"Numbered With the Transgressors"

“Numbered With the Transgressors”

 

After He has suffered, He will see the Light of Life and be satisfied by His knowledge My Righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.  Therefore I will give Him a portion among the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He poured out His life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors.  For He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.        Isaiah 53:11-12

 

Whenever I read these verses and the preceding ones, I feel remorseful to KNOW that Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, had to SUFFER and DIE because of MY SINS, and not ONLY MY SINS, but YOURS too.  The HOLY, RIGHTEOUS, SINLESS SON of the LIVING GOD, became SIN, and PROVIDED SALVATION for EVERYONE, who BELIEVES in Him and His REDEEMING SACRIFICE on an OLD RUGGED CROSS.  HE paid the PRICE that should have been on our heads. It was mankind that REBELLED against God and His ways, NOT the SINLESS SON of God. 

 

Yet, He was WILLING to lay down His LIFE for those who PRACTICED SINS and REBELLION against God.  When mankind came to the SAVING KNOWLEDGE of Christ and God’s Plan of SALVATION, and BELIEVED in Jesus and His mission to SAVE those who were in EVERY SENCE of the word; TRANSGRESSORS.  JESUS CHRIST, the HOLY, RIGHTEOUS, Son of God, the ONE who KNEW NO SIN, became SIN, and was NUMBERED with the TRANSGRESSORS.  He bore the sins of EVERYONE, and is MAKING INTERCESSION for those who will ACCEPT HIM as their SAVIOR and LORD. Then they will SHARE in His INHERITANCE, and they will RECEIVE an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, and they will ESCAPE ALL the HORRORS of an ETERNITY in HELL.    Where do YOU stand?  Are you a SINNER SAVED by GOD’S GRACE?  Or are YOU a SINNER that is on their way to an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY of ESCAPE?

 

If you have NOT SINCERELY given your HEART and LIFE to GOD then you are on your way to HELL.  However, God LOVES YOU SO MUCH that He sent His SON to DIE in YOUR place, and He wants you to become a CHILD of His by: TURNING AWAY FROM YOUR sinful lifestyle, and TURNING TO HIM, 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 you MUST CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and ALWAYS REMEMBER that Jesus SUFFERED and DIED by TAKING EVERYONE’S transgressions (sins) on Himself, and was NUMBERED with the TRANSGRESSORS for YOUR SAKE and MINE.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Christ Lives In Me"

“Christ Lives In Me”

 

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.                    Galatians 2:20

 

As a Child of God, what is your concept of LIVING a CHRISTIAN LIFE?  For the Apostle Paul, it was being CRUCIFIED with Christ, meaning that he would DIE to his old sinful lifestyle, and that he would NO longer LIVE being his OLD, SELF-RIGHTEOUS, SELF-CENTERED SELF.   It meant that he would DETHRONE SELF, and YIELD his throne to another; the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  And now Christ LIVES in HIM.  This is the MAIN CONCEPT of LIVING a CHRISTIAN LIFE.

 

We, who are TRUE BELIEVERS, those who have given their HEART and LIFE to God, like Paul, MUST be CRUCIFIED with Christ; DYING to OUR OLD SINFUL LIFE.  DETHRONING our SELF and YIELDING it to the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  So that it is NO LONGER YOU who LIVES, but that it is CHRIST LIVING in YOU.  This action is carried out by the Holy Spirit, who, at the time of CONVERSION, will INDWELL the HEART of the TRUE BELIEVER, and will TEACH, GUIDE and LEAD us in the ways of the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  This is known as REBIRTH, or being BORN AGAIN, and takes place when we ACCEPT by FAITH the SON of GOD as our SAVIOR and LORD, the ONE who gave HIMSELF for YOU.

 

There are some who think that THEY have to try to LIVE a CHRISTIAN LIFE according to their OWN merits, this is IMPOSSIBLE.  It is the PURPOSE of the INDWELLING of the HOLY SPIRIT in the HEART of the TRUE BELIEVER to TEACH, GUIDE and LEAD you to LIVE a CHRISTIAN LIFE.  In John 14:26 , Jesus told His disciples; “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will TEACH you ALL things and bring to your remembrance ALL that I have said to you.”   Christ LIVES in the HEART of EVERY TRUE BELIEVER by the PRESENCE of God’s Holy Spirit. 

 

Some people may think that all they have to do to obtain SALVATION, is to say a prayer, and then go on with life as usual.  This is NOT SALVATION, SALVATION is becoming a NEW CREATURE, a DIFFERENT person.  One who has TOTALLY and TRUTHFULLY given their WHOLE HEART and LIFE to God, and ALLOWS JESUS CHRIST to LIVE in them, by the POWER of GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT. 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God.  Then it is NOT CHRIST who lives in YOU, but it is the devil.  And he is LEADING you to an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and there is NO WAY of ESCAPE.  However, God in His INFINITE MERCY and ABUNDANT GRACE, is offering you the opportunity NOW, to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO HIM with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST BELIEVE that Jesus DIED for YOU, with ALL your HEART, 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 you MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and allow CHRIST to LIVE in YOU, by the POWER of GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"Two IMPORTANT Steps to SALVATION"

“Two IMPORTANT Steps to SALVATION”

 

For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.        Romans 10:10

 

The Bible clearly states how a SINFUL person can obtain SALVATION.  In Romans 10:9-13, it gives us STEPS we MUST TAKE in order to possess JUSTIFICATION, SALVATION, and RIGHTEOUSNESS.  I would like to focus on verse 10, which are two very important steps in the SALVATION of a LOST SOUL.

 

The first step is:  To BELIEVE with your HEART that Jesus is Lord,” and that He DIED for YOUR sins and was RAISED TO LIFE, by God, in order for YOU to have ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN.  It cannot be an “I THINK”, it MUST be an “I BELIEVE”, because, it is with your HEART that you BELIEVE and are JUSTIFIED, NOT with your MIND.    

 

The second step is:  To CONFESS with the MOUTH your sins, before God with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, you are ACKNOWLEDGING that you are a sinner in NEED of a SAVIOR, and then you can SINCERELY PROFESS with your MOUTH that “JESUS IS LORD!” 

 

These TWO STEPS will lead you to SALVATION, and an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  But if you have NOT BELIEVED with your HEART nor CONFESSED with your MOUTH, you are HEADED for an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS.  God is giving you an opportunity NOW, to CHANGE your DESTINY:  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 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.  Then you MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and be JUSTIFIED, SAVED, and RIGHTEOUS, before the ALMIGHTY GOD.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

 

"Envy and Selfish Ambition"

“Envy and Selfish Ambition”

 

But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.  Such “wisdom” does not come down from Heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.   For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.        James 3:14-16

 

ENVY and SELFISH AMBITION, two attributes that the HOLY, RIGHTEOUS GOD of this UNIVERSE, does NOT want His Children to possess.  Some may believe that these two attributes are a form of “wisdom”, but such “wisdom” is NOT from God, but it is EARTHLY, UNSPIRITUAL, and DEMONIC, which are ENEMIES of the TRUE BELIEVER.  This constitutes FALSE WISDOM, it is DEFINITELY NOT the WISDOM that God gives His Children.

 

I believe that in this day and time, we see ENVY AND SELFISH AMBITION running RAMPANT in so many different facets of our life.  We definitely can see it in our government, with the different attitudes of the different groups of individuals and their agendas.  We see it infiltrating our families, causing DIVISIONS, JEALOUSIES, even HATRED, and in some cases VIOLENCES.  Sadly to say ENVY and SELFISH AMBITION has entered into the HEARTS and minds of members of the Church family too.  And has caused DISSENSIONS and DIVISIONS among God’s Children, because of the use of their FALSE WISDOM.  Instead of HUMBLING themselves and DEPENDING on God and His Holy Spirit to impart GODLY WISDOM to them, they open their HEARTS to EARTHLY, UNSPIRITUAL and DEMONIC influences, which generally DESTROYS the work of God, or at least puts a HALT to it.

 

If you are a TRUE CHILD of GOD, don’t let ENVY and SELFISH AMBITION invade your HEART and MIND.  If you don’t have an INTIMATE ALONE TIME with your HEAVENLY FATHER, MAKE ONE!! Let Him give you WISDOM that comes from Him and NOT from the EARTHLY, UNSPIRITUAL, DEMONIC ENEMIES that are only out to DESTROY your RELATIONSHIP with the ALMIGHTY God.

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to GOD.  You are NOT His Child, and you are living in REBELLION against Him.  You are headed for an ETERNITY in Hell, with ALL its HORRORS, and there is NO WAY of ESCAPE.  More than likely, you find yourself experiencing some ENVY and SELFISH AMBITION.  You may even allow them to CONTROL your HEART and MIND, concerning your RELATIONSHIPS and DECESION-MAKING.  If this is the case, I want you to KNOW that God is giving you the OPPORTUNITY NOW to CHANGE your DESTINY by:  TURNING AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURNING TO HIM with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  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 ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and be set FREE from the EARTHLY, UNSPIRITUAL, DEMONIC influences that are sending you to an ETERNITY in Hell.   Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"A Sincere Heart"

“A Sincere Heart”

 

Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.        Hebrews 10:22

 

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!  Well, we have been focusing on LOVE these last few days, so I thought we might take a look at something that is a very prominent object of HUMAN AFFECTIONS, which is, of course, the HEART.  We tell those we LOVE that we LOVE them with ALL our HEART.  Some people are very SINCERE when they express this, however there are those who say it, but really don’t mean it. 

 

In our devotion today, we will talk about saying and proclaiming the fact that we LOVE God with ALL our HEART.  But do we REALLY?  In order to say it and mean it, you have got to have a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with Him.  The writer of Hebrews encourages us to DRAW NEAR to GOD.  To be able to come into the presence of the HOLY, RIGHTEOUS GOD, you NEED a SINCERE HEART and a SURE FAITH, or a FAITH that has FULL ASSURANCE of your RELATIONSHIP with Him.  The ONLY WAY to approach God is through His SON, Jesus Christ, and His SACRIFICAL DEATH on the CROSS. 

 

When you come to Christ with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, it is like having your HEART sprinkled with the CLEANSING BLOOD of Christ Jesus, this act of REDEMPTION provides you with FREEDOM from your GUILTY CONSCIENCE and WASHES your SIN-DRENCHED body with PURE water from the FOUNTAIN of LIVING WATER. Thus, you will have a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with Holy God.  This will set you FREE from your CONDEMNATION and it will provide you with an ETERNITY in HEAVEN. 

 

If you have NOT come to Christ for the SALVATION of your soul.  You cannot DRAW NEAR TO GOD, until you come to Him with a SINCERE, REPENTANT HEART.  Then you MUST CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  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 ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and with a SINCERE HEART, a SURE FAITH, and the CLEANSING with PURE WATER, have a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with God, and receive an ETERNITY in Heaven.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"True Love"

“True Love”

My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action.        1 John 3:18

 

This is what LOVE is:  It is NOT that we have LOVED God, but that He LOVED us and sent His Son to be the means by which our sins are forgiven.  (1 John 4:10)  This is a SACRIFICIAL LOVE.  “For God LOVED the world SO MUCH that He gave His ONLY SON, so that EVERYONE who BELIEVES in Him may not die but have ETERNAL LIFE.  (John 3:16)

TRUE LOVE is a SINCERE LOVE, 1 Peter 1:22 tells us;  “Now that by your OBEDIENCE to the TRUTH you have purified yourselves and have come to have a SINCERE LOVE for other believers, love one another EARNESTLY with ALL your HEART.”   This means that we should LOVE each other with a GENUINE LOVE and to do that with a ZEAL and to be SERIOUS about our LOVE for each other. 

 

TRUE LOVE is a SAVING LOVE, Psalm 91:14, 15 tells us that “God says, ‘I will SAVE those who LOVE Me, and PROTECT those who ACKNOWLEDGE Me as LORD.  When they call to Me, I will answer them when they are in trouble, I will be with them.  I will RESCUE them and HONOR them.”  God’s LOVE is a TRUE SAVING LOVE.

 

TRUE LOVE is a STEADFAST LOVE, Ephesians 6:24 says:  “May God’s GRACE be with ALL those who LOVE our Lord Jesus Christ with UNDYING LOVE.  UNDYING LOVE is a STEADFAST LOVE.  It is a LOVE that is NOT shaken, it IS FIRM and STRONG.  It will NEVER DIE OUT, but it will STAND the tests of time.  Does this describe the LOVE you have for the Lord Jesus Christ?  It should.

 

These are a few of the attributes of TRUE LOVE, which is the AGAPE or GODLY type of LOVE.  It is DEFINITELY the type of LOVE that God has for His Children.  And as God’s Children, it is the type of LOVE that we should share among each other.  Remember:  The COMMAND that Christ has given us is this:  WHOEVER LOVES GOD, MUST LOVE OTHERS ALSO.   (1 John 4:21)

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you cannot experience His TRUE LOVE.  However, He is giving you the opportunity NOW to be able to have that EXPERIENCE.  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.  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 ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and be able to EXPERIENCE the REAL TRUE LOVE of ALMIGHTY GOD.  And be RESCUED from an ETERNITY in Hell, and spend your ETERNITY in HEAVEN.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"Where Does LOVE Come From?"

“Where Does LOVE Come From?”

 

Dear Friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.  Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.      1 John 4:7-8

 

Some people may think that LOVE is an emotion that you are born with.  While others may say it is a LEARNED emotion, that from birth, over a period of time, you are taught to LOVE.  However, the Bible tells us that LOVE comes from GOD, which is the AGAPE type of LOVE.

 

There are three types of LOVE:  One is the AGAPE or Godly LOVE, shared by God’s Children, the second type is PHILO or brotherly type of love, this is the type of LOVE that is expressed among family members or close friends.  The third type of LOVE is the EROS, which is the type of LOVE that is shared between husband and wife, which is expressed physically.  The word EROS comes from the word EROTIC. 

 

I believe that when God created mankind, He created them with the ABILITY to LOVE each other in ALL three ways.  In order to become a TRUE CHILD of God, you MUST LOVE Him DEEPLY with the AGAPE LOVE.  This LOVE is a manifestation of the HOLY SPIRIT of God. 

 

This is how God showed His LOVE among us:  He sent His ONE and ONLY Son into the world that we might LIVE through Him.  This is LOVE:  NOT that WE LOVED GOD, but that He LOVED us, and sent His Son as an ATONING SACRIFICE for our sins, (VV 9-10).  And since God so LOVED us, we also ought to LOVE one another.  No one has ever seen God; but if we LOVE one another, God lives in us and His LOVE is made complete in us.  (VV11-12).  This is the type of LOVE that TRUE BELIEVERS, TRUE CHILDREN OF GOD should have for each other.  Are you experiencing the AGAPE, or GODLY LOVE? 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are NOT EXPERIENCING His LOVE.  And you WILL experience His WRATH, because you are living a SINFUL lifestyle, which is enmity against the HOLY God.  In order to experience His LOVE and be RESCUED from an ETERNITY in Hell, 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.  You MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART that; Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you before God.  Then you MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and EXPERIENCE and SHARE His AGAPE LOVE with others.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!