Few Christians mention the cross when witnessing and the results are telling for not many folks are becoming born again. At least where I live few seem to be real excited about their relationship with Jesus.
Did you know that the very second you are born again you are living as an immortal? 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.“ Do you see folks acting like they are His? I hope you do but they are few and far between in this area.
Why do I say such provocative things? Well one day while driving from Alabama the Lord spoke as clear as possible to me and He told me to “Provoke them to anger, Provoke them to thoughtfulness and Provoke them to exuberant praise.“ In obedience I’m doing it again and hopefully this message will energize God’s kids to action. Did you know Love is a verb or action word? Don’t tell folks you love them without some evidence to back it up. Don’t tell Jesus you love Him without some too. The Bible tells us that faith without works is dead.
Your relationship to Jesus is based upon your devotion to Him. If you are struggling to have one, go to the cross. When looking at it allow the Holy Spirit to let you see the nails, the thorns and the spit. If you can see them, look at His body which has been beaten with a scourge. This was a brutal whip that was laced with sharp glass shards and metal which would remove bits of flesh each time it landed and was snatched back. I can’t imagine the pain each blow caused my Lord but I know why He was willing to endure it.
The Bible tells us in Isaiah 53 and in 1 Peter 2 that these blows produced bloodied stripes on Him. God tells us if we will simply look at them believing they are for us “personally” He will heal us.
Did you know that God says He gave Jesus to become sin for us but we don’t understand that fully. How could God do that to His own Son? Sin is more filthy to the Lord than the most putrid and disgraceful manure. When Jesus accepted it He was becoming our Savior. He endured the hatefulness being cast at Him for six hours bearing our sins, paying for them. Once this sinks in there isn’t anyway we want to sin again. I know I hurt Him deeply when I sinned. I would rather die than shame Jesus again for He paid a huge price for me.
How about you, do you know that He died for you too? Had Jesus not endured the cross not one person could be saved. We like to think that folks like Billy Graham could make it on his own but like us he was born a sinner. Our sin nature can be traced back to Adam and Eve’s sin when they disobeyed God. His one command was for their own good. He created them innocent as a dove but Satan was allowed to tempt them and they fell. Did you know the tempter said, “Did God say…..?” He is still up to his old tricks. If he can make us doubt God’s promises we are putty in his filthy hands. We don’t have to follow him for God “in us” is greater by far.
Do you have difficulty getting into worship? Some folks seem enraptured during worship services and others are “just there”. I’m not sure there’s a middle ground. I hope this message will alert you to the fact that worship is our privilege and not a right. Did you know that our songs of praise enter into the Throne Room when we are in the spirit? Jesus said that God seeks worshipers who worship in spirit and in truth for God is Spirit. Do you know what that means? God the Father is everywhere all the time.
Jesus came and was born to Mary by the Holy Spirit. He became an embryo and was implanted by the Holy Spirit in Mary as she offered herself as the hand maiden of the Lord. When He was born all of creation was blessed and millions of angels rejoiced at His birth. Did you know the Bible tells us they rejoice over every sinners rebirth? They know that the horrible beating and excruciating pain he suffered wasn’t for nothing. Within the majority of humans there are but a few who are submitting to His Lordship. Oh, lots of folks want Him as their Savior but it doesn’t work that way. He becomes our Savior on Judgment Day. Right now we are to follow Him as Lord.
If you can see Him on the cross this won’t be a problem for you. It hasn’t been for me for I’m one who was forgiven “much”. If you were as bad as I was you won’t have any trouble loving Jesus either for we’re God’s adopted children and heaven bound now. Let’s tell everyone what Amazing Grace is all about since we’ve experienced it. Everyone needs to hear our testimony of how Jesus died for us so we can be whole in body, soul and spirit.
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com
Friday, April 2, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
EXPLODING SCRIPTURES
You may be filled with “ammo” and it isn’t doing you a bit of good. Did you know that during the civil war some soldiers loaded their rifles over and over and never fired them? This was like building a bomb for the charges and bullets were loaded at the muzzle. They were so frightened they never placed a percussion cap on the nipple so they could shoot at the enemy. Doesn’t this sound familiar with Christians? They live in Church from childhood and have tons of stars after their names from good attendance. They even became champions in “Sword drills” where they learned the location and names of the Books in the Bible and yet never once confronted someone in an attempt to lead them to Christ.
The difference in the two illustrations is the Christian would have still been standing. The first man would have soon been in a box with a preacher saying nice things about him. Have you ever noticed folks don’t tell the truth at funerals? It’s as if every person was an absolute saint when the opposite was the truth. By the way, do you know what makes one a saint? It occurs the instant you come to the place where you confess your sins to God, admitting them with remorse, and appealing for forgiveness. Then He adopts you, making you one of His kids, a saint. Are you surprised?
In some denominations they feel they can make you one after you have been examined by a group of “experts” who decided that something you did was “worthy” of sainthood. Folks, don’t buy into this for it can become a barrier to you. Salvation is simple and is of God. No one can make us saints regardless if we even raise the dead “In Jesus Name”. If you recall, some folks will say to Jesus on Judgment Day, “But Lord, we cast out demons in your Name etc”. Then He will say, “I never knew you.” This is undoubtedly the worse words in all of scripture. This message should help you to avoid Jesus saying them to you.
Remember, the Word of God [Bible] was “God breathed” upon authors chosen by God. You can look up the facts about it and you’ll be amazed how God did this. My advice is never argue with it. I recall years ago when I was reading 10 chapters a day very early in the mornings, before going to the pier, I read the account of Jesus feeding the 4000 with seven loaves of bread and a few fish. All at once in my mind I said, who counted them? Then loudly the Holy Spirit said, “I did”. I sure didn’t do it again.
I’ve learned that He never expects me to understand it all but He does require me to believe it. Now lets discuss this for a minute. We were given an intellect and it’s located in our brain. Our brain is an incredibly complex organ that man will still be exploring it’s secrets decades from now. With it and our fantastic gift of sight or hearing we “learn” the scriptures and store them. This is actually like a hopper from where the scriptures drop into our heart where decisions are really made. The fact that they’re there doesn’t mean they are effective. It’s when they are “fired” or used can they explode.
One of my favorite stories is when Peter and John were on their way to the Temple they encountered a cripple who was begging for money. “Peter said look at us. We don’t have any silver or gold but what we have we give you, in the Name of Jesus stand up and walk.” This man was expectant but didn’t have a clue that the Name of Jesus would give him total health. He then went with them leaping and jumping into the Temple praising God. [Acts 2] When Peter and John were with Jesus they learned the power in His Name and used it. The results got them and the cripple in trouble with the religious leaders. The same thing will happen today so get prepared for it.
When God is at work the scriptures are alive and active and will do mighty things including the works of Jesus. He said we would and I believe Him and have acted accordingly. Because of this, I’ve seen great and mighty things. Through the decades of writing I’ve revealed many of them. If we meet somewhere ask me and I will share them with you. Or better yet, if you’re sick and want me to pray for you, I will in Jesus Name. God loves to honor our faith, which by the way, He gave us for that purpose. If He has given you faith use it or lose it. There are many in the church who are sitting in pews with only fumes in their tanks, their fuel has evaporated.
The Power of God is concealed in His Words. Each one is loaded as if with dynamite. Surrender your life each morning [Eph. 2:10] and begin to serve God in His Power. I love it!
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com
The difference in the two illustrations is the Christian would have still been standing. The first man would have soon been in a box with a preacher saying nice things about him. Have you ever noticed folks don’t tell the truth at funerals? It’s as if every person was an absolute saint when the opposite was the truth. By the way, do you know what makes one a saint? It occurs the instant you come to the place where you confess your sins to God, admitting them with remorse, and appealing for forgiveness. Then He adopts you, making you one of His kids, a saint. Are you surprised?
In some denominations they feel they can make you one after you have been examined by a group of “experts” who decided that something you did was “worthy” of sainthood. Folks, don’t buy into this for it can become a barrier to you. Salvation is simple and is of God. No one can make us saints regardless if we even raise the dead “In Jesus Name”. If you recall, some folks will say to Jesus on Judgment Day, “But Lord, we cast out demons in your Name etc”. Then He will say, “I never knew you.” This is undoubtedly the worse words in all of scripture. This message should help you to avoid Jesus saying them to you.
Remember, the Word of God [Bible] was “God breathed” upon authors chosen by God. You can look up the facts about it and you’ll be amazed how God did this. My advice is never argue with it. I recall years ago when I was reading 10 chapters a day very early in the mornings, before going to the pier, I read the account of Jesus feeding the 4000 with seven loaves of bread and a few fish. All at once in my mind I said, who counted them? Then loudly the Holy Spirit said, “I did”. I sure didn’t do it again.
I’ve learned that He never expects me to understand it all but He does require me to believe it. Now lets discuss this for a minute. We were given an intellect and it’s located in our brain. Our brain is an incredibly complex organ that man will still be exploring it’s secrets decades from now. With it and our fantastic gift of sight or hearing we “learn” the scriptures and store them. This is actually like a hopper from where the scriptures drop into our heart where decisions are really made. The fact that they’re there doesn’t mean they are effective. It’s when they are “fired” or used can they explode.
One of my favorite stories is when Peter and John were on their way to the Temple they encountered a cripple who was begging for money. “Peter said look at us. We don’t have any silver or gold but what we have we give you, in the Name of Jesus stand up and walk.” This man was expectant but didn’t have a clue that the Name of Jesus would give him total health. He then went with them leaping and jumping into the Temple praising God. [Acts 2] When Peter and John were with Jesus they learned the power in His Name and used it. The results got them and the cripple in trouble with the religious leaders. The same thing will happen today so get prepared for it.
When God is at work the scriptures are alive and active and will do mighty things including the works of Jesus. He said we would and I believe Him and have acted accordingly. Because of this, I’ve seen great and mighty things. Through the decades of writing I’ve revealed many of them. If we meet somewhere ask me and I will share them with you. Or better yet, if you’re sick and want me to pray for you, I will in Jesus Name. God loves to honor our faith, which by the way, He gave us for that purpose. If He has given you faith use it or lose it. There are many in the church who are sitting in pews with only fumes in their tanks, their fuel has evaporated.
The Power of God is concealed in His Words. Each one is loaded as if with dynamite. Surrender your life each morning [Eph. 2:10] and begin to serve God in His Power. I love it!
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
WHY DOES GOD LOVE US
You may be the meanest person you know and have done things that you are so ashamed of but trust me in this, God never stopped loving you. He is Agape or unconditional love. He created you from the “ingredients” supplied from your mom and dad. When they united He began to knit you together in her womb and the first thing He told you was, I LOVE YOU! He didn’t whisper it either. With great joy He embraced you in His love and gave you everything you needed to survive outside the womb. While in there He watched over you as you began to come to the image of God Himself.
Even if your parents wanted you with all their hearts and even prayed long and hard for you to arrive you were always God’s idea. Hold on to this truth so the world can not steal you from Him. As you know by now Satan runs this world and we are like pawns between him and God the Lord. Satan will use every trick in the book to deceive you. He is a liar, thief, murderer and accuser who wants you dead. He has been very successful and the vast majority of people born have died and are facing judgment. I can make you a promise you won’t be with them if you care to believe Jesus came to die for you. When you fall in love with Him and receive Him into your heart [life] you have become an immortal. His Life in you is eternal and now you are too.
There is a cost that I’ve discovered. First and most important we must give up this life to have His. No one can live two lives with God. Many try and fail for Jesus can’t be your Lord until He is inside you. You can try and follow Him but you will fail over and over until you must give up. Jesus doesn’t come to us to argue. He is Emmanuel or GOD WITH US. Until we understand this we will be subject to every religious spirit that comes our way. In Romans 8 God tells us, “The sons of God are those who follow the Spirit of God.“ From experience permit me to tell you, until He is the Lord of your life you can’t follow Him.
The Word of God tells us that God doesn’t share His Glory with anyone. He is Almighty God and millions and millions of angels are at the Throne worshipping Him all the time. He isn’t someone to ignore or dismiss as “The man upstairs.” He has also told us that He won’t strive with man forever. He has a plan for everything and this includes our life but He will not force us to love Him which really means “obey Him”.
Hopefully with this settled allow me to tell you something that most Christians don’t know. God has a divine plan for your life and it is beyond your wildest imagination in scope. God loves us so much He allows us to do the things He can do by simply speaking them. He wants us to be just like Jesus as strange as that may sound. If that is in your heart too then there is a time coming when He will say to you, “Well done my good and faithful servant, enter now into the joy of your Master.“ Matthew 25
His love grows and grows for us as we walk in obedience with Him. Do you recall how He said, “David is a man after my own heart for he wants to do my will”? You may recall God had David anointed by the prophet Samuel so that God’s power would rest upon him. When Goliath stood there cursing David he was also cursing the Lord. When the stone left the sling it went right between his eyes knocking him to the ground. God didn’t need David to knock him down but he was lifting David up before the whole army of Israel. When David took Goliath’s sword and took off his head it was for our benefit. The devil is God’s enemy and with the sword of the Holy Spirit [the scriptures] we can also take down Satan.
God loves us so much we have a written record of His will in the Bible. In America we have millions that have never been opened. Until we open ours and begin to feast upon it we can not inwardly digest it. Once inside us the mighty things of God are not only possible but a sure thing. I have some testimonies to back this up. Will you allow God to use you? If you will then go to the Bible for instructions. As you do the Love of God will come over and within you to flow out like a river of life to a world that needs a refreshing drink of Jesus. Will you do it? If you won’t, prepare to give God a very good reason why you didn’t. He will still love you but I’m not sure he will be real happy. Let’s live daily to make Him smile at us. OK?
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
Captben61@gmail.com
Even if your parents wanted you with all their hearts and even prayed long and hard for you to arrive you were always God’s idea. Hold on to this truth so the world can not steal you from Him. As you know by now Satan runs this world and we are like pawns between him and God the Lord. Satan will use every trick in the book to deceive you. He is a liar, thief, murderer and accuser who wants you dead. He has been very successful and the vast majority of people born have died and are facing judgment. I can make you a promise you won’t be with them if you care to believe Jesus came to die for you. When you fall in love with Him and receive Him into your heart [life] you have become an immortal. His Life in you is eternal and now you are too.
There is a cost that I’ve discovered. First and most important we must give up this life to have His. No one can live two lives with God. Many try and fail for Jesus can’t be your Lord until He is inside you. You can try and follow Him but you will fail over and over until you must give up. Jesus doesn’t come to us to argue. He is Emmanuel or GOD WITH US. Until we understand this we will be subject to every religious spirit that comes our way. In Romans 8 God tells us, “The sons of God are those who follow the Spirit of God.“ From experience permit me to tell you, until He is the Lord of your life you can’t follow Him.
The Word of God tells us that God doesn’t share His Glory with anyone. He is Almighty God and millions and millions of angels are at the Throne worshipping Him all the time. He isn’t someone to ignore or dismiss as “The man upstairs.” He has also told us that He won’t strive with man forever. He has a plan for everything and this includes our life but He will not force us to love Him which really means “obey Him”.
Hopefully with this settled allow me to tell you something that most Christians don’t know. God has a divine plan for your life and it is beyond your wildest imagination in scope. God loves us so much He allows us to do the things He can do by simply speaking them. He wants us to be just like Jesus as strange as that may sound. If that is in your heart too then there is a time coming when He will say to you, “Well done my good and faithful servant, enter now into the joy of your Master.“ Matthew 25
His love grows and grows for us as we walk in obedience with Him. Do you recall how He said, “David is a man after my own heart for he wants to do my will”? You may recall God had David anointed by the prophet Samuel so that God’s power would rest upon him. When Goliath stood there cursing David he was also cursing the Lord. When the stone left the sling it went right between his eyes knocking him to the ground. God didn’t need David to knock him down but he was lifting David up before the whole army of Israel. When David took Goliath’s sword and took off his head it was for our benefit. The devil is God’s enemy and with the sword of the Holy Spirit [the scriptures] we can also take down Satan.
God loves us so much we have a written record of His will in the Bible. In America we have millions that have never been opened. Until we open ours and begin to feast upon it we can not inwardly digest it. Once inside us the mighty things of God are not only possible but a sure thing. I have some testimonies to back this up. Will you allow God to use you? If you will then go to the Bible for instructions. As you do the Love of God will come over and within you to flow out like a river of life to a world that needs a refreshing drink of Jesus. Will you do it? If you won’t, prepare to give God a very good reason why you didn’t. He will still love you but I’m not sure he will be real happy. Let’s live daily to make Him smile at us. OK?
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
Captben61@gmail.com
Thursday, March 18, 2010
GOD WANTS TO GIVE YOU A CHECK BOOK
How would you like a check book on an unlimited account with permission to draw from it at will? Let me assure you one exists but few seem to know about it. I believe the Lord has just revealed something that every born again Christian should know about. So sit down and enjoy what you are about to read for it can change your life forever. If you are sick or miserable read on and discover the greatest of all gifts, God‘s love.
Jesus went to the cross in obedience to Father God so we could be saved, healed and delivered. God is in charge and what He wants is done. Jesus knew that the experience would be horrible and ended up praying, if possible it would be removed. Then, as the Father comforted Him He said, “Not My will but Yours be done.” Even at 12 Jesus knew who He was and that He had come to do the Father’s business.
He had humbled Himself to be born to Mary and to be raised by Joseph in the Jewish traditions and the Mosaic Law. For us to understand this we must read the Old Testament. Jesus came to fulfill the Law and He did. He alone was perfect and would become the Savior of the world.
Before He was nailed to the cross the Romans beat Him nearly to death with a hateful scourge that removed parts of His flesh with each blow. If you haven’t seen the Passion of the Christ movie by Mel Gibson you should see it for it gives us a picture of just how horrible Jesus suffered that we might be and stay well. In Isaiah chapter 53 we read about how the stripes would take away sickness and disease. This prophecy is confirmed and restated in First Peter 2 who actually saw Jesus after He was beaten. The wounds bled profusely for God wanted us well. Until you understand this you are subject to illness and disease. Psalm 104 also tells us to not forget it.
When Jesus forgave His executioners and fellow Jews who were taunting Him, He defeated Satan too. We should understand that the devil has absolutely no power over us the second we are born again. “Greater is He [Holy Spirit] that is in you than he [the devil] who is in the world.” The only time we can be led by his demonic spirits is when we submit to them. Because God knows we might sin He gave us 1st John 1:9 a definite memory verse. Are you one who still sins even though you are saved? You don’t have to anymore but if you do, use this verse as it is a “get out of trouble” verse. I hate to use it but will in a heart beat when necessary.
What God wants us to understand is everything we need, salvation, healing and deliverance is in the account mentioned in the beginning. Consider it as dollars to be a trillion times a trillion. Every person saved, healed and delivered should realize “by our faith” it’s “already done.” If you are suffering an illness now, consider that the payment for it has been paid. You don’t need healing you need to accept the fact that by looking at the stripes God is making you whole. This is very foreign to most Christians because it hasn’t been taught. Most think we have to go pray up to heaven to have it. Faith says it is ours already just as the same amount of faith tells us that the death and resurrection of Jesus brings us eternal life. Once this solidifies in your heart God can use you the way He did Jesus. He will use you!
Do you recall Jesus sent His 70 disciples out two by two and they returned so excited saying, “Even the demons are subject to us.” Jesus said He had seen Satan fall like stars but to not get excited about it but that their names were in the Book of Life. They weren’t yet saved but He was looking into the future and saw them in it. Jesus had to suffer and die and be resurrected before anyone could be born again. When He breathed the Holy Spirit upon His disciples [when they finally believed] and “received Him” Paul’s words are understood, “The mystery hidden from the ages is Christ [Holy Spirit] within you the hope of glory.“ They were the first to be born again.
Are you born again? Have you repented and gone to the Father in brokenness? He will forgive you in a second for He wants to. He loves you more than you will ever know. Then you must “receive” Jesus just as His first disciples. Why would he treat us differently? Did you notice the Holy Spirit came upon these ’saved’ disciples some 50 days later? Don’t say you are baptized in the Holy Spirit until He comes upon you. Sure He is in you but when He comes upon you then you have POWER to be His witness. Read Luke 3:16 and ask Jesus to anoint you with His Power.
If you’ve done the above ask God for your checkbook. Use Ephesians 2:10 as a commitment verse and start writing checks. Everyone of them will be honored by God. Just remember nothing trumps obedience. Jesus proved it.
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com
Jesus went to the cross in obedience to Father God so we could be saved, healed and delivered. God is in charge and what He wants is done. Jesus knew that the experience would be horrible and ended up praying, if possible it would be removed. Then, as the Father comforted Him He said, “Not My will but Yours be done.” Even at 12 Jesus knew who He was and that He had come to do the Father’s business.
He had humbled Himself to be born to Mary and to be raised by Joseph in the Jewish traditions and the Mosaic Law. For us to understand this we must read the Old Testament. Jesus came to fulfill the Law and He did. He alone was perfect and would become the Savior of the world.
Before He was nailed to the cross the Romans beat Him nearly to death with a hateful scourge that removed parts of His flesh with each blow. If you haven’t seen the Passion of the Christ movie by Mel Gibson you should see it for it gives us a picture of just how horrible Jesus suffered that we might be and stay well. In Isaiah chapter 53 we read about how the stripes would take away sickness and disease. This prophecy is confirmed and restated in First Peter 2 who actually saw Jesus after He was beaten. The wounds bled profusely for God wanted us well. Until you understand this you are subject to illness and disease. Psalm 104 also tells us to not forget it.
When Jesus forgave His executioners and fellow Jews who were taunting Him, He defeated Satan too. We should understand that the devil has absolutely no power over us the second we are born again. “Greater is He [Holy Spirit] that is in you than he [the devil] who is in the world.” The only time we can be led by his demonic spirits is when we submit to them. Because God knows we might sin He gave us 1st John 1:9 a definite memory verse. Are you one who still sins even though you are saved? You don’t have to anymore but if you do, use this verse as it is a “get out of trouble” verse. I hate to use it but will in a heart beat when necessary.
What God wants us to understand is everything we need, salvation, healing and deliverance is in the account mentioned in the beginning. Consider it as dollars to be a trillion times a trillion. Every person saved, healed and delivered should realize “by our faith” it’s “already done.” If you are suffering an illness now, consider that the payment for it has been paid. You don’t need healing you need to accept the fact that by looking at the stripes God is making you whole. This is very foreign to most Christians because it hasn’t been taught. Most think we have to go pray up to heaven to have it. Faith says it is ours already just as the same amount of faith tells us that the death and resurrection of Jesus brings us eternal life. Once this solidifies in your heart God can use you the way He did Jesus. He will use you!
Do you recall Jesus sent His 70 disciples out two by two and they returned so excited saying, “Even the demons are subject to us.” Jesus said He had seen Satan fall like stars but to not get excited about it but that their names were in the Book of Life. They weren’t yet saved but He was looking into the future and saw them in it. Jesus had to suffer and die and be resurrected before anyone could be born again. When He breathed the Holy Spirit upon His disciples [when they finally believed] and “received Him” Paul’s words are understood, “The mystery hidden from the ages is Christ [Holy Spirit] within you the hope of glory.“ They were the first to be born again.
Are you born again? Have you repented and gone to the Father in brokenness? He will forgive you in a second for He wants to. He loves you more than you will ever know. Then you must “receive” Jesus just as His first disciples. Why would he treat us differently? Did you notice the Holy Spirit came upon these ’saved’ disciples some 50 days later? Don’t say you are baptized in the Holy Spirit until He comes upon you. Sure He is in you but when He comes upon you then you have POWER to be His witness. Read Luke 3:16 and ask Jesus to anoint you with His Power.
If you’ve done the above ask God for your checkbook. Use Ephesians 2:10 as a commitment verse and start writing checks. Everyone of them will be honored by God. Just remember nothing trumps obedience. Jesus proved it.
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com
GOD AND THE FATHER LODE
Every prospector who risked his life in the wild and dangerous areas of the world had a single goal, to find gold, silver or other precious metals and become rich. History tells us only a few ever did but they all held to a confidence they were only a shovel or pick axe away from the “mother lode”. They reasoned that when they found it, they would be fixed for life and would never have to spend another day seeking riches. The sad thing is many who found their “pot of gold” ended up wasting it on women and strong drink. Some lost everything to card sharks and con artists.
The message here is for those who are seeking riches beyond their wildest dreams, and it exists. God has prepared a city for us where the very streets are paved with pure gold. We don’t have to labor to have our place within it for Jesus took our sins to Calvary where He hung on a rugged cross dying for us in order to make us rich. His Blood spilling from His wounds were the full payment for the sins of the whole world. Your sins and mine were heaped upon Him as He became sin for us. How we respond to this Truth determines where we will go at our death.
Let me assure you, no church or religion can give it to you. This may sound strange but the Truth is, only Jesus is Life. He is eternal Life. He is the Father Lode we must discover and to cling. There’s an interesting verse that always helps me to stay on course and it will help you too. “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.”
When Jesus spoke these words he was standing just outside the tomb where Lazarus had been buried four days earlier. When He told them to remove the stone blocking the entrance Martha objected, But Lord, he stinks now. Jesus knew better, and when it was removed, He said “Lazarus, come forth.” When he did, there was a gasp from the onlookers as he walked out still wrapped in the burial linens. Jesus said, Remove the cloth and free him.
Lazarus wasn’t the only one to be raised by Jesus. He raised up the daughter of Jarus, the leader of the synagogue. What’s interesting, the “professional” mourners were laughing at Jesus until this “dead” girl came walking out of the room. Then there is the raising of the widow’s only son, as he was being carried to the cemetery. It is my favorites because the Bible says, Jesus was moved by compassion. When he stopped the procession and gave back this mom’s son He gave her the only “old age security” she had.
How about you, are you compassionate? If you are, I suspect you know Him or you are very close to knowing Him. This is the Eureka discovery of all riches, coming to know Jesus. For nearly 33 years I knew about Him but had never surrendered my life completely to Him. This kept me on the trail but I wasn’t in fellowship. By amazing grace I found Him on May 23rd in 1971 and it became my second birthday. Thank you Lord!
Do you want the Father Lode? Please don’t say you have it until you can give a testimony of being born again. Many don’t like this term for it they don’t understand it. You can’t have Him inside you until you are dead inside to your own will. No one can live two lives. Consider this, Judas lived very close to Jesus for about 3 years eating what He ate, sleeping where he slept, listening to the teachings and never came to know Jesus. His lack of trust and obedience in the end caused him to betray Jesus.
Did you know that in the end times many will deny Jesus? Jesus warned us and said, “He who denies me before man, in this sinful and adulterous generation, in no way will I acknowledge him before the Father and His holy angels.” Do you believe Him? Are you witnessing as to why you love Jesus? Do you recall the two great commandments? We are to love the Lord our God with all of our hearts, souls, minds and strength. And equal to it, to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Folks, the love He demands is material. Please read Matthew 25 today and you can see it.
God has shown me His love is a verb or action word. When we truly understand this, we’ve struck the Father Lode. He said, “Give and it shall be given to you packed down even spilling out of your cup into your lap.” God loves through us and no one else. Are you His child? Are you a giver? If you are, prepare to dance upon the streets of gold in the New Jerusalem. Angels will move out of our way as we celebrate Jesus forever and ever with shouts of joy and praise. I can’t wait! Maranatha! [Come quickly Lord Jesus.]
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com
The message here is for those who are seeking riches beyond their wildest dreams, and it exists. God has prepared a city for us where the very streets are paved with pure gold. We don’t have to labor to have our place within it for Jesus took our sins to Calvary where He hung on a rugged cross dying for us in order to make us rich. His Blood spilling from His wounds were the full payment for the sins of the whole world. Your sins and mine were heaped upon Him as He became sin for us. How we respond to this Truth determines where we will go at our death.
Let me assure you, no church or religion can give it to you. This may sound strange but the Truth is, only Jesus is Life. He is eternal Life. He is the Father Lode we must discover and to cling. There’s an interesting verse that always helps me to stay on course and it will help you too. “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.”
When Jesus spoke these words he was standing just outside the tomb where Lazarus had been buried four days earlier. When He told them to remove the stone blocking the entrance Martha objected, But Lord, he stinks now. Jesus knew better, and when it was removed, He said “Lazarus, come forth.” When he did, there was a gasp from the onlookers as he walked out still wrapped in the burial linens. Jesus said, Remove the cloth and free him.
Lazarus wasn’t the only one to be raised by Jesus. He raised up the daughter of Jarus, the leader of the synagogue. What’s interesting, the “professional” mourners were laughing at Jesus until this “dead” girl came walking out of the room. Then there is the raising of the widow’s only son, as he was being carried to the cemetery. It is my favorites because the Bible says, Jesus was moved by compassion. When he stopped the procession and gave back this mom’s son He gave her the only “old age security” she had.
How about you, are you compassionate? If you are, I suspect you know Him or you are very close to knowing Him. This is the Eureka discovery of all riches, coming to know Jesus. For nearly 33 years I knew about Him but had never surrendered my life completely to Him. This kept me on the trail but I wasn’t in fellowship. By amazing grace I found Him on May 23rd in 1971 and it became my second birthday. Thank you Lord!
Do you want the Father Lode? Please don’t say you have it until you can give a testimony of being born again. Many don’t like this term for it they don’t understand it. You can’t have Him inside you until you are dead inside to your own will. No one can live two lives. Consider this, Judas lived very close to Jesus for about 3 years eating what He ate, sleeping where he slept, listening to the teachings and never came to know Jesus. His lack of trust and obedience in the end caused him to betray Jesus.
Did you know that in the end times many will deny Jesus? Jesus warned us and said, “He who denies me before man, in this sinful and adulterous generation, in no way will I acknowledge him before the Father and His holy angels.” Do you believe Him? Are you witnessing as to why you love Jesus? Do you recall the two great commandments? We are to love the Lord our God with all of our hearts, souls, minds and strength. And equal to it, to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Folks, the love He demands is material. Please read Matthew 25 today and you can see it.
God has shown me His love is a verb or action word. When we truly understand this, we’ve struck the Father Lode. He said, “Give and it shall be given to you packed down even spilling out of your cup into your lap.” God loves through us and no one else. Are you His child? Are you a giver? If you are, prepare to dance upon the streets of gold in the New Jerusalem. Angels will move out of our way as we celebrate Jesus forever and ever with shouts of joy and praise. I can’t wait! Maranatha! [Come quickly Lord Jesus.]
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com
Thursday, March 11, 2010
THE WILL OF GOD ISN’T A MYSTERY
Are you one who struggles with God’s goodness? I would bet you have questioned, perhaps only in your mind, without verbalizing it, “Why did God allow this to happen, especially since He’s a Good God.“ If you say you haven’t, I’ll say you aren’t honest or you are growing senile. There is so much that happens around us that is troubling. Like why does God allow a child to have cancer and die? One thing for sure, the God I love didn’t give cancer to the child nor to anyone else. God is so Good He gave His Son Jesus to be nearly beaten to death at the hands of Roman soldier so we can be healed from all sicknesses but few believe it.
If we believed the Bible, like we say we do, every congregation would have healing services at the beginning of the meeting. Then we would spend the rest of the time praising God for His goodness. How anyone can apply the faith destroying phrase “If it be Thy will” to any prayer for healing is a mystery to me. In Isaiah 53 and in 1st Peter 2 God plainly says, “By His stripes are we [were we] healed.” Jesus is definitely the Great Physician who healed “all who came to Him.” He was moved by compassion something definitely missing in most churches today. How we can look at illnesses as “God caused” is beyond my ability to understand it, especially coming from someone who claims to be a follower of Christ.
Do you think that the folks going to Hell at Judgment are going there because God doesn’t love them? If you do, please read the Bible. God gave Jesus to die so His Blood could remove the sins of the whole world. Do you understand that while Jesus was dying, hanging on cruel nails, His dripping Blood was sufficient to remove the stain of sin from everyone ever born? Jesus is God. The angel announced to Mary her son would be called Emmanuel or God with us. God’s love is immense and beyond our ability to comprehend and only when we begin to serve Him, by reaching out to the lost and needy, can we even begin to understand. If you’re a selfish Christian you’ll never know God. He said for us to give and then the memory of our gifts will be laid up in Heaven where rust and moth can’t corrupt it. He also said thieves couldn’t break in and steal it either. Is that what we are doing? I sure hope so.
God’s will is revealed by prayerfully reading the scriptures to see what Jesus did. He said that He was only doing the Father’s will. He said we would do even more, all for the Glory of God. Do you believe that?
The problem is really a failure for us to understand the anointing of the Holy Spirit which is available to all “born again” Christians. Jesus was baptized by John in obedience to the Father where John could see and report that He saw the Holy Spirit come upon Jesus as a dove. God didn’t have to do it this way but His will is for all of us to have the anointing too. [Luke 3:16]
In Acts 2 we learn that when this power comes upon us we are enabled as witnesses. What in the world is that? Just folks who’ve experienced the mercy of a loving God. It’s called Amazing Grace and is available to everyone. For God to allow anyone to be born without the ability to become saved would cause Him to not be Good. If we Christians realized this one thing we would be offering Jesus constantly, as led by the Holy Spirit, to those who need Him. Have you ever wondered why God left you here after being born again? If you have ask Him and allow Him to tell you to share the simple Gospel. Don’t be confused by denominational bias for it’s robbed billions from coming to know Jesus. I meet folks often who are “turned off” from God’s love because they’ve never experienced it. What most encountered was a “man made” dogma which is millions of miles from the simple Gospel.
We need only to respond to God’s offer and surrender our all to Him. We can’t give Him part of our life for if we do He could only give us part of Himself something that’s not His will. It is all or nothing and until we understand this, we will suffer under religion and it’s ugliness. Did you know in most communities the pastors don’t have fellowship on a regular basis? Some never have it for they’re too busy dividing the fields white for harvest. They are staking out their part before the “opposition” gets them. How this must grieve the Lord who died for us to become one.
If you haven’t read John 17 please do it today. Read it real slow while understanding Jesus was about to go to His death for His disciples. How much He wanted them to be One just as He and the Father were one. Do you think we are one in Jesus? We aren’t one in Him in our own church fellowships. One day when we meet Him He will address this with us.
Surrender everything you have to Jesus today and escape what’s coming.
In His service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com
If we believed the Bible, like we say we do, every congregation would have healing services at the beginning of the meeting. Then we would spend the rest of the time praising God for His goodness. How anyone can apply the faith destroying phrase “If it be Thy will” to any prayer for healing is a mystery to me. In Isaiah 53 and in 1st Peter 2 God plainly says, “By His stripes are we [were we] healed.” Jesus is definitely the Great Physician who healed “all who came to Him.” He was moved by compassion something definitely missing in most churches today. How we can look at illnesses as “God caused” is beyond my ability to understand it, especially coming from someone who claims to be a follower of Christ.
Do you think that the folks going to Hell at Judgment are going there because God doesn’t love them? If you do, please read the Bible. God gave Jesus to die so His Blood could remove the sins of the whole world. Do you understand that while Jesus was dying, hanging on cruel nails, His dripping Blood was sufficient to remove the stain of sin from everyone ever born? Jesus is God. The angel announced to Mary her son would be called Emmanuel or God with us. God’s love is immense and beyond our ability to comprehend and only when we begin to serve Him, by reaching out to the lost and needy, can we even begin to understand. If you’re a selfish Christian you’ll never know God. He said for us to give and then the memory of our gifts will be laid up in Heaven where rust and moth can’t corrupt it. He also said thieves couldn’t break in and steal it either. Is that what we are doing? I sure hope so.
God’s will is revealed by prayerfully reading the scriptures to see what Jesus did. He said that He was only doing the Father’s will. He said we would do even more, all for the Glory of God. Do you believe that?
The problem is really a failure for us to understand the anointing of the Holy Spirit which is available to all “born again” Christians. Jesus was baptized by John in obedience to the Father where John could see and report that He saw the Holy Spirit come upon Jesus as a dove. God didn’t have to do it this way but His will is for all of us to have the anointing too. [Luke 3:16]
In Acts 2 we learn that when this power comes upon us we are enabled as witnesses. What in the world is that? Just folks who’ve experienced the mercy of a loving God. It’s called Amazing Grace and is available to everyone. For God to allow anyone to be born without the ability to become saved would cause Him to not be Good. If we Christians realized this one thing we would be offering Jesus constantly, as led by the Holy Spirit, to those who need Him. Have you ever wondered why God left you here after being born again? If you have ask Him and allow Him to tell you to share the simple Gospel. Don’t be confused by denominational bias for it’s robbed billions from coming to know Jesus. I meet folks often who are “turned off” from God’s love because they’ve never experienced it. What most encountered was a “man made” dogma which is millions of miles from the simple Gospel.
We need only to respond to God’s offer and surrender our all to Him. We can’t give Him part of our life for if we do He could only give us part of Himself something that’s not His will. It is all or nothing and until we understand this, we will suffer under religion and it’s ugliness. Did you know in most communities the pastors don’t have fellowship on a regular basis? Some never have it for they’re too busy dividing the fields white for harvest. They are staking out their part before the “opposition” gets them. How this must grieve the Lord who died for us to become one.
If you haven’t read John 17 please do it today. Read it real slow while understanding Jesus was about to go to His death for His disciples. How much He wanted them to be One just as He and the Father were one. Do you think we are one in Jesus? We aren’t one in Him in our own church fellowships. One day when we meet Him He will address this with us.
Surrender everything you have to Jesus today and escape what’s coming.
In His service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com
ZERO CHRISTIANITY
ZERO CHRISTIANITY
Fasten your seat belt when you read this message for it’s going to be quite a ride. I’m convinced the majority of folks who claim to be Christians aren’t even close to being one. If you want to know what’s a real Christian, look at Jesus. He’s the Only One we’re to follow. He gave up Himself to be murdered on a cross, spilling His Blood for us. No one else has even come close in loving us. He alone is our Savior and we should love Him a bit more each day. If we can, real Christianity is being formed within us. Out of our bellies will flow His love to refresh the world.
Do you recall we only have two commandments? These two covered the 10 God gave to Moses for the Israelites as they left Egypt for the promised land. If you recall not only could they not keep them but the religious leaders continually added more rules. The 10 were perfect and didn’t need any “improvement”. Even today anyone following them will do well. The only problem following the rules, you still can’t make it to Heaven. God doesn’t want any braggarts as pride is the most hateful thing in His sight.
He’s made it possible to live a brand new life beginning now if we would simply accept by faith that Jesus loves us. He proved it by taking our sins upon Himself as He hung upon His cross. Until we can see them there, we will accept a “Christian” religion, a lousy substitute for the intimacy God’s offering. Today’s “Christian religion” is Zero Christianity.
It’s a worthless exercise unless we’re doing what Jesus said, “to take care of widows and orphans in their need and keep ourselves unstained from this world“. How many folks do you personally know who’re doing it? Perhaps the better question would be, are you doing it? Now don’t get unset for I’m not saying we are earning our salvation, Jesus did that. I am saying “faith without works is dead.“ The key thing here is we are to do the works planned by God for us. [Eph. 2:10] Did you know Jesus said, “The things I do are the things I see the Father doing.” Jesus could see through the Father’s eyes and we can too, if we’re born again. I suspect most don’t understand this term so please allow me to explain it to you.
The moment we repent, having come to the conclusion we are sinners, understanding that Jesus suffered horribly for us, can we come to God humbly asking forgiveness. In His faithfulness, He not only forgives us but He forgets our sins too. Then He has the record of them erased from the Books to be opened on Judgment day. We are now as clean as new snow. At last we can invite Jesus to come into our hearts [life] as Lord and we become born again. Of course He’s our Savior too and we’ll discover this when He tells the Father on Judgment Day that we’re His. As our Savior we are protected from God’s wrath. It’s going to be poured out on everyone who has refused to accept the free gift of eternal life by faith in Jesus.
I hope and pray you’ll go to God in prayer and ask Him to remove every speck of religion that’s in you. By this I mean all of your understanding that you must do work to gain His love and acceptance. He has things for us to do that will bring Him great joy. We know it does for while doing them we are blessed with joy. On one occasion after doing some of His business He gave me far too much. I was as drunk as if I had spent the whole night drinking. I drove home all over the road in my little VW. I’m grateful there wasn’t a deputy near by for I would have been taken to jail for sure.
These experiences confirmed to me I’m His servant. One day He will say “Ben, well done my good and faithful servant, enter now into the joy of your Master.” [Matthew 25] I meet Christians all the time who are wondering if they’re going to Heaven when they die. When I’d asked they would say, “I hope so.” If you’re one of them please take heart God has Heaven prepared for you and all who are born again.
The Holy Spirit is within us and who could be more welcome in Heaven than the Holy Spirit? Rejoice daily if God has allowed you to see Jesus dying in your place. If He hasn’t [yet], pray and pray until He does. One day while ministering to two women He allowed me to see the crucifixion in a vision. That day I fell in love with Jesus as I melted in tears.
It’s up to us as to where we’ll spend eternity. My prayer is that all who reads this message will surrender their life to Jesus, receiving Him as Lord if they haven‘t already done so. [John 1:12] This is a good memory verse.
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com
Fasten your seat belt when you read this message for it’s going to be quite a ride. I’m convinced the majority of folks who claim to be Christians aren’t even close to being one. If you want to know what’s a real Christian, look at Jesus. He’s the Only One we’re to follow. He gave up Himself to be murdered on a cross, spilling His Blood for us. No one else has even come close in loving us. He alone is our Savior and we should love Him a bit more each day. If we can, real Christianity is being formed within us. Out of our bellies will flow His love to refresh the world.
Do you recall we only have two commandments? These two covered the 10 God gave to Moses for the Israelites as they left Egypt for the promised land. If you recall not only could they not keep them but the religious leaders continually added more rules. The 10 were perfect and didn’t need any “improvement”. Even today anyone following them will do well. The only problem following the rules, you still can’t make it to Heaven. God doesn’t want any braggarts as pride is the most hateful thing in His sight.
He’s made it possible to live a brand new life beginning now if we would simply accept by faith that Jesus loves us. He proved it by taking our sins upon Himself as He hung upon His cross. Until we can see them there, we will accept a “Christian” religion, a lousy substitute for the intimacy God’s offering. Today’s “Christian religion” is Zero Christianity.
It’s a worthless exercise unless we’re doing what Jesus said, “to take care of widows and orphans in their need and keep ourselves unstained from this world“. How many folks do you personally know who’re doing it? Perhaps the better question would be, are you doing it? Now don’t get unset for I’m not saying we are earning our salvation, Jesus did that. I am saying “faith without works is dead.“ The key thing here is we are to do the works planned by God for us. [Eph. 2:10] Did you know Jesus said, “The things I do are the things I see the Father doing.” Jesus could see through the Father’s eyes and we can too, if we’re born again. I suspect most don’t understand this term so please allow me to explain it to you.
The moment we repent, having come to the conclusion we are sinners, understanding that Jesus suffered horribly for us, can we come to God humbly asking forgiveness. In His faithfulness, He not only forgives us but He forgets our sins too. Then He has the record of them erased from the Books to be opened on Judgment day. We are now as clean as new snow. At last we can invite Jesus to come into our hearts [life] as Lord and we become born again. Of course He’s our Savior too and we’ll discover this when He tells the Father on Judgment Day that we’re His. As our Savior we are protected from God’s wrath. It’s going to be poured out on everyone who has refused to accept the free gift of eternal life by faith in Jesus.
I hope and pray you’ll go to God in prayer and ask Him to remove every speck of religion that’s in you. By this I mean all of your understanding that you must do work to gain His love and acceptance. He has things for us to do that will bring Him great joy. We know it does for while doing them we are blessed with joy. On one occasion after doing some of His business He gave me far too much. I was as drunk as if I had spent the whole night drinking. I drove home all over the road in my little VW. I’m grateful there wasn’t a deputy near by for I would have been taken to jail for sure.
These experiences confirmed to me I’m His servant. One day He will say “Ben, well done my good and faithful servant, enter now into the joy of your Master.” [Matthew 25] I meet Christians all the time who are wondering if they’re going to Heaven when they die. When I’d asked they would say, “I hope so.” If you’re one of them please take heart God has Heaven prepared for you and all who are born again.
The Holy Spirit is within us and who could be more welcome in Heaven than the Holy Spirit? Rejoice daily if God has allowed you to see Jesus dying in your place. If He hasn’t [yet], pray and pray until He does. One day while ministering to two women He allowed me to see the crucifixion in a vision. That day I fell in love with Jesus as I melted in tears.
It’s up to us as to where we’ll spend eternity. My prayer is that all who reads this message will surrender their life to Jesus, receiving Him as Lord if they haven‘t already done so. [John 1:12] This is a good memory verse.
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com
Monday, March 8, 2010
DO YOU WANT TO LIVE IN HEAVEN?
This isn’t a trick question but a very serious attempt to allow you to see there’s one thing that can definitely have you on the outside looking in. I believe nothing offends the Lord more than our unwillingness to forgive those who have hurt us. It’s in the Lord’s prayer, “Father forgive me as I forgive those who have “trespassed” against me.” That word trespassed can cover a lot of ground. Some folks think their injury is worth killing the one who did it. The cemeteries have people interred in them who were killed by folks who allowed a grudge to reach the breaking point. Many are husbands who take their anger against a wife who for one reason or another has wronged them. A few men have also been done in by angry wives.
The bottom line, God is a forgiver and insists that His children [none of us are adults in His sight] be one too. Do you recall the famous Words of Jesus as He died on the cross, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.“ He’s our example and God is using His life to raise us up to be like Him. So, make your decision right now, don’t put it off, are you going to forgive those who have hurt you? The reason you must is not one of us has a guarantee of another day on earth. At any time we could be “in the news” where we lost our life due to an automobile accident, act of violence or just the result of running out of time. The Bible tells us, “There’s a day to be born and a day to die.” I believe it is predetermined by God Himself.
I will never forget the day my Dad left for Heaven. We were in a meeting a few hours earlier where words were spoken in opposition to a development in Destin which I didn’t want. My dad didn’t say much but he ended his comments with these words, “If I’ve said anything here today to offend anyone may God forgive me.“ He hadn’t, in my mind, said anything for which he needed forgiveness but he was speaking his heart to a group who needed to hear the words. A few hours later while eating in a restaurant with some of the folks leading the meeting God said, “Ben, come up here.“
He suffered a major heart attack, and to help my Mom cope who was sitting next to him, a medical doctor dining at the next table instantly began CPR but to no avail. The fact he was there assured her later that there wasn’t a thing anyone could have done to save her sweetheart.
She was so upset that God hadn’t taken her at the same time with my dad she was angry with Him for six months. I kept telling her, Mother you can’t get away with this, you must forgive the Lord. She finally did but it was a hard go for her as she and my dad were very much one in many ways. I also told her that the reason she was still here, she wasn’t finished. God had much for her to do and he gave her an extra 25 years to do it. I’m so grateful for she and I ran the family business as a team during this time.
I can only imagine what the reunion with my dad must have been like when God said, “Cleo, come up here.“ I was in the room when Jesus came for her and have written about it. Again, God in His faithfulness kept His promise to her as He does to everyone who places their full trust in Him.
Do you want God to say your name and then add “come up here”? If you do, make sure that today you seek His face and ask Him who you are holding something against. Please don’t say you aren’t, every human being ever born, has at one time or another been guilty of unforgiveness. When the Holy Spirit reminds you of an incident or person, thank Him. It‘s a huge gift for now you can humbly ask God to forgive you for holding onto to something that only Satan was glad about.
It isn’t necessary for us to tell the person that we’ve forgiven them but it sure would be a loving gesture to send them a card telling them that you love them and let them figure out why you have. If they ask, you can simply say, “God is cleaning me up for Heaven.” Do you recall the Bible tells us that the Bride of Christ [all born again Christians] will be without spot or blemish? I like to use 1 John 1:9 when I’ve done something, or failed to do something, which makes my Heavenly Father unhappy with me.
Hopefully you won’t dismiss these words as something for someone else, for if you do, I believe I’m going to miss your company in Heaven. Just remember, no wrong done to us now is worth standing in fire forever and ever. God doesn’t play games yet some do it. Always be very serious when you go to God. Tell Him how much you love Him and want to serve Him now and throughout eternity. You will put a beautiful smile on His lovely face. Do it right now, OK? And let’s get to work doing His business.
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com
The bottom line, God is a forgiver and insists that His children [none of us are adults in His sight] be one too. Do you recall the famous Words of Jesus as He died on the cross, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.“ He’s our example and God is using His life to raise us up to be like Him. So, make your decision right now, don’t put it off, are you going to forgive those who have hurt you? The reason you must is not one of us has a guarantee of another day on earth. At any time we could be “in the news” where we lost our life due to an automobile accident, act of violence or just the result of running out of time. The Bible tells us, “There’s a day to be born and a day to die.” I believe it is predetermined by God Himself.
I will never forget the day my Dad left for Heaven. We were in a meeting a few hours earlier where words were spoken in opposition to a development in Destin which I didn’t want. My dad didn’t say much but he ended his comments with these words, “If I’ve said anything here today to offend anyone may God forgive me.“ He hadn’t, in my mind, said anything for which he needed forgiveness but he was speaking his heart to a group who needed to hear the words. A few hours later while eating in a restaurant with some of the folks leading the meeting God said, “Ben, come up here.“
He suffered a major heart attack, and to help my Mom cope who was sitting next to him, a medical doctor dining at the next table instantly began CPR but to no avail. The fact he was there assured her later that there wasn’t a thing anyone could have done to save her sweetheart.
She was so upset that God hadn’t taken her at the same time with my dad she was angry with Him for six months. I kept telling her, Mother you can’t get away with this, you must forgive the Lord. She finally did but it was a hard go for her as she and my dad were very much one in many ways. I also told her that the reason she was still here, she wasn’t finished. God had much for her to do and he gave her an extra 25 years to do it. I’m so grateful for she and I ran the family business as a team during this time.
I can only imagine what the reunion with my dad must have been like when God said, “Cleo, come up here.“ I was in the room when Jesus came for her and have written about it. Again, God in His faithfulness kept His promise to her as He does to everyone who places their full trust in Him.
Do you want God to say your name and then add “come up here”? If you do, make sure that today you seek His face and ask Him who you are holding something against. Please don’t say you aren’t, every human being ever born, has at one time or another been guilty of unforgiveness. When the Holy Spirit reminds you of an incident or person, thank Him. It‘s a huge gift for now you can humbly ask God to forgive you for holding onto to something that only Satan was glad about.
It isn’t necessary for us to tell the person that we’ve forgiven them but it sure would be a loving gesture to send them a card telling them that you love them and let them figure out why you have. If they ask, you can simply say, “God is cleaning me up for Heaven.” Do you recall the Bible tells us that the Bride of Christ [all born again Christians] will be without spot or blemish? I like to use 1 John 1:9 when I’ve done something, or failed to do something, which makes my Heavenly Father unhappy with me.
Hopefully you won’t dismiss these words as something for someone else, for if you do, I believe I’m going to miss your company in Heaven. Just remember, no wrong done to us now is worth standing in fire forever and ever. God doesn’t play games yet some do it. Always be very serious when you go to God. Tell Him how much you love Him and want to serve Him now and throughout eternity. You will put a beautiful smile on His lovely face. Do it right now, OK? And let’s get to work doing His business.
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
IS AMERICA DOOMED?
I believe it is and we Christians can take credit for it. Before you get angry with me please allow me to explain. We who have Jesus have the keys to everything God intends for the human race. He created it and wants it to be His eternal family. From the beginning we have been the target of an adversary who is cunning and devilish. His name is Satan. Before that name was given to him he was Lucifer one of the angels created by God. He wasn’t an “everyday” kind of angel but actually the most beautiful of all. We are told in the scriptures he led the angels in praise of God.
He fell when his pride convinced him that he could take God’s place. A war followed with God’s faithful angels overcoming those follow Lucifer. God, for reasons of His own, cast him down to earth. We first see him in the Garden of Eden where he successfully tempts Eve to eat of the fruit forbidden by God. This fruit was capable of giving mankind the knowledge of good and evil as God said. Until she and Adam ate of it they were as innocent as doves. Most of us have read or had read to us the Bible where we see the results of their sin. We are still suffering for it as their descendents.
God had a plan for bringing a number of us into a relationship which would never end. To do it began with a man by the name of Abraham. This man believed God and obeyed Him to the point of placing his only son on an altar for a sacrifice. God allowed it to the point the knife was raised to end Isaac’s life. This was a scene that later would be displayed on a cross at Jerusalem. Jesus died their as the sacrificial Lamb. As He died His Blood was spilled for us. This ultimate sacrifice by Jesus is Love in the highest degree. When we surrender our lives to Him He takes it and washes us as clean as new snow. Now forgiven and included in the family we are to go out and make disciples for Him. We haven’t done it. We have sat on chairs and pews while our ears have been tickled with a religious feather.
Because of our failings Satan has raised up a family far larger who are bent on killing not only God’s children but anyone who gets in their way. Our prisons are filled with murderers and some are being released to let more in due to lack of space. Gangs roaming America now kill at will with little to stop them. Drugs are used everywhere including in the homes of the people who claim to be Christians. While using they do things that shame God and make a mockery of their statements of “Loving the Lord”. Yes we are watching the downfall of America and few seem to know what to do next.
I can tell you and it is not an option. We who have Jesus must become Jesus centered and filled with the Holy Spirit. Jesus told us He was the True Vine and we are the branches. As we live in Him doing the will of God fruit will appear on the branches that can win the lost to Him.
This fruit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, longsuffering, temperance and faithfulness. Just as an apple tree doesn’t have to strain to make apples appear neither do we have to stress out doing the works of God as revealed by the fruit. It is a matter of simply living for God under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Every good thing that happens occurs because He is in us. It is Jesus who is bringing glory to the Father. We are just the temple of the Holy Spirit. If we allow ourselves to get religious we will fail in the same way some trees bear fruit and some don’t. We must stay under the rain of God and do all that we do to please Him.
If enough of us were to do this a great revival would sweep America. Our children and grandchildren would be the main beneficiaries for the love of God would cover and protect them from the evil one. It is time to start and tomorrow is too late. Do you want to be one who “saves” America? Tell God and allow Him to lead you into a relationship with His Son Jesus. He will do that for He loves you and cares more than you will ever know.
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com
He fell when his pride convinced him that he could take God’s place. A war followed with God’s faithful angels overcoming those follow Lucifer. God, for reasons of His own, cast him down to earth. We first see him in the Garden of Eden where he successfully tempts Eve to eat of the fruit forbidden by God. This fruit was capable of giving mankind the knowledge of good and evil as God said. Until she and Adam ate of it they were as innocent as doves. Most of us have read or had read to us the Bible where we see the results of their sin. We are still suffering for it as their descendents.
God had a plan for bringing a number of us into a relationship which would never end. To do it began with a man by the name of Abraham. This man believed God and obeyed Him to the point of placing his only son on an altar for a sacrifice. God allowed it to the point the knife was raised to end Isaac’s life. This was a scene that later would be displayed on a cross at Jerusalem. Jesus died their as the sacrificial Lamb. As He died His Blood was spilled for us. This ultimate sacrifice by Jesus is Love in the highest degree. When we surrender our lives to Him He takes it and washes us as clean as new snow. Now forgiven and included in the family we are to go out and make disciples for Him. We haven’t done it. We have sat on chairs and pews while our ears have been tickled with a religious feather.
Because of our failings Satan has raised up a family far larger who are bent on killing not only God’s children but anyone who gets in their way. Our prisons are filled with murderers and some are being released to let more in due to lack of space. Gangs roaming America now kill at will with little to stop them. Drugs are used everywhere including in the homes of the people who claim to be Christians. While using they do things that shame God and make a mockery of their statements of “Loving the Lord”. Yes we are watching the downfall of America and few seem to know what to do next.
I can tell you and it is not an option. We who have Jesus must become Jesus centered and filled with the Holy Spirit. Jesus told us He was the True Vine and we are the branches. As we live in Him doing the will of God fruit will appear on the branches that can win the lost to Him.
This fruit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, longsuffering, temperance and faithfulness. Just as an apple tree doesn’t have to strain to make apples appear neither do we have to stress out doing the works of God as revealed by the fruit. It is a matter of simply living for God under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Every good thing that happens occurs because He is in us. It is Jesus who is bringing glory to the Father. We are just the temple of the Holy Spirit. If we allow ourselves to get religious we will fail in the same way some trees bear fruit and some don’t. We must stay under the rain of God and do all that we do to please Him.
If enough of us were to do this a great revival would sweep America. Our children and grandchildren would be the main beneficiaries for the love of God would cover and protect them from the evil one. It is time to start and tomorrow is too late. Do you want to be one who “saves” America? Tell God and allow Him to lead you into a relationship with His Son Jesus. He will do that for He loves you and cares more than you will ever know.
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com
IS AMERICA DOOMED?
I believe it is and we Christians can take credit for it. Before you get angry with me please allow me to explain. We who have Jesus have the keys to everything God intends for the human race. He created it and wants it to be His eternal family. From the beginning we have been the target of an adversary who is cunning and devilish. His name is Satan. Before that name was given to him he was Lucifer one of the angels created by God. He wasn’t an “everyday” kind of angel but actually the most beautiful of all. We are told in the scriptures he led the angels in praise of God.
He fell when his pride convinced him that he could take God’s place. A war followed with God’s faithful angels overcoming those follow Lucifer. God, for reasons of His own, cast him down to earth. We first see him in the Garden of Eden where he successfully tempts Eve to eat of the fruit forbidden by God. This fruit was capable of giving mankind the knowledge of good and evil as God said. Until she and Adam ate of it they were as innocent as doves. Most of us have read or had read to us the Bible where we see the results of their sin. We are still suffering for it as their descendents.
God had a plan for bringing a number of us into a relationship which would never end. To do it began with a man by the name of Abraham. This man believed God and obeyed Him to the point of placing his only son on an altar for a sacrifice. God allowed it to the point the knife was raised to end Isaac’s life. This was a scene that later would be displayed on a cross at Jerusalem. Jesus died their as the sacrificial Lamb. As He died His Blood was spilled for us. This ultimate sacrifice by Jesus is Love in the highest degree. When we surrender our lives to Him He takes it and washes us as clean as new snow. Now forgiven and included in the family we are to go out and make disciples for Him. We haven’t done it. We have sat on chairs and pews while our ears have been tickled with a religious feather.
Because of our failings Satan has raised up a family far larger who are bent on killing not only God’s children but anyone who gets in their way. Our prisons are filled with murderers and some are being released to let more in due to lack of space. Gangs roaming America now kill at will with little to stop them. Drugs are used everywhere including in the homes of the people who claim to be Christians. While using they do things that shame God and make a mockery of their statements of “Loving the Lord”. Yes we are watching the downfall of America and few seem to know what to do next.
I can tell you and it is not an option. We who have Jesus must become Jesus centered and filled with the Holy Spirit. Jesus told us He was the True Vine and we are the branches. As we live in Him doing the will of God fruit will appear on the branches that can win the lost to Him.
This fruit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, longsuffering, temperance and faithfulness. Just as an apple tree doesn’t have to strain to make apples appear neither do we have to stress out doing the works of God as revealed by the fruit. It is a matter of simply living for God under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Every good thing that happens occurs because He is in us. It is Jesus who is bringing glory to the Father. We are just the temple of the Holy Spirit. If we allow ourselves to get religious we will fail in the same way some trees bear fruit and some don’t. We must stay under the rain of God and do all that we do to please Him.
If enough of us were to do this a great revival would sweep America. Our children and grandchildren would be the main beneficiaries for the love of God would cover and protect them from the evil one. It is time to start and tomorrow is too late. Do you want to be one who “saves” America? Tell God and allow Him to lead you into a relationship with His Son Jesus. He will do that for He loves you and cares more than you will ever know.
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com
Thursday, February 11, 2010
TENSIONS ARE RISING
I consider the word SHALOM as one of the most powerful words in the Bible. This is the word the Lord spoke to His disciples when they were so discouraged and fearing for their lives. They had followed Him for about three years as He walked all over the Promised Land. Even though they had seem great miracles by Him there was an uncertainty within their hearts. We can see this right after Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. They scattered like a covey of quail. Only Peter followed the crowd to see what would happen to Jesus. And he denied knowing Jesus three times.
Do you recall Jesus had told Peter Satan had demanded to sift him like wheat but He had prayed for him and after he returned [from denial] he would be able to strength his brothers? All of this happened and it is for our good that it did. Jesus prayed for us too. You can read it in the “Priestly” prayer in John 17 where He asked the Father to keep the disciples as one and not only them but all of us who would believe upon Him. Please read this chapter today and you will be extremely blessed.
Jesus promised to never leave nor forsake us and you and I must believe it. We can experience His Presence when we say the word Shalom. He said that His peace isn’t like that in the world [which is temporary] but His peace passes all understanding. What He’s saying is we are in Him by being born again and need not fear anything. As we speak Shalom to others or ourselves it should reminds us of His promises.
Do you recall Him saying, “No one can snatch us out of the hand of the Father? If you have died to your life and surrendered it to Jesus as your Lord, God has adopted you. Your name has been added to the “small” Book of Life. This is like a registration of our new birth certificates. The Bible says if our name isn’t in it we will be cast into the lake of fire.
So to live safely in the coming storms there isn’t any thing more important than becoming born again. Don’t assume you are unless you can point to a place in time when you experienced it. I was in my church for nearly 33 years and had not been born again. I can remember the moment like it was yesterday. On May 23rd in 1971 I melted before God. My guilt left like a heavy weight from my back. God was no longer holding me guilty of countless sins for Jesus had bore them for me on the cross. At last I had appropriated His sacrifice for myself. It’s truly God’s greatest gift.
Now that I’m His property, bought with the shed Blood of Jesus, I’m not my own. He has granted me favor to be a servant who can do “exploits” for Him. You can do them too if you are born again. I hope you will take the scriptures seriously. In Luke 3:16 is a great promise that I also experienced back in 1971 the day I was born again.
John answered and said to them all, "As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
He is promising the same power to come upon us that came upon Him when John baptized Him. We can see this occur in Acts chapter two. For those who say they’ve been baptized in the Holy Spirit I humbly ask, can you give a testimony of God’s Power being exercised by you? If you can’t, admit it and go to Jesus now. Ask Him to baptize you [immerse you] in the Holy Spirit. You will know when it happens for the power of God will come upon you to witness. In my case He also gave me the gift of tongues and interpretation of tongues. For over 37 years now I can communicate with the Lord in the language of angels. Read about these gifts in John 12-14.
There are denominations who preach these scriptures and many more that don’t. I am not sure why but it doesn’t make sense to me for never have we needed the power of God more to witness Jesus. As I write the Muslims are preparing to take over the world. Along with them there are large cults that are drawing people away to destruction. We who have Jesus have His admonition to pray to the Lord of the Harvest to send workers into the fields white for harvest. I love working in these fields for there’s more joy there than anywhere else. God is allowing me to speak to folks at every level with a common denominator, all of them need Jesus.
Do you want to live in God’s Shalom? We can make the choice of living in it or in fear. Tension is building all over the world and it’s recognized by fear, not a fear of God but a fear of surviving. We now live in God’s promises. “The Kingdom of God is not meat nor drink but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.“ We don’t have to worry about anything as we live for Him. Is this what you want more than anything? Go for it!
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com
Do you recall Jesus had told Peter Satan had demanded to sift him like wheat but He had prayed for him and after he returned [from denial] he would be able to strength his brothers? All of this happened and it is for our good that it did. Jesus prayed for us too. You can read it in the “Priestly” prayer in John 17 where He asked the Father to keep the disciples as one and not only them but all of us who would believe upon Him. Please read this chapter today and you will be extremely blessed.
Jesus promised to never leave nor forsake us and you and I must believe it. We can experience His Presence when we say the word Shalom. He said that His peace isn’t like that in the world [which is temporary] but His peace passes all understanding. What He’s saying is we are in Him by being born again and need not fear anything. As we speak Shalom to others or ourselves it should reminds us of His promises.
Do you recall Him saying, “No one can snatch us out of the hand of the Father? If you have died to your life and surrendered it to Jesus as your Lord, God has adopted you. Your name has been added to the “small” Book of Life. This is like a registration of our new birth certificates. The Bible says if our name isn’t in it we will be cast into the lake of fire.
So to live safely in the coming storms there isn’t any thing more important than becoming born again. Don’t assume you are unless you can point to a place in time when you experienced it. I was in my church for nearly 33 years and had not been born again. I can remember the moment like it was yesterday. On May 23rd in 1971 I melted before God. My guilt left like a heavy weight from my back. God was no longer holding me guilty of countless sins for Jesus had bore them for me on the cross. At last I had appropriated His sacrifice for myself. It’s truly God’s greatest gift.
Now that I’m His property, bought with the shed Blood of Jesus, I’m not my own. He has granted me favor to be a servant who can do “exploits” for Him. You can do them too if you are born again. I hope you will take the scriptures seriously. In Luke 3:16 is a great promise that I also experienced back in 1971 the day I was born again.
John answered and said to them all, "As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
He is promising the same power to come upon us that came upon Him when John baptized Him. We can see this occur in Acts chapter two. For those who say they’ve been baptized in the Holy Spirit I humbly ask, can you give a testimony of God’s Power being exercised by you? If you can’t, admit it and go to Jesus now. Ask Him to baptize you [immerse you] in the Holy Spirit. You will know when it happens for the power of God will come upon you to witness. In my case He also gave me the gift of tongues and interpretation of tongues. For over 37 years now I can communicate with the Lord in the language of angels. Read about these gifts in John 12-14.
There are denominations who preach these scriptures and many more that don’t. I am not sure why but it doesn’t make sense to me for never have we needed the power of God more to witness Jesus. As I write the Muslims are preparing to take over the world. Along with them there are large cults that are drawing people away to destruction. We who have Jesus have His admonition to pray to the Lord of the Harvest to send workers into the fields white for harvest. I love working in these fields for there’s more joy there than anywhere else. God is allowing me to speak to folks at every level with a common denominator, all of them need Jesus.
Do you want to live in God’s Shalom? We can make the choice of living in it or in fear. Tension is building all over the world and it’s recognized by fear, not a fear of God but a fear of surviving. We now live in God’s promises. “The Kingdom of God is not meat nor drink but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.“ We don’t have to worry about anything as we live for Him. Is this what you want more than anything? Go for it!
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com
DEALING WITH THE DEVIL
I have some very good news for you if you’re a born again Christian and some “not so good” if you aren’t. First and foremost, you must believe in the devil for Jesus dealt with him over and over. So, if you believe in Jesus you’d best believe in Satan too. It’s like believing in Heaven and hell.
Now you might be thinking, why did he write that? I believe the majority of Christians don’t believe in hell. They aren’t afraid of being cast there themselves, if born again, but don’t seem to care if their “lost” friends and loved ones will be. I am going to place some scriptures here for you to see I’m telling the truth. In Ephesians 6 Paul wrote for us.
The Armor of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
14Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
15and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;
16in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints. New American Standard version,
If you aren’t born again you are helpless before the devil for you only have your own strength to help you. Being born again means Jesus is alive inside us now. Before Satan had the power to lead us into sin but no longer. Jesus defeated Satan on the cross for us and when we live in Him we have His strength to resist temptation and see it flee. If we’re born again we’ve become a threat to the devil and some folks don’t like it. They prefer to cruise under the devil’s radar giving no reason to be persecuted. I can assure you of a reward when you and I are persecuted for Jesus.
Jesus said it will be great in Heaven and that’s something to look forward to enjoying. Are you one who wants to serve Jesus, and if you aren’t, what are you going to say on the day you are examined by Him? I pray you will read Matthew 25 today for it’s extremely important for the time in which we’re living. Lets read these verses carefully from it.
31 "But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.
32 "All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;
33 and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.
34 "Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
35 'For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;
36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.'
37 "Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink?
38 'And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You?
39 'When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'
40 "The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'
41 "Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;
42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink;
43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.'
44 "Then they themselves also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?'
45 "Then He will answer them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'
46 "These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
It’s our privilege and honor to share Jesus with everyone we can. Are you willing now? If you want my help please write me. Jesus is coming soon!
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com
Now you might be thinking, why did he write that? I believe the majority of Christians don’t believe in hell. They aren’t afraid of being cast there themselves, if born again, but don’t seem to care if their “lost” friends and loved ones will be. I am going to place some scriptures here for you to see I’m telling the truth. In Ephesians 6 Paul wrote for us.
The Armor of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
14Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
15and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;
16in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints. New American Standard version,
If you aren’t born again you are helpless before the devil for you only have your own strength to help you. Being born again means Jesus is alive inside us now. Before Satan had the power to lead us into sin but no longer. Jesus defeated Satan on the cross for us and when we live in Him we have His strength to resist temptation and see it flee. If we’re born again we’ve become a threat to the devil and some folks don’t like it. They prefer to cruise under the devil’s radar giving no reason to be persecuted. I can assure you of a reward when you and I are persecuted for Jesus.
Jesus said it will be great in Heaven and that’s something to look forward to enjoying. Are you one who wants to serve Jesus, and if you aren’t, what are you going to say on the day you are examined by Him? I pray you will read Matthew 25 today for it’s extremely important for the time in which we’re living. Lets read these verses carefully from it.
31 "But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.
32 "All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;
33 and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.
34 "Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
35 'For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;
36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.'
37 "Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink?
38 'And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You?
39 'When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'
40 "The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'
41 "Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;
42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink;
43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.'
44 "Then they themselves also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?'
45 "Then He will answer them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'
46 "These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
It’s our privilege and honor to share Jesus with everyone we can. Are you willing now? If you want my help please write me. Jesus is coming soon!
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
UNDERSTANDING GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Amazing Grace Lyrics
John Newton (1725-1807)
Stanza 6 anon.
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
Can you sing this song with all your heart knowing that God has forgiven you? If you can’t please read the message accompanying this reminder of God’s Amazing Grace.
UNDERSTANDING GOD’S FORGIVENESS
What so many people don’t understand is God’s willingness to forgive any sinner who will truly repent of their sinful life. His grace [undeserved mercy] is the center piece of the Gospel.
He gave up His only Son the Lord Jesus Christ to die on a cross so we won’t have to die an eternal death.
The simplicity of the message has been lost in many religious denominations including I fear in the largest one of all. God wants a family and it isn’t found in any Church or group of them. God’s family is where the redeemed gather if in a living room or under a tree somewhere. Jesus has promised to come in the midst of 2 or three who gather in His Name. Failing to understand this can bring you to the place where you will find yourself under the control of the elite. I’m not saying all pastors are evil but I am saying many have been caught doing evil things.
Shepherds [Pastors] are raised up by God like Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists and teachers to equip the saints [the born again] to reach the world with the simple message of the Gospel. Once it is spoken the Holy Spirit is here to make it work within the heart of the listeners. My understanding of the Gospel is as follows.
For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son that whosoever believed on Him should not perish but shall have eternal life.”
Believing on Jesus means we understand that He is God and He came to set sinners free from the power of sin. He accomplished this in a mighty way. He took the sins of the whole world upon Himself and allowed the Romans to drive nails into His hands and feet to die on a cross. As He hung there His Blood [the payment for sin] drained from His Body. This Blood was more than enough to satisfy God’s wrath against anyone for their sins. Once this message strikes home in our hearts we have been programmed to feel sorrow for them. Then we can approach God with thanksgiving and ask Him to forgiven us. He does instantly for it is will to do so.
At this point we can invite Jesus into our hearts to be our Lord [Master]. Or, we can adopt the idea we can go on living as before with only a need to go to church sometime and repent over and over again. You and I can choose to our detriment to do the latter. God hates sin and we should too.
If we choose the first and invite Jesus into our hearts He comes by the Holy Spirit giving us a brand new life or a born again one. We are now the servants of God and consider ourselves no longer the owner of our life and possessions. We are told in the Bible we are stewards who will one day give an accounting to Him. If we fail in these responsibilities He isn’t going to disown us but He will bring discipline proving we are His children.
I believe the problem of not being constant fellowship with Jesus is this matter of understanding forgiveness. If you truly appreciate the level of brutality leveled on Him with the scourge, crown of thorns, beatings and nails there is no way we are going to willingly sin against Him. If we mess up and sin the Holy Spirit reminds us instantly of God’s promise in 1 John 1:9. A wise man will memorize this verse.
If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].
I hate to use it for I know I’ve disappointed the Lord again. How much I don’t want to do that. I consider myself a servant of God and know deep in my heart that sin by any of His children hurts Him. If one of my daughters or grandchildren were arrested for a crime it would hurt me in the same way. God is raising us to be part of the unblemished part of the Bride of Christ. Please read Matthew 25 and you can see what Jesus has to say to the virgins. One thing for sure sinners won’t be there. This is why it is so important to be forgiven by God while we’re still breathing.
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com
John Newton (1725-1807)
Stanza 6 anon.
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
Can you sing this song with all your heart knowing that God has forgiven you? If you can’t please read the message accompanying this reminder of God’s Amazing Grace.
UNDERSTANDING GOD’S FORGIVENESS
What so many people don’t understand is God’s willingness to forgive any sinner who will truly repent of their sinful life. His grace [undeserved mercy] is the center piece of the Gospel.
He gave up His only Son the Lord Jesus Christ to die on a cross so we won’t have to die an eternal death.
The simplicity of the message has been lost in many religious denominations including I fear in the largest one of all. God wants a family and it isn’t found in any Church or group of them. God’s family is where the redeemed gather if in a living room or under a tree somewhere. Jesus has promised to come in the midst of 2 or three who gather in His Name. Failing to understand this can bring you to the place where you will find yourself under the control of the elite. I’m not saying all pastors are evil but I am saying many have been caught doing evil things.
Shepherds [Pastors] are raised up by God like Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists and teachers to equip the saints [the born again] to reach the world with the simple message of the Gospel. Once it is spoken the Holy Spirit is here to make it work within the heart of the listeners. My understanding of the Gospel is as follows.
For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son that whosoever believed on Him should not perish but shall have eternal life.”
Believing on Jesus means we understand that He is God and He came to set sinners free from the power of sin. He accomplished this in a mighty way. He took the sins of the whole world upon Himself and allowed the Romans to drive nails into His hands and feet to die on a cross. As He hung there His Blood [the payment for sin] drained from His Body. This Blood was more than enough to satisfy God’s wrath against anyone for their sins. Once this message strikes home in our hearts we have been programmed to feel sorrow for them. Then we can approach God with thanksgiving and ask Him to forgiven us. He does instantly for it is will to do so.
At this point we can invite Jesus into our hearts to be our Lord [Master]. Or, we can adopt the idea we can go on living as before with only a need to go to church sometime and repent over and over again. You and I can choose to our detriment to do the latter. God hates sin and we should too.
If we choose the first and invite Jesus into our hearts He comes by the Holy Spirit giving us a brand new life or a born again one. We are now the servants of God and consider ourselves no longer the owner of our life and possessions. We are told in the Bible we are stewards who will one day give an accounting to Him. If we fail in these responsibilities He isn’t going to disown us but He will bring discipline proving we are His children.
I believe the problem of not being constant fellowship with Jesus is this matter of understanding forgiveness. If you truly appreciate the level of brutality leveled on Him with the scourge, crown of thorns, beatings and nails there is no way we are going to willingly sin against Him. If we mess up and sin the Holy Spirit reminds us instantly of God’s promise in 1 John 1:9. A wise man will memorize this verse.
If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].
I hate to use it for I know I’ve disappointed the Lord again. How much I don’t want to do that. I consider myself a servant of God and know deep in my heart that sin by any of His children hurts Him. If one of my daughters or grandchildren were arrested for a crime it would hurt me in the same way. God is raising us to be part of the unblemished part of the Bride of Christ. Please read Matthew 25 and you can see what Jesus has to say to the virgins. One thing for sure sinners won’t be there. This is why it is so important to be forgiven by God while we’re still breathing.
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
A DEADLY QUESTION
If abortion doesn’t kill the baby why do women have them? The child is unwanted and killing it in an abortion clinic is legal now so why not? Can you imagine how God must feel when a little one whom He has been carefully knitting together in the womb is intentionally destroyed? I saw an email the other day that the baby’s heart is beating on the 18th day. If this is true its mom didn’t even know he or she was in there. What a tragedy for mankind for each of us come equipped by God with gifts, talents and abilities chosen by Him for us to prosper and live productive lives.
Allow me to say up front taking the life of your baby isn’t the unforgivable sin but it is a terrible one. If anyone reading this message has chosen this “out”, I trust they will go to Jesus and tell Him exactly how they feel in their heart about it. He loves you more than I could tell you in a million years and He isn’t going to stop. His love is eternal and once we repent [turn from our sins with remorse] He will forgive us in a single heart beat. The problem, some are hurting so bad from their decisions they have a hard time accepting it. This message is for you and all those who are living in guilt.
The fact you feel guilty tells me and the Lord you haven’t driven the Holy Spirit away. I’ve met some in a jail ministry that I believe were past the place that they could come under conviction and repent. If you read the scriptures you will see God keeping His Word over and over. It means far more to Him than ours seem to mean to us. This isn’t the way it used to be. If my dad told someone something in business no one needed a contract to enforce it. He would rather have died than to have to break his word. We should be like that too, especially with our marriage vows. Did you know half of all marriages are failing now? This is tragic for in many of them the children will suffer terribly.
There’s an important statement in Matthew’s Gospel where God says, “Do not despise these little ones for their angel in Heaven continually beholds the face of God.” Jesus said one time that if anyone should cause one of these little ones to lose faith in Him it would be better for that man if a mill stone [very heavy] should be placed upon his neck and be cast into the sea.”
Perhaps you are getting the picture, God loves kids.
You and I were once so small and helpless but were blessed to have a mom or someone to comfort and care for us. When my mom gave birth to me in 1938 there were no such things as pampers, baby formula, pediatricians, baby monitors etc. She cared for me all by herself and did it well too. My mom lived for 85 years and called me her “baby” until I was a grandfather several times over. I can’t wait to see her again with my dad. They are waiting on me to come to my Heavenly Father’s house from where we will enjoy eternity together along with my Joan and our family.
As I write this, little ones are being denied their life and because of it our nation has lost some of the greatest minds. From some we could have found the answers to many troubling problems now causing difficulties for millions. For instance, if Bill Gates had been aborted I don’t think I would be typing this for you on my laptop. If Werner Von Braun had not been allowed to live, our space program would have suffered to the place the Russians would have walked on the moon and might just have us under their thumb today. Some of the things we take for granted like velcro and duct tape were brought to us by someone’s genius. I could write pages making my point but this should be enough for you.
Let me give you a B-12 shot. You are an incredible human being with special abilities that God wants developed for His glory. Now don’t tell me you can’t do anything for I know better. Ask God what He has given you and then ask Him to bring the right people in your life to help you. As I write I know that many are helping me right now for I have a host of folks who pray for me. I spoke with one today that teaches school in Ft. Walton Beach. I told her, I still pray every day for you and she said, “I pray daily for you too, you are on my list.” Thank God for I need prayer the way a baby needs nourishment and protection. For over 35 years I’ve written what the Lord places in my heart and He definitely placed this one for you. Please share it soon for babies are dying and Jesus is coming!
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com captben61@hotmail.com captben61@yahoo.com
Allow me to say up front taking the life of your baby isn’t the unforgivable sin but it is a terrible one. If anyone reading this message has chosen this “out”, I trust they will go to Jesus and tell Him exactly how they feel in their heart about it. He loves you more than I could tell you in a million years and He isn’t going to stop. His love is eternal and once we repent [turn from our sins with remorse] He will forgive us in a single heart beat. The problem, some are hurting so bad from their decisions they have a hard time accepting it. This message is for you and all those who are living in guilt.
The fact you feel guilty tells me and the Lord you haven’t driven the Holy Spirit away. I’ve met some in a jail ministry that I believe were past the place that they could come under conviction and repent. If you read the scriptures you will see God keeping His Word over and over. It means far more to Him than ours seem to mean to us. This isn’t the way it used to be. If my dad told someone something in business no one needed a contract to enforce it. He would rather have died than to have to break his word. We should be like that too, especially with our marriage vows. Did you know half of all marriages are failing now? This is tragic for in many of them the children will suffer terribly.
There’s an important statement in Matthew’s Gospel where God says, “Do not despise these little ones for their angel in Heaven continually beholds the face of God.” Jesus said one time that if anyone should cause one of these little ones to lose faith in Him it would be better for that man if a mill stone [very heavy] should be placed upon his neck and be cast into the sea.”
Perhaps you are getting the picture, God loves kids.
You and I were once so small and helpless but were blessed to have a mom or someone to comfort and care for us. When my mom gave birth to me in 1938 there were no such things as pampers, baby formula, pediatricians, baby monitors etc. She cared for me all by herself and did it well too. My mom lived for 85 years and called me her “baby” until I was a grandfather several times over. I can’t wait to see her again with my dad. They are waiting on me to come to my Heavenly Father’s house from where we will enjoy eternity together along with my Joan and our family.
As I write this, little ones are being denied their life and because of it our nation has lost some of the greatest minds. From some we could have found the answers to many troubling problems now causing difficulties for millions. For instance, if Bill Gates had been aborted I don’t think I would be typing this for you on my laptop. If Werner Von Braun had not been allowed to live, our space program would have suffered to the place the Russians would have walked on the moon and might just have us under their thumb today. Some of the things we take for granted like velcro and duct tape were brought to us by someone’s genius. I could write pages making my point but this should be enough for you.
Let me give you a B-12 shot. You are an incredible human being with special abilities that God wants developed for His glory. Now don’t tell me you can’t do anything for I know better. Ask God what He has given you and then ask Him to bring the right people in your life to help you. As I write I know that many are helping me right now for I have a host of folks who pray for me. I spoke with one today that teaches school in Ft. Walton Beach. I told her, I still pray every day for you and she said, “I pray daily for you too, you are on my list.” Thank God for I need prayer the way a baby needs nourishment and protection. For over 35 years I’ve written what the Lord places in my heart and He definitely placed this one for you. Please share it soon for babies are dying and Jesus is coming!
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com captben61@hotmail.com captben61@yahoo.com
LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION
As a business man I’m well aware of this important adage. Unless your operation is very special or in great need by your customers you’d better seek the best place to organize it. Well lets see if it will apply this to our labors for the Lord too. Once we surrender our lives to Jesus we become His servants. I’m assuming you aren’t buried down in religion, for if you are quick sand would be a better state for you. Religion is so deadly it should be avoided at all costs. For sake of explanation allow me to say that religion is anything “man made” that makes you think you can earn God’s favor by doing it or not doing it. It’s also where a few control you.
God chose us and we should stand up and shout when we learn He did. Can you imagine what that will mean to you one day when you are a part of a few who will come before the Father in a formal setting? On a very special day God will acknowledge us before all His holy angels in Heaven. He will say, “Enter now into the Joy of Your Master for you fed Me when I was hungry. You gave Me drink when I was thirsty. You clothed Me when I was naked. You came and visited Me when I was sick and in prison. You invited Me in when I arrived as a stranger. Yes, when you did it to the least of My brothers, you did it unto Me.
Not one of us know in our hearts we deserve to be there. But when we look at Jesus and can still see His wounds from the crown of thorns and nails our love will flow like a river to Him. How could we deserve such honor and favor? It came from God as we placed our trust in Jesus and surrendered our lives so He could use us. If you want to see this in the scriptures look at Ephesians 2:10 my very favorite verse. God gave me the eyes to see it as my marching orders decades ago and it is just as important to me today as then.
One of the things it did for me is free me to simply obey Him and not sit around trying to figure out what I could do for the Lord. It will do the same for anyone. God’s Word is universal and someone in Africa, Asia, Europe will also find it to be true. Location doesn’t matter here but it sure does as to where you’re called to serve God in a fellowship.
We’ve been told by Paul that we are part of the body of Christ and all the parts are equally important. You are needed “somewhere” to fulfill God’s purposes. Have you ever thought about that? Most haven’t they just go faithfully to their “church” and give their hearts to God. The problem is we have gifts, talents and abilities that are unique to us alone. God gave them to us when we were being fashioned in the womb by Him so we could offer them back in service. He gave us our identity too, finger prints.
Let’s consider what the Lord is doing now OK? Do you think God needs us to worship Him? If you do, think for a second on how many millions of angels are already surrounding Him in Heaven as I write this message. The Bible calls them myriads and myriads. You can bet there are more than we can count. So, why are we still here now that God has adopted us?
Take a deep breath and say, to serve God. You are 100% right for no one else is here to do it for Him. We all have our own service to perform. Most consider themselves unable to do anything like this, and again they are right. Jesus said, “We can do nothing apart from Him.“ There are lots of folks who haven’t read this or seem to be ignoring it. Let me confess, I’ve been busy doing things God didn’t’ tell me to do. The way I knew it’s was my zeal and love for Him was the lack of fruit afterwards.
I know He wasn’t angry with me for when I acknowledged it He simply smiles and says, “Ben get in line.” Isn’t He absolutely wonderful? If you can’t say Amen then you need to come to know Him intimately. This word means “inside” to me. When Jesus came inside me I was a brand new person instantly. I’d been a “Christian” for almost 33 years but like an unwed maid I was childless. Now that the Lord has taken possession of me He has reached many with the Gospel through me.
One day He will show me how many came to salvation by what He did. I’d asked for 1,000,000 long ago but later thought better about it and said, “Lord, if I get them and you tarry please allow me to get another million. You know, I believe I’m working on that second million now. For over 35 years He has been giving me messages to write for His Church.
Will you ask now for a definite number? I can assure you He will help you get them. He loves everyone and wants you to love them for Him.
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com captben61@yahoo.com captben6@hotmail.com
God chose us and we should stand up and shout when we learn He did. Can you imagine what that will mean to you one day when you are a part of a few who will come before the Father in a formal setting? On a very special day God will acknowledge us before all His holy angels in Heaven. He will say, “Enter now into the Joy of Your Master for you fed Me when I was hungry. You gave Me drink when I was thirsty. You clothed Me when I was naked. You came and visited Me when I was sick and in prison. You invited Me in when I arrived as a stranger. Yes, when you did it to the least of My brothers, you did it unto Me.
Not one of us know in our hearts we deserve to be there. But when we look at Jesus and can still see His wounds from the crown of thorns and nails our love will flow like a river to Him. How could we deserve such honor and favor? It came from God as we placed our trust in Jesus and surrendered our lives so He could use us. If you want to see this in the scriptures look at Ephesians 2:10 my very favorite verse. God gave me the eyes to see it as my marching orders decades ago and it is just as important to me today as then.
One of the things it did for me is free me to simply obey Him and not sit around trying to figure out what I could do for the Lord. It will do the same for anyone. God’s Word is universal and someone in Africa, Asia, Europe will also find it to be true. Location doesn’t matter here but it sure does as to where you’re called to serve God in a fellowship.
We’ve been told by Paul that we are part of the body of Christ and all the parts are equally important. You are needed “somewhere” to fulfill God’s purposes. Have you ever thought about that? Most haven’t they just go faithfully to their “church” and give their hearts to God. The problem is we have gifts, talents and abilities that are unique to us alone. God gave them to us when we were being fashioned in the womb by Him so we could offer them back in service. He gave us our identity too, finger prints.
Let’s consider what the Lord is doing now OK? Do you think God needs us to worship Him? If you do, think for a second on how many millions of angels are already surrounding Him in Heaven as I write this message. The Bible calls them myriads and myriads. You can bet there are more than we can count. So, why are we still here now that God has adopted us?
Take a deep breath and say, to serve God. You are 100% right for no one else is here to do it for Him. We all have our own service to perform. Most consider themselves unable to do anything like this, and again they are right. Jesus said, “We can do nothing apart from Him.“ There are lots of folks who haven’t read this or seem to be ignoring it. Let me confess, I’ve been busy doing things God didn’t’ tell me to do. The way I knew it’s was my zeal and love for Him was the lack of fruit afterwards.
I know He wasn’t angry with me for when I acknowledged it He simply smiles and says, “Ben get in line.” Isn’t He absolutely wonderful? If you can’t say Amen then you need to come to know Him intimately. This word means “inside” to me. When Jesus came inside me I was a brand new person instantly. I’d been a “Christian” for almost 33 years but like an unwed maid I was childless. Now that the Lord has taken possession of me He has reached many with the Gospel through me.
One day He will show me how many came to salvation by what He did. I’d asked for 1,000,000 long ago but later thought better about it and said, “Lord, if I get them and you tarry please allow me to get another million. You know, I believe I’m working on that second million now. For over 35 years He has been giving me messages to write for His Church.
Will you ask now for a definite number? I can assure you He will help you get them. He loves everyone and wants you to love them for Him.
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com captben61@yahoo.com captben6@hotmail.com
Saturday, January 23, 2010
GOOD GUY BAD GUY
GOOD GUY BAD GUY
I’m convinced that no one is born bad. Having said that, there was only One who was born GOOD. The difference, as far as we are concerned, is our relationship to Him. If we have received Jesus as the Lord of our lives the Judge of the universe has already declared us good. God looks upon our hearts and when He sees Jesus as the center of our life how could he say anything else? One thing I hope you will grasp is the fact that once you are born again you are already living in your eternal life. Since we are, we must live in Jesus and allow His Word to be our DNA.
A disciplined daily reading from God’s Word will provide all we need to stay in His favor. Any Christian who strays from what the Lord has said will soon find him or herself swerving in their walk. It’s as if we are weakened from eating habits that aren’t complementary to our body. Jesus said something one time that we rarely hear in a sermon, “He who is not for me is against Me and he who isn’t gathering “for Me” is scattering.” Our goal should always be to not disappoint Him, Amen?
The world is full of bad people and prisons are being built constantly to cage them. The influx is so great in some communities “bad guys” are being released back into society before they have served their sentences so the latest batch of bad guys can be locked up. Folks, it shouldn’t be this way. We Christians who have Jesus inside us should be active, under the Holy Spirit, to reach folks before they turn on to the devil. Don’t say it is impossible for on Judgment Day we will witness God rewarding those who agree with His Word. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.“ We must agree with Him or we won’t be gathering.
Do you know for sure you are going to Heaven when you die? If you can’t say, “absolutely” then this message is for you. God is FAITHFUL! Say that out loud several times so your ears can hear it too. If He says it then that’s it. Let’s read Romans 10: 9-10 from the Amplified Bible.
9Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms [his] salvation.
God revealed John 1:12 to me in an exciting way years ago and with it I discovered the importance of receiving Jesus experientially.
12But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name.)
Have you ever repented of your sins and received the Spirit of God as your Lord? Many have told me, “I believe in Jesus” thinking that’s enough. My reply is, Satan believes in Jesus and trembles. Salvation is a brand new life and it begins instantly not over a long period of time as some also think. We can’t become a Cadillac sitting for a long time in a GM show room either.
Now once you give yourself to Jesus as Lord we should seek the anointing of the Holy Spirit as revealed in Luke 3:16.
16John answered them all by saying, I baptize you with water; but He Who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of Whose sandals I am not fit to unfasten. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Jesus told His disciples [that’s us too] what to do afterwards in Acts 1.
8But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth.
Our purpose now is to help folks become “good guys” before the devil leads them into sin from which some never recover. We are God’s servants now and to think otherwise is wrong. Religion has robbed God of servants for a very long time. Many think that following rules will please Him but what pleases God is us obeying Jesus. John 3:36 confirms this with a warning.
36And he who believes in (has faith in, clings to, relies on) the Son has (now possesses) eternal life. But whoever disobeys (is unbelieving toward, refuses to trust in, disregards, is not subject to) the Son will never see (experience) life, but [instead] the wrath of God abides on him. [God's displeasure remains on him; His indignation hangs over him continually.]
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com captben61@yahoo.com captben61@hotmail.com
I’m convinced that no one is born bad. Having said that, there was only One who was born GOOD. The difference, as far as we are concerned, is our relationship to Him. If we have received Jesus as the Lord of our lives the Judge of the universe has already declared us good. God looks upon our hearts and when He sees Jesus as the center of our life how could he say anything else? One thing I hope you will grasp is the fact that once you are born again you are already living in your eternal life. Since we are, we must live in Jesus and allow His Word to be our DNA.
A disciplined daily reading from God’s Word will provide all we need to stay in His favor. Any Christian who strays from what the Lord has said will soon find him or herself swerving in their walk. It’s as if we are weakened from eating habits that aren’t complementary to our body. Jesus said something one time that we rarely hear in a sermon, “He who is not for me is against Me and he who isn’t gathering “for Me” is scattering.” Our goal should always be to not disappoint Him, Amen?
The world is full of bad people and prisons are being built constantly to cage them. The influx is so great in some communities “bad guys” are being released back into society before they have served their sentences so the latest batch of bad guys can be locked up. Folks, it shouldn’t be this way. We Christians who have Jesus inside us should be active, under the Holy Spirit, to reach folks before they turn on to the devil. Don’t say it is impossible for on Judgment Day we will witness God rewarding those who agree with His Word. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.“ We must agree with Him or we won’t be gathering.
Do you know for sure you are going to Heaven when you die? If you can’t say, “absolutely” then this message is for you. God is FAITHFUL! Say that out loud several times so your ears can hear it too. If He says it then that’s it. Let’s read Romans 10: 9-10 from the Amplified Bible.
9Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms [his] salvation.
God revealed John 1:12 to me in an exciting way years ago and with it I discovered the importance of receiving Jesus experientially.
12But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name.)
Have you ever repented of your sins and received the Spirit of God as your Lord? Many have told me, “I believe in Jesus” thinking that’s enough. My reply is, Satan believes in Jesus and trembles. Salvation is a brand new life and it begins instantly not over a long period of time as some also think. We can’t become a Cadillac sitting for a long time in a GM show room either.
Now once you give yourself to Jesus as Lord we should seek the anointing of the Holy Spirit as revealed in Luke 3:16.
16John answered them all by saying, I baptize you with water; but He Who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of Whose sandals I am not fit to unfasten. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Jesus told His disciples [that’s us too] what to do afterwards in Acts 1.
8But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth.
Our purpose now is to help folks become “good guys” before the devil leads them into sin from which some never recover. We are God’s servants now and to think otherwise is wrong. Religion has robbed God of servants for a very long time. Many think that following rules will please Him but what pleases God is us obeying Jesus. John 3:36 confirms this with a warning.
36And he who believes in (has faith in, clings to, relies on) the Son has (now possesses) eternal life. But whoever disobeys (is unbelieving toward, refuses to trust in, disregards, is not subject to) the Son will never see (experience) life, but [instead] the wrath of God abides on him. [God's displeasure remains on him; His indignation hangs over him continually.]
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com captben61@yahoo.com captben61@hotmail.com
Friday, January 22, 2010
DOES SATAN FEAR YOU
There’s an interesting story in Acts where the five sons of a Jewish Priest took on a demoniac and attempted to cast the demons out of him. The demon said, “I know Jesus and I know Paul but who are you?” Then he preceded to beat the tar out of them, leaving some wounded. You might say that’s it for me, I’m not going to mess with anyone possessed by the devil. You would be considered wise if you follow up on this promise, unless you are in Jesus and Jesus is in you. This is fleshed out for us in John 15 and I hope you will read it. We are to produce the fruit of the Lord’s ministry and setting captives free is part of it.
I suspect that a huge number of people who identify themselves as “Christians” are Christians in name only. I can say that for it was my condition for almost 33 years. In 1971 that changed permanently when I melted before the Lord and surrendered my life to Him. My experiences have carried me along now for almost 38 years. At the instant I asked Jesus to come into my heart I felt a huge weight leave my back, as heavy as a VW.
I have come to understand it was a load of guilt and Satan was sitting on it.
Jesus said that Satan was a liar, thief, murderer and an accuser of the brothers. He kept me under condemnation constantly for I knew what I was doing and it wasn’t always right. If you are in that condition now, this is your day to be set free. Please don’t argue with what I’m writing for you here. It is flowing from my heart and not my head. God loves you more than you will know until you are standing before Jesus face to face. None of us really know the depth of it nor it’s breadth. If you want to gain a glimpse of it look at Jesus dying on the cross for you personally and you can. The cross is the power of God unto salvation.
You owe it to yourself and your loved ones to say a simple prayer like, “Lord Holy Spirit, Please allow me to read the five chapters of First John with your eyes. Allow this small Book to take over my life in how I live day by day for Jesus. If you do, He’ll change your life, and it doesn’t matter how long you have been a Christian. Please read it several times and ask the Lord to allow you to see that He is Life and religion isn’t. Hundreds of millions are being deceived by religion. There isn’t a thing we can do to save ourselves except surrender our lives to Jesus and trust Him to save us.
Jesus came to save SINNERS. You and I can still sin after He lives in us but we sure don’t want to do it. God has given us 1 John 1:9 to find forgiveness. From experience I can tell you, I hate to use it but will in a heart beat for sin separates us from God. He hates sin and we should too.
Satan is our deadly enemy and he never sleeps. If he can distract us from Jesus the flesh, in which we are trapped, will be vulnerable to sinning. If we realize just how much Jesus paid while hanging in agony and shame for us we will be telling the devil to go IN JESUS NAME. Let me assure you, I’ve found that any temptation is gone instantly when I do it. Satan wants to kill me or make me impotent for God has used me to work against him. If you’re one who does nothing but attend Church services the devil isn’t going to pay you much attention for you’re absolutely no threat to him.
I suspect the average Christian rarely reads the scriptures in a disciplined manner. This makes the devil extremely happy for he knows our faith is weak. Faith is our ability to serve God, and without it we can’t please God. [Hebrews 11:6] If you aren’t reading the scriptures please take me up on my “world wide” offer. Buy an Amplified Bible and save the sales slip. If after a week or two of reading it daily you discover you don’t want it either send it to me [I’ll pay the postage.] or give it to someone. Then mail me the receipt and I will send you a check the same day I receive it. This version is incredible for it allows us to read and understand as if a great Bible teacher is sitting next to us. A hard back cost about $27 and a paper back way less.
You will soon discover your relationship with Jesus is more like that of Paul and demons will know who you are. When God tells you to deliver someone, it will happen for Jesus for Jesus living inside you will get it done. The demons will not like you and will fear you too. I’ve seen God do mighty things through me and others and He wants to use you too.
Becoming born again and surrendering your life each morning is important. I’d love to hear of the things you will begin to do while exalting the Name of Jesus. It will be awesome! If you need more of my help, please ask!
PS When God takes me up, Satan may feel he can finally take a day off. Don’t let him. OK?
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com
I suspect that a huge number of people who identify themselves as “Christians” are Christians in name only. I can say that for it was my condition for almost 33 years. In 1971 that changed permanently when I melted before the Lord and surrendered my life to Him. My experiences have carried me along now for almost 38 years. At the instant I asked Jesus to come into my heart I felt a huge weight leave my back, as heavy as a VW.
I have come to understand it was a load of guilt and Satan was sitting on it.
Jesus said that Satan was a liar, thief, murderer and an accuser of the brothers. He kept me under condemnation constantly for I knew what I was doing and it wasn’t always right. If you are in that condition now, this is your day to be set free. Please don’t argue with what I’m writing for you here. It is flowing from my heart and not my head. God loves you more than you will know until you are standing before Jesus face to face. None of us really know the depth of it nor it’s breadth. If you want to gain a glimpse of it look at Jesus dying on the cross for you personally and you can. The cross is the power of God unto salvation.
You owe it to yourself and your loved ones to say a simple prayer like, “Lord Holy Spirit, Please allow me to read the five chapters of First John with your eyes. Allow this small Book to take over my life in how I live day by day for Jesus. If you do, He’ll change your life, and it doesn’t matter how long you have been a Christian. Please read it several times and ask the Lord to allow you to see that He is Life and religion isn’t. Hundreds of millions are being deceived by religion. There isn’t a thing we can do to save ourselves except surrender our lives to Jesus and trust Him to save us.
Jesus came to save SINNERS. You and I can still sin after He lives in us but we sure don’t want to do it. God has given us 1 John 1:9 to find forgiveness. From experience I can tell you, I hate to use it but will in a heart beat for sin separates us from God. He hates sin and we should too.
Satan is our deadly enemy and he never sleeps. If he can distract us from Jesus the flesh, in which we are trapped, will be vulnerable to sinning. If we realize just how much Jesus paid while hanging in agony and shame for us we will be telling the devil to go IN JESUS NAME. Let me assure you, I’ve found that any temptation is gone instantly when I do it. Satan wants to kill me or make me impotent for God has used me to work against him. If you’re one who does nothing but attend Church services the devil isn’t going to pay you much attention for you’re absolutely no threat to him.
I suspect the average Christian rarely reads the scriptures in a disciplined manner. This makes the devil extremely happy for he knows our faith is weak. Faith is our ability to serve God, and without it we can’t please God. [Hebrews 11:6] If you aren’t reading the scriptures please take me up on my “world wide” offer. Buy an Amplified Bible and save the sales slip. If after a week or two of reading it daily you discover you don’t want it either send it to me [I’ll pay the postage.] or give it to someone. Then mail me the receipt and I will send you a check the same day I receive it. This version is incredible for it allows us to read and understand as if a great Bible teacher is sitting next to us. A hard back cost about $27 and a paper back way less.
You will soon discover your relationship with Jesus is more like that of Paul and demons will know who you are. When God tells you to deliver someone, it will happen for Jesus for Jesus living inside you will get it done. The demons will not like you and will fear you too. I’ve seen God do mighty things through me and others and He wants to use you too.
Becoming born again and surrendering your life each morning is important. I’d love to hear of the things you will begin to do while exalting the Name of Jesus. It will be awesome! If you need more of my help, please ask!
PS When God takes me up, Satan may feel he can finally take a day off. Don’t let him. OK?
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com
Friday, January 8, 2010
SIMPLE CHRISTIANITY
God said He made Christianity simple to confound the wise. Why do you think He did? Could it be He has had it with “wise guys” who are attempting to profit from the greatest gift offered to man? If you say Yes you are right on the money, no pun intended. I’ve written many times the dangers of accepting religion in one of it’s many forms. Some have grown into world wide denominations where their followers are controlled by the leadership. Jesus didn’t die for religious expression but for us to enjoy an intimacy with Him. He will never turn anyone away.
If you belong to a denominational church the question is simple, do you know Jesus or do you know about Him? Be very honest for your eternal life is hanging in the balance. If you think I’m kidding please read Matthew 25.
Remember as you read it the Lord Himself is speaking and when God speaks who can oppose Him and live? The shocking part is the rejection by Jesus of half the “virgins”. The five turned away He called foolish where as the five He accepted He called prudent. As they waited for Him to come to the wedding feast all had lamps but not all had brought extra oil. When He delayed His arrival the foolish found their lamps going out and asked their “sisters” for some. They were told they didn’t have enough to share and should go buy some. They found the door closed when they returned and heard the worse words in the Bible, “I never knew you.”
Of course He knew them for God knows everything and everyone. What He is saying He hasn’t entered their hearts and they are not born again. Paul tells us, “The mystery hidden from the ages is Christ within you the hope of glory.” If you miss this there isn’t a bit of hope for you. God isn’t building a club for us to belong but a family where membership is the result of repentance and confession. We must come to the Lord based upon our understanding that Jesus died for us on the cross. He bled and died there so we won’t have to face judgment and punishment. When this sinks into us we are more than willing to turn from our sinful lifestyles. His love for us is more than we can bear. Then when we ask for forgiveness He grants it.
Once cleansed we can invite Jesus to enter into us as LORD. John 1:12 tells us, “To as many as those who receive Him [Jesus] to them gave He the right to become the children of God even those who believe in His Name.”
When we were delivered our moms were still supplying our needs through the umbilical cord. It supplied oxygenated blood and nutrients by way of the placenta a miracle in itself. However when the cord was cut we were on our own, or BORN.
We can become born again by receiving the Spirit of God by faith as we’re told in Ephesians 2; 8-9. “For by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God and not of works less any should boast.“ As we receive the BREATH of God a magnificent thing happens, God adopts us into His family. He not only adopts us but has the record of our sins erased from the Books to be opened on Judgment Day. Then making it even better, God who remembers everything, says “I will remember his sins no more.” What can be better than this?
Do you remember the criminal who was forgiven by Jesus as He hung on the cross? His death at that time wasn’t an accident for God arranged it so we could see that even at the end of our life, regardless of how bad, He is ever gracious with His Amazing Grace.
Have you accepted His offer? I hope and pray this message will encourage you to go to the cross and make your peace with God. He’s waiting there for you and will give you the same forgiveness and acceptance into His family. He loves you with an insatiable love, please don’t disappoint Him.
Give up any religion you have and discover intimacy with Jesus. He’s your Way your Truth and your Life. Committing your life daily with Ephesians 2:10 will ensure you more JOY than you can handle. Go for it!
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com
If you belong to a denominational church the question is simple, do you know Jesus or do you know about Him? Be very honest for your eternal life is hanging in the balance. If you think I’m kidding please read Matthew 25.
Remember as you read it the Lord Himself is speaking and when God speaks who can oppose Him and live? The shocking part is the rejection by Jesus of half the “virgins”. The five turned away He called foolish where as the five He accepted He called prudent. As they waited for Him to come to the wedding feast all had lamps but not all had brought extra oil. When He delayed His arrival the foolish found their lamps going out and asked their “sisters” for some. They were told they didn’t have enough to share and should go buy some. They found the door closed when they returned and heard the worse words in the Bible, “I never knew you.”
Of course He knew them for God knows everything and everyone. What He is saying He hasn’t entered their hearts and they are not born again. Paul tells us, “The mystery hidden from the ages is Christ within you the hope of glory.” If you miss this there isn’t a bit of hope for you. God isn’t building a club for us to belong but a family where membership is the result of repentance and confession. We must come to the Lord based upon our understanding that Jesus died for us on the cross. He bled and died there so we won’t have to face judgment and punishment. When this sinks into us we are more than willing to turn from our sinful lifestyles. His love for us is more than we can bear. Then when we ask for forgiveness He grants it.
Once cleansed we can invite Jesus to enter into us as LORD. John 1:12 tells us, “To as many as those who receive Him [Jesus] to them gave He the right to become the children of God even those who believe in His Name.”
When we were delivered our moms were still supplying our needs through the umbilical cord. It supplied oxygenated blood and nutrients by way of the placenta a miracle in itself. However when the cord was cut we were on our own, or BORN.
We can become born again by receiving the Spirit of God by faith as we’re told in Ephesians 2; 8-9. “For by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God and not of works less any should boast.“ As we receive the BREATH of God a magnificent thing happens, God adopts us into His family. He not only adopts us but has the record of our sins erased from the Books to be opened on Judgment Day. Then making it even better, God who remembers everything, says “I will remember his sins no more.” What can be better than this?
Do you remember the criminal who was forgiven by Jesus as He hung on the cross? His death at that time wasn’t an accident for God arranged it so we could see that even at the end of our life, regardless of how bad, He is ever gracious with His Amazing Grace.
Have you accepted His offer? I hope and pray this message will encourage you to go to the cross and make your peace with God. He’s waiting there for you and will give you the same forgiveness and acceptance into His family. He loves you with an insatiable love, please don’t disappoint Him.
Give up any religion you have and discover intimacy with Jesus. He’s your Way your Truth and your Life. Committing your life daily with Ephesians 2:10 will ensure you more JOY than you can handle. Go for it!
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
WHY ME LORD
I suspect nearly everyone has reached the place where they uttered these words. Most of the time it was when something bad has happened to them. This message isn’t about the negative but is very positive, Jesus loves you.
You and I know so many things we’ve done for which we’re so ashamed. I did many but Jesus said we aren’t to look back on them for if we do, we aren’t worthy of the Kingdom of God. I don’t know about you but I’m so relieved to hear them. Why would the Lord say such a thing?
Let’s understand that the Bible is written for everyone but only applies to those who will submit their lives to Jesus. What good is it to pray the “Lord’s Prayer” when you don’t mean it? For instance how can God be your Heavenly Father if He hasn’t adopted you? The Truth is He can’t. This message will help you come to the place that He will but let me warn you it is going to cause a major change in your life style. A friend of mine became very angry with our pastor after his wife found an intimate relationship with Jesus. She didn’t want to go out and party anymore like before. Her relationship with Jesus was almost too much for him.
God allowed me to be one of many who witnessed to him and got through his great intellect. Once he came to Christ as his Lord great things have happened to him. I’ll be so bold as to say he would have died over 30 years ago had he not become a born again Christian. Trust me in this for I feel cautioned by the Lord to not share more about him. He is one of my favorite people on the planet. I love him with all my heart for his life impacted mine. By the way, he was asking God, “Why me?”
Please understand we weren’t born to die and be buried in a box in a cemetery. If you and I are born again Christians before the funeral or memorial service begins we’re already with our Savior. “To be absent from the body is to be with the Lord”; “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints” are two of my favorite Bible verses. Jesus told the criminal who repented next to Him while dying on his cross, “Today, you shall be with Me in Paradise.“ Isn’t it interesting that Jesus didn’t say, “When you die they will bury you and one day I’ll come and get you.” After seeing my dad in his resurrected body in a dream four years after Jesus took him I know this scripture is true.
If you are suffering now from a terrible disease and you are a born again Christian what are you doing about it? You probably have been to a doctor and been given some medicine or have received some treatment like radiation but is that all you’re going to do? Chances are that is it for no one has preached that Jesus is willing to heal you. Everyone knows He is able but few realize He is the same yesterday, today and forever as the scriptures teach us. I know God is still in the healing business for I’ve experienced it and have been blessed to extend his hand to some suffering.
During the thirty plus years I’ve been writing what He places in my heart I’ve shared many testimonies but I will share this one again to show you just how willing the Lord is to heal. I was ministering communion at the altar rail of our church here in Destin when I came upon a woman crying. I knelt down close to her and whispered, why are you crying? She looked up and said, “I have a bad heart and when I get back to Atlanta the doctors are going to operate on me and I’m so afraid.” I said, I believe Jesus can heal hearts do you believe it too? She gave me a sobbing yes and then I placed my hand on her and simply said, “Thank you Jesus for healing her heart.”
About a month later she and her husband returned to Destin and again at the altar she asked me if I remembered her. I said no for I was taking hundreds fishing every week. Then she said, “You prayed.” I instantly pointed to the exact place at the altar where we first met. Then she said, “When I returned to Atlanta the doctors couldn’t find a thing wrong with my heart.” Glory!
Jesus honored our faith and like the woman who touched his garment power poured from our Lord to her. He is still doing this all over the world as I write this for you. So, before you go to the Lord with a “Why me Lord” why not give your life totally to Him and become born again of His Spirit.
By the faith He’s given you accept the benefits of the horrible suffering He endured. His stripes provide healing and His Blood washes us as clean as new snow. His victory over Satan is ours too. We are told, “Greater is He that is in you than he [the devil] who’s in the world.” Do you believe it? If you do, go to Jesus the Great Physician first. He is our healer!
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com
You and I know so many things we’ve done for which we’re so ashamed. I did many but Jesus said we aren’t to look back on them for if we do, we aren’t worthy of the Kingdom of God. I don’t know about you but I’m so relieved to hear them. Why would the Lord say such a thing?
Let’s understand that the Bible is written for everyone but only applies to those who will submit their lives to Jesus. What good is it to pray the “Lord’s Prayer” when you don’t mean it? For instance how can God be your Heavenly Father if He hasn’t adopted you? The Truth is He can’t. This message will help you come to the place that He will but let me warn you it is going to cause a major change in your life style. A friend of mine became very angry with our pastor after his wife found an intimate relationship with Jesus. She didn’t want to go out and party anymore like before. Her relationship with Jesus was almost too much for him.
God allowed me to be one of many who witnessed to him and got through his great intellect. Once he came to Christ as his Lord great things have happened to him. I’ll be so bold as to say he would have died over 30 years ago had he not become a born again Christian. Trust me in this for I feel cautioned by the Lord to not share more about him. He is one of my favorite people on the planet. I love him with all my heart for his life impacted mine. By the way, he was asking God, “Why me?”
Please understand we weren’t born to die and be buried in a box in a cemetery. If you and I are born again Christians before the funeral or memorial service begins we’re already with our Savior. “To be absent from the body is to be with the Lord”; “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints” are two of my favorite Bible verses. Jesus told the criminal who repented next to Him while dying on his cross, “Today, you shall be with Me in Paradise.“ Isn’t it interesting that Jesus didn’t say, “When you die they will bury you and one day I’ll come and get you.” After seeing my dad in his resurrected body in a dream four years after Jesus took him I know this scripture is true.
If you are suffering now from a terrible disease and you are a born again Christian what are you doing about it? You probably have been to a doctor and been given some medicine or have received some treatment like radiation but is that all you’re going to do? Chances are that is it for no one has preached that Jesus is willing to heal you. Everyone knows He is able but few realize He is the same yesterday, today and forever as the scriptures teach us. I know God is still in the healing business for I’ve experienced it and have been blessed to extend his hand to some suffering.
During the thirty plus years I’ve been writing what He places in my heart I’ve shared many testimonies but I will share this one again to show you just how willing the Lord is to heal. I was ministering communion at the altar rail of our church here in Destin when I came upon a woman crying. I knelt down close to her and whispered, why are you crying? She looked up and said, “I have a bad heart and when I get back to Atlanta the doctors are going to operate on me and I’m so afraid.” I said, I believe Jesus can heal hearts do you believe it too? She gave me a sobbing yes and then I placed my hand on her and simply said, “Thank you Jesus for healing her heart.”
About a month later she and her husband returned to Destin and again at the altar she asked me if I remembered her. I said no for I was taking hundreds fishing every week. Then she said, “You prayed.” I instantly pointed to the exact place at the altar where we first met. Then she said, “When I returned to Atlanta the doctors couldn’t find a thing wrong with my heart.” Glory!
Jesus honored our faith and like the woman who touched his garment power poured from our Lord to her. He is still doing this all over the world as I write this for you. So, before you go to the Lord with a “Why me Lord” why not give your life totally to Him and become born again of His Spirit.
By the faith He’s given you accept the benefits of the horrible suffering He endured. His stripes provide healing and His Blood washes us as clean as new snow. His victory over Satan is ours too. We are told, “Greater is He that is in you than he [the devil] who’s in the world.” Do you believe it? If you do, go to Jesus the Great Physician first. He is our healer!
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com
DYING TO LIVE AND LIVING TO DIE
The title of this message wouldn’t go away when it formed in my mind. It is the very essence of understanding eternal life. We who are willing to repent of our sins are in fact dying to our will to continue committing them. Repentance doesn’t mean I’m sorry. It means I’m truly grieved over them for I realize Jesus died for them in my place. This level of remorse moves the heart of God and when you ask for His forgiveness it comes instantly.
Those who are unwilling to repent are those who are living to die. They will reap the whirl wind of a lifestyle opposite of the one for which God planned when He created them. Do you want to see an open secret in the Bible? I will reveal it here for you so you can surrender your life and enter into eternal life while still living on earth. In Ephesians 2: 8-10 we find these words. Do your best to memorize them for they are life to you.
For by grace you have been saved though faith; and that not of yourselves, it the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which GOD PREPARED BEFOREHAND so that we would walk in them.
As you can see, I capitalized the key words to help you see that once we are in Jesus God will reveal to us the life He has prepared for us. As you are already aware you were endowed with special gifts, talents and abilities at your birth so you could bring glory to God. Before we are born again we are able to use them for our own glory. You can see this everywhere where folks are working. Few seem employed by the Lord and I’m not speaking of the clergy. I’m speaking of you and me and the millions like us.
Some of the “successful” folks live miserable lives. They are living for themselves and the devil being unaware of it. Did you know God says that friendship with the world is enmity with Him? Everything here outside of Jesus will be burned up in the end. We will be in the fire too if we aren’t born again. If you don’t believe this read your Bible. It is the only thing we have that is the Word of God. It doesn’t contain it but is the Living Word of God and is able to set folks free and even raise the dead.
I have a good friend and brother in the Lord, Charles Omuroka from Kakamega Kenya, who God has used to do the mighty works of God in America, Africa, Greece, Canada, England plus other places in the world.
I was with him when a woman was dying in Alabama with leukemia. God used Charles to give her more years to serve Him. As Charles prayed for her Esther’s husband Durrant was shaking his head NO. After watching her suffer for years he knew she was dead. Esther had been taken to the hospital in Andalusia to die several times. I went up there one day to comfort the family but she was returned to her home for God to later raise her up. She looked like a stick child when Charles prayed but when he returned to America the following year, she weighed 168 pounds. God had plans and Charles fulfilled them for Him.
Don’t say God can’t use you for He can use anyone, including me. When I was in school I hated to write and would wait until the last moment to do it. When He began to speak to me I first used a ball point pen and tablet. My cousin Betty Moore would type them for me so they could be taken to the local paper for publishing. Thank Goodness she could correct my many mistakes first. She did this for a 52 day column entitled WALKING WITH JESUS. He even gave me the title and told me when to stop. Finally after I had spent about $2,000 He had the amount placed in my hand. God always pays His way. If He is leading you to do something you’d better do it.
He wants to share His Joy with you. I love to write now and this is the second message written tonight. The first is DO NOT FEAR ARMEGEDDON. You can have it by asking for everything is free just like our eternal life. Jesus paid for it on the cross and I love Him. Do you love Him? No matter how much there is far more and I hope your love grows daily, more than yesterday but not as much as it will be tomorrow, Amen?
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com
Those who are unwilling to repent are those who are living to die. They will reap the whirl wind of a lifestyle opposite of the one for which God planned when He created them. Do you want to see an open secret in the Bible? I will reveal it here for you so you can surrender your life and enter into eternal life while still living on earth. In Ephesians 2: 8-10 we find these words. Do your best to memorize them for they are life to you.
For by grace you have been saved though faith; and that not of yourselves, it the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which GOD PREPARED BEFOREHAND so that we would walk in them.
As you can see, I capitalized the key words to help you see that once we are in Jesus God will reveal to us the life He has prepared for us. As you are already aware you were endowed with special gifts, talents and abilities at your birth so you could bring glory to God. Before we are born again we are able to use them for our own glory. You can see this everywhere where folks are working. Few seem employed by the Lord and I’m not speaking of the clergy. I’m speaking of you and me and the millions like us.
Some of the “successful” folks live miserable lives. They are living for themselves and the devil being unaware of it. Did you know God says that friendship with the world is enmity with Him? Everything here outside of Jesus will be burned up in the end. We will be in the fire too if we aren’t born again. If you don’t believe this read your Bible. It is the only thing we have that is the Word of God. It doesn’t contain it but is the Living Word of God and is able to set folks free and even raise the dead.
I have a good friend and brother in the Lord, Charles Omuroka from Kakamega Kenya, who God has used to do the mighty works of God in America, Africa, Greece, Canada, England plus other places in the world.
I was with him when a woman was dying in Alabama with leukemia. God used Charles to give her more years to serve Him. As Charles prayed for her Esther’s husband Durrant was shaking his head NO. After watching her suffer for years he knew she was dead. Esther had been taken to the hospital in Andalusia to die several times. I went up there one day to comfort the family but she was returned to her home for God to later raise her up. She looked like a stick child when Charles prayed but when he returned to America the following year, she weighed 168 pounds. God had plans and Charles fulfilled them for Him.
Don’t say God can’t use you for He can use anyone, including me. When I was in school I hated to write and would wait until the last moment to do it. When He began to speak to me I first used a ball point pen and tablet. My cousin Betty Moore would type them for me so they could be taken to the local paper for publishing. Thank Goodness she could correct my many mistakes first. She did this for a 52 day column entitled WALKING WITH JESUS. He even gave me the title and told me when to stop. Finally after I had spent about $2,000 He had the amount placed in my hand. God always pays His way. If He is leading you to do something you’d better do it.
He wants to share His Joy with you. I love to write now and this is the second message written tonight. The first is DO NOT FEAR ARMEGEDDON. You can have it by asking for everything is free just like our eternal life. Jesus paid for it on the cross and I love Him. Do you love Him? No matter how much there is far more and I hope your love grows daily, more than yesterday but not as much as it will be tomorrow, Amen?
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com
WHAT'S UP WITH CHRISTIANS
Did you know Jesus said, “If you aren’t gathering with Me you are scattering“? “If you aren’t for Me you are against Me”? I suspect most who claim Jesus as their Savior haven’t heard Him say these things. It is a trap to think that once you say, “I believe in Jesus” you are safe. Folks there are many verses in the Bible that tell us there is more to the Christian walk. Do you want to know more? Read on and let’s see if we can find out.
In my opinion the most important chapter in the Bible for today is Matthew 25 for the Lord is telling us what He will say to those who loved Him [the least of His brothers] while living on earth and those who didn’t. You can argue with me that we are saved by GRACE and I will agree but from that point on there is much to accomplish for Him. In this chapter Jesus pointed out that those welcomed into Heaven are those who fed the hungry, clothed the naked, gave drink to the thirsty, visited the sick and imprisoned and invited in the stranger. Does this sound like “work” to you? Folks it isn’t work it’s free flowing love.
Work, in my mind, is what we do to earn something for the effort and time spent. Love is a simple and natural way of living our lives in Him. Do you recall we are told to live in Him and allow His Words to live in us? This means He has absolute control of us in the best sense of the word “control“. Jesus isn’t a task master but One who leads by His own examples. His disciples watched him in his ministry and then he sent 70 of them to go out and so the same. Do you recall they came back so excited that the devil was subject to them? He told them it was far more important that their names are written down in Heaven. Is your name written down in His Book?
The moment we’re born again there’s some writing going on in Heaven. Our names are recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life and the Lord is going to keep us in the palm of His hand and no one can snatch us from it either. I can’t fathom anyone jumping from it but I suppose we could. This brings up His warnings of the apostasy. Do you know many will fall away in the last days? They will for one reason, they were never born again. Once Jesus is living inside us and we have died to our own life we are safe. But, for those who attend worship services and live their own lives too I suspect they are part of the group that will be lost. I once was one myself.
Why isn’t this preached is beyond me. Please read the five chapters of First John and see what the Lord says to you. I call it a book filled with dynamite. It has enough for anyone to come into a saving relationship with God and then, all they will need to walk it out. One of the “gems” within the first chapter is verse 9.
“If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action]. Amplified Bible
I hate to use it, for when I do it means I’ve strayed from my Lord. Do you recall He gave His life for us so we don’t “have to” sin anymore? We sin after temptation once we’re born again. Before then it’s the natural thing to do for most folks. If we didn’t have the 10 Commandments to warn us most would be breaking them constantly, but not after being born again. If you are one who is sinning all the time I must warn you, you may still be lost. If you are do what everyone must do, go to Jesus and admit it. As you do, seek His forgiveness and you will find it.
Then do what most don’t do, “receive” Jesus as your Lord. I believe we inhale His Spirit when we do. It’s His Spirit within us that makes us His. I believe the devil and his angels [demons] believe in Jesus more than any human. They know what’s going to happen to them too. Do you remember the demons cast out of the demoniac? After begging Jesus to not be sent to hell and to be sent into some hogs near by the whole herd of about 2000 rushed into the lake and drowned.
If Jesus is in you no one has to tell you. I shed a million tears in repentance and was released into freedom to live and love like Him. Before then I was a miserable person even though working hard in my church. Until we are set free by Jesus we’re slaves to our own appetites and desires. This doesn’t mean we don’t get to do “fun things” afterwards. We do, but they’re generally things that bring joy to others too. Do you want to be one of His? We must surrender to His Lordship for nothing short of it will do!
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com
In my opinion the most important chapter in the Bible for today is Matthew 25 for the Lord is telling us what He will say to those who loved Him [the least of His brothers] while living on earth and those who didn’t. You can argue with me that we are saved by GRACE and I will agree but from that point on there is much to accomplish for Him. In this chapter Jesus pointed out that those welcomed into Heaven are those who fed the hungry, clothed the naked, gave drink to the thirsty, visited the sick and imprisoned and invited in the stranger. Does this sound like “work” to you? Folks it isn’t work it’s free flowing love.
Work, in my mind, is what we do to earn something for the effort and time spent. Love is a simple and natural way of living our lives in Him. Do you recall we are told to live in Him and allow His Words to live in us? This means He has absolute control of us in the best sense of the word “control“. Jesus isn’t a task master but One who leads by His own examples. His disciples watched him in his ministry and then he sent 70 of them to go out and so the same. Do you recall they came back so excited that the devil was subject to them? He told them it was far more important that their names are written down in Heaven. Is your name written down in His Book?
The moment we’re born again there’s some writing going on in Heaven. Our names are recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life and the Lord is going to keep us in the palm of His hand and no one can snatch us from it either. I can’t fathom anyone jumping from it but I suppose we could. This brings up His warnings of the apostasy. Do you know many will fall away in the last days? They will for one reason, they were never born again. Once Jesus is living inside us and we have died to our own life we are safe. But, for those who attend worship services and live their own lives too I suspect they are part of the group that will be lost. I once was one myself.
Why isn’t this preached is beyond me. Please read the five chapters of First John and see what the Lord says to you. I call it a book filled with dynamite. It has enough for anyone to come into a saving relationship with God and then, all they will need to walk it out. One of the “gems” within the first chapter is verse 9.
“If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action]. Amplified Bible
I hate to use it, for when I do it means I’ve strayed from my Lord. Do you recall He gave His life for us so we don’t “have to” sin anymore? We sin after temptation once we’re born again. Before then it’s the natural thing to do for most folks. If we didn’t have the 10 Commandments to warn us most would be breaking them constantly, but not after being born again. If you are one who is sinning all the time I must warn you, you may still be lost. If you are do what everyone must do, go to Jesus and admit it. As you do, seek His forgiveness and you will find it.
Then do what most don’t do, “receive” Jesus as your Lord. I believe we inhale His Spirit when we do. It’s His Spirit within us that makes us His. I believe the devil and his angels [demons] believe in Jesus more than any human. They know what’s going to happen to them too. Do you remember the demons cast out of the demoniac? After begging Jesus to not be sent to hell and to be sent into some hogs near by the whole herd of about 2000 rushed into the lake and drowned.
If Jesus is in you no one has to tell you. I shed a million tears in repentance and was released into freedom to live and love like Him. Before then I was a miserable person even though working hard in my church. Until we are set free by Jesus we’re slaves to our own appetites and desires. This doesn’t mean we don’t get to do “fun things” afterwards. We do, but they’re generally things that bring joy to others too. Do you want to be one of His? We must surrender to His Lordship for nothing short of it will do!
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com
Friday, January 1, 2010
FLYING WITH JESUS
FLYING WITH JESUS
How about it folks, do you want to fly with the Lord? Any Jesus that can walk on water can fly too. I look forward to the shout promised in 1st Thessalonians 4: 13-18. If you aren’t familiar with these verses read them today for they will give you a “lift”. There are some who don’t believe this will happen anytime soon and I respect them. They are going to be the most surprised when in a split second they are zooming upwards to meet Jesus in the clouds. The last verse says to comfort one another with these words.
God knows what He is doing for all who are His are comforted like He wants. If you aren’t comforted please read carefully what He is giving me for you here. He loves you with an incredible love and it’s called agape or unconditional. This means even though you may be a terrible sinner like I was He wants you for a son or daughter. Yes, He wants to adopt you into His eternal family. Can you grasp this? I bet most can’t but trust me Jesus paid for your sinfulness. It was His Blood that God would use to wash us as clean as new snow. It took a while to wash me and that is why I love Him so much. “He who has been forgiven much, loves much” applies to me.
What will happen if you don’t accept God’s offer of forgiveness and inclusion into His family? The Bible says you will be judged with all sinners at the Great White Throne. Just outside of it is a pass way to Hell. It says angels will grab you and toss you into a fire that doesn’t consume. Jesus said this place was a place of torment. Why make a mockery of His death for you by turning your back on Him. You are not too bad for Him to save you, listen to John 3:16 from the Amplified Bible my favorite.
For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.
Now listen to verse 36 of the same chapter and it should make you fearful.
And he who believes in (has faith in, clings to, relies on) the Son has (now possesses) eternal life. But whoever disobeys (is unbelieving toward, refuses to trust in, disregards, is not subject to) the Son will never see (experience) life, but [instead] the wrath of God abides on him. [God's displeasure remains on him; His indignation hangs over him continually.]
Why would anyone not take God up on His wonderful offer is a mystery to me. Hopefully you are being led right now to surrender your all to Jesus for no one has a guarantee of another day here on earth. Only God knows when we are going to die and He isn’t telling us in advance. As I write now there are thousands taking their last breath here in America I want everyone to go to Heaven but Jesus said only a few will make it. He said, “I Am the Way, the Truth and the Life and no one can come up to the Father but by Me. Do you believe Him? Lord, I hope so.
Christianity is not a religion it is an intimacy with God through a living faith in Jesus. Many denominations are way off base and can or should I say will lead you to death. One highly thought of by some believes that Jesus and Satan are brothers. They have Bibles but go by their own book or books. One thing that should be a red flag is they “require” a 10% tithe. In the Old Testament the last Book Malachi there is an admonition to not rob God of offerings and tithes. There is a promise with it that says, “God will open the windows of Heaven and pour out a blessing until there is no more need.“
May I remind you this is the Old Covenant made between God and Moses and the people of Israel. In the New Covenant [Testament] we see in Acts where some brought much more than 10%. Personally I go by the Words in the New where we are told “The sons of God are those who follow the Spirit of God.” Whatever God wants from me He has it instantly.
Did you know that the moment you surrender your life to Jesus you are handing over all you have or hope to have too? Folks, He is buying us with His Blood. If you want to know what you are worth consider what His Blood is worth. You have become “priceless” and should never forget that we have become the “servants” of God with an eternal future in Heaven. If you forget God will discipline you, if you’re truly His. This is why I beg God to discipline me for I know it confirms He is my Heavenly Father. Because I ask it is always gentle even when He could take me to the woodshed.
What possessions do we have that is worth not going to Heaven? Nothing should be your answer. If it is, prepare to fly with Him. If you need me I’ll be here until He calls my name. Please pray for me! Glory Hallelujah!
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com
How about it folks, do you want to fly with the Lord? Any Jesus that can walk on water can fly too. I look forward to the shout promised in 1st Thessalonians 4: 13-18. If you aren’t familiar with these verses read them today for they will give you a “lift”. There are some who don’t believe this will happen anytime soon and I respect them. They are going to be the most surprised when in a split second they are zooming upwards to meet Jesus in the clouds. The last verse says to comfort one another with these words.
God knows what He is doing for all who are His are comforted like He wants. If you aren’t comforted please read carefully what He is giving me for you here. He loves you with an incredible love and it’s called agape or unconditional. This means even though you may be a terrible sinner like I was He wants you for a son or daughter. Yes, He wants to adopt you into His eternal family. Can you grasp this? I bet most can’t but trust me Jesus paid for your sinfulness. It was His Blood that God would use to wash us as clean as new snow. It took a while to wash me and that is why I love Him so much. “He who has been forgiven much, loves much” applies to me.
What will happen if you don’t accept God’s offer of forgiveness and inclusion into His family? The Bible says you will be judged with all sinners at the Great White Throne. Just outside of it is a pass way to Hell. It says angels will grab you and toss you into a fire that doesn’t consume. Jesus said this place was a place of torment. Why make a mockery of His death for you by turning your back on Him. You are not too bad for Him to save you, listen to John 3:16 from the Amplified Bible my favorite.
For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.
Now listen to verse 36 of the same chapter and it should make you fearful.
And he who believes in (has faith in, clings to, relies on) the Son has (now possesses) eternal life. But whoever disobeys (is unbelieving toward, refuses to trust in, disregards, is not subject to) the Son will never see (experience) life, but [instead] the wrath of God abides on him. [God's displeasure remains on him; His indignation hangs over him continually.]
Why would anyone not take God up on His wonderful offer is a mystery to me. Hopefully you are being led right now to surrender your all to Jesus for no one has a guarantee of another day here on earth. Only God knows when we are going to die and He isn’t telling us in advance. As I write now there are thousands taking their last breath here in America I want everyone to go to Heaven but Jesus said only a few will make it. He said, “I Am the Way, the Truth and the Life and no one can come up to the Father but by Me. Do you believe Him? Lord, I hope so.
Christianity is not a religion it is an intimacy with God through a living faith in Jesus. Many denominations are way off base and can or should I say will lead you to death. One highly thought of by some believes that Jesus and Satan are brothers. They have Bibles but go by their own book or books. One thing that should be a red flag is they “require” a 10% tithe. In the Old Testament the last Book Malachi there is an admonition to not rob God of offerings and tithes. There is a promise with it that says, “God will open the windows of Heaven and pour out a blessing until there is no more need.“
May I remind you this is the Old Covenant made between God and Moses and the people of Israel. In the New Covenant [Testament] we see in Acts where some brought much more than 10%. Personally I go by the Words in the New where we are told “The sons of God are those who follow the Spirit of God.” Whatever God wants from me He has it instantly.
Did you know that the moment you surrender your life to Jesus you are handing over all you have or hope to have too? Folks, He is buying us with His Blood. If you want to know what you are worth consider what His Blood is worth. You have become “priceless” and should never forget that we have become the “servants” of God with an eternal future in Heaven. If you forget God will discipline you, if you’re truly His. This is why I beg God to discipline me for I know it confirms He is my Heavenly Father. Because I ask it is always gentle even when He could take me to the woodshed.
What possessions do we have that is worth not going to Heaven? Nothing should be your answer. If it is, prepare to fly with Him. If you need me I’ll be here until He calls my name. Please pray for me! Glory Hallelujah!
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com
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