LOST AND FOUND

 Mark 8:31-38, Jesus began to teach his disciples that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.

 

1.       Right after the declaration by Peter that Jesus was the Christ when they were up near Caesarea Philippi.   This next incident happens.  Jesus began to teach, instruct and even warn His disciples.  Jesus is making it very plain and clear what was going to happen to Him.  There were four signs or indications of what was going to happen to Him in the future.  Jesus was preparing them for the worst and the best.

2.      So what are the four things

 

a.      As the Son of Man.  This means God’s Messiah in human form presiding over the final judgment of man.  Jesus was going to undergo great suffering.  He would be whipped, beaten, spit on and He would be reduced to human hamburger.  He would be beaten beyond recognition.  His body would be broken and His blood shed. 

b.      He would be rejected by the elders, chief priests and scribes.  The spiritual elite, religious leaders and teachers of the law would all reject Him.  Remember they were the ones who incited the crowd to call for Jesus execution.  They paid Judas, 30 pieces of silver.  They held a mock trial in the middle of the night. 

c.      He would be killed.  Jesus was preparing His disciples for what was to come.  Jesus was killed for our salvation, redemption and liberation.  It was for freedom He died so we could be set free.

d.      The after three days He would rise from the dead.  Jesus was setting the stage for what was going to happen. 

 

3.      The gospel writer makes it clear that Jesus spoke of this openly.  Jesus wasn’t hiding a thing.  That is the thing you can trust about God He will tell you openly what His will, plan and purpose are for your life.  God has given us the Bible to be our guide, compass, rule, or play book to help us navigate the complexities of life.  He has given us the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us into all truth.  It is not rocket science to follow the Lord when you live within the pages of the Bible.  Smith Wigglesworth said that a person is never fully dressed unless they carry with them the Bible.

4.      Right after Jesus talked about this Peter takes Jesus aside and rebuked him.  Rebuke means to express sharp disapproval or criticism of (someone) because of their behavior or actions.  He did not belief or want to believe this was going to happen.  Peter was going on a tirade, diatribe or pontification.  Now this happened just after he had acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ.  He could not believe that was going to happen.  This did not line up with his thinking or belief.  This is not what he signed up for.  Jesus was supposed to usher in an earthly kingdom, where they were supposed to reign with Him.  Jesus in Peter’s thinking was going to throw out the Roman rule and begin a new righteous rule.  This did not fit up with his plans.

5.      Peter did this privately but Jesus turned to all his disciples because they were all thinking the same thing.    He says to Peter, “Get behind me satan.  For you are not setting your mind on divine things but natural things.”  Did Jesus just call Peter satan?  Yes you heard right.  Here is a truth we can speak both godly and satanic things at the same time.  Man is the only creature who can do that.  We can draw from a good and bad well at the same time.  Peter was talking from his flesh not from the Spirit.  Here are ten things that Jesus died by dying, being buried and rising from the dead.  These are things the devil, the world and the flesh do not want you to know.

 

I.        Jesus gave us salvation, redemption and freedom.

II.      He destroyed the power of sin, death, hell and the grave.

III.    He destroyed the works of the devil.

IV.    Jesus’ broken body gives us healing.

V.     Jesus’ blood is the most powerful element in the universe gives us forgiveness, freedom, all the benefits of heaven and victory.

VI.    The resurrection gives us power authority, anointing enablement, wisdom clarity and boldness.

VII.  We have eternal and abundant life.

VIII. We have a new life in the Spirit with gifts and fruit.

IX.    We have armor, weapons and power in our fight in the spiritual realm.

X.      We have authority and victory over every force of hell.

 

The first part of this message is what did it cost Jesus to give us salvation, redemption, eternal and abundant life?  Plain and simple it cost Him everything.  Now the second part is what will it cost us?

 

He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

 

1.       So what is the cost of being a follower of Jesus Christ?  You will not hear this very often in a prosperity preacher’s sermon.  Wikipedia says a follower is an adherent or devotee of a particular person, cause, or activity.  In Jesus’ case it means complete and total devotion.  So here is the cost.  In dollars and cents here it is.  This is what God demands.

2.      Deny yourself, take yourself off the throne and put Jesus on.  Put your will, plans purpose destiny on hold.  Say no to you and yes to the Lord.  He is the pilot of your plane, ship or car.  If God is your co-pilot swap seats. 

3.      Take up your cross, crucified your flesh.  Render yourself dead.  It is God’s way or the highway.  You cannot live in both worlds.  It will take all of your power and God’s to live a victorious life.

4.      Follow Jesus.  Let Him be your role model, mentor and example.  He did the will of his Father and you must as well.  He love, forgave and accepted people unconditionally and you must. 

5.      Here reality those who want it their way, to save their life will lose it, to be in charge will lose it.  There is a price for personal autonomy.  Hell and eternal damnation is the price.  You cannot escape this reality except through Jesus.  Look at John Lennon, Prince, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Elvis, James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, John Kennedy the list goes on. 

6.      Those who lose their life for Christ and the sake of the gospel will save it.  Jesus is the only way, truth and life.  You get eternal and abundant life.  Jesus is the lifesaver in the storms of life.  Jesus is the only way to save your life.  Not Buddha, Krishna, Mohammad, Confucius or anyone else.  He is the only one who can save you.

What profit is it if you gain the whole world to lose your soul and your life?  In fact what can they give in return for their life?  Nothing.  Plain, simple, precise and clear.  Nothing.  No money,

 

QUOTES FOR SEPT 7, 2026

 

THE LORD IS COMPASSIONATE

 

     Today we are focusing on the second part of Psalm 111.  Ezra is using this acrostic psalm to make 22 statements about God.  It is also a psalm to help the people of his day learn the Hebrew language that had been lost because they had been in captivity in Babylon and then Persia for 70 years.  His task was to reintroduce the Hebrew language, lifestyle and religious life.   Ezra gives us seven things to remember about the Lord.

 

1.      He has caused His wonders to be remembered;  He uses His people and the pages of the Bible to do this.  The Bible is a love letter, a written account of God dealing with mankind throughout history.  The Bible is a written account of redemption.  It is a record of the character, nature and essence of God.  We get a glimpse of God because of the Bible.

 

a.      He uses science.  Science is practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment.  As mankind studies creation it points more and more to a master designer.  One policeman told me when he is in doubt all he has to do is look around.  Creation is God silent witness.

b.      He uses us to proclaim Him as creator, redeemer and love agent in our world.  We are His love letters.  We are His bibles.  Our words and deeds present Him.  Our job is to go into our world and love others.  “People may not always remember what you said but they will remember how you made them feel.” 

 

2.      The Lord is gracious, we have been saved by the gracious intervention of the Lord.  The Lord is merciful, forgiving, kind and lenient.  By grace He does not give us what we deserve.  All of that came because of the broken body, shed blood, the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  His grace gave us undeserved mercy and will lead, keep and help us no matter when and where we find ourselves.  As Christians we are to express, kindness, graciousness, being courteous, encouraging and inspirational.

 

3.      And compassionate.   This means to show sympathy and concern for others, pitying, empathetic, understanding, caring and concern.  When we love God and are healed we will in turn show true genuine love for others.  It flows out of our innermost being.  Jesus calls these rivers of living water.  Jesus showed compassion numerous times.  He often looked at people as sheep without a shepherd.  It was God’s compassion that brought about salvation and divine intervention.  Well we were yet sinners Christ died for us.  We did not go looking for Him He came looking for us. 

 

4.      He provides food for those who fear him;  Ezra, points out that God is Jehovah Jireh.  Phil 4:19, says our God will supply every need according to His riches in glory.  Jesus reminded us in the Sermon on the Mount that we do not have to worry if God can clothe the flowers of the field and feed the birds of the air He will take care of us.  Worry means you do not trust God, yourself and others.  God will take care of your needs, food, clothing, housing and transportation.  Remember the mercies of God are new every morning.  This is the day which the Lord has made so let us rejoice and be glad in it.  Live this day for the fullest it is the only one you have. 

 

5.      He remembers his covenant forever.  When God makes an agreement or promise He will keep it forever.  That why Paul could say in 2 Cor 1:20, the promises of God are yes and amen.  We may not keep our side but God will keep His.  That is why the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.  He uses us in spite of us.  Ezra pointed this out because the people had just returned to Judah.  They had been in captivity because of their sin but God was restoring them because of a covenant He had made with Abraham.  When you gave your life to Jesus Christ God made a covenant with you.  You are His we may walk away but God will not.  This promise is the foundation for 1 John 1:9, if we confess our sin He is faithful and just to forgive us.  Remember Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever.  God will be with you as He was with those in the past. 

 

6.      He has shown his people the power of his works, Ezra was telling the people to remember the power of His works.  The exodus, parting of the Red Sea, manna, the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night.  How God enabled them to take the land.  The prophets like Elijah, Elisha and Isaiah.  The judges like Gideon and Samson.  The Kings like David, Solomon and Hezekiah.  Today we have the record of the Bible with its miracles, healings, resurrections and prophecies.  He is no respecter of persons.  As His people He will do the same for all of us the secret to look and expect.

 

7.      Giving them the lands of other nations.  Ezra was reminding them that the reason they were back in Jerusalem and Judah was because God gave them back their nation.  Other people had been living there but God gave them back their promised land.  The grace of God was again extended to His covenant people.  In 1948, that happened again.  This of course has not been without opposition.  For Ezra, Zerubbabel, Joshua and Nehemiah their resettling of the land was filled with opposition.  Israel has fought five wars, numerous attacks including one this year.  God did this because of His covenant with Abraham. 

 

Conclusion:  Jesus told us to go into our world.  We have a mandate to take our world.  We have the power, enablement, authority, right and boldness to do it of course there will be opposition but we can and will win if we rely on the Lord.  I love the testimony of Paul in Thessalonica.  The people there said the men who have turned the world upside down have come to our city.  Let us turn our world upside right today. 

 

WHAT REMAINS

 

1 Corinthians 13:13

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.  (Slide 1)

Paul closes off 1 Cor 13 called the love chapter with three virtues which I am going to talk about today.

Faith is explained beautifully in Heb 11:1:   Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.   (Slide 2)

Faith is belief, trust, and loyalty to a person or thing. Christians find their security and hope in God as revealed in Jesus Christ, and say "amen" to that unique relationship to God in the Holy Spirit through love and obedience as expressed in lives of discipleship and service.  In simple terms you trust God.

I will give you two examples: Abraham left to go to Ur of Chadea's and went to Canaan.  Age the age of 75.  He and Sarah had their only child at 90 and 100.  (Slide 3)

Age ishould never keep us from doing what God has called us to do.  Moses was 80, Aaron 83, Caleb 85, Haggai 90, John wrote Revelation when he was over 90. 

My second example is when I am Lois went to the North the 1st time.  We ended up pastoring in the North 17 years.

Faith is taking God at His Word and trusting Him

Next virtue is hope.  Hope comes because you walk by faith.  Hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.   (Slide 4)

Hope means you believe you have a future.  I found in my study on this that the archiac meaning was a feeling of trust. 

Let me give you three scriptures on hope.  (Slide 5) Jer 29:11:  For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Explain

Is 40:31: but those who hope in the Lordwill renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. 

Phil 1:6:  6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  Your hope is build on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness.

The last Virtue is love.  There are four words for love in the Bible.   (Slide 6)

Phileo - Friendship

Storge - Family - I am four children and 7 grandchildren and I love them so much.  I would do anything for them.

Eros - Passionate love

Agape - Love God has for man.  Love with no strings attached.  I think the best explanation of love is found in vs 4-8 of this chapter.  (Slide 7) 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. 

I love that phrase love never fails.  Jesus put love in a practical sense.  In John 15:13, Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.  Jesus did and we live in the reality of His love everyday.  He came to give us life and with it abundance.

The exciting part is we get to repricate and live in that love moment by moment, hour by hour, day by day.  Close with when I told Lois I love her and she told me she loved me.

Faith and love are based in the Love of God.  God loves you and your faith in that love gives you hope and a future.  No matter how old or young you are. 

 

 

A MOMENT TO REMEMBER

 

When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you just keep looking at each other?” 2 He continued, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.”

 

Lesson One:  When we receive news that is life saving.  We need to not just sit there and think about it.  We need to do something about it.  There is time to think things through.  To ponder, to consider, look at the pros and cons.  Then there is news that we need to act upon.  Jacob who is the leader of his family, the chosen of God heard via most likely through the caravans or local news.  In the ancient world news came through people going and coming back from places.  Not like today where we can get news in real time, television, radio, print or internet.  There was grain in Egypt.  They had none, so he told his boys to Egypt and buy some.  This was a life and death situation.  When you know survival is on the line you do everything you can.  Yet none of the characters of this story knew God was setting things up.  This was about to be a divine moment.  In your life and mine God is always working on our behalf.  He is creating divine moments.  People we are going to meet, things that are going to happen and intersecting our lives with others.  This is where we need to trust the Lord and remember God is always working.  You are here this morning not by accident but by divine appointment to hear what I have to say.  Talk about Iraqi family coming to Canada via Syria and how I got to tell Him about Christ.

 

 

3 Then ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt. 4 But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with the others, because he was afraid that harm might come to him. 5 So Israel’s sons were among those who went to buy grain, for there was famine in the land of Canaan also.

 

Lesson Two:  Joseph’s ten brothers went down to Egypt.  It would have taken up to a week because they had to walk or go on some sort of animal.  They would also had to have taken enough supplies to get them there.  No Restaurants and few hotels in the ancient world.  Also terrain was desert and mountains so would have been a long dry trip.  Now Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother via Rachel.  Now Jacob had two wives.  Rachel and Leah.  Joseph was in love with Rachel he worked for her for seven years for her hand in marriage but on the day of the marriage, Rachel’s dad switched brides and gave Leah instead.  In those days brides wore veils and you did not know who you were marrying until afterward.  In India today grooms wear beaded veils.   Now Rachel died while giving birth to Benjamin and so you can understand Jacob fear when Joseph disappeared. Now God can use our fears, concern for divine purposes.  I have won many to Christ because of fear or concerns life.  This would set up a divine encounter designed to save Jacob and his family and to teach the boys a lesson.  So the boys went to Egypt to buy grain because the famine was in Canaan as well.  Remember this was a famine that engulfed the then known world.  God often uses natural disasters for divine purposes.  Talk about the locusts devastating Israel during time of Joel and this was used to bring a prophetic message.

 

6 Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the person who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. 7 As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. “Where do you come from?” he asked.

 

Lesson three.  Joseph was the governor of the land.  He was selling grain to all its people.  His brothers arrived and bowed their face to the ground.  Joseph recognized his brothers but they did not recognize Him.  Remember over 20 years had passed.  People change.  Also Joseph would have been dressed and looked like a Egyptian noble.  He would have makeup, a wig, a mitre or crown, fine linen, clean shaven. 

Joseph would now be in his late 30’s.  They also thought Joseph was dead.  He recognized them but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them  and asked them where they were from.  Now many think this is because all his pent up anger, frustration and unforgiveness.  I do not think this.  I think he was setting up a moment of truth.  Remember Joseph was known for his wisdom, his generosity and understanding of divine purposes.  He was probing the boys.  He wanted information.  If they knew who he was they would have been shocked and scared.  Joseph wanted to find out about his father, brother and family.  Joseph was playing the gambler.  Talk about Kenny Rogers song.  Joseph in that moment formulated a plan.  This was part of the plan.  He would play a role, this way he could get what he wanted.  He was also going to teach them a lesson.  So he came across as a harsh person.  Must have been a shock to his officials, in fact out of character for Joseph.  Joseph though was a man with a plan. 

 

“From the land of Canaan,” they replied, “to buy food.”  8 Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him. 9 Then he remembered his dreams about them.

 

Lesson Four:  They told him they were from Canaan, to buy food.  They were on a mission.  Joseph had recognized his brothers but they did not recognize Him.  Then Joseph had an epiphany.  He remembered his dreams.  The first was , We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.”  Next, the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”  It was happening.  God often gives us divine hints about the future.  Did you know there were 300 OT prophecies about the birth, life, ministry and death about Jesus Christ.  Joseph when he was a boy had these dreams.  In fact it was these dreams and his father’s favor that led up to this moment.  A little lesson is that even the bad things that happen to us can be used by God.  Joseph and the boys were having a divine moment.  Joseph knew it but his brothers did not.  Remember everything has a purpose even if we do not see it.  That is why we have to trust God, His love, grace, mercy and forgiveness.  Rom 8:28 reminds us that all things work together for good.  If you had something bad happen or good it has a divine purpose. 

LOVE YOU MOM

 

Robert Dean Steel

Cornerstone Community Church

 

Mother’s Day

 

     Well it is that time of year where we pay tribute to Mothers.  I have been married to a wonderful wife and mother named Lois for a very long time.  She has been my helpmate and friend.  She is the most godly woman I know.  She is also a wonderful mom and grandmother.  We have raised four children together and now have seven grandchildren.  Not bad for a couple who are only 39 and holding.  So to here and women like her I pay this tribute. 

     Now here are some amazing facts about mothers.  The youngest mother in recorded history is Lina Medina. She was just 5 years and 7 months old when she gave birth to a 6.5 lb. boy by caesarean section in Peru in 1939.  The oldest mother in modern history to give birth is Rajo Devi Lohan from India. She was 70 years old in 2008 when she gave birth to a baby girl following a controversial IVF treatment.  Bobbie McCaughey from Iowa gave birth to the most surviving children from a single birth. In 1997, she had the first surviving set of septuplets (4 boys and 3 girls).  The shortest interval between two births is 208 days, or 6½ months. Jayne Bleackley gave birth to a son on September 3, 1999. She later gave birth to a daughter on March 30, 2000.  There are about 2 billion moms in the world.  According to the National Retail Federation, Americans will spend about $162.94 on their mom on Mother’s Day. After Christmas, Mother’s Day is the second most popular holiday for giving gifts. There are about 122.5 million phone calls on Mother’s Day, making it one of the busiest phone days of the year.  The average age of new moms in North America today is 25 years old versus 21 years old in 1970.  On average, moms take 2 minutes 5 seconds to change a diaper, which is equivalent to about three 40-hour work weeks each year. Mothers do about 88% of laundry in the U.S. This equals 330 loads of laundry and 5,300 articles of clothing per year. The least favorite job for moms is vacuuming the stairs.

     Here are some more interesting facts about Moms.  The mom with the most kids is Mrs. Feodor Vassilyev of Russia. She gave birth to 69 children between 1725 and 1765.  The mother who gave birth to the heaviest baby was Carmelina Fedele of Italy in 1955. Her newborn weighed 22 pounds 8 oz.  An early precedent of Mother’s Day is the early Christian festival known as “Mothering Sunday,” in which the faithful would return to their mother church. Eventually, the tradition became more secular, and children would present their mothers with gifts and flowers in appreciation.

  In Canada, All mothers think their children are oaks, but the world never lacks for cabbages” said Robertson Davies (a famous Canadian author). For a mother her child remains the best and vice-versa. Mothers are respected, loved and appreciated universally for the sacrifices they make during their lifetime. Mother’s day is observed on the second Sunday of May each year. It is considered as the most popular festival of the year. On this special day, children pay tribute to their mothers and show gratitude for their constant support.  Carnations in particular are used to grace the occasion.  Today we honor the women who have been there as our support, encouragement and strength.  To all mothers reading this today, I echo the words of Solomon in Proverbs 31 and rise up to called to you blessed. 

    Here is a Mother’s Day poem.  Mom’s smiles can brighten any moment, Mom’s hugs put joy in all our days, Mom’s love will stay with us forever and touch our lives in precious ways…  The values you’ve taught, the care you’ve given, and the wonderful love you’ve shown, have enriched my life in more ways than I can count.  I Love you Mom! 

A DREAM

 

     There have been numerous accounts of dreams in the Bible.  We have Jacob seeing a ladder to heaven that affected him where he promised the Lord of tenth of all he had.  There was Pharaoh whose dream was interpreted by Joseph that led him to become Prime Minister.  There is Daniel interpreting Nebuchadnezzer’s dream.     One widely held theory about the purpose of dreams is that they help you store important memories and things you've learned, get rid of unimportant memories, and sort through complicated thoughts and feelings. Research shows that sleep helps store memories.  We know when we are asleep we are more open to the supernatural and eternal realms.  God also is able to break down our self defense walls, self reliance and sufficiency to speak to us. 

 

Make a record of repetitive dreams

 

Even if you don’t think your repeating dreams are important, they often leave lingering feelings in your heart. Don’t ignore these feelings. Instead, analyze them. Write down those feelings and descriptions of the dreams in a journal. After some time, search through your journal and see if you can find a common phrase, person or image that give you an answer to a recent (or maybe a future) prayer.

 

Pay attention to the symbolism in your dreams

 

The world is full of symbols. There are many that you probably don’t recognize, but if you look carefully, they have always been there. God often uses symbolism to give you the answers you seek. That’s why you need to write down even the most insignificant part of your dreams, because the one part could be the key to unlocking what the dream means and what God is trying to tell you.  We see this in Daniel’s visions.

 

Heed the messages you hear in your dreams

 

On more than one occasion, your dreams can reveal some important messages that, due to lack of attention or disbelief, you don’t noticed. It may be that given the simplicity or clarity of the message, it’s considered unimportant.  They can be a source of comfort and/or strength during a difficult time in your life.

 

Pray and ask

 

Just as God gives you the opportunity to communicate with him for help, comfort or counsel, he also allows you to pray to know if your dreams are answering your prayers. Asking him if that special, memorable dream that you had is part of the message that he has for you, is without doubt the most effective way to know if God is trying to tell you something.  Finally, remember that as the son or daughter of God you are, he will always seek to stay in touch with you and show you the great love he has for you.  Also ask for clarification through the Word.

 

     This last Thursday at 4:26, I woke up from a dream that has significantly impacted me.  I am going to share it with you today.  In my dream I was in a portal or doorway to eternity.  On one side was our natural realm and on the other side was eternity.  In this dream I was able to pass through the portal with people and see the other side.   On the natural side were all the familiar things of the world.  The noise pollution, pain, sorrow, sickness, disease, anxiety fear. 

     On the other side of the portal there was love, joy peace, incredible beauty.  There was no sorrow, fear, pain or sickness.  On this side of the portal or gateway was all the natural things we face on the other side none of that was there.

     I escorted people or walked with them from our natural world into the eternal.  What was amazing is that all of this happened in a moment of time.  We know from 1Thess 4, that the rapture or translation of the church happens in a moment of time.  Paul says a twinkling of an eye.  In that moment that which as 1 Cor 15:51-58 states mortal puts on immortality and that which is corruptible puts on incorruption.  In the moment of death the spirit and soul of mankind passes through the portal or doorway of eternity in their final destination.  The portal or doorway I saw was the one into heaven. 

     The amazing thing is that when we die or pass away we leave this reality of the natural realm and immediately past into the eternal realm and our final destination at this time period.  Those that I escorted and others who came into eternity we excited.  Some were actually running.  One was a father and son.  The people I saw were of all ages, nationalities, races and of both genders.  Some were old, young and all in between.  One reality I thought about later was that it may take nine months to come into this world but we could leave in a moment of time.   Each moment is precious and should be valued. 

     I escorted a friend of mine through the portal and he saw his brother who had recently passed away.  When they met the brother who was in eternity told him he was whole, complete, happy and 100% content.  My friend returned through the portal with assurance and great peace in his heart. 

     I was amazed about the reality of how we step from our natural life into eternity.  I was overwhelmed by how fragile life really is.  When God says life is over it is over and nothing we can say or do to stop it.  God gives us life, in Gen 2, the Lord breathed into Adam the breath of life and he became a living soul. 

     I have pondered this dream.  In my life I have had visons of heaven and hell.  Just shortly after I got saved in 1974, I saw the second coming of Christ before I read Matt 24 or the Book of Revelation.  I know in this dream I was able to walk into eternity with others even though I know that the Bible teaches that when a righteous person passes into eternity that angels escort them.  We saw that in Luke 16:22, with Lazarus and the rich man. 

     Here are some of lessons or things I have pondered about. 

 

1.      I know that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.  He is the one who opened the door to eternity for us.  Those who have receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior were the ones I saw coming through this portal. 

2.      Life is fragile and it can change in a moment of time.  One moment you are here the next moment in eternity.  You need to tell people in your world.  Enjoy every moment.  Don’t wait to tell people you love them.  Forgive, let go of hurt, bitterness and unforgiveness.  Don’t put off tomorrow what you can do today.  Remember you are not going to do all the things you want in life so enjoy each day and be fluid about it. 

3.      If God brings someone across your path to help, love or be a blessing do it.  We are only called to do two things.  Tell others and love them and if you are looking for opportunities there will be plenty. 

4.      Live your life ready.  The portal of eternity could happen any moment. It could be the rapture or death.  No one can even say they will last the day. 

5.      Jesus said in John 14:3, He goes to prepare a place for you.  In my vision of heaven I saw a place of light, love, colors, peace, joy, friendship, no pain, sickness, sorrow or fear.  Just perfect love, peace and incredible music.  The glimpse I saw through this portal was like that. 

6.      Those who came through the portal were excited, joyful and satisfied more than any time in their life on earth.  It was a homecoming and promotion.  That which you dreamed about, looked forward too, believed in and hope for was finally achieved.  When I walked through I was overwhelmed by the absolute love, peace, joy, freedom and victory that was on that side of eternity.  The sense of completion.  Everything was perfect.  Absolute perfection.  Everyone was complete, whole, well and recognizable.  

7.      I know the portal I saw was to heaven.  I know that Paul said to die is to gain.  Paul knew that whether he lived or died He was with the Lord.  As I reflected on this dream I also because aware that there is also a portal to a lost eternity.  We choose where we go by what we do with Jesus Christ.  This dream just double my efforts.  I share it on the morning after I had it on Am 930 the light I have also shared it on Youtube, and our different social media platforms and now I am sharing it with you. 

8.      I know we are living in the last days.  I know our world as we know it is winding down.  The age of grace is coming to an end.  That also Jesus could come at any moment.  God allowed me to see this portal in this dream and I ask Him why.  His answer was simple.  I am calling you as a herald, messenger or gate keeper.  I shared this dream with you to make you aware and challenge you to draw close to God, share Christ in your world and love those you come into contact and make the most of every moment and day.