The Audition

  This is a story about a person named Christian, who was chasing his acting dream. Being an actor takes much studying, focus and discipline. You must become the character your to play. Christian like any one else wanted the leading roll. The Director gave Christian the manuscript to study for the up coming audition. While Christian studied the script he happened to come across things that he did not like about the character and decided to improvise.

 The day of the audition when Christian performed he added his own interpretation of what the role should be. The Director flipped out and told Christian “Why didn’t you stick to the script?” The Director in his anger screams out "This is my play, my life's master piece, you do not know the blood, sweat and tears I put into it! Who do you think you are? Please stick to the script! Christian, keeping his cool says nothing but was livid inside. He goes home and reviews the script again and thinks “I just wanted to make it better, he must’ve misunderstood me. I'll show him next time." 

Needless to say Christian did not get the part in the play. In fact there wasn't next time... Friends could you imagine going to see a play on opening night and the main character (while the spot light is on him) just stands there and does nothing because he doesn't know his part. Many of you are Christian and have not studied your part in the play of life. We forget that we have an even greater audience to perform in front of, GOD! He is watching, observing, who will play the roll? He's the author of life and who are we to change the script? Opening night will come and it is closer than we think. I like how my Pastor describes the Rapture. He calls it the day of truth, a.k.a. opening night. It is here that we will find out who had it and who didn’t...

Do you have it? If not it’s better for a man to gouge out his eye and enter in with one eye than to go to hell with both eyes. Play your role brother, we are like a symphony onto God and every one of us is a note and must play our part in this body, or it will not work / make sense. Now, if you don't understand what a symphony is, it will just be a bunch of racket to you. It's all done by signs and motions and acts out a musical drama. The only one that understands a symphony is the composer and those who are interesting in it. The composer knows every move from start to finish, He knows every little junction. One little miscue of that stick would throw the whole orchestra off and the whole symphony out tune / harmony. The composer and director have to be in the same spirit. This means obey and follow the PASTOR (Director) GOD GAVE YOU!!  

   The director has to go with what  the composer said / wrote. It has to be the the right kind of sign with that stick in order to get the right sound. Paul said, "If the trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for war?"(Corinthians 14:8) God is the Composer, He wrote the Bible, He knows the changes of time, And man, who's the director must play / read it just has the composer wrote it. 

GOD Bless 

JNAZ

Who Do You Say That I Am?

You look at a beautiful painting and you say to yourself,
 “There must have been a painter.”

You look at a motor vehicle of great workmanship and you say to yourself, 

“There must have been a manufacturer.”

You look at a meticulously detailed sculpture and you say to yourself,
 “There must have been a sculptor.”

You look at a massive bridge spanning a large body of water and you say to yourself,

 “There must have been an 

engineer.”

You look at a tall building and you say to yourself,

“There must have been a builder.”

You look at a complex computer program and you say to yourself,
“There must have been a programmer.“

You look at a well-written best-selling novel and you say to yourself,
“There must have been an author.”

YET you look at the human body and say to yourself,
“This must have been the product of an accident. A long time ago
absolutely nothing from absolutely nowhere exploded and not only
created absolutely everything, but also created order and it all 
occurred as a random accident.“

The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God” (Psalm 14:1).

Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of
your words  (Proverbs 23:9).

A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge is easy to one
who has understanding  (Proverbs 14:6).

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes (Proverbs 12:15).

The foolishness of God is wiser than men (1 Corinthians 1:25).

God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise
(1 Corinthians 1:27)

The wisdom of this world is foolishness before God (1 Corinthians 3:19).

A natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they
are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them (1 Corinthians 2:14).

The word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us
who are being saved it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18).

Under a microscope this is what this protein called Laminin looks like!!!

 Look failure? Yes a cross...

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.(Psalm 150:6)

JNAZ

Becoming a Living Martyr

Martyr :  Definition:                   (Hebrews 2:10 ) 

Somebody put to death: somebody who chooses to die rather than deny a strongly held belief / Faith. Somebody who makes sacrifices or suffers greatly in order to advance a cause or principle.
                                                                                         
                                                                                                                             

          I remember speaking to a young man who was zealous for the Lord Jesus Christ. He told me that he would love to be a martyr for Christ; He stated it would be the ultimate act of love. I remember telling  this young man that it was a bold and great desire BUT if he really wanted to demonstrate his love for God I knew of something even more glorious he could do. He asked What? I then told him to DIE DAILY!!! I stated Be A living Martyr. Brethren, I’m not discrediting our wonderful Saints of old who taught us through their example the meaning of Faith, love and Submission. I’m aware that the Word of God tells us that to lay down ones life is the ultimate act of love, hence it is what our King did for us. With no doubt it takes courage to stand for what you believe and more so when your life depends on it. But that will pass and perhaps soon be forgotten by many. That life can no longer influence others as it once did, there is now a little less light left in this dark world to let shine. So my question to you all is. If it is honorable to die for what you believe in, that one time you choose to take a stand, how much more honorable would it be to die daily the rest of your living life? Can you face the guillotine every day of your LIVING LIFE dying to your self so Christ could be magnified? Not just one day like a Martyr of old but every day, dying to your worst enemy, "YOU" becoming a living Martyr!! Let us not be emotion driven allowing occasions and circumstances to dictate our decisions. Like a blind man who relies on his sense of touch to compensate for his lack of sight, let us not rely on what looks or feels right but rather focus on what is right "The Word" even if it may be contrary to what we think or believe. Remember it's the truth that sets us free!

With Much Love
JNAZ.

The Almost Christian

“You almost persuade me to become a Christian”
Acts 26:28

Introduction: In every age there are those who will not go all of the way to Christ. They are almost persuaded to be Christians just like king Agrippa said in Act 26:28 and unfortunately falter at some point. Not only this but the Church is full of almost Christians who have not gone all the way with Christ.

What is an Almost Christian? The almost Christian knows that God's word is true, but will not commit themselves to following it because they sit on the thrown rather than God. Although they may live a good, moral, even religious life, even go above and beyond others with regards to human compassion. Their humanitarian spirit causes him to give to others that which he has need of. They may hate all unrighteousness and sin in society to the point of protesting and petitioning against it, but does not recognize the sin in their own life. They have a "form of godliness" but reveals that they do not have "the power thereof" (2 Timothy 3:5).  There is no overcoming power. Even though they may not partake in those things forbidden by God; and appear to conducted their life according to divine principles. Like abstaining from alcohol, no wild parties or may not be a glutton. To the outer world they may appear like a good solid believer. But the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7 ) It's more then being good natured and desiring to live peaceably with everyone. Though they may never think of being unkind to others, and certainly would never return evil for evil, and may be able to preform heartful public prayers, it is all part of the outward appearance of godliness, and such devotion is simply hypocrisy. Since he enjoys the praise of men (John 12:43) it only reveals his heart and intent. But God will not be mocked!  Yes, the almost Christian is a hypocrite. This is not to say that he does not have a sincere desire to please God, but he usually settles for the pretenses instead of the real thing. They do not think that they need to be born again; thee are good enough Christian as they are. Is it possible to go so far and still only be an almost Christian? We are all aware of those who profess to be Christians and yet totally refuse to be faithful to the Lord. They love to be seen as Christian people, but they will not "lay hold on eternal life" (1 Timothy 6:19). They try to live in the world as well as the Kingdom of God but you can not serve two masters or have dual citizenship. They will not make a commitment and are lukewarm towards God which HE hates (Revelation 3:16). The almost Christian may love God, but not with all their heart, soul and might (Deuteronomy 6:5).

Conclusion : The question must be asked, "What kind of Christian am I?" Am I a almost Christian or an altogether Christian? Am I a hypocrite pretending to be a Christian only living out a form (outward appearance) of godliness? The ultimate question is, "Am I willing to be obedient to all that God requires of me as a believer?" If we are honest with ourselves, many of us are not even close to being almost Christians let alone altogether Christians. We have never laid down our lives as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1). We have given up portions of our lives but not it's entirety.  We think that it is enough to go by the name of Christ, do a few good works here or there, attending church occasionally, but we continue to fall far short of God's standard. We must get back to believing that Christ alone saves our souls from sin, and gives us the power to live godly lives (John 15:5). His Holy Spirit must bear witness with our spirit that we are truly children of God (Romans 8:16). Those who die without being altogether Christians damn their own souls. Let us awake from sleep (self-deception) and call upon the Lord (Romans 13:11; 1 Corinthians 15:34). Do not rest until you can say, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28). Pray and do not faint (Luke 18:1). God knows those who truly love Him! May we all experience what it is to be, not an almost, but an altogether Christian. That we might know what it is to be justified, have God's peace, and sealed with the Holy Spirit.

[Preached by John Wesley on the 25 July 1741] 

JNaz..