"Sweeter than Honey to My Mouth!"

“Sweeter than Honey to My Mouth!”

 

I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Your word.  I have not departed from Your judgments, for You Yourself have taught me.  How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!   Through Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.           Psalm 119:101-104

 

The Psalmist was being persecuted for his FAITH.  He was ridiculed for his beliefs and his persecutors sought to shame him into giving up his FAITH.  But he was strengthened by meditating on the Word of God, which to him was comforting, his rule for life, and his strength, which drove him all the more to desiring it. 

 

He gained guidance from it.  He said; “I have restrained my feet from every evil way.  I have not departed from Your judgments.  As God’s Children, we can also gain guidance from the Word of God by NOT just READING it, but MEDITATING on it.  Allowing the Holy Spirit of the Living God to TEACH and GUIDE us through its precepts or rules of moral conduct.  We can have control of our “feet” from following EVERY evil way, and we can accomplish this because God, Himself, through the work of His Holy Spirit, TEACHES us how we should conduct our lives.

 

The Psalmist declares that the Word of God is SWEETER than honey to his mouth!  The more we READ, SEARCH and MEDITATE on His word, the SWEETER it is in our mouths.  We enjoy it and hunger after it.  It is INSPIRING, INFORMATIVE, ENLIGHTENING, and we gain WISDOM and UNDERSTANDING.  It is a lamp to our feet, and a light to our path, in order that we might not stray from the straight and narrow.  The things of this old, wretched, sinful, evil world becomes detestable and sickening to us, because we have wisdom, insight and understanding of God’s precious WORD, and when we are OBEDIENT to His Word, we become more like Jesus, which should be the goal for EVERY BELIEVER.

 

If you have not come to God for the salvation of your soul, you need to do it NOW!  In order to have an understanding of His precepts, judgments and promises. And to be able to live according to His will, and to receive the HOPE of Heaven for ALL eternity, and to escape the HORRORS of Hell.  To be able to gain UNDERSTANDING through the Holy Spirit, who indwells the TRUE BELIEVER, and to feast on the SWEETNESS of the Word of God. 

You have that opportunity 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 GROW in His Word, GAIN understanding of the Word, and FEAST on the SWEETNESS of the Word, daily.   Do it NOW, while you still can. He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"Erroring from the Truth!"

“Erroring from the Truth!”

 

Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.  He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters.  His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.  Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position.  But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen.           2 Peter 3:15-18

 

In the second chapter of 2 Peter, Peter forewarns the believers of the false teachers.  In the beginning of this chapter, the Apostle Peter, warns them about the scoffers, who will come scoffing and following their own evil desires.  They are scoffing about the delay of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

 

In these verses, Peter is instructing the believers to; “Bear in mind, that our Lord’s patience means salvation,” God’s love for the Crown of His Creation is so ABUNDANT that He desires that EVERYONE be saved.  Even though He knows that won’t be the case.  He is giving EVERYONE the opportunity, by delaying the Coming of the Lord. 

 

The Apostle Paul also writes about these matters and some of the things Paul writes about is hard to understand, thus giving these ignorant and unstable people the venue to distort the Scriptures to their own destruction.   They spout off their own FALSE RHEORTIC and plant seeds of their own FALSE tenets or beliefs.  They are playing with their own destiny, one that is headed for an ETERNITY in Hell. 

 

Peter is warning the believers to be on guard and to protect their own FAITH.  They should be GROUNDED and not be able to be swayed by EVERY wind of doctrine.  They should know the Scriptures and be able to discern the TRUTH from the LIES.  They, who are strong in their FAITH, need to SECURE their FAITH, so that it won’t be weakened or flawed by ANY FALSE doctrines. You do that by, growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

 

ALL believers need to seek wisdom from God, through the work of His Holy Spirit, which indwells us.  We need to not give ANY credence to the UNHOLY, FALSE RHEORTIC of the false teachers and scoffers. 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you too are at risk of being carried away to that place of torment, torture, pain and agony, the place called Hell, but you can change your direction 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 FOLLOW and  KNOW the TRUTH.  Don’t be DECEIVED!!  Do it NOW while you still can.  He’s waiting for YOU, and coming SOON!!!

 

"It Will Be Worth It ALL!"

“It Will Be Worth It ALL!”

 

We are pressured in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed.  

Therefore we do not give up.  Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day.  For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.  So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.                                  2 Corinthians 4:8, 9, 16-18

 

Living a Christian life is NOT for wimps.  Paul is telling the believers in Corinth, that even though they are pressured in EVERY way, they are NOT crushed.  They may be perplexed but they are NOT in despair.  They may be persecuted but they will NOT be abandoned.  And they may be struck down, but they are NOT destroyed.   Paul and his fellow believers were experiencing all of the above, but Paul was NOT going to give in to the PRESSURES, PERPLEXITIES, PERSECUTIONS, and being STRUCK DOWN.  He was assured of his eternal glory, through the work of the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and he was DETERMINED to press on.

 

Paul was experiencing some pretty intense sufferings, but his HEART and MIND was not focused on what was seen.  He physically was being wasted away, but spiritually he was being RENEWED daily.  He is telling us to NOT give up, but to “fight the good fight” and to FOCUS on what is ETERNAL, and NOT TEMPORAL.  He is saying that our afflictions here on earth are incomparable to the UNSEEN glory that awaits us.    

 

As TRUE believers we will face adversities and experience sufferings, but we are to walk by faith and NOT by sight.  We are to guard our hearts and not let them be ruled by fear.  We are to BELIEVE in the UNSEEN and trust in GOD for our eternal glory.  This life is TEMPORARY and is based on what is SEEN, but what takes place when we leave this life, is ETERNAL and is based on our FAITH in GOD, and is UNSEEN or in UNBELIEF and what is SEEN.

 

Those who have not given their HEART and LIFE to God, will face the condemnation of a RIGHTEOUS God, and will exchange their so-called  “good life” which is TEMPORARY for a life that is full of MISERY, PAIN, TORTURE, TORMENT, and SUFFERINGS, which are ETERNAL, it will NEVER cease.  If you are in this group of people, you are NOW given the opportunity to CHANGE your destination and focus on the ETERNAL things and NOT on the TEMPORAL things.  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 focus on the UNSEEN, ETERNAL glory that awaits you when you are finished with this TEMPORARY life.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"How Do We Know?"

“How Do We Know?”

 

We know that we have come to know Him if we keep His commands.  Whoever says, “I know Him, but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.  But if anyone obeys His word, love for God is truly made complete in them.  This is how we know we are in Him:  Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did.          1 John 2:3-6

 

Many people will profess to TRULY KNOW God, they will claim that they are a Christian, when in all actuality they have not come to God with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, and sought His FORGIVENESS.  Many believe that because they a live “good moral” life that makes them a Christian, or if their parents or parent was a Christian then that makes them a Christian too.  But the Word of God says differently.

 

Here in 1 John, we see he is telling us how we can KNOW that we are a TRUE Child of the Living God.  Right away he says; “we have come to know Him if we keep His commands.  One of the most important commands, is one that John discusses on down in his letter, in verse fifteen of this chapter, he says, “Do not love the world or anything in the world.  If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.”   God does not want us to be associated with the world or worldly things, we are to be SEPARATED from the world.  Of course we must live IN the world, but as a TRUE Child of God, we don’t have to participate in the things of the world, such as; ‘the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.’ 

 

I know of some people who claim to be a Child of God, a Christian, but they have NOT left their OLD lifestyle, and the only thing that says they are a Christian is their mouth.  They PROFESS it, but they DON’T POSSESS it, because they do NOT follow God’s commands, and that classifies them as a liar.

 

 But if anyone obeys God’s word, the love for God is truly made complete in them.  We can TRULY KNOW we are a Christian, Christ-like, because of our OBEDIENCE to the WORD of God.  We all sin and come short of the glory of God, but when we strive to be OBEDIENT to His Word, it shows our TRUE relationship with Him and our LOVE for Him is made complete in us.  So whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did.  Now Jesus lived a SINLESS life.  He NEVER committed a sin, and that is not possible for us, because we are born with a sinful nature, therefore we sin daily, but Jesus was OBEDIENT to the Word of God and that is how He lived, and that is how we MUST live too, in OBEDIENCE to God’s Word.  Then we will KNOW and POSSESS a RIGHT relationship with God.  We then can claim; “We are a TRUE Christian!” 

If you have not come to God for the SALVATION of your soul or if you THINK you are a Christian, but have not TRULY come to Him with a REPENTANT HEART, in other words you have accepted it in your mind, but NOT in your HEART then you are LOST and lying to others and yourself, and are headed straight to HELL.  You NOW have the opportunity to not just PROFESS you are a Christian, but to be able to POSSESS 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, with a TRULY REPENTANT HEART and POSSESS what you PROFESS, and KNOW that you are a TRUE Christian.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"Our Strength and Our Salvation!"

“Our Strength and Our Salvation!”

 

Lord, be gracious to us!  We wait for You.  Be our strength every morning and our salvation in time of trouble.          Isaiah 33:2

 

This verse of Scripture is the words of the RIGHTEOUS remnant of Israel, who were waiting for the Lord to come and DELIVER or SAVE them. 

 

We, who are TRUE believers, today, are waiting for the Lord to come and DELIEVER us too.  We live in PERILOUS, UNCERTAIN, and DANGEROUS times. We sometimes wonder just how much worse it can get.  We long for the time when the eastern sky will split and the sound of the trumpet will blast and ALL of God’s Children, those who have been REDEEMED by the shed blood of His Only Begotten Son, will be taken away from this wretched, old, sin-ridden, world.

 

When we face each new day, we have NO idea what that day will hold, but we can have the strength we need to face it, because we KNOW who holds the day.  And He is our STRENGTH for whatever we might encounter. 

 

He is our SALVATION or DELIVERER in our times of trouble, notice that Isaiah, said: “IN time of trouble, “NOT “FROM time of trouble.”  We may have to go through some rough waters, but God promises us that He will be with us and will NEVER leave nor forsake us.   He will see us through to the other side, and we can have that ASSURANCE because of our FAITH in Him.   

 

Yes, we face UNCERTAIN, PERILOUS times, but we are NOT left to face those uncertainties on our own.  He will be our SALVATION through each and every time of trouble.  That is IF you are a TRUE believer, one of His Children, one who has been redeemed by His Only Begotten Son.

 

If you have not come to God, with a TRULY REPENTANT heart, for the SALVATION of your soul, then you will face each day that is filled with UNCERTAINTIES, and sometimes DESPAIR, alone.  You will be headed for a place called Hell, where you will be forever in torment, agony, pain and despair, with no help or no way out, for all of eternity.  However, you can change your destination, NOW by coming to God and 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 let Him be your STRENGTH and SALVATION in this DANGEROUS, PERILOUS time in which we live.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Common People Doing Uncomon Things!"

“Common People Doing Uncommon Things!”

 

He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the garbage pile.  He seats them with noblemen and gives them a throne of honor.  For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s; He has set the world on them.  He guards the steps of His faithful ones, but the wicked perish in darkness, for a man does not prevail by his own strength.  Those who oppose the Lord will be shattered; He will thunder in the heavens against them.  The Lord will judge the ends of the earth.  He will give power to His king; He will lift up the horn of His anointed.                     1Samuel 2:8-10

 

This is an excerpt from “Hannah’s Prayer.”  She is rejoicing over God’s favor upon her and blessing her with the birth of her first child, a son, named Samuel.  He is the one that Hannah had prayed for, for so long and because of her FAITH and longsuffering, God granted her, her heart’s desire. 

 

These last few verses seem to have a prophetic flair, and it is the first Old Testament reference to an individual being an “Anointed One.”  However, in this context, I believe this is talking about an earthly king, King David, perhaps, who was anointed or “set apart” for the historical monarchy of Israel.  And also the lineage of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. 

 

David, who was a lowly shepherd boy, became the ‘chosen one’ by God to lead Israel, throughout her victorious history, and would be the most popular king in her history.  He was known as the “man after God’s own heart.” 

 

Then through the Davidic lineage came a poor lowly carpenter, the One and Only Son of God, who died a shameful death and was buried in a borrowed tomb.  A man of meager surroundings, a man who associated and related with the downtrodden, the poor, the destitute.  And through the MERCY and GRACE of a LOVING HEAVENLY FATHER, He became the REDEMPTION of ALL MANKIND, throughout the ages.  He is and has ALWAYS BEEN the “Anointed One,”  “the Messiah,” the “Son of God,” the “King of kings,” and the “Lord of lords.”

 

God is the RIGHTEOUS JUDGE, and He has and will continue to bring judgment upon this sinful, wretched, old world.  And ALL His enemies will fall and be defeated and be judged and sentenced to an eternity in Hell.  And the King of Kings will descend from Heaven and reign SUPREME with all who have been REDEEMED and are FAITHFUL to Him.    Where do you stand with God?  Are you His enemy?  Or are you His child?  If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to Him, then you are considered His enemy, and will spend all eternity in Hell.  But you NOW have the opportunity to change your destination 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 become His child and allow Him to do UNCOMMON things in your life.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

"The Gates of the Righteous"

“The Gates of the Righteous”

 

Open for me the gates of the righteous; I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.  This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter.  I will give you thanks for you answered me; you have become my salvation.            Psalm 118:19-21

 

This psalm may have been written for the Feast of Tabernacles, maybe even for the first celebration of that Feast when the people returned from the Exile.  

 

The references to the gates and to praising suggest that the psalmist was anticipating joining the congregation in the sanctuary to praise the Lord for His great salvation.

 

As I was reading this part of this psalm, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and revealed to me that, we, who have come to the Lord for our own salvation, have been made righteous with Almighty God, and we too will enter the “gates of the righteous,” in Heaven and will FOREVER offer PRAISE and THANKSGIVING to the Lord for our SALVATION.  It will be the “gate of the Lord,” because He is the GATE that was provided for us to be able to be made righteous or to be made “RIGHT with God.

 

It is the ONLY gate through which we MUST enter to be able to get into Heaven.  It is the gate through which ALL the righteous may enter.  There is NO OTHER way to come to the Almighty God, ONLY through the “gate of the Lord.”  When we enter that gate we along with the other righteous will lift our voices in PRAISE and THANKSGIVING to our Lord Jesus Christ for the SALVATION of our souls.  Will you be there? 

 

The ONLY way for you to be made righteous is to come to the cross and be cleansed by the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Then you may enter the “gate of the Lord.”  If you refuse to do so the only gate you will enter will be the gates of Hell, a place of eternal torment, torture, pain and despair, where there will definitely NOT be any PRAISING or THANKSGIVING  going on, only WEEPING and the GNASHING of TEETH.  To escape this destiny, you MUST:  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 made RIGHTEOUS and enter through the “gate of the Lord,” into Heaven, and be able to lift your voice of PRAISE and THANKSGIVING to the ONLY ONE worthy.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!  

"Faith Credited as Righteousness"

“Faith Credited as Righteousness”

 

What does Scripture say?   “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”   It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.   Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring---not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who have the faith of Abraham.  He is the father of us all.   The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, but for us, to whom God will credit righteousness---for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.  He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.              Romans 4:3, 13, 16, 23-25

 

Because “Abraham believed God, it was credited to him as righteousness.”  Abraham’s FAITH was what provided his RIGHTEOUSNESS, NOT his works.  He believed ALL that God had told him and promised him, as inconceivable as it seemed, Abraham took God at face value, and his FAITH was credited to him as RIGHTEOUSNESS. 

 

It wasn’t through Abraham’s obeying the Law, there was NO Law, it had not be given yet, and where there was NO LAW, there could be no breaking of the law.  So it was NOT through his works that he would be HEIR OF THE WORLD, but through his RIGHTEOUSNESS, which comes by FAITH.  The promise came by FAITH only, in order that, by GRACE, it may be guaranteed to ALL Abraham’s offspring---not just to those who keep the law, but also to those who have the FAITH of Abraham. 

 

Because he is the father of us all, the words that his “FAITH that was credited to him as RIGHTEOUSNESS,” was not written for him alone, but it is for ALL who believe in the One who has the plan for the SALVATION for ALL mankind, who brought Jesus to earth, to die for our sins, and to be raised to life for our justification in order for us to have the FAITH of Abraham, and to have our FAITH be credited as RIGHTEOUSNESS.   

 

In order to have that FAITH and have it be credited to you as RIGHTEOUSNESS, to have a RIGHT standing with the Almighty God.  You MUST come to God with a REPENTANT HEART, and be TRULY SORRY for your sins.  You MUST: 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, and have your FAITH credited to you as RIGHTEOUSNESS.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

"The Fruitful Branch"

“The Fruitful Branch”

 

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.   He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.  You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.  Remain in me, as I also remain in you.  No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.  Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”          John 15:1-4

 

This is the last of the seven great “I am” statements in John.  This Scripture is the words of Jesus to His disciples. 

 

Many times, when Jesus was teaching, He spoke in parables, which are ‘earthly stories’ with a ‘heavenly meaning.’  He did this so the people could better understand and relate to what He was saying.  Here He talks about Him being the TRUE VINE, God’s choice vine was Israel, the vine that He hoped would be FRUITFUL, but Israel fell to produce GOOD fruit, and Jesus became the TRUE VINE and God is the gardener. 

 

The branches are the disciples or followers of Jesus Christ.  The fruit that God desires is:  Loving obedience, righteousness, and justice.  Those who are ‘in Him,’ the branches that bears NO fruit, these are the ones who profess to be followers, but do not possess the gift of SALVATION, they will be cut off, while those who bears fruit, the TRUE believers, God will prune so that they will bear MORE fruit, and be even MORE fruitful. 

 

All the disciples, but one, Judas was cleansed by Jesus and His message.  Fruitfulness is the evidence of the presence of TRUE SALVATION in a believer.  It is the obligation of EVERY TRUE BELIEVER to ‘REMAIN’ in Christ, which means that without FAITH, no one can have life and produce the fruit that God expects us to produce.  But with a STRONG ABIDING FAITH, we can and will produce MUCH fruit, which will please God, and will honor Christ. 

 

Are you a part of the TRUE VINE?  If your answer is YES, are you producing ANY fruit?  If not you need to check your SALVATION, the ONLY way to POSSESS what you PROFESS 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, in order to REMAIN on the TRUE VINE, Jesus Christ, and NOT be cut off.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

 

"Looking into the Future!"

“Looking Into the Future!”

 

As you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.  That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.  But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.  So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Him.  Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave Him.          2 Peter 3:12-15

 

These verses are a part of the Apostle Peter’s letter to believers.  He is talking about the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Not the Rapture or Tribulation period, but the climax of the ages, the END of the World, as we know it. 

 

The entrance of the King of kings and the Lord of lords.  Who will at that time, destroy His enemies and set up His kingdom for a thousand year reign, and at the END of His thousand year reign comes the Day of Judgment and the destruction of the ungodly, when the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. When God’s promise, of a new heaven and a new earth will be fulfilled, a place where RIGHTEOUSNESS dwells. A place created for ONLY God’s family.

 

This is a bird’s eye view of what lies ahead in the future of the TRUE believer, and the destiny of the unbeliever.  The Apostle Peter tells us that we, God’s Children, NEED to make EVERY effort to be found SPOTLESS, BLAMELESS, and at PEACE with God.  We NEED to FLEE from the temptations that the devil puts in our paths and to TURN AWAY from our sins and to draw close to God and be cleansed by the blood of His ONLY BEGOTTEN SON. 

 

We should also realize that God so LOVED this world that HE gave His ONLY SON to die for a lost, perverted people and because of that LOVE, it is His desire that NONE perish, but that ALL would come to Him for the SALVATION of their souls.  That is why He is delaying the process of fulfilling His promise of a NEW Heaven and a NEW Earth, to give EVERYONE an opportunity to be saved.

 

If you have NOT come to Him for the SALVATION of your soul, you are His enemy and should He return to take His children home, TODAY, you would be left behind, would have to try and survive through the Tribulation, that would make obtaining SALVATION very hard to do, and you would have to die for your faith.   But you have the opportunity NOW, to turn from your DOOMED, SINFUL LIFE, and come to God for the SALVATION of your soul.  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 His Child and NOT His enemy.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

 

"There is No Other!"

“There is No Other!”

 

For there is no other God but Me, a righteous God and Savior.  There is none but Me.  Let all the world look to Me for salvation!  For I am God; there is no other.           Isaiah 45:21,22

 

There is NO salvation, except from God alone.  This realization is hard for some to achieve.  They are always searching for answers about life AFTER death, and get no PEACE from their searches.  Mainly, because they refuse to accept that the ONLY WAY to Heaven is through GOD’S plan of SALVATION.   That is through the shed blood of His Only Begotten Son.

 

Many refuse to believe that there really is a God.  They would rather believe that there is NOTHING after death that you just cease to exist.  But there are so many evidences that go against that theory.  All we need do, is to look around us for evidences that God really does exist.   Nature itself is a testimony of a Divine Creator.  Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invisible qualities---His eternal power and divine nature.  So they have no excuse for not knowing God.  (Romans 1:20)  

 

They traded the truth about God for a lie.  So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator Himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! (Romans 1:25)  There is NO OTHER GOD, ONLY the CREATOR God, Himself.  There is NO OTHER way to get to Heaven, except going through the ONE and ONLY Almighty God’s plan of Salvation.  You MUST come to Him for the FORGIVENESS of your sins.  The ONE sin that is NOT forgiven is the sin of UNBELIEF. 

 

In order to obtain SALVATION, and escape an eternity in Hell, you MUST come to Him, 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 KNOW that He is the ONLY WAY, there is NO OTHER and be FREE from your searching.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"Citizens of Heaven"

“Citizens of Heaven”

 

I often warned you that many people are living as enemies of the cross of Christ.  And now with tears in my eyes, I warn you again that they are headed for hell!  They worship their stomachs and brag about the disgusting things they do.  All they can think about are the things of this world.   But we are citizens of Heaven and are eagerly waiting for our Savior to come from there.  Our Lord Jesus Christ has power over everything, and He will make these poor bodies of ours like His own glorious body.          Philippians 3:18-21

 

The Apostle Paul’s letter to the believers in Philippi expresses his love and concern for their spiritual well-being.  He encouraged them to follow his example. (v.17)  He WARNED them of the many people, who were, in essence, ‘false teachers,’ and enemies of the cross of Christ, and were in a self-destruction mode.  They worshipped their stomachs, in other words, they were more concerned about their physical desires and gross gluttony than anything else.  They bragged about their sinful, disgusting escapades, and their hearts and minds were set on worldly things. 

 

Paul was concerned to tears and offered encouragement, along with the warning.  He reminds the believers that they are CITIZENS OF HEAVEN, and are EAGERLY awaiting the return of their Savior.  The Lord Jesus Christ, who has POWER over EVERYTHING, and with that POWER, He will change their POOR bodies to be like His own GLORIOUS body.  This is the future event for EVERY TRUE BELIEVER, today. 

 

We too are CITIZENS OF HEAVEN, and are EAGERLY awaiting the return of our SAVIOR, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, who will change these POOR, EARTHLY bodies into GLORIFIED bodies, just like His.  In the meantime we NEED to be about God’s business, and be a LIGHT in the DARKNESS.  We as TRUE, MATURE BELIEVERS, NEED to set a proper example before those who are struggling with living as a believer in this sin-ridden world.  We NEED to reinforce the tenets of their SALVATION, and help them MATURE into the TRUE BELIEVER, they are called to be.

 

If you have not given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are like the ‘false teachers and are in the ‘self-destruction’ mode.  You are headed for Hell and all the horrible facets of that place.  However, you NOW have the opportunity to change your destination and join the Family of God, 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, the ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and become a bonafide Citizen of Heaven.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

" Behave Decently!"

“Behave Decently!”

 

Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and Jealousy.  Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.          Romans 13:13-14

 

I am appalled sometimes at the wickedness that is displayed within our nation, a nation that was once considered to be a “Christian” nation, but now I’m inclined to believe that we are not justified to have the honor of being called a “Christian” nation, due to all the wickedness, lawlessness, deceit, and debauchery, the ‘deeds of darkness,’ that takes place in our land.  Many have become depraved in their thinking and their life-styles, and it pains me to say, there are some of these people who claim to be Christians.   The title “Christian” denotes one’s life-style, their character, and to use that term loosely is a false assumption of the “Christian” life-style.

 

The Apostle Paul was telling the believers in Rome, how they should be conducting themselves, if they are TRULY a Christian.  He says:  “Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing, and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. “   Paul was instructing them to live a DECENT life, not to participate in the ‘deeds of darkness, ‘carousing, drunkenness, sexual immorality, debauchery, dissension, and jealousy, all of which used to be done in the darkness, but it appears today, to be done in both darkness and the daytime.  There is NO shame in carrying on these ‘deeds of darkness’ in the time in which we are living today.  God have mercy on our nation!

 

Paul instructs the believers to “clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.”   He is telling them and us, who are TRUE believers that we should live our lives the way the Lord Jesus Christ wants and expects us to live, so close to Him, as though we were “clothed”  in Him, and NOT to think about ways to gratify or satisfy the desires of our flesh.  We are to LIVE out our Christian title and be ALL that we are called to be; righteous, sanctified, and holy.

 

 If you have not given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are not a CHRISTIAN, and if you think that your name, status in life, your good character, or your heritage gives you the right to claim you are a Christian, you are very much deceived and are headed to Hell.  None of those things will secure your eternity in Heaven.  You MUST come to the cross and:  CONFESS 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 become a TRUE believer, clothed in the Lord Jesus Christ, righteous, sanctified and holy, and legitimately be able to carry the title of “Christian.”  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

"The Recompense of Obedience"

“The Recompense of Obedience”

 

“If my people would only listen to me, if Israel would only follow my ways, how quickly I would subdue their enemies and turn my hand and against their foes!”          Psalms 81:13-14

 

We are living in uncertain and volatile times.  We see, nearly every day, violence playing out in some place in this old, corrupt, sinful world.  And I venture to say, that it isn’t going to get any better.  We face threats from terrorists, all over this world, from Europe to the United States.  I believe that we are, as God’s creation, reaping what has been sown. 

 

The Psalmist, here, is saying what they believe to be from God’s heart, a plea for OBEDIENCE, from God’s own people to Him.   God is saying:  “if my people would only listen to me,” So many times we shut out what we don’t want to hear, from God, because it’s NOT what we want or expect.  So we tune Him out, and do what we deem is best.  We then become DISOBEDIENT, and reap what we sow. 

 

He goes on to say:  “If Israel would only follow my ways,” Well, Israel doesn’t have such a good record of following God’s ways either.  Throughout their history, they have been OBEDIENT and then they slip into DISOBEDIENCE, and have reaped what was sown.  And so it is with most of the civilized world.  We ALL need to turn from our wicked ways, and start LISTENING to God!

 

If we would do that, He tells us that He would QUICKLY subdue our enemies and turn His hand against our foes!  That is the RECOMPENSE of OBEDIENCE.  God would come to our defense, if we would but be OBEDIENT to Him and FOLLOW His ways.  What a DIFFERENT world this would be.  But I fear, that will not happen, because wickedness, corruptness, and greediness has woven itself deep into the fabric of life and has so ingrained itself in our very being that there will always be DISOBEDIENCE on the part of mankind towards God.  Therefore we will reap what is sown. 

 

However, for those who do LISTEN, and FOLLOW His ways, in other words, are OBEDIENT to Him, they will reap the RECOMPENSE OF OBEDIENCE; SALVATION and the HOPE of Heaven.  But to those who are DISOBEDIENT and do NOT LISTEN and FOLLOW His ways, they will reap the RECOMPENSE OF DISOBEDIENCE; CONDEMNATION and the destination to Hell.  Which recompense will you receive?  

You can receive the RECOMPENSE OF OBEDIENCE 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 LISTENING and FOLLOWING Him.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Self-Condemned"

“The Self-Condemned”

 

But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.   Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time.  After that, have nothing to do with them.   You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.             Titus 3:9-11

 

Sometimes when we witness to people, they want to argue about different things in God’s Word, and most of the time those things have NOTHING to do with the matter at hand, SALVATION.  The Apostle Paul was giving Titus guidance about how to deal with such people.

Satan usually has a few divisive people planted in our churches.  And they are almost impossible to deal with.  If they go unattended, they can cause havoc within the church, and soon there is a division among the people and ALL manner of problems erupt that will destroy the mission of a body of believers, the church. 

Then, how are we to deal with such people.  Well, Paul tells Titus to ‘warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time.  After that, have nothing to do with them.’  I believe that God puts instructions like this in His Word to help us, today, know how to handle such situations.    

When divisive people start their arguments and disputes, their goal is to take the focus off of the MAIN THING, the TRUTH of the WORD, and to cause a division among the people.  And a lot of times, they are very effective in their dirty deeds.  So Paul instructs Titus to have NOTHING to do with them, because they are WARPED and SINFUL; they are SELF-CONDEMNED. 

In other words, they bring CONDEMNATION on themselves, because of their WARPED, SINFUL and DIVISIVE nature, they have already passed judgment on themselves.  They are to receive TWO warnings and then if they do NOT repent they are to be ostracized from the body of believers.  

If you have not given your HEART and LIFE to God, you too are “SELF-CONDEMNED, because of your SINFUL lifestyle.  And God gives you ample time to come to Him with a REPENTANT HEART, but His mercy will not ALWAYS be extended to you, there is a deadline for each lost person.  Don’t cross that deadline, but come to Him NOW, 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 DON’T fall under your OWN SELF-CONDEMNATION.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Enemy of God"

“Enemy of God”

 

You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God?  Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.          James 4:4

Do not love the world or anything in the world.  If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.          1John 2:15

 

In James’ letter to the twelve tribes of Israel, he goes from calling them brothers and sisters to “adulterous people.”  In essence, what James was calling them was “UNFAITHFUL to God” they had adulterated themselves by allowing the ways of the world to infiltrate their lives.  They were not following the Lord, but instead, they were following the ways of this sinful, wretched old world.  And not just following, but embracing them.

 

So James tells them that ANYONE who chooses to go along with the ways of the world becomes an ENEMY of God.  They can’t serve two masters, but they must LOVE one and HATE the other.  This my dear friends, is the problem with a lot of believers today, they are compromising with the world and its ways, when the Bible tells us that  we are to LOVE God with ALL our mind, heart and soul.  We are not to be a part of this sinful, old world even though we are in the world.

 

 1John states that we are NOT to LOVE the world or ANYTHING in the world.  Because if we LOVE the world the LOVE for the Father is NOT in us.  We cannot love them both, but MUST separate ourselves from the worldly ways and strive to live in the Spirit of the LIVING GOD.

 

Not compromising with the world sets us apart from the world and its ways. We are to be a “special people,” who is not LOVING or FOLLOWING the world.  WE cannot LOVE or FOLLOW both God and the world.  We will LOVE one and HATE the other.    Which one do you choose?   It’s ALL or NOTHING.

 

If you have not given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are LOVING and FOLLOWING the world and are an ENEMY of God, which He will destroy eventually.  And your destination is a place called Hell, which is void of ANYTHING that is good or pleasant, but is FULL of misery, pain, torment, torture and despair.  You NOW, have the opportunity to change from an ENEMY of God, to a TRUE Child of God.  You do that 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 be FAITHFUL to GOD, and obtain the HOPE of HEAVEN.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!