Dear Fellow Pilgrims:I write to you as "Pilgrims," that is what we are! As Pentecostalsof another generation sang, (and I still do), the old Gospel songgoes,"This world is not my home,I'm just a'passing through,my treasures are laid upSomewhere upon the blue.The Angels beckon me,From Heaven's open door,And I can't feel at homein this world anymore!"The Biblical pattern for Godly living, in both the Old and NewTestaments, is that we are strangers and sojourners. Consider thefollowing Scriptures:1 Chronicles 29 (David is speaking to God here, as Solomon preparesto build the Temple unto the LORD.)14 But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able tooffer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, andof thine own have we given thee.15 For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were allour fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is noneabiding.16 O LORD our God, all this store that we have prepared to buildthee an house for thine holy name cometh of thine hand, and is allthine own.Hebrews 11 (Read the entire chapter for the roll call of Faithheroes.)13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, buthaving seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embracedthem, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on theearth.14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek acountry.1 Peter 2 (The Apostle Peter is writing to the Church.)10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people ofGod: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstainfrom fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that,whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your goodworks, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.One of the characteristics of the apostate church is that of beingentangled with this present, evil world. The Apostle Paul warnsagainst this in Romans 12:1-2, where he declares, "For I beseech you,therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present yourbodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto the LORD,which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to thisworld, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that yemay be able to prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfectwill of God."Dear Brothers and Sisters, let us understand clearly that arepilgrims and strangers in this land. Let us not grow comfortablehere, but let us "If ye then be risen with Christ, set youraffections on things above, not on things below." (Colossians 3:1)Let us live as though at ANY MOMENT the LORD JESUS CHRIST couldreturn for the Church. The truth is, He will and He is coming again!I am reminded of what God gave to me the other day and I shared overthe SonLife Radio network from the Gospel of Matthew 7:13-29, thereare 9 Points which are essential to a Gospel Ministry in these daysof apostasy:1) We must point to the "straight gate." -- vss. 13-14The narrow gate is Jesus Christ, and His completed work on theCross. There He completed all things necessary for ourreconciliation with God the Father. In John 10, He said that Hewas "the door. . . and anyone who tries to get in another way is atheif and a robber." He also said in John 14:6, "I am the way,thetruth, and the life, NO MAN cometh unto the Father, but by me."There are not many ways to God. It is Christ and the straight/narrowway. Jesus said, "Few there be that find it." (Think about that!)2) We must warn against false prophets. -- vs. 153) We must judge every ministry by the "fruit" of that ministry. --vss. 16-18, 20.4) We must warn about hell and eternal judgment. -- vs. 195) We must warn about false brethren. (Beware of false Christs,false apostles, and false prophets. There are a plethora of them outthere--in the media and in print, as well as in pulpits across theworld. -- vss. 21-24.6) We must get God's people built upon the rock, which is Christ, asrevealed in the inerrant Word of God. -- vs. 247) We must get God's people to hear and to OBEY the Word of God. --vss. 25-27.8) We must warn of the Judgment of God to come. The Bible teaches usthat the Last Days will be very much like it was in the days ofNoah. Just as surely as the flood of God's judgment came in that dayupon the whole earth, so the fire of God's judgment will come in theLast Days. We must warn people, as Noah did. Noah was a "preacherof righteousness." God's servants must be so, too. vs. 289) We must preach and teach with authority, as Jesus did, and not asthe scribes, the Doctors of Divinity, the health-wealth-greedpreachers. We must declare, without fear or favor, "Thus saith theLORD!" We must always be mindful not to say, "Thus saith the LORD,"unless the LORD has indeed spoken. -- vs. 29I trust that these thoughts will encourage your hearts.God bless you. I hope to hear your responses. Know that it is onlyby prayer (the battle done on our knees) that we will see the victory!Periodically, I will be sending a list of web links that I finduseful regarding prayer and revival, along with a list of authors andbooks.In Jesus' name,Brother YorkDown East, Maine
