James Langston is senior pastor of the Pilgrim Outreach Ministries, an inter-denominational fellowship ministry based in Italy. He is ordained and licensed through World Evangelism Fellowship. James is a 1976 graduate of El Campo high school in El Campo, Texas.
James and his wife Cecilia
have been married for more than 30-years and have six children and eight grandchildren. They live overseas in Italy.
James Langston’s latest Book, And the People Cried, Give Us A King, draws a parallel between Israel’s plight as they rejected their God, Yahweh, and the fall from grace of another great nation, the United States of America.
GrandMamma’s Prayers is a testimony to the praying power of white haired GrandMamma’s everywhere, the stanchions of faith who literally prayed loved one’s out of trouble and back to the "paths of righteousness."
Your Christian life is being shaped for destiny. The pain and suffering may be discomfiting to your flesh, but the Lord is using this to propel you to your "Inheritance."
James Langston’s latest Book, And the People Cried, Give Us A King, draws a parallel between Israel’s plight as they rejected their God, Yahweh, and the fall from grace of another great nation, the United States of America.
GrandMamma’s Prayers is a testimony to the praying power of white haired GrandMamma’s everywhere, the stanchions of faith who literally prayed loved one’s out of trouble and back to the "paths of righteousness."
Too often, we allow the "sins," "marks," and "bruises" of what we were [lost and undone], to influence what and who we are now [a new Creation in Christ].
The writer in the Book of Hebrews encourages us to endure as Soldiers in the Army of the Lord: "And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong . . . " (Hebrews 11:32-34).
We live in a world filled with uncertainty, confusion and constant change. The Bible says, ". . . faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word" (Romans 10:17). However, if what we hear is wrong, then we will govern our lives accordingly.
Sin separates us from the presence of an Eternal, and Thrice Holy God [Jehovah]. Yet, when we confess our sins unto the Lord, and ask His Forgiveness (in true repentance), He without fail will not only forgive our sins, but also restore fellowship with the Heavenly Father - to and from the Throne of Grace.
Solomon advised, "Remember now thy creator in the days of thy youth..." (Ecclesiastes 12:1). As a parent, you NEED to hear this Scriptural message of parenting in the 21st century. A message that lays the foundational basis for dealing with the problems, hang-ups, and the sometimes seemingly impossible task of raising today’s generation of young people. In fact, if these problems are not handled now to the extent they can be, youths will be forever handicapped.
Where are the great empires of the past? Where is the Assyrian Empire? The Babylonian Empire? The Roman Empire? Today, the handwriting is on the wall: The warning signs are all about us as we become more decadent and immoral. Yet there is still time for us to repent nationally and individually. Will we listen to God’s warnings? The answer is the same for all, Repent!
All to often when life’s many challenges blow our way, we are more prone to rely on our physical sight [what we know, who we know, and what we have], than trust that what the Lord Promised to us in His Word [I Will, I Am, I Have, In Me, My Name, My Word Declares], He Will bring to pass!
In the Greek language, there are four words used to describe love: (Stergein) – A love of obligation (e.g., love of parents and children, of husbands and wives, of close relations), (Eran or Eros) – Selfish love (e.g., the person is loved if the person is useful, i.e., rich, powerful, handsome, beautiful, talented, etc.), (Philein) – Having a fondness, affection, or liking for someone, (Agapan or Agape) – Love that recognizes the worthiness of the object loved. This is the God type of love.
Someone once said, "Little Bible, Little Freedom, Much Bible, Much Freedom, No Bible, No Freedom." We are witnessing a generation (labeled Generation "Y") that has literally grown up with -No Bible- hence No Freedom.
In spite of our failures, flaws and sins, the Lord Jesus Christ has been exceptionally GOOD to us! Despite what our legislative body has proposed, our bleak economic picture, the strain of fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the manipulation of the laws of the land to legitimize "Sin," Somebody still Needs to Shout, Hallelujah! The Lord is STILL in control!
Our nation is soon to enter into times of unparalleled and historical changes, changes that are both dynamic and profound. The potential effects of these changes [storms] to all 300+ million residents of the United States are staggering: "The proposed Health Care Reform Bill," "Landmark vote of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) lifting ban that prohibited sexually active gays and lesbians from serving as ministers," and the "Matthew Shephard Hate Crime Act."
If your trust or confidence has ever been misused, misrepresented or abused [betrayed], this message will be as soothing as fresh healing oil on an open wound.
Your greatest battles will come from "within" [self] not "without" [the world]. In all of us lies a raging fire called the "Sin Nature." A result of Adam's fall in the Garden of Eden. This nature is to powerful for us to resist or gain victory over in our own efforts.
We live in times of dynamic change. Yet, change that is in many instances, "anti-Bible," "anti-Christian," and "anti-God" [Jesus Christ]. This change is so dramatic and unsettling that in many instances it is literally shaking and shaping the faith of countless lives around the world (not strengthening but destroying).
There is often a long "dry" spell between the Promise given to us by the Lord, and the fulfillment of that Promise. Yet, the Scriptures reassure that if we search [seek] we shall find Him, Who Is, Was, and Forever Shall Be, "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13).
Our Faith is shaped according to where the "Object of our Faith" is. If that object is anything other than the Cross, (e.g., self, the world, religion, a man, or a system or rules and regulations) we are on a path of spiritual ruin and destruction.
Money in and of itself is neither good nor bad. However, the way we use it is often unwise. Our current Recession is an example of generations of "poor decisions," "bad investments," "greed," "a lust for power and position," and a "failure to invest in the True Work of the Lord."
"Recession," "Depression," "Death," "War," "Annihilation" - As the woes of life close in around us, where do we go? Who can help us? What will tomorrow bring? Know this, the Lord STILL specializes in those things thought impossible!
If America continues down its present uncertain course, what will future generations see in 5, 10 or 20 years? It has been said, "As America goes, so does the world." Unless we pray, despite our best efforts, our future is filled with gloom, unrest and uncertainty.
Whatever you need, the Lord has in ABUNDANT supply! If you need peace, He is Jehovah-Shalom. If you need healing, He is Jehovah-Ropheka. If you need One Who Sanctifies, He is Jehovah-Mekaddishkem. If you need a Savior, He is Hannoten Teshuah. As long as we do not allow life to rob us of our faith (where the object of our faith is the Cross and what Christ there did), we shall not only come to fullness of years, but our labor shall not be in vain [wasted].
The problems we are facing individually and collectively as a nation and people can be traced back to the same problem, sin. Yet, if we cry out to Lord, He WILL hear and He WILL answer!
As a Christian, it DOES matter what you "hear," "watch," "read," and "ingest" into your life. In the Book of Second Kings we read the sad story of one who wanted more than God's provision. Essentially, what he gathered in the fields [the world] was "wild vines" and "wild gourds" [false doctrine] - death.
In the Book of James we read, "Yes, a man may say, You have Faith, and I have works (proclaims the efforts by some to divide the two): show me your Faith without your works, and I will show you my Faith by my works. (This proclaims the fact that the profession of a lifeless Faith is profitless)" (James 2:18). It is time that the true Church of Jesus Christ takes a stand for Righteousness - and that Righteousness is the Way of the Cross!
We must understand this simple principle of life, it really does matter the "road" we travel as we're headed to our appointed destination. The wrong turn, or a refusal to yield or obey to the Will and Ways of the Lord often brings with it a panoply of troublesome events, life-changing situations and unexplained circumstances that, if we allow, are intended to "right" our way back to the paths of righteousness.
This is a "Camp Meeting" service that makes an emphatic declaration, "Jesus Cares." No matter who you are, or how long you've live for the Lord, eventually you will come to a place where you wonder, "Does He [Jesus] really care?" At the end of this message, if you truly have "ears to hear," you will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Lord truly cares.
In the Parable of the "Sower," we find ourselves in 1 of 4 scenarios, "by the wayside," "in stony places," "among thorns," or "in good ground." Yet, the question must be answered, where are you?
The Gospel (Good News) has not changed. It still sets the captive free, opens blinded eyes, heals, saves and delivers! The Word tells us, "And this good news of the kingdom (the Gospel) will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then will come the end" (Matthew 24:14/Amplified Version).
With every choice we make there are ALWAYS consequences - some more severe than others. Yet, even when we've made the most unwise of decisions, if we will cast ourselves at the foot of the Cross, the Lord will forgive and restore unto the uttermost!
Despite our many flaws, failures and sins, the Lord (once true repentance is enacted) is faithful to His Promise, ". . . But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently" (I Corinthians 10:13/Amplified Version).
- The End Does NOT Justify the Means - Without a doubt, every decision we make has a consequence attached. Proverbs 3:5, 6 says, "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
True Praise lifts up Jesus for, 1) Who He is, "God manifested in the flesh," and 2) for what He has done, "Died on the Cross so that we might live." James 5:13 says, "Is any among you afflicted [suffering]? Let him pray. Is any merry [cheerful]? Let him sing songs [praises]." (Amplified Version).
The Lord is very specific as to where the object of our faith MUST be, "The Cross of Calvary." If our faith is in anything or anyone else, then we as the disciples will "...toil all night and catch nothing..."
