In Everything Give Thanks…Even When it’s Hard by Nathan Leal

By Nathan Leal

“In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18

I know it’s not always easy. And sometimes it’s just plain difficult. But the Bible tells us to give thanks in all things.

For the happy things, it is easy to give thanks: a new job, a new house, a new baby, a new relationship. For these things, thankfulness flows off the tongue like a spring rain.

It’s also easy to give thanks when we are rescued from a dilemma like an unpaid bill, or receiving a good report about our health. But what about the hard things? What about the issues of life that keep us awake at night?

• What about the loss of a job?

• What about the dreaded report that our health is not so good?

• What about the midnight phone call that changes everything?

• What about that pain in our body that doesn’t want to go away?

• What about hearing that the answer to our prayers is, “no?”… or “not yet?”

What then?

Have you been there folks? If you’ve lived long enough you have.

I have. I am there right now. I’m asking God to heal this old body of lupus.

… I’m still waiting.

It can be trying at times. The mind wants to do so much. But the body resists. No problem, instead of swinging the hammer, I’ll just pray. Unfortunately, before you know it, the day is gone. And things still need to get done.

… But the Bible says, “In everything give thanks….”

So I do. I thank the Lord for my family. I thank Him for my wife. I thank Him that my children are healthy. I thank Him for the roof over my head.

… And I thank Him for another day of letting me stay; and letting me continue the work. I thank Him for letting me be on the team. “God, if you can use this old vessel, please do. And thanks for considering it.”

My oldest son, Brennan picked up a hammer and finished a little building project for my wife and I. He built a little shed that the baby lambs could sleep in. For that, I give thanks. Thank you Lord, that You gave me a son to help us around the house. I also thank You that he is serving You.

I also thank the Lord that my younger son is serving God. He is sixteen. Healthy. And he just got his driver’s license. So I am thanking the Lord for protecting him when he’s on the road. Lord, thank you for protecting my son when he drives in the snow. Thank you for surrounding him with Your angels. And I thank you Lord, that He is serving You and wants to be a preacher someday.

My youngest child is ten. Hannah. My little girl. She is a precious gift to my wife and I, and she showed up in my wife’s tummy just a few months after the miscarriage.

….the miscarriage.

I remember when it happened. I remember wondering why.

…Why God?

My wife wept. I wept. We didn’t understand. But we prayed anyway. God, I don’t know why this happened, but You do and we are going to trust You. So thank you for the comfort during this time of grief.

Before it happened, I never knew that a miscarriage could cause so much pain. I remember hearing other couples talk about it. But I didn’t understand. After all, they didn’t get a chance to know the baby. So I did not understand how painful it was.

Then it happened to us…With a lot of tears.

Tears on the pillow while trying to fall asleep. Tears on the way to work. Tears at work. Donna and I had been trying to have another child for six years. He came for a little while, but it was not to be. It was a short hello. And then he was gone.

We named him Tristan. In the Latin, it means, “sorrow.” And Tristan’s short time with us ended in sorrow. Only God knows why it happened.

…But we thanked Him anyway.

That was in 2005.

Two months later, a miracle happened. God placed Hannah inside of Donna. Tears of grief turned into tears of joy.

…So we thanked Him.

We thanked Him that He gave us four children. One of them is in Heaven waiting for us.

…What a day that will be…

So my friends, I understand that while we are here, it can be rough sometimes.

Sometimes we are sad.

Sometimes the pain doesn’t want to go away.

And sometimes … Our loved ones go away; causing us to ask, “why?”

…”God, why did this happen?” Most of the time, He doesn’t give us the answer.

But He does tell us one thing – We should give thanks…in everything.

As His children, we gotta do this… even when it’s hard. And even though it can be difficult, we gotta do it by faith.

… By faith, my friend.

In the natural it makes no sense. The natural mind would say, “why be thankful when everything is a mess?”

But there is a reason. When we give thanks to God, especially during trials, it shows that we are trusting Him. Thanking Him is our testimony that no matter what, we believe He’s going to see us through.

…Giving thanks during difficulty reveals faith. And my friend, faith gets God’s attention.

So in this season of Thanksgiving, I know it’s easy to give thanks for the good things, but I want to encourage those of you out there who are in the midst of trial and possibly heartache.

Give thanks to God my friend. Thank Him for salvation. Thank Him for His unspeakable Gift, for our resurrected Lord Jesus. Our Messiah. Our Savior.

– Thank Him for His provision.

– Thank Him for the future provision that is on its way.

– Thank Him for the strength that He has given you to hold you up during your hour of need.

– Thank Him for the years that He has already given to you.

– Thank Him for your family.

– For your loved ones.

And the time that He has allowed you to be with them, and their time with you….because we never know when our time will come.

Make memories this Thanksgiving my friends. Because we don’t know how many thanksgivings we have left.

Hug your wife. Hug your children.

Hug your friends. And thank the Lord for them.

In everything give thanks. This is indeed a good thing.

May you be blessed this Thanksgiving holiday.

Nathan Leal
Watchman’s Cry

webpage link for this article: http://watchmanscry.com/?p=6274

Third Day Faithfulness, A Resurrection Sunday Message by Nathan Leal

by Nathan Leal

 

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The resurrection of Jesus sealed the hope of our salvation. He rose on the third day. This message offers a glimpse of the beauty of the third day. I pray that it will bless you.

Does it sometimes seem that you are all alone, and tired when you want to seek God? Does it seem that at times, He’s not there? This message is to encourage His people, He sees your endurance my friend. And the reward is coming.

The gospel account of the feeding of the four thousand contains a beautiful message of what God wants from all of us. It has to do with faithfulness. Jesus makes note of the faithful ones. For those who may struggle, or wonder if God is there, the answer is yes. He sees the endurance of the hungry, and those who are pressing on.

The passage of Scripture for this message is found in Matthew.

“Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself, and He said, ‘I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.’” 
Matthew 15:32

As we examine the verse above, on the surface, it reveals that Jesus appreciated the tenacity of the multitude who stayed with Him for three days in the wilderness. This was the setting of the feeding of the four thousand. But in addition to the surface account, this passage of Scripture contains hidden truths that are beautiful.

The Beauty of His Word

So let’s examine the treasure.
The third word of verse 32 is the word – called.

Jesus called His disciples to Himself.

He called His disciples. But who are His disciples? Yes, it was the twelve. But His disciples are also the faithful ones who have answered the call for the past two thousand years.

 

…The faithful ones are those who struggled in their time, lived for a promise, and died with a hope.

…The faithful ones are those who answered the call when they heard His voice.

…The faithful ones are those who said, “no,” to the world, but, “yes,” to Him.

…The faithful ones are those who became His disciples, but then fell asleep and joined the other witnesses.

“…He called His disciples to Himself….”

And someday my friend, He will make the final call. It will be a call when His voice, shakes the heavens like a thunder.

It will take place when, “…the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout.” When the Lord shouts on the day of resurrection, He’s going to call all of us WITH A SHOUT! It will be a shout to all of us that says, “Rise again! Come forth!”

In the third word of the verse, it says, “Jesus called His disciples to Himself.”

The Scriptures are full of shadows and treasure. This passage has acres of diamonds. In the next sentence, Jesus said, He had compassion on the multitude. Why?

…“because they have now continued with Me three days.”

This statement, “they have now continued with Me three days…” speaks volumes.

Let’s examine the verse, piece by piece;

1. Jesus had compassion…

2. – on the multitude…

3. – they continued…

4. – three days…

The Compassion of Christ

The first part of the verse mentions the compassion of Jesus when He saw the multitude; Think about that. When Jesus saw the assembly of people who were there to see Him, it resulted in compassion from Him.

 

This means when He sees a multitude of followers gathered together, His response is compassion and loving-kindness, back then as well as today. It also reveals that when Jesus is moved with compassion, His desire is to give us His heavenly bread.

As Matthew 18:20 says – “Where two or three are gathered in My name, I am in the midst of them.”

Folks, when we gather for the express purpose of worship unto God, to sing songs of praise unto Him, to pray, to break bread, and open His Word, it will result in His compassion. The assembly of the saints will get His attention.

The passage says – “…He had compassion on the multitude.”

He saw the multitude. And wanted to give them bread; Life bread, healing bread, restoring bread.

The bread is Him. Therefore, He wants to give of Himself to us. But what sparked this? It was the multitude. And here is a question, are you a part of the multitude?

…Of this kind of multitude?

…Of the kind that gathers with others to listen to Jesus?

…To be with Jesus?

…To lift up Jesus?

…To worship Jesus?

…To strive for Him?

No matter how difficult it is?

 

Are you?

Do you love to assemble with others who are hungry for Him? Would you find joy in that multitude?

Multitudes. Multitudes.

Today, there are multitudes in the world. But how many have a desire for Him? How many of the world’s multitudes want to seek after Jesus?

Most likely, not many.

Most likely, they would rather gather for themselves,
…to party and to celebrate the things of now.

The multitudes of earth would rather meet with one another to find pleasure,

…and tickle the flesh.

But on this day, in this passage of Scripture, the people gathered for a different reason. They gathered because they wanted to be with Him and listen to what He had to say.

They were a multitude that got His attention. Just like another multitude…

We can find them in a passage of Revelation 7:9, where it says,

“After these things, I looked, and behold a great multitude, which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands.”

This multitude is the great multitude in Heaven; This is the desire of Jesus, to see the people make it into the multitude of Heaven.

Then He said, “I have compassion on the multitude…”

Why did He say this?

…Because they were faithful.

They Continued

“and He said, ‘I have compassion on the multitude, Because they have now continued with Me three days.”

This statement has several components. “They have now continued.”

Who are “they?”

It was the multitude. Was it just any multitude? No. They are the multitude of people who endured with Him.

Jesus said, “They have now continued with Me…”

Who were they continuing with?

Was it Buddha?…No.
…A New Age guru?
…A Hindu god?
…A pagan god?
…Was it the world?
…The ways of Babylon and Egypt?

No. No…a thousand times NO!

Jesus said, “They have now continued with Me.” This is Jesus talking. And the multitude who stayed with Him are the ones that received His compassion.

So make note. How long did they stay with Him? Was it temporary?

The passage says…“They continued with Him for three days.”

Third Day Faithfulness

This statement is a shadow of how we, His followers must navigate. Our journey is not temporary. It is not supposed to be.

The people in that passage CONTINUED with Him; meaning they endured to the end.

…to the third day.

Now, folks, PLEASE make note of this. The third day is significant.

On the third day, Jesus rose again. The third day represents new life and it represents salvation for you and for me. It represents salvation for us, and for the church. The third day is the final part of the journey where we will rise again with Him to an incorruptible body. On the third day that He rose again and became perfect.

Think about that folks – The third day.

There is so much here, ladies and gentlemen. This passage is incredible, because the term – the third day – has so much profound significance.

… the third day was when Jesus rose again. It made salvation possible for us. Also when He rose, He became the first fruit of the resurrection, which means that His followers will someday be resurrected.

…And in order for us to get to the third day – now, folks, watch this…

…to get to the third day where we rise again, we have to first make it through day one and day two.

Day One – The Cross

On day one, what happened to Jesus?

…He experienced the cross on day one.

…He experienced forsaking the ways of the world on Day one.

He experienced it for the joy set before Him. And He went and He finished what was before Him on the path.

And then He died. That was Day One.

Day Two – The Tomb

Then it was Day Two…

…when He was in the grave.

On day two He was dead to the world. He was dead to temptation. He was dead to insults. He was dead to betrayal. He was dead to all the mess.

And for us, ladies and gentlemen, we must also experience the first day of the cross, the first day of death, the first day of choosing Him.

And then after we die, then we have to experience Day Two.

Day Two is the burial of the old man.

…Day Two is when the flesh can no longer be in charge.

…Day two is when the flesh can no longer lead us to the wrong places.

…Day two is when there can no longer be vain imaginations.

…Day Two is when we go into the grave.

…Day Two is when we are baptized under water, under the earth.

But it doesn’t stop there.

…Day One is the cross, Day Two is death to the flesh, but we have to continue to the end. We don’t stop on Day One.

My friend you cannot stop on the first day.

We don’t stop at the cross and we don’t get to change our mind on Day Two. We don’t get to say, “I don’t like being in the grave. I don’t like the flesh being dead.” We can’t do that, folks. We don’t change our mind on Day Two.

We need to make it to the third day!

You need to make it to Day Three, my friend!

“Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, ‘I have compassion on the multitude because they have now continued with Me three days.’”

Saints of God, it is about making it to Day Three!

This is what endurance is about…Making it.

…And continuing with Him.

“…They have now continued with Me to the third day.”

We have to endure WITH HIM to the third day.

A lot of church folks are confused about this. They falsely believe that all they have to do is commit on Day One, to the first day, which is the sinner’s prayer with a hearty amen, on the first day, and then continue to live their life in Egypt.

Sadly, a lot of people were not taught about Day Two and the hope of Day Three.

Day two happens in the tomb.

…Day two means we’re dead.

…Day two means our flesh must be useless to sin. It means the flesh must become familiar with the altar, it means the flesh must become acquainted with sacrifice, burning away the old nature, renewing the mind, learning a new thing, the ways of God, His Word.

Day two, ladies and gentlemen.

…It is the narrow road.
…It is the road less traveled.
…It is the road of solitude,
……and walking alone,
………..alone with God.

…Day two is the narrow road.
…Day two is that time when you say, “no,” to temptation.

…It is the moment when you look the other way.
…It is that decision when you choose what is right instead of what is convenient.

Day two is that moment when one can say ‘I was wrong,’ to the person who already knows it.

It is that moment when we gather with our children and repent to them. It’s that moment when you hug your wife or husband and tell them, “I’m going to do better. I plan to do better. With God’s help, I’m going to do better. I am focused on doing better. I don’t have a choice. I am following you to the third day.”

…The third day, my friend.

Because it was on the third day that He rose, just like He said He would.

Because He is the Resurrection and the Life. He is the life. He gives life. He restores life.

Pressing On to the Third Day

Saints of God, Day two is the day that we leave behind us as we go into the third day; the third day of resurrection into newness of life, walking as a new creature, nourishing the spirit within and continuing with Him because, well, there’s nowhere else to go. After all, my friends, is there?

…Is there anywhere else to go?

Can you like Peter look into the eyes of the Lord and say, “Lord, where else can I go? You have the words of eternal life.”

Folks, I can’t go anywhere else. And you can’t go anywhere else. Because there is nowhere else.

And Jesus said, “They have continued with Me three days.”

When we continue with Him, we’ll find His compassion. And when we continue with Him, we’ll know that there’s no one else to continue with.

…He’s the only answer.
…He’s the only remedy.
…He’s the only choice.
…He’s your commitment.

So my friend, are you committed? Are you resolute in your faith?

…Or do you keep looking backwards? Backwards to yesterday, backwards to Egypt, reliving the past, wishing that your flesh could get one more portion. Is that happening, my friend?

If so, may you have the strength to stop. And may you have the strength to say, “no.”

May you have the strength within to press on and move forward. Because going backwards is to step out of the will of God.

…And to step out of the will of God,

…… is to step into nowhere.

That’s the choice, ladies and gentlemen. In the valley of decision, there is a choice. A choice of stepping into nowhere or continuing with Him.

“But, Nathan, it’s hard out there.”

My friend, I know it is. That’s why most people give up. But you are not called to give up and you are not called to throw it all away. Because people are depending on you and people are praying for you and loved ones care about you and others are waiting for you.

“Jesus called His disciples to Himself and He said, ‘I have compassion on the multitudes because they have now continued with Me.’”

He called His disciples to Himself.

Have you heard the call, my friend? Can you hear the call? Can you hear His Spirit wooing you? Can you hear the whisper of the Holy Ghost within?

Beloved, if you’ve wandered, He’s calling you back. Because when one wanders too far from the road, the hedges become thorny. And out there, the briars are sharp. And they scratch the soul. And out there, it’s dry and there’s not much water, and it scorches the bones.

And how long can a man live without water for their soul,

…how long?

How long can a person wander in a drought before they pass out? Before the cares of life overtake them and drain their spirit?

…How long, my friends?

“I have compassion on the multitude because they continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat.”

Ladies and gentlemen, when you continue with God, He will feed you. And sometimes He may wait until Day Three. Sometimes He will, but He’s doing it for a reason because He wants to see if you are going to continue. Because for someone to say, ‘I am a Christian’ means nothing unless they continue with Him and prove it.

How do you prove it? By bringing forth the fruit of REPENTANCE. And then living it. By walking in it. By becoming a good tree with good fruit. By being a witness. By saying, “no,” to the enemy and “no,” to evil.

Continuing with him means standing for righteousness. And it means no compromise.

Continuing with Him is shown in our testimony.

…and the testimony does not lie.

So, my friend, the message in these words is this. Continue in Him. Make it to the third day.

…Endure.

Make it through Day One and Day Two where the flesh is put in the grave, and then rise up in victory on Day Three as a living testimony.

Be a testimony, my friend. And if you haven’t done it up to this point, then make today Day One, and tomorrow Day Two, and put everything inside the tomb. And then continue into Day Three.

Because the course is set before us and the witnesses are waiting, and God wants to see you through. And He wants you to be one of those who have continued with Him for three days.

Heavenly Father, have mercy on your people. Have mercy on us. Give us the strength to continue to day three. Wash us in the blood of Christ.

We thank you for the resurrection.
We thank you for the third day.
We thank you that the tomb is empty.
We thank you for resurrection power, and the hope that it brings to all of us.

Amen… And amen

In His service,
Nathan Leal

Watchman’s Cry

This Message can be found at this webpage link: http://watchmanscry.com/?p=5595

Continuing with Jesus - or in other words – Don’t Give Up by Nathan Leal

Nathan Leal's - For Such a Time as This (A Sermon)

Continuing with Jesus - or in other words
– Don’t Give Up

Sermon Topics:

 

In the second feeding, Jesus fed 4,000. This second miracle was very profound and paints another treasure of truth.

This sermon is part four of the series “Jesus Feeds the Multitude.”

Topics

1. God’s provision for His people.
2. Provision for His disciples.
3. A Biblical examination of ministry
4. Hanging in there during trial.
5. The third day mystery message of hope.

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(To listen to the sermon, click on the provided link below. To Save audios to your computer, “right click”  the “listen” link and click “save target as” or “save link as.” File will then save to your computer. Enjoy.)

http://watchmanscry.com/audio/such_a_time_10_feeding_4000.mp3

Share this with your friends and family.

In His Service,
Nathan Leal
Watchman’s Cry
 

Notes and audio link located at this webpage link: http://watchmanscry.com/?p=5590

WW3 Begins in Syria by Nathan Leal

Nathan Leal's - News from the Wall & the Issues of Life –

WW3 Begins in Syria –
Super Tuesday
Discernment Over Deception
 

The notes for this program can be found in the link below.

 

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The US Agenda to partition Syria and the Middle East. John Kerry wants to partition Syria and carve up the Middle East at the expense of war. This is not a new plan. It has been in the making for years. In this program, Nathan and Donna Leal share the disclosure of the coming war that America has in the making.

Also, this is the first installment of the new format, News from the Wall & the Issues of Life, where Nathan and Donna will also have a Bible study to discuss issues that effect us all. In this program they will address the issue of “Discernment Over Deception.”

In these end times deception is out there. How should remnant Christians deal with it…and overcome it? Join us as we tackle this challenging topic and look into the Scriptures.

(To listen, click on the links below. To save to your PC – right click the listen here link.)

Please share it with your friends and your family.

Listen Here

http://watchmanscry.com/audio/News_29_022916.mp3

What is a Watchman? Audio Message by Nathan Leal

(Audio Link Below)

 

What is a Watchman?

Is it just a word? What is this trend? In these end times, it has become a popular term.

But what is a watchman? Is this position found in the Bible? What do the Scriptures have to say about it?

This two part audio program explains that there are two kinds of watchman and the two are not the same.

Why does it matter? Because deception is trying to creep into today’s popular “watchman phenomenon,” and it is bringing confusion into the remnant community.

The message must be heard by all of the brethren who consider themselves remnant believers. It contains an in depth Bible study that will explain the end time challenge that we are all facing right now.

Share this with your friends and family.

In His Service,
Nathan Leal
Watchman’s Cry

(To listen to the audio message, click on the provided link below. To Save audios to your computer, “right click”  the “listen” link and click “save target as” or “save link as.” File will then save to your computer. )

What is a Watchman?  – Listen to Part One

http://watchmanscry.com/audio/167_Part_1.mp3
 

What is a Watchman? – Listen to Part Two

http://watchmanscry.com/audio/167_Part_2.mp3

Audio Message – Why I Resigned from the "Hear the Watchman Conference" – Nathan’s Expose

 

 

Audio Message

 

Why I resigned from Hear the Watchman – Nathan’s Expose.

 

On this program, I will share why I resigned from the Hear the Watchman Conference.

 

Deception is percolating in today’s remnant community and the New Age heresy is trying to grab a foothold.

 

This message is an honest appraisal that reveals that portions of today’s remnant community is suffering with spiritual confusion.

 

Deception is attacking the body of Christ and it must be addressed.

 

To those who have the ears to hear.

 

God bless.

 

In his service,

Nathan Leal

 

 

Note - The soundbytes in this audio are used under "Fair Use." Fair use allows the use of radio show soundytes for critique and rebuttal.

 

 

Click This link – (to listen, click this link. To save to your PC – right click)

 

 

http://www.watchmanscry.com/audio/news_disclosure_123015.mp3

 

 

 

Note - this audio message is going to have a short shelf life. I do not want to have it lingering. It is too painful. But the items must be shared with the body of Christ. Listen to it before it gets deleted. Nathan