Saturday, May 30, 2015

Search Me! Test Me! Lead Me!


Search Me!  Test Me!  Lead Me!

 

 

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  Point out anything in me that offends You and lead me along the path of everlasting life.--------Psalm 139: 23-24

 

The Psalmist invites his Creator to SEARCH him and KNOW his heart.  What a prayer for those who have been redeemed and adopted into God’s Holy Family.  I wonder how many of us would be so willing to invite the Creator and Righteous Judge of this universe to SEARCH us and to KNOW our HEART, the very content of our emotions, the very thing that makes us act and think the way we do.

 

 Would we be so willing to open ourselves up to His scrutiny and divine Judgment?  The Psalmist goes on to say; “test me and KNOW my anxious thoughts, well that is a good intention, however God KNOWS what we are thinking, even before we think it.  But I think it shows us how INTENT the Psalmist was in his heart, to give God free reign in his heart and mind, because he goes on to say:  “POINT OUT ANYTHING in me that offends You.”  So many times we shy away from the mindset of God POINTING OUT ANYTHING that might offend Him, because we are in the flesh and as the Apostle Paul has said, we do the things we wish NOT to do, but we do them, because of the flesh.   But if we are a TRUE Child of the Living God, we will want to do those things and think those thoughts that would NOT be offensive to our Heavenly Father, therefore we SHOULD say, as the Psalmist has said, SEARCH me, KNOW me, and TEST me.

 

The last invitation that the Psalmist has given to his Creator and Redeemer is to “LEAD ME”. The Psalmist knew that the pathway to everlasting life was NOT a cakewalk, but with the help of God, he would be able to WALK the WALK and not be led astray, but would stay on the STRAIGHT and NARROW to his eternal reward, EVERLASTING LIFE in Heaven with his Heavenly Father.  And he was WILLING to let God take a very intense inventory of his HEART, MIND, and SOUL.  Are you following his example?

 

If you have not given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you more than likely, won’t  want Him taking inventory  of your HEART, MIND and SOUL, but He really doesn’t NEED an invitation, because He already KNOWS ALL about you, things that YOU don’t even know.  So you NEED to STOP RUNNING and HIDING from your Creator, who loves YOU and wants you to be a part of His Family.  OPEN your HEART, MIND and SOUL up to Him and as the Psalmist has done ASK Him to SEARCH YOU, KNOW YOU and LEAD YOU.  You can do that  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 let Him LEAD you on the path to EVERLASTING LIFE.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting!!!

Friday, May 29, 2015

One Body


One Body

 

 

For Christ Himself has brought peace to us.  He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in His own body on the cross, He broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.  He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations.  He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in Himself one new people from the two groups.  Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of His death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.  He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from Him, and peace to the Jews who were near.  Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.-------Ephesians 2:14-18

 

The Apostle Paul addresses the problem of hostility between the Jewish believers and the Gentile believers that developed because the Jewish believers wanted to keep the law with its commandments and regulations and the Gentiles were unconcerned about them.  Their differences created a barrier or wall between them.

 

However, when Christ came He made the law, with its commandments and regulations, inoperative.  And therefore so should the barrier or wall of Jew-Gentile hostility be gone.

 

Paul says that Christ has brought peace on us.  He has united ALL believers, Jews and Gentiles into ONE people through His death on the cross.  By the unification of ONE people He has created ONE body from the two groups. 

 

Together as ONE body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by His death on the cross and our hostility was put to death as well. 

 

One day I was thinking about my relationship with the Lord and the thought entered my mind:  “What if Christ came and died on the cross for the redemption of the Jews ONLY.”  Which made me EXTREMELY thankful that it wasn’t like that.  With God there is NO Jew or Gentile, male or female, bond or free, we are ALL His children and we are all ONE BODY.  We represent the body of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who reconciled us ALL to God, no matter what race we are.

We are ALL part of His family and All His children, and because of what Christ has done for us we can come to the Father through the SAME Holy Spirit.  And there SHOULD NOT be any hostility or division in the ONE BODY of Christ.  We SHOULD come together as ONE people, God’s people united by the shed blood of His precious Son.

 

If you have not given your HEART and LIFE to God, you are not part of the ONE BODY, but you can be, no matter what your race is or your gender.  Christ died for you to bring you into His ONE BODY, to be reconciled to God and become a part of His family and you can do this 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 His ONE BODY.  Do it NOW, while you STILL can. He’s waiting!!!

 

 

Thursday, May 28, 2015

The Holy Highway


The Holy Highway

 

 

And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it.  No lion will be there, nor any ravenous beast; they will not be found there.  But only the redeemed will walk there, and those the Lord has rescued will return.  They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads.  Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.--------Isaiah 35:8-10

 

 

The thirty-fifth chapter of Isaiah is giving us a glimpse of what the Prophet Isaiah was given about the Millennium reign, the picture of what the future will be like for the redeemed of God.

 

In these verses Isaiah speaks of a road that will lead to the Holy City of God, where the redeemed of God will travel, there will be nothing that will hinder their journey.  The unclean nor the wicked fools will go about on it.  No ferocious beasts will be found there.

 

Only the redeemed will walk there, those who have given their HEART and LIFE to Jesus Christ and have walked in His way.  Those who have FOLLOWED the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and been obedient to God’s Word.  They will return to enter God’s Holy City, Zion, with singing and praising to the One who has provided the WAY for them to enter that Holy City of God.  Everlasting JOY will crown their heads.  GLADNESS and JOY will overtake them and ALL sorrow and sighing will FLEE away.  GLORY HALLELUJAH!!!  This is SHOUTING TIME!!!

 

However I believe that there is another road that MANY will choose to take and that road will lead straight to HELL.  It is a dangerous road to travel, and is meant for the LOST, WICKED, EVIL, SIN-LADEN PEOPLE, who have REJECTED the love of God and the SACRIFICE of His Son, through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Those who have allowed themselves to be LED by the leadership of Satan and have walked in his way.  There will be NO joy or gladness, NO singing or praising ONLY, TORTURE, TORMENT, PAIN, DESPAIR, HEARTACHE, and MISERY that will never die, but will consume their souls, throughout ALL of eternity.

 

Which road are you headed for?  Will you be one of the LOST or one of the REDEEMED?  You have that choice NOW, and can take the RIGHT road by: CONFESSING your sins to God 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 head in the RIGHT direction, towards the HOLY HIGHWAY.  Do it NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s waiting!!!

 

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

The Spirit Versus the Flesh


The Spirit Versus the Flesh

 

 

…walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit.--------Galatians 5:16,24,25

 

 

When a person comes to Christ for the SALVATION of their soul, they come to the cross and CONFESS their sins to God, then REPENT or turn away from those sins.  Which is the process of crucifying the flesh and its passions and desires.  They leave them nailed to the cross and then receive the gift of God’s Holy Spirit.

 

It is then up to the new believer to LEAVE the passions and desires of their sinful nature at the cross and to WALK or LIVE by the Spirit.  This does NOT mean that we won’t fall into temptation and sin.  It means that we have the VICTORY over the sinful nature through Jesus Christ in His death and resurrection.  We are no longer in bondage to the sinful nature, but have been set FREE.

 

Since we are to LIVE by the Spirit, then it is up to us to FOLLOW the Spirit.  We do this by being SENSITIVE, OBEDIENT and SUBMISSIVE to the will of the Holy Spirit that indwells us.  When we open our HEART to Him, He will LEAD us and we NEED to FOLLOW Him.  When we are OBEDIENT to the Spirit, we have less of an opportunity to FOLLOW the desires of the flesh.  And FOLLOWING the desires of the FLESH leads to corruption of the soul, but FOLLOWING the will of the Spirit leads to the purifying of the soul.

 

Following the Spirit versus following the flesh are the exact opposites and we are given the choice of which path we will take:  The one that leads to eternal life in Heaven or eternal life in Hell.  It is OUR choice.  Which path are you on? Who are you FOLLOWING?  Remember FOLLOWING the Spirit will set you FREE, but you must first come to the cross and crucify your sinful nature.  But FOLLOWING your sinful nature will lead you to an eternity in Hell, the place of TORMENT. 

 

If you have not given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you don’t possess His Spirit and you are FOLLOWING your sinful nature and your destination is Hell, but you can change your destination  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 LIVE or WALK in His Spirit and be set FREE from the bondage of your sinful nature.  Do it NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s waiting!!!

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

A Holy Calling


A Holy Calling

 

 

He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.

And that is why I suffer these things.  But I am not ashamed, because I know the One I have believed in and am persuaded that He is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that day.---------2Timothy 1:9,11,12

 

 

Before time began, God had a plan for the redemption of mankind that was not of our own doing, but by His own purpose and grace.  He has saved us and called us with a HOLY CALLING. 

The Apostle Paul, in his second letter to Timothy says that this HOLY CALLING is why he suffers, for the sake of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

He goes on to say that he is NOT ashamed, because he KNOWS the One he has believed in and am persuaded that He is able to guard what has been entrusted to him until that day.

 

So it is with every Child of the Living God, we have been SAVED and CALLED by Father God and it is not by ANYTHING that we have said or done, but by God’s OWN purpose and grace that has been given to us through the shedding of the blood of the RIGHTEOUS LAMB.  And that was God’s plan BEFORE time began.

 

Spreading the gospel, is a part of our HOLY CALLING, and we need to be willing to do it regardless of the cost.  Many have given their lives for the spreading of this GOOD NEWS, even in our day and age, it is costly to confess your faith to others.  Nevertheless, we MUST, like the Apostle Paul, be willing to suffer for the cause of Christ.  We must have a STRONG sense of COURAGE and not falter in our witness.

 

Paul says that he is NOT ashamed, because he KNOWS the One he has believed in and he is persuaded that He is able to guard what has been entrusted to him until the end.  So it is with us today, we NEED NOT be ashamed to spread the gospel, but have the courage of the disciples and be willing to suffer for Christ’s sake.  We need to be persuaded that God is ABLE to guard the gospel that has been entrusted to us until the end. 

My thoughts go to Columbine, Co. and that tragic day when two gunmen entered a school and killed a lot of young people, some were asked if they believed in Jesus or God and if they answered yes they were shot and killed point blank.  Those young people definitely displayed a STRONG sense of COURAGE and were not ashamed because they knew the One who they believed in and they were persuaded that He was able to guard what had been entrusted to them until the end.  They KNEW and BELIEVED in their HOLY CALLING and their SALVATION.

 

It is my prayer that ALL of God’s Children has that kind of courage and strength in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.  And that they realize the full scope of their HOLY CALLING.

 

If you have not given your HEART and LIFE to Jesus then you don’t possess SALVATION or a HOLY CALLING.  And you are destined to spend ALL eternity in Hell, with no way of escape.  However you can change your destination and receive your HOLY CALLING, 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 have COURAGE to receive your HOLY CALLING and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Do it NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s waiting

Monday, May 25, 2015

Light That Dispels the Darkness


Light That Dispels the Darkness

 

 

The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.-------- John 1:4-5

 

 

The Word, Jesus Christ, came to bring LIGHT to a world that was shrouded in DARKNESS. A world that is condemned to certain destruction, because of the DARKNESS, that is dwelling in the heart of mankind.  DARKNESS that brings about evil thoughts and deeds. DARKNESS that brings CONDEMNATION upon mankind and severs man’s relationship with a HOLY RIGHTEOUS God.

 

In the beginning the Word existed, and the Word gave life to everything that was created and through the Word came LIGHT. And when the LIGHT came into the DARK world, it overcame the DARKNESS in the hearts of those who came to the LIGHT and ACCEPTED the LIGHT, and it STILL does today, for you see, the LIGHT dispels the DARKNESS, but DARKNESS cannot dispel the LIGHT. 

 

In Ephesians 5:8, 9, the Apostle Paul tells us:  “For once you were full of DARKNESS, but NOW you have LIGHT from the Lord.  So live as people of LIGHT!  For this LIGHT within you produces only what is GOOD and RIGHT and TRUE.”   And in 1John1:7  it says:…”if we are living in the LIGHT, as God is in the LIGHT, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus , His Son, cleanses us from ALL sin.”  And we become LIGHT to a world full of DARKNESS.  Matthew 5:16 tells us …”let your LIGHT shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”  WE are to let the LIGHT that indwells us SHINE bright so all those living in DARKNESS can come to the TRUE LIGHT and be delivered from their DARKNESS. 

 

We, who are Children of God need NOT hide our LIGHT, but we NEED to let it SHINE so the whole world can see and those who are willing to come out of their DARKNESS and into the LIGHT can see their way to the ONE and ONLY TRUE LIGHT, the LIGHT of the World, Jesus Christ. 

 

If you are groping in the DARKNESS and facing certain condemnation, you can come into the LIGHT and be forgiven and cleansed from your sins and receive the LIGHT of the World, Jesus Christ into your HEART and LIFE 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, into the TRUE LIGHT and be a LIGHT to a world drenched in DARKNESS.  Do it NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s waiting!!!

Saturday, May 23, 2015

God's Grace Brings Salvation for ALL People!


God’s Grace Brings Salvation for All People!

 

 

For the grace of God has appeared with salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope  and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.--------Titus 2:11-13

 

 

Ephesians 2:8 says:  “For by GRACE you are SAVED.”  SALVATION comes to ALL people through the LOVING GRACE of our Heavenly Father and it isn’t from any other source nor is it from ANYTHING that WE have done, but ONLY from the deep, abiding love of God for the crown of His creation, mankind.

 

In the SALVATION process, we are taught, by the work of His Holy Spirit to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live a sensible, righteous and godly life, so that we might be LIGHT in a DARK and DEPRAVED world while we are waiting for the return of the GLORIOUS HOPE of our GREAT God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

 

Denying godlessness and worldly lusts and living a sensible, righteous and godly life in this present age is NOT an easy task.  We are pulled from every aspect of life to live as the world wants us to live.  But we have a Counselor, a Comforter, and a Helper, the Holy Spirit of Almighty God, to give us strength, guidance, peace and wisdom to live the way God expects us to.  We need only to rely on Him and He will LEAD us through this life, while we wait for the BLESSED HOPE, the RETURN of our BLESSED REDEEMER, the Lord Jesus Christ.  And He WILL return.  Are YOU ready?

 

If you have not given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you aren’t ready, and you will be left behind in a godless world full of sin and depravity, with evil abounding in every aspect of life. If you survive the devastation after the RAPTURE, many will be taken and there will be car accidents, planes falling from the air, fires, and mass destruction and worldwide, chaos will ensue.  It will not be a pleasant scenario that will take place.  But you can be a part of the RAPTURE of God’s Children by becoming one of His own.  You do that 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 one that will be READY for the RETURN of His BLESSED Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Do it NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s waiting!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Friday, May 22, 2015

Rooted, Built Up, and Strengthened!


Rooted, Built Up and Strengthened!

 

 

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.--------Colossians 2:6-7

 

When someone receives Christ as their Savior and Lord, they NEED to CONTINUALLY live in Him, and to be ROOTED and BUILT UP in Him and STRENGTHENED in their FAITH.  They do this by allowing the Holy Spirit that indwells them, to work in their HEART and LIFE, to help them be ROOTED and BUILT UP in Him.  To be ROOTED and BUILT UP means to be TAUGHT and to GROW in the precious WORD of GOD.  So you aren’t swayed by other doctrines that are contrary to the DOCTRINE of God’s Holy Word.

 

That is why we have been given the Holy Spirit.  He is our TEACHER and COUNSELOR.  He will guide us to the TRUTH of the Word and when we are TAUGHT the Word then we become STRONGLY ROOTED and we then are able to begin the BUILDING UP process in Him and His Word.

 

We also are STRENGTHENED in our FAITH and we are NOT apt to follow a false doctrine that would lead us AWAY from God and His Holy Word.  But we MUST allow the Holy Spirit to WORK in us and to TEACH, COUNSEL and LEAD us in the ONLY RIGHT way.  If we are to be ROOTED, BUILT UP and STRENGTHENED in Christ Jesus. 

 

The Holy Spirit does this through the PREACHING and TEACHING of God’s Holy Word.  It is of the UTMOST IMPORTANCE that a Child of God be under SOUND preaching and teaching, and you do this by attending a BIBLE-BELIEVING, and CHRIST- EXALTING, CONSERVATIVE Church, where the INSPIRED, INERRANT Word is the basis for the GROWTH AND BUILDING UP of the Body of Christ. And where the TRUTH of the Word is PREACHED and TAUGHT to help STRENGTHEN our Faith.

 

If you have not given your HEART and LIFE to Christ, then you are at RISK of being duped into believing a FALSE doctrine.  A doctrine that will send you straight to Hell. You can change that 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 in Heaven making intercession for you, before God, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION and ALLOW the Holy Spirit to become your TEACHER and be ROOTED, BUILT UP and STRENGTHENED in Him. Do it NOW while you STILL can.  He’s waiting!!!

 If you are a Child of God, but have not allowed the Holy Spirit to TEACH and COUNSEL you and you are not attending a church where the TRUTH of God’s Word is the BASIS for the PREACHING and TEACHING of His Word you are not being ROOTED and BUILT UP nor is your FAITH being STRENGTHENED.  You need to PRAY and ask God’s Spirit to LEAD you to a BIBLE-BELIEVING, and CHRIST-EXALTING, CONSERVATIVE Church, where you can be ROOTED, BUILT UP and STRENGTHENED in your FAITH.   And be filled to overflowing with THANKFULNESS to God for the work of His Spirit within you.  Do it NOW!!!

Thursday, May 21, 2015

The Mega Mystery


The Mega Mystery

 

 

Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great:  He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.--------1Timothy 3:16

 

 

In 2Timothy 3:5, it tells us that there are some who hold to a form of godliness, but denies the power thereof,  Here, in 1Timothy 3:16, the Apostle Paul is telling us of the mystery of TRUE godliness and the mystery is of MEGA proportions.  MEGA in scope and of MEGA importance in its significance.

 

This verse is speaking of Christ, who is the essence of the “mystery.” The Apostle Paul says: Christ appeared in the flesh, which refers to His INCARNATION.  Then He was vindicated by the Spirit which refers to God’s DEMONSTRATION of Christ’s RESURRECTION through the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 8:11), confirming that He is Lord.  He was seen by angels, which pertains to His EXALTATION before the angels in the heavenly realm.  He was preached among the nations and believed on in the world, this refers to the PROGRESSION of God’s redemptive plan and the fulfillment of the Great Commission.  He was taken up in glory which refers to His ASCENSION back to His Heavenly Father.   So this is the MEGA MYSTERY revealed to mankind.

 

And it really is MEGA, it carries a lot of weight when it comes down to the redemption of mankind’s soul.  It is MEGA in the price that was paid to purchase the soul of mankind.  It was MEGA in the amount of LOVE that it took to offer the Sacrifice that was given for the soul of mankind. It is MEGA in the HOPE that it gives to those who BELIEVE and POSSESS a TRUE godliness.

 

Do you POSSESS a TRUE godliness?  Have you ever ACCEPTED and BELIEVED on the name of Jesus Christ?  Or are you just holding on to a form of godliness and don’t POSSESS TRUE godliness? 

 

If you have not given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you don’t POSSESS TRUE godliness, but you have the opportunity to BELIEVE in the MEGA MYSTERY and POSSESS TRUE godliness NOW, by:  CONFESSING your sins to God and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING, with ALL of 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 BELIEVE in the MEGA MYSTERY and POSSESS TRUE godliness.  Do it NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s waiting!!!

 

 

 

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Forgive and Forget


Forgive and Forget

 

 

…You have burdened Me with your sins; you have wearied Me with your iniquities.  “It is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more.--------Isaiah 43:24b-25

 

 

How WONDERFUL it is to have a Heavenly Father who FORGIVES and FORGETS ALL our sins.  There is NO other that can provide and guarantee the security of our SALVATION or is willing to when we have transgressed against Him without having a sense of repentance. 

 

The Prophet Isaiah, speaking the words of Father God, says, “You have burdened Me with your sins; you have wearied Me with you iniquities.”  In other words, He is saying that our sins are a burden to Him and they have exhausted Him, but He is ABLE to yet SWEEP them AWAY for His own sake and to NEVER remember them again.  THANK YOU, JESUS!!!

 

But He does desire for us to bring those sins to the foot of the cross and with a REPENTANT heart lay them down and leave with a CLEAN, heart, free from the guilt of our sins.  We then, once again are made RIGHT with God. 

 

Are YOU, right NOW, free from the guilt of your sins?  Have YOU been to the foot of the cross, with your sins and confessed them to Father God, claiming the precious blood of Jesus to cover your sins, and TRUSTING God to FORGIVE and FORGET ALL of your iniquities?  If NOT, WHY NOT?  He’s waiting for you to come to Him, and He will WELCOME you with OPEN arms, because of His GREAT LOVE and AMAZING GRACE.

 

If you are His Child, and are struggling with the guilt of your sins, you NEED to come to Him with a repentant heart and TRUST Him to FORGIVE and FORGET. 

 

If  you have not given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you NEED to COME to Him and let Him sweep away ALL of  your sins  and be freed from the guilt of those sins, you do that by: COMING to God , and  CONFESSING your sins to Him, 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 TRUST Him to FORGIVE and FORGET ALL of your sins.  Do it NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s waiting!!!

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Who Will You Compare God With?


Who Will You Compare God With?

 

 

Who will you compare God with?  What likeness will you compare Him to?  Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  Has it not been declared to you from the beginning? Have you not considered the foundations of the earth?  God is enthroned above the circle of the earth; its inhabitants are like grasshoppers.  He stretches out the heavens like thin cloth and spreads them out like a tent to live in.  Do you not know? Have you not heard?  Yahweh is the everlasting God, the Creator of the whole earth.  He never grows faint or weary; there is no limit to His understanding, He gives strength to the weary and strengthens the powerless.  Youths may faint and grow weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint.-------- Isaiah 40:18,21,22,28-31

 

 

How GREAT is our God!!  The Prophet Isaiah gives us some food for thought in these verses.  Have you ever looked around you and took notice of the earth and ALL that is on the earth?  Have you ever given thought to the miracle of birth?  Have you planted a garden or flowers and watched them grow from a tiny insignificant seed to a perfect, beautiful blossom and ask, “How can this be?”  ONLY the ALMIGHTY GOD has the wisdom and knowledge to be able to create this entire universe and scatter the stars across the vast heavens, then place the earth at just the right distance from the sun to make it livable for the crown of His creation. 

 

Oh the AWESOMENESS!  of the ALMIGHTY,  What is man?  That the God of this universe would care so much for mankind, that He would provide ALL that mankind needs to survive.  And then to provide us with a body that functions to give us the AWESOME abilities to think, reason, see, hear, smell taste, a heart that beats on its own, and lungs to breathe in the life-giving air that He so generously provides for ALL of His creation. 

 

But the MOST AMAZING part of Him and His crown of creation is the ability to LOVE.  He has given us the ability to love each other with brotherly love and He has a love of His own that far exceeds any kind of affection that we HAVE or EVER WILL experience, His AGAPE love.  The kind of love that compelled Him to send His ONLY SON to earth to be the ULTIMATE SACRIFICE for fallen mankind, to shed His precious blood to cover mankind’s sinful wretched heart and provide a way for them to spend ALL eternity  with Him in Heaven.

This is ONLY provided for those who put their FAITH and TRUST in Him and BELIEVE that He IS ABLE to do ALL that He PROMISES to do.  If you have not given your HEART and LIFE to God, and wonder who He is you can know by:  CONFESSING your sins to Him and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus, His ONLY Son, died for YOU and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and experience His AGAPE love and have the HOPE of spending eternity with Him.  Do it NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s waiting!!!

Monday, May 18, 2015

Living Water


Living Water

 

 

Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God, and who is saying to you, ‘Give Me a drink,” you would ask Him, and He would give you living water.”  Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks from this water will get thirsty again.  But whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty again---ever!  In fact, the water I will give him will become a well of water springing up within him for eternal life.”--------John 4:10, 12-14

 

On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty he should come to Me and drink!  The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow deep within him.”--------John 7:37-38

 

 

Here we see Jesus in two different settings, in the first one, He is conversing with a Samaritan woman at a well, where she had come to draw water. He asked her for a drink, which caught her attention because He was a Jew and she was a Samaritan.  Jews and Samaritans did not associate with each other, and so the woman was taken by surprise when Jesus spoke to her, especially asking for a drink. 

 

Then when He had her attention He continued to tell her that if she knew who she was talking to and if she knew the gift of God, she would ask Him for a drink and He would give her LIVING WATER.  And anyone who drinks from that well would get thirsty again, but whoever drinks from the water that He offers will NEVER thirst again.

 

In fact the water that He will give them will become a well of water springing up within them for eternal life.   The LIVING WATER that would be springing up within them for eternal life refers to the HOLY SPIRIT.

 

The second setting was when He was at the Feast of the Tabernacles and preaching and teaching at the temple complex.  He tells those listening that, “If anyone is thirsty they should come to Him and drink! And the one who BELIEVES in Him will have streams of living water flowing deep within them.”  Of course, He was speaking of a Spiritual thirst.

In other words, they will have a continual source of satisfaction which will provide eternal life.  The ‘LIVING WATER’ was the gift of the HOLY SPIRIT, who indwells the believer and satisfies their need of Almighty God, and through their FAITH in His Son, they will experience the well-spring of LIVING WATER flowing deep within them.  LIVING WATER that provides SALVATION, GUIDANCE, INSTRUCTION, EMPOWERMENT and a WITNESS to others and their need for LIVING WATER.

 

If you have not given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you aren’t experiencing the benefits of the LIVING WATER, which hydrates your poor, wretched, thirsty soul.   You can come to the Only One who can satisfy your thirst, Jesus Christ, you can come 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 partake of the LIVING WATER that will ALWAYS satisfy your soul.  Do it NOW, while you STILL can. He’s waiting!!!

 

 

 

Saturday, May 16, 2015

Bringing About the Fullness of Salvation


Bringing About the Fullness of Salvation

 

 

And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people.  He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for Him.--------Hebrews 9:27-28

 

 

Every man and woman is given an appointment that they won’t be able to cancel or miss, each person is appointed ONCE to die a physical death and after that they WILL face certain judgment. 

 

However, the Lord Jesus Christ has taken upon Himself the position of the ONLY SUPREME SACRIFICE and has ONCE for all taken upon Himself the burden of the sins of many through the shedding of His precious blood on an old rugged cross.

 

He WILL come again, but this time NOT to deal with sin, but to bring SALVATION to its fullness for those who are eagerly, patiently and expectantly waiting for His return. 

 

Those who have been persecuted and have given their lives for their faith along with those who are alive and striving to live in this sin-ridden world will have their SALVATION brought to full circle by His long awaited return.

 

I really like the way the author of this book states emphatically that “He WILL come again,” not IF but WILL come.  We who are TRULY His children are waiting with a sense of anticipation for that time to come, when the fullness of our SALVATION will be completed and we will receive our ETERNAL INHERITANCE, and be at HOME at last.  That should make us SHOUT all over the place. HALLELUJAH!!!

 

If you have not given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are not one of His children and you more than likely, are not eagerly, patiently, and expectantly waiting for the return of Jesus Christ.  He WILL return and gather His children, taking them HOME to be with Him for ALL eternity.  If you don’t give your HEART and LIFE to God NOW, you will be left behind in a world FULL of DEPRAVIY, WICKEDNESS, EVILNESS, VILENESS and HATRED, like of which you have NEVER experienced, because He is COMING again and NOBODY knows when.  But you have the opportunity to become one of His children 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 its completion at the return of Christ and receive your ETERNAL INHERITANCE.  Do it NOW, while there is STILL time.  He’s COMING!!!

Friday, May 15, 2015

Disciplined by God


Disciplined by God

 

 

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as His children.  For what children are not disciplined by their father?  If you are not disciplined---and everyone undergoes discipline---then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it.  How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!  They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in His holiness.  No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.  Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.--------Hebrews 12:7-11

 

 

Have you ever been in a store or restaurant where a child is being stubborn and rebellious, screaming to the top of their lungs, ignoring the parent and doing whatever they want, without any inkling of discipline being administered to them?  Well if you haven’t then you really live a sheltered life, because it happens ALL the time. 

 

It seems like children, today get by with a lot more than what most of us did growing up.  I know one thing if I had acted in such a manner my seat would have been introduced to a swat or two.  I was one of seven children and we definitely were disciplined when we showed any signs of stubbornness or rebellion.  We were taught to OBEY our parents and sometimes the lessons were painful, but we survived those times we spent in the woodshed, with NO ill effects. 

 

Today, the child that grows up with little or no discipline, usually ends up being disrespectful, rebellious, stubborn, and troubled.  These verses tell us that when we, as God’s children, act in such a way, He disciplines us by using hardships as His disciplining tool.  The Author of the book of Hebrews says, “God is treating you as His children.”  And He goes on to say, “If you are not disciplined---and everyone undergoes discipline---then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.”

 

In other words, if you are TRULY a child of God, you WILL come under His discipline, when you go against Him and His will.  Our earthly fathers disciplined us the way they thought was best, and gained our respect.  How much more should we submit to our Heavenly Father and respect His wisdom and discipline, enduring the hardship as discipline.  For God disciplines us for OUR good, in order that we might share in His holiness.   NO discipline is pleasant at the time it is being administered, and is somewhat painful.  However, later on, it produces a yield of right living for those who are trained by it.

 

If you have not given your HEART and LIFE to God then you are not His child and may be living an undisciplined life that is cloaked in rebellion, stubbornness, disrespectfulness, and trouble.  But you can come out of that lifestyle and become a TRUE child of God 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 experience a yield of RIGHT LIVING.  Do it NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s waiting!!!

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Faithful Love


Faithful Love

 

 

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and rich in faithful love.  He will not always accuse us or be angry forever.  He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve or repaid us according to our offenses. 

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His faithful love toward those who fear Him.  As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.--------Psalm 103:8-12

 

 

I believe these verses give us a clear insight into the very nature of our Heavenly Father. He is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger and rich in FAITHFUL LOVE, of which we SHOULD be extremely grateful.  Because of His FAITHFUL LOVE, we experience the SALVATION of our soul.

 

He is COMPASSIONATE, GRACIOUS and SLOW to ANGER, these attributes are what we should be extremely grateful for because they are the attributes that are part of His Godly nature.  Attributes that benefit the crown of His creation.  Had it not been for His compassion, grace, and mercy, we would not have the HOPE of Heaven and be destined to Hell for ALL of eternity.

 

The Scriptures say that, “He will not always accuse us or be angry forever.”  As His Children, those who have given their HEART and LIFE to Him, we have His Holy Spirit dwelling inside of us and the Holy Spirit will bring CONVICTION in our heart whenever we sin against God.  Therefore we are made aware of our sins and SHOULD confess them right then and there.  

 

He realizes our weaknesses and knows that we are but dust and because of the FLESH we do things we should not do, so His anger is short-lived.  His FAITHFUL LOVE is the buffer between His anger and His forgiveness for His Children.  The result of His FAITHFUL LOVE lies in the fact of us NOT receiving what our sinful nature deserves. 

 

Just how GREAT is His FAITHFUL LOVE toward His Children?  As HIGH as the heavens are above the earth, that is how GREAT His FAITHFUL LOVE is towards His Children.  And there is no end to the heavens.

When we come to Him for the FORGIVENESS of our sins then those sins are REMOVED from us as far as the east is from the west, if you think about it there is NO end to that, because when you travel from the east to the west, you are ALWAYS going west. Well, that is how far your sins are removed.  GOD IS GOOD!!!  ALL THE TIME!!

 

If you have not given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are not His Child and you are NOT experiencing His FAITHFUL LOVE.  He’s waiting with compassion, graciousness, patience and mercy for you to come to Him and to become one of His Children, you do that 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 start experiencing His FAITHFUL LOVE.  Do it NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s waiting!!!