship with the Lord and grow that relationship by getting to know Him better.  You can do this by studying His word (the bible), while also making talking to Him continually through prayer made with thanksgiving and supplication.  All you have to do to find out what the Lord had in mind for your life when He made you is to ask Him to shape your life in manner in which serves His will and then embrace the changes that He makes in you and your life.  Welcome to the family, beloved!!!  You are precious in your Heavenly Father’s eyes, and the angels in heaven are rejoicing in your decision to accept Christ Jesus as your Lord and Savior:-)  We are happy to have you!!!

Thank you for joining us for today’s discussion.  I hope you will be able to join us for tomorrow’s next discussion.  Now, go enjoy this day that the Lord has made, and make the most of it.  Be glad, and rejoice in it!!!  Share the Lord, His love, and His word with as many people as possible, doing so just as freely as the Father shared His only begotten Son with us:-)

May the Lord bless you, keep you, guide you, and make His face to shine upon you and your loved ones always.

Your brother in Christ,

Rev Jason Thurwanger

We have much to escape, much to shed, much to loose, much to famine from and much to walk without. Moreover, there is far more that we ought receive. It is made perfect in the Lord. And it is the Lord whose perfection is gifted freely unto those who so submit that they receive it.

There is but one way to sever the chains of bondage from that which you come from. You were born to an environment where no father nor mother may have existed. Perhaps it was an environment by which chaos devoured you lean and mean into futile rebellion even unto that which is good. For what is good?

Is it your friend beside you? Your wife? Your brother? Your neighbor? Be it your dog that returns even after you have wrongly kicked him in your deeply embedded rage of anger? Was it Mao Tse Tung or perhaps Benito Mussolini or even Adolf Hitler? Who is good?

Ought it be defined and declared that all men should agree? Ought your good be greater than mine? Perhaps your good just as good as mine? Yet when my good just isn’t good enough should I fashion is definition accordingly? And to you the same? Should in debate the definition be altered by mere perspective? Ought we pervert our utterances evermore that we tailor it to our quests for inequity? Are you willing to accept that there remain truth everlasting? What is good?

WHAT IS GOOD

• Matthew 19:17 – And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
• Mark 10:18 – And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
• Luke 18:19 – And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

Now let it be known what is good. Therefore there be no mistake nor nothing but a definitive proclamation of good. The definition of good is thereby defined and everlasting on its own accord. It is neither me nor you. It is Almighty God as Jesus so proclaimed.

Finally, from where have you arisen? Great disdain do I have for much of what I had to endure during my earliest years of childhood and youth. It was not great and certainly not the worse. But have I been shown any other way that I might know how to be a “good” man to raise a family of two boys or moreover be a deserving husband of such a great wife who takes great care of myself and our boys?

This woman, my wife, stands at my greatest honor and thanks to have gifted me such earnest prayer and persistence in the Lord. I cleave unto her my wife who stands to build me to my finest hour in the Lord. She stands resilient in her directives to deliver us from generations’ fate. Tired in her plight she drives on that our two boys may be delivered from our own woeful pasts. She builds me up even when undeserving of such gifts of grace. She is magnificent in her manners and sharp with her retort against wrong. Correction is fierce but even still loving and pure.

I am inspired and go nowhere without. We are one in the same. She prays fervently on my behalf and behalf of our family. At my greatest hour she awakens me to rise. She is a valiant warrior herself, faithful and steadfast for the Lord. Even before her I stand, yet she stands before me such a gift that by whom there is much gain.

Likewise at such low she raises me accordingly by way of earnest servitude to the Lord everlasting, fashioning herself tireless in righteousness for the sake of our family even at great measures.

I have learned many of the wrong ways by the manner at which I have arrived. As a man, as a husband and as a father I am merely lost upon my own accord. My practices are vaguely practical and even less loving than I might be of myself if I even knew love beyond which she has led me. I was left to my own right, left to my own way, left to my own flawed vision of what family ought to be. My wife has been the greatest of contenders on my behalf. Her pursuits were greater than my reliance upon self. She ushered me unto my redemption. She in her own graciously loving way was delivered me that I might be saved from my own peril and likewise the generations hereafter.

Now what damage has been done? The path from which we might flee might lead full circle in our haste and angst against our those who’ve delivered us unto this moment. Now what damage has been done?

The damage from mere words can draw down nations. Words ruin marriage and raise up armies against a people. How is it that the generations from which you come and which follow shall not equally be affected by the sins therein of the forefathers? Even you at work whose anger is awoken take it with you and lay it upon the threshold of your home. Ought not the same remain for generations of perpetual misery that is made feast on our families?

• Exodus 34:7 - Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty ; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation .
• Joel 2-3 – 2 Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers?3 Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation.

I urge you to release it.

As a man and warrior, the enemy is real and wears a face and yet likewise goes silent among you, unnoticed. He wears the face that our soldiers face in Afghanistan. He is shewn down by bullet or by hand. He wears a face in more common places and yet goes unnoticed and lives freely among you to toil in your way. Target acquisition. Engage. Eliminate.

Sever ties from the way of generations who have jettisoned you unto this moment and make new for you, your family and even still such a great country among us.

And take upon you “the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” that you may drive the sword straight through that which you were and lead those generations who follow unto greatness greater than you yourself, as it is purposed deep within you, where reside the voice hereafter referenced. Heed.

• Ephesians 6:10-20 – 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places .13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

The Holy Quran, Surah Ibrahim, 14:35-41

14.035 Remember Ibrahim said: “O my Lord! make this city one of peace and security: and preserve me and my sons from worshipping idols.”

14.036 “O my Lord! they have indeed led astray many among mankind; He then who follows my (ways) is of me, and he that disobeys me,- but Thou art indeed Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.”

14.037 “O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in a valley without cultivation, by Thy Sacred House; in order, O our Lord, that they may establish regular Prayer: so fill the hearts of some among men with love towards them, and feed them with fruits: so that they may give thanks.”

14.038 “O our Lord! truly Thou dost know what we conceal and what we reveal: for nothing whatever is hidden from Allah, whether on earth or in heaven.”

14.039 “Praise be to Allah, Who hath granted unto me in old age Isma’il and Isaac: for truly my Lord is He, the Hearer of Prayer!”

14.040 “O my Lord! make me one who establishes regular Prayer, and also (raise such) among my offspring O our Lord! and accept Thou my Prayer.”

14.041 “O our Lord! cover (us) with Thy Forgiveness – me, my parents, and (all) Believers, on the Day that the Reckoning will be established!”

Apparently I have enough time to update my post tag list, nothing new in the land of N yet, trying to figure out how I’m going to interlink all of my story’s into movuies and stuff.

Welcome back, friends!!!

Today we are going to break down the parable of the talents. At talent, as used in the parable, was a variable unit of weight and money used in ancient Greece, the Middle East, and Rome. Jesus shared the parable of the talents with His disciples. The parable is as follows:

“For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.”

“Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them another five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.”

“After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, ‘Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.’ His lord said unto him, ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou has been faithful over a few things, I will make thee a ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.’”

“He also that had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.’ His lord said unto him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; thou has been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.’”

“Then he which had received one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.’ His lord answered and said unto him, ‘Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” – Matthew 25:14-30 (KJV)

 So what does this parable mean? Very often you will find people willing to tell you that this parable is all about money. This is not so. While the parable uses talents (money) given to the servants, the example of the money that was given is symbolic of something far greater. Let’s break this down and see what this is all about.

First of all, the lord of the servants symbolizes our Lord, Jesus Christ. The servants are those who claim to serve the Lord, such as Jesus’ apostles at the time, as well as Christians yet to come.

Okay, so now that we know whom the players are, what exactly is the point? The “talents” of the parable symbolize the gifts that the Lord bestows upon us. This includes blessings of ability, knowledge, wealth, hope, faith, etc. Most importantly, this includes the word of God. Why did the lord of the parable commend and reward the first two servants? He rewarded them, because they had been faithful and obedient in their service to Him. Rather than being selfish or lazy, both of the first two servants actively worked to make the most of what their lord had given them. Subsequently, when their lord returned, they were able to return more back to the lord. Beloved, I’m sure you see the parallel here. Just as the lord of the parable returned after having been away for quite some time, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior will also return after having been in heaven for quite some time. When the Lord returns, all will have to give account of themselves. As the apostle Paul wrote:

“So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” – Romans 14:12 (KJV)

As we saw in the parable, the third servant did absolutely nothing productive with what his lord had given him. Instead, he just buried it in the ground. Beloved, there are unfortunately many people in this world that do the same with what the Lord has entrusted to them and blessed them with. Rather than use the gifts they have been given to do the Lord’s work, they bury their “treasure”. In so doing, they are unfaithful and disobedient to the Lord. For those that are unfaithful and disobedient to God, there will be severe consequences, including being cast into “outer darkness”. Beloved, are not called to kick back. We are called to serve. If we do not serve the Lord, then we have not really accepted Him as our Lord and Savior.

Brothers and sisters, when we face the Lord don’t we all want to see a pleased look on His face? There are no sweeter words you could imagine Him saying than, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” There’s only one way to do that, beloved. We must use what the Lord has blessed us with in order to prove ourselves as obedient and faithful servants of the Lord and good stewards of His gifts. This includes using any abilities that we have been blessed with to their utmost, and using all of our available resources to constantly spread the Lord’s love and word throughout the world. This is the Lord’s work, and we are all called to do it. While many of us will have different roles to carry out, different blessings/abilities, and different burdens, the things that unite all servants of the Lord are our faithfulness, obedience, and willingness to put serving Him above serving ourselves.

Beloved, Jesus Christ is truly Lord of all. However, each one of us has to decide what type of servant we want to be. I pray that each and every person taking part in this discussion will commit themselves to being a faithful and obedient servant that puts all that God has blessed them with to the utmost use in order to serve and glorify God and His blessed name. This includes using our tangible and intangible assets/blessings. Most importantly, it means sharing His Gospel with others. The Lord will reward us based on our faith and obedience to Him. Don’t look for those rewards in earthly treasures that will fade away with time. Rejoice in knowing that the Lord rewards with heavenly treasures:-) 

Beloved, don’t be timid in sharing the word of God. Just as the Lord’s love and word saved you, sharing the same with someone else may help them to turn their lives over to Christ. The best return we can provide to our Lord Jesus Christ is to show our faithfulness and obedience as we work to bring more laborers (believers) into the harvest. That only happens by making the most of what God gives us and sharing His love and word with all people that we can reach.

If you have not yet accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, but you would like to do so, please pray the following prayer:

“Lord God Almighty, I know that I am a sinner and that I am lost.  I know that I need to be saved from sin, but I also know that I can’t save myself.  Lord Jesus, I know that only You can save me.  I know that you paid for my salvation with your own life and blood on the cross.  I know that when You rose from the grave on the third day, you provided everlasting life to all who trust in You.  Right now, I lay down my life and let go of my pride, my vanity and every other sin that has kept me from You.  Lord Jesus, I now completely trust my life to You.  I open my heart to You, Lord.  Please come into my heart.  Please forgive me of all of my sins, and please accept me as Your child.  From this point on, I commit my life to You.  Please guide me and provide me strength as I begin to live the rest of my life for You.  In Your precious and matchless name I pray. Amen.”

Beloved, if you just prayed that prayer sincerely, then you are now a citizen of Christ’s eternal kingdom. You are saved, precious one!!! A new creation has been born in you, as Jesus Christ has now taken root in your heart. You will still face problems in this world, but you will never again face those problems alone. Get to know your Savior by studying His perfect word, and share His love freely with all you encounter just as He has unconditionally bless you with His powerful and perfect love. Welcome to the family:-)

If ever I can support you in prayer over any area of your life, please send me your prayer request(s) either through the “Comments” box at the end of this message, or by emailing me directly at jasonthurwanger @ dellmail.com (no spaces). It is always a blessing to join you in prayer.  It is truly a wonderful and blessed thing when we come together to unleash God’s power through prayer.  He is truly greater than anything this world, or the enemy, can throw at us:-)  Praise God!!!  Thank you, Jesus!!!

Remember, if you would like to order the new book “Strapping On the Whole Armor of God – Suiting Up For Spiritual Warfare), please visit my website at http://www.yourbrotherinchrist.com .  If you prefer to order by mail, you will also find the mailing address on that website.  This book is very valuable in helping people understand how to go about securely and effectively putting on the whole armor of God that the apostle Paul refers to in Chapter 6 of Ephesians.  We are praying that many people will receive this book and be blessed in their walk with the Lord by reading it.

Thank you for joining in today’s discussion.  I hope you will join us for tomorrow’s day of prayer for this week’s prayer requests, as well.  Have a wonderful and bless remainder of the day.  Remember, this is the day that the Lord has made.  Let’s rejoice, and be glad in it:-)

May the Lord bless you, keep you, guide you, and make His face to shine upon you and your loved ones always.

Your brother in Christ,

Rev Jason Thurwanger

Welcome back, brothers and sisters!!!

I thought that for the next few days we might take a look at some of the parables from the New Testament.  When Jesus would share a parable He would instruct those with ears to hear to listen to the parable being told and understand it.  I will admit that when I was lost in sin, I often read parables in the bible and was very confused.  I wondered why I apparently didn’t have ears to hear, even though every hearing test I ever had was perfect.  Since I turned my life over to Christ Jesus and have studied His word, I now take great joy in the parables that Jesus tells.  What once confused me is now abundantly clear when I read these parables.  This is just further proof that until we seek out and embrace the Truth, we are blind to the most obvious things.  Praise God for opening our minds, eyes, ears, and hearts to understand and receive His word!!!

The parable we will look at today is the parable of the vineyard.  Jesus was talking with the chief priest and elders of the temple, and they were once again trying to outwit Him.  After successfully showing that their attempt to outwit Him was about as effective as taking your best knife to a gunfight, Jesus went on to share this parable with them:

“There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:  And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.  And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.  Again, he sent other servants more than the first:  and they did unto them likewise.  But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, ‘They will reverence my son.’  But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir;  come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.’  And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.  When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?” – Matthew 21:33-40 (KJV)

You know how the chief priests and elders of the temple replied?  They responded by saying:

“They say unto Him, ‘He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.” – Matthew 21:41 (KJV)

Beloved, many of you can read this parable and know exactly what Jesus is talking about.  Some who are reading this message today may not yet fully understand what this parable is referring to.  With that in mind, let’s break it down.

Our cast begins with God the Father playing the role of the householder. 

The vineyard He built and let out to the husbandmen represents the kingdom of heaven and His word.  Remember that the Jewish people are God’s chosen people.

The husbandmen roles are unfortunately ably filled by the Pharisees, Sadducees, and those that sought their own glory and whose hearts did not really belong to the Lord God Almighty.

When the first fruits are ready for harvest, the householder (God the Father) sends out some of his servants (prophets) to retrieve his part of the first fruits (those who lived righteously and followed the Lord’s word).  When the servants (prophets) were beaten and killed, the householder (God the Father) sent an even greater number of servants unto the husbandmen to collect that which belonged to him.  Unfortunately, the husbandmen (those living in sin, rather than abiding in and by God’s word), abused the second set of servants (prophets) in the same manner that they had treated the first group that had been sent their way.

Finally, beloved, when it is obvious to the householder (God) that the husbandmen (those living in sin) will not respond appropriately to the servants (prophets), the householder (God the Father) decides to send his son.  For those who may not yet know where this is going, the son is more than capably played by Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God the Father.  Unfortunately, rather than revering the son (Jesus) when they see him, the husbandmen (sinners) plot to kill him, figuring that this will give them control of the vineyard that the son (Jesus) was rightful heir to.

When Jesus talks about how they slew the son (Himself), He is prophesying about His own death on the cross that at that time was still yet to come. 

Beloved, Jesus went on to say to the same chief priests and elders that since they had rejected Him, the inheritance that God had set aside for Israel only would now be shared with the Gentiles, as well.  This made God’s word, and the gift of salvation provided by Jesus Christ, available to all non-Jewish people, as well.  Honestly, don’t you love how the Lord can always turn something that man intends for evil into something incredibly good?  Praise the Lord!!!  We are washed clean of our sin and clothed with the Lord’s robe of righteousness when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.  Jesus’ sacrifice and love are for every single one of us:-)  Isn’t that awesome?

If you are ready to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, please pray the following prayer:

“Lord God Almighty, I know that I am a sinner and that I am lost.  I know that I need to be saved from sin, but I also know that I can’t save myself.  Lord Jesus, I know that only You can save me.  I know that you paid for my salvation with your own life and blood on the cross.  I know that when You rose from the grave on the third day, you conquered death and provided everlasting life to all who trust in You.  Right now, I lay down my life and let go of my pride, my vanity and every other sin that has kept me from You.  Lord Jesus, I now completely trust my life to You.  I open my heart to You, Lord.  Please come into my heart.  Please forgive me of all of my sins, and please accept me as Your child.  From this point on, I commit my life to You.  Please guide me and provide me strength as I begin to live the rest of my life for You.  In Your precious and matchless name I pray.  Amen.”

Beloved, if you just prayed that prayer sincerely then you are now a born-again Christian.  Welcome to the family!!!  You will still face troubles and trials in this world.  However, with Jesus on your side, there is nothing that you cannot overcome.  Trust the Lord, and seek His will always.  We were created to glorify Him and His blessed name.  Get to know the Lord better by spending a few minutes each day studying His word (the bible), communicate with Him frequently through prayer (speaking & listening), and seek fellowship with other Christians.  Doing these things will enable you to grow in your new Christian walk, and you will also become much more familiar with you Lord & Savior and His will:-)  Live to give Him glory, and know that you are loved by the Creator of all life!!!

Thank you for joining us for today’s discussion.  Tomorrow, we will discuss an often-misinterpreted parable when we discuss the parable of the talents (coins).  I hope you will be able to join us.  Have a wonderful rest of the day!!!

May the Lord bless you, keep you, guide you, and make His face to shine upon you and your loved ones always.

Your brother in Christ,

Rev Jason Thurwanger

I’m reading a wonderful book entitled, A Praying Life by Paul E. Miller. I’m not reading this book because a publisher asked me to review it (although I’d be glad to do so). I’m not reading this book because a group of pastors is reading it together and going to discuss it in so many days (although this would be a very worthwhile exercise and a wise use of time). I’m reading this book because I need to.

My prayer life isn’t very good right now. This is due, in part, to my pouty behavior (yes, I pout; when things don’t go well or someone says something that crushes a large part of my spirit, I pout; it’s sinful, I know and believe me, it’s been confessed repeatedly… I need to fully repent, however; God give me the grace to do so). A few weeks ago, someone, right after finishing a time of prayer together, said that our times were in need of something. To use his exact words, he said “We just don’t seem to pray ‘in the Spirit’.”

Now, I think I know what it means to pray in the Spirit. This past Sunday, in preaching my next to the last message in a lengthy series from Ephesians, I was dealing with prayer. Ephesians 6.18 says, “…praying at all times in the Spirit…” I think I did the passage justice in expounding what that phrase means. Yet, I’m still haunted by the statement, “We just don’t seem to pray in the Spirit.”

How does he know? How can he tell? How can I tell? It’s stuck in my theological craw right now. I’m working on it. But am I letting God work on it within me? That’s probably the better, yet more difficult question. I’m holding out hope that God will just send me a letter, an email or a text message saying, “Here’s what it’s all about.” But that would be way too much like Gideon and his polar fleece jacket testing of God in Judges 6 (even if I’m not actually asking for this kind of sign, I’m still expecting it).

So, I’m reading a book on prayer and praying. I’m hoping it will answer my question, “How do I know if I’m praying ‘in the Spirit’?” So far it has not answered my question. What it has done is stir up lots of other, different thoughts. It’s also very humbling.

In the section on praying like a child, Miller shares anecdotes from his own life with a daughter who is autistic. From these experiences, he’s learned what it is to be helpless – both as a parent and as a child. This is how we’re to come to God in prayer: helpless and needy. I must confess that too often I want to come in my own strength, on my own terms and in my own way. In other words, I want to talk to me, not to God. So now, in my acts of repentance, I must embrace weakness. I must grab on to my helpless state and come running immediately to God. He’s not asking me to clean myself up before I come to Him. How could I do that and to whom else could I go?

You’d think I’d know this by now, but somehow, in the sinful stubbornness of my heart, weakness is not something I want to glam onto. I’d rather avoid it. No one else should know that I have them (ha! that’s laughable; when I think about it, it’s really all too apparent to them that I have glaring weaknesses). So, I’ll keep reading. I’ll seek to understand and learn experimentally what it means to come as a helpless but trusting little child to my heavenly Father. Maybe, just maybe, in the midst of all this, God will show me what praying ‘in the Spirit’ is really all about.

I want you to go here and read Stephen’s post on weakness. No, go. Don’t tell me you’ll do it later. Go now and read it. It won’t take you more than five minutes.

Then come back (just hit the ‘return’ button) and read this.

Selah.

I’m reading a wonderful book entitled, A Praying Life by Paul E. Miller. I’m not reading this book because a publisher asked me to review it (although I’d be glad to do so). I’m not reading this book because a group of pastors is reading it together and going to discuss it in so many days (although this would be a very worthwhile exercise and a wise use of time). I’m reading this book because I need to.

My prayer life isn’t very good right now. This is due, in part, to my pouty behavior (yes, I pout; when things don’t go well or someone says something that crushes a large part of my spirit, I pout; it’s sinful, I know and believe me, it’s been confessed repeatedly… I need to fully repent, however; God give me the grace to do so). A few weeks ago, someone, right after finishing a time of prayer together, said that our times were in need of something. To use his exact words, he said “We just don’t seem to pray ‘in the Spirit’.”

Now, I think I know what it means to pray in the Spirit. This past Sunday, in preaching my next to the last message in a lengthy series from Ephesians, I was dealing with prayer. Ephesians 6.18 says, “…praying at all times in the Spirit…” I think I did the passage justice in expounding what that phrase means. Yet, I’m still haunted by the statement, “We just don’t seem to pray in the Spirit.”

How does he know? How can he tell? How can I tell? It’s stuck in my theological craw right now. I’m working on it. But am I letting God work on it within me? That’s probably the better, yet more difficult question. I’m holding out hope that God will just send me a letter, an email or a text message saying, “Here’s what it’s all about.” But that would be way too much like Gideon and his polar fleece jacket testing of God in Judges 6 (even if I’m not actually asking for this kind of sign, I’m still expecting it).

So, I’m reading a book on prayer and praying. I’m hoping it will answer my question, “How do I know if I’m praying ‘in the Spirit’?” So far it has not answered my question. What it has done is stir up lots of other, different thoughts. It’s also very humbling.

In the section on praying like a child, Miller shares anecdotes from his own life with a daughter who is autistic. From these experiences, he’s learned what it is to be helpless – both as a parent and as a child. This is how we’re to come to God in prayer: helpless and needy. I must confess that too often I want to come in my own strength, on my own terms and in my own way. In other words, I want to talk to me, not to God. So now, in my acts of repentance, I must embrace weakness. I must grab on to my helpless state and come running immediately to God. He’s not asking me to clean myself up before I come to Him. How could I do that and to whom else could I go?

You’d think I’d know this by now, but somehow, in the sinful stubbornness of my heart, weakness is not something I want to glam onto. I’d rather avoid it. No one else should know that I have them (ha! that’s laughable; when I think about it, it’s really all too apparent to them that I have glaring weaknesses). So, I’ll keep reading. I’ll seek to understand and learn experimentally what it means to come as a helpless but trusting little child to my heavenly Father. Maybe, just maybe, in the midst of all this, God will show me what praying ‘in the Spirit’ is really all about.

I want you to go here and read Stephen’s post on weakness. No, go. Don’t tell me you’ll do it later. Go now and read it. It won’t take you more than five minutes.

Then come back (just hit the ‘return’ button) and read this.

Selah.

Welcome back, brothers and sisters!!!

I thought today we would take a brief, light-hearted look at history.  Are you familier with the “rope a dope”?  George Foreman and Muhammad Ali met in the boxing ring on October 30, 1974 for a heavyweight title fight staged in Kinshasa, Zaire.  The fight was dubbed “The Rumble in the Jungle.”

Coming into the fight, George Foreman was the younger fighter.  He had already established himself as a force to be reckoned with in the ring by devastating Joe Frazier and Ken Norton.  The significance of those two wins, andthe lopsided manner in which he achieved them, was that Joe Frazier and Ken Norton were the only two people at that time that had beaten Muhammad Ali.  Foreman was 40-0 with 37 knockouts, and his last 8 fights had all ended inside of 6 minutes.  Foreman was a very angry man in his life at the time (only later in life did he mellow out), and he took that anger out on his opponents in the ring.  Ali was an incredibly heavy underdog, as he was 32 years old (old for a boxer) and was considered to be on the downside of his career.

What was Ali’s strategy for trying to pull off the win against such a younger and stronger opponent?  He used the “rope a dope” strategy:-)  Everytime Foreman would get Ali on the ropes;  Foreman would unload with some huge punches…..and miss.  You see, each time Foreman would throw a punch, Ali would lean waaaayyyyyy back on the ropes which would cause the punch to fly harmlessly over his head.

For all his strength, all his rage, all his ability, and all his talent, Foreman could not land the knockout blow against Ali.  By the 8th round, Foreman had expended all of his energy in the hot and humid ring in Zaire.  After Foreman missed with a lunging punch, Ali countered more than effectively sending Foreman to the canvas and to the loss that would put him into retirement (until he was ready to start selling hamburger grills).

You see, Ali was getting “trapped” on the ropes repeatedly throughout the fight on purpose.  Foreman didn’t realize that this was Ali’s purposeful choice and plan.  As Foreman would attack Ali in a blind rage each time he had him on the ropes, he would expend a great deal of energy throwing really hard punches that either didn’t land, or that only glanced off of Ali.  Though Ali used this tactic all throughout the fight, Foreman never once realized that he was playing right into Ali’s hands.  He just continued to attack, attack, and attack.  Foreman’s attacks were definitely vicious, but he was never in any danger of winning the fight by knocking Ali out.  Since he expended all of his energy so recklessly, he could not get up by the count of 10 when Ali knocked him down in the 8th round.

Afterwards, Ali was cited as a genious for coming up with the “rope a dope” strategy to defeat Foreman.  This is a flawed perception, however, since Ali was not the originator of the “rope a dope.”

The “rope a dope” was originated almost 2,000 years earlier by Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.  You see, Satan constantly attacked Jesus looking for some way to knock him out.  His attacks were vicious, and his rage was legendary.  Satan was beside himself with pride when he successfully filled the heart and mind of Judas Iscariot with evil and convinced him to betray the Lord.  I imagine Satan was jumping up and down in excited anticipation as Judas led the solders and temple priests to “capture” Jesus at Gethsemane.  As Christ was taunted, tortured, and flogged you know that Satan was smiling from eare to ear as he was filling the hearts and minds of those attacking Jesus.  By the time Christ was crucified, Satan would have felt like a king.  Satan was undoubtedly having grand illusions of ascending above the Most High.

What happened next was what we celebrate every Easter.  For Satan, it proved to be the buzz kill of an eternity.  Christ rose in victory on the 3rd day, making it clear to Satan who the real winner was and is.  Satan suddenly had to engage reality.  When Jesus was “caught” in the garden of Gethsemane, it was because He allowed Himself to be caught.  When Satan attacked Christ through the torture, taunting, and flogging, each strike only served to magnify Jesus’ eventual victory and the enormous extent of Satan’s defeat.  Why?  Beloved, each strike against Jesus served to help the Son of God achieve the mission for which He was sent.  As the prophet Isaiah wrote:

“He is despised and rejected of men;  a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief:  and we hid as it were our faces from Him:  and He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.  Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows:  yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.  But He was wounded fo our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities:  the chastisement of our peace was upon Him;  and with His stripes we are healed.” – Isaiah 53:3-5 (KJV)

You see, beloved, Jesus took on that torment, suffering, and death, because He knew we could not.  Jesus knew He would rise in victory over sin and death, and with each ounce of suffering He took, we were brought closer to being reconciled to our Father in heaven.  Brothers and sisters, sin cannot enter heaven.  Since we were filled with sin, only by Jesus removing that sin from us by taking it on Himself were we able to come to our Father for eternity. 

When Jesus rose from the grave, Satan saw very clearly the banana peels of stupidity, pride, and envy that he had condemned himself to slip on by daring to think he could overcome the only begotten Son of God.  What made Satan a permanent sourpuss was not just the fact that he was having a very bad day.  It was the fact that when Jesus rose from the grave, Satan knew that his own bad day was going to be just the beginning of an even much worse eternity.  And so well before television was available, the biblical version of “The Biggest Loser” was revealed, and will be played for eternity, in the form of Satan.  His “prize” was truly the moldy can of spam behind the infamous door number two.

Meanwhile, the real victor, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, moved on to bigger and better things at the right hand of the Father in heaven.  For all of eternity Jesus will be known to truly be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  The cool thing is that even though we don’t deserve to be seen with Him, He’ll let us roll with Him anytime:-)  In fact, He’d like nothing more.  As a matter of fact, He paid for us to have the chance to join Him.

So the next time you hear about the “Rumble in the Jungle” and the infamous “rope a dope”, hopefully you can smile knowing that the original version was even so much better:-)

If you have not yet accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, but you would sincerely like to, please pray the following prayer:

“Lord God Almighty, I know that I am a sinner and that I am lost. I know that I need to be saved from sin, but I also know that I can’t save myself. Lord, I know that only You can save me. I know that you paid for my salvation with your own life and blood on the cross. I know that when You rose from the grave on the third day, you conquered death and provided everlasting life to all who trust in You. Right now, I lay down my life and let go of my pride, my vanity and every other sin that has kept me from You. From this moment on, Lord Jesus, I completely trust my life to You. I open my heart to You, Lord. Please come into my heart. Please forgive me of all of my sins, and please accept me as Your child. From this point on, I commit my life to You. Please guide me and provide me strength as I begin to live the rest of my life for You. In Your precious and matchless name I pray. Amen.”

Beloved, if you sincerely prayed that prayer, then you are now reconciled unto God.  Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior, and He wants you to get to know Him even better.  You can do this by reading His word, praying, meditating, and seeking His will instead of your own.  Precious one, you have now joined the everlasting family of the Lord God Almighty and your future residence will be in the Lord’s kingdom and presence when your time on this earth is done.  You will still have trials and face much adversity in this live, but you will never again face them alone.  Just remember, precious one, that Jesus has overcome the power and challenges of this world.  Through Jesus Christ, you can, too:-)  Trust Him, seek Him, and serve Him.  Jesus Christ is all you will ever need, and He is more than you can ever imagine.  You belong to Him, and now He belongs to you, as well:-)  Welcome to the family!!!

I want to thank you for taking the time to join in today’s discussion.  It is always such a blessing to have you stop in:-)  Have a wonderful and blessed rest of the day, and be sure that you seek the Lord’s will in every part of your life.  Remember, we were made to glorify Him and His blessed name.  What better way to know exactly how to do that than to seek His guidance?  The Lord God Almighty will always be with you, and He will never abandon nor forsake you:-)  Praise God!!!  Thank you, Lord, for blessing us with Your all-sufficiency to overcome all of our insufficiencies!!!

Share Jesus Christ with others just as freely and lovingly as God the Father has shared Jesus Christ with each of us.  Go forth and be bountifully blessed!!!

May the Lord bless you, keep you, guide you, and make His face to shine upon you and your loved ones always.

Your brother in Christ,

Rev Jason Thurwanger