From Death to Life”

 “From Death to Life”

“Truly I tell you, anyone who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.”  John 5:24

 

Our scripture are the words of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, the SON of the LIVING GOD.  The question that some may have in their mind is: “How can one ESCAPE DIVINE JUDGMENT on SIN?”  And Jesus gives us the answer: “Anyone who hears My Word and believes Him who sent Me has ETERNAL LIFE.”  

However, there are some things that MUST TAKE PLACE.  FIRST: Jesus tells us that ANYONE who BELIEVES in Him is NOT condemned, but ANYONE who does NOT BELIEVE is already CONDEMNED, because they do NOT BELIEVE in the NAME of the ONE and ONLY SON of GOD. (3:18) JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY to an ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN. And we who have ACCEPTED Him as our SAVIOR and LORD are NOT JUDGED for our SINS, because they are ALL FORGIVEN, PAST, PRESENT and FUTURE SINS, are WIPED CLEAN by the PRECIOUS BLOOD of CHRIST JESUS, our LORD. And they will NOT COME under JUDGMENT but has PASSED from DEATH to LIFE.

Those who have BELIEVED and ACCEPTED JESUS as SAVIOR and LORD, SHOULD be doing GOOD WORKS, because they have the HOLY SPIRIT living in them, and HE is RIGHTEOUS and HOLY, and since He is in them then they SHOULD do the things that the SPIRIT directs them to do.  In the Gospel of James 2:20, it tells us that FAITH without WORKS is USELESS.

However, those who have done WICKED THINGS will be JUDGED and CONDEMNED. They follow their father, the devil and carry out his EVIL DEEDS. They will end up in their ETERNAL HOME, HELL, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE, ONCE they are there.

Those who have BELIEVED, FOLLOWED, and have ACCEPTED JESUS as their SAVIOR and LORD will be RESURRECTED to a LIFE in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  So, where is your FINAL DESTINATION??

To be able to ESCAPE HELL, you MUST ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER, in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.  You MUST BELIEVE with ALL your HEART that JESUS DIED for YOU and that He is ALIVE in HEAVEN making intercession for you before God.  You MUST CONFESS your SINS to Him and ASK Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST BE WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFESTYLE and TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and experience a RESURRECTION of LIFE, ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN.  Do this NOW while you STILL can!!  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!  It COULD BE TODAY!!!

 

“The Law of Sin and Death vs The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ”

 “The Law of Sin and Death vs The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ’

 

The trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good.  So, I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.  Romans 7:14-17

 

The Apostle Paul is describing the TWO principles that lives within a TRUE BELIEVER.  One being the principle of SIN and DEATH. The other one is the principle of the Spirit of Life in Christ.  Two natures dwelling within the Child of God. 

When we are born, we are born with a SINFUL NATURE, this NATURE is with the TRUE BELIEVER until we are UNITED with the LORD JESUS CHRIST. And when they come to JESUS for their SALVATION, they receive the SPIRIT of LIFE in CHRIST.  So, the TRUE BELIEVER has TWO PRINCIPLES indwelling them; the principle of SIN and DEATH, and the principle of the SPIRIT of LIFE in CHRIST. 

SALVATION does NOT mean that God takes away the SINFUL NATURE, it remains opposed to the Spirit that now resides in the believer.  This means that the Christian STILL has the ability to SIN, but NOW they have an APPETITE for HOLINESS.  The availability to SIN is STILL there, BUT the DESIRE is NOT, because the BELIEVER is a NEW CREATION and they have a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with the RIGHTEOUS GOD. 

Paul says that he has discovered this principle of life—- that when he wants to do what is RIGHT, he inevitably does what is WRONG. (V21)  It is his DESIRE to DO what is GOOD. But there is another power within him that is at war with his mind. This power makes him a slave to the sin that is STILL within him. In chapter six, the believer gains VICTORY over the evil things of the flesh, that is, they cease to do EVIL DELIBERATELY.

What it all boils down to is: We CANNOT fulfill the RIGHTEOUSNESS of the LAW by our OWN strength; the SPIRIT fulfills it in US by HIS POWER.  We can be VICTORIOUS over SIN by ALLOWING the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD to be in CONTROL of our ENTIRE BEING.  For in our FLESH there is NO GOOD thing.  The law of sin and death is counteracted by the law of the SPIRIT of LIFE in CHRIST JESUS.  Do YOU have the SPIRIT of LIFE in CHRIST JESUS?

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to Christ Jesus, then you do NOT have His SPIRIT in you, and you DO NOT have VICTORY over SIN. Which means that you do NOT belong to Him and You are headed for an ETERNITY in HELL with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once you are there.  God has PREPARED a WAY for mankind to have an ETERNITY in HEAVEN with ALL its BLESSINGS. And that WAY is COMING to JESUS CHRIST and ADMITTING that you are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, who GAVE His LIFE to SAVE your SOUL.  You MUST BELIEVE with ALL your HEART that JESUS DIED for YOU and that He is ALIVE in HEAVEN making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST CONFESS your SINS to Him and ASK Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST BE WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFESTYLE and TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and WALK BY the SPIRIT of LIFE in CHRIST and NOT in SIN and DEATH.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!! PERILOUS TIMES are COMING!!!

“Don’t Be Hasty or Impulsive Before God”

 “Don’t Be Hasty or Impulsive Before God”

 

Do not be HASTY to speak, and do not be IMPULSIVE to make a speech before God.God is in Heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be FEW.  Ecc.5:2

 

When we, the Children of the LIVING GOD, wants or needs to talk to our Heavenly Father. We MUST COME TO HIM in REVERENCE, and OBEDIENCE, because He IS the CREATOR of the UNIVERSE and ALL things that have been created, were created by Him, to include ALL of MANKIND and ALL of NATURE. HE is WORTHY of our RESPECT and our OBEDIENCE.

When we come into His PRESENCE, we should NOT be HASTY with the BUSINESS we have with Him, we SHOULD keep in MIND that He is GOD and we are NOT.  We should NOT ENTER His presence with an IMPULSIVE ATTITUDE.  We NEED to REMEMBER that He is the ALMIGHTY GOD, ALL-KNOWING, ALL- POWERFUL, and EVERYWHERE at the SAME TIME!! 

We NEED to LET OUR WORDS BE FEW, which is a REMINDER that FOOLS DO a LOT of TALKING and most of it is of NO IMPORTANCE. And if we go to church to TELL GOD WHAT TO DO, then that attitude makes US the FOOL.  We NEED TO TRUST God and NOT try to IMPRESS HIM by TELLING HIM what we believe is the RIGHT thing to do, after all, He’s in HEAVEN and WE’ RE on EARTH.  HE CREATED MANKIND, WE did NOT CREATE GOD!!!

Listen, your brain does NOT have as MUCH to offer HIM, as you MIGHT think. Be WISE and QUICK to HEAR HIS DIVINE PERSPECTIVE and SLOW to SPEAK your MIND.  THINK about this YOU have TWO EARS and ONE MOUTH.  Maybe GOD wants US to LISTEN MORE and SPEAK LESS!! UNLESS, WE ARE WORSHIPPING HIM and His BELOVED SON, the LORD JESUS CHRIST.

IF you are NOT a CHILD of the LIVING GOD, then you probably DON’T come OFTEN into His PRESENCE, if at all. And if that is the case, then YOU NEED the SAVIOR (JESUS), who is the ONLY WAY to RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS, and the ability to ESCAPE an ETERNAL LIFE IN HELL, with All it’s HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE ONCE YOU ARE THERE. 

To do this YOU MUST ADMIT that you are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS, who PAID in FULL for your SOUL to be SAVED and on its WAY to a place called HEAVEN. You MUST BELIEVE with ALL your HEART that JEUS DIED for YOU. And that He is ALIVE in HEAVEN making intercession for you before God. You MUST CONFESS your SINS to Him and ASK Him for His FORGIVENESS. You MUST BE WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFE-STYLE and TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT His Gift of SALVATION and COME INTO HIS PRESENCE with a HUMBLE, CONTRITE HEART that is FULL of LOVE and OBEDIENCE for ALMIGHTY GOD, our LOVING, COMPASSIONATE, POWERFUL GOD.  DO the above, WHILE you STILL CAN!!!  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!

 

 

“The Appointed Messiah”

 “The Appointed Messiah”

Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.  Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and He will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah.  Acts 3:19-20

 

This is part of the sermon that Peter preached in the Temple, right after the POURING OUT of the HOLY SPIRIT of God, Peter and John had just healed a man that had been crippled from birth. The Apostle Peter told the crowd, who stared at them, as if they had made the man walk by their own power.  Peter, told them that it was by the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of all their ancestors, who brought glory to His Servant JESUS by doing this, the SAME JESUS, whom they had handed over and rejected before Pilate, despite Pilate’s decision to release Him.

They had REJECTED this HOLY, RIGHTEOUS ONE and instead they demanded the RELEASE of a MURDERER. They had KILLED the AUTHOR of LIFE, but GOD RAISED Him from the dead!!  Peter went on to tell them that he realized that what they did to JESUS was out of IGNORANCE. BUT GOD was fulfilling what ALL the PROPHETS had foretold about the MESSIAH that He MUST SUFFER these things

Then the Apostle gave them another opportunity to REPENT of their SINS and TURN TO GOD, so that their SINS might be WIPED AWAY.  And when they did that there would be TIMES of REFRESHMENT that would come from the PRESENCE of the LORD, and God would send JESUS, their APPOINTED MESSIAH. But JESUS MUST remain in HEAVEN until the time for the FINAL RESTORATION of ALL things, as God PROMISED long ago through His Holy Prophets. 

Many people like the JEWS who REJECTED JESUS as their MESSIAH, are REJECTING Him NOW. Are you one of those who CONTINUALLY REJECT JESUS, the APPOINTED MESSIAH, the ONE who is APPOINTED by GOD, the One who SUFFERED, BLED, DIED, and was RESURRECTED from DEATH and the GRAVE to GIVE SINFUL mankind the opportunity to have ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN?? 

If you are, then you are putting your ETERNAL LIFE at GREAT RISK. Rather than have that period of REFRESHMENT, you will experience a HORRIBLE ETERNITY in HELL with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once you are there.  However, if when the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD quickens your HEART, and you RESPOND by ADMITTING that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, who is the ONLY WAY to ESCAPE HELL, because there is SALVATION in NO ONE ELSE!! GOD has given NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN by which WE MUST BE SAVED!! (4:12). You MUST BELIEVE with ALL your HEART that JESUS DIED for YOU and that He is ALIVE in HEAVEN, making intercession before God. You MUST CONFESS your SINS to Him and ASK Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFESTYLE and TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and ENJOY YOUR ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  Do this NOW while you STILL CAN!!!  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!  Don’t be LEFT BEHIND!!!  If you DON’T DO the ABOVE, you will SPEND an ETERNITY of CONTINUAL SUFFERING, PAIN, AGONY and much more. So, RESPOND in the POSITIVE to GOD’S APPOINTED MESSIAH,

“ Living the Authentic Kingdom Life”

 “Living the Authentic Kingdom Life”

 

God has called us to live HOLY LIVES, not IMPURE LIVES.  Therefore, anyone who REFUSES to LIVE by these rules is NOT DISOBEYING human teaching but is REJECTING GOD, Who gives His Holy Spirit to US.  1st Thessalonians 4:7-8

 

Living an AUTHENTIC KINGDOM LIFE, doesn’t begin with OBEYING, COMMANDS, although when the Holy Spirit tells you to do something BE OBEDIENT to Him by doing what He COMMANDS.  However, living the AUTHENTIC Kingdom Life, begins with the UNDERSTANDING of “WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST.” 

And our LOVING FATHER GOD, tells us who we are in His BLESSED SON, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, who made us TRUE CHILDREN of GOD, and JOINT HEIRS with Him to ALL the GLORIES of HEAVEN. He does this through our REDEMPTION and the KEY to being able to ACCEPT His Gift is ACCEPTING the LORD JESUS CHRIST, as our SAVIOR and LORD.  It is NOT by our OWN WORKS, but through the WORK of CHRIST, on the CROSS. 

And because of our STANDING with GOD, through the LORD JESUS CHRIST, we are NOT to LIVE IMPURE LIVES. God has NOT called us to IMPURITY, but we are to LIVE in HOLINESS.  And we do NOT STAY PURE, to EARN God’s Love, but we are to STAY PURE, BECAUSE of HIS LOVE.

We SHOULD make it our GOAL to LIVE a QUIET LIFE, MINDING OUR OWN BUSINESS and WORKING with our HANDS. And to WORK at “PUTTING OFF” our OLD SELF and “PUTTING ON” who WE are in CHRIST JESUS, which is OUR NEW LIFE—the AUTHENTIC KINGDOM LIFE. 

So, if you are living in your OLD SINFUL LIFESTYLE, you MUST COME to JESUS and ADMIT that you are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, Jesus Christ, who is the ONLY WAY. When the Holy Spirit begins to CONVICT YOU, you MUST BELIEVE with ALL your HEART that JESUS DIED for YOU and that He is ALIVE in Heaven making intercession for you before God.  You MUST CONFESS your SINS to Him and ASK Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST BE WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFESTYLE and TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and START LIVING the AUTHENTIC KINGDOM LIFE.  REMEMBER: ANYONE who REFUSES to LIVE by GOD’S RULES are REJECTING GOD, who gives His HOLY SPIRIT to the TRUE BELIEVER!!! And those who REBELL against Him will face His JUDGEMENT and CONDEMNATION.  So, do the above, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND, It will NOT be PLEASANT!!!  

 

 

“Known Yet Unknown

 “Known Yet Unknown”

 

“Why are you frightened?” He asked.  “Why are your hearts filled with doubt? Look at My hands.  Look at My feet.  You can see that it’s REALLY Me. Touch Me and MAKE SURE that I am NOT a GHOST, because GHOSTS don’t have bodies, as you SEE that I do. As He spoke, He showed them His hands and His feet.  Luke 24:38-40

 

This encounter took place after the RESURRECTION of the Lord Jesus Christ, just before His ASCENSION.  The first thing I want us to see is two of His followers from Emmaus, which is seven miles from Jerusalem. They were overwhelmed with the events that had taken place with the brutality of the CRUCIFIXION of JESUS. They were very distraught and hopeless. The body of JESUS was missing!!

And as they were walking back to Emmaus talking about all the horrible things that happened. Jesus, himself, in the flesh, came and began walking with them, but they didn’t RECOGNIZE Him, because God kept them FROM RECOGNIZING Him And their UNBELIEF kept them from RECOGNIZING HIM. Here is a prime example of being KNOWN, BUT UNKNOWN. 

They were FOLLOWERS of JESUS, so they KNEW Him as a FRIEND, perhaps, they saw Him do a miracle or two.  And He was a COMPASSIONATE, CARING person, with some SPECIAL abilities.  However, their concept of Him, was that He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and He was a MIGHTY teacher in the Eyes of God and ALL the People. They had HOPED that He was the MESSIAH who had come to RESCUE Israel from the Romans

But they weren’t the ONLY ONES to BELIEVE that SAME scenario.  His own disciples had their DOUBTS, they were locked into the upper room, when Jesus APPEARED to them. They were STARTLED and AFRAID thinking they were seeing a GHOST.  Jesus spoke to them:   “WHY are you FRIGHTENED? WHY are your HEARTS filled with DOUBT?  Look at my HANDS. Look at my FEET.  TOUCH ME and make sure that I am NOT a GHOST, because ghosts don’t have bodies, and I do. As He spoke, He showed them His hands and feet.

However, they STOOD in DISBELIEF!!  And again, we see a prime example of being KNOWN BUT UNKNOWN.  Many people today, are exactly like the disciples.  They think that to KNOW ABOUT JESUS gives them a RELATIONSHIP with Him and GOD, but that is NOT what will give you a RELATIONSHIP because of YOUR UNBELIEF.

To have a TRUE INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP with JESUS and GOD, you MUST BECOME a CHILD OF the LIVING GOD. And to do that YOU MUST be CONVICTED of your SINS, and you MUST ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, who GAVE HIS LIFE to SAVE YOUR SOUL from an ETERNITY in HELL with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY TO ESCAPE once you are there. You MUST BELIEVE with ALL your HEART, that JESUS DIED for YOUR SINS and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for YOU before GOD.  You MUST CONFESS your SINS to Him and ASK Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST BE WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFESTYLE and TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and DON’T make Him KNOWN but UNKNOWN in your LIFE.  Do ALL the ABOVE, NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!

 

“Unfailing Love or Merited Punishment?”

 “Unfailing Love or Merited Punishment?”

 

Understand, therefore, that the LORD your God, He is the FAITHFUL God who keeps His covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes His UNFAILING LOVE on those who LOVE Him and OBEY His commands.  But He does not hesitate to PUNISH and DESTROY those who REJECT Him.  Deuteronomy 7:9-10

This is part of Moses’ instructions to the Israelites after their rescue from the oppressive hand of PHARAOH, King of Egypt. Moses’ message begins with the word; “UNDERSTAND” which means to KNOW that the LORD your GOD is INDEED GOD, and He is FAITHFUL to KEEP His COVENANT throughout ETERNITY.

Not ONLY is He FAITHFUL, but He also LAVISHES His UNFAILING LOVE on those who LOVE Him and OBEYS His commands. But He will NOT HESITATE to PUNISH and DESTROY those who REJECT (hate) HIM.

You MUST LOVE the LORD your GOD with ALL your HEART, ALL your SOUL, and ALL your STRENGTH. (6:5) Just as MOSES, instructed the Israelites, we, who are the TRUE BELIEVERS, MUST COMMIT ourselves WHOLEHEARTEDLY to the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY. We MUST LOVE and OBEY Him. He is FAITHFUL NOT ONLY to BLESS those who LOVE and OBEY HIM, but also to JUDGE those who HATE and DISOBEY Him and He will DESTROY them. 

He is a GOD of UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. He does not put any CONDITIONS on RECEIVING His LOVE. He SENT His ONLY SON to SUFFER, BLEED, DIE, and be RESURRECTED from DEATH and the GRAVE because of His LOVE for US.  And ALL one needs to do is COME as they ARE, to JESUS CHRIST, GOD’S ONLY SON, BELIEVING with ALL their HEART that JESUS DIED for them and CONFESS their SINS to HIM and ASK Him for His FORGIVENESS.  They MUST BE WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM their SINFUL LIFESTYLE, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  They MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and RECEIVE GOD’S UNFAILING LOVE!!! DO this NOW, while you STILL can!!  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!