“How Can I Know?”

 “How Can I Know?”

 

The instructions of the LORD are PERFECT, reviving the soul. The decrees of the LORD are TRUSTWORTHY, making the wise the simple.  The commands of the LORD are right, bringing JOY to the HEART.  The commands of the LORD are CLEAR, giving INSIGHT for LIVING.  Psalm 19:7-8

This Psalm of David tells us of the GREATNESS of the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, whose Creation PROCLAIMS the POWER and CREATIVITY of the HOLY GOD, who created EVERYTHING!!  In verses 1-4, we are told of His AWESOME POWER to create the HEAVENS that PROCLAIM His Craftsmanship. DAY after DAY they continue to speak; night after night they make Him KNOWN. They SPEAK without a SOUND or WORD; their VOICE is NEVER heard.  Yet their MESSAGE has gone throughout the earth and their WORDS to ALL the world.

What a MIGHTY GOD we serve!! 

In verses 7-10 we see the AWESOME WISDOM of our LOVING HEAVENLY FATHER. They tell us that the INSTRUCTIONS of the LORD are PERFECT, reviving the soul.  The DECREES OF THE lord are TRUSTWORTHY, making WISE the SIMPLE.  The COMMANDMENTS of the LORD are RIGHT bringing JOY to the HEART.  The COMMANDS of the LORD are CLEAR, giving INSIGHT for LIVING. REVERENCE for the LORD is PURE, lasting FOREVER. The LAWS of the LORD are TRUE; each one is FAIR. They are more desirable than GOLD, even the finest GOLD. They are SWEETER than honey, even honey dripping from the comb.

They are a WARNING to the SERVANT; there’s a GREAT REWARD for those who OBEY THEM.

Then David asks, “How can I KNOW all the sins lurking in my heart?” Well, the answer lies in the information above.  Just BELIEVE IT and OBEY IT!!

Then the King prayed:  “CLEANSE me from these HIDDEN FAULTS.  Keep your servant from DELIBERATE SINS!  Don’t let them CONTROL me.  Then I will be FREE of GUILT and INNOCENT of GREAT SIN.”

May the WORDS of my MOUTH and the MEDITATION of my HEART be PLEASING to You, O LORD, my ROCK and my REDEEMER. 

THREE IMPORTANT THINGS that will HELP with KNOWING when you commit HIDDEN FAULTS:1. PRAYER, 2. READ YOUR BIBLE, 3. MEDITATE on what you read. The Holy Spirit will bring to MIND your FAULTS, whether they are HIDDEN or DELIBERATE.

If you have NOT come to JESUS for the FORGIVENESS of ALL your SINS, you can do that NOW, if you have been feeling GUILTY for the way you are living, that is the HOLY SPIRIT of God, telling you it’s TIME to COME TO GOD THROUGH JESUS, and 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 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 God’s Gift of SALVATION and KNOW about your HIDDEN FAULTS, so you can CONFESS and be CLEANSED, and RAPTURE READY!! Do This NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!! Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!

 

“The Contrasts of the Destinies of the RIGHTEOUS and the WICKED”

 “The Contrasts of the Destinies of the RIGHTEOUS and the WICKED”

 

Look at those who are honest and good, for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace. But the rebellious will be destroyed; they have NO future.  Psalm 37:37-38

 

This psalm was written by David, a man after God’s own heart.  In this psalm we see a CLEAR contrast between the DESTINIES of the GOOD and HONEST, and the WICKED.  First, we will see David’s instructions to those who were RIGHTEOUS, he tells them: “Don’t WORRY about the WICKED nor ENVY those who do WRONG. Because they will soon FADE AWAY like the GRASS, and they will SOON WITHER like Spring flowers.” Instead, the righteous should: Take DELIGHT in the LORD, and He will give them the DESIRES of their heart. When you do this, you can expect God’s MOVEMENT in your life when your THINKING and DESIRES match HIS. 

The next thing the RIGHTEOUS should do, is to COMMIT EVERYTHING they DO to the LORD. TRUST HIM, and He will HELP them. When they do this, He will make their INNOCENCE RADIATE like the DAWN, and the JUSTICE of their CAUSE will SHINE like the NOONDAY SUN.

Then He tells them to BE STILL in the PRESENCE of the LORD and WAIT PATIENTLY for Him to ACT.  And they SHOULD NOT WORRY about EVIL PEOPLE who PROSPER or FRET about their WICKED SCHEMES. 

They SHOULD NOT be ANGRY, and they SHOULD turn AWAY FROM their RAGE.  They SHOULD NOT lose their TEMPER—it ONLY LEADS to HARM.  Because the WICKED will be DESTROYED, but those who TRUST in the LORD WILL POSSESS the LAND. And they will LIVE in PEACE and PROSPERITY.

It is better to be GODLY and have little than to be EVIL and rich.  The LORD establishes and protects the ways of the RIGHTEOUS.  HE PROVIDES food for them.  He LOVES and PROTECTS the RIGHTEOUS giving them SECURITY in the land. The WICKED lie in wait to DESTROY, but the LORD will not FORSAKE HIS OWN.  And those who WAIT on the LORD will ENJOY security. 

We NEED to realize that in this WICKED WORLD we live in, The LORD is our SALVATION and STRONGHOLD for those who take REFUGE in Him.  Which is YOUR DESTINY?  Are YOU GUILTY of PERSECUTING GOD’S Children?   Are you a part of the WICKED GROUP? Or have you been to JESUS, the ONLY SON of the LIVING GOD, and the ONLY WAY to have SALVATION? If you are PART of the WICKED, then your DESTINY will be AN ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE once you are there. But YOU NOW have the OPPORTUNITY to CHANGE your DESTINY, if you will: ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST. And if you will 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 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 COMMIT EVERYTHING you DO to the LORD, TRUST Him, and He will HELP YOU.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.   He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!! Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!

 

 

 

 

 

“The Sin of DISCRIMINATION”

 “The Sin of DISCRIMINATION”

 

 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking ALL of it.  James 2:10

 

This is an especially IMPORTANT topic for the TRUE BELIEVER, to keep in their HEART and mind.  Nevertheless, it is an ESSENTIAL part of are RELATIONSHIP with GOD the FATHER and His SON, JESUS CHRIST.   We who are the Children of God, need to exemplify His Character.

James learned FAITHFULLY from his Master, Jesus. And when he asked about the GREATEST COMMANDMENT. Jesus explained that the law has TWO sides to it; LOVE GOD and LOVE your NEIGHBOR.  You cannot claim to LOVE God and at the same time HATE your brother and sister, whom you have seen, and yet LOVE God, whom you have NOT SEEN. God has given us this command:  Anyone who LOVES GOD MUST also LOVE their brother and SISTER.  (1ST John 4:20,21)

James tells us that as TRUE BELIEVERS, we should SPEAK and ACT as those who are going to be JUDGED by the LAW that gives FREEDOM, because JUDGMENT WITHOUT MERCY will be shown to ANYONE who has NOT BEEN merciful.  MERCY TRIUMPHS over JUDGMENT.  (12-13)

 DISCRIMINATION or PARTIALITY are SINS and SHOULD have NO PART in the FAMILY of GOD. Mainly because it is NOT a PART of GOD’S CHARACTER nor that of HIS Son.  What IF JESUS said: “I’m ONLY going to go to the CROSS and SACRIFICE for the JEWS, the GENTILES will have to find another way.”  That would be DISCRIMINATION and PARTIALITY, but THANK GOD, that DISCRIMINATION nor PARTIALITY aren’t a part of either of their CHARACTER. 

If you are a TRUE BELIEVER, and you REALLY KEEP the ROYAL LAW found in Scripture, “Love your NEIGHBOR as yourself,” you are doing RIGHT.  But if you SHOW FAVORITISM, you SIN and are CONVICTED by the LAW as a LAWBREAKER. And REMEMBER: “JUDGMENT WITHOUT MERCY will be SHOWN to ANYONE who has NOT been MERCIFUL.”

If you are NOT a TRUE BELIEVER and have NOT come to JESUS for your SALVATION, you are destined to be JUDGED without MERCY on JUDGMENT DAY, and will be condemned to an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once you are there. You have the OPPORTUNITY NOW to change your DESTINY.

ADMIT that you are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, God’s ONLY SON, who GAVE His Life to SAVE your SOUL.  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.  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 LOVE ONE ANOTHER, with a MERCIFUL HEART.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  HE’S WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!

“A Done Deal”

 “A Done Deal”

 

But Jesus lives on forever, and His Work as priest does not pass on to someone else. And so, He is ABLE, NOW, and ALWAYS, to SAVE those who come to GOD through Him, because He LIVES FOREVER to plead with God for them.  Hebrews 7:24-25

 

This makes JESUS the HIGH PRIEST that MEETS our NEEDS.  He is MORE than qualified. He did not become a priest because of His lineage, He was from Judah, and NO priest had ever come from Judah. Jesus was made a PRIEST by the VOW made by GOD. And there was NO SUCH VOW when the others were made priests. God made a SOLEMN PROMISE, and He will NOT take it back:  He said to Jesus: “You will be a PRIEST FOREVER.”  This difference, then, also makes JESUS the GUARANTEE of a BETTER COVENANT.

Another difference of the Priesthood of JESUS was that the other priests DIED and could not continue their work. But JESUS LIVES FOREVER, and His work as priest does NOT pass on to someone else.  And He is able, NOW, and ALWAYS, to SAVE those who will COME to God through Him, because He LIVES FOREVER to intercede with GOD for them.

He does not need to offer sacrifices EVERY DAY for His own sins, He is SINLESS, and then for the sins of the people.  He has offered ONE SACRIFICE, ONCE and for ALL, when HE offered HIMSELF.

Therefore, there is NO OTHER WAY to come to GOD except through His ONLY SON, JESUS CHRIST, who took on ALL the SINS of ALL HUMANITY, in order for them to have a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with the Heavenly Father.  He is the ONLY WAY to be able to have an ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN and to ESCAPE an ETERNAL LIFE in HELL with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE once you are there.

The MAIN point: We have a High Priest who sat down in the place of honor beside the throne of the MAJESTIC GOD in Heaven.  There He ministers in the Heavenly Tabernacle, The TRUE place of WORSHIP that was built by the Lord and NOT by human hands.

We, who have given our HEARTS and LIVES to JESUS, have an ETERNAL ADVOCATE, who LOVES us UNCONDITIONALLY and is ALWAYS AVAILABLE to US, all we need to do is CALL on the NAME of JESUS.  If you have NOT come to Him, when the HOLY SPIRIT touches your HEART, you cannot have that RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with the HEAVENLY FATHER, and your ETERNAL DESTINATION will be an ETERNITY in HELL.  Unless you COME to JESUS and ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, the LORD JESUS CHRIST. 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.  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 make it a DONE DEAL on your part.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’ t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!

 

“ A Call to Action”

 “A Call to Action”

 

Don’t just listen to God’s Word.  You MUST DO what it says.  Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.  James 1:22

 

If you JUST LISTEN to God’s Word and don’t OBEY, it’s like glancing at your face in a mirror. James is speaking of a man who looks at a mirror, he OBSERVES himself, goes away, and IMMEDIATELY FORGETS what kind of man he was.

Looking into the MIRROR of the Word of God involves OBLIGATION. One MUST LOOK INTENTLY into the PERFECT LAW that gives FREEDOM. The PURPOSE and SUSTAINED LOOK with an IMMEDIATE RESPONSE is the KEY to SPIRITUAL STRENGTH and CONTINUED MATURITY. 

God’s Law gives us TRUE FREEDOM. John 8:31-32, tells us that, CHRIST said: “Hold to My teaching, then you will KNOW the TRUTH and the TRUTH will set you FREE.”  And to be able to have such FREEDOM we MUST SUBMIT to GOD’S PERFECT WORD.

The ACTION is being SUBMITTED to God and His Word INTENTLY, NOT CASUALLY in PRAYER and MEDITATION. Those who will SUBMIT to TRANSFORMATION by the WORD and becomes a DOER of the Word will be blessed. 

If you have NOT come to JESUS CHRIST for the REDEMPTION of your SOUL. You are NOT living in TRUE FREEDOM, and you cannot be a DOER of the Word, UNLESS you SUBMIT YOURSELF to His WORD, then you can become a DOER of His WORD. 

To do that 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 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 answer His CALL to ACTION and become NOT JUST a HEARER of the WORD but be a DOER of the WORD also, and BE BLESSED.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can!!!  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!

“From Old Self to New Self”

 “From Old Self to New Self”

 

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.  Colossians 3:17

 

The Apostle Paul wanted the Colossians to LIVE their New Life in such a way that they would be LIVING with an outward CHANGE as much as the INWARD CHANGE. Notice that he encourages them in WHATEVER they do, whether in WORD or DEED, to do it ALL in the name of the Lord Jesus, and to do it with an ATTITUDE of GRATITUDE. Because they are NOW Children of the LIVING GOD. 

We, who are TRUE believers, need to put off our OLD SELF with its EVIL practices and put on the NEW SELF who is being RENEWED to a TRUE knowledge according to the image of the ONE who CREATED them. In other words, we are to be SO into JESUS that we are JUST LIKE Him in every part of our NEW IMAGE.  We need to be CHRISTLIKE in ALL we DO.  And we should DO it in OBEDIENCE to the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, the MAKER of HEAVEN and EARTH. 

Our demeanor should be one of COMPASSION, KINDNESS, HUMILITY, GENTLENESS and PATIENCE; we should BEAR with one another, FORGIVING each other, and whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave YOU, so also should you be FORGIVING.

Above ALL, put on LOVE, because it is the PERFECT BOND of UNITY.  Let the PEACE of CHRIST RULE in your HEARTS, and in ONE BODY, be THANKFUL.

We are NOT PERFECT, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t be OBEDIENT to the WORD of GOD and WORK at it.  We should be WILLING to STRIVE at that GOAL, because we BELONG to a PERFECT GOD.  And the BEST WAY to do that its to PUT OFF our OLD SELF and PUT ON our NEW SELF. 

If you have NOT DONE this, you have the OPPORTUNITY NOW! If you have been feeling guilty for your SINFUL LIFESTYLE, it is the Holy Spirit of God telling you it’s time for you to come to Him, through His SON, JESUS CHRIST, the ONE who PAID in FULL the PRICE for your SALVATION.  And to be able to receive this SPECIAL GIFT, you MUST COME to Jesus and ADMIT that you are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, 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 SALVATION.  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 OBEY and WORK with your NEW SELF.   Do this NOW while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!

 

“The Source of Resurrection and Life”

 “The Source of Resurrection and Life”

 

Jesus told Martha; “I am the RESURRECTION and the LIFE.  Anyone who believes in Me will LIVE, even after dying.  Everyone who lives in Me and BELIEVES in Me will NEVER EVER die. Do you believe this, Martha?”  John 11:25-26

This is the fifth of the “I AM” statements that Jesus made about Himself, concerning His identity. Martha was one of Lazarus’ sisters. And they were CLOSE friends with JESUS.  Whenever Jesus was in the area He would stay with Lazarus, Mary, and Martha, they were good friends.  And Jesus, though He loved Lazarus and his sisters, He knew that what would happen soon, was for the GLORY OF GOD so that the SON of GOD would receive GLORY from this situation.

And by the time Jesus had reached Bethany, He was told that Lazarus had died and had been in the grave for four days. When Jesus arrived, Mary was in the house, and Martha had gone to meet Jesus, and she said to Him; “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.” And Jesus response was: “Your brother will rise again.” 

 These words from Jesus gave Martha, HOPE, She BELIEVED that JESUS was the PROMISED MESSIAH, the Son of GOD, the One who had come into the world from GOD. Jesus was deeply moved by the grief of Martha and Mary, and Jesus wept. 

When Jesus arrived at the tomb, He told them to remove the stone that had been rolled across the entrance.  This troubled Martha, and she told Jesus; “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be TERRIBLE. And Jesus, who has POWER over DEATH and the GRAVE, shouted “LAZARUS, COME OUT!” And the DEAD man CAME OUT!

Now, I told you all of this to show you that Jesus has POWER and MARTHA had HOPE.  I have heard the saying: “Where there is a WILL there is a WAY.” And I BELIEVE that MARTHA had the WILL, because she got word to JESUS, I think her HOPE was JESUS. And JESUS KNEW that He was the WAY, He said:  “I am the RESURRECTION and the LIFE. Anyone who BELIEVES in Me will NEVER, EVER DIE!!”

He also knew that it was to bring GLORY to GOD, so that the SON of GOD, will receive GLORY.  And to STRENGTHEN their HOPE and BELIEF and to solidify the TRUTH:  JESUS is the SOURCE of RESURRECTION and LIFE:  DO YOU BELIEVE THAT??  I DO!!

If you have DOUBTS about it and have NOT come to JESUS for the SALVATION of your SOUL, then this is what you MUST DO to obtain God’s Gift of SALVATION and ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN.  When you have that tugging on your HEART. You MUST SURRENDER and COME to JESUS and ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, God’s ONLY SON, who GAVE His LIFE to save our SOULS from spending 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 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 BELIEVE that JESUS is the SOURCE of your RESURRECTION and ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!