Many Parts, One Body!

Many Parts, One Body!

 

 

Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body.  We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.--------Romans 12:4-5

 

 

This passage of Scripture is part of a letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome.  Paul is encouraging them to let their bodies be a living sacrifice to God.  He gives them the example of a human body compared to the body of Christ, which consists of the bodies of BELIEVERS.

 

Just like the human body, which has many different parts and each part has a different function. So it is with the body of Christ.  Your foot can’t do the function of the ear nor can your hand do the function of the eye, nor can all the body parts do the same function.  They are DIFFERENT parts with DIFFERENT functions. 

 

In the body of Christ we all have different functions.  Some would be like the foot, some would be like the hand, others might be the arm and still others would be like the leg, yet they would ALL make up the same body. 

 

In the body of Christ, we have some who are teachers, some who are preachers, some who are singers, some who are prayer-warriors,  and some who are organizers, they are many different functions of the body  of Christ, but they ALL function TOGETHER, because they are ONE body.

 

What kind of body would we have if everyone was a preacher or a singer, what could that accomplish.  God in His infinite wisdom, has a plan for the body of Christ and it is not based on one part of that body, but ALL of the parts, working together to accomplish His will.  That is what is known as UNITY.  We can’t possibly accomplish His will without UNITY in the body of Christ.  So we must work TOGETHER to be able to accomplish anything.  It is EXTREMELY important that we have UNITY in the body of Christ, if it is to function at all.  So BELIEVERS, let’s work TOGETHER, in UNITY to accomplish God’s will and to please Him.

If you have never given your HEART and LIFE to Jesus then you are not part of the body of Christ, but you are like a foot, without a body, with no purpose or function.  You can change that an become a part of the body of Christ and be a part that has purpose and function, by:  CONFESSING your sins to God and asking 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 become a part of the body of Christ, working with other BELIEVERS to accomplish the will of God.  Do it NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s waiting!!!

Walk in the Light!

Walk in the Light!

 

 

Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer.  Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you.  Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going.  Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.”--------John 12: 35-36

 

 

In this passage of Scripture, Jesus was speaking to a crowd of people, who had just asked Him, “just who is the Son of Man, anyway?”   This encounter happened just before His arrest.

 

His reply indicated that they needed to recognize who He was when He said; “My light will shine for you just a little longer.”  Jesus is the LIGHT OF THE WORLD and in Him there is NO darkness. So He was telling them to BELIEVE in Him as the Son of Man, because they were living in the dark and needed to come into the LIGHT and to WALK in the LIGHT, while they can.  He knew His time on earth was drawing to an end.  And He wanted them to WALK or LIVE in the LIGHT, meaning for them to BELIEVE in Him and to LIVE for HIM.

 

If they rejected Him and did not BELIEVE in Him they would be OVERCOME with the darkness of this sinful, corrupt world.  Those who walk in darkness cannot see where they are going, they have NO hope for their eternity.  They are blinded with darkness and are overcome with its totality. 

 

But He gives them HOPE, by telling them to TRUST in the LIGHT, basically He was telling them to TRUST in Him, while there is still time, because there would be a time when the opportunity to WALK in the LIGHT would come to an end, and they would NOT be able to come into the LIGHT, but would be overtaken by the darkness.  He said IF they ACCEPT His invitation to WALK in the LIGHT, they can become children of the LIGHT and would be a part of His family.

 

This is a message for US today.  We too NEED to WALK or LIVE in the LIGHT by ACCEPTING His invitation to do so.  If you reject His invitation then you will be one who will be overtaken by the darkness, and will WALK in the darkness, not knowing where you are going, and without HOPE for your eternity.  You NEED to ACCEPT His invitation NOW, time is running out.  He is COMING SOON! 

 

You have the opportunity to WALK in the LIGHT right NOW by:  CONFESSING your sins to God and asking 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 come out of the darkness and into His glorious LIGHT.  Do it NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s waiting!!

 

Living in Freedom

Living in Freedom

 

 

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters.  But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature.  Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.--------Galatians 5:13

 

 

The Lord Jesus Christ has come and set FREE those of us who were once held in bondage to our sinful nature, but have come through His precious blood and been redeemed and released from those chains of sin that have held us captive. 

 

In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, he says:  “You have been called to live in FREEDOM,” When a person comes to Christ for SALVATION, they are not only SAVED from an eternity in Hell, but they are FREE from their sins and from living a sinful life and have been released to ‘live in FREEDOM.’

 

But Paul also gives a warning to the Children of God, he says, “Don’t use your FREEDOM to satisfy your sinful nature.”  Just because you have been set FREE, doesn’t mean you have a license to sin anytime you desire.  Being saved doesn’t mean that now since we are saved we can be FREE to live ANY WAY we want, but instead it FREES us from having to keep EVERY PART of the Law of Moses, which is IMPOSSIBLE to do.  Our SALVATION is not determined by whether we have been able to keep ALL of the law, but it is determined by whether we have TRULY given our HEART and LIFE to Christ, and have been set FREE from our sins, and no longer held in bondage to our sinful nature.

 

Once a person is SAVED and SET FREE from their sins, they SHOULD have a NEW nature, a nature that would hunger after the things of God and would desire to please Him.  Not a nature that remains in the chains of their sins, which would indicate that NO change has taken place and their SALVATION is not REAL.  When SALVATION is REAL there will be a change in that person’s nature, for OLD things have passed away and ALL things become NEW.  They become a NEW person, one who has been set FREE and if you have been set FREE, through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, then you are FREE indeed. 

 

Paul encourages the believers to use their FREEDOM to SERVE one another in LOVE and not use it to satisfy their sinful nature.

 

If you have not been through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, then you are STILL in bondage to your sinful nature and will be held in the chains of your sins until you come through the shed blood of Christ.  You can be set FREE by: CONFESSING your sins to God and asking Him for His FOGIVENESS, 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 set FREE from your sins.  Do it NOW, while you STILL can. He’s waiting!!!

Shipwrecked Faith

Shipwrecked Faith

 

 

Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear.  For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.--------1Timothy 1:19

 

 

Unseen battles for the souls of mankind are raging all around us.  These are battles of the forces of GOOD and EVIL, and are not meant for our eyes to see.  This letter from the Apostle Paul to Timothy, his son in the ministry, is a letter of ENCOURAGEMENT to keep his faith in Jesus Christ.  And to have a PURE heart, a CLEAR conscience and a GENUINE faith. 

 

Paul gives Timothy instructions so that He might be able to fight well in the Lord’s battles.  He cannot be a victor if he doesn’t CLING to his faith, and neither can we, for you see we are in that same battle and as God’s Children,  we need to have a STRONG, GENUINE FAITH in Christ Jesus, so that we too can be victors for our Lord. 

 

But in order to have a STRONG, GENUINE FAITH, we MUST have a CLEAR CONSCIENCE.  If you are dabbling in sin and you are a TRUE Child of the Living God, the Holy Spirit will bring conviction upon your heart and you will NOT have a CLEAR conscience, when you DELIBERATELY do what you KNOW you shouldn’t do, because it is not pleasing to Almighty God, then your FAITH has been SHIPWRECKED. And your CLEAR conscience has been muddled with guilt and heartache.  And if you don’t repent you sink deeper into the sea of sinfulness, and your FAITH ends up SHIPWRECKED, not to mention your witness to others, which will sink to the bottom of the sea of sinfulness and be buried in the sand.

 

However, you can resurrect your SHIPWRECKED faith by, coming to the Captain of your Faith, the Lord Jesus Christ, and confess your sins to Him, with a contrite spirit and a willing heart to turn or repent from your sins.

 

Then allow the Holy Spirit to work in your heart, soul and mind to restore your faith and produce a clear conscience within you.  So you too will be a VICTOR for our LORD.

 

If you have NEVER given your heart and life to Jesus, then you don’t have a GENUINE faith or a CLEAR conscience. You are headed out in the sea of sinfulness, to be dashed against the rocks of sin and depravity, headed for an eternity where you will be; LOST FOREVER, with heartache, sorrow, torment, torture, unending pain, and hatred as some of your shipmates.  Don’t let that happen, you are the only one who can stop it, by: CONFESSING your sins to God and asking 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 get off the boat that is headed out to the sea of sinfulness.  Do it NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s waiting!!!

 

The Plan of Redemption

The Plan of Redemption

 

 

But when the right time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.  God sent Him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that He could adopt us as His very own children.  And because we are His children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out “Abba, Father.”  Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child.  And since you are His child, God has made you His heir.--------Galatians 4:4-7

 

 

It has been the desire of Almighty God to have a close intimate relationship with the crown of His creation, mankind.  And from the very beginning of creation up to this very day, that desire has never diminished.  He still has a deep desire for a close intimate relationship with mankind. 

 

The problem being is that mankind sinned against God, he disobeyed the Creator and had to be disciplined. That was when the fate of mankind changed.  However, the desire for a close, intimate relationship with His own creation was still deep in the heart of Almighty God, and God being a RIGHTEOUS God, came up with a set of laws to govern mankind’s behavior, but the law could not and did not make mankind RIGHT with God.

 

So God brought about the plan of REDEMPTION for the souls of mankind and to make a way for mankind to be made RIGHT with Him.  This is His plan:  When the right time came, God sent His Son to be the ONE and ONLY sacrifice for the sins of ALL mankind, He was born of a woman, He came in the flesh, in order to be able to relate to mankind and to purchase or REDEEM mankind from their sins and to release them from the bondage of the law. 

 

Then those who ACCEPTED His plan of REDEMPTION was adopted as God’s own Children and became a part of His family.  And because they became a part of His family, God sent His Holy Spirit to indwell them and gave them the right to call Him “Abba, Father” which is a very intimate and endearing title.  Thus mankind’s fate changed, all because of God’s plan of REDEMPTION. 

 

Those who have been REDEEMED by the shed blood of God’s ONE and ONLY Son, Jesus Christ, has gone from being an unrighteous sinner to a REDEEMED Child and Heir of the Almighty God.

 

If you have not been REDEEMED, then you are not part of God’s family.  You are still an unrighteous sinner in need of the Savior to set you free from the bondage of your sinful nature and to be made right with God, in order to have a close intimate relationship with Him and to be able to call Him “Abba, Father.” 

 

You have the opportunity right NOW to be one of the REDEEMED, by:  CONFESSING your sins to God and asking 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 become part of God’s family and one of His heirs.  Do it NOW while you STILL can.  He’s waiting!!!

 

Imitate God!

Imitate God!

 

 

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are His dear children.  Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ.  He loved us and offered Himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.--------Ephesians 5:1-2

 

 

These are the Apostle Paul’s words to the Ephesians, as instructions on how they should live their lives, as Children of the Most High God.  They are very applicable to God’s Children today.  

 

He tells us that we need to IMITATE God, in EVERYTHING we do, because we are His dear children.  How can we IMITATE God?  Well, Paul tells us that we should LIVE a life filled with LOVE, and we do this by, FOLLOWING the example of Christ. 

 

In order to follow Christ, and do as He does, we need to KNOW Him, not just KNOW OF Him, but to KNOW Him in our HEART and to belong to His family.  In a family, the children usually IMITATE their parents, little boys IMITATE their dads and little girls IMITATE their moms.  And they do this because of their relationship and closeness with the parent.   They take on the personality of that parent and mimic their ways, whether they are good or bad.  That is why it is SO IMPORTANT for parents to set the proper example. 

 

When we have a CLOSE RELATIONSHIP with our Heavenly Father, we should strive to MIMIC or IMITATE Him and we do this by following the example of Jesus Christ, which is an AWESOME task, of which, we can’t do on our own, so God provided a HELPER, the Holy Spirit, who gives us the ability to IMITATE God.  And therefore, we are able to live a life filled with love, not just any love, but AGAPE LOVE or GODLY LOVE, which is what Christ has for mankind, He loved us SO much that He SACRIFICED Himself for our SALVATION.

 

What manner of love is this?  That this man could lay down His life for those who showed Him nothing but hatred and contempt, yet He WILLINGLY offered His life to save their souls.  Christ TRULY IMITATED the LOVE that God has for the crown of His creation.  And His Children NEEDS to follow that example of IMITATING GOD, by being OBEDIENT to Him and allowing His Spirit to work in our lives.

 

If you have never given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you can’t possibly IMITATE Him, but instead, you most likely, are IMITATING the devil and following his depraved example which will lead you straight into Hell.  However, you NOW have the opportunity to change your actions and follow Christ by: CONFESSING your sins to God and asking 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 start IMITATING God, and live your life filled with His LOVE.  Do it NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s waiting!!!

It's All About Him!

It’s All About Him!

 

 

“You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah, but I’ve been sent ahead of Him.’  He who has the bride is the groom.  But the groom’s friend, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the groom’s voice.  So this joy of mine is complete.  He must increase, but I must decrease.”--------John 3:28-30

 

 

These words were spoken by John the Baptist, who was speaking to his disciples, who were concerned about Jesus’ baptizing people who were flocking to Him.  John reminds them that he had told them that he wasn’t the Messiah, but was the forerunner of Him.

 

Then he goes on and gives them a clear picture of what he meant.  Using the illustration of a wedding party, where the bride belongs to the groom and the groom’s friend stands by the groom and listens to him and rejoices GREATLY in what the groom has to say.

 

The bride being the believers who makes up the Church or body of Christ, and the groom being Jesus Christ.  The friend, here, is John the Baptist.  Now the last verse is one that we really need to heed. 

 

“He must increase, but I must decrease.”  We that are God’s Children, those who have given their HEARTS to Him, should be preparing the way for the Kingdom of God and the return of Christ to this earth.  We do this by SERVING Him.  We share the GOOD NEWS of SALVATION with others and then we teach, encourage, love, help, and SERVE those who are new in their relationship with God.

 

God’s Children need to be alert and careful with NOT letting PRIDE enter their hearts and start thinking that it’s ALL about them.  John’s disciples were concerned about the people flocking to Jesus and He was doing what John was doing, baptizing.  I think their PRIDE was beginning to crack and crumble.  So they ran to John and with fear that their notoriety was being threatened.  But John quickly and lovingly dispelled that fear by explaining to them the purpose of his ministry, which was to be the one that would prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah.  He tells them that Jesus, the Messiah, MUST INCREASE and John MUST DECREASE.

 

When we, God’s Children serve Him and are preparing the way for His Kingdom.  We should do it with a HUMBLE spirit and REALIZE that it is for Him and His glory, not ours.  It’s not about US, but it’s ALL about HIM!  He must INCREASE and we must DECREASE.  We need to SERVE and not think we should be SERVED. 

 

If you are a Child of God and you have aloud PRIDE to enter your HEART, you are headed down the WRONG road.  You need to confess that sin to Father God and ask Him for a spirit of humility.  And instead of trying to be the CENTER OF ATTENTION, you DECREASE and let Christ Jesus INCREASE and be the CENTER OF ATTENTION.  He deserves it!  We don’t!

 

 

If you have NEVER given your HEART and LIFE to Jesus.  You need to so you can become part of His Kingdom and SERVE Him with a HUMBLE HEART too.  You can do this by: CONFESSING  your sins to Him and asking 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 become His Child and a part of His Kingdom.  Do it NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s waiting!!!

 

 

 

The Greater Testimony

The Greater Testimony

 

 

Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God.  And God has testified about His Son.

And this is what God has testified; He has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.--------1John 5:9,11-12

 

 

In our society, when we are witness to, or involved in an action, we are obligated to give a testimony about what happened.  That, of course, is a HUMAN testimony.  And if we are to give a testimony in a court of law, we will give it in front of a jury and or a judge.  The jury, a group of human beings, are asked to listen to the HUMAN testimonies and to scrutinize every part of the testimonies.  Whenever this is done the people of the jury will listen intently and then decide whether they will believe ALL of the testimonies are only parts of the testimonies, or which testimonies to believe.

 

In this passage of Scriptures, we are told that God has testified about His Son. And since we believe HUMAN testimony, we surely can believe the GREATER testimony from God.  His testimony is that; He gives us eternal life through the action of His Son, who shed His blood for the SALVATION of mankind’s soul. And whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does NOT have life.

 

Some believe God’s testimony to be TRUE, but there are others who reject the testimony of Almighty God and decide for themselves that no part of His testimony is valid.  In this case they are the ones that are on trial and will be convicted and sentenced to a life, if you want to call it that, of misery, heartache, torture, hatred, pain and suffering, for ALL eternity in a place that is separated from God and anything good.

 

You have the opportunity to listen to the testimony of Almighty God and BELIEVE every part of it, here it is:  “ For God loved the world (you) so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal Life.”  “There is no judgment against anyone who BELIEVES in Him.  But anyone who does not believe in Him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.”(John 3:16&18)

 

You can BELIEVE and ACCEPT God’s testimony and have eternal life with Him and His Son, Jesus, in Heaven with love like you have NEVER known, peace, joy, no more pain, no more heartache, no more separation from God and ALL that is good.  This is what could be your destiny, all you have to do is:  CONFESS your sins to God and ask 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, BELIEVING every part of His testimony about His Son. Do it NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s waiting!!!

The Good Shepherd

The Good Shepherd

 

“I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd sacrifices His life for the sheep.”

“The Father loves Me because I sacrifice My life so I may take it back again.  No one can take My life from Me.  I sacrifice it voluntarily.  For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again.  For this is what My Father has commanded.”--------John 10:11, 17-18

 

This is Jesus speaking of Himself as the good shepherd and we are the sheep of His pasture.   He says that, “the good shepherd sacrifices His life for the sheep.”  And so has Jesus, sacrificed His life for us. 

 

He goes on to tell us that He KNOWS His own sheep and they KNOW Him.  He even names His sheep and calls them by name and they follow Him because they recognize His voice.  They will never follow a stranger, because they don’t recognize the voice of strangers.  

 

We as God’s Children, need to be able to recognize the voice of our Good Shepherd, who willingly laid down His life for us, and then was able to take it up again, through the resurrection of His body.  Something that NOBODY else has ever done for us, in order for us to obtain eternal life in Heaven. 

 

Jesus tells us, “This is why the Father Loves Me,” because of His OBEDIENCE to God’s command.  So that we might have access to our Heavenly Father and that we might receive the inheritance of our SALVATION, that was carried out by Jesus’ death and resurrection, the laying down of His life and the taking it up again.  Through this act of His OBEDIENCE to God’s command, we are able to spend ALL eternity in Heaven with Him and Almighty God. 

 

We are TRULY blessed with a Good Shepherd, who loves His sheep and takes GOOD care of them and provides for their needs and protects them with His life.  If you are a Child of God, then you are receiving the benefits of being one of His sheep. 

 

If you are not one of His sheep, then you are out in this cold, unloving, sinful world at the mercy of the wolves and strangers who only mean to do you harm and to lead you down the WRONG path.  A path that will lead you to the destruction of your soul and an eternity in that place known as Hell.  But you can cry out to the Good Shepherd and He will hear you and come to rescue you from the howling wolves and the depraved strangers and you will be SAVED from  those things that would only harm you.  You can do this by:  CONFESSING your sins to God and asking 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 you will be able to recognize His voice and follow Him to His home.  Do it NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s waiting!!!

 

 

Thrilled with the Lord!

Thrilled with the Lord!

 

 

You thrill me, Lord, with all You have done for me!  I sing for joy because of what You have done. 

O Lord, what great works You do!  And how deep are Your thoughts.--------Psalm 92:4-5

 

 

Have you ever just stopped and thought about ALL that God has done for YOU, personally?  We sometimes think that He isn’t doing anything in our lives because we can’t see, feel or touch what WE think He should be doing or providing for us. 

 

When we become His Child, we NEED to put our FAITH and TRUST in HIM, whether we can see, feel or touch the things that He is doing in our lives.  When we think of His gift of SALVATION and the very act or means that had to be carried out in order for us to be able to be made right with Him, when we think of the LOVE that He has for us and the fact that we don’t deserve such a merciful act of grace, it should THRILL us from our head to our toes. 

 

Because of His UNFAILING, ABIDING LOVE, we have the opportunity to spend ALL eternity in Heaven, and that should cause us to burst forth with songs of JOY and a heart filled with gratitude to know that the Creator of this ENTIRE universe cares about YOU and ME enough to send His ONLY Son to suffer, bleed and die for mankind to purchase our SALVATION and GUARANTEE our eternal destination in Heaven.  Oh what a SAVIOR!!  Oh what redeeming LOVE!

 

When we take time to contemplate ALL of what it means to us to be part of God’s family and the fact that His gift of SALVATION is a FREE gift to us, we don’t have to do nor can we do anything to merit such a gift.  All that is required of us is that we ACCEPT and BELIEVE, because the price has been paid for the redemption of mankind’s soul.  And ONLY God can determine the outcome of mankind’s destiny.  We don’t set the rules, He does, He gives us a CHOICE to ACCEPT His gift or REJECT it.  Then the judgment of our choice will be made by HIM. 

 

If you have NEVER given your HEART and LIFE to Him, then you can’t be THRILLED about the things He has or is doing in your life, except for what He has done for ALL mankind, providing a plan of SALVATION for your soul.  However, you can experience the THRILL of God’s UNFAILING, ABIDING LOVE by:  CONFESSING your sins to Him and asking 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 sing for JOY what the Lord has done for YOU.  Do it NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s waiting!!!

 

The Evidence of Being a True Christian

The Evidence of Being a True Christian

 

 

If you refuse to take up your cross and follow Me, you are not worthy of being mine.  If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for Me, you will find it.--------Matthew 10: 38-39

 

 

In the last few months we have heard of and in some cases seen the senseless slaughter of PROFESSING Christians over in the Middle East.  A very disturbing scenario, to say the least.  Men, women, and children who were asked a very IMPORTANT question:  “Are you a Christian?”  If they answered, “Yes” they were either shot, beheaded, crucified, burned alive and who knows what else. 

 

In the Word of God, Jesus tells us that we as Christians would face persecution and even death for His sake.  These verses in the book of Matthew say that; ‘If you refuse to take up your cross and follow Me, you are NOT worthy of being mine.’  We all know where the cross took Jesus and I believe that what He is saying is, if we are not willing to give our lives for His sake then we are not worthy of being a part of His family. 

 

Some years ago, there was a shooting in a High School in Columbine, Co.  Two young men went into the school on a shooting rampage and we were told that they were asking the students if they believed in Jesus Christ.  Some answered, “Yes” and they were shot and killed, because they PROFESSED their belief in Christ. 

 

All of the Christians throughout the ages, that have died for the cause of Christ, have taken up their cross and did not cling to their earthly life, but was willing to CONFESS their belief in Jesus Christ and sacrificed their life for their Lord.  They are MORE alive than we who are here struggling with our temporary earthly life.  They have TRULY found and are experiencing ETERNAL LIFE, and ALL its glory in Heaven with their Heavenly Father. 

 

My thought is:  How many people, who CONFESS to be Christians, would be willing to answer “YES!” if the question:  Are you a Christian?  Or “Do you believe in Jesus Christ,” were posed to them with a gun or sword in their face? 

 

Maybe we NEED to check our relationship with the Lord and make sure that we are TRUE FOLLOWERS of Christ.  We may be willing to LIVE for Him, but are we willing to DIE for Him?  Just how STRONG and GENUINE is our faith.  True Christianity is not for wimps. 

 

If you are NOT willing to take up your cross and follow Him and are clinging to this earthly life, then you will experience a Spiritual death and will spend ALL of eternity in torment, torture, heartache, pain and agony, but you can change your destination by calling on the name of Jesus and CONFESSING your sins to Him, asking 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 stop clinging to your wretched, sinful life and start LIVING a REAL LIFE for ALL eternity.  Do it NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s waiting!!

He's Everywhere!

He’s Everywhere!

 

 

If I go up to heaven, You are there; if I go down to the grave, You are there.  If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there Your hand will guide me, and Your strength will support me.--------Psalms 139:8-10

 

 

He’s truly EVERYWHERE, there is not a SINGLE place where the Almighty God is not, nor has EVER been nor will EVER be.  He is OMNIPRESENT, which means that He is EVERYWHERE at the SAME time. 

 

No matter where you might be, He’s there.  The Psalmist gives us the clear picture that we could go to the HIGHEST place and He’s there!  Or we could go to the very lowest depths, and He’s there!  Or even to the most unlikely place or position, He’s there!

 

Now for the person who is a Child of God this can be GOOD NEWS, to know and have the assurance that our Heavenly Father is with us and will be with us no matter where we go and what our situation is, He is ALWAYS with us. And that means that He KNOWS when we are in need of His presence or His power.  And it makes NO difference what time it is or WHERE we are. 

 

However to a person who is NOT a Child of God, this can be NOT so good news.  God is EVERYWHERE at the SAME time, so that means that He sees ALL and hears ALL that they are thinking, and doing.  Most unsaved people, when they are doing something of a sinful nature, likes to be hidden, while practicing their acts of depravity, so they will try to hide in the dark and even hide where they think they can’t be found.  However they are not ALONE, God is there, and He’s the one that REALLY matters, because He is the JUDGE and JURY in the end, and they will stand before Him and be held accountable for ALL of their evil deeds. 

 

Oh yes, let me give heed to the Child of God, that may not be living like they should.  He’s with YOU too and sees and knows ALL that you do or think, and you too are accountable, unless you confess your sins and get right with God. 

So are you practicing sinful deeds, and doing it WHERE you think you can go and no one will know?    Well He knows and He’s right there in your presence.  And He WILL JUDGE you and pronounce JUDGMENT upon you, unless you; 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, free from the guilt and bondage of those ‘not so hidden’ sins.  Do it NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s waiting

 

 

 

The Guardian

The Guardian

 

 

So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith.  Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.  So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith…--------Galatians 3:24-26

 

 

Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.”  The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them .”  (vv 11&12)   These scriptures clearly tells us that the law is incapable of making us right with God because it is NOT based on FAITH, and “ the righteous will live by faith.”   The person who tries to live strictly by the law MUST obey ALL the laws and live by them.  It is IMPOSSIBLE for man to obey ALL of the laws and they still will not be made righteous in God’s eyes. 

 

The law was given because of the transgressions of mankind and to act as a guardian for mankind until Christ came to redeem us from our transgressions and to justify us, by our FAITH in Him, before Almighty God. 

 

Therefore, when we are redeemed and justified by the work of Christ on the cross and through our FAITH in Him, we are no longer in need of a guardian, because of the promise of His Holy Spirit that indwells us.

 

 The law is a guide of sorts showing us the way we should live our lives, but it is IMPOSSIBLE for the law to provide righteousness and justification for mankind, before God.  Only through our FAITH in Christ Jesus and His death, burial and resurrection are we made righteous and justified before Almighty God. 

 

And because of our FAITH in Christ and not in the law, we are adopted into God’s family and have become the children of God. 

 

Are you trying to gain righteousness and justification through keeping the law?  You’ll never do it.  It is impossible, so stop trying to obtain a right relationship with God by putting your faith in your obedience to the law, and put your faith in what Christ has done for you through His death on the cross for your sins, to redeem you and make you right with God.

 

The way you obtain righteousness and justification with God is to:  CONFESS your sins to Him and ask 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 become righteous and justified through Jesus Christ.  Do it NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s waiting!!!

 

Who's in Control?

Who’s in Control?

 

 

Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.  

So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death.  But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.  For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will.  That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.--------Romans 8: 5-8

 

 

The difference between the “saved” and the “unsaved” is who is in control of their mind.  If the sinful nature is in control then the thoughts of that person will be on sinful things, but if one’s mind is controlled by the Holy Spirit, then their mind is on things that are pleasing to the Spirit, and the mind-control  will dictate one’s behavior, either, sinful, or godly.

 

Letting your sinful nature control your mind and behavior will lead to a “Spiritual death.”  Letting the Holy Spirit control your mind and behavior leads to ‘life and peace.’  Our sinful nature has ALWAYS and will ALWAYS be hostile to God, because it NEVER did obey God’s law and it NEVER will. 

 

Those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God and if they remain under the control of their sinful nature they will come under His condemnation and will experience a “Spiritual death,” which will bring a sentence of spending ALL ETERNITY in a place of torment, pain, suffering, agony and the separation from ANYTHING good, that place called HELL.  NO relief or release will be available to them.

 

God in His infinite MERCY and GRACE has provided a way, for those under the control of their sinful nature, to be able to come out from under that control and to come under the control of His Holy Spirit.  Because of His GREAT LOVE for the crown of His creation, He has provided a PERFECT sacrifice, His Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem mankind and to set them FREE from the control and condemnation of their sinful nature.

 

All you have to do to be set FREE, is to:  CONFESS your sins to God 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 set FREE from the control and condemnation of your sinful nature.  Do it NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s waiting!!!

 

 

The Son

The Son

 

 

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.  For one will scarcely die for a righteous person---though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die---but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Since, therefore we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God.  For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life.  More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.--------Romans 5:6-11

 

 

In this passage of Scriptures we see the LOVE of God for mankind being carried out at just the right time, while we were in a weak, helpless and sinful state.  Not too many people are willing to die for others, unless their careers are of such a manner that compels them to do so.   But ordinary people aren’t always so inclined.  There may be some who would be willing to risk their lives for someone else that might be in danger but not many are willing to risk their lives for someone who is depraved, sinful, wicked, mean, crude, and evil.

 

But the Son of God did just that, even for the ones that so brutally beat Him and then nailed Him to a cross.  As He hung there suspended in mid-air, He cried out to God; “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”  Truly God exemplified His love for SINFUL mankind at that exact moment. 

 

Because of the shed-blood of Jesus Christ, we were/are reconciled to God and are KEPT FROM His anger.  There is coming a day when the ungodly will stand before God and be judged for their sins and then they will experience God’s anger as He brings down His judgment upon them.  They will receive their just sentence of an eternity in Hell, without any reprieve whatsoever.

 

 But those who have ACCEPTED God’s gift of SALVATION, through the shed-blood of Christ, are protected and kept from His anger, because our sins are covered by the PRECIOUS BLOOD of our LIVING LORD.

And NOW that we have been reconciled to God, through His ONLY BEGOTTEN SON’S sacrificial death, by the shedding of His blood on an old rugged cross, we have PEACE knowing that we are made right with God.

 

Have you been made right with God?  Or are you facing His anger and condemnation?  Will your sentence be to spend an ETERNITY in Hell?  If you find that you have NEVER been made right with God and that you are facing His anger and condemnation and will receive His sentence of being in Hell for ALL of ETERNITY,  You can be RECONCILED to Him and change your destiny by:  CONFESSING your sins to Him and asking 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 have PEACE in your HEART knowing that you have been made right with God.  Do it NOW, while you STILL can. He’s waiting !!!