Fortress of Joy
  • Home
  • About
  • Schedule
  • Visitors
  • 2020 Faith Family Camp
  • Childrens Church
  • Youth Outreach
  • Marriage Ministry
  • Women's Ministry
  • S.O.B.E.R.
  • Life Words
  • Newsletters
  • Giving

bringing
the word
​to life

Picture
Being an ignorant fellow is not a crime until it comes to the knowledge of God. I was ignorant of God for the first thirty years of my life because I was taught by ignorant men.  Men who are deceived teach their deception and enlightened men teach the truth.  I had a major problem, I didn’t know where to go to find truth, my church had no faith in the Bible.  My mother bought a large gold paged Bible and put it on the coffee table.  Before any of us could touch it or hold it we had to put on clean clothes and wash our hands.  I tried to read from it one time but I think it was written in Latin.  The last time I saw it, it was in a stack of Outdoor Life magazines, and my little sister used color crayons to mark it up.
 
Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father forgive them; for they know not what they do.
 
In my ignorance I prayed to statues and dead people, but Jesus forgave me.  Jesus is far more interested in establishing a relationship with us than chiding us for our ignorance.  I had no idea how stupid I thought until I was saved from myself.  We are surrounded by ignorant people but we can’t judge them because we were one of them.  The folks who know better but continue the wrong path are the ones who are headed for trouble.  Men who are offered the truth but reject it will also answer to God and no excuse they dream up will pardon them.
 
1 Timothy 1:13 The Apostle Paul said, I was a blasphemer, a persecutor and a murderer: but I obtained mercy because I did ignorantly.

 
Seems like to me that God is willing to forgive any sin we make in order to have us in His presence.  He forgave the men who crucified His Son onto the cross.  He forgave them while they were driving the nails into His Son’s hands and feet.  Some folks don’t think they ever need forgiveness because they don’t ever do anything wrong.  They may be the nicest people in the world, well, they may be the nicest people in hell.  No one in hell is ignorant but that’s a hell of a place to acknowledge the truth.
 
If you don’t meet Jesus in this life, you will never meet Him.

 
God wants just one thing from us, He wants us to acknowledge the truth and repent.  Some folks spend their entire life fabricating excuses and in one minute they could repent and not need any of their excuses.  Some folks won’t repent because they can’t figure out why God would want them.  Well you really won’t know until you make the connection, then you will discover that He loves you!  How can God love a sinner?  Because He is willing to forgive all of our sins.  Just let God be God, some folks want to argue with His way of doing things, as if they have a better way.
 
Isaiah 43:25 I am He that blots out your sins for mine own sake, and will not remember your sins.
 
So, not only does the Lord forgive us but He forgets our past.  The devil likes to remind us but there’s nothing to remember, so don’t.  God wants us to forget our past and focus on Him, just let the Lord love you.  Ignorance is a choice, don’t choose it, choose to know the One who loves you.  


a world full of hate

8/24/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
​One would think that if you just be a Christian and attend church occasionally, no one would bother you.  But this is not the case, anyone who is committed to living for Christ is hated by the world.  Why do they hate us?
 
Mathew 24:12 Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
             
People who are addicted to sin do not have the God kind of love, they have love but it is performance based.  If you do something that benefits them they love you but if you oppose their lifestyle they will hate you.  
 
The church is the conscience of the world.
 
The Lord told me this years ago, the world has had its conscience seared with a hot iron.  They call good evil and evil good, this is a fulfillment of Isaiah the prophet.  The church has become an enemy to th
e sinner because they call sin, sin.  The world hates those who call them to accountability, they do not like to be judged.  If they spurn the judgement in this world, how do you suppose they will feel when they stand before the great white throne?  We can judge ourselves now or we can put it off and let the Lord make the final call!  Who would judge themselves?  Those who love the Lord, those who believe Him.    
 
John 15:18 If the world hate you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.
 
The world doesn’t even know Jesus and yet they hate Him!  If a sinner closes his ears to the truth, can he then be exempt from it?  Only in their mind.  God will not be mocked, every man will reap what he sows.  If you are a supporter of our president you are hated, they do not believe he should be in that office, they believe a woman should be in there.  They hate our president because he follows our laws and is endeavoring to keep his promises.  The world hates everything that is right and just because it’s contrary to their agenda. 
 
Proverbs 26:2 Curses cannot hurt you unless you deserve them.  They are like birds that fly by and never settle.

When the world hates you they will spew their desire on your life, but because it’s a fake curse it will not harm you.  We must never allow ourselves to be shaken by what the world speaks over us, they are just words that fall to the ground.
 
1 Corinthians 4:3 It is a very small thing that I should be judged of you or of man’s     judgement: I judge not mine own self.
 
Paul politely and firmly told the people that what they thought of him meant nothing to him.  He paid attention to what Jesus the righteous judge said about him, not people.  If a person gives heed to everything others say to him, he is no longer his own person.  He will find himself defending the desires of people he may not even agree with.  Folks, we cannot stop people from hating us unless we compromise our convictions.  Can’t we all just get along?  Only if we all agree with the Words of Jesus.  We will not be able to walk with those who hate our Lord.



0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    OFFERING DECLARATION
    November 24, 2019


    My trust is in the Lord,
    therefore I live in hope.

    I no longer walk by sight,
    I live by the faith of Jesus.

    My life is in His hands,
    I will fear no evil.


    I am blessed of the Lord,
    so I put all my hope in Him.
    PRAYER FOCUS
    HOLIDAY SEASON
    Nehemiah 8:10
    Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat, drink the  sweet drink, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
     
    RELATIONSHIPS
    1. Separation from Family and Friends. (Examples: Military, Prison, 
          Hospital)
    2.   Praying against loneliness and isolation. (Yourself/Others)
    3. Communication   Romans 12:10 Act in love; prefer one another in honor.
    4.   Peace of God will reign in our homes.
          
    FINANCES
    1.   Pray about unrealistic expectations of buying and receiving gifts.
    2.   Ask God for strategies and ideas that fit your budget and talents.
    3. Pray for wisdom about what organizations you can help and be  realistic about how much money you can spend toward their need.
    4. Pray for increase in finances. God will supply all our needs through 
          Christ Jesus.
     
    COUNTRY/CITY
    1.   Peace of God throughout this Season
    2.   Protection for all from enemies seen and unseen
    3.   Praying for God assignments
    4.   Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with us!

    RSS Feed

Contact Us
(406) 442-1819
support.fortress@aol.com
720 Faw Rd
Helena, Mt
59602
  • Home
  • About
  • Schedule
  • Visitors
  • 2020 Faith Family Camp
  • Childrens Church
  • Youth Outreach
  • Marriage Ministry
  • Women's Ministry
  • S.O.B.E.R.
  • Life Words
  • Newsletters
  • Giving