"Scoffers and Dividers"

“Scoffers and Dividers”

 

 

But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold.  They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.”  These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.      Jude 1:17-19

 

Even though we are living in PERILOUS times, they are EXCITING times, in the aspect of Biblical prophecy concerning the LAST TIMES.  I marvel at the similarities between the LAST TIMES events that have been foretold, and the actual times in which we are living.  

 

Jude says, to his readers to REMEMBER what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold:  “In the LAST TIMES there will be SCOFFERS who will follow their own ungodly desires.”  A SCOFFER is one who mocks or jeers.  In the last few years, we have seen and experienced some of the mocks and jeers against the Christian influences in our society.  Instead of allowing a manger scene to be displayed in public places, during the Christmas season, they, in some instances, replace it with worldly things or symbols of a pagan religion.   When in all actuality, Christmas is ALL about Jesus Christ.  Nevertheless, Christian symbols seem to be offensive to some in our government, who seem to be TRUE SCOFFERS.

 

Jude, also says that these SCOFFERS who follow their own ungodly desires, are the very same people who DIVIDE us and do NOT possess the Spirit.  WOW!  We are experiencing that NOW. Some in our OWN government are working hard to DIVIDE our nation, POLITICALLY, RACIALLY, by RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION, and SOCIALLY.  That is PROOF enough that we are living in the LAST DAYS!  Keep your eyes and your ears opened to what takes place in the NEAR FUTURE. 

 

We, who are TRUE BELIEVERS may be on our way to even MORE exciting things, real SOON, like RAPTURE!! I believe that the Lord God has led me to these Scriptures, concerning the END TIMES, these last few days, because time, as we know it, is coming to an end, and we need to be READY.  Are you READY? 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are NOT READY.  And you are headed for REALLY HARD, TROUBLED times and an ETERNITY in Hell, the place of perpetual torture, torment, pain, agony, and despair.  But God, in His infinite MERCY and GRACE, is offering you the opportunity to change your direction by:  Coming 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 READY for His return.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Day is Near!"

“The Day is Near!”

 

 

And do this, understanding the present time:  The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.  The night is nearly over; the day is almost here.  So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.       Romans 13: 11-12

 

I believe we are living in the final days of life on this earth as we presently know it.  I believe that the Apostle Paul, in this letter to the believers in Rome, was of the same mindset.  He looked forward to the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.  And thus, deemed it necessary to encourage the TRUE BELIEVERS in Rome to PREPARE for Christ’s return.

 

He says: The hour has come for you to “WAKE UP!!” our SALVATION is nearer NOW than when we first believed.  He was saying that the consummation of OUR SALVATION was FAST approaching.   He wanted them to get some gumption about them, to be ALERT, upon their feet and in the street, telling people that the end is NEAR and their time, for SALVATION, is running out.  

 

He says: “The night is nearly over; the DAY is almost here.”  The night refers to the time we are presently living in.  The time before Christ returns and Satan is hard at work, trying to capture the souls of mankind. 

 

He is encouraging the believers to put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.  The deeds of darkness are the sins that so easily besets us.  Deeds that hinder are Christian life-style and are a deterrent to our witness of Christ, to a lost and dying world.  He also encourages them to PUT ON the ARMOR of LIGHT, which is living out our CHRISTIAN LIFE-STYLE and allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us to reach this lost and dying world.

 

This message is VERY applicable to the TRUE BELIEVER of today.  If Paul thought the DAY of Christ’s return was NEAR during his lifetime, how much CLOSER must we be to it.  We are fighting a battle for the souls of mankind, and we must be ALERT and EQUIPPED for the battle.  We need to put on the ARMOR of LIGHT, and have our SWORD, the Word of God, ready to do battle for the lost souls. 

Let us, the TRUE BELIEVERS, “WAKE UP!”  “GET UP!” and “SUIT UP!”  for the battle, because the night is ending and the DAY is NEAR.

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then your time for SALVATION is running out.  You are heading for an ETERNITY in Hell, the place of PERPETUAL pain and agony, with NO way of escape.  You NOW have the opportunity to turn away from your sins and come to God 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, the ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION and be READY for Christ’s return, the DAY is NEAR!!  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

"The Importance of the Resurrection to Our Faith"

“The Importance of the Resurrection to Our Faith”

 

 

And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.  Therefore, those who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished.  If we have put our hope in Christ for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone.        1Corinthians 15:17-19

 

We are living in a time, when our FAITH is being attacked and put on trial, almost daily.  Skeptics pick it a part and treat it as though it is nothing but myths and fairytales.  But God, the Creator of this Universe, tells us that it is MUCH, MUCH MORE than that.  In fact, He has given the gospel message the seal of His approval, the RESURRECTION of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

The Apostle Paul tells the believers in Corinth, that had Christ NOT been raised, their FAITH would be worthless, and they would STILL be in their sins.   Those who had fallen asleep (died) in Christ have perished.  If they put their HOPE in Christ for their lifetime ONLY, they should be pitied more than anyone.  And the skeptics would be right.

 

However, Paul did not leave them with that scenario, he continued with:  “But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (vs. 20)   Basically, Paul was saying that the RESURRECTION of the Lord Jesus Christ, is a REAL, DONE DEAL.

 

It is the SURE, STRONG, STEADFAST, FOUNDATION of our FAITH and HOPE of REDEMPTION for our poor, wretched, sinful souls.  It is a GUARANTEE of God’s promise to Jesus Christ concerning His rewards, which is the saints, those who are the TRUE BELIEVERS.  It is also the GUARANTEE of ETERNAL LIFE for the TRUE BELIEVER.  Verse 22, says:  “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made ALIVE.” And God’s Word is TRUTH.  That is ASSURANCE!

 

So don’t let those, who do NOT belong to God, the heathen and the skeptic, weaken your FAITH, but be STRONG, and STEADFAST in your BELIEF, knowing that you have a FOUNDATION that can NOT be done away with.   Soon we will SEE Jesus, in His RESURRECTED body and we will KNOW that His DEATH and RESURRECTION is the REAL, DONE DEAL for those who are the TRUE BELIEVERS.

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are not a TRUE BELIEVER and you may be a skeptic about the things of God.  If that is your case, then you are headed for an eternity in Hell, a place of perpetual torment, torture, heartache, pain, and agony, with NO ESCAPE.  But God, in His infinite MERCY and GRACE, is offering you the opportunity to 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 ASSURED of the RESURRECTION of your body, the VALIDITY of your FAITH, and the GUARANTEE of your ETERNAL LIFE  in HEAVEN with God and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting, and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"Why Pray?"

“Why Pray?”

 

 

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission.         Hebrews 5:7

 

 

PRAYER is conversation with the Creator of the Universe, the One and Only TRUE, RIGHTEOUS, LIVING God, our Heavenly Father.  PRAYER is the LIFELINE of EVERY TRUE BELIEVER.  It is a very IMPORTANT part of our FELLOWSHIP with God.  It brings us into a CLOSER, MORE INTIMATE, RELATIONSHIP with Him. 

 

PRAYER was of the UTMOST importance to Jesus. Even though He was God in the flesh, He felt a NEED to converse with God the Father.  Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.  (Luke 6:12)    Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should ALWAYS PRAY and not give up.  (Luke 18:1)

 

REMEMBER, though Psalm 66:18, the Psalmist says:  “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will NOT hear.”  In order for God to hear your prayers, you MUST first REPENT of your sins, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.   Some think that PRAYER is a “give me” list, well it isn’t that.  God is NOT Santa nor is He the Federal Government.  The PRAYERS of a TRUE BELIEVER should be one of REPENTANCE, THANKSGIVING, WORSHIP, PRAISE AND PETITIONS.  He will HEAR when we are OBEDIENT and SUBMISSIVE to Him. 

 

If Jesus, who is God in the flesh, thought that it was IMPORTANT to PRAY, then should we think any less about PRAYING?  He knew that God would be the ONLY ONE capable of saving Him from death, through the RESURRECTION.  Even though He died on the cross and was buried in a tomb.  He did not stay dead, but came back to LIFE and through His RESURRECTION, the TRUE BELIEVER has the PROMISE of LIFE ETERNAL in Heaven with the FATHER and the Son. 

 

We are ENCOURAGED to PRAY DAILY, the Apostle Paul, tells us to PRAY without ceasing, which means we should be in a constant attitude of PRAYER, READY and WILLING to talk with Father God at any given moment.  We are encouraged to PRAY for each other, which is known as INTERCESSORY PRAYER.  James 5:16 tells us that the PRAYER of a RIGHTEOUS person is POWERFUL and EFFECTIVE.  These are some of the reasons we NEED to PRAY DAILY.  And we NEED to PRAY with the RIGHT motives, if we expect God to answer our PRAYERS. 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are NOT a TRUE BELIEVER , and your prayers are ineffective.  You MUST come 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 become a TRUE BELIEVER, with an ACTIVE PRAYER life and a HEALTHY, HAPPY, INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP with FATHER GOD.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Wait!"

“Wait!”

 

 

Wait for the Lord; be strong and courageous.  Wait for the Lord.         Psalm 27:14

 

 

We live in a “giddy-up-go” society.  A society with a “giddy-up-go” mentality.  We RUSH here and there thinking that we are accomplishing so much.  When in all actuality the ONLY thing we really ACCOMPLISH is ulcers, high blood pressure, anxiety, and heart problems.   To cap it all off we are living in PERILOUS, UNCERTAIN, and ANXIOUS times, so when you combine that with the “giddy-up-go” scenario, it makes for an EXPLOSIVE finale. 

 

The Psalmist, King David, I believe, knew a little something about this “giddy-up-go” mindset.  He knew a little bit about getting anxious and getting ahead of God, but he KNEW that it paid off more to WAIT for the Lord; especially concerning the things of God.  I believe that David’s words:  “Wait for the Lord; be strong and courageous.  Wait for the Lord,” are a much needed lesson for all TRUE BELIEVERS today.

 

Notice, his words were more of a command than a plea.  We, who are TRUE BELIEVERS need to realize that we are God’s SERVANTS and He is our MASTER, a GOOD servant does not go ahead of his MASTER and do whatever he THINKS or WANTS to do, but he WAITS for the MASTER’S instructions, and follows the will of the MASTER.  

 

David says; “be strong and courageous.”  When we are WORKING and STRIVING to do the will of the MASTER, especially during the times in which we live, we need to be able to WAIT for the Lord with STRENGTH and COURAGE, and having a STEADFAST HOPE and TRUST in the ONLY ONE who CONTROLS everything, and is ABLE to protect His SERVANTS as they serve Him. 

 

Notice, also, that the King repeats himself, “WAIT for the Lord,” which usually indicates the SERIOUSNESS of the statement.  We have a tendency to try and “go ahead” of God, when we SHOULD be WAITING for Him to give us the “go ahead.”  When we FOLLOW Him and TRUST His hand, we will be OBEDIENT to Him, and when we get to Heaven we will be able to hear our Lord Jesus Christ say; “well done, my GOOD and FAITHFUL servant!”  So remember; “WAIT for the Lord!” 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, you are NOT a TRUE BELIEVER, and you are doing the devil’s bidding, which will afford you a place in Hell, the place of torment, torture, pain, and agony.  However God is giving you the opportunity to 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 STRONG and COURAGEOUS as you WAIT for Him.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"The Work of the Holy Spirit"

“The Work of the Holy Spirit”

 

 

But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth.  He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come.  He will glorify Me because it is from me that He will receive what He will make known to you.          John 16:13&14

 

Jesus’ disciples were not prepared for any more SPIRITUAL TRUTH at the time that He was trying to prepare them for His coming death and resurrection.  So Jesus informed them of the work of God’s Holy Spirit, the Spirit of TRUTH. He told them that the Spirit would GUIDE them into ALL the TRUTH, and that He would NOT speak on His own initiative, but ONLY what He hears from the Father.   

 

The Father would tell the Spirit what to tell the disciples concerning the Son.  The phrase: “and He will tell you what is yet to come,” was a promise to the disciples that their partial understanding of Jesus and His works would be completed.  And they would receive insight into the true meanings of Jesus soon to be death on the CROSS and His RESURRECTION, and the truths about His return.

 

We, who are TRUE BELIEVERS, today, also are guided into ALL the TRUTH about Jesus Christ, as the MESSIAH and about His works, His teachings and the TRUE meanings of His DEATH and RESURRECTION, and also about His RETURN. 

 

It is by the WORK of God’s Holy Spirit that we come to a SAVING KNOWLEDGE, to begin with.  It is by the drawing of God’s Holy Spirit that we are brought to the altar for the cleansing of our wretched, sinful soul.   Then it is His Spirit that guides us into ALL the TRUTH.  It is the Holy Spirit of the Living God, who DIRECTS our path and CONVICTS us of our sins.  He TEACHES us about the TRUTH concern the DEATH of Christ, and His RESURRECTION, and He equips us for our ministry.  He prepares our MINDS and HEARTS for the RETURN of Jesus.  

 

However, you can weaken the work of God’s Spirit in your life and leave yourself vulnerable to the LIES of the devil.  You can QUENCH the Spirit of God in your HEART, and miss the BLESSINGS of worshipping and praising the MESSIAH.  You can GROW in your FAITH by ALLOWING God’s Holy Spirit FREE ACCESS to your HEART and MIND.  If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are NOT a TRUE BELIEVER and His Spirit is NOT in you.  You are guided by the devil and his lies, with a condemnation of an eternity in Hell, the place of torture, torment, agony, pain and despair for ALL ETERNITY.  But God is giving you the opportunity NOW to 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 His HOLY SPIRIT to guide you to ALL the TRUTH, and an ETERNITY in Heaven.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Three Characteristics That Should Mark Every True Believer!"

“Three Characteristics That Should Mark Every True Believer!”

 

 

We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.        1^st Thessalonians 1:3

 

 

In this letter, to the church of the believers in Thessalonica, Paul wrote that he, Silas and Timothy remembered before God the WORK produced by FAITH, the LABOR prompted by LOVE, and the ENDURANCE inspired by HOPE of those TRUE BELIEVERS, all of which was done because of their BELIEF in the LORD JESUS CHRIST.

 

These TRUE BELIEVERS had turned AWAY from their worship of idols, and turned TO the TRUE LIVING GOD.  FAITH in Christ Jesus had brought them TRUE REPENTANCE, and the work they did for the LORD was produced by their FAITH in Him. 

 

Their LABOR, prompted by LOVE, consisted of their service to the One True and Living God, regardless of the persecution that they faced.  They pressed on through the persecutions and trials, and became VICTORIOUS because of their LOVE for their REDEEMER.

 

Their ENDURANCE was inspired by their HOPE in the Lord Jesus Christ.  They were waiting for God’s Son from Heaven.  They had saving FAITH in the past when they first believed in Christ Jesus, they were LOVING Him in the present, and they looked forward to His return with HOPE in the future.

 

FAITH, LOVE and HOPE, three sure CHARACTERISTICS of a TRUE BELIEVER.  Are they evident in your life?  If you’re a TRUE BELIEVER, they SHOULD be.  If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to Christ, then you are NOT a TRUE BELIEVER and you do not possess these characteristics, and are LOST without FAITH, LOVE and HOPE.  You probably aren’t looking forward to the return of Christ from Heaven.  Whether you do or not, He is COMING BACK anyway. If you fail to give your HEART and LIFE to God, you are destined to spend ALL eternity in Hell with NO HOPE of ever escaping the torture, torment, agony, heartache and despair.  However, you NOW have the opportunity to come 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 possess the THREE CHARACTERISTICS of a TRUE BELIEVER, FAITH, LOVE and HOPE.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Condemnation or Justification?"

“Condemnation or Justification?”

 

 

Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.   For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of one man the many will be made righteous.       Romans 5:18&19

 

 

In this passage of Scripture, the Apostle Paul, shows us the parallel between Adam and Jesus Christ.  The ONE trespass or sin of Adam resulted in CONDEMNATION for ALL mankind.  After Adam’s transgression mankind was born with a SINFUL nature.  But ONE righteous act of Jesus Christ resulted in JUSTIFICATION and LIFE for ALL who BELIEVE in Jesus Christ, and ACCEPTS His righteous act. 

 

Through the DISOBEDENCE of Adam many were made SINNERS, but through the OBEDIENCE of Jesus the many who BELIEVE in Him will be made RIGHTEOUS.  So the question that you MUST answer is; will you continue to follow Adam’s DISOBEDIENCE and be under CONDEMNATION or will you come to Jesus Christ and follow His OBEDIENCE and receive JUSTIFICATION and LIFE?

 

The choice is yours for the making.  Each choice has its destiny.  The path of SIN resulting in CONDEMNATION and SPIRITUAL DEATH, which will lead you to your ETERNAL destination, known as Hell the place of torture, torment, pain and agony.  Or the path of RIGHTEOUSNESS resulting in JUSTIFICATION and LIFE, which will lead you to your ETERNAL destination, known as HEAVEN, the place of ETERNAL bliss. 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God then you are on the path of SIN and CONDEMNATION, and are heading for Hell.  But God in His infinite MERCY is offering you the opportunity NOW to change your destiny by; coming 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 follow Him to the path of RIGHTEOUSNESS, and to your JUSTIFICATION and ETERNAL LIFE in Heaven.  Do it NOW while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"When God Does NOT Hear Our Prayers"

“When God Does NOT Hear Our Prayers”

 

 

If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.  But certainly God has heard me; He has attended to the voice of my prayer.  Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer, nor His mercy from me!         Psalms 66 18-20

 

There are many people in the world today who believe that God HEARS and ANSWERS the prayers of EVERYONE who will pray.  However, this is NOT true.  According to the Holy Word of the Living God.  He will NOT HEAR the prayer of a person, BELIEVER or UNBELIEVER if they are harboring SIN in their HEART.

 

Now some may want to argue with me on this, but you CANNOT argue with the Word of God.  One thing to think upon is; if God could not even LOOK upon His ONLY BEGOTTEN SON as He hung on an old rugged cross, and became SIN as He took the SINS of ALL of mankind from the beginning of mankind to the very last person that will be born, what makes us think that God would HEAR a prayer from a sinful person who has SIN in their HEART.   Jesus, who KNEW NO sin became sin.  And the HOLY, RIGHTEOUS GOD of Creation could NOT look up on Him.  Matthew 27:46 says, “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?”  that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” 

 

What a TRAGIC time that must have been, when Jesus sensed a separation from the Father, because of SIN, that He had NEVER, EVER been a part of, SIN that was NOT His own, but the sins of mankind.  ‘He who knew NO sin, became sin.  So the SINLESS SON suffers SEPARATION from His RIGHTEOUS FATHER. 

 

When we harbor sin, ANY sin in our HEART, The HOLY, RIGHTEOUS, GOD will not, HEAR our prayers, UNTIL we come to Him with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART and CONFESS our sin to Him.  If you want Him to HEAR and ANSWER, then you must BEGIN your prayers with a plea for His FORGIVENESS, ACKNOWLEDGING your sins and CONFESSING your sins before Him.

 

The Psalmist, says that, God HEARD his prayer and did NOT turn away from his prayer, nor did He take away His mercy.  The point is CLEAR: Whenever God’s Children are in need or burdened they NEED to make sure their HEART is CLEAN and PURE of ANY SIN, then come to Him with their requests.  If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then all the prayers you may have been praying have gone unheard.  The ONLY prayer that God will hear from an UNBELIEVER, is the PRAYER of CONFESSION and REPENTANCE, then and only then will He HEAR your PRAYERS.  In order to have God’s ear attuned to your prayer, you MUST come 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 be ASSURED that He WILL HEAR and ANSWER your prayers, as long as your HEART is CLEAN and PURE of ANY SIN.  Do it NOW, while you still can!  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"The Seal of Ownership"

“The Seal of Ownership”

 

 

Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ.  He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.      2Corinthians 1:21&22

 

In these two verses, the Apostle Paul was speaking words of encouragement to the believers in Corinth, reminding them that it is GOD who makes ALL TRUE BELIEVERS stand FIRM in Christ. 

 

At the moment of believing, God ANOINTS the TRUE BELIEVER so that they may bring GLORY to God by the way they live their life.  Then the SEAL of OWNERSHIP is placed upon them, indicating that they BELONG to God.  The seal in New Testament times identified and indicated ownership. 

 

The Holy Spirit confirms that the TRUE BELIEVERS are identified with Jesus Christ and that they are property of the Almighty God, which is protected by Him.  Another work of the Holy Spirit, at the time of SALVATION, is CONFIRMATION that God who began a work in the TRUE BELIEVER will COMPLETE it.

 

Now, this SHOULD make EVERY TRUE BELIEVER, SHOUT, HALLELUJAH, from the roof tops:  Our present SALVATION is just a LITTLE taste of what eternity has in store for us.  And the Holy Spirit is the DEPOSIT that GUARANTEES what is yet to come.  That brings the out the holy goosebumps.  What a PROMISE to each of us that have TRULY given our HEARTS and LIVES to God, and have received His SEAL of OWNERSHIP.

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God then you do NOT belong to Him, and the ONLY thing you have to look forward to is an ETERNITY in Hell, the place of UNENDING torture, torment, pain, agony, heartache and despair.    God is NOW giving you the opportunity to 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 His SEAL of OWNERSHIP, and His Holy Spirit as your GUARANTEE for the things that are yet to come.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Strength and a Shield"

“Strength and a Shield”

 

 

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me.  My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him.  The Lord is the strength of His people, a fortress of salvation for His anointed one.    Psalm 28:7&8

 

God can and will be your STRENGTH and your SHIELD, in ANY situation.  However, you must belong to Him in order for Him to be your STRENGTH and SHIELD.  Then after you belong to Him, you MUST TRUST in Him for the results of your situation. 

 

He wants to HELP His children when they are distraught about anything that has become a burden to them.  He is waiting for you to come to Him and implore His HELP, because when we do it exemplifies our TRUST in Him. 

 

If you already have a healthy relationship with Him, and He has been your STRENGTH and SHIELD, does your HEART leap for JOY and do you spontaneously break out with song as a way of expressing the JOY and THANKSGIVING in your HEART for ALL that He is and does for YOU?  If not, you should, because He inhabits our PRAISE.

 

King David says that the Lord God is the STRENGTH of His people.  Those who are God’s TRUE CHILDREN should be MUCH in PRAYER for their NATION.  We are facing PERILOUS TIMES, and EVERY nation NEEDS to turn to God to be their STRENGTH and SHIELD.  There is definitely POWER in the PRAYERS of God’s children.  When we pray with FAITH, God moves mountains of DESPAIR and HOPELESSNESS.  So why don’t we PRAY EARNESTLY for our beloved nations, all around this SIN-SICK world?

 

David, when he was King of the nation of Israel, claimed that God was a FORTRESS of SALVATION for him.   A place of STRENGTH and SAFETY, a place David could run to and be saved from his enemies.  God can be your FORTRESS or REFUGE in PERILOUS times.  He can and will be your STRENGTH and SHIELD when you come to Him with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, CONFESSING your sins to Him and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING that Jesus died for YOU, and is in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and with a TRUSTING HEART, let Him be your STRENGTH and SHIELD and a STRONG and MIGHTY FORTRESS of SALVATION for you.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

"Judgment is Coming!"

“Judgment is Coming!”

 

For If God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment; if He did not spare the ancient world when He brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if He rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)---if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.  This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority.          2Peter 2:4-10

 

Our God is the RIGHTEOUS, HOLY JUDGE of this universe, and there is coming a DAY OF JUDGMENT, when those, who are the UNRIGHTEOUS, UNHOLY, UNGODLY, DEPRAVED, SINFUL, and CORRUPT beings, will stand before the GREAT WHITE THRONE of JUDGMENT and be given a sentence to be thrown into the Lake of Fire for ALL eternity.

 

God is not in Heaven winking at the sinful acts of a LAWLESS, UNGODLY, DEPRAVED, SINFUL world.  Nor has He turned His back to what this world has become.  The Apostle Peter, gives a pretty detailed justification for the JUDGMENT that is COMING to this old, sin-laden world.  And with all the examples that he used he also has enlightened us to the fact that God will deliver His own from the COMING JUDGMENT. 

 

He protected Noah and his family from the flood, which was brought upon the UNGODLY people, of Noah’s day.  All the UNGODLINESS and DEPRAVITY that was the norm, was a stench in the nostrils of the Almighty God.  He rescued Lot, a RIGHTEOUS man from the JUDGMENT upon Sodom and Gomorrah for the sin of homosexuality, by burning the cities to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the UNGODLY, LAWLESS, UNRIGHTEOUS world of today. 

 

Our Lord, the RIGHTEOUS, HOLY JUDGE knows how to rescue the GODLY ones from trials and to hold the UNRIGHTEOUS for punishment on Judgment Day.  This holds TRUE especially for those who have not given their HEART and LIFE to God , but have decided to follow the CORRUPT, DEPRAVED, desires of the flesh and they DESPISE authority.  Where do you stand?  GODLY or UNGODLY?  JUDGMENT IS COMING!!!

You NOW have the opportunity to escape the GREAT WHITE THRONE of JUDGMENT, and to be rescued from the eternal Lake of Fire.  You do that by; coming to God 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 RESCUED from the ETERNAL FIRES of HELL.  Do it NOW, while you still can, for JUDGMENT is COMING!!!  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

"Jesus, the Great Transformer!"

“Jesus, the Great Transformer!”

 

 

Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might break the power of him who holds the power of death---that is, the devil---and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.  For surely it is not angels He helps, but Abraham’s descendants.         Hebrews 2: 14-16

 

A few years back, there was a very popular toy called the TRANSFORMER.  It could be changed from a car or tank to a robot.  A REAL multitask toy.  When I think of the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, it brings to my mind this toy that could be changed from one thing to another in order to bring about the ULTIMATE mission.  And that is similar to the TRANSFORMATION of our Lord, to human form in order to bring about His ULTIMATE mission of bringing SALVATION to a HOPELESS, DYING world.

 

Verse seventeen says:  “For this reason He had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that He might become a merciful and faithful High Priest in service to God, and that He might make atonement for the sins of the people.”  Jesus came to earth, as a human, with flesh and blood and was FULLY HUMAN and yet FULLY GOD, which was part of the incarnation. 

 

Though He was FULLY HUMAN, and tempted as humans are tempted, He remained WITHOUT sin.  And He was able to relate to human beings, because He WAS one.  He got tired, hungry, and thirsty, He had a sense of humor, was compassionate, loving and kind. His body was PHYSICALLY HUMAN, with all the HUMAN attributes.  And yet He was FULLY GOD, with ALL the GODLY attributes. 

 

 He became the GREAT TRANSFORMER, for the sole purpose of dying and that by His death, He might break the power of the devil, who holds the power of death, and set free those who have been in bondage all their lives by their fear of death. 

 

He didn’t come to earth as a human being, in order to help the angels, but that He might help Abraham’s descendants, which includes, not only those who are Jewish by birth, but also  the gentiles, who are grafted into God’s family through the ULTIMATE SACRIFICE provided by the GREAT TRANSFORMER.

In order to become grafted into God’s family, and receive ETERNAL LIFE in Heaven, you must 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 grafted into God’s family by the GREAT TRANSFORMER.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Those Who Will Not Inherit the Kingdom of God!"

“Those Who Will Not Inherit the Kingdom of God!”

 

 

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.  I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.         Galatians 5:19-21

 

 

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the church in Galatia, reminds the readers that those who live a certain life-style will NOT inherit the Kingdom of God.  He lays out for them the different parts of this life-style that is NOT conducive to living by the SPIRIT, but living by the FLESH.

 

Paul says that these acts of the FLESH are OBVIOUS, in other words they originate with the SINFUL NATURE and NOT with the NEW NATURE that is brought into the TRUE BELIEVER by the indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit. 

 

The first three are sexual sins, sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery.  Sexual immorality is all forms of illicit sexual relationships.   Impurity is moral uncleanness in thought, word and deed.  Debauchery is an open, shameless, brazen display of such sins. 

 

The next two sins mentioned is of a religious nature: idolatry and witchcraft.  Idolatry is the worship of idols which was used in pagan worship.  Today, that would be ANYTHING you put above God or putting your faith and trust in, other than God.   Witchcraft is the worship of evil spirits.  In ancient times the worship of evil would be accompanied with the use of drugs to produce trances.  This will be prominent during the Tribulation period.

 

The next eight sins are sins that are societal, Hatred, the feeling of enmity between each person or groups of people.  Discord is the result of hatred and brings with it disunity.  Jealousy, referring to the sinful, self-centered type of jealousy, being suspicious or worried about the unfaithfulness of someone or the unhappiness of someone having something you don’t have.  Fits of rage, losing one’s temper, usually an eruption of jealousy that has been festering.  Selfish ambition, working to get ahead at ANY COST, doing unethical things to promote your own self.    Dissentions and factions, this is the result when people argue over issues or personalities clash causing harmful divisions.

 

Envy, is wrongful desires to possess something that belongs to someone else.  Two sins that are related to the use of alcohol.  Drunkenness and orgies, drunkenness is the excessive use of strong drink.  Orgies refers to the drunken carousing that is conducted with other sinful acts.

 

Those whose life-style includes these or some of these acts of the flesh, those who CONTINUALLY live in such a manner will NOT inherit the Kingdom of God, but instead they will inherit HELL, the place of torment, torture, heartache and despair.  If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God then you are inheriting that place called Hell, for ALL eternity, with NO escape.  Unless you come 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 inherit the Kingdom of God.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"From King of Kings to an Obedient Servant"

“From King of Kings to an Obedient Servant”

 

 

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:  Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death---even death on a cross!        Philippians 2:5-8

 

In Paul’s letters to the believers, in the different areas, in which he ministered, he always encouraged them to SERVE God, with HUMILITY and a SERVANT’S HEART, which was the mindset of Christ Jesus, who in very nature was GOD, yet He did NOT consider His EQUALITY with God something to be used to His own advantage. 

 

Christ Jesus, the KING of KINGS, willingly took on the very nature of a SERVANT, by His incarnation, He became a HUMAN BEING, a LOWLY, HUMBLE SERVANT, who was OBEDIENT to God even to His DEATH on a CROSS!  WHY?

 

Why would the KING of KINGS, and LORD of LORDS, leave ALL the glories of Heaven, and be WILLING to become a HUMAN BEING, a LOWLY SERVANT destined to DIE on a CROSS, the MOST CRUEL and DESPICABLE, HUMILIATING form of death, which was exclusively used for the WORST, NON-ROMAN CRIMINALS?  WHY?  Because it was the ONLY HOPE for SINFUL MAN.

 

The LOVE that God had for the CROWN of His CREATION, mankind, was the MOTIVATIONAL aspect of His plan of SALVATION.  His desire for mankind to be reconciled to Him needed the ULTIMATE, ONCE for ALL, SACRIFICE, and the ONLY ONE qualified was His ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  So He came as a HUMAN BEING, yet SINLESS, He dwelt among mankind, making Himself a LOWLY, HUMBLE SERVANT, GOD in the FLESH, gave His LIFE that we might have LIFE.

 

The TRUE BELIEVERS, are encouraged to have the same mindset of Jesus Christ, the mindset of an OBEDIENT SERVANT, and NOT be so HIGH minded that we are of NO use to God.  We are but FLESH and BLOOD, SINFUL, but FORGIVEN.

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are LOST and on your way to HELL, but you NOW have the opportunity to change your status and come 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 have the same mindset of Christ, and become an OBEDIENT SERVANT of the LIVING GOD.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!