The Wilkes Team

Part 3 Have you heard His voice?

In order to be one of His you must hear His voice. Jesus said in John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. Therefore in order to be one of His you must hear His voice and follow Him. Those who do not hear his voice cannot follow Him and are not one of His. Let’s look at the fuller context of this passage in John 10 by going to verse 24-30

24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand30 I and my Father are one.

Jesus makes it very clear, to those that are questioning who He is, that they are not one of His. They have not heard His voice. In verse 25 Jesus says I told you who I was but you believed not because you are not one of mine. My sheep hear me and follow me. Jesus goes on to say that He gives eternal life to His sheep and they shall never perish.

How then do we know if we have heard His voice and follow Him thereby never perishing? We must know and can know. How?  

When we receive the Word of God as the truth and agree with it.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 ¶ For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

After we receive His Word it begins its work in us verifying that we are His.

Not agreeing with what the Word of God says means you are not one of His which means you have not been given eternal life which means you will perish for eternity.

God says it is so.

John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

What does the Word say we must agree with in order to know we are His children?

Stay tuned for Part 4 – We must agree with God that…..?????

2 Comments » | posted in On the Issues, Proclaiming the Truth

Jesus will save His people from their sins. This is a great promise. God will keep it. Yet is it possible to know for sure you are one of His?

Part 2 –Can you know for sure you are one of His?

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

There are three conditions that must be true in order for someone to be His. First He tells us that His people will hear His voice then He states that He knows them and finally they follow Him. In Matthew 7 Jesus tells a group of people who have believed on Him and done wonderful works to depart from because He knew them not. You must be known by Him and if you are, then you will hear His voice and follow Him. Therefore there are two sure ways we can know if we are His! By hearing His voice and following Him. He knows those that are His and He has never lost one of them.

How will we know that we have heard His voice and become followers of Him? Stay tune for part 3.

Part 3 Have you heard His voice?

2 Comments » | posted in On the Issues, Proclaiming the Truth

The actors, even before the light illuminated the stage, had begun their performance. Once the lights arrived, an eager and surprised audience watched an incredible display of curiosity and acrobatics. One actor jumped and then sniffed, another licked and enjoyed an oozing blob of peanut butter, they ran hither and then thither and whether else the audience wasn’t sure. A car horn honked – the actors froze – they looked around wonderingly; then continued their interesting performance.

Bodies crammed to the front of our van, for we being the audience watched with surprise as mice, the actors, scampered around our precious bee hives. Earlier they had tried some scavenger practices but now with metal mesh and staples their endeavors have been successfully halted.

Shining the car headlights on the hives, we observed the mice quickly moving around. Our mice hunter, Adam, had placed several traps around the area – one mouse actually tried licking the tempting PB morsel off a trap. The audience was somewhat hoping the trap would spring but it ended up doing otherwise.

Because of time, the van moved away from the hive site, got on the main highway, and began heading back. Occupants were comfortable and ready to enjoy the hour long trip back home, when.”WAIT A MINUTE!” echoed from the back seat, “I FORGOT SOMETHING AT THE LAND” was the conclusion of the outburst.

Finding out what it was and perceiving the importance of retrieving it, the driver took the next available U-turn. Arriving back, we pulled into our property, the hive site not faraway. A skunk lumbered in front of us.  After observing the skunk, the retrieving of the forgotten was quickly accomplished. Then it was decided to take one last look at the hive site. We soon realized there was one less actor on the stage. Somehow, we believe, the PB wasn’t coming off smoothly enough, and.well. the trap was forced to do it’s work, and I have to say, did it in the most efficient and sufficient manner.  

Finally back on the road, no more “wait a minutes” were heard and closure was brought to yet another evening in this fast paced life God has called us to wisely steward and enjoy.

1 Comment » | posted in Outdoor Adventures, Sunny-Side Up

Hospitality is defined as using what God has given to us to demonstrate His love for others. It is the bringing of guests to a home in which the character of Christ is being lived out on a daily basis.

Imagine having invited over a family for dinner and going through the many preparations to make the evening special when you suddenly receive the news that your guests will be staying the night……….

Our family was recently the recipients of such sacrificial love and gracious hospitality during a memorable trip to the Potters home. We had a full evening together that included everything from canvassing a local neighborhood in preparation for Potters pending After School Bible Club to playing dutch blitz, eating lemon cake in honor of Lee Jackson Day, learning about the China mission field (thank you Michael), milking the cow, and more!

The all too short evening came to a fast close………or so we  thought. For at an undisclosed time and in a silent but steady motion, snow began to fall. Temperatures continued to drop and the once barren landscape now had approximately 1 inch of snow, sleet, and ice. Now in most cases such circumstances would prove of little concern until you take into consideration the hill one’s vehicle must ascend upon departure. The snow continued to fall as plans of departure were discussed. Without having prepared for such an event, the Potters suddenly invited and encouraged us to stay the night – and they were serious!

In reviewing our current dilemma, we did not see much hope of safely departing without considerable effort and risk. Within minutes, the Potters began pulling out sleeping bags, pajamas, pillows, and even ‘tooth brushes .’ It was as if we had stopped at a 1st class hotel. They even pulled out a late night snack of fried chicken! The decision was made to stay.

Hanging up in the family room of the Potter’s home is their family vision statement. Though the exact wording of this portion slips the memory, in a nutshell,  it is the Potter family’s goal to disciple with the love of Jesus the ones God brings along their path. Watching the whole family work together in harmony re-arranging rooms, preparing for a hearty breakfast the next morning, and making everyone feel so comfortable was wonderful to behold and truly a fulfillment of their family vision!

Their home is truly a haven of rest and an inspiration for joy!

5 Comments » | posted in Family News

Can you know for sure you are going to Heaven?

Part 1- Does God keep His promises?

The promises of God are always fulfilled by Him. He has never failed to keep them. In the Old Testament, God gave many promises about the coming of Jesus Christ. One of those promises is found in Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

This passage, talking about Jesus, was written by the prophet Isaiah hundreds of years before the birth of Christ. He said that she “shall call his name Immanuel”, Immanuel means God with us. So God stated hundreds of years before Christ’s birth that He would send Immanuel or God to be with us. How? As a baby born to a virgin. Jesus Christ came to earth as a baby born to a virgin. God keeps His promises.

In the Bible in the book of Matthew it tells how Joseph, the fiancé of Mary, the mother of Jesus, dealt with the promises of God.

Matthew 1: 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

Joseph believed God and responded by doing what he was told to do. The promise in the Old Testament having been fulfilled in the birth of Jesus Christ set the stage for a fuller understanding of all the promises of God. In passage above the angel tells Joseph …… thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Jesus  will save His people from their sins. This is a great promise. God will keep it. The question is not, Will God keep His promise? but How do you know if you are one of His? Stay tuned for part 2.

Part 2 – Are you one of His?

1 Comment » | posted in On the Issues, Proclaiming the Truth