"Turn, Seek and Pursue"

“Turn, Seek and Pursue”

 

Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.  Turn from evil and seek and pursue it.      Psalm 34:12-14

 

In this Psalm, King David, is giving a lesson on living an ABUNDANT LIFE in the Lord.  He is teaching a lesson in WISDOM on how the RIGHTEOUS should live, and the benefits of living by FAITH.

In order to LIVE a PEACEFUL, RIGHTEOUS, LIFE, there are some things that a Child of God MUST DO! So David instructs his readers on the FEAR of the Lord.  This pertains to the ATTITUDE, towards God, by His Children, those who have given their HEART and LIFE to Him, and are LIVING according to His Word.   The word “FEAR” does NOT mean being AFRAID, but it means being in AWE OF or in REVERENCE TO the Almighty God.  So they MUST have REVERENCE for, and stand in AWE of His presence. 

 

David tell us that in order for the Child of God to LIVE an ABUNDANT LIFE in the Lord, they MUST first TURN AWAY FROM EVIL, FLEE from it, do NOT PARTAKE in it, in any way.  TURN and go in the opposite direction, don’t lollygag around, RUN AWAY.  Then DO GOOD DEEDS so others will be able to SEE and EXPERIENCE the COMPASSION of the LOVING GOD, we serve.  They MUST SEEK PEACE, which means to become a PEACEMAKER.  Let the HOLY SPIRIT of God, bring PEACE to you, and LIVE in PEACE and not in CONFLICT, SEEK IT and PURSUE or RUN AFTER IT.  

 

When you LIVE according to the WORD of the LIVING GOD, then you will possess a LIFE of QUALITY and RIGHTEOUSNESS.  A TRULY RIGHTEOUS LIFE, which is obtained through the Sacrificial Life of Jesus Christ, will provide an ETERNAL LIFE in Heaven, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  However, if you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, through the work of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, then you are headed for an ETERNITY in Hell, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  In order to have ABUNDANT LIFE here and ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, you MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART that, Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and begin LIVING a QUALITY, RIGHTEOUS LIFE in the LORD.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

 

"Falling into Temptation"

“Falling Into Temptation”

 

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.  The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”           Matthew 26:41

 

Being TEMPTED is NOT sinful, it is what you do with that TEMPTATION that can become sinful.  Jesus spoke these words to His disciples, in the Garden of Gethsemane, just before He was arrested and taken away to be crucified.  He had asked His disciples to WATCH and PRAY with Him in His hour of greatest need and agony.  

 

He wanted them to be ALERT and FOCUSED on their prayers.  Sometimes, when I pray, my mind will wonder to other things, rather than the things that I may NEED to PRAY for.  This is a distraction caused by the FLESH.  While our spirit is WILLING to communicate with our Heavenly Father, the FLESH is TEMPTING our minds to go in another direction, so that our attempt to communicate with God, which is NECESSARY to our LIVING by FAITH, will be interrupted and usually we end up having very little, if any, communication with God.  And if we allow this to continue, our FAITH and TRUST in Him is weakened, and we end up FALLING to TEMPTATION, which then becomes SIN. 

 

With the HELP of God’s Holy Spirit, we can OVERCOME the TEMPTATION, before we FALL into its clutches, and we FAIL in our RELATIONSHIP with God.  In order to OVERCOME TEMPTATION, we MUST ALLOW the Holy Spirit to be in CONTROL of our communication with God.  To do this we MUST be SENSITIVE to Him, and SUBMISSIVE to HIS will.  Then as TRUE BELIEVERS, we can be assured of a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with our Heavenly Father, and NOT end up FALLING into TEMPTATION.  Do you have a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with God?  Do you have STRONG communication with Him?  Or do you CONTINUALLY fail Him because you are WEAK and FALLING into TEMPTATION?

 

He won’t FAIL YOU, if you will, TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  BELIEVING with ALL your HEART that, Jesus died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and WATCH and PRAY that you might NOT FALL into TEMPTATION, but will become an OVERCOMER, and experience a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with Father God.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"Faith and the Promise"

“Faith and the Promise”

 

He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.              Galatians 3:14

 

It has ALWAYS been God’s plan to JUSTIFY the Gentiles, the non-Jews, by FAITH, and the GOSPEL was announced in advance to Abraham, when God told him that; “All nations will be blessed through you.”   So ALL, who BELIEVE, based on their FAITH, will be blessed along with Abraham, the man of FAITH.  (VV 8&9)  So we have the PROMISE of SALVATION, which is based on our FAITH and NOT our WORKS. 

 

This was made POSSIBLE through the act of REDEMPTION.  When Jesus Christ REDEEMED mankind, by dying on a cross and then being RAISED to LIFE, CONQUERING DEATH and the GRAVE, and bringing the PROMISE of the HOLY SPIRIT of God, to indwell ALL who by FAITH, BELIEVE and will ACCEPT GOD’S PROMISE of SALVATION.  You cannot receive the PROMISE of the HOLY SPIRIT, without possessing the PROMISE of SALVATION. 

 

It is the work of the Holy Spirit to be our COMFORTOR, TEACHER, and GUIDE through this WRETCHED, WICKED, SINFUL world.  He is our COMPANION and will NEVER LEAVE us alone.  Have you received SALVATION, and GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT?  If NOT you are DOOMED to spend ALL of ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.   But God is offering you His PROMISE of SALVATION and the INDWELLING of His HOLY SPIRIT, if you will TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART that, Jesus died for YOU and is ALIVE in HEAVEN, making intercession for you, before God.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and receive God’s HOLY SPIRIT, because of your FAITH, not your WORKS.  And spend your ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Shield of Faith"

“The Shield of Faith”

 

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.        Ephesians 6:16

Who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.      1 Peter 1:5

 

The Apostle Paul instructs the TRUE BELIEVER that they have a struggle against the rulers, authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  (V-12)  In order for the TRUE BELIEVER to take a FIRM STAND for their FAITH, they MUST put on the FULL ARMOR of God.  This armor consists of: The BELT of TRUTH, BREASTPLATE of RIGHTEOUSNESS, SHOES of READINESS, SHIELD of FAITH, HELMET of SALVATION, and the SWORD of the SPIRIT.  (The Word of God).  This should be a DAILY ritual for EVERY CHILD of the LIVING GOD.

 

The SHIELD of FAITH is of EXTREME IMPORTANCE to the TRUE BELIEVER.  Without a STRONG FAITH to SHIELD them from the FLAMING ARROWS of the evil one, they would have all their other VITAL AREAS EXPOSED.  Without a STRONG SHIELD of FAITH, we would be vulnerable to the temptations of the evil one, and this would greatly WEAKEN our FAITH.  And it might even put us down, to the point, which our WITNESS to others would be rendered USELESS.

 

We must be willing to STAND FIRM in our FAITH, and DEFENDING it, by putting on the FULL ARMOR of GOD, and ESPECIALLY taking up the SHIELD of FAITH, and being PREPARED to FIGHT AGAINST the FORCES of EVIL. 

 

We won’t be FIGHTING this battle ALONE, because through FAITH we are SHIELDED by GOD’S POWER until the COMPLETION of our SALVATION, which will be revealed in the last time.  We, who are TRUE BELIEVERS, possess a SAVING FAITH, which is a CONTINUING FAITH that is PERMANENT, and this FAITH gives us the ASSURANCE that we are TRULY SAVED from our SINS.  We are SAVED DAILY from the POWER of SIN, and at the RAPTURE, we will be SAVED from the PRESENCE of SIN.   This is WHY the SHIELD of FAITH is so important.  It is our PROTECTION against SIN.  Do you possess this PROTECTION?  OR are you a VICTIM of SIN’S deadly demise?

 

You have the opportunity NOW to be RESCUED from the grips of SIN and be SAVED from an ETERNITY in Hell, with all its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  To do that you MUST BE WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO God with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART that, Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then CONFESS your SINS to Him and ask Him for HIs FORGIVENESS.  You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and take up your SHIELD of FAITH, and join the BATTLE. The REWARDS FAR OUTWEIGH the fight.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

"The Wicked and the Righteous"

“The Wicked and the Righteous”

 

Evil brings death to the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be punished.  The Lord redeems the life of His servants, and all who take refuge in Him will not be punished.           Psalm 34:21-22

 

We are going to look at the different outcomes for the ETERNAL LIFE of the WICKED and the RIGHTEOUS.  The WICKED are the UNBELIEVERS, those who have NOT given their HEART and LIFE to God, and are allowing EVILNESS to control their livelihood.   They hate the RIGHTEOUS, those who are the TRUE BELIEVERS, who HAVE given their HEART and LIFE to God, and are LIVING by FAITH in Him and are in a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with Him.  The WICKED seem to despise the ways of the RIGHTEOUS, and FIGHT against anything that is Godly and in accordance to God’s Laws.

 

Let’s look at some other verses, which will give us a clear distinction between the DESTINIES of the WICKED and the RIGHTEOUS.  Psalm 1:5-6:   Therefore the wicked will NOT survive the judgment, and sinners will NOT be in the community of the righteous.   Psalm 32:10:  Many pains come to the wicked, but the one who TRUSTS in the Lord will have FAITHFUL LOVE surrounding them.  Psalm 37:10-11:  A little while, and the wicked person will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be there.  But the humble will inherit the land and will enjoy abundant prosperity.  Verse 28:  For the Lord loves justice and will NOT abandon His faithful ones.  They are kept safe FOREVER, but the children of the wicked will be DESTROYED.   And Psalm 37:37-38:  Watch the blameless and observe the upright, for the man of peace will have a future.  But TRANSGRESSORS will be ELIMINATED; the FUTURE of the WICKED will be DESTROYED.  So now you see the DIFFERENCES in ETERNITY for the WICKED and the RIGHTEOUS.  Where does your DESTINY take you?  Are you headed for an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE?  Or are you headed for an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS?  You have a CHOICE, now, to either ACCEPT God’s invitation or to REJECT it.  BE CAREFUL, your DESTINY depends on it.

 

To become a TRUE BELIEVER, a RIGHTEOUS Child of the LIVING GOD, you MUST BE WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and to TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART that, Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before GOD.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and become one of the RIGHTEOUS with an ETERNITY in HEAVEN.  Do this NOW, while you still can.   He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Let Me Tell You What the Lord Has Done!!"

“Let Me Tell You What the Lord Has Done!!”

 

Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what He has done for me.  I cried out to Him with my mouth; His praise was on my tongue.  If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer.  Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld His love from me!          Psalm 66:16-20

 

PRAYER is our communication with our Heavenly Father.  It is NECESSARY because it is how we, as TRUE BELIEVERS, FUNCTION, we need to have that OPEN, SECURE line of communication DAILY.  So it is of the UTMOST IMPORTANCE that we have a DAILY TIME of COMMUNICATING with the HOLY GOD of the UNIVERSE. The One who wants to HEAR from His Children.

 

And it provides a CLOSE, INTIMATE, LOVING, and RIGHT RELATIONSHIP, with our Heavenly Father.  The Psalmist says:  “I CRIED out to Him with my mouth; His praise was on my tongue.”  It is a WONDERFUL thing to begin our PRAYERS with PRAISE and GIVING THANKS for ALL that the LORD has done.  NOTICE:  If we CLING or CHERISH SIN in our HEARTS, God will NOT hear our PRAYERS, but when we ACKNOWLEDGE the sin, and with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, ask for His FORGIVENESS, He is FAITHFUL and JUST to FORGIVE US of our sins.  Then He will HEAR our PRAYERS. 

 

At the beginning of our Scriptures, the Psalmist was MORE than EAGER to SHARE what God had done for him, because of his STEADFAST PRAYERS, his COMMUNICATION with his HOLY GOD.  There are times, when God BLESSES me with GREAT results from my COMMUNICATION with Him, and my CUP OVERFLOWS with PRAISE and ADORATION, that I cannot keep it to myself, and like the Psalmist, I JUST HAVE TO TELL SOMEBODY, what the LORD HAS DONE!!  Have you ever been there?  Has God SO BLESSED YOU, because of your COMMUNICATION with Him, that you cannot CONTAIN the JOY, and you JUST HAVE to TELL SOMEBODY?

 

Remember, if there is SIN in your HEART, He will not HEAR your PRAYER.  So for the UNBELIEVER who has NOT TRULY GIVEN their HEART and LIFE to GOD, according to the Scripture, He will not HEAR your PRAYERS, until you are WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle and TURN TO GOD, and PRAY with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART that, Jesus died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then you MUST CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  And then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and GO TELL SOMEBODY WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE!!!   Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"Eternal Life"

“Eternal Life”

 

For you granted Him authority over all people that He might give eternal life to all those you have given Him.  Now this is eternal life:  that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.       John 17:2-3

 

ETERNAL LIFE:  Everlasting, forever, unchanging

 

We know that when we close our eyes in death, our soul departs the body, and it goes SOMEWHERE, to spend an ETERNITY.  I know some may believe that there is NOTHING after this life. But there TRULY IS an ETERNITY for everyone who has EVER been born.   How do I know this, and how can I be SO CERTAIN?  Well, because the Word of God tells us MANY TIMES about ETERNAL LIFE, and I BELIEVE it, because it is TRUTH.  GOD cannot LIE and will NOT LIE.

 

But the VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION IS:  Where will YOU spend your ETERNITY?   You see, ETERNAL LIFE is MORE than an ENDLESS EXISTENCE.  EVERYONE exist somewhere forever.  In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 25, verse 46, it says:  Then they, (the UNBELIEVER), will go away to ETERNAL PUNISHMENT, but the RIGHTEOUS, (TRUE BELIEVER) to ETERNAL LIFE.”  These are the words of the Lord Jesus Christ.   And it means that the UNBELIEVER will spend ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPING.  It will be FOREVER SUFFERING and the intensity will be beyond human comprehension.   But for the TRUE BELIEVER, it will be an ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  NO IMMORALITY, NO DEVIANT BEHAVIOR, NO HATRED, NO LAWLESSNESS, NO UNGODLINESS of ANY KIND.  There will be NO SUFFERING, NO SICKNESS, and NO DEATH.   JUST JOY UNSPEAKABLE and GLORY PERSONIFIED.  

 

God gave Jesus the AUTHORITY over ALL people, and He has the AUTHORITY to give ETERNAL LIFE.  ETERNAL LIFE that the TRUE BELIEVER would KNOW the ONLY TRUE GOD, and His SON, JESUS CHRIST, who DIED for ALL MANKIND, but was RAISED to LIFE, so that they might have ETERNAL LIFE with JESUS and the HOLY FATHER.  To KNOW God and His Son, Jesus was MORE than knowing ABOUT them.  It is having a CLOSE, INTIMATE, and RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with them.  LOVING and ACCEPTING their gift of SALVATION and becoming a part of their FAMILY.

 

To ESCAPE an ETERNITY in HELL, you MUST BE WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART that, JESUS died for YOU, and is ALIVE in HEAVEN, making intercession for you, before God.   You MUST CONFESS your SINS to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION and ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!