"The Chosen Servant"

“The Chosen Servant”

 

Here is My Servant whom I have chosen, My beloved in whom My soul delights; I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will proclaim justice to the nations.       Isaiah 42:1

 

Jesus, the ONLY Son of God, who God CHOSE to come to earth, NOT as a prophet, priest or king, but as His CHOSEN SERVANT.  One who was destined to bring SALVATION to a LOST and DYING world.  A world that was and still is DOOMED for DESTRUCTION. 

 

A SERVANT to the SPIRITUAL NEEDS as well as the PHYSICAL NEEDS of mankind.  To bring a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP between MANKIND and their CREATOR, God.  And it was because of GOD’S UNFAILING LOVE, ABUNDANT MERCY and AMAZING GRACE, that Jesus came to earth facing PERSECUTION and a HORRIBLE, SHAMEFUL DEATH, as God’s CHOSEN SERVANT. 

 

One who could feel a TRUE LOVE and DEEP COMPASSION for even those who sought to do Him harm and to put Him to DEATH.  He suffered TORMENT, RIDICULE, SHAME, INTENSE PHYSICAL PAIN and even SEPARATION from His HOLY Father.  And He did it in OBEDIENCE to the WILL of His Father, God, in order for MANKIND to be SET FREE from their sins and short-comings, and to RECEIVE AN ETERNITY in HEAVEN, and to be able to ESCAPE HELL with ALL its HORRORS.  God sent His ONE and ONLY SON, to bring JUSTICE to ALL NATIONS, which will be brought about in the SECOND COMING of JESUS CHRIST.

 

Just as God’s WILL, for Jesus to be His CHOSEN SERVANT, He has CHOSEN those who are His TRUE CHILDREN to be His SERVANTS to a lost and dying world.  We do that by SHARING the GOOD NEWS of God’s MERCY and GRACE for ALL people, and SHARING how they can be SET FREE from their sins, and to be able to RECEIVE HEAVEN as their ETERNAL HOME.  Are you one of God’s CHOSEN SERVANTS?

 

In order to be SET FREE from your sins and to ESCAPE HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, you MUST COME to GOD, WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and become His CHOSEN SERVANT, sharing the GOOD NEWS:  “JESUS SAVES!!!”  Do this NOW, while

"My Hiding Place"

“My Hiding Place”

 

You are my hiding place; You protect me from trouble.  You surround me with joyful shouts of deliverance.      Psalm 32:7

 

King David faced MANY adversities in his life and his family.  He fought battles of his beloved country, and he fought battles of his own making.  But David KNEW in his HEART that he could run to God, and be safe from his enemies. 

 

Oh, there were times when David had to face troubles, but he KNEW that the ALMIGHTY GOD was with him, and would eventually provide DELIVERANCE for him.  Even though David sinned grievously against God, he was still a man after God’s own heart.  And whenever he would CONFESS his sins and short-comings before God.  God would DELIVER David from the GUILT of his transgressions.

 

And He, the Lord God, will do the same for those, who are His TRUE CHILDREN.  When we fall short of God’s Will and have a DISOBEDIENT attitude towards Him and His Word, we like David, try to HIDE our transgressions, but it is IMPOSSIBLE, because God is ALL-KNOWING, He knows EVERYTHING we think, say or do, even BEFORE we THINK, SAY or DO it.  And yet He waits, with OPEN ARMS, for us to come to Him and CONFESS our DISOBEDIENCE.  Then He provides DELIVERANCE for us.  Yet, we MUST FACE the CONSEQUENCES of our transgressions. 

 

And like King David, we can CONFESS that the ALMIGHTY, EVERLASTING GOD is our HIDING PLACE, the PLACE we can run to and find SHELTER in the midst of the RAGING STORMS of LIFE. And we can JOYFULLY PROCLAIM the BLESSED ASSURANCE of His DELIVERANCE.  “Let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them shout for joy forever.  May You shelter them, and may those who love Your name boast about You.”   (Psalm 5:11)  Do you need a Hiding Place?

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you DEFINITELY NEED this Hiding Place, because you are headed for an ETERNITY in Hell with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE.  In order to ESCAPE such a DESTINY, you MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS, GOD’S ONLY SON, died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in HEAVEN, making intercession for you, before God.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and let Him be YOUR HIDING PLACE.  And receive DELIVERANCE from your present DESTINY.  And JOYFULLY PROCLAIM that:  “God is your HIDING PLACE.”    Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Thanks from the Heart"

“Thanks from the Heart”

 

I thank You from my heart and I will never stop singing Your praises, my LORD and my God.      Psalm 30:12

 

This Scripture is a part of King David’s prayer of THANKS to the Lord God, who had saved David from his death, by the hands of his enemies.  David’s HEART is FULL of THANKSGIVING to God because of His deliverance, which He had so GRACIOUSLY and MERCIFULLY provided for David.

 

ALL TRUE BELIEVERS should have the same attitude as the King.   We SHOULD have an ABUNDANCE of THANKS to the Lord for ALL He has done, for ALL He is DOING, and for ALL He is going to DO.   He has DELIVERED each one of us from our BONDAGE of SIN, and SET us FREE from our GUILT and SHAME.  He has PROVIDED for US an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, and a WAY to ESCAPE HELL with ALL its HORRORS.  He has PROVIDED a GUIDE, COMFORTOR, and TEACHER to be with us, UNTIL Jesus RETURNS to take His TRUE CHILDREN to their ETERNAL HOME, HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.

 

As you can see, WE, who are God’s TRUE CHILDREN, have not only the things we possess here on earth, things that will one day be GONE.  But we have SO MUCH MORE, which SHOULD prompt:  THANKS FROM THE HEART, and ETERNAL PRAISES to the ONLY ONE, who is WORTHY.  We have an ETERNAL HOME, with GOD our HEAVENLY FATHER, and His SON, the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  A PLACE, where there is NO MORE CRYING, SICKNESS OR SORROW.  NO MORE DEATH, HEARTACHE, PAIN or DESPAIR.  NO MORE FEAR, ANXIETY, OR HOSTILITY. NO MORE LIES, DECEPTIONS, OR CORRUPTION.  ONLY JOY UNSPEAKABLE, PEACE, LOVE, AND WELL-BEING.  So let US, who are the TRUE CHILDREN of GOD express our THANKS FROM THE HEART, to the ONLY ONE, WHO is WORTHY. 

 

If you have not given your HEART and LIFE to GOD, then your THANKS FROM THE HEART is SUPERFICIAL, and only directed at things that will PASS AWAY.  Your future is an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE.  In order to POSSESS HEAVEN as your ETERNAL HOME, you MUST BE WILLING TO TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in HEAVEN, making intercession for you, before God.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and EXPERIENCE a REAL THANKS FROM THE HEART!  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

 

"Thanks Be To God!"

“Thanks Be To God!”

 

But thanks be to God!  For though at one time you were slaves to sin, you have obeyed with all your heart the truths found in the teaching you received.  You were set free from sin and became the slaves of righteousness.      Romans 6:17, 18

 

THANKSGIVING, a special time to gather with friends and family and to REFLECT on ALL the things and times we are THANKFUL for.  For the TRUE CHILD of the LIVING GOD, EVERYDAY should be THANKSGIVING DAY.  Because, we are CONTINUALLY being BLESSED. 

 

Just REFLECTING on what the LORD JESUS CHRIST has done for each TRUE BELIEVER, and ALL that He SUFFERED, in order for mankind to be SET FREE from the grips of sin and to receive ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS, and to be able to ESCAPE HELL, with ALL its HORRORS.  This ALONE, should cause us to fall on our knees and cry out:  “THANKS BE TO GOD!” 

 

EVERY DAY, we SHOULD remember WHO we were, and WHERE we were headed, BEFORE we received God’s ABUNDANT MERCY and His AMAZING GRACE. And be THANKFUL, with ALL our HEARTS, for WHAT our futures hold.  We are joint-heirs with JESUS CHRIST, to ALL the GLORIES of HEAVEN.  And my dear friends, there is NOTHING that can compare to a future like that.  “THANKS BE TO GOD!”  

 

We can DEPEND on Him, for He will NEVER LEAVE nor FORSAKE His CHILDREN.  He BLESSES us when we are OBEDIENT to His WORD and His WILL.  His LOVE is TRUSTWORTHY, and UNFAILING.  He is AVAILABLE at any time to HEAR your HEART, and to GUIDE you down the RIGHT PATH.  He will see you through EVERY situation. 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, and are still being held CAPTIVE to your sinful lifestyle, and an ETERNITY in HELL, is your future, God wants to SET YOU FREE from your sins and to make you RIGHTEOUS before Him, and to give you an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, as your future.  He wants you to share in the BLESSINGS of Heaven, along with others who are His TRUE CHILDREN.  In order to become a TRUE CHILD of God, you must be WILLING TO TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART. Then CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and be able to PROCLAIM:  “THANKS BE TO GOD!”  for your future inheritance of an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  So do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

"Causes for Giving Thanks"

“Causes for Giving Thanks”

 

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!  For His mercy endures forever.  Let the Redeemed of the LORD say so.  Let them thank the LORD for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man!  For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things.     Psalm 107:1,2a, 8, 9

 

This Psalm is a CALL to GIVE THANKS, it is addressed to the REDEEMED of the Lord God Almighty, and the GIVING of THANKS, is to be directed to Him.  It is because of His MERCY, which is Him NOT GIVING us what we deserve, but instead, through His Hand of MERCY, He GIVES us His AMAZING GRACE, which is our RECEIVING what we DO NOT deserve, His STEADFAST, UNFAILING, EVERLASTING LOVE, which was brought about through the SACRIFICIAL WORK of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, on the Cross of Calvary. And the RESURRECTION and ASCENSION of CHRIST was the HOPE of MANKIND for ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN.

 

Therefore, let us see some of the CAUSES for GIVING THANKS.  First:  DELIVERANCE:  Because of God’s LOVE for mankind, we CAN BE DELIVERED from the DARK, WORLDLY, WICKED lifestyle of SIN, and brought into the GLORIOUS LIGHT of the LOVING LORD.  Jesus proclaims:  “I have come into the world as LIGHT, so that whoever believes in Me may NOT remain in darkness.”  (John 12:46)

 

Second cause:  FREEDOM:  For FREEDOM Christ has set us FREE; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.  (Galatians 5:1)  Jesus Christ came to SET FREE ALL who were, are and will be in BONDAGE or SLAVERY to a SINFUL NATURE.  He suffered and died to set ALL of MANKIND FREE from their SINS and from an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPING.  All they have to do is ACCEPT God’s terms for SALVATION.

 

Third cause:  RESTORATION:  Because of Jesus’ DEATH, RESURRECTION, and ASCENSION, mankind’s relationship with God can be RESTORED.  Because of Adam’s DISOBEDIENCE, mankind is born with a sinful nature, and is at enmity with God.  So God sent His Son to be a SACRIFICE for MANKIND.  And for them to be able to receive SALVATION, and to have a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with God.

 

Fourth cause:  POWER:  God has the POWER to SAVE, KEEP and PROVIDE for those who are WILLING TO TURN AWAY FROM their sinful lifestyle, and to TURN TO HIM, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  CONFESSING their SINS to Him, and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS.  BELIEVING, with ALL their HEART that, Jesus died for them, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for them, before God. Then they MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION and receive DELIVERANCE, FREEDOM, RESTORATION, and an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  So do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"Be Thankful!"

“Be Thankful!”

 

Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.        Colossians 3:16-17

 

True Believers really have SO MUCH to be THANKFUL for.  And I think that is why the Apostle Paul wrote three consecutive times for the Believers in Colossae to “BE THANKFUL!”  The first time is at the end of verse fifteen, he said, “And be thankful.” Then in verse sixteen, he tells them to; “Let the Word of Christ DWELL in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in ALL wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with THANKFULNESS in your HEARTS to God.”  The Word of God is to DWELL or LIVE in the TRUE BELIEVER, which is done through STUDYING, MEDITATING and APPLYING the Word.  Then through this process, the Word becomes a PERMANENT part of the BELIEVER’S LIFE.  And there is GRATIFICATION in LIVING according to God’s Word and KNOWING and being OBEDIENT to His Will.  All of which should be carried out with a THANKFUL HEART.

 

In verse sixteen, Paul tell the Believers, that WHATEVER they do, in WORD or DEED, to do EVERYTHING in the NAME of the LORD JESUS, GIVING THANKS to GOD the FATHER through Him.  For the TRUE BELIEVER, BEING THANKFUL is pretty easy, especially KNOWING that we are God’s Children, with an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with all its BLESSINGS.  And having the ASSURANCE that He is ALWAYS with us, in the BAD as well as the GOOD times.  He will see us through until we GO HOME to be with Him FOREVER.  Do you have that ASSURANCE?  Can you BE THANKFUL about where you will spend your ETERNITY?

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, you are NOT His Child, nor do you have HEAVEN as your ETERNAL HOME.  How can you BE THANKFUL, when you are headed for an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE?  However, you can CHANGE your DESTINY by:  WILLINGLY TURNING AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURNING TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  CONFESSING your sins to Him, and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS.  BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and REALLY have something to BE THANKFUL for.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"A Voice of Thanksgiving"

“A Voice of Thanksgiving”

 

Those who cling to worthless idols forsake faithful love, but as for me, I will sacrifice to You with a voice of thanksgiving.  I will fulfill what I have vowed.  Salvation is from the LORD!             Jonah 2:8-9

 

Jonah, a prophet of the One TRUE God, knew what it was like to CLING to a WORTHLESS idol.  An idol is ANYTHING that you put BEFORE GOD, and that ROBS Him of the OBEDIENCE, AFFECTION, and WORSHIP, which RIGHTFULLY BELONGS to Him.  For Jonah it was his INTENSE LOVE for his country, or his INTENSE PATRIOTISM.  Jonah was so CONCERNED about the WELFARE of his OWN country, that he REBELLED AGAINST God’s Will for him to be God’s MESSENGER to his country’s enemy, the ASSYRIANS.  Jonah REFUSED God’s order for him to go to Nineveh, to bring them to God for the SALVATION of their souls.  Jonah was chastised by God, for his DISOBEDIENCE, for one thing, and for his idol (intense patriotism) for another. Jonah was SWALLOWED by a VERY LARGE fish.  And it appeared that he was DOOMED to DIE in the belly of that VERY LARGE FISH. 

 

This Scripture, is a part of Jonah’s PRAYER to the Almighty God, while he was sitting, and concentrating on his situation.  He came to the point of REALIZING that he had GREVIOUSLY SINNED against God, by being DISOBEDIENT to the Will of God.  Jonah had made some SOLEMN VOWS to God and he intended to KEEP them.  He ACKNOWLEDGED that he was GUILTY of IDOL WORSHIP, and VOWED to SACRIFICE to God, and to God ALONE.  He did that with a VOICE of THANKSGIVING.  And he PROMISED that he would FULFILL that VOW.  Then he proclaimed:  SALVATION or DELIVERANCE is from the LORD!  And God commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

 

Many have had to face TROUBLESOME TIMES, because they have NEGELECTED God and His WILL for their lives, due to the fact, that they have made idols from things they have put before the Lord, and CLUNG TO, and WORSHIPED, instead of being OBEDIENT to God, and His Will for them.  They, LIKE JONAH, have REBELLED AGAINST God and is Will for their lives.  But some of them have ACKNOWLEDGED their DISOBEDIENCE and like JONAH, have CONFESSED their transgressions, and have had their RELATIONSHIP with God RESTORED.  And with a VOICE of THANKSGIVING, God has become their SALVATION.   Is He YOUR SALVATION?

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, you are being DISOBEDIENT to His Will, and you are facing an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  If you, like Jonah, will ACKNOWLEDGE and CONFESS your SINS to Him, and are WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and to TURN AWAY FROM IDOLS of your OWN making.  And ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART that, Jesus died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God. And ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, you can, with a VOICE of THANKSGIVING, GO and TELL what God has done for YOU!  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!