Elucidation

The Blessed Hope

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The Blessed Hope

Rapsodie Adams

 

There is no doubt in my mind, better said, in my spiritual know-er that the rapture is very near. Because, from the North, South, East and West of the globe; to the outer most parts of the universe; from the sun moon and stars, Jesus’s revelation is coming to life. Therefore, seeing what is happening in the world, would bring much fear to me if it were not for the blessed hope; that the Lord has given to His church (Bride-Body). So we look with desire from our heart, and anticipate, His coming – come Lord Jesus, come.

 

A Prayer

Dear Father, thank You for coming back for your church, your bride and for the knowledge that if I were the only one left here, you would come back for me. What an amazing Jesus you are. Hence, sometimes it is hard to understand the love coming from the Father and Son. Lord I do know that no matter how much love I have in my heart for you, it could never-ever, even if given eternity to grow, even amount to a tear drop next to your love for me.

Be blessed in Jesus’ name.

 

 

Elucidation

Say – Yes to Jesus

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Say, Yes to Jesus

Rapsodie Adams

 

In this life we say yes to a lot of things, or at least I do (am I alone)? I have said yes and gotten a bad haircut (really bad haircut). Oh yes, I have said yes and brought home a dress that wouldn’t fit, even if I lost 20 pounds. I have said yes to a movie invitation and hung my head low, and had the nerve to ask God not to let anyone I know, see me come out of that movie. I’ve even said yes to things that have caused me to have to pray through, so that the darkness did not overtake me. But, when I said yes to Jesus, He saved me (Say Yes to Jesus).

There have been times a sharp word has been given to me, but when I stop and say yes to Jesus, the Holy Spirit gives me a word to say back that gives grace to the hearer (Thank God for the Holy Spirit). By saying yes to Jesus, the Spirits’ fruit is on display.

 

A Prayer

Dear Father, help me to display the nine fruit of the Spirit, in my daily walk:

  1. A self-sacrificing love.
  2. A deep abiding rejoicing in You.
  3. A peace that gives tranquility to my soul.
  4. A person of long-suffering, with no thought of self.
  5. A gentleness that says, I am kind.
  6. A goodness that is love in action.
  7. A faith that is unwavering.
  8. A controlled strength that says, I am meek.
  9. A command over my desires that displays temperance.

Help me Holy Spirit to always say yes to Jesus, in these nine ways.

Be blessed in Jesus’ name.

 

 

Elucidation

Never in the Fire Alone

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Never in the Fire Alone

Rapsodie Adams

 

Many of us have had a Nebuchadnezzar in our life, or will have. Because Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would not bow down to his god, Nebuchadnezzar had them thrown into the fiery furnace. As a result, their story was recorded in the book of Daniel, please read it. You will find a blazing story of three devoted men of God, as a result of their dedication, God not only delivered them from the fire; not a hair was singed; there clothes were not burnt, they actually didn’t even smell of smoke. The icing on the cake…God was in the fire with them.

Yes, God does deliver; he has delivered me from many a fire. Sometimes I had to ask God to reveal Himself by His grace, then I was able to come through. Therefore, don’t be in bondage to anything, you can know God is with you and as you come through the fire, God is glorified.

 

A Prayer

 Dear Father, sometimes the fire is so fierce that I tremble, but You Lord have always seen me through. If not for your grace, I would have no glory to give God. Thank You Lord for your amazing grace.

Be blessed in Jesus’ name.

 

 

Elucidation

We are the Remnant

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We are the Remnant

(Afire)

Rapsodie Adams

 

Matthew 22:14 – Many are called but few are chosen.

If we repent of our sins and believe in our hearts, that Jesus came to earth, died for our sins, and rose on the third day; we have gone from called to chosen. As a result, God now sets us aside for His use, a remnant to go forth and preach Christ and Him crucified; that beautiful story of salvation. Without the anointing and our hearts on fire, for the Lord, what would we gain for God?

 

Prayer

Dear Father, I pray that I might show the world (the lost), the saving grace that you have given so freely to me. Thank you Lord for setting me aside for your use. Help me, Holy Spirit, to bring honor and glory to God in all that I say and do.

Be blessed in Jesus’ name.

 

 

Elucidation

Sold Out

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Sold Out

Rapsodie Adams

 

First of all, we would like to give praise honor and glory, to God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit for the words of all of our CD’s to date, for they are truly from God.

Sold Out, the title song of our 2017 CD is really a mini-story about three men of the Bible, who were “sold out” for God: Job, Stephen, and the apostle Paul. Of course there were many more who gave all of their life for Gods’ use.

If we are truly sold out for our Lord and He is our-everything, we too will have a story to tell. Maybe, like Job, we have lost a home, a child, friends, land or position; but by His power the Holy Spirit kept us, and Jesus brought us through.

Perhaps our story is more like that of the Apostle Paul, who was imprisoned and left alone; because of this our hearts have turned to stone and our life is a shipwreck. Only in the end we discover, just like Paul, the truth of it all “to live is Christ-to die is gain.”

Maybe we have come so far with God that our story is more like Stephens’, but if not at this time, in our life, the Holy Spirit can and will get us there, if it is our heart’s desire. This is very much my heart’s desire; This to me, and maybe to you, may seem so out of reach, but in our hearts we know…all things are possible with God. If we die to our flesh, the Holy Spirit can bring all truth to us, so we can be like Him (Jesus).

 

A Prayer

“Dear Father, make me a person of faith. Fill me up to overflowing with Your Spirit, that I too, in times of persecution, will say “forgive them;” even if it means death.  Just like Stephen, I will say “hold not this sin against them”.”

 

Be blessed in Jesus’ name.

 

 

Short Stories

Bags with Holes

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Bags with Holes

By: C. Gray Adams

One late autumn evening Jim awoke in a strange place, in strange clothing.  He thought he had fallen asleep in his Lazy Boy, in front of a crackling fire, in the den of his lakefront home.  But that’s not where he was now.  He awoke to find himself in a place where the streets were paved with a glistening white substance that appeared to be gold.  The air was filled with a fragrance that was more beautiful than anything that he had smelled in his entire life and soothing music seemed to come from all around him.  Everyone seemed so unhurried, almost as if they had forever to get where they were going.

At this point Jim looked at his clothes and staggered with surprise from what he saw.  He knew that he had taken off his three-piece suit and changed into his lounging clothes before going to his den to take a nap.  Now he stood in this beautiful place wearing the clothes of a common beggar.  In his hand he held a cloth bag that was tattered and torn and empty of anything but many holes.

All of this puzzled Jim and he knew none of this could be right, so he began to look for someone familiar.  Someone to tell him what was going on, to tell him why he was here and why he didn’t know anything about it.  Jim looked around, and he saw many faces, but none that he knew.  He did note that everyone seemed to be going in one direction and they were all dressed in similar fashion.  Some had on clothes similar to the ones he wore and carried bags like his, while others had on fine clothing and carried bags made of sturdy material that was stretched almost to bursting with some unknown cargo.

All of these strange circumstances began to worry Jim, and he began to reason with himself and say maybe he had fallen and hit his head, yes that was it he must have amnesia.  That is why no one seemed familiar to him, of course they wouldn’t if he had amnesia he wouldn’t know anyone.  Just as he began to like this solution a problem arose with it.  He suddenly realized that he could remember all of his past from early childhood right up to the moment he had reclined in his lazy boy chair in the den.

With amnesia ruled out he reasoned that he must be dreaming.  Surely that would explain the bizarre circumstances, the clothes, the music, the fragrance, and the streets of gold.  As he continued to reason he had a flash of a childhood memory of a children’s church story about heaven, and the streets that were paved with gold.  But this couldn’t be heaven because after all he was just in his lazy boy taking a nap in his den.   Besides he pondered, a person has to die to get to heaven.  At that instant it all became clear to him.  This was no dream, he really was in heaven and he was walking on the streets of gold; the very streets of gold that he had been taught about at church for so many years.

As reality began to set in Jim felt a tugging at his heart pulling him down the street along with the others who carried bags.  As he went he began to notice that people were carrying all sorts of bags.  Some carried a bag like him, while others carried large fully stuffed bags.  Still others carried bags that were filled to differing degrees.  He did notice, however, that everyone, no matter how else they differed, carried a bag.

While continuing to walk Jim began to notice some similarities between the people around him.  All that carried a bag with holes like him wore the clothes of a beggar.  While those that carried the large over stuffed bags all wore the finest clothing he had ever seen.  Those that carried the smaller bags that contained cargo were dressed in nice clothing, but not as nice as those that carried the large overstuffed bags.  As a matter of fact, Jim noticed that the bags seemed to be the common denominator among the people.  The bigger the bag, the better the clothes.

Jim was just beginning to wonder why everyone was going down the same street, when he finally saw someone else he knew.  It was Jerry Windlap, his childhood friend and now the janitor at his church.  He shuffled through the crowded street to talk to him and finally reached him and they greeted each other with a smile and a hug.  Jerry’s story just further confused Jim.  It turned out that Jerry had fallen from a skyscraper while riveting on the superstructure.  Safety requirements called for the wearing of a safety harness, but Jerry had forgotten to put his back on after lunch.  He had been working on the 23rd floor and all he could remember was falling and hitting the beams of the 22nd floor and being knocked unconscious.  Jim then told him what he knew about his own circumstance, which wasn’t much.  He also told him that he was really curious about where they now were and why.

Suddenly Jim and Jerry felt a great peace come over them and they realized that something had changed.  Instead of everyone walking alone, they each now had an angel with them.  The angel that walked with Jim and Jerry told them his name was Raphael and that he was their escort.  He also told them that he would answer any questions they might have.

Jim was full of questions and he didn’t hesitate to ask them all at once.  He asked where they were and why.  He asked where they were going and when would they be there.  He asked about the bags they all carried and the clothing they all wore.  The angel smiled and said that he would explain everything to them, as they traveled.

Raphael began by telling them that they were indeed in heaven, because they had died on earth and that they were all headed to the judgment seat of Christ to be judged for all that they had, and had not, done on earth.  He told them that they were actually already in the line that extended from the judgment seat, but it would take some time to reach Christ because of the multitude of people that preceded them.

It was at this point that Jim realized that he had been so busy talking and asking questions of Jerry and the Angel that he hadn’t even noticed that Jerry carried one of the largest bags that he had seen since arriving in heaven.  Jim looked from his old friend to Raphael and asked him why Jerry carried such a large bag.  The Angels’ reply startled Jim to the core.  He told him that the clothing that was worn and the bag that each carried was a reflection of that individuals’ wealth in heaven.  Those that wore beggars clothing and carried a bag with holes in it were those that were rich toward themselves on earth.  While those that carried the large overstuffed bags and wore the finest clothes were those that were rich toward God while on earth.

At this Jim said he could not believe that, surely God would allow a person to bring what they had accumulated on earth to heaven.  Raphael then told him that God had told man time and time again in His word that they were not to seek to build their own kingdom, but His.

Jim asked Raphael how Jerry had managed to transport his wealth to heaven, and Raphael’s’ reply was again a shock to him.  He asked if he remembered when he and Jerry were teenagers and their Sunday school teacher had taught them that it was better to give than to receive.  Jim told him that he did seem to remember something about it, but he thought it was just a nice thing that people said.  Raphael told him that Jerry had taken what the teacher had said to heart and began to look for ways to give as much as he could to others in need.  He told him how he had skipped the high school prom so his best friend who didn’t have any money could borrow his tuxedo and go.  This was his first real act of sacrifice, and instead of it making him feel bad that he had missed the prom, it made him feel good that his friend got to go.  As a matter of fact it felt so good that he wanted to give more and more.

Raphael then asked Jim if he knew that Jerry had cleaned their church absolutely free and that he had provided all of the supplies as well.  Jim’s face was flush with embarrassment, as he nodded no.  He also asked if he knew that Jerry had decided long ago to give better than half of his income to help those that were needy.  Again Jim nodded no.  Did you notice that every time the church needed help that Jerry was the first to volunteer?  Did you notice that Jerry would go out of his way to help anyone with a need?  Twice more the answer was no.  Do you remember the time that you had a flat in the church parking lot?  Yes.  Do you remember who it was that came to your assistance in their Sunday best?  Yes, of course it had been Jerry.  He was there with a smile and lug wrench before you could even begin to ask for help.  These were not isolated incidents; Jerry lived his life on earth in this same manner every day.  This is why he carries one of the largest bags in all of heaven.

At this Jim said that he had been a deacon at the church for many years and surely that should account for something.  Raphael replied, you see Jim, God does not judge your accomplishments by whether or not you are a Deacon or Teacher or even a Pastor, but by how you have loved and given to others.  Jerry understood this and he did all he could to follow God’s leading in his life.  Jerry became a servant of all and because of that, he will now be among the greatest of all here.

Jim staggered as he realized the ramifications of what Raphael was telling him.  He had been the complete opposite of Jerry.  He had only been concerned about what he could obtain while on earth.  He hadn’t been the least bit concerned about others or their problems.  He thought he was doing more than his share by just being a deacon and taking an hour a month to attend a meeting.  He thought that all his fancy cars and all of his houses and fine antiques would be worth something here in heaven.  But now he realized that those things, the things whereby your wealth is judged on earth, are exactly opposite of what God judges.

And now far too late Jim understood that he had missed the truth of all of the messages that he had heard concerning the Kingdom of God and that because he had not been rich toward God, he would now spend all of eternity dressed as a beggar and carrying a bag with holes.

Teaching

The Church the Social Club?

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The Church – The Social Club?

By: Rapsodie Adams

 

Today the body of Christ is being bombarded with more winds of doctrine than I expect can be numbered.  What is being called the church is looking more like a social club.  The church has become an entertainment park, where there is much entertaining… big names, vacation parks and luxury cruises.  People are demanding more and more of the world and less and less of the doctrine of God.  We, the church, have allowed the world to come in amongst us and change the house of God into the world.  We have compromised the Word of God.

Once I was asked by a Pastor what I thought the church was lacking.  Quickly and without thinking the power of God spoke, sharply and decisively. “Teaching, the church has a lack of teaching.”  When the majority of the churches are not preaching against sin and teachers are not permitted to teach against sin; when they are not to draw a Godly line in the sand and forbidden to teach what God has said is immoral.  Where does that leave us?  Where does that leave our children?  Where does that leave the lost, in the world?  We now have a people who know how to be amused, but not how to make a stand for Christ in the middle of that amusement.  With eyes to see we would admit the error of…having let our children be entertained into going to church.

If we are going to follow Christ in these last days then we are going to have to stop following man.  I have heard Christian people say to me “Oh, I know he or she does and says some things that are not exactly right (according to the word of God) but they are my friend, or family member, or even one of the leaders in the church.”  We can see they are compromising the very counsel of God for man.  So we ourselves compromise the word of God to keep fellowship with the ungodly.

We can see, and have seen, the Church looking more and more like a social Club than the Body of Christ.  Ask yourself, would Christ be selling his wares in the place he comes to pray to His heavenly Father and to read the Holy Scripture, the place of worship and praise, a place set aside for lifting up and glorifying God?  Do we really believe that we are not profaning this Holy place we have set aside for God?  Have we really been blinded as to what we have done?  I am not saying that we should not fellowship with each other.  What I’m saying is we should not be using the Church as a way for personal gain or for entertainment; pushing past trinkets, tee-shirts, books, C.D’s, marquees of next week’s entertainment; how about advertisements to come join them on Monday night, not for fellowship, for football.  Don’t forget Wednesday night we will be showing the movie (insert what-ever title), which must be a real good movie because last week it played at the secular theatre.  Remember, one of Jesus’ first ministry acts and one of His last was the cleansing of the Temple (John 2:13-22, Matt. 21:12-17 and Mark 11:15-17).

The church (building) is a type and shadow of the Church (Body).    This vessel, the church (building) and what it represents is also what we the church (body) will represent.  If the church building is full of the world then we the church body will be full of the world, but if the church building is full of prayer, worship, devotion, praise; full to the top and over-flowing with the truth and revelation that only the Holy Spirit can bring, then the church (Body) will be likewise.  Did not the Lord Himself say that He would be coming back for a church without spot nor wrinkle (Eph. 5:27)?  Which one of these two scenarios looks like the glorious church the Lord is coming back for; the one full of the world or the one full of the Holy Spirit.

In the church I also hear a lot about what is relevant.  It is suggested that we can only reach the non-believers with what is relevant to them.  What is relevant to them?  The answer is quite clear, it is the world.  So it is said, we must reach the lost with the world.  Let us stay with this thought of relevance, but let us go to God for His counsel.  In God’s word we read this about the world, “God so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  I don’t believe that there could be anything more relevant to man than that.

We will never reach the lost with the world and I know this to be the God’s truth for if it were possible to reach the world any other way, God would have said so in His Holy Scriptures.  What God does tell us is that there is only one way to the Father and that way is through the Son.  I have to wonder, do we really believe we can entertain lost souls into heaven?

We have only to look at Scripture to see that it is not entertainment that we are commissioned to go and do, but we are to go and preach the Gospel.  The Bible says we are counted as sheep for the slaughter (Rom. 8:6), that we would be hated by all men (Matt. 10:22/Mark 13:13), we will suffer persecution (John 15:20).  But the church seems to be striving to get the worlds love.  Under a false pretense that the devil has given them, they believe by doing worldly things to win the worlds love this will bring them into the church.

At first glance, it would appear that they are right and people are coming to the church by the thousands, but by entertaining them into the church (building) there is no conversion and without conversion there is no chance for them to enter into the Kingdom of God.  Without conversion they cannot be the Church (The body of Christ) and they have been given a false sense of salvation.  They believe because they are in the church (Building) they are saved.  Do we really believe that God, in all of His wisdom and all of His knowledge of the beginning from the end, has left out of His word, how in these last days we are to bring the lost into the Kingdom of God?  I do not read anywhere in God’s word where there would come a generation that can only be reached through what is relevant to them.

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