"What is Your Heart Full of ?"

“What is Your Heart Full of?”

 

 

“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.  Each tree is recognized by its own fruit.  People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, or grapes from briers.  A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.  For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.                     Luke 6:43-45

 

Jesus was speaking to a large group of people on a mountainside.  They had come from all over Judea, Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon, to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases. 

 

One of the lessons that He taught was that a person’s words will eventually tell you what kind of person they are.  In this lesson He uses the illustration of a fruit tree.  A person can tell what kind of a tree it is by the fruit it bears.  If it is a GOOD tree it bears GOOD fruit NOT BAD fruit, but if it is a BAD tree it will bear BAD fruit.

 

Like the tree, people can tell if you are RIGHTEOUS or not by the WORDS you speak.  In this illustration of the GOOD and BAD fruit trees, the fruit is the WORDS that are spoken, not what is done. 

 

A person’s MOUTH will tell exactly what their HEART is full of.  Whatever you desire or whoever you are will be made known by the WORDS that proceed from your mouth.  So the BEST thing that needs to be done is to examine your HEART and see what you have stored there. 

 

For the RIGHTEOUS, it should be full of the HOLY SPIRIT, who indwells them, and they should allow Him to garner praise for their Lord, and to be willing to use that praise as a witness to a lost and dying world.  Is that what is in your HEART?  Are you a RIGHTEOUS person? 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are NOT a RIGHTEOUS person, and more than likely your mouth will tell that you are NOT a RIGHTEOUS person, but you are harboring sin, and destined for an eternity in Hell, unless you come to Jesus Christ, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, 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 His HOLY SPIRIT fill your HEART, and use your MOUTH for the GLORIFICATION of the LORD, and be counted as a RIGHTEOUS person.  Do it NOW while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"Righteousness and Justification by Faith"

“Righteousness and Justification by Faith”

 

 

What does Scripture say?  “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 

The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, but also 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, 23-25

 

Abraham’s FAITH in God, and God’s promise to Abraham was what brought about Abraham’s RIGHTEOUSNESS and JUSTIFICATION.  Abraham’s RIGHTEOUSNESS was credited to him by his FAITH and not by his works.  His good works were a result of his FAITH, thus resulting in his RIGHTEOUSNESS.

 

His RIGHTEOUSNESS then brought about his JUSTIFICATION.  JUSTIFICATION by FAITH is the act of a sinner being set free through their FAITH from the penalty of their sins and being accepted by God as being RIGHTEOUS.  Since JUSTIFICATION is a gift it cannot be earned by works, but given through FAITH.

 

When we come to Christ in FAITH, we like Abraham, will receive the divine declaration that:  “We believed God and it was credited to us as RIGHTEOUSNESS.” And that we will stand before the Almighty God, RIGHTEOUS and JUSTIFIED, because of our FAITH.   That declaration of JUSTIFICATION is not for everyone, only those who come to Christ by FAITH. 

 

How do you come to Christ by FAITH?  You come to Him with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, 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 receive RIGHTEOUSNESS and JUSTIFICATION by the Almighty God.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!  

 

 

 

"The Remedy for a Sinful Nation"

“The Remedy for a Sinful Nation”

 

 

Seek good and not evil so that you may live, and the Lord, the God of Hosts, will be with you, as you have claimed.  Hate evil and love good; establish justice in the gate.  Perhaps the Lord of Hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.        Amos 5:14-15

 

This is a message to the nation of Israel from God, which was given to the Prophet Amos.  I believe that this message is applicable to the United States, today.  God says that we should; “Seek good and not evil so that you might live, and the Lord, the God of Hosts, will be with you, as you have claimed.” 

 

In today’s world, in which we presently abide.  It seems that the majority of the people are doing just the opposite, it appears as though they are seeking after evil endeavors and fleeing from the good.  I believe that this whole world is facing a catastrophic judgment, because it has chosen to SEEK after those things that are contrary to the Word of the LIVING GOD. 

 

Is there HOPE?  Yes, IF this old, sinful, corrupt, dying world would TURN or REPENT from its sins, and SEEK GOOD and NOT EVIL and would HATE EVIL and LOVE GOOD, there is the opportunity to receive God’s MERCY and GRACE, just as it was for the nation of Israel.  

 

However, it seems as though our own nation is ignoring the Word of the Living God, and instead following the path to SPIRITUAL destruction.  It, in many cases, is embracing the evil, sinful, corrupt things and shunning the good, godly, moral things.  Yet there is STILL HOPE.

 

In 2Chronicles 7:14, God says:  “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”  If ALL the TRUE BELIEVERS, would apply this Scripture to their lives and LIVE IT, DAILY, we might be able to make a HUGE difference in this world. 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to GOD, then you are a part of the PROBLEM, and are facing that catastrophic judgment.  However, you have the opportunity NOW to come to God with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, and to SEEK GOOD and NOT EVIL.  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 HATE EVIL and LOVE GOOD, and become a part of the solution and not a part of the problem.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Future Victories!"

“Future Victories!”

 

 

Though they plot evil against you and devise wicked schemes, they cannot succeed.      Psalm 21:11

 

In this passage of Scripture, the people are addressing their king, David, whom they knew TRUSTED in the Lord God for his victories in battle.  And because of David’s TRUST in the Lord, they believed that the king would be VICTORIOUS over his enemies in future battles, and he was. 

 

Believers today, are facing battles, our FAITH and WORSHIP of the Almighty God is being attacked by our enemy, the devil, who would like nothing more than to see the Christian influence, in this old, depraved, sin-laden, corrupt world, be depleted and done away with.

 

He is using the leaders of our nations to try and bring about laws that would FORCE us into deeper unethical, immoral laws that goes against what we believe and what we know in our hearts is contrary to the Word of God.  These lawmakers are up to devising wicked schemes to enact their own agendas upon the Christian community and to eventually wipe-out Christianity.  It aint  gonna happen!!! 

 

Even if they should enact their agendas into laws, which would provoke Christians to abide by, they CANNOT wipe out Christianity, because they cannot take away what God has placed in our hearts.  Just like the enemies of King David, ‘they cannot succeed.’  The king, who TRUSTED in God, was ASSURED of FUTURE VICTORIES, and those Christians who FULLY TRUST in the Lord will be ASSURED of FUTURE VICTORIES also.  1^st Corinthians 15:24-25:  “Then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when He abolishes ALL rule and ALL authority and power.  For He must reign until He puts ALL His enemies under His feet.”  Read the back of the Book (the Bible).  WE WIN!! 

 

We may have to suffer through some perilous times, but we, who TRUST IN GOD, are ASSURED of a FUTURE VICTORY.  EVEN SO COME QUICKLY, LORD JESUS!!!  

 

Are you READY for His coming?  You can be if you will; come to Him with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, CONFESSING your sins to Him and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for Your and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and TRUST HIM for FUTURE VICTORIES.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"Building, Praying, Keeping, Expecting"

“Building, Praying, Keeping, Expecting”

 

But you, dear friends, as you build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, expecting the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life.  Have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; have mercy on others but with fear, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.      Jude 1:20-23

 

In Jude’s letter to his fellow believers, after reminding them of what the Apostles had said about the apostates, he is compelling them to take heed of themselves.  He gives them a list of four things they NEED to do.

 

First, he tells them, “AS you BUILD yourselves up in your most holy faith,” The “BUILDING up” of themselves in their FAITH was a CONTINOUS situation.  They were to grow and mature in their holy faith, and they did that by studying and applying what the Apostles were teaching, and for the believers today, that would be the Holy Scriptures, God’s Holy Word, the Holy Bible.

 

Secondly, they were to, “PRAY in the Holy Spirit,”  Jude meant that they should be PRAYING sincerely from their HEARTS and SOULS that are indwelt by  and filled with the Holy Spirit of the Living God.  Ephesians 6:18 says, “PRAY at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.”  Again, this is to be a CONTINOUS situation.   In other words, believers are to PRAY in the POWER of the Holy Spirit.

 

Thirdly, Jude instructs them to, “KEEP themselves in the love of God.”  As the believer enters a close, intimate relationship with Father God, they are being nurtured in the LOVE that God has for them, and will produce a HEALTHY, STRONG relationship with their Heavenly Father.

 

Fourthly, Jude encourages the believers to be “EXPECTING the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life.”  Waiting for the return of Christ to come and catch away His Church, the TRUE believers.  The RAPTURE of His Church will be the all conclusive evidence of His MERCY, which will bring them to a never-ending, truly abundant life in the presence of the Almighty God.

 

Because of the confusing rhetoric of the apostates some believers were in doubt about whether they should follow them. Jude instructs the more grounded believers to treat them mercifully.  They needed to be encouraged NOT criticized.  They needed some “BUILDING UP” NOT to be torn down.

The others, the unsaved were headed to an ETERNAL fire.  Jude compelled his readers to SNATCH them from the fire, to bring them to the SAVING knowledge of Jesus Christ.  They were to show MERCY, but they were to also FEAR or be cautious lest they be contaminated by the sin.

 

Where do you stand, today?  Are you a believer or an unbeliever?  If you have not given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you stand in jeopardy of being lost forever and facing the ETERNAL fire of Hell.  However, you NOW have the opportunity to change your destination by:  Coming to God with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, 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 escape the ETERNAL fire of Hell and receive the MERCY and GRACE of the Almighty God.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"Living Stones"

“Living Stones”

 

 

As you come to Him, the Living Stone---rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to Him---you also, like living stones are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.         1Peter 2:4-5

 

These verses of the Holy Scripture are pertaining to TRUE BELIEVERS, who come to Christ for fellowship with Him on a daily basis.  It is an intimate relationship of communion with their Lord.

 

The first step in practicing holiness is a healthy relationship with Jesus Christ, who is the Chief Living Stone, who was rejected by humans.  He is a Stone that is LIVING and He gives LIFE to others.   People can enter into an intimate, personal relationship with this LIVING STONE and become a LIVING STONE also. 

 

When people become LIVING STONES they are placed on the Chief LIVING STONE, or the CORNERSTONE, and are being built into a spiritual house.  The body of Christ is the Church.  In Ephesians 2:22, the Apostle Paul says:  “And in Him you too, are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.” 

 

We not only become LIVING STONES, but we are also a ‘HOLY PRIESTHOOD, who offers spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God, through Jesus Christ.    We need no mediator, other than Jesus Christ, in order to come into the presence of the Almighty God. 

 

Praising God and ministering to others are living sacrifices, that are acceptable to God, but the ULTIMATE LIVING SACRIFICE is giving of our self to Him for His service.  In order to be ACCEPTABLE to God and to have an intimate, personal relationship with His LIVING STONE, Jesus Christ.  We must initially come to Him for the SALVATION of our souls, you do that by:  Coming to Him with a TRULY REPENTANT HEART, 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 a LIVING STONE that is placed on the CHIEF LIVING STONE, Jesus Christ, and built into a  spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"God's Righteousness, NOT our OWN!"

“God’s Righteousness, NOT our Own!”

 

 

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 

One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.      

Romans 10:4, 9, 10

 

Jesus Christ is the “Purpose-Goal” of the law. He was the Object to which the law pointed.  He was the fulfillment of the Law.  The Law could not and did not bring SALVATION OR RIGHTEOUSNESS to the people.  

 

Jesus, keeping ALL the Law, and living a PERFECTLY SINLESS life, became the Source of RIGHTEOUSNESS from God.  It is ONLY through Him that we can obtain SALVATION, and the RIGHTEOUSNESS needed to be ACCEPTABLE to Holy God. 

 

Our OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, is like filthy, putrid rags before God.  Therefore we CANNOT obtain SALVATION much less, RIGHTEOUSNESS on our OWN merits. 

 

There are two steps that everyone must take to obtain both SALVATION, and RIGHTEOUSNESS.  First, you MUST CONFESS with your mouth, “Jesus is LORD, and that you are in NEED of a SAVIOR. 

 

Then secondly, BELIEVE in your HEART that God raised Him from the dead.  BELIEVE that He died for YOU, and He paid the price that you could NOT pay to gain SALVATION and RIGHTEOUSNESS. 

 

When you come to Him with a TRULY REPENTANT HEART, CONFESSING, BELIEVING, and TRUSTING in Jesus as your SAVIOR and LORD, then you will be SAVED and will have a GODLY RIGHTEOUSNESS before the ALMIGHTY GOD.  There is NO SALVATION or GODLY RIGHTEOUSNESS in ANY OTHER.

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, you do not have SALVATION or a GODLY RIGHTEOUSNESS to be able to come before the Almighty God.  And your fate is spending an ETERNITY in HELL, a place of torment, torture, agony and pain.  However, God is giving you an opportunity NOW to change your fate from HELL to HEAVEN 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 GODLY RIGHTEOUSNESS.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

 

"A Trustworthy Saying"

“A Trustworthy Saying”

 

 

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance:  Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners---of whom I am the worst.   But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His immense patience as an example for those who would believe in Him and receive eternal life.       1Timothy 1:15-16

 

The Apostle Paul is indicating that what he is about to say is TRUSTWORTHY, and SHOULD have the FULL acceptance of the reader.  Paul, even though he was a GREAT man of God, and a proclaimer of the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ, ACKNOWLEDGED that he was/is a sinner saved by the GLORIOUS GRACE and ABUNDANT MERCY of the Almighty God, through His Son, the MESSIAH, Jesus Christ.

 

In witnessing to people, I have heard some say that they could NOT be saved, because of all the REALLY BAD things that they have done, and God would NEVER be able to FORGIVE them.  Well that is the FARTHEST from the TRUTH, there is only ONE sin that will NOT be FORGIVEN, which is the REFUSAL to ACCEPT Jesus Christ as your SAVIOR. 

 

Paul considered himself to be the WORST of sinners, he was on his way to Hell, because he did NOT believe that Jesus Christ was the MESSIAH, and he would go around arresting the Believers of Christ taking them in to the Roman government to be slaughtered for their faith.  But God in His INFINITE MERCY, through the Lord Jesus Christ, confronted Paul on the Damascus Road, where he was on his way to round up more of the Believers and take them in to be annihilated. 

 

Paul and his entourage was stopped on their way, by the Lord, who brought Paul to his knees with a blinding light.  Paul became a BELIEVER in Jesus Christ, and became a GREAT SOLDIER OF THE CROSS.  So if Paul, who persecuted God’s Children and had a hand in putting them to death, because of their belief in Christ, and who believed he was the WORST SINNNER of all, could be saved, so can YOU!!   Again, the ONLY sin that you WILL NOT be FORGIVEN for is REJECTING God’s ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, the Lord Jesus Christ. 

 

You, like Paul, MUST come to God, through the Lord Jesus Christ, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, 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 like Paul, receive FORGIVENESS, and eternal life, through Jesus Christ, the HOPE of HEAVEN.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"To Which Group Do You Belong?"

“To Which Group Do You Belong?”

 

 

In His pride the wicked man does not seek Him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.  He says to himself, “Nothing will ever shake me.”  He swears, “No one will ever do me Harm.”      Psalm 10:4,6

On the wicked He will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot.      Psalm 10:6

The righteous will rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in Him; all the upright in heart will glory in Him!         Psalm 64:10

Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever.      Psalm 112:6

No one can be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted.       Proverbs 12:3

“Then they (the wicked) will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”      Matthew 25:46

 

Which side of the fence are you living on?  If you have never given your HEART and LIFE to God, and living your own life, your own way, then you will be on the side of the WICKED, even though you might not consider yourself to be all that bad.  When we are born, we are born with a sinful nature, we are born into sin, thanks to Adam and Eve.  And being born into sin or with a sinful nature, we are NATURALLY wicked in our hearts.  So there needs to be a cure for the WICKED HEART.  And our Creator God has that cure in the form of a PERFECT SACRIFICE, Jesus Christ, His ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, who came to earth to seek and to save mankind from their sin-sickness of a WICKED HEART.  

 

In order to be cured from a WICKED HEART, you must do a few things in order to receive the cure.  You MUST ACKNOWLEDGE that you are SIN-SICK  and in need of SPIRITUAL HEALING, so you don’t die without having ACCEPTED the CURE, the medicine for this SPIRITUAL HEALING was provided by the ULTIMATE SACRIFICE of Jesus Christ, when He, was crucified on an old rugged cross for ALL the SIN-SICK people of the world. 

 

The way you receive it 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 become a part of the RIGHTEOUS group, a part of God’s family with Him as your REFUGE and STRENGTH, and let Him cure you of your WICKED HEART, and be given ETERNAL LIFE in Heaven with the other RIGHTEOUS ONES.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"Accept, Forgive, Love!"

“Accept, Forgive, Love!”

 

 

“Accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive.  Above all, put on love---the perfect bond of unity.”          Colossians 3:13-14

 

I believe that this is probably the biggest downfall of the Children of God, today, and it seems to be a great sport for the devil.  If he can cause dissention among God’s Children, you better believe he will.  And he is doing a pretty bang-up job. 

 

We have more churches split over people not being able to ACCEPT each other, FORGIVE one another, if they have a complaint against that individual, and LOVE each other, for the sake of UNITY.   

 

People come into church, grumbling and complaining about what someone else does or don’t do.  Then they expect God to “bless them” with an attitude of worship.  Well, I have news for them, they MUST come to Him with a REPENTANT HEART, and be willing to put their negative feelings, that they have in their heart for another, under the shed blood of Jesus Christ, and to have an attitude of ACCEPTANCE, FORGIVENESS and LOVE, before God will even acknowledge them, much less BLESS THEM. 

 

The Word of God says that you must FORGIVE one another, “just as the Lord has forgiven you.”  Are we doing that? SERIOUSLY?  When we ACCEPT each other and FORGIVE each other, and “ABOVE all, put on LOVE, which is the PERFECT bond of UNITY, then we can experience TRUE UNITY in the Body of Christ, which is the will of God.   

 

When we ACCEPT, FORGIVE and LOVE each other, like God does with us, then you just watch what He does in the Church, but even more than that, watch what He does in YOUR personal life.  The ole devil wants there to be fussing and fighting in our churches, because then we will be presenting a REALLY BAD witness and may even stop someone from coming to the Lord.  I don’t believe anyone, that is a TRUE CHILD of God, would want the outcome of someone’s eternity on their hands.  We need to come together, as God’s Children, and ACCEPT, FORGIVE, and LOVE each other the way He expects and wants us to do.

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are NOT His Child, and you are doing the things that the devil wants you to do.  You are NOT FORGIVEN by GOD until you come to Him with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, 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 be ACCEPTED into His family, FORGIVEN of your sins, and LOVED beyond measure.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"Where Does Righteousness Come From?"

"Where Does Righteousness Come From?”

 

 

This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.  There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.          Romans 3:22-24

 

 

RIGHTEOUSNESS is given to ALL who BELIEVE, it is given through FAITH in Jesus Christ.  RIGHTEOUSNESS is given to EVERY one who TRULY BELIEVES by FAITH in Jesus Christ, by God, our Heavenly Father.  RIGHTEOUSNESS is having a RIGHT or JUST standing with the Almighty God.  Our RIGHTEOUSNESS is like ‘filthy rags’ to the HOLY, RIGHTEOUS GOD of CREATION, therefore He gives us His RIGHTEOUSNESS, when we come to Him through the shed blood of Jesus Christ for the SALVATION of our souls.  There is NO other way to obtain this RIGHTEOUSNESS.

 

For ALL of mankind, Jew and Gentile alike have SINNED, there is NO difference between them, we ALL fall short of God’s glory.  His glory is the outward demonstration of His HOLY attributes.  It is God’s desire for ALL TRUE BELIEVERS to be CHRISTLIKE in their daily lives, and to be a witness to others, but because of the FLESH we sin and our sins keep us from being a part of God’s glory and sharing it with others.   

 

Because of God’s AMAZING GRACE we ALL are JUSTIFIED or made RIGHTEOUS through our REDEMPTION, which was provided to us by Christ Jesus.  When we come to Him with a TRUE REPENTIVE HEART, seeking FORGIVENESS He will make us RIGHTEOUS before Him.

 

Have you come to Him for the FORGIVENESS of your sins?  If not, then you have not received His RIGHTEOUSNESS nor His FREE gift of SALVATION.  You can be a recipient of His RIGHTEOUSNESS now, by; CONFESSING your sins to Him and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING that Jesus died for YOU and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and receive His RIGHTEOUSNESS as your own, and be made NEW.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Search Me, Know Me, Test Me!"

“Search Me, Know Me, Test Me!”

 

 

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.          Psalm 139:23-24

 

 

This is a prayer that SHOULD be prayed EVERYDAY, by EVERY TRUE BELIEVER.  It is a SCRUTINIZING prayer, asking God to SEARCH ME, AND KNOW MY HEART.  There are many who would NOT want God to SEARCH and KNOW their hearts, because of what they are hiding in them.

 

God doesn’t need an invitation from you to SEARCH and KNOW your HEART, He already knows what is in it.  Then why should we ask Him to SEARCH and KNOW it?  Because if we profess to be His Child, a TRUE BELIEVER, that has been SAVED and SANCTIFIED  for Him, we SHOULD want to be PLEASING in His sight, and OPEN to His SCRUTINY.  We NEED to be OBEDIENT to His WILL and WAYS.

 

The Psalmist, David, goes on to ask God to TEST him and to KNOW his anxious thoughts.  David was in a very stressful situation and sought God’s MERCY and PROTECTION.  In order for David to have PEACE of mind, he wanted God to TEST him, like metal that is REFINED by fire, and to KNOW his ANXIOUS thoughts.  To KNOW what was going through his mind, which was being controlled by his HEART.   The same thing should be our prayer, we should want God to TEST our resolve, our FAITH and to KNOW what is in our MIND and HEART. 

 

Then David, ends his prayer with a plea for FORGIVINESS, MERCY and GRACE, by saying: “See if there is ANY OFFENSIVE way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”  David was convinced that such SCRUTINY would prove his LOYALTY or FAITHFULNESS to Almighty God.  And because of his FAITHFULNESS to FOLLOW and be OBEDIENT to God, he would be led by God to EVERLASTING LIFE.

 

When we allow the Holy Spirit to SEARCH, KNOW and TEST us, the TRUE BELIEVERS of the Lord Jesus Christ, we too, like David, can with CERTAINITY say:  “See if there is ANY OFFENSIVE WAY in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”   However, if you are NOT a TRUE BELIEVER of the Lord Jesus Christ, you don’t have that security of being led to EVERLASTING LIFE, until you come to God with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, 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 you too can say, with CERTAINITY, “SEARCH ME, KNOW ME, TEST ME, and SEE if there is any OFFENSIVE WAY in me, and lead me in the way EVERLASTING.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Losing All Things, and Gaining Christ"

“Losing All Things, and Gaining Christ”

 

 

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.  What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.  I consider them garbage that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ---the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.        Philippians 3:7-9

 

After Paul’s DRAMATIC conversion on the Damascus Road, his outlook on life changed DRAMATICALLY.  Those things that he had once held dear to his heart became insignificant to him.  To him, the worth of KNOWING Christ Jesus, not JUST KNOWING ABOUT Him, but KNOWING Him, having a CLOSE RELATIONSHIP with Him, became MUCH MORE valuable then ALL of his earthly things and his selfish ambitions. 

 

Paul’s outlook reflected the content of his heart. The same as it does with each of us.  Paul begin to realize that ALL those things he possessed were NOW to him garbage, in order for him to GAIN Christ and be found in Him RIGHTEOUS, NOT with a RIGHTEOUSNESS of Paul’s own, which would come from his obedience to the law, which in the eyes of Almighty God, Paul’s own righteousness is like filthy rags, but it is a RIGHTEOUSNESS that comes through FAITH in Christ---that is from GOD and it is obtained on the basis of FAITH.

 

When we come to Jesus Christ, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, for the SALVATION of our soul, we should follow the Apostle Paul’s example and seek a CLOSE RELATIONSHIP with Christ, realizing that NOTHING we own is more VALUABLE than KNOWING Christ, and having a RIGHTEOUSNESS that is NOT of our own doing, but comes from allowing the Holy Spirit of God to work in our HEART, and to CLOTHE us in the RIGHTEOUSNESS of Christ Jesus.

 

If you have not given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you really don’t have a relationship with Him at all, and are destined for Hell, the place of torment, torture, pain, agony, heartache, and despair.   However, you can change that destination, by coming to God with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, 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, be clothed in the RIGHTEOUSNESS of Christ Jesus, and on your way to HEAVEN.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"Who is God?"

“Who Is God?”

 

 

“I am the Lord; that is my name!  I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.      Isaiah 42:8

 

 Who is God?  He is the CREATOR of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and Life to those who walk on it. (v5). 

 

He is the RIGHTEOUS JUDGE of Justice, He judges the people of the earth with WISDOM and JUSTICE.   (Ps. 50:6)

 

He is my STRENGTH and my DEFENSE; He has become my SALVATION.  (Ex. 15:2)  When I am weak He is STRONG.  When I am facing danger He is my DEFENSE.  He SAVES me from ALL my transgressions and makes a way when there seems to be NO way.

 

He is our PROVIDER:  “You PROVIDED bread from heaven for their hunger; you brought them WATER from the rock for their thirst.  You told them to go in and possess the land You had sworn to give them.” (Neh. 9:15)  He PROVIDES Spiritual bread for our Spiritual hunger and He is our LIVING WATER.  He gives us the land in which we live, and it is up to us to take care of it, and govern it properly and RIGHTEOUSLY. 

 

He is our HEALER:  “Heal me, Lord, and I will be HEALED; save me, and I will be saved, for You are my praise.  (Jer. 17:14)  Not only does God HEAL our physical body, but He brings HEALING to our SPIRITUAL body, especially when we are sin-sick, He will bring a HEALING TOUCH to our poor, old, wretched, sin-sick body that will provide SALVATION for our soul, and a NEWNESS of LIFE.

 

He is our SALVATION:  “The Lord is my LIGHT and my SALVATION---whom should I fear?”  (Psalm 27:1)  NOT ONLY is He our SALVATION, giving us a release from our sins, but He is our LIGHT in a very, dark and foreboding world.  He LIGHTS our way to the HOPE of our SALVATION----HEAVEN.

 

He has a multitude of names, but you can call Him “LORD!” If you come to Him with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, 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 be able to call Him, “LORD!” Because He will become the LORD of your LIFE.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

"Who Are These People?"

“Who Are These People?”

 

 

 They profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works.  They are detestable, disobedient, and disqualified for any good work.         Titus 1:16

 

“Who are these people,” that profess to KNOW God, but deny Him by their works?  They are the UNBELIEVERS who live detestable, disobedient, and defiled lives, yet they possess a HEAD-KNOWLEDGE of God.  They KNOW about God, but they DON’T KNOW God.

 

Some people will go to church, and walk the aisle and say a prayer, because they KNOW that is a part of the SALVATION process and that is what they are supposed to do to receive SALVATION.  However, they are missing the MAIN PART of the SALVATION process, which is NECESSARY in order to gain SALVATION, which is having a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  KNOWING what is required of the SALVATION process, and ACTUALLY possessing what is NEEDED are two different things. 

 

If an unbeliever KNOWS that they need to do certain things in order to obtain SALVATION, but they are lacking the NECESSARY part, a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, they can carry out all the other actions and still be LOST. 

 

Romans 10:9 says:   “If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and BELIEVE in your HEART that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”  It is NOT enough just to KNOW it, you MUST BELIEVE IT IN YOUR HEART!! 

 

SALVATION is a HEART THING, MANY people will miss Heaven by about fourteen inches, the distance between the mind and the heart.  They KNOW all about it, but it is not in their HEART.  So they are deceived into believing that they are saved, when in all actuality they are still LOST, and NOTHING has changed in their lives, they go back to their OLD SINFUL ways, but believing a big fat lie.  2Corinthians 5:17 says:  “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW creation.  The OLD has passed away; behold, the NEW has come.”  This is a TRUE litmus test for whether a person genuinely possess SALVATION.

 

If you have not given your HEART and LIFE to God or have been deceived into believing that you have, because you KNOW what to do, but you were missing the NECESSARY element of a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, and are LIVING or PRACTICING a sinful life.  God is giving you the opportunity NOW, to come to Him with that TRUE REPENTANT HEART and 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 be TRULY SAVED.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"What Can the Righteous Do?"

“What Can the Righteous Do?"

 

 

For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.  When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?        Psalm 11:2-3

 

 

We are living in very perilous times, and they really don’t seem to be getting any better. The foundations of our ONCE great nation are cracked and crumbling, day by day they are being destroyed.  The question is; HOW is this happening to what use to be a STRONG and MIGHTY nation in the eyes of our allies? 

 

The answer is really quite clear.  We are being MORALLY eroded.  We are being forced to accept things that in the past we would NEVER have allowed.  Our dignity is being stripped away from us little by little.  We are calling things that were once considered bad, good, and the things that were once considered good are NOW being considered bad.   We are exchanging the TRUTH for a LIE. 

 

Those who are carrying out such wicked schemes have set their arrows at the upright in heart, God’s people.  So what can be done about all of this?   We as God’s Children, NEED to SEEK God’s face, PRAY DAILY for GUIDANCE and WISDOM, be ALERT, and STEADFAST in our FAITH, and to take REFUGE in Him. 

 

A nation that does NOT honor God and His people is a nation that is teetering on the brink of destruction.  We NEED to get back to our roots and HONOR God, SEEK His face, and PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!!! 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are part of the wicked, those on whom God’s judgment will fall.  A judgment that will be likened to a scorching wind.  However, God is giving you an opportunity to come to Him with a TRULY REPENTANT HEART, and to 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 become a Child of the Living God, SEEKING, PRAYING, and HONORING Him.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!