Watchman----Billy Blankenship--ud -1/3/2012

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Today, we see much confusion in the Church world. There are Church splits-false doctrines-false prophets-envy-strife-jealousy-pride-and, apostasy unparalleled in the history of the Church.

With the confusion in the Churches, along with the "false teachings" that are running rampant, many are just throwing up their hands and calling it quits! Some backslide altogether, while others just refuse to attend the Churches that are promoting these false teachings. What do we do? Where do we go-ask many fine sincere Christians? As they look around at all of the nonsense going on in some of the Churches, they wonder, is it really worth it to follow Christ? Is all of the excitement, and hype I see generated in some of the services for real? Are they of God?

We find the answer to this life long question, in the 21^st Chapter of John. It is as much for us today, (maybe more so) as it was in the days when Jesus spoke these challenging words to Peter. After asking Peter for the" third time" if he loved Him:

V 17...Peter answered Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Peter was concerned as he ask Jesus: "What is going to happen to John"? Today, many fall by the wayside, as we see the "apostasy" that is upon us, and, as we see many today just "playing Church", many are asking: "What about me"? I see all of the corruption and the greed in the Christian Media.  If many of these guys are crooks, what is going to happen to me? Jesus is saying to you,, the same thing He told Peter: WHAT IS THAT TO YOU-FOLLOW ME!

There will always be crooks, and charlatans. Jesus is still being sold in many ministries today, for "thirty pieces of silver", or, the "hundredfold blessing"! I have seen many a person stop following the Lord in the 42 years I have been a Christian. I have seen Ministries fail and fall, that I would never have dreamed of falling. In the past 15 years, large Ministries have fallen prey to the devil, as "greed and sex" toppled them, and their Ministries forever! When one Ministry collapsed due to gross sin, I literally laid on my face in the Church, and prayed that God would forgive, and restore this man's ministry.

If my eyes, and my faith, had been on this Minister, I would have quit also. I could have said: If "he can't make it" there is no use for me trying. I loved, and had great confidence in this ministry. But even though he had failed, God was still speaking to my heart in essence: WHAT IS THAT TO YOU? FOLLOW ME!

It is no time now to turn back! No time to place all of your trust in man! It is no time now, to measure our lives by the failures of others. If a brother or sister does fall by the wayside, pick them up if you can, but don't quit! Don't measure your relationship with God, by Mom, or Dad! Should they fail (God forbid), what is that to you? Follow the Lord!  We are to close home now, to even think of quitting or looking back! All the devil has to offer, is heartache, pain, misery, deception, and a lasting Hell for all of his followers for all eternity.

What if Jesus would ask you, the same question He asked Peter? What if Jesus told you in the same manner, that you would die to bring (glory to God) V 19, would you continue your walk with the Lord? Peter wasn't promised a new Church to Pastor, or, to elevate him in his group, he was only told how HE WAS GOING TO DIE! What about John-Peter asked? Jesus was actually saying to Peter: "Don't worry about him, that is my business what happens to John, WHAT IS THAT TO YOU, FOLLOW THOU ME"!

Listen very closely, those of you who are listening by "Short Wave Radio", and those of you that are reading this message, you too can well be called upon to give the "ultimate sacrifice" in these last days also. I know, some of you think you won't be here, you are waiting on the  "Secret Rapture". But YOU WILL BE HERE if you are alive, and, you will be given an ultimatum, to deny Christ, or to give your life! What about those that don't have to die for Christ, what about them? What is that to you? Follow the Lord.

This was not the first time that Peter had heard Jesus speak these words. A little earlier in life, he had been fishing with his brother Andrew on the sea of Galilee, when someone passed by. For the first time, Peter heard these words:

Once again, Peter had heard the Master speak those compelling-commanding-far reaching words: FOLLOW ME! There are many Ministers tonight, that are somewhat misleading their congregation, maybe not intentionally, but still misleading them. An altar call is given, and the invitation to come forward and just "accept Jesus into your heart". It seems so simple, and a quick end to all of the troubles in life. The time is not taken many times  to explain by the Minister, that simply because you pray and invite Jesus Christ into your heart, things in many ways are still the same! You still have to get up early and go to work, the neighbor still doesn't like you-perhaps less now, once you tell him you are serving God. Sickness still comes-death is still around-and all of life's problems are not solved, because of your commitment to Christ.

One lady told me: "I don't know what it is, since I have started praying (going to Church) it is called here in the Mountains, I have more problems now than I ever had before"! I said dear Lady, if you have started praying or serving God, just so everything will all work out smoothly, you are serving Him for the wrong reason! Remember, you will never run into the devil, as long as you are both going the same way! It is when you make an (about face) an honest conversion, a solid commitment to Christ, that opposition starts. Many cannot stand the attack of the enemy, and quit immediately.

Satan may work through, or with, your children! Your Husband, or wife my go completely off the deep end at your conversion to Christ. He may do everything possible to get you, to go back to your old life style-what ever it may have been. "Many have been the fathers, that have just walked off and left their  responsibility of raising his family". You will have to have settled it in your heart, that whatever comes or goes, you are going to FOLLOW CHRIST! It is not an option-you have made your decision to obey God and His Word. There is no Christian growth without trials and tests! They make us strong, so that we can hold up under any adversity.

Things may get worse, or, they may get better, but whichever happens,  your mind should be made up, that you are going to FOLLOW THE LORD. The battle of our faith will never get easier! This is a battle to the finish! We all must fight the good fight of faith. The Christian walk is not some "spectator sport"! So, if times are hard FOLLOW HIM! If the husband refuses to repent or serve God, FOLLOW HIM! If the whole Church backslides, what is that to you? FOLLOW HIM!

If  Evangelist's lie on TV. like some of them often do-what is that to you-FOLLOW HIM! Let nothing, or no one, keep you from serving God! Jesus has given us His promise- that He will NEVER LEAVE US, NOR FORSAKE US, no one else on this earth can make such a promise! The battle is almost over-the City is coming into view- the coming of the Lord isn't as long as it has been, and, it is not as short as it is going to get! Press on-keep praying-keep giving-keep serving-keep loving-keep witnessing-don't stop, or, look back.

When we sometimes watch our friends make a shamble of their faith, and, as much as we love them, we must still FOLLOW HIM! Do you think Peter got angry at the Lord's answer, about "his great concern of what was going to happen to John"? Why do you think that particular passage of scripture is in the Bible? Could it tell us something? I think so. One of my boys asked me a few years ago: Dad, why was it that you never quit serving God over the years, was it because of loosing Sissy? (Our only daughter). I said no Son, that had absolutely nothing to do with it. I said: "it was difficult for me to believe, that God could still love me after my back-sliding, drunkenness, debauchery, robbing, and even swearing that I would NEVER pray again".

I had made the comment once to God: "I don't need God, I don't need any body, I'll make it on my own". Once while drinking in the Forest Preserve in Niles, Illinois, a storm came up. I stood up and shook a beer bottle into the heavens and said: "If you are really up there, strike us all down dead"! My Brother in-law (who is now dead) said Bill, don't talk like that! I said Son, "A God that could still love me after all of that, I HAVE NEVER WANTED TO TURN BACK, NOT EVEN ONCE"! Through deaths, and trials, what ever may come, His answer is the same for me today, as it was for Peter yesterday. What ever happens Bill Blankenship, WHAT IS THAT TO YOU? FOLLOW THOU ME!

If the Church could only realize, and see with a spiritual eye,  the great danger that America is in right now, she would get about the Father's business of winning souls. The "good time sermons" would end, and a more serious message given to the "sleeping Church"! Many Churches today are leaving the paths of holiness, and righteousness, and following the worldly "entertainment driven" generation. A laugh and a smile, as they circle the isle, and very little commitment is shown in their lives.

In serving Christ, there ARE NO OPTIONS- NO ALTERNATIVE-NO TURNING BACK-NO PLAN -B-,NO FOLLOWING THE PREACHER. Jesus is still saying today: FOLLOW THOU ME! I am trusting that you will see the seriousness of following the Lord, the seriousness of a much needed commitment to Christ! Personally, I don't think much about all of the "re-commitments" in Church services! It only serves to prove, that you never really made a serious commitment to begin with! If you purpose in your heart to fully follow Christ, you will never have to make another commitment!

May your commitment be a once in a life time choice, that regardless of what ever happens, YOU WILL FOLLOW HIM! God bless.

If we can be of any help in answering any of your spiritual questions, please use the e-mail address below. If you would tell others of our web site, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!

Yours because of Calvary

an unworthy Servant

Brother: Billy Blankenship

E-mail address: globaloutreach2@msn.com

Web site: www.sigm.net