​This devotion will be in the form of a testimony, because it is a powerful example of the power of prayer, and God's hand moving in situations that would seem impossible. It can encourage, and strengthen you in situations you may be facing as a Christian, and have become discouraged. This remains one of the most profound experiences of my life, that God takes me back to often, to remind me of His ability to change any situation.

In the early 80's I took a home health job in my area, in the village just 2 miles away. My hours were from Friday evening through to Monday morning, around the clock. It was a very good paying position, and just 5 min. away from my home, my daughter was young, and my husband was with her all the time, if anything happened he could call me and I'd be there in a short time. The couple were elderly, in their 90's, Lester and Susan Worthley were long time residences of the village, and had run the local store many years.

In the late winter of 1985, one evening when I was helping Susan, with a bed bath, and preparing her for the night, she spoke of wanting to go home to heaven. She talked about Lester, and shared that she was concerned for him, because she had prayed for him many years, for his salvation, but knew he still had not really become a Christian. She also spoke of his involvement with freemasonry, and believed this was part of the problem. I knew she was right, and had been there caring for them several times when other men who were freemasons had come to visit Lester, and tried to get him to come to their meetings. He was a high ranking mason, but had not been involved during my time working there. He refused when I was there, and knowing their health conditions, I knew he didn't go because he didn't feel well enough to, but he didn't tell them. It was for the best, really. As I continued to get Susan ready for the night, I asked her if she'd like me to pray with her, she said yes, and I prayed a short prayer for her, for Lester's salvation, and for the Lord's peace for Susan through the night. 

As I thought about what Susan had told me, I asked the Lord what to do. I felt the Holy Spirit prompt me to call another woman who was also working caring for them, who was a friend of mine. She worked the day shift through the week caring for them, and she was a Christian, and we both went to the same fellowship together. She was one of the worship leaders, and her husband had recently gotten saved also. I called her, and told her what Susan had said. She said we could pray together for her and the situation with Lester the next Friday evening when I came to replace her for the weekend. So, the next week, when I arrived to replace Barbara for my weekend shift, we went out to the front porch, and prayed for them both. Barb also knew about Lester being a freemason and she agreed, it was a big problem why he had not opened his heart to the Lord, and hadn't accepted Christ as Savior. Our prayer was simple and direct. We asked that the Father would undertake for Susan, and answer her prayers for Lester, and that He would work through the circumstances, and deal with Lester's heart, and that he would come to be truly born again, and receive Christ as Savior, and renounce freemasonry and reject it. We also rebuked the spirits of freemasonry, and bound them, and commanded them to release Lester. We asked this to be done in the Name of Jesus Christ. Then, we hugged each other, we both agreed to now wait, and watch what God would do, and Barb left to go home. I went in the house to begin my duties for the night.
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Shortly after this, Susan began to refuse food, and many liquids. Both Barb and I knew what this meant. We continued to encourage her to eat, and changed her diet to try to get more nutrition into her, milkshakes, smoothies with fruits and vegetables, and liquids she enjoyed, but we didn't try to force her. We honored her choices. Within a few months she had come to the place where she would not take any nourishment, and needed to be placed in nursing care. Shortly after this, she passed away, not seeing her prayers yet answered for Lester. She was 93 at the time of her passing.

​This of course, devastated Lester. He became very despondant, all he thought of was Susan. They had celebrated their 70th anniversary a few months before she had gone, they had been married longer than many people live. One evening in the fall that same year, Barbara called me, and said Lester was asking to see me, he wanted to talk to me about something, and asked if I could come down and try to comfort him. When I got there, he was in the living room with Barb, and I sat across from him, and letting him know I was there, his eyesight was very bad, but he knew my voice. I asked him how I could help him. "I miss Susan, and want to know I'll see her again." I replied "Susan is with the Lord, and in heaven. Do you have the assurance of going to heaven when you die Lester"? "No, I don't". Again I replied "You can change that now, if you will open your heart and ask Jesus Christ to forgive your sins, and come into your heart and receive Him as your Lord and Savior, and you will need to renounce freemasonry, because it is a cult, would you like Barb and I to pray for you, to do this"? "Yes, please pray for me, and tell me what to do." Barb and I got up, went to his side, touching his hands, and asked him to repeat the prayer with us. "Lord Jesus, I admit I'm a sinner, please forgive my sins, and come into my heart, and save me. I believe you rose from the dead, and are coming again. I renounce everything about freemasonry, and ask for you to forgive me for being involved in it. In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen." Lester had repeated it all, and as we watched, his countenance changed immediately-we saw the power of the Holy Spirit come down on him, and he began to cry like a baby, he reached up to hug us both, and thanked us, with tears flowing down his cheeks. Lester was 95 years old, and now saved, a brand new baby, in Christ. After sitting and sharing some scripture with him from Barb's bible, we both helped him get ready for bed, it was getting dark. As we were undressing him, Barb worked at taking off his shirt, somehow as he pulled out his arm the freemason ring he had always worn, came off his hand, and flew across the room and hit the closet door! We both turned and looked at each other, and laughed out loud. God was making it clear that what Lester had prayed had been heard, and that ring was not to be put back on him. I took it and put it into a small box in the top dresser drawer, and closed it.

Lester began to refuse to eat also soon after this, and within a few months he also passed away. We both knew God had answered Susan's prayer in a miraculous way, God used the loss of Susan to break Lester's hard heart, and open it, to receive Christ, and salvation, in the nick of time. Now, they were both united in heaven, with Christ. This was a profound testimony to us, and other's in the area at the time, of the power of God, to save anyone, no matter what the situation.
 
I attended the funeral, which was also a testimony. The minister who performed the service was also from a nearby village, who had come regularly to visit the Worthley's and check on them. As he began the service, a group of local freemasons walked in, all wearing their freemason garb, and aprons, and interrupted the minister. In the middle of the aisle, they performed several rituals, and made some chantings; this took several minutes. Then they filed into the pew right in front of me and sat down. The minister had allowed them to finish what they were doing, and didn't try to stop them, but when they were done, and seated, he began, and said "First, I'll remind you, that what you did, you did in the house of God, the God of all Creation. You came uninvited, and your rituals, and chants, are not found in the Word of God, anywhere. Your attempts of overriding this Christian burial, has no power over the soul of Lester Worthley, nor where he is now. Before his death, he renounced freemasonry, and became a Child of God, he became born again, he has received Christ as Savior. This from the mouth of two witnesses. You were allowed to do your worthless rituals, but the devil has lost the battle for Lester Worthley, he is in heaven, where Satan can never touch him again. You, and your rituals, were a waste of time. You don't know any better, but I will apologize to the family members, and the loved ones here, for your lack of consideration, and ill manners. Now, the service will continue."

This was one of the most profound, bold confrontations I had ever seen, of a true man of God, boldly rebuking and taking his rightful authority, and using it from the pulpit-the entire congregation gave a loud "Amen". During the service, he more than once loudly proclaimed that Jesus Christ was Lord of all, and the only God and Savior. The freemasons sat in stony silence, and were the first to leave the service.

Many years have come and gone since that event, but it remains embedded in my life, and I go back to it often in my mind, when the battles in my life become fierce, and the devil seems to be winning. The Holy Spirit has been prompting me to post this for quite a while, and know it's because someone else needs to see what God can do, and how He works in circumstances. One of the biggest lessons I've learned in this is, when we pray in faith, and leave it in His hands, we need to just stand and watch, and see Him work. But, we cannot know the cost it may take, how long it will take, or how God will do it-He is God, we are not.
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I've got many other testimonies, of similar answers to prayer, I'll share here as the Lord directs me to. Now, may God use this, for His glory.
Lorna Couillard

​Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:  Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. 1Pe 4:4,5

These verses hold some valuable wisdom that needs to be unpacked. When we do, we will come away encouraged, and strengthened, to go on with God, and leave those who like to go from house to house, causing trouble, and "riot" in the streets.

1. They do not appreciate the motives which influence those who leave them. They feel that it is proper to enjoy the world, and to make life cheerful, and they do not understand what it is to act under a deep sense of responsibility to God, and with reference to eternity. They live for themselves. They seek happiness as the end and aim of life. They have never been accustomed to direct the mind outside of themselves, to another world, and to the account which they must soon render at the Judgment seat of God. Unaccustomed to act from any higher motives than those which pertain to the present world, they cannot appreciate the conduct of those who begin to live and act for eternity.

2. They do not see the folly of sinful pleasures. They are not convinced of the sinfulness of the human soul, and they think it strange that you should abandon a course of life which seems to them so absurd.
 
3.They do not see the force of the argument for walking with God. Not having the understanding of the  importance of the truth and duty that Christians now have, they wonder that you should break off from the pleasures and gaiety of the world, and separate from the mass of their fellow-men. They look at the conduct of Christians as a form of weakness; sometimes as superstition; sometimes as sheer folly; sometimes as madness. They can't comprehend the separation, because they are still in love with the world, while you have set your gaze on the things above, and left them behind, and the world.

4. Their conduct reveals their wicked hearts. Their lives are lived in all excess, meaning, all forms of disorder, troublemaking, mischief with no restraint. They gather others like themselves, to run the streets, in their reckless, meaningless abandon. They target those who live in peace, making them their objects of sport. They like doing much of their trouble in the night hours, but when they run in mass-any hour of the day, they can be seen running the streets and looking for trouble.

These rioters will gather in houses, because they are also busybodies, and will persecute and gossip about the Christian who won't join them, and have shunned their behavior. You'll be called all manner of insults and foul profanity. You will be accused of pride, hypocrisy, every evil thing they can contrive. They'll use every excuse, and twist the truth to paint you as an evil doer. If you won't join with them, they will work to destroy you, and gather other's to help them in doing it.

This is where spiritual warfare-knowing how to pray for the aid and strength to stand against this, is the direction to take. Learn to stand your ground, and gain the spiritual strength to walk on with God, and strengthen your spirit against the evil coming from them.

Peter goes on to describe these types further:
2Pe 2:12  But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; 
2Pe 2:13  And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceiving's while they feast with you; 
2Pe 2:14  Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: 

These people resemble irrational animals which are made to be taken and destroyed. They are like fierce and savage beasts that exercise no control over their appetites, and seem to be made only to be destroyed. These have  fierce and ungovernable passions, headed for destruction, and rush blindly on to it. They exercised no more restraint over their passions than beasts do over their conduct. Their children are taught to behave the same-and grow to be another generation of beasts, like themselves.

Man has reason, and should allow it to control his passions; the brutes have no rational nature,  they will act out their emotions and conduct without restraint. If a man sinks himself to the level of brutes, he must expect to be treated like brutes; and as wild and savage animals.

Paul adds to what Peter teaches, and what their future holds:
Gal 6:7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 
Gal 6:8  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 

Paul's reference here teaches that those who live in the flesh and indulgence, will reap the consequences through the passage of time. Time-is used by God, to produce the reaping harvest the soul has produced; whether it be good, or bad.

The punishment of licentiousness and intemperance in this life commonly produces a loathsome and offensive disease; and when long indulged, the sensualist becomes haggard, and bloated, and corrupted, and sinks into the grave. Such, also, is often the punishment of luxurious living, of a pampered appetite, of gluttony, as well as of the drug addict, or drunkard. But if the punishment does not follow in this life, it will be sure to overtake the sensualist in the world to come. There he shall reap ruin, final and everlasting.

(1) By disease. When I cared for the elderly, there were many who had lived the wild life of drink and excess-who could no longer even turn over in bed, and disease racked their bodies.
(2) In the grave - the home to which the sensualist rapidly travels.
(3) In the world of woe-hell, where there will be no end of punishment, the reaping will be for eternity.

There all shall be corrupt. His virtue - even the semblance of virtue, shall all be gone. His understanding, will, fancy - his whole soul shall be debased and corrupt. No virtue will linger and live on the plains of ruin, but all shall be depravity and woe. Everything in hell is debased and corrupt; and the whole harvest of sensuality in this world and the world to come, is degradation and defilement.

In summary-if you find yourself in the midst of this kind of rioters, and troublemakers, let the word of God give you comfort. Their end is sure, and God knows those who belong to Him. His eyes are on the righteous, and will be their shield and buckler. One day, all will reap what they have sown.
Lorna Couillard

"Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days" (Dan_10:12-13)

We have wonderful teaching here on prayer, and we are shown the direct hindrance from Satan.
Daniel had fasted and prayed twenty-one days, and had a very hard time in prayer. As far as we read the narrative, it was not because Daniel was not a good man, nor because his prayer was not right; but it was because of a special attack of Satan.
The Lord started a messenger to tell Daniel that his prayer was answered the moment Daniel began to pray; but an evil angel met the good angel and wrestled with him, hindering him. There was a conflict in the heavens; and Daniel seemed to go through an agony on earth the same as that which was going on in the heavens.
"We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers? against wicked spirits in high places" (Eph_6:12, margin).
Satan delayed the answer three full weeks. Daniel nearly succumbed, and Satan would have been glad to kill him; but God will not suffer anything to come above that we "are able to bear."
Many a Christian’s prayer is hindered by Satan; but you need not fear when your prayers and faith pile up; for after a while they will be like a flood, and will not only sweep the answer through, but will also bring some new accompanying blessing. -- Sermon
Hell does its worst with the saints. The rarest souls have been tested with high pressures and temperatures, but Heaven will not desert them. -- W. L. Watkinson
​(Source- Streams in the Desert)

This chapter gives a glimpse into the great conflict which is always in progress between heaven and hell. For three weeks the radiant Being who came to Daniel as he prayed and fasted by the great river, was withstood by the mighty fallen spirit, who was concerned with the destinies of the kingdom of Persia; and it was only when he was succored and reinforced that he was able to accomplish the divine errand, Dan_10:13. What a revelation is here-that probably each heathen country is ruled by some wicked spirit in the high places; that the fight is at times almost overpowering even for bright unfallen angels; and that the blessings which are ours are sometimes delayed because of the storms that sweep the ocean through which they come. Perhaps by our prayer we are able to throw an ounce-weight into the scale, and turn the battle. How reassuring the touch of that hand and tender the address of that voice. Who cannot be strong when strengthened by the right hand of God? Go forth into the fight of another day! God holds thy right hand. Be true and strong; thou canst not fail!  F.B. Meyer

By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. Heb. 11:7

We do well to give heed to the description given of the "days of Noah, for our Lord said, that as it was in those days, so shall it be in the days that close the present age.

Mat 24:37  But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 
Mat 24:38  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 
Mat 24:39  And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 
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​The world of that time had made great progress in the arts and civilization of life. But, as it has happened repeatedly all through human history, great luxury produced infamous immorality, cruelty, and widespread indifference to the claims of God. Things took place in those olden times which have their counterpart in the great cities of our time. In its feverish atmosphere sin of every kind abounded, and in mercy to the race, there was no alternative than to bring that wicked generation to an end. "They ate, they drank; they married, and were given in marriage, and knew not, till the flood came and carried them all away."

Amidst all this, Noah lived an unblemished and righteous life. He walked in daily converse with God.

​Gen 6:7  And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. 
Gen 6:8  But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. 

His Almighty Friend was able to reveal to him His intentions. "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him, and He will show them His covenant."

Keep near to God, that you may hear the accents of His still small voice. Our happiest experience is when we walk with Him in unbroken fellowship, and He takes us into covenant with Himself. Through any one individual, whose heart is perfect toward Him, God will save others. We too shall cross the Flood of Death and enter the new life of Resurrection, but we must be quick to detect His voice, and our hands deft to fulfil the revelations of our Divine Teacher and Friend. (Our Daily Walk)

When we read Jesus' account of Noah's day, and use it to compare it to when He will return, several things can be taken from it:

Those of Noah's day lived in a business as usual fashion, nothing out of the ordinary was expected to happen. People were eating, partying, marrying, going from one event to another; many in Noah's day were well to do, every need was met, and pleasures of life were in easy reach.

Their minds were reprobate-scripture tells us all they thought of was evil, continually.

Gen 6:5  And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 

During the years Noah worked on the ark, he and Methuselah both preached a hundred and twenty years, but neither of them succeeded in converting anyone. There was no good to be found among them, no not at any time: the stream of sin was full and strong, and constant; and God saw it. Here is God's resentment of man's wickedness. He did not see it as an unconcerned spectator, but as one injured and affronted by it; he saw it as a tender father sees the folly and stubbornness of a rebellious and disobedient child, which not only angers but grieves him, and makes him wish he had been childless.

Any pastor, bible teacher or leader who feels burnt out, discouraged, and ready to quit, should go back and read this account of Noah, and research what it was like then, and realize we are in the same situation today. You may have a small group of people in a little chapel, a home bible study with a group that doesn't seem to be growing, but keep coming, you may be a weary street preacher that's had a lot of abuse, harassment, ridicule, but seen no proof that your work is getting anyone saved; and wonder if it's time to quit.

Don't let the devil take over your mind, and get you to beat yourself up, if you don't have a lot of people following you. Noah didn't either. Just keep being faithful, and do what God's given you to do. John Wesley said this-and he's right: "We aren't responsible for what people do with our preaching the Word of God, the one who hears it is responsible for what they do with it".

When the time came that God told Noah to go into the ark, and God shut the door; only Noah's family went in with him, eight souls. When the deluge began, it didn't stop until every one standing, who was left out, perished.

This is a sad commentary on our day, because in watching and listening to people today, it is clear, people again are in the same pattern of evil, and wickedness, as before the flood. The saddest part of it is, they do not see themselves as they really are; they are blind, and refuse to do so.

Every gross, heinous, and vile sin is out in the open today-there is no self control, no restraint either in speech, or conduct. Violence, oppression, wantonness, foul profanity is free-flowing. Lying, theft, and rioting in the streets, and open markets is common, its not safe anywhere anymore.

Jesus gives a somber warning at the end of this discourse, that warns us all, to pay attention to the days, for they are evil, and to be watchful:
Mat 24:42  Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 
Mat 24:43  But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 
Mat 24:44  Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. 

Watchfulness is staying awake, keeping our souls in tune with our surroundings, and discerning the events taking place and discerning the times, to not be caught unaware. As the disciples who fell asleep when they were with Jesus in the garden, as he agonized in prayer before going to the cross-we are prone to be dull, and drop into slumber while the devil and his agents are working relentlessly to overtake all those who he finds sound asleep, and drugged by the worlds' pleasures.

Peter gives wise advice in the day we are in, to guide us in the warfare we wage in these end days:
1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 
1Pe 5:9  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 

In summary-an excerpt of comfort from F.B. Meyer:
"All grace is in God for every hour and need, 1Pe_5:10. We too are called to His eternal glory through Christ. The path of suffering, and that path alone, leads to the world where suffering is unknown. The suffering is only for a little while. Perfect, that nothing be lacking; stablish, that we may not waver; strengthen, that we may stand and withstand."

​And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Mat 3:10

In this verse John begins the proclamation of judgment, and the call to repentance, and the  coming Messiah. He begins the work, and paves the way by laying bare the hearts of man. The commentary below opens this verse for us:
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"Laying the axe at the root of a tree is intended to denote that the tree is to be cut down. It was not merely to be trimmed, or to be cut about the limbs, but the very tree itself was to be struck. That is, a searching, trying kind of preaching has been commenced. A kingdom of justice is to be set up. Principles and conduct are to be investigated. No art, no dissimulation, will be successful: People are to be tried by their lives, not by birth or profession. They who are not found to bear this test are to be rejected. The very root shall feel the blow, and the fruitless tree shall fall. This is a beautiful and very striking figure of speech, and a very direct threatening of future wrath. John regarded them as making a fair and promising profession, as trees in blossom do. But he told them, also, that they should bear fruit as well as flowers. Their professions of repentance were not enough. They should show, by a holy life, that their profession was genuine." Albert Barnes

I. The kind of fruit which God requires from us-“good fruit.”

II. The means which God employs to render us productive of this kind of fruit, and which show how reasonable it is that He should expect it from us.
1. God has endowed you with a capacity to produce this kind of fruit.
2. In order to enable you to bring forth good fruit, God has supplied you with the gospel of His Son, which contains the means, motives, and influences of fruitfulness.
3. God has visited you with various dispensations of providence, and with various convictions of conscience.

III. The continued unfruitfulness of some persons, notwithstanding all the means which the God of mercy has employed.
1. Some of these unfruitful persons are sensual and profane.
2. Some are intellectual, moral, and amiable. These can be the pillars of society-always doing good in the community, well-liked; but uncommitted in real faith in Christ, when tested, they will deny Jesus to keep their "good name" to those they want to impress.
3. Some are professors of the gospel. These are the false teachers, and Pharisees, Jesus called them white-washed tombs.

IV. The axe which is lying at the root of such unfruitful persons. Many get the mistaken idea that because long spans of time go on, with no judgment-that it never will happen. But, Johns meaning to this statement was really this:
1. The axe which is lying at your root reminds you of the patience and long-suffering of God.
2. It reminds you of the critical circumstances in which you are placed.
3. It has sometimes admonished you of its being there.

V. The awful condition to which such unfruitful persons are doomed.
1. The nature of this condition is indescribably terrible: “He is hewn down.” The certainty that this condition will be incurred: “He is hewn,” etc. (J. Alexander.)

A fruitless fig-tree was afterward made by our Lord the representative of the whole Jewish nation (Luk_13:6), but here John declares a universal law. What does not bear good fruit shall finally be destroyed.
Cast into the fire. When the tree is not fruitful, or bears useless fruit, it is fit for nothing but to be burned.

Now, moving on further, we get more insight into this verse, as Jesus expands on it.

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits
​ye shall know them. Mat 7:16-20

​In the Sermon On the Mount, Jesus speaks of the analogy between the trees fruit, in the true state of false teachers, but these verses also define the life of somebody claiming to be a Christian. We can break his words down to get deeper understanding.

Points brought out in the verses above:
The fact asserted in this verse is, that a tree is known, not by its leaves, or bark, or form, but by its fruit. The application to the argument is this: “You are to judge of man’s being in league with Satan by his works. If my doctrines and works be properly the works of Satan, then I am corrupt; if not, then your charge is blasphemy. So, on the other hand, if, notwithstanding your professions, your works are the works of the devil, and your doctrines are such as he would teach, it would prove respecting you that which you charge on me.” In this indirect but powerful manner he advances to the charge against them, which he urges in the following verses.
The works will resemble the heart: nothing good can proceed from an evil spirit; no good fruit can proceed from a corrupt heart. Before the heart of man can produce any good, it must be renewed and influenced by the Spirit of God.

These corresponding verses sum up the teachings of Jesus on good an bad fruit; what they are, and what will happen to them.

Gal 5:19  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 
Gal 5:20  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 
Gal 5:21  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Heb 6:8  But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. 
​Jud 1:12  These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; 
Jud 1:13  Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. 
2Pe 2:17  These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 
Rev 20:11  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 
Rev 20:12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 
Rev 20:13  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 
Rev 20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 
Rev 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Whatever we may face in life, Jesus has been there before us. He understands and knows what we deal with, He's endured every kind of suffering and temptation, and has won over every attack of the devil and has won. He will see us through to victory, we need to follow in His steps.

The days we are living in are the most perilous in history. People are losing hope, some have gone through so much, they've ended their own lives, other's are going through great tribulations and persecutions, not knowing what to do. The last three years, has brought untold suffering to many. The message from the bishop in the video below, has much wisdom, and answers that make sense for us, and much encouragement. You may find help, and be blessed by what he has to say.

​Mat 28:1  In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. 
Mat 28:2  And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 
Mat 28:3  His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 
Mat 28:4  And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. 
Mat 28:5  And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 
Mat 28:6  He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 
Mat 28:7  And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. 
Mat 28:8  And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. 
Mat 28:9  And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. 
Mat 28:10  Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. 

​Ere the sun had risen and while the glory of the dawn was faint in the Eastern sky, the women were well on their way. But He whom they sought had gone. How often we look down into the grave of the dead past, and into the vault where we have buried twin-souls; or we peer for help into the diaries, prayers and rites of departed saints or a moribund church-but we do not find the Lord. The divine Leader of souls is not behind us, but before; not in the grave of the dead past, but in the van of the world’s march. Lo, he beckons us on to follow the Ascension mountain and the opened heaven!
The Lord engaged women as messengers of His resurrection. See Psa_68:11. How eagerly they caught His idea, and with what alacrity they endeavored to fulfill it. And as they went He, for whom they went, met them! It is ever thus. We go on His errands, but we do not leave Him as we go. On the contrary, He meets us. See Isa_64:5. F.B. Meyer

​The Easter story
https://www.twosparrowsministry.org/home/the-empty-tomb 
The Easter Story-What Really Happened-Session 1 of 2- Chuck Missler
 https://youtu.be/a0ynmywdBHE
The Easter Story - Part 2 - Chuck Missler
​https://youtu.be/1paDBWxvZR4
The Truth About Easter-As the world celebrates it-
https://youtu.be/pCE1dUoBNuo
​The Pagan Roots of Easter : https://www.thenightwatchman.org/watchman-blog/april-08th-2020