Daniel Whyte III's Blog, page 30

LISTEN: Diet, Disease, & Weight Loss, Part 7 (Overcoming the Acceptable Christian Sin of Gluttony #11 with Daniel Whyte III)

Daniel Whyte III

Welcome to the Overcoming the Acceptable Christian Sin of Gluttony podcast, a companion podcast to the Acceptable Christian Sin of Gluttony message series. The purpose of this podcast is to share with you, from a biblical perspective, the means by which we can combat and overcome the sin of gluttony and its outcome of obesity.

Our passage from the Word of God today is Judges 3:20-22 which reads: “And Ehud came unto [Eglon, king of Moab]; and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat. And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly: And the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade, so that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly; and the dirt came out.”

Now, let’s look at gluttony and its effects in the news: According to U.S. News & World Report, “Obesity poses a stubborn public health problem. Just when it looked like rates were finally starting to plateau, results from an ongoing national survey tell a different story. Rather than losing weight, Americans – kids and adults alike – are still gaining. Rural areas are seeing the biggest spikes. Globally, the obesity epidemic also continues. The expected impact is greatly concerning because obesity increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease and certain types of cancer.”

In this podcast, we are going through the book, The RAVE Diet and Lifestyle: The Natural Foods Diet With Meals that Heal, by Mike Anderson. He writes in Chapter 1: Diet, Disease, & Weight Loss (Part 7):

With respect to heart disease, there are two “laws” that are, to date, irrefutable.

1) Heart disease can only be reversed on a true low-fat diet (10% or less of total calories).

2) Heart attacks do not occur with people having total cholesterol levels under 150.

The RAVE Diet will show you how to achieve a 10 percent fat level with delicious foods so you can reverse heart disease — and if you eat to prevent or reverse heart disease, you’ll be preventing all the other degenerative diseases that are making Americans sick and causing them to die prematurely. That is the ticket the RAVE Diet has for you on the health train.

On a heart disease prevention diet — as opposed to a reversal diet — the maximum fat level is 20 percent of total calories. Since most adult Americans already have heart disease, you should try to reverse it as much as possible by getting your fat level down to 10 percent by strictly following the RAVE Diet.

While medical authorities are fiddling with LDL and HDL levels and ratios, your goal should not be a ratio, but a total cholesterol level below iso. If you do that, you’ll never have to worry about having a heart attack again. And you simply cannot get your cholesterol level below 1,50 unless you adopt a RAVE Diet.

People like to scoff at the idea that diet is so powerful, preferring to take expensive medicines instead. They will point to studies that show a change in fat levels does not have an effect on diseases. The problem with these studies is that they make small dietary changes. For example, they may reduce a 40 percent fat diet to a 30 percent fat diet and say the dietary fat level does not make a difference. That’s like switching from regular cigarettes to light cigarettes and that won’t prevent anything.

What you have to do is make a big change before you’ll be able to reverse and prevent our diet-related diseases. What medical authorities have to do is reduce dietary fat from 4o percent to 10 percent before they will see a difference — and it will be a huge difference. It’s also been shown that a diet of 10 percent fat is far more effective than heart disease medicines in lowering LDL cholesterol levels — and diet does not have any side effects.

Following mainstream advice to eat more fruits and vegetables simply will not get the job done. It’s a bit like adding a couple of raisins to a chocolate bar and declaring that chocolate bar to be healthy. In order to realize the healing effects of plant foods, you have to make a complete switch and do it in an uncompromising fashion. The RAVE Diet & Lifestyle shows you how to do just that.

— PRAYER —

Now, in this series, as we focus on overcoming the sin of gluttony, and managing our bodies as God intended, we must not lose sight of the most important part of our existence — our spiritual life. Even those of you who are fit, who eat right, and who exercise regularly must still address the condition of your soul. You may keep your body in perfect condition till the day you die, but you will still die — we all will, and the only thing that will matter is the condition of your soul. Is your soul in shape? Is your soul in right standing with God?

The only way to make sure of that is to trust Jesus Christ as your Savior from sin and the consequences of sin. He alone can save your soul, put you in right standing with God, and ensure that you do not perish in Hell. Now, if you do not know Jesus Christ as your Savior, here is how you can trust Him today.

First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Now that is bad news, but here’s the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will.

Romans 10:9 & 13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, and you want to trust Him for your Salvation today, please pray with me this simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. I am sorry for my sins, and today I choose to turn from my sins. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. I trust Jesus Christ as my Savior and I choose to follow Him as Lord from this day forward. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.

If you believed in your heart that Jesus Christ died on the Cross, was buried, and rose again, allow me to say, congratulations on doing the most important thing in life and that is accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour! For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door”. Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”

If you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior today, please email me at dw3@gospellightsociety.com and let us know. There is some free material that we want to send you. If you have a prayer request, please e-mail that to us as well, and we will pray for you until you tell us to stop.

God loves you. We love you. And may God bless you.

Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in over twenty-five foreign countries. He is the author of over forty books including the Essence Magazine, Dallas Morning News, and Amazon.com national bestseller, Letters to Young Black Men. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry.

He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts/podcasts, which include: The Prayer Motivator Devotional, The Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message, the Prophet Daniel’s Report, the Second Coming Watch Update and the Soul-Winning Motivator, among others.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, a Master’s degree in Religion, a Master of Divinity degree, and a Master of Theology degree from Liberty University’s Rawlings School of Divinity (formerly Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary). He is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry degree.

He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica since 1987. God has blessed their union with seven children.

LISTEN: Prayer, Pain, and Preaching, Part 1 (Praying Through the Bible #310 with Daniel Whyte III)

Daniel Whyte III

TEXT: Philippians 1:12-21

12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;

13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;

14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:

16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:

17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.

18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

— PRAYER —

We are in a series of messages titled “Praying Through the Bible: A Series on Every Passage and Verse Regarding Prayer in the Bible.” The purpose of this series is to encourage and motivate you to pray to the God of the Bible. We highlighted each of these over 500 verses and passages in the Prayer Motivator Devotional Bible. So far, we have completed 309 messages in this series.

This is message #310 titled, Prayer, Pain, and Preaching the Gospel, Part 1.

As we continue looking at Philippians chapter 1, we find that Paul’s themes of gratefulness, thanksgiving, and prayer remain even as he describes his own painful plight of imprisonment on account of the Gospel. While our focus verse in this passage is verse 20, we are looking at the whole context because it sheds light on how we ought to view the painful life situations that we find ourselves involved in, especially if those situations come while we are engaged in God’s work.

Paul does not view his imprisonment as a bad thing. He rejoices over it because it has given occasion for the preaching of the Gospel to increase. Dr. John Walvoord writes: “The experience of Paul suffering in prison gives remarkable insight into the purposes of God in permitting the affliction of His children. As is so often the case, ‘Surely the wrath of man shall praise the Lord.’ What appears on the surface to be a great tragedy — an effective preacher and missionary rendered immobile for years in the most fruitful period of his life — turns out to be an effective platform of personal witness in Rome and a time for quiet meditation which permitted the writing of the precious prison epistles which, with the epistle to the Romans, are the heart of Paul’s revelation to the church. To the Philippian Christians, grieving at Paul’s confinement, the purpose of God in Paul’s suffering is revealed as he says, ‘The things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel.’ Instead of hindering the proclamation of the gospel, his circumstances had served to extend his witness and to testify to his triumph over suffering.”

Sometimes, we make a great deal over praying for deliverance from suffering, but we forget that God often intends to use our suffering for His glory.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Now, if you are with us today, and you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, your first prayer needs to be what we call the Sinner’s Prayer. First, please understand that you are a sinner, just as I am, and that you have broken God’s laws. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Now this is bad news, but here’s the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will.

Romans 10:9 & 13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, and you want to trust Him for your Salvation today, please pray with me this simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I now believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.

If you just trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, and you prayed that prayer and meant it from your heart, I declare to you that based upon the Word of God, you are now saved from Hell and you are on your way to Heaven. Welcome to the family of God! Congratulations on trusting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. You have done the most important thing in life. For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door”. Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door, by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”

God loves you. We love you. And may God bless you.

Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in over twenty-five foreign countries. He is the author of over forty books including the Essence Magazine, Dallas Morning News, and Amazon.com national bestseller, Letters to Young Black Men. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry.

He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts/podcasts, which include: The Prayer Motivator Devotional, The Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message, the Prophet Daniel’s Report, the Second Coming Watch Update and the Soul-Winning Motivator, among others.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, a Master’s degree in Religion, a Master of Divinity degree, and a Master of Theology degree from Liberty University’s Rawlings School of Divinity (formerly Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary). He is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry degree.

He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica since 1987. God has blessed their union with seven children.

LISTEN: How to Overcome Temptation, Part 89 — Sloth (Onward Christian Soldiers #213 with Daniel Whyte III)

Daniel Whyte III

Welcome to the Onward Christian Soldiers Discipleship Class. I am Daniel Whyte III, president of Gospel Light Society and pastor of Gospel Light House of Prayer International. The purpose of this time together is to teach young believers everything they need to know about their faith in Jesus Christ and provide them with the knowledge they need to live victorious Christian lives.

Our key Bible verse is 1 Corinthians 10:13:

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

— PRAYER —

Our lesson today is titled “How to Overcome Temptation, Part 89”

In this section of our Onward Christian Soldiers discipleship class, we are looking at specific temptations that are, as the Bible says, “common to man.” We are looking at what the Bible says about these sins so we can be aware of its dangers and so that we can hide Scripture in our hearts to use when we are tempted.

The sin that we are looking at today is the sin of “sloth.” This is the fourth sin in a list of 12 temptations that comes from two sources — one ancient and one modern. The first source is a list that was developed by monks in the early church called “the seven deadly sins” or the “cardinal sins.” The second source is a Barna survey from 2011 which tracked the top temptations Americans admitted to struggling with.

Today, we will be looking at Romans 12:11. (Remember, the text of this lesson is made available online after each class, so you can go to our website GLHOPI.com, click the “Onward Christian Soldiers” banner on the home page, and begin to learn these verses by heart throughout the week.)

Ephesians 4:28

Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

Writing to the Christians at Ephesus, Paul remarks that those in the congregation who formerly stole should steal no more. Instead, they should work with their own hands to supply for their needs. Christians have great examples of those who labored for the supply of daily needs. Jesus was a carpenter. Paul was a tent-maker. Luke was a doctor. Several of Jesus’ disciples were fishermen. Even though they were engaged in ministry, they were not above working with their own hands.

Albert Barnes said, “Christianity promotes industry. It is rare that an idle man becomes a Christian; but if he does, religion makes him industrious just in proportion as it has influence over his mind. To talk of a ‘lazy Christian’ is about the same as to talk of burning water or freezing fire. All Christians should have some useful and honest employment. They should work ‘that which is good,’ not pursuing an employment which might be harmful to others.”

In fact, the Christian who labors is called to a higher standard than supplying for his own needs. He is called to work “that he may have to give to him that needeth.” The Christian laborer should not be just about making money or getting rich. He should work so that he can be a blessing and benefit to others. Beyond what he needs for himself, he should be eager to give liberally to the church and to those around him. Acts records that the first believers had all things in common. In the gospels and in the epistles, we read about wealthy men and women who lent their money, resources, and influence to the cause of Christ. As a Christian, you ought to work not just for yourself, but for the benefit of your community and for the advancement of the Kingdom of God.

If you struggle with sloth or laziness, take this passage to heart and begin to use it the next time you face that temptation.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Saviour, John 3:16 states, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

The Bible also says in Romans 10:9 and 13: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved…. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, and you want to trust Him for your Salvation today, please pray with me this simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. I am sorry for my sins, and I want to turn from my sins. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I now believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. I trust Him as my Savior and follow Him as Lord from this day forward. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.

If you just trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, and you prayed that prayer and meant it from your heart, I declare to you that based upon the Word of God, you are now saved from Hell and you are on your way to Heaven. Welcome to the family of God! I want to congratulate you on doing the most important thing in life and that is receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door”. Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”

Until next time, May the Lord Bless You!

Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in over twenty-five foreign countries. He is the author of over forty books including the Essence Magazine, Dallas Morning News, and Amazon.com national bestseller, Letters to Young Black Men. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry.

He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts/podcasts, which include: The Prayer Motivator Devotional, The Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message, the Prophet Daniel’s Report, the Second Coming Watch Update and the Soul-Winning Motivator, among others.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, a Master’s degree in Religion, a Master of Divinity degree, and a Master of Theology degree from Liberty University’s Rawlings School of Divinity (formerly Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary). He is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry degree.

He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica since 1987. God has blessed their union with seven children.

LISTEN: How Not to Fast, Part 2 (Just Jesus Evangelistic Campaign, Day 513 since Jan. 20, 2017 / Day 880 since Jan. 1, 2016 with Daniel Whyte III)

Daniel Whyte III

TEXT: Matthew 6:16-18

16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;

18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

—–

When fasting, we ought not to go about with a sad countenance or disfigured faces so that it can appear to others that we are fasting. Jesus rebuked this habit of the Pharisees and professional religious folk of His day. They were simply seeking man’s applause, and that is what they got.

Jesus then tells us how His followers should fast. “Thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.” Washing the face is something we do, or ought to do, every morning, especially if we plan on going out in public. It would be ludicrous not to wash one’s face just to show that one is fasting. The people of the ancient near east also anointed themselves with oil on a daily basis. According to the Jewish Encyclopedia, this was done “as a means of soothing the skin in the fierce heat of the Palestinian climate. Oil seems to have been applied to the exposed parts of the body, especially to the face. Anointing also accompanied a bath and was done especially before a feast. It was only omitted in mourning as a sign of grief, and resumed to indicate that mourning was over.”

Our fasting ought to be done as unto God. Thus, there is no reason why we should attempt to notify people (except where necessary) that we are engaging in this spiritual discipline. Like prayer, it should be carried out “in secret” before our Father who is “in secret.” Any violation of this is likely due to a desire to impress others with our spirituality, which negates the whole purpose of the fast.

John Piper wrote: “Fasting is an intensely Godward act. Do it toward God who sees when others don’t. Jesus is testing the reality of God in our lives. Do we really have a hunger for God himself, or a hunger for human admiration? What Jesus is doing with these words in Matthew 6 is testing our hearts to see if God himself is our treasure. He is pressing fasting from the external to the radically internal, and making it a sign of our true Godwardness. To Judaism, a fast was an outward sign of an inward condition. To Jesus, a fast was an inward sign of an inward condition. He is testing to see if the admiration of other people or even the spiritual effect on others of our piety has become the God-supplanting food that entices our soul. How do we feel when nobody else knows what we are doing? How is it when no one is saying, ‘How goes the fast?’ Are we content in God when no one but God knows that we have done what we ought to have done?”

Secret spiritual labor bring about long-lasting spiritual fruit. May we fast in secret that we may gain the spiritual benefits of time spent disciplining ourselves before the Lord.

——-

Now, if you are with us today and you do not know Jesus Christ as your Savior, allow me to show you how you can place your faith and trust in Him for Salvation from sin and Hell.

First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Now that is bad news, but here’s the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will.

Romans 10:9 & 13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, and you want to trust Him for your Salvation today, please pray with me this simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. I am sorry for my sins, and today I choose to turn from my sins. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. I trust Jesus Christ as my Savior and I choose to follow Him as Lord from this day forward. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.

If you believed in your heart that Jesus Christ died on the Cross, was buried, and rose again, allow me to say, congratulations on doing the most important thing in life and that is accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour! For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door”. Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”

If you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior today, please email me at dw3@gospellightsociety.com and let us know. There is some free material that we want to send you. If you have a prayer request, please e-mail that to us as well, and we will pray for you until you tell us to stop.

God loves you. We love you. And may God bless you.

Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in over twenty-five foreign countries. He is the author of over forty books including the Essence Magazine, Dallas Morning News, and Amazon.com national bestseller, Letters to Young Black Men. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry.

He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts/podcasts, which include: The Prayer Motivator Devotional, The Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message, the Prophet Daniel’s Report, the Second Coming Watch Update and the Soul-Winning Motivator, among others.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, a Master’s degree in Religion, a Master of Divinity degree, and a Master of Theology degree from Liberty University’s Rawlings School of Divinity (formerly Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary). He is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry degree.

He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica since 1987. God has blessed their union with seven children.

LISTEN: Keeping the House Till the Lord Comes, Part 2 (Second Coming Chapel with Daniel Whyte III)

Daniel Whyte III

TEXT: Matthew 24:36-44

36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left..

42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

43 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.

44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

— PRAYER —

Keeping the House Till the Lord Comes, Part 2

John MacArthur said, “The only way to avoid spiritual loss is to be ready at all times for Christ’s return.”

Using the metaphor of a thief breaking into a house, Jesus describes His Second Coming as shocking, startling, and stunning because many will not be prepared. However, Jesus does not want us to resign ourselves to unpreparedness. He wants us to be ready. He wants us to be like the “goodman” in his parable who, if he had known the thief was coming, “would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.”

Jesus wants us to keep the house until His return. He wants us to keep guard, or keep watch, over all that has been entrusted to us spiritually speaking. On last week, we highlighted three “houses” that the Lord wants us to stand guard over — the house of our own bodies, the house of our families, and the Lord’s house, the Church.

How are we to keep the house of our bodies till the Lord comes? First Corinthians 6:19 says, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” Not only are our bodies the temple of the Holy Spirit, but we often speak of Jesus living inside of us as well. Just as you would not want to offend a guest whom you have invited into your home, you ought not to want to offend the One who has been invited to reside in the house of your body.

We offend and grieve Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit when we engage in physical sin — using the body that God has given us, the body in which He resides, to steal, cheat, lie, commit adultery, commit homosexuality engage in fornication. Our bodies don’t belong to us; they belong to God. And to misuse them is an affront to Him. However, Jesus is equally (or even more so) concerned about our thought life and where our hearts, minds, and spirits continually reside. We keep watch over the house of our hearts and minds by submitting our thought life to Jesus Christ. Second Corinthians 10:5 says, we ought to “cast down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” This is something that we must choose to do. We must choose to meditate on the Word of God, positive deeds, and the Second Coming of Christ.

When we keep watch over our bodies, our minds, and our hearts that we might not sin against the Lord, we remain ready for the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Charles Tillman wrote:

Ready to speak, ready to warn,

Ready over souls to yearn,

Ready in life, ready in death,

Ready for His return.

Ready to go, ready to stay,

Ready my place to fill,

Ready for service, lowly or great,

Ready to do His will.

Now, if you are not a believer in Jesus Christ, I urge you to trust in Him because He is coming again and you do not want to be left behind. Here is how you can place your faith and trust in Him for Salvation from sin and the consequences of sin.

First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Now that is bad news, but here’s the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will.

Romans 10:9 & 13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, and you want to trust Him for your Salvation today, please pray with me this simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. I am sorry for my sins, and today I choose to turn from my sins. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. I trust Jesus Christ as my Savior and I choose to follow Him as Lord from this day forward. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.

If you just trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, and you prayed that prayer and meant it from your heart, I declare to you that based upon the Word of God, you are now saved from Hell and you are on your way to Heaven. Welcome to the family of God! Congratulations on doing the most important thing in life and that is receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door.” Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”

God loves you. We love you. And may God bless you.

Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in over twenty-five foreign countries. He is the author of over forty books including the Essence Magazine, Dallas Morning News, and Amazon.com national bestseller, Letters to Young Black Men. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry.

He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts/podcasts, which include: The Prayer Motivator Devotional, The Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message, the Prophet Daniel’s Report, the Second Coming Watch Update and the Soul-Winning Motivator, among others.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, a Master’s degree in Religion, a Master of Divinity degree, and a Master of Theology degree from Liberty University’s Rawlings School of Divinity (formerly Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary). He is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry degree.

He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica since 1987. God has blessed their union with seven children.

LISTEN: The Power of Remembering, Thanksgiving, and Praying, Part 8 (Praying Through the Bible #309 with Daniel Whyte III)

Daniel Whyte III

TEXT: Philippians 1:1-11

1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,

5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;

6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.

8 For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.

9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.

— PRAYER —

We are in a series of messages titled “Praying Through the Bible: A Series on Every Passage and Verse Regarding Prayer in the Bible.” The purpose of this series is to encourage and motivate you to pray to the God of the Bible. We highlighted each of these over 500 verses and passages in the Prayer Motivator Devotional Bible. So far, we have completed 308 messages in this series.

This is message #309 titled, The Power of Remembering, Thanksgiving, and Praying, Part 8.

Through his praying, thanking God for, and remembrance of the Philippians, Paul shows us how we all ought to lift each other up in prayer. How did Paul pray for the Philippians?

(1) First, he prayed that their love for each other would “abound”;

(2) Second, he prayed that their love for each other would be coupled with “knowledge” and spiritual growth;

(3) Third, he prayed that their love for each other would be coupled with “judgment” or discernment;

(4) Fourth, he prayed that they would be given the wisdom to discern between good and evil.

(5) Fifth, as we saw last week, he prayed that they would live sincere lives without offense toward God or man.

Paul’s expresses his final prayer request in verse 11. He prays that the Philippians would be “filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.”

What are the fruits of righteousness? According to Dr. John Walvoord’s commentary on this passage: “This is a summary statement gathering in all that has preceded — their love, their discernment, and their being without offense. To these spiritual qualities must be added all the other ‘fruits of righteousness,’ an Old Testament expression also used by the Apostle James. The fruits of righteousness which are mentioned are those which come from their relationship to Jesus Christ rather than to the law. They comprise evidences of transformed character by the power of the Holy Spirit, and the resulting works of righteousness which fulfill the will of God in the individual life. So, it is a holy life and a holy character manifesting the fruit of the spirit. It must be a supernatural work in answer to prayer.”

The fruits of righteousness, of course, come only through Jesus Christ who alone is completely righteous, and through whom we can be considered as completely righteous by God. Righteous living means staying on the straight and narrow, and staying on the straight and narrow produces positive spiritual fruit in our lives. According to Galatians 5:22-23, this fruit includes:

Love (for God and for others)

Joy (in our hearts despite the circumstances)

Peace (that passes all understanding)

Longsuffering (no matter the negative situations we face and no matter how others offend us)

Gentleness (in how we handle difficult people and difficult situations)

Goodness (being upright in heart and life)

Faith (trust in God)

Meekness (humility; not pushing ourselves forward; being happy when others shine)

Temperance (or self-control; not being driven by the flesh or fleshly desires)

We ought to pray for the power to live right so that our lives and our relationships with others can benefit from the fruits of righteousness. Instead of pursuing the pleasures of sin for a season, we ought to run hard after the fruits of righteousness for the glory of God and pray that others do the same.

Oliver Holden wrote:

They who seek the throne of grace,

Find that throne in every place;

If we live a life of prayer,

God is present everywhere.

In our sickness or our health,

In our want or in our wealth,

If we look to God in prayer,

God is present everywhere.

When our earthly comforts fail,

When the foes of life prevail,

’Tis the time for earnest prayer;

God is present everywhere.

Then, my soul, in every strait

To thy Father come and wait;

He will answer every prayer;

God is present everywhere.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Now, if you are with us today, and you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, your first prayer needs to be what we call the Sinner’s Prayer. First, please understand that you are a sinner, just as I am, and that you have broken God’s laws. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Now this is bad news, but here’s the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will.

Romans 10:9 & 13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, and you want to trust Him for your Salvation today, please pray with me this simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I now believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.

If you just trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, and you prayed that prayer and meant it from your heart, I declare to you that based upon the Word of God, you are now saved from Hell and you are on your way to Heaven. Welcome to the family of God! Congratulations on trusting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. You have done the most important thing in life. For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door”. Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door, by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”

God loves you. We love you. And may God bless you.

Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in over twenty-five foreign countries. He is the author of over forty books including the Essence Magazine, Dallas Morning News, and Amazon.com national bestseller, Letters to Young Black Men. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry.

He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts/podcasts, which include: The Prayer Motivator Devotional, The Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message, the Prophet Daniel’s Report, the Second Coming Watch Update and the Soul-Winning Motivator, among others.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, a Master’s degree in Religion, a Master of Divinity degree, and a Master of Theology degree from Liberty University’s Rawlings School of Divinity (formerly Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary). He is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry degree.

He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica since 1987. God has blessed their union with seven children.

LISTEN: How to Overcome Temptation, Part 88 (Onward Christian Soldiers #212 with Daniel Whyte III)

Daniel Whyte III

Welcome to the Onward Christian Soldiers Discipleship Class. I am Daniel Whyte III, president of Gospel Light Society and pastor of Gospel Light House of Prayer International. The purpose of this time together is to teach young believers everything they need to know about their faith in Jesus Christ and provide them with the knowledge they need to live victorious Christian lives.

Our key Bible verse is 1 Corinthians 10:13:

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

— PRAYER —

Our lesson today is titled “How to Overcome Temptation, Part 88”

In this section of our Onward Christian Soldiers discipleship class, we are looking at specific temptations that are, as the Bible says, “common to man.” We are looking at what the Bible says about these sins so we can be aware of its dangers and so that we can hide Scripture in our hearts to use when we are tempted.

The sin that we are looking at today is the sin of “sloth.” This is the fourth sin in a list of 12 temptations that comes from two sources — one ancient and one modern. The first source is a list that was developed by monks in the early church called “the seven deadly sins” or the “cardinal sins.” The second source is a Barna survey from 2011 which tracked the top temptations Americans admitted to struggling with.

Today, we will be looking at Romans 12:11. (Remember, the text of this lesson is made available online after each class, so you can go to our website GLHOPI.com, click the “Onward Christian Soldiers” banner on the home page, and begin to learn these verses by heart throughout the week.)

Romans 12:11

Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

This verse comes in a series of pithy sayings in Romans chapter 12. Verse 11 gives us three interconnected commands that shed light on the issue of laziness especially for the Christian.

Christians ought not to be “slothful in business.” We ought to be eager and ready to work. Whatever the Lord leads us to put our hands to, we ought to be diligent and productive in doing it. Some people work, but they have no enthusiasm about their work. The Greek word translated as “in business” means “earnestness in accomplishing, promoting, or striving after something; to give all diligence [to a task].” In other words, if you are going to work, go all in. King Solomon said, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.”

Then, we are instructed to be “fervent in spirit.” The Greek word translated as “fervent” means “to boil with heat, to be hot, to have zeal.” In other words, the work you do ought to be something you are passionate about. If your spirit is fervent about the work before you, you will work, not only with your mind and hands, but with your heart and soul. Adam Clarke said, “In every thing, let your heart be engaged. Be always in earnest, and let your heart ever accompany your hand.”

Finally, we are instructed, in the midst of our work, to “serve the Lord.” Ephesians 6:5-7 tells us that, whatever work we do, we should work “as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men.” Every Christian’s life ought to be a life of service. Working in the church or on the mission field is not the only way to serve the Lord. Every believer is called to serve Christ diligently in whatever work he puts his hand to.

If you struggle with sloth or laziness, take this passage to heart and begin to use it the next time you face that temptation.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Saviour, John 3:16 states, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

The Bible also says in Romans 10:9 and 13: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved…. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, and you want to trust Him for your Salvation today, please pray with me this simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. I am sorry for my sins, and I want to turn from my sins. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I now believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. I trust Him as my Savior and follow Him as Lord from this day forward. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.

If you just trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, and you prayed that prayer and meant it from your heart, I declare to you that based upon the Word of God, you are now saved from Hell and you are on your way to Heaven. Welcome to the family of God! I want to congratulate you on doing the most important thing in life and that is receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door”. Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”

Until next time, May the Lord Bless You!

Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in over twenty-five foreign countries. He is the author of over forty books including the Essence Magazine, Dallas Morning News, and Amazon.com national bestseller, Letters to Young Black Men. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry.

He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts/podcasts, which include: The Prayer Motivator Devotional, The Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message, the Prophet Daniel’s Report, the Second Coming Watch Update and the Soul-Winning Motivator, among others.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, a Master’s degree in Religion, a Master of Divinity degree, and a Master of Theology degree from Liberty University’s Rawlings School of Divinity (formerly Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary). He is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry degree.

He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica since 1987. God has blessed their union with seven children.

LISTEN: Keeping the House Till the Lord Comes, Part 1 (Second Coming Chapel with Daniel Whyte III)

Daniel Whyte III

TEXT: Matthew 24:36-44

36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

43 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.

44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

— PRAYER —

Keeping the House Till the Lord Comes, Part 1

Regarding our passage for today, Dr. John Walvoord writes, “Unlike the rapture, which has no preceding signs and therefore could occur any time, Christ’s return to the earth to set up His kingdom cannot occur until the preceding signs have been fulfilled. When the ark was completed and Noah and his family and the animals were in it, those observing could anticipate that the predicted flood could occur any day. But even then, they could not predict the day or the hour. Like the days of Noah, the second coming will be a period of judgment on the earth. Just as the flood came ‘and took them all away,’ referring to the judgment of unbelievers, so at the second coming, some will be taken away ‘for judgment preceding the establishment of the kingdom.’ The illustrations, beginning in verse 32, have as their primary interpretation and exhortation the situation immediately preceding the second coming of Christ. But there is an application to those living today in expectation of the rapture. Believers today also need to be faithful, to be recognizing the signs of the times, and to be living in such a way that they are ready for the Lord’s return. Even among those who differ in their basic interpretation of prophecy, there is this constant unifying note of being ready for the Lord’s return.”

Today, we are looking at the second passage in our Parables of the Second Coming series. In the parable from Mark 13:33-37, we saw four important things that we ought to be doing as we wait for the return of the Lord: taking heed to Jesus, watching, praying, and working. In this parable, Jesus expounds on the importance of being ready at all times.

If you knew that someone was planning an attempted burglary at your house, you would get ready. You would hide your valuables. You would lock and bolt the doors. You would make sure the security system was online. You would alert local authorities. You would make sure your family was away from the anticipated violence. If you are the confrontational type, you would sit up in the living room, probably with a weapon, and wait for the thief to arrive. But most people don’t know when someone is planning to rob their house. They are caught by surprise.

Jesus likens His return to that of a thief breaking into a house. He commands us to “watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” Jesus, of course, is not coming for His church as a thief. He is coming LIKE a thief. It is the suddenness, the element of surprise, that He is emphasizing. Donald Barnhouse notes this difference in his commentary: “Coming as a thief always denotes an unexpected coming in judgment because a thief comes to rob and destroy. Christ is never said to come for His church as a thief. The first phase of the Lord’s coming is as a bridegroom and the second phase is as a thief. He does not come upon His bride as a thief and He does not come upon the apostates and unregenerate world as a bridegroom.”

I hope that you are ready to meet the Lord as His bride. The way that we do that is by keeping watch over the house that the Lord has given us just like the “goodman” in Jesus’ parable. What house do we have to watch over? First, we have our bodies which are a temple for the Holy Ghost. Keeping the house of our bodies means staying away from sin and staying spiritually vigilant. Then, we have the house of our families. We ought to be on guard lest the devil infiltrate and infest our families, rendering us unprepared to meet the Lord. And, finally, we must keep the Lord’s house, the church. It is every individual believer’s responsibility to guard against spiritual deadness, false teaching, and lack of focus on the Great Commission in the church. We often complain about the pastor and the church “leaders” not doing their job, but every believer is a priest unto God, and we each bear responsibility to ensure that God’s house is in good working order.

May we keep watch over the house in anticipation of the sudden return of the Lord.

Charles Wesley wrote:

Come, almighty to deliver,

Let us all thy life receive;

Suddenly return and never,

Never more thy temples leave.

Thee we would be always blessing,

Serve Thee as thy hosts above,

Pray, and praise thee, without ceasing,

Glory in thy perfect love.

Finish then thy new creation,

Pure and sinless let us be;

Let us see thy great salvation,

Perfectly restored in thee:

Changed from glory into glory,

Till in heav’n we take our place,

Till we cast our crowns before thee,

Lost in wonder, love and praise.

Now, if you are not a believer in Jesus Christ, I urge you to trust in Him because He is coming again and you do not want to be left behind. Here is how you can place your faith and trust in Him for Salvation from sin and the consequences of sin.

First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Now that is bad news, but here’s the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will.

Romans 10:9 & 13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, and you want to trust Him for your Salvation today, please pray with me this simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. I am sorry for my sins, and today I choose to turn from my sins. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. I trust Jesus Christ as my Savior and I choose to follow Him as Lord from this day forward. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.

If you just trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, and you prayed that prayer and meant it from your heart, I declare to you that based upon the Word of God, you are now saved from Hell and you are on your way to Heaven. Welcome to the family of God! Congratulations on doing the most important thing in life and that is receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door.” Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”

God loves you. We love you. And may God bless you.

Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in over twenty-five foreign countries. He is the author of over forty books including the Essence Magazine, Dallas Morning News, and Amazon.com national bestseller, Letters to Young Black Men. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry.

He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts/podcasts, which include: The Prayer Motivator Devotional, The Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message, the Prophet Daniel’s Report, the Second Coming Watch Update and the Soul-Winning Motivator, among others.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, a Master’s degree in Religion, a Master of Divinity degree, and a Master of Theology degree from Liberty University’s Rawlings School of Divinity (formerly Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary). He is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry degree.

He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica since 1987. God has blessed their union with seven children.

LISTEN: The Power of Remembering, Thanksgiving, and Praying, Part 7 (Praying Through the Bible #308 with Daniel Whyte III)

Daniel Whyte III

TEXT: Philippians 1:1-10

1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,

5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;

6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.

8 For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.

9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.

— PRAYER —

We are in a series of messages titled “Praying Through the Bible: A Series on Every Passage and Verse Regarding Prayer in the Bible.” The purpose of this series is to encourage and motivate you to pray to the God of the Bible. We highlighted each of these over 500 verses and passages in the Prayer Motivator Devotional Bible. So far, we have completed 307 messages in this series.

This is message #308 titled, The Power of Remembering, Thanksgiving, and Praying, Part 7.

Through his praying, thanking God for, and remembrance of the Philippians, Paul shows us how pastors ought to lift up those under their care in prayer to God as well as how we as individual believers ought to lift up each other. First, Paul prayed that their love for each other would “abound” or grow exponentially; second, that their love for each other would be coupled with “knowledge” and spiritual growth; third, that their love for each other would be coupled with “judgment” or discernment; and, fourth, as we saw last week, that they would be given the wisdom to discern between good and evil.

Paul’s fifth prayer request for the Philippians is that they “may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.” Dr. John Walvoord writes, “By sincere, it is meant that they would have purity of motive, a purpose in life unsullied by selfishness, sin, or worldly standards. Such sincerity in motive leads to a life that is without offense to God or man when judged by God’s standards. The desire of Paul is that the motivation of the Philippians in their service for God would stand the searching test of judgment at the climax of history, the day of Christ, the day of their resurrection or translation.”

While our actions are important in the Christian walk, Jesus is primarily concerned with our motives and the condition of our hearts. God judges us, not just on what we do, but on why we do it. When we stand before our Savior at the Judgment Seat of Christ, those works that we did with pure, sincere motives will be rendered as gold, silver, and bronze. They will survive the fire of testing and we will be rewarded for them. However, those works that were lacking in sincere, Christ-honoring motives will be seen as wood, hay, or stubble, and will be burned up in the fire of testing.

We each ought to want all of our works to be carried out from a sincere heart. One of the ways we seek purification in our hearts and minds is through prayer. In prayer, we invite God to search our hearts and expose anything that is not pleasing to Him. God sees those things that man cannot see. When we pray for ourselves and for others one of our requests ought to be that we live sincere and without offence until we die or meet the Lord in the air.

John Burton Jr. said:

O Thou that hearest prayer,

Attend our humble cry,

And let Thy servants share

Thy blessing from on high:

We plead the promise of Thy Word;

Grant us Thy Holy Spirit, Lord.

If earthly parents hear

Their children when they cry,

If they, with love sincere,

Their children’s wants supply,

Much more wilt Thou Thy love display,

And answer when Thy children pray.

O may that sacred fire,

Descending from above,

Our quickened hearts inspire

With fervent zeal and love,

Enlighten our beclouded eyes,

And teach our earth-bound souls to rise.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Now, if you are with us today, and you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, your first prayer needs to be what we call the Sinner’s Prayer. First, please understand that you are a sinner, just as I am, and that you have broken God’s laws. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Now this is bad news, but here’s the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will.

Romans 10:9 & 13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, and you want to trust Him for your Salvation today, please pray with me this simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I now believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.

If you just trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, and you prayed that prayer and meant it from your heart, I declare to you that based upon the Word of God, you are now saved from Hell and you are on your way to Heaven. Welcome to the family of God! Congratulations on trusting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. You have done the most important thing in life. For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door”. Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door, by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”

God loves you. We love you. And may God bless you.

Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in over twenty-five foreign countries. He is the author of over forty books including the Essence Magazine, Dallas Morning News, and Amazon.com national bestseller, Letters to Young Black Men. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry.

He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts/podcasts, which include: The Prayer Motivator Devotional, The Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message, the Prophet Daniel’s Report, the Second Coming Watch Update and the Soul-Winning Motivator, among others.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, a Master’s degree in Religion, a Master of Divinity degree, and a Master of Theology degree from Liberty University’s Rawlings School of Divinity (formerly Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary). He is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry degree.

He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica since 1987. God has blessed their union with seven children.

LISTEN: Seeking Forgiveness, Giving Forgiveness, and Repentance, Part 2 (Just Jesus Evangelistic Campaign, Day 507 since Jan. 20, 2017 / Day 874 since Jan. 1, 2016 with Daniel Whyte III)

Daniel Whyte III

TEXT: Matthew 6:14-15

14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

—–

Chuck Swindoll said, “We are most like beasts when we kill. We are most like men when we judge. We are most like God when we forgive.”

Last week, we talked about the importance of forgiveness in the body of Christ and in the larger society. Those who have offended should confess their sins and seek forgiveness. Those who have been offended should be ready to freely forgive as Christ forgives us. Those who have offended should repent and seek to not offend again.

People are often encouraged to forgive others, to “let it go,” as a way of freeing themselves from the burden of animosity, bitterness, and resentment toward others. But, as we look around at our society today, it seems that many are not getting the message.

Now we have politicians openly calling for and applauding the public harassment of government officials with whom they disagree. (And the last time I checked, disagreement was not a trespass.) We have individuals on both sides of the political spectrum treating their opponents like mortal enemies, heedless to the Bible’s command to “rejoice not when thine enemy falleth.” According to statistics, 20% of relationships end because of unresolved issues that leave one or both parties angry. The number of road rage incidents that end in death have increased at a rate of 7% each year; and 37% of those fatalities occur not as a result of a car crash, but as a result of the driver getting out of his car and using a weapon to attack the person he is angry with.

What many of these people don’t realize is that their disposition toward others in this matter is the same disposition that they should expect from God. Jesus said, “If ye forgive men their trespasses, then your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” This verse is self-explanatory. You can’t expect forgiveness if you won’t extend forgiveness. Forgiveness is not necessarily forgetting, reconciling, condoning, or dismissing. Forgiveness is a transaction that releases you, the one offended, from the offense. When you forgive, you are no longer bound in the grip of another person’s sin.

John MacArthur writes, “Failure to forgive will bring at least four unpleasant results for the believer. First, failure to forgive will imprison believers in their past. Second, unforgiveness produces bitterness. Third, unforgiveness gives Satan an open door. Fourth, unforgiveness hinders fellowship with God. A person who forgives has a concern for the Lord, a concern for people, a concern for fellowship, a concern for knowledge, a concern for glory, and a concern to be a blessing.”

Make a determination to be a forgiving person today. If you do so, you are setting yourself up for blessing and continued fellowship with God. You will also be setting an example in a world which desperately needs daily demonstrations of forgiveness.

One hymnist wrote:

Christ the Lord our debt has paid—

All our sins on Him were laid;

We like Him should try to live,

Always ready to forgive!

——-

Now, if you are with us today and you do not know Jesus Christ as your Savior, allow me to show you how you can place your faith and trust in Him for Salvation from sin and Hell.

First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Now that is bad news, but here’s the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will.

Romans 10:9 & 13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, and you want to trust Him for your Salvation today, please pray with me this simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. I am sorry for my sins, and today I choose to turn from my sins. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. I trust Jesus Christ as my Savior and I choose to follow Him as Lord from this day forward. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.

If you believed in your heart that Jesus Christ died on the Cross, was buried, and rose again, allow me to say, congratulations on doing the most important thing in life and that is accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour! For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door”. Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”

If you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior today, please email me at dw3@gospellightsociety.com and let us know. There is some free material that we want to send you. If you have a prayer request, please e-mail that to us as well, and we will pray for you until you tell us to stop.

God loves you. We love you. And may God bless you.