Powered By Blogger

Wednesday, September 24

God gives Keith a GLIMPSE into HELL


The truth of the matter is this:
Hell begins on the Earth in the hearts of those who do not want to have anything to do with their Creator.  When people turn their back on the Truth and open themselves up to unclean spirits, they are offering themselves to be used by those spirits to advance satan's vindictive agenda.  And, trust me, as soon as he is finished using your body and talents, he will throw you away like last week's garbage.  Keith Shealy

Satan and his minions are frauds.  Although satan presents himself as being great and powerful, he can do nothing beyond what his Creator allows him to do.  This also applies to all of the fallen angelic host.  They will eventually be imprisoned in Hell, along with those who have rejected The Truth - eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord - and followed the ways of death yielded to the sin that stole from them the years for which God had so many wonderful things planned.  The very desire they pursued is the very instrument of their ruination.  All of the horrible things that they are a part of, are simply the early stages of the eternal torment such people will experience, when they finally get their wish to be completely separated from God.  And, though they get their wish, they will never be satisfied, as Hell is not a place of satisfaction.  There will be NO party.

So, if Hell is not the party that so many are being convinced that it is, then what is it really like?  I had been hearing so many people down through the years say something to the effect that, "Hell will be a big party and all of my friends will be there!"  Though I was very aware that they were saying this in jest, each time I heard it, my heart would ache because, in many of those cases, it was obvious they were making that statement as a way to brush off their need to face the reality of the sin in their life.  In short, satan had convinced them to remain deceived in their dead-end lifestyle, which is no life at all.
While in prayer early one morning, I asked the Lord to show me what Hell is really like.  You might wonder why I would even ask for that!  Well, I asked so that I could better warn those who have been deceived, or lulled to sleep, concerning the reality of Hell and its horrors.  I will try my best to describe to you what I saw, but, before I start please understand that human language and understanding are not enough to even begin to describe the sheer horror and never-ending torment that awaits those who are sentenced to Hell!

So, about 4:00 AM on May 30th, 2007, this is what I saw.  If you have ever smelled the sickening stench of the charred remains of someone who has died in a fire, multiply that by the countless number of bodies in that putrid condition, and you have but a minute example of the state of those who are in Hell.  They are not simply scorched to death, but they are trapped in a state where their flesh is literally burned all the way down to their bones, leaving only charred pieces of muscle tissue, skin, and singed hair fused to their skeleton, making them totally unidentifiable for even the most skilled forensic scientist.

Now imagine that that person is you, and that instead of mercifully dying of shock shortly after you are exposed to the fire, you continue to be aware and awake, completely conscious that every single cell in your body is burning at a temperature that can only be compared to that of the surface of the sun.  Within mere seconds of arriving in Hell, you would feel pain so excruciating that you would uncontrollably chew your tongue to shreds; and you would ceaselessly grind your teeth while, at the same time, letting out bloodcurdling screams begging for just a second's worth of relief that never comes.

It was apparent, in just the first glimpse that I had, that Hell is a massive place with different things going on everywhere I looked.  The one huge cave or cavern-like area that I saw was filled with countless small pits, each about four feet by four feet across and about five feet deep.  Each of these crudely-hewn pits contained a person, having the appearance of a charred skeleton with a pale greenish-colored glow emanating from inside the rib cage.  It was obvious that the pale glow was the person's tormented soul, which can never be extinguished or annihilated.
Just in that one cavern-like area, were huge demon-like figures that appeared to be, if I had to guess, members of a sort-of army of satan.  They were methodical in making their rounds, clearly assigned to do nothing but heap continual torment on the souls trapped in their pits.  Perhaps, the thing that was most unbearable was hearing all of the hopeless, screaming souls pleading their cases with the demonic soldiers, how they did not deserve to be there in Hell!  I could hear every one of their high-pitched, ear-piercing begs pleading for a second chance and their reasons why they should not be there - each plea falling on deaf ears.  And, while the countless tormented souls seemed to be desperately trying to crawl out of the pits, those huge demon-like figures continually came around and violently kicked them back down.
Something that amazed me was the type of stone in which each of the pits was dug.  I had never given it much thought, but once I had seen it, it was obvious that the rock played a big part in what was going on there.  It was very porous and had extremely sharp-edged, jagged surfaces.  Its likeness was that of a black type of coral.  It was clearly painful to stand on or to touch; but not only that, its rough, open pores also allowed white hot flames from the earth's core to shoot up through it into each of the pits, continually consuming each of the souls with sudden ongoing bursts of fire.
Almost as tormenting as the flames and the jagged stone, was the permanent state of nausea that I could see everyone there suffering through, and the indescribable stench that consumed the entire atmosphere.  It was the stench of the combined rotting souls all trapped in the confines of hell, with no fresh air ever, and for eternity.  Again, the saddest part of it all was hearing the countless souls there simultaneously begging for forgiveness, pleas that went totally unheard.  Does that sound like a party to you?

“But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.  But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with The Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”  (2 Peter 3:7-9)

As I was leaving there, every single cell of my body was consumed with the reality that God is so close to us here on earth - He is just one prayer away.  While we have a pulse, we have a will and the privilege to choose to accept God and reject satan and eternal torment.  It became crystal clear to me that satan goes to such devious extremes to blind us from that fact.
Until our heart stops beating, we have a choice to make and a will to choose.  God has gifted us with the privilege to accept the great sacrifice that His Son Jesus Christ paid, so we could have eternity to spend with our loving, joyful, peace-filled Father in Heaven.  Only until we have glimpsed into Hell, or have had the unfathomable honor of standing in the Divine Presence of Almighty God, can we even begin to perceive the infinite enormity of what Jesus Christ has freely given of Himself, for each of us!

God has no desire that people should go to that eternal place of torment, but that every one of us be saved.  So, He has provided the Way of escape, through Jesus Christ.

“Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die....”  (Ezekiel 33:11a)

So, how does one escape an eternity from that most terrifying of all places? You must receive the Gift of Faith to believe the Truth of the Gospel. You must repent by turning away from your sins, and ask Jesus Christ to come into your heart and to be your Lord and Savior.  
You might ask, How do I do that?  It is simple; say this prayer from your heart:  "Father God, in the precious name of Jesus Christ, the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords, I lay my life at Your feet.  I come before You confessing that I am a sinner, and asking that You forgive me of all my sins -- those that I know that I have committed as well as those that I am not even aware of.  I ask that You come into my heart and be my Lord.  I lay my life and everything in it at Your feet, and ask that You would take me now and begin the process of changing me into Your likeness.  I ask that You redeem the time that has past and allow me the opportunity to become exactly what You have predestined me to be from the foundation of the earth.  I commit my life to You now, and thank You for receiving me as Your own.  In the wonderful Name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, Amen."
So that you have a better understanding of why it is necessary for you to pray that prayer of commitment to God from your heart, I would like to bring to your attention this story found in the book of John.
"There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto Him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  Nicodemus said unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit . Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.  The wind blows where it listeth, and thou hear the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goes: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?  Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and know not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.  If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?  And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:  That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."  (John 3:1-16)

            You see, only God can offer us eternal life, peace and joy!  All who end up like satan will experience death and eternal suffering.  So, the next time you hear someone say that Hell is going to be a party, let them know that they have been given the wrong address.  Then tell them that the only eternal celebration that will be held will be held in God's house and God is personally inviting them to come.


Find this message entitled, "The Great Deception" in its entirety in Keith's book, XII Smooth Stones available on the TTM WEBSITE.





Click to Securely Donate by:



In closing:
  For more Scripture-based truths to help as you Press Toward "one-ness" with our Heavenly Father, check  out our other messages and resources:
"Keith Shealy's TowardTheMark" Facebook page,
Keith's "Between The Lines" Podcast channel,
"Sharingwith you the Secrets God Whispers to me" monthly message on the website, and
"TTMSingingSgt" on Twitter 



Wednesday, September 17

It's WISDOM-PACKED WEDNESDAY--He Ran to God When All Was Lost

Thank you for checking out, recommending, and sharing this post.

Blog for your WISDOM-PACKED WEDNESDAY--"He Ran to God When All Was Lost"

Yours in Christ Jesus, Keith and Brenda Shealy
website:  TowardTheMark.com
mailing address:  Toward The Mark, Inc., P.O. Box 1152, Yorktown, VA 23692-1152


He Ran to God When All Was Lost


"This we have learned, as you can see is the basis of many of our posts and podcasts, 'No matter what trials we are up against, we are NOT gonna let the little devil distract us from the HUGE GOD Who can resolve whatever we go through and even redeem it to our advantage... but we must run to Him when those trials of life come'." - Brenda (& Keith)

Find this message, and much more, in "TTM Magazine online.




K
eith first had the privilege of meeting Pastor Steven Sebyala about 10 years ago. Being from Uganda, Africa, Pastor Steven was part of a speaking tour of the United States and had come for a visit with the Bethel Temple church family.  Pastor Ron Johnson of Bethel Temple asked Keith to come to a luncheon along with Pastor Sebyala and his wife, Sarah.
During their fellowship time, it became rapidly apparent that this was God’s appointed time to bring together these two ministries, Africa Harvest Mission, Inc. (AHM) and Toward The Mark, Inc. (TTM), for more than casual talk.  Steven began sharing the needs of his ministry in Africa, including much-needed sound equipment for the growing outdoor crusades.  
Just months prior, rebels invaded a crusade that Pastor Steven was holding and drove their trucks over all of his ministry’s sound, lighting and stage equipment.  He was literally left with nothing to continue his outreach efforts.
At that time, TTM was in the early stages of building the ministry’s sound system.  However, being mindful of the Lord’s promise to bless the cheerful giver, Keith recognized this as God providing an opportunity to sow into His Kingdom by supporting a ministry in another part of the world.  
It has been said that you should give out of your need, and this was the time to do just that.  So, at that lunch, Keith made a mental review of the sound gear TTM had acquired to that point in order to determine what could be given to Pastor Sebyala for his ministry.
At the top of the list were a pair of JBL Professional Festival Series speaker cabinets.  These were the best we had to offer, because they were the best we had.  While still at the lunch table, Keith began to tell Pastor Steven about those cabinets, and he replied, "Those are exactly what I have been praying for."
With the hard work and generous help of Eric Fox, Joe Gaita, Steve Lyzenga, and a few more local friends in Christ, Keith assembled the speaker cabinets, amplifiers, and the rest of the needed musical equipment and gear, to prepare a complete sound system large enough to reach crowds of up to 300,000 people.  And, once the Holy Spirit started the ball rolling, the shipment set to go to Kampala, Uganda increased to include, along with the complete sound system, suits for the men, dresses for the women, bikes and toys for the children, kitchen appliances, and more.  The miracle that began here, with those who gave of the best they had, increased and blessed thousands in Africa.
The message of this story is not about the generosity or donated things TTM was able to sow into Steven's stunted ministry of AHM. It's about how, when the rebels destroyed all of Steven's equipment, gear that he had worked for and built over years of acquiring it, he had to choose to NOT quit or give up. He could have decided that the devil had won in that painful and devastating trial, believing the devil's lies that the effort and funding would be all-but-impossible to find so he and his team could to get back to where they and God had left off. Imagine... Every man, woman, and child - multitudes - continue coming to "hear loud and clear" Pastor Steven preach the Gospel that Jesus Christ preached, because Pastor Sebyala ran INto God.  Our rejecting the lies of the devil and running INto God enables God to do miracles in our lives that are tremendous! When everything came crashing down, and it looked like AHMs crusades were through, Steven ran toward God... first.
For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.  But I trusted in thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my God.  My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.  Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake.   (Psalms 31:13-16)
 Before God moved on Keith's heart, introducing him to Steven, who came all the way here to America, Keith thought the top-of-the-line speakers and gear he had been gathering was for a ministry sound system TTM needed. God had other plans. What the African rebels had destroyed turned into something better than Steven could've imagined, but not until Keith was willing to choose to let it all go. Keith did let it go, and he released it quickly, knowing God wanted to use what He had generously provided to begin with to bless our brother in Christ, and he released it quickly. One of the greatest truths Keith had learned through walking in oneness with God is this, "When you release to God what is in your hand, you open the door for God to release what is in His Hands."  The scripture says it best...
Blessed is the man that trusts in The Lord, and whose hope The Lord is.  For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.   (Jeremiah 17:7-8)



THANK YOU for downloading this blog post today.  Please recommend, comment, like, and share.  Find this testimony, and many others, in "TTM Magazine" available at TowardTheMark.com.





Take part in helping us provide weekly messages of Toward The Mark, Inc. Click the PayPal button below to safely sign up for ongoing Tax-deductible Contributions.



For more...
  Scripture-based truths for PRESSIN' IN as we "press Toward The Mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" check  these out:

Wednesday, September 10

Concerning ISRAEL ... GOD Wins!




"Whether we're seeing rockets that are being lobbed at her by those who want to destroy her people, or hearing heartbreaking, totally uneducated rhetoric that continues to be leveled against her from the liberal media’s increasing attacks on all things Godly, one thing is certain; After all is said and done...  God wins!!"       Keith and Brenda Shealy and the partners of TTM

Like you, we have been deeply troubled by the recent escalation of attacks on the Nation of Israel and we are writing to ask if you would prayerfully consider standing with us as we increase our praying for her and her people.
 “There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.”  (Proverbs 19:21)
In other words, it is not the opinions of men that will prevail in these last days, it is God’s Word that will prevail and the current grumblings prove it! The turmoil in the Middle East and around the world, as God’s Word states, must take place before the King of all kings, Jesus Christ, returns for those who love and serve Him. So, turn off the TV, log off the web, do your best to avoid those in your life who thrive on speculation and negativity; open God’s Word and continue on the path to becoming one with Him.
And concerning our Lord’s return, no matter what anyone else says, remember this, those that will be caught up to be with Jesus Christ when He returns are those who are caught up with Him right now!!
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.” (Psalms 122:6)


Would you prayerfully consider taking part in weekly messages by Toward The Mark, Inc.?  Click the PayPal button to safely start your ongoing tax-deductible contributions:
 

THANK YOU for downloading this blog message today.  Please comment, like, and share.  Find this message, and more, in "TTM Magazine" available at TowardTheMark.com.


For more:  Scripture-based truths to help as we Press Toward "one-ness" with our Heavenly Father, check our other messages and resources: