Join us as we continue on a series of parables, with today's two focused on the Great Banquet and the Wedding Feast.

Read them both and reflect on them – use the Bible as a mirror BEFORE you use It as a sword. What can you learn from these two parables in particular that will become a steppingstone for your life and for living a life worth living for Him? He leaves these in your hands to take seriously and obey – after all, one day, He only says “Well done, My good and faithful servant,” to those who actually were.

In our current series of parables, we'll take a deep dive into both the parable of the Prodigal Son and the parable of the Three Servants. I want to encourage you all to reflect on both of these parables. Then, read and reflect on them – use the Bible as a mirror. What can you learn from these two parables in particular that will become a steppingstone for your life and for living a life worth living for Him? He leaves these in YOUR hands to take seriously and obey – after all, one day, He will only say “Well done, My good and faithful servant,” to those who actually were.

The greatest question in life is not do you know Jesus? The greatest question in life is does Jesus know you? Jesus knowing you has nothing to do with your deeds or actions. Jesus knowing you has to do with you putting your trust in him as Savior and Lord. Nothing else matters. If there is any day you want to be known by Jesus it is on that day. Thankfully we don’t have to wait until then to find out. If Jesus is your Savior you are known by him today. This is the hope and confidence we have in Him.

The parable of the 10 virgins is a wakeup call. First to those who don’t know Jesus, but I think it goes beyond that. Remember the virgins did have lamps. I think this is a real wakeup call to those who may go to church but are not really walking with God. In other words, those who have empty lamps. More than ever before if you are not walking the way you should this is the day to get it right. Not only because Jesus could return at any moment but because life is so brief.

The urgency of this story cannot be taken lightly. The parable of 10 virgins is about preparation and readiness. That preparation begins now. If you don’t do anything else in this life, make sure you are ready for His appearing – whether it is at His return, or upon your death. As you can see this is the most important appointment you have to get ready for and you don’t want to miss it.

We live our lives each day typically for ourselves, do we not? I mean, with work, and family, and health, and finances, and the present, and the future, and the direction of our lives – we’re either being reactionary, or we’re being proactive. We suffer daily. In some way, we suffer daily; some, more than others. Our suffering does not compare to the suffering that Jesus endured. But we, just like Him, endure betrayal, false accusations, rejection, abuse, and humiliation. It’s part of the dark and distorted world we live in. Question is, if we’re suffering that for us, and keep pressing forward, why are we not as willing to suffer for Him? Is it because He is unworthy to suffer for? Is it because we don’t need to suffer for His name’s sake? Is it because we have a “Me first” attitude toward life? Is it because we just don’t know what to do or what is expected of us? Is it because we have formed a “comfort bubble” around our homes and selves that shield and protect us from the outside influences and the spiritual darkness and forces that we fight against, as the Bible states? WHAT IS IT? Here’s the answer: It’s all of it and more. Some hold true to many, some hold true to some, but there is a reason, whether or not its conscious or subconscious – regardless, it has the same outcome, which is, we are not willing to suffer for Christ as we our for our own selves. We’re placing ourselves and our needs and wants higher than the will of the Father. We’ve become our own idols. Yeah, it does sound harsh and mean, doesn’t it? Some of you are shaking your heads right now saying, “Nope! That’s not me – never was and never will be,” right? In response to those that are, answer me this question….better yet, answer this question to our Father in Heaven: “HOW are you suffering for Christ?”

What is it that YOU do to work for the will of the Father that you sacrifice your life and happiness, time, energy, resources, and self for? WHAT is it that shows your faith, other than praying, reading the Bible, and going to church? What is it that you do to adhere to Jesus’ calling for all his followers, known as the Great Commission – to spread the good news of the gospel and Him? WHAT DO YOU DO? To those of us who take action and place him higher than ourselves and our lives here on Earth, the actions we take are out of love for Him, out of our faith that produces works, and our need to help lead others to Christ – not simply out of love for Him, but love for our neighbors, as well….the two most important commandments of anyone that can be called a Christian, per Jesus Himself. These actions alone lead us to suffering. These works from faith and love produce endurance, but also produce an earthly amount of suffering.

This episode will tie into the next Shaken Awake Episode as it’s a two-part message. One is about abuse we suffer, and the other is about abuse we should be willing to suffer – all for the name of Christ.

How much of your betrayal, being falsely accused, rejection, abuse, and humiliation is for HIM, and NOT YOU?! His was for you. Why isn’t ours for Him? For He said in John 15:18 – ““If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you.” Question is – does the world hate you or love you? And if it truly does hate you, is it for Christ’s sake, or your own?

Fully surrender to God, not partially. Obey His commands for your life, and you can know the life of abundance that He came to offer. Victory through Christ is within our grips, if we choose to fully surrender to God whatever has a hold on us. Obey Him, even if you don't really want to right now, and discover the genuine and eternal satisfaction that can only come from fully surrendering to God.

God has designed our world so that spiritual beliefs are often mirrored in the physical, if we are willing to see them there. If you are, and if you'll desire God's ways above your own, simply ask Him to show you when you are being tempted by your own desires. Unlike receiving the gift of salvation, which is ours the moment we ask Christ into our hearts, fully surrendering to God is a choice we must make with every breath and fiber of our being.

If you’ve been doing what so many of us have been doing, take heed to the Word of God presented to you in this episode. Dwell in the Word. Search the Word on repentance and allow God and The Holy Spirit to work true repentance into your life if it’s been a sticking point up until now. The different between true repentance and no true repentance is also the difference between Heaven and Hell – yes, it’s that powerful. Repentance changes you inside and out. Non-repentance is another way of living in the flesh with a false excuse and scapegoat

When was the last time you repented, not merely asking for forgiveness over and over? Have you ever?

If not, or if there’s one thing you haven’t truly repented for – today is the best time to do just that.

Don’t wait for tomorrow, for tomorrow is not guaranteed.

Why do atheists seem today more put together than many professing Christians? Because they’re not trying to pretend to be something they’re not. Yes, you heard me right and I’m going to repeat that – someone needs to hear this – It’s because they’re not trying to pretend to be something they’re not. They are who they are and don’t put on a mask. They don’t give themselves a label because they attend an occasional hour long service on a Sunday. They’re not lukewarm and despised by Jesus enough for Him to vomit them out of His mouth, because they are just flat, cold. They are getting the best this life and this world have to offer them, and they’re responding in kind. Heck, some even worship the world and the atmosphere around us, including the universe – they’re that appreciative! As Jesus said many times about many groups – they have their reward here (because they will not receive one in the Kingdom of God). So their best live IS in and of this world – because their next will be eternal torment and punishment that will never end. That’s why it’s so critical, perhaps more so today than ever in history, to witness and preach the gospel to the lost. There’s hope in Jesus Christ, until they take their last breath here on Earth. That last breath will be the best breath they’ll ever have, for eternity – no matter in what manner they perish. Isn’t that a horrible thought? No – isn’t that a horrible REALITY!??!! What are we doing to reach them as Jesus commanded us to?

So where does that leave the rest of us….Christians? What are we doing with our faith and our beliefs? What are we doing to run the race that He has set before us. Are we even on the same race track anymore? Are we even in the same state as we were when we were first saved? Are we any different that before we first believed? Are we worse? Are we following the Bible? Are we following the two greatest commandments that Jesus spoke of – daily? To love God with every fiber of our being and to love others as ourselves and to serve, not be served?

When you are saved from this world and become born again, you no longer live for yourself or for this world. You are to love God with all your heart, body, mind, and soul. You’re to love your neighbor as yourself and live a life that worth living – not for you, for Jesus. You can’t do that while on cruise control – the world is on cruise control, while the world is at enmity with God and God at enmity with the world. Be different. Be like Christ.

Are you living life for Jesus by your actions, or are you in the same car you’ve always been in, with the cruise control on? If so, when will you take it off cruise control and start living according to how God commanded us to live as Christians?

Let me first start off by saying that this is a topic in which I've been praying on and about for more than a year and a half now and it's taken me until this very moment to be able to have the wisdom the knowledge the confidence and the green light from God to speak on this very topic. For this is a topic that has been spoken of for hundreds of years and to this very day is either not preached whatsoever in the churches because they either do not fully understand or grasp the meaning behind it and/or most are afraid so preach on this subject. This is a subject that has caused strife among the church and the members of the church for hundreds and hundreds of years and as of today it still causes strife and confusion and infighting and lack of understanding amongst the majority of professing Christians alike.

Therefore, I do not take this subject lightly not only because of what Revelations warns of by adding or subtracting from the word of God but also because there are fine lines between what is right and what is almost right. I'm relying on God and the Holy Spirit to provide me the wisdom and the words to share with you today so that those that aren't aware become aware and those that have been misinformed can for once be rightly informed and for those that have misunderstood this topic for some time now can be enlightened and provided new wisdom to seek out in the word of God on this topic. The topic is on predestination and election.

I’m going to be providing scripture to back up what I say, but I’m also going to be using analogies as I often do and comparisons as I often do. At the end of the day, if you don’t buy what I’m saying, all I ask you to do is to seek out what you don’t understand and do not listen and believe me; rather, seek the truth from the very Word of God that I speak to you from today, and ask God and the Holy Spirit for discernment and wisdom and knowledge that the human mind – your mind – simply won’t get on its own, by the very nature of us being flawed.

My goal for as many of you as God will allow, is to have knowledge you didn’t have prior to this episode, and to fully realize what has taken place before the earth was formed, is still happening today, and how this will play out in eternity. Only God knows His ultimate plans – most times, we’re along for the ride with the Bible as our guide from Him. There are many mysteries, and this is but one of them. I truly believe that once this podcast is done, you’ll have a new understanding – one of relief and joy, and not one of despair and frustration.