WHEN WILL JESUS RETURN

WHEN WILL JESUS RETURN
One thing’s for sure, lots of folks don’t think it will be any time soon. Have you noticed how few make it to worship services? I used to say to people, tomorrow is Sunday, where would you like to be if Jesus returned then? Without exception they would say “In Church.” This revealed several things, they didn’t know what the Bible teaches. Like, those who are “born again” are the Church. We’ve become part of the “world wide” Body of Christ. We are like tiny bits of Jesus and one day we’ll be welcomed in Heaven. Those not “in Him” will not be allowed. His offer of forgiveness and inclusion into His eternal family is still available. If you haven‘t been included, God says, “Today is the day of salvation“. Make it yours, OK?

Jesus told His disciples that only the Father knows when the end times will come. Lets remember, we who “have” Jesus will one day simply disappear in a flash. You need to read First Thessalonians 4:13-18 carefully and slowly so the Lord can impress upon you His Words. There are some who think that this upward call to glory will happen before the horrible tribulation, some during it and some after it occurs but all believe it will happen and it’s clear who will be included. First, the dead “in Christ” and then we who are alive [in Christ] will be taken up. Notice it doesn’t say those who believe in Him. One thing for sure you don’t want to be here when the tribulation time arrives.

Becoming born again is the only way we can enter into God’s promise of eternal life. No amount of religion, works or supposed “goodness” can accomplish it. Becoming born again is so important that Jesus said we MUST BE to even see the Kingdom of God. Born again means the Spirit of God is alive in us and leading us to do the works that God prepared before hand. It’s a shame that billions don’t understand this and yet say, “I’m a Christian.” They’ve been led to believe that since they are a member of a denomination and/or have made a proclamation it was enough to be saved.

I did all that myself and was still as lost as a goose in a snow storm. Until I came to understand that Jesus was hanging on the cross for me personally there wasn’t anyway I was willing to surrender my life to Him. When I did I died to my will [I’m still at it], and asked God to forgive me for my numerous sins. The effect of His forgiveness still lingers as I melted before the Lord. When I asked Jesus to come into my heart it was the most wonderful day in my life.

I literally experienced forgiveness where tons of guilt left in a single second. Never had I ever felt so wonderful. That night the Holy Spirit came to my bed and anointed me. I felt a “ripple like” motion began at my toes, it rushed up to my lips and a language called the “language of angels” began to flow. I knew it was a flow of praise for God’s goodness to me. For the last 39 years this gift has allowed me to communicate with my Heavenly Father on a level my mind isn’t capable.

All born again Christians should seek this Baptism in the Holy Spirit. It’s promised in Luke 3:16 and you can see it’s effect in the Book of Acts. The Baptism is given to help us witness. “When the Holy Spirit comes “upon” you shall be my witnesses etc.” Witnessing isn’t difficult if we’ve experienced “something”. It’s like seeing two automobiles collide at an intersection and giving the police a witness report. If you didn‘t see what happened, only heard a noise, your testimony wouldn’t be of much use. Nothing is more important for a Christian than to be in a wreck. When you and the Lord collide, I guarantee the results will be positive. You will discover He has such a great plan for your life. There isn’t any way you would believe it even if He were to tell you.

I discovered how to access His plan after He led me to use Ephesians 2:10 as the basis for a daily commitment and I’ve used it for somewhere about 35 years now. My life has been full of joy as I’ve seen and experienced the Lord do things that I still rejoice over. For instance, a woman was crying at the altar rail when I asked why, then she told me she had a bad heart and was going back to Atlanta for an operation and was so afraid. I told her, Jesus can heal hearts, would she like me to pray for her. She uttered a tearful “yes”. Then I simply said, “Lord Jesus, thank you for healing her heart.”

About a month later she and her husband returned to Destin. After the worship service she came up to me and said, “The doctors were so excited, they couldn’t find a thing wrong with my heart.” I can’t tell you how much joy this brought me. Jesus is also our Healer, Amen? I believe He’s coming back soon, do you? If you do, prepare by becoming born again right away.

In His Service,

Capt. Ben Marler


captben61@gmail.com captben61.blogspot.com
　

THE OREO MARRIAGE

THE OREO MARRIAGE

One night while in Montana I asked the Lord to help me write a tribute to my wife Joan. At once He said, “Oreo Cookie”. This stunned me and for a moment I had to think; what in the world does this mean? Then the following words began to flow from my heart.

If you were to ask most Christians to judge their marriage, and they were honest, they would say that it is far less than what they expected. There is a reason for this and this short message will reveal the reason and also provided a way to make it extra special just as promised. First, lets rate your marriage with the following scale.

1. It is perfect and could not be better.

2. It is great but not perfect.

3. It is very good but has room for improvement.

4. It is OK but is in need of some serious help soon.

5. We are struggling, holding on for the sake of the children.

6. We are holding on but not sure how much longer.

7. It is definitely not good and needs counseling.

8. We are starting to seriously not like each other.

9. Our communication is generally hurtful going both ways.

10. It is really over. We are staying together for economic reasons only.

When we stand before God and make a lifetime commitment to join our lives into one, He takes us seriously. We should understand the primary reason for Holy Matrimony is to “procreate” or to continue the work of God by bringing little children into the world for Him to love. Perhaps this wasn’t your primary purpose at the time but after a while it should be.

I am now a grandparent with five wonderful grandchildren. I could not have them except for the mercy of a Great God who blessed my wife and I with two very special daughters long ago. I believe Joan and I have an Oreo marriage. This was not possible in the beginning as I wasn’t saved. Joan met Jesus in a personal way after our daughters were born. Now she wasn‘t the problem, I was. I had a strong dose of religion and not much else.

Six weeks after she met Jesus I surrendered my life to Him. All at once I could love her with the same unconditional love I was now enjoying from her. It was like my eyes were now open and I could see what a wonderful gift she was to me. Now, don’t get me wrong here, I didn’t turn into the perfect husband overnight and am still along ways from my goal to be the best husband I can be for her, but I’m trying.

If you examine an Oreo cookie you can see what happened to us. The two cookies represented us. We tended to rub each other wrong which tended to make us less understanding and patient. I must admit that most of the time it was my fault due to a false sense of pride. I had much to be thankful but due to my lack of an intimate relationship with my God I was unable to express it being arrogant and selfish.

The sweet stuff in the Oreo cookie represents Jesus. Now that we were now born again of His Spirit, we have the very presence of the Holy Spirit to cushion and heal our relationship. The only thing that can make an Oreo cookie better is more sweet stuff. The same is true for a Christian marriage. As we die to our own desires and seek God’s will for our lives He will not disappoint us. He will continue to fill our lives with more of Himself turning them into a daily delight for us and for Him.

Joan and I will celebrate our 43rd anniversary on June the third. I can assure you, God gave me the best wife in the whole world and I tell her often. The love of Jesus flows from this precious wife. She makes me want to be better as I experience her love that continues to grow for me. God has promised us to bring us to Heaven and allow us a special relationship that will never end.

I know in my heart we will explore the cosmos together and serve our God along with all of our family members forever. I’m sure they will be there as I have asked Him to bring them into a saving knowledge of Him before they die. He is an expert in answering this prayer and what He is doing for us, He will do the same for you too.

To get started on your Oreo marriage, you must surrender all that you are or ever hope to be. There is a special prayer at the end of this message to help you. Then you should purchase some Oreo cookies. When you are having a disagreement give one to your spouse as he or she leaves for work or wherever they are going. Then you set a specific time that is practical and tell them you are going to sit down with Jesus and gently eat your cookie while telling Him how much you love and appreciate your spouse.

As you nibble on your cookie ask God to bless him or her with His very best blessings. Hopefully your spouse will be doing the same thing at that moment. I can assure you that before the prayer is finished you will be looking forward to seeing each other. Jesus has a special interest in your relationship and wants to make it truly GREAT. You and I know He can accomplish this. Isn’t this true? Go ahead and give Him the opportunity, what do you have to lose?

In His Service,

Capt. Ben Marler


Captben61@hotmail.com
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I admit to you I am a sinner and I need you to save my soul. You died on a cross for me shedding your Blood that can wash me clean as new snow. I want to be washed as I am ashamed of my past. I know the Father raised you from the dead and that you will raise me. I want to receive you into my life as my Lord where I can serve you.

Lord please lead me to a church that has a pastor who can help me grow in our relationship and where I can serve you with all my heart. Lord please place a true hunger within me to read from the Bible and give me revelation as I do. I love you Jesus and I always will. Thank you for saving my soul.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is now 2007 and Joan and I are only two months from our 49th wedding anniversary. Because of Jesus our love is so strong that nothing can separate us. Our Jesus is so faithful and helps us even more as our bodies crumble some like an old Oreo. His sweetness is even sweeter. Thanks to Him we now have a brand new “magnificent” grandson too. Isn’t the Lord absolutely Wonderful?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is now June 6th in 2008 and we made it to our Golden Anniversary thanks to a Great God. May He bless marriages everywhere and the children from them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is now July 16 in 2009 and we have celebrated our 51st wedding anniversary! Glory….The best part is we love each other more as we age….soon we will be in our brand new glorified permanent bodies dancing on the streets of Gold in the New Jerusalem. If no one has told you before they are about 33 years old in appearance, just like our Lord, “We shall be as He Is.” If you aren’t positive you will be there please write to me real soon….captben61@gmail.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It’s now October 30 in 2010 and Joan and I will be celebrating our 53rd this coming year, if Jesus doesn’t come and get us first. May all who read it prepare to meet Jesus as a child of God. Please check out my blog: captben61.blogspot.com PS We now have 8 grand kids and 3 are “great”, Matthew, Isaac and Ava Noel.// -Capt. Ben

　

ARE YOU LIVING IN GOD’S FAVOR

ARE YOU LIVING IN GOD’S FAVOR
If you aren’t and you are a born again child of God today can be your day. Years ago I learned how powerful the word FAVOR was when I prayed. Many times I would ask God for favor and within minutes my request was answered. When Joan and I went to Alaska, a place I had dreamed of going for a very long time, we used the word constantly and were amazed how our Heavenly Father responded so quickly.
Perhaps it was due to a daily commitment He led me to make decades ago. Ephesians 2:10 is the best verse in the Bible for doing it. He tells us that He plans our walk with Him. He prepares works “in advance” that we are to do. This verse in the form of a prayer will do wonders for any child of God. Jesus said, “If you abide in Me and My Words abide in you then ask and it shall be done for you.” I flat out love the word shall for it is definite.
Have you discovered the Lord doesn’t play around? I find Him to be extremely serious about bringing the lost to Himself. I would be too if I had given my only son to die for it. God loves us so much and many still need to know it. We are His mouth pieces here and should be telling others how we found freedom from a sinful life. Many Christians seem to live as if nothing happened to them when they “got saved”. I must wonder if they became New Creations or just received another dose of religion.
Salvation isn’t fire insurance like many want. It is an intimacy far beyond what even we who have experienced know. If we truly understood what God has given to us, we would be that city shining on a hill. We would be the salt of the earth and from our bellies would flow Living Water. I’m not speaking of every now and then but all the time. If you are a lover of God and still lacking the new birth experience tell God you want His favor.
John 1:12 was given to me long ago and I memorized it. “To as many as those who receive Him [Jesus] to them gave He the power [authority] to become the children of God, even those who believe in His Name [Jesus].
For at least a month I only wanted to share this verse for it opened my eyes as never before. I knew I had to believe in Jesus to be saved but clearly didn’t understand receiving. I do now and believe we do this by inhaling His Spirit by faith. Think about it, why did Jesus breathe on his disciples after they believed it was Him and not a ghost after His Resurrection? They began to receive His favor.
In James we are told that when we ask with wrong motives we will not receive our requests. This is something we should realize when we are praying. God’s plan for us is always far superior to anything we could want or desire. He sees all the way to the end of the age and the beginning of eternity for His children.
Actually we are living in our eternal life now. Jesus said, “I Am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me, even if he die yet shall he live. Whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.” Does this describe you? Of course you believe in Him or you wouldn’t have read this far. But are you living in Him? You are if you are born again but perhaps you aren’t yet. It was almost 33 years before I surrendered my life and I know the difference. Do not let anyone tell you it isn’t an experience. Ask those who are born again and see what they tell you. Some laughed themselves silly and some like myself, cried like a baby.
Perhaps the difference stems from the measure of sins acquired. I'm ashamed to say I had a ton of them. When the Lord washed me in His Blood it was easily the greatest time in my life. Never before had I felt such love and release of guilt. He took it from me and He will take anyone else’s who is willing to die to their old life [repent]. The result is we don’t want to do the things that brought us shame. We were now looking for others who are like us. The Holy Spirit will make sure we find each other.
God has a great plan for mankind and we can take it to them, or we can sit back and allow others to do it. The reward given to those who labor in the fields “white for harvest” is beyond calculation. We aren’t earning our salvation but the job in Heaven where we will serve God forever.
I love Him too much to sit on my rear while masses are dying daily without Jesus. I want His favor and tons of it for God has my life planned perfectly. He has yours too. Will you join with those who love God enough to serve?
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
Captben61@gmail.com

DEADLY PRESUMPTIONS

DEADLY PRESUMPTIONS

To assume anything can be very dangerous. I know for I have gotten myself into some jams when I thought I knew what I was doing but didn’t. Some of the “events” were only partially damaging but some were “whoppers”. One was my understanding that God was going to save me if I was a bit better than I was bad. I know now how foolish that was, but before 1971 it was my only hope. How little I understood the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

For anyone reading this, I trust you will learn that the Good News found in Ephesians 2:8-10 declares, “For by grace have you been saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God and not of works, less any man should boast. For we are His workmanship and created in Christ Jesus for “good works” that God Himself has prepared for us to walk in [do].”

Allow God to take you to the cross and you will see that Jesus did the work that saves mankind. He died in a horrible way for us. His Blood is full payment for all sin, including yours and mine. Once we understand this we are less apt to be presumptuous. Instead, we are so grateful we want to serve Him with our lives fully surrendered to the Holy Spirit.

The greatest of all deadly assumptions is to say, “Because I believe in Jesus I’m saved.” If that were true, every demon would be saved. Satan believes in Jesus and trembles. It’s far more than to simply admit that Jesus lived a long time ago. It’s, Jesus is God [Emmanuel] and in obedience to the Father He humbled Himself to die so mankind could be spared the coming wrath of God.

We must repent, or turn around, after coming personally to know the Love of God. We must “receive” Jesus as our Lord. John 1:12, “To as many as those who receive Him gave He the power to become the children of God, even those who believe in His Name.”

The word receive means a lot more to me than to some. I see Jesus before His disciples, after His resurrection, breathing on them so they could inhale His Spirit. Do you remember Thomas wasn’t there, but when he returned he found the disciples really excited claming Jesus had come? He didn’t believe it and his punishment was an 8 day wait living in their exuberance. That must have been very hard.


When Jesus returned He said, “Thomas put your fingers in my hands and your hand in my side.” He fell upon his knees making the most important statement of all the disciples, “My Lord and my God”. It’s more than interesting Jesus didn’t correct him. Then Jesus breathed upon Thomas so he could be “born again” too. If you’re born again you received Jesus experientially like them and became a new creature.

You’re no longer in danger of judgment and condemnation for Christ lives within you empowering you to live for Him alone. It’s presumptuous for us to think we can go on living like before. We can’t live two lives anymore and if we attempt to the Holy Spirit will correct us. If he doesn’t we’re still lost.

Salvation is a big event in our hearts and in Heaven. The angels will rejoice for another soul has been saved. The keepers of the Books are told to erase the record of our sins and to give the erasure to the Father. God then takes it and tosses it as far as east is from the west saying, “I will remember his or her sin no more.” Folks, that’s better than all the riches on earth. When we are accepted we should experience “something“. I shed a bucket of tears for I had many sins. My heart was way to filthy for Jesus to live.

One of the worse assumptions for new Christians is to think they can still drink alcohol. In a jail ministry I experienced up close what alcohol can do to a human. You might call it “lawful” to drink beer or strong drink but a deputy won’t when he stops you and smells it on your breath. The same thing goes with drugs. If anyone thinks smoking pot is OK, they should tell it to Jesus and not to me for I know it isn’t. Satan uses these things to enslave, even some born again Christians.

It’s foolish to think that you can live without food or feeding upon the scriptures. Faith comes by reading and hearing them. We can’t please God without faith. [Hebrews 11:6] So we shouldn’t assume we can be a servant without a daily discipline of reading from His Word. If you aren’t reading, try the Amplified version of the Bible and if you aren’t pleased, I’ll buy it back from you. So far no one has been willing to surrender theirs.

In His Service,

Capt. Ben Marler


captben61@gmail.com captben61.blogspot.com

THE IMPORTANCE OF EXPECTANCY

THE IMPORTANCE OF EXPECTANCY

Did you know Jesus said He’s coming like a thief in the night? A thief doesn’t give you a call and say, “I’m coming to your house tonight.” No, he comes to rob, steal and destroy like his father Satan. I bet you didn’t know that those who habitually sin, even though they might call themselves Christians, aren’t followers of Jesus. Please read First John 3 for an “eye opener”. We, who are expectant of the return of Jesus avoid sin like it’s a coiled up rattlesnake. Sin is from following the evil one instead of our Lord.

When a born again Christian sins, we have an advocate or lawyer sitting next to the Father in Heaven. Jesus Christ is the One who defends and discipline us. He said His discipline proves we belong to Him. I ask for it all the time for I know any sin “temporally” separates me from Him. Unless we understand how fowl and hateful sin is in God’s sight, we will be open to the devil’s suggestions. God knew we are going to “miss the mark” from time to time so He gave us the wonderful gift of instant cleansing. First John 1:9 is like a “get out of jail” card. We use it when we’re truly sorry for our actions and words that hurt Jesus.

I believe with all my heart that most folks attending worship services don’t expect God to do anything. Jesus said, “The things I do [miracles] you will do and even greater ones shall you do as I go to the Father that the Father might be glorified in the Son.“ For reasons known only to God we’ve either forgotten He said it or have chosen to ignore it. The result is often a congregation devoid of the joy and excitement that drew thousands to seek Jesus in His ministry. Do you recall Jesus fed 5,000 and 4,000 men not counting the women and children who came to be with Him? Why do you think they came? Was it not to see the cripples walk, the blind see, the deaf to hear? Of course it was. He even touched the lepers who were instantly cleansed and made whole and went away rejoicing.

Can it different now? Yes, but will we is the question. Why not begin to go to worship services or where Christians gather in the Name of Jesus “expectant” He will answer your prayers in a magnificent way? He has shown me He healed us the same day He saved us. When Jesus suffered death on the Cross His body was lacerated by a scourge. The many wounds from the beating left stripes on Him. Isaiah 53 and First Peter 2 tell us by them are we healed. It’s up to us to believe it.

We need to see His stripes as full “payment” for our illnesses and diseases. Even our injuries are covered by the stripes. He only requires us to believe it. Some might say, “I don’t have enough faith.“ My reply is you must have some, use what you have. You can even add the statement of the man who was pleading for his son to be delivered. “Lord, I believe but help my unbelief.“ Jesus instantly responded to this man’s honesty. He desperately wanted his child well and safe and believed on Jesus with what he had. Do you think he would have come had he not “known” Jesus would help him?

We Christians need to live in faith. Not a “Catholic” faith, “Baptist” faith, “Anglican” faith but a simple faith that God will always do what He’s said He would do. Dr. T.L. Osborn learned this and God used him all over the world “doing what Jesus did”. His book Healing the Sick is a classic. I’ve given away over a thousand copies where he teaches from the scriptures how God will heal and save those who place their trust in Jesus. How about you? Are you 100% sure you will go to Heaven when you die? I heard a preacher say, if you’re only 99% sure, you are 100% lost. Few seem to understand that with God it’s all or nothing. A child isn’t 99% born when it’s cord is cut. We aren’t 99% “born again” when we trust the death and resurrection of Jesus as our own we are 100% His.

If you aren’t born again “yet” what in the world are you waiting on? If it isn’t being preached or taught where you go, RUN for your life. You’ve been receiving a “form of religion” instead of the chance to become a brand new person. Once we repent and receive Jesus [His Spirit or Breath] we’ve become saints [holy ones or true believers]. We’re now enrolled in the Book of Life. Now, as a child of God we are able to serve Him by loving the lost and sharing our testimonies. We’ve become servants that actually serve or do something. Not just anything but as Ephesians 2:10 teaches, “doing the things that God Himself has planned beforehand.“ Are you willing to die your old life? Tell Jesus and ask Him to save your soul. He came to die so His Blood could wash you clean of our sins. He will also make you whole in body, soul and spirit. It’s up to you and no one else. I’m praying for you.

In His Service,

Capt. Ben Marler


captben61@gmail.com
captben61.blogspot.com