"Reflecting on the Past, Looking Forward to the Future!"

“Reflecting on the Past, Looking Forward to the Future!”

 

 

All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts.  Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.  But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions---it is by grace you have been saved.        Ephesians 2:3-5

 

We cannot KNOW what the future holds, but we can KNOW who holds our future.  As TRUE BELIEVERS, we can REFLECT on our PAST, our life before we came to the SAVING KNOWLEDGE of Jesus Christ, and see where we have come from and where we are NOW, and more importantly where we are headed. 

 

We, who once were like those who are still living in sin and are dead in their transgressions, can REFLECT on where we have been, having followed the ways of this old, sin-laden, world, and doing the bidding of the devil, himself, and on our way to an eternity in HELL, the place of ETERNAL torment, torture, pain, agony and despair.  We had NO HOPE for our future, because of the DISOBEDIENT spirit that was working within us. 

 

 Those who are NOW, TRUE BELIEVERS, because of God’s GREAT LOVE and AMAZING GRACE, and because He is RICH in MERCY, and has made us ALIVE with Christ when we were dead in our transgressions and sins. NOW we have the HOPE of HEAVEN--- FOR IT IS BY GRACE WE HAVE BEEN SAVED!!!

 

We now have HOPE for the FUTURE, and an ETERNAL home with Father God and His Beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.  We CAN and SHOULD REJOICE in the fact that we have such a BLESSED FUTURE.  And that we are not STILL on the road to Hell, with NO HOPE at all. 

 

You too can come to the Only One who holds your future in His mighty hands, and wants to bring you OUT of your DARKNESS and into the BLESSED LIGHT, and to give you a SAVING KNOWLEDGE of Jesus Christ, and to secure for you the BLESSED HOPE of an eternity in Heaven.  You can receive this HOPE 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 the HOPE of HEAVEN for ALL ETERNITY and LOOK FORWARD to the FUTURE!  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

HAVE A TRULY BLESSED AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!!!

 

 

"How to Begin a New Year"

“How to Begin a New Year”

 

 

Show me Your ways, Lord, teach me Your paths.  Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long.       Psalm 25:4-5

 

King David was a man after God’s own heart, but he was a man in the flesh, and at times he stumbled and fell from the graces of God.  But, nevertheless his heart hungered after God and the things of God.

 

David was successful as a king, due to his relationship with God, even though he failed at times, he loved the LORD God with his every being.  When he sinned against God, he confessed his sins to Him and sought FORGIVENESS.  David had a strong FAITH and TRUST in the ALMIGHTY God.  This psalm is a conservation that David had with God, in regards to the TRUST he had in God.

 

We are facing a New Year, a year packed full of uncertainties.  I believe that these words, spoken by a godly king, to the One who is in COMPLETE control of this Universe and EVERYTHING in it, are words that expresses a HEARTFELT desire, one that the TRUE BELIEVER should feel, going into the unknown.   

 

We should implore our Heavenly Father to SHOW us His ways, or to make known to us His will, to seek His face.  We should implore Him to TEACH us His paths, to guide our steps during this journey into the unknown.  We should implore Him to GUIDE us in His TRUTH or WORD, which is TRUTH and to TEACH us what His Word means and HOW we can apply it to our lives, especially going into a brand new year.  

 

When we do this, it exemplifies our FAITH and TRUST in Him, and not in our own abilities or on our own merits.  We can face a new year with CONFIDENCE knowing our God and Savior is in control and our HOPE will be settled in Him. 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you do not have a relationship with Him.  And you are facing the New Year with all its uncertainties ALONE, to fend for yourself and headed for an eternity in Hell, but God doesn’t want that for you.  He has a plan for your future if you will TRUST Him and 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 TRUST Him to SHOW you His ways, to TEACH you His paths, to GUIDE you in His Word, which is TRUTH, and to be with you through the UNKNOWN of a New Year!   Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

 

"What Could Happen in 2017"

“What Could Happen in 2017”

 

 

Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter---asserting that the day of the Lord has already come.        2 Thessalonians 2:1-2

 

Nobody knows for sure ALL that will happen in the year 2017.  However, people make plans and some of those plans may come to completion, but they may encounter problems along the way, which they did not KNOW would happen.   So it is with facing a NEW YEAR, we make plans and resolutions, and some of them may come about, but there are other things that will pop-up along the way that we did not anticipate. 

 

One thing that we don’t really KNOW the answer to, is:  When will Jesus come back?  The believers in Thessalonica were being given some WRONG information on the coming of the Day of the Lord or the JUDGMENT of the Lord.  Some were saying they had received a false letter ALLEGEDLY from the Apostle Paul, indicating that it had already come, because of the great persecution that the believers were experiencing. 

 

So the Apostle Paul, in his concern for the believers and their spiritual welfare, wrote this letter, giving the believers the TRUE facts concerning the coming of the Day of the Lord.   He began by saying that the very first thing that will happen will be the RAPTURE of the TRUE BELIEVERS.  Those who are OBEDIENT and FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Those who have received the SALVATION of their souls, and the HOPE of Heaven, their ETERNAL HOME. 

 

This CLIMATIC event, the RAPTURE, could take place at any time, even before this day has ended.  If not, chances are EXTREMELY GOOD that it could happen within the NEW YEAR of 2017.

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, the MOST IMPORTANT decision you will EVER make is TURNING AWAY from your sins and coming to God with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, 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 JUDGMENT by being RAPTURED as a TRUE BELIEVER in Christ Jesus.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

 

"Trustworthy Reminders for the Coming New Year!"

“Trustworthy Reminders for the Coming New Year!”

 

This saying is trustworthy:  For if we have died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us; if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.         2Timothy 2:11-13

 

We are headed for the UNKNOWN, where no man has ever been before.  In a few days we will celebrate a BRAND NEW YEAR.  A year that is going to be full of UNCERTAINTIES, some GOOD, some NOT so GOOD.  But for those who are TRUE Children of the ALMIGHTY GOD, we can face these UNCERTAINTIES with a STRONG FAITH and ASSURANCE that GOD IS IN CONTROL!  I believe that the Apostle Paul’s instruction for His son in the ministry, Timothy, is applicable to ALL TRUE BELIEVERS in this present age.  Let’s look into some TRUSTWORTHY REMINDERS that will help us live with PEACE, ASSURANCE, and CONFIDENCE for a PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!

 

The very first TRUSTWORTHY REMINDER that Paul gave was:  “If we have DIED with Him, (Jesus Christ), we will also LIVE with Him.”  For the TRUE BELIEVER, this represents the identification that a TRUE BELIEVER has concerning the DEATH and LIFE of Jesus Christ.  We exemplify His DEATH and RESURRECTION through our water baptism.  We acknowledge the fact that He DIED and was RESURRECTED in order to give to us ETERNAL LIFE, when we DIE to our old sinful life and are RESURRECTED to a NEW LIFE in Christ.  So we have HOPE and ASSURANCE of LIVING FOR Christ in this present age and LIVING WITH CHRIST through ALL of ETERNITY, facing a NEW YEAR.

 

The next TRUSTWORTHY REMINDER was:  “If we ENDURE, we will also REIGN with Him.”  This reminder indicates the PERSECUTION, which Jesus Christ ENDURED, while on Earth and the GLORIFICATION He received in Heaven.  The TRUE BELIEVER faces the same scenario. While the TRUE BELIEVER may suffer PERSECUTION here, they have the ASSURANCE of GLORIFICATION through REIGNING with Christ in His NEW KINGDOM.  This is something to be mindful of in the coming NEW YEAR.  

 

The next TRUSTWORTHY REMINDER was:  “If we DENY Him, He will also DENY us.”  This TRUSTWORTHY REMINDER takes on a negative aspect of a relationship or the lack of a relationship with Jesus Christ.  There are some who go through the actions of receiving SALVATION, but it isn’t a TRUE HEART REPENTANCE, they receive it in their MIND, but NOT in their HEART, and there has been NO CHANGE in their lifestyle.  Eventually, they will turn AWAY from their pseudo-Christianity and deny Christ, in order to satisfy their sinful appetite.  Those are the ones, along with those who have never even accepted Him with their minds, who He will deny.  This is a WARNING for the UNBELIEVER!!!

 

The last TRUSTWORTHY REMINDER was:  “If we are FAITHLESS, He remains FAITHFUL, for He cannot deny Himself.”   This speaks mainly to the TRUE BELIEVER, who at times may prove to be UNFAITHFUL.  We, as Paul once said, “Do the things we wish not to do, but because we are in the flesh we do them.”  But He is FAITHFUL to FORGIVE us of ALL our TRANSGRESSIONS. 

Jesus Christ, CANNOT deny HIMSELF; He will not deny those, who are TRUE BELIEVERS, but are WEAK in their FAITH, and may even be DISOBEDIENT at times.  One thing to remember as we face a NEW YEAR is Jesus Christ’s FAITHFULNESS to the TRUE BELIEVER is NOT contingent on their FAITHFULNESS to Him.  

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God you are NOT a TRUE BELIEVER.  And you are facing a NEW YEAR full of UNCERTAINITIES, without the HOPE and ASSURANCE of PEACE and TRUE LOVE, but you are facing an ETERNITY in HELL, the place of FOREVER torment, torture, pain, agony and despair.  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, BELIEVEING, 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 face a NEW YEAR with HOPE, ASSURANCE, PEACE and TRUE GODLY LOVE, and an ETERNITY REIGNING with the Lord Jesus Christ.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The BEST Resolutions that Should Be Made and Kept!"

“The BEST Resolutions that Should Be Made and Kept!”

 

 

Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice!  Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace.  And the God of love and peace will be with you.                                        
2 Corinthians 13:11

 

These are the words of the Apostle Paul to the Believers in Corinth.  It was his wish that they REJOICE in the fact that they had opportunities to right the wrongs, which they may have been a part of, to DEPEND on God for their strength in standing for the TRUTH.  He wanted them to STRIVE for FULL RESTORATION or to AIM at PERFECTION, to live in such a way that God would be pleased with them, that they might not do the WRONG things, but do what is RIGHT, in order to set an example and be a witness to a lost and dying world. 

 

The second thing Paul requested of them, was to ENCOURAGE one another.  Not to be JEALOUS, but to be an instrument of JOY to another believe by ENCOURAGING them in their walk with the Lord, showing a CHRISTLIKE LOVE and ADMIRATION for them.  To NOT drag them DOWN, but to BUILD them up for the Kingdom’s sake. 

 

The third thing Paul requested was for them to be of ONE mind, in other words, to be in UNITY with one another.  STOP!!  the bickering, and fussing with each other, and work in a spirit of LOVE and PEACE.  Time was/is FLEETING, and they needed to work TOGETHER, and NOT AGAINST each other, which by the way is the devil’s way of trying to destroy the work of God, and RUINING the witness of His Children.  SO DON’T BE A PART OF SATAN’S SCHEMES.  WORK at UNITY!!

 

And the final request of Paul was for them to LIVE in PEACE.  If they did this then they would experience the LOVE and PEACE of the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY. He would CONTINUALLY be with them through His HOLY SPIRIT, which indwells EVERY TRUE BELIEVER.

 

These are ALL things that EVERY TRUE BELIEVER should put into effect in their own lives.  If they would do that, what a DIFFERENCE it would make in our churches, communities, families, even to this poor, wretched, sin-drenched world.  So why not make these things DEFINITE resolutions, ones that you WILL STRIVE to KEEP during the NEW YEAR and FOLLOWING YEARS to come. 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are a part of Satan’s schemes to thwart the plans of the Almighty God, and you are headed to an ETERNITY in HELL, the place of FOREVER torment, torture, pain, agony and despair, with NO WAY of ESCAPE.  However, God is giving you the opportunity to STOP serving Satan and 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 on the WINNING SIDE by making these resolutions and KEEPING them.  Doing what is RIGHT and NOT doing what is WRONG.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!   

 

"REPENTANCE in 2017"

“REPENTANCE in 2017”

 

 

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.  See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done.  At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.          2 Corinthians 7:10-11

 

Every new year we face a year of uncertainties, some for the good, and some for the bad. Uncertainties that can or will in some instances, alter our life-style.  Some look at a new year, as an opportunity to CHANGE their life-style, they may want to CHANGE their way of THINKING, or their APPEARANCE, they may want to make CHANGES in their STATUS in life, and so they will go to whatever extremes they have to, in order to make it happen. 

 

And for some, they may NOT necessarily want to change ANYTHING, but they are content with the status-quo.  I for one do not really like CHANGE, when it comes to my life-style, however, there are times that I know CHANGE is needed in order to see or experience POSITIVE results.  So I have to ACCEPT the CHALLENGES that goes along with the CHANGE in order to do what I know is the BEST situation in the long run. 

 

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the believers in Corinth, wrote to them concerning the behavior of some of them.  And the strong disciplinarian tone of the letter brought the Corinthian believers to a SORROW, a GODLY SORROW that led them to REPENTANCE and to CHANGE in their behavior.  Paul applauded their GODLY SORROW and REPENTANCE, which brought about the kind of behavior that would exemplify their FAITH.  He gave them a bit of a warning about worldly sorrow, which was the type of sorrow that Judas had when he betrayed the Lord Jesus Christ, and it brings about NO REPENTANCE, only SPIRITUAL DEATH.   However, GODLY SORROW brings about an earnestness to make amends, and eagerness to clear oneself from blame, indignation against wrongdoings, alarm at one’s own passivity concerning sin, longing and concern for fellow servants of Christ, and a readiness to see JUSTICE done. 

 

For the TRUE BELIEVER, Paul’s words to the Corinthian believers are GOOD instructions leading us into a New Year.  We NEED to be cognizant of the sin that is in our own lives and have a GODLY SORROW in our HEART, which would lead us to the REPENTANCE of that sin.  We NEED to be able to approach, in LOVE, a fellow believer, who may have sin in their life, and encourage them to CONFESS that sin, so they too can experience GODLY SORROW, and be drawn to REPENTANCE of their sin. 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are experiencing  ONLY the WORLDLY SORROW, which leads to a SPIRITUAL DEATH, and an ETERNITY in HELL, the place of FOREVER torment, torture, pain, agony and despair, with NO way of escape.  However, God is offering you the opportunity NOW to enter the NEW YEAR, a CHANGED person, with a future full of the HOPE of HEAVEN, 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 enter 2017, a NEW, CHANGED, IMPROVED CHILD of the LIVING GOD, who’s on their way to an eternity in HEAVEN.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"The Significance of the Gift"

“The Significance of the Gift”

 

 

Therefore I will give Him a portion among the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He poured out His life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors.  For He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.         Isaiah 53:12

 

Many who read the Scripture above, may think I have my holidays mixed up, however, if we didn’t have the BIRTH of the Savior, we couldn’t have the GIFT of SALVATION, which was procured through the DEATH of the Savior.  In other words without Christmas we wouldn’t have Easter. 

 

Speaking of the SIGNIFICANCE of the GIFT, we see in this part of the Scriptures, that the SIGNIFICANCE of the GIFT included the OBEDIENCE of the SERVANT, who WILLINGLY followed God’s plan, and suffered, bled and died as a sacrifice for the SALVATION of a LOST and DYING world.  God made Him who had NO sin to be sin for US, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.  (2 Corinthians 5:21), and obtain the GIFT of SALVATION. 

 

This Scripture shows us the COMPLETE picture of the GIFT and its SIGNIFICANCE.  Jesus Christ came to earth to SEEK and to SAVE the LOST, those who are wandering in darkness, separated from God and His righteousness, doomed to spend ALL ETERNITY in a place that is VOID of ALL that is GOOD and RIGHTEOUS.

 

This my dear friends, is the SIGNIFICANCE of God’s MOST PRECIOUS, COSTLY, UNDUPLICATED, GIFT, EVER given.  It is the plan of God for the SALVATION of mankind.  It is my most heartfelt prayer that anyone who reads this will realize that without possessing this gift they are HOPELESSLY LOST and will be, throughout ALL eternity, in HELL, the place of UNENDING torture, torment, pain and agony, without any way of escape.   

 

If you have not given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you do NOT possess His GIFT and are headed for HELL.  But God is NOW giving you another 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 the HOPE of Heaven for ALL eternity.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Revealing of God's Perfect Gift to the World!"

“The Revealing of God’s Perfect Gift to the World!”

 

 

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout.  Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts.  When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for Him what the custom of the law required, Simeon took Him in his arms and praised God, saying:  “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.  For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.           

Luke 2:20, 25, 27-32

 

The very first messengers on earth to bring the GOOD NEWS that God’s MOST EXTRORDINARY GIFT had arrived, was a handful of lowly shepherds watching over their flocks of sheep at night, on a nearby hillside.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them and delivered the NEWS.  The shepherds, being in a state of bewilderment, went to check things out for themselves.  And when they saw that BEAUTIFUL, EXTRORDINARY, FOREVER GIFT, the Lord Jesus Christ, in the flesh, as a tiny newborn babe wrapped in cloths and lying in a bed of straw, in a manger, they were AMAZED, and went their way, GLORIFYING and PRAISING God for ALL they had heard and seen, just as they had been told.  God’s MOST AWESOME GIFT, for ALL mankind had been delivered.

 

Now there was a very elderly, devout and religious man named Simeon, who lived in Jerusalem.  He had been waiting for this GIFT from God for a long time, and it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would NOT die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.  Being moved by the Spirit, he went to the temple courts at just the right time, Mary and Joseph brought Baby Jesus to the temple to do for Him what their custom of the Law required.  Simeon and Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus met.  Simeon took Jesus in his arms and PRAISED God.  Then he REVEALED the MOST EXTRORDINARY GIFT, EVER given. 

 

He said to Father God, “I’m ready to die now, for my eyes have seen your SALVATION, which you have prepared in the sight of ALL nations:  a LIGHT for REVEATION to the GENTILES, and the GLORY of your people, Israel.”   Simeon recognized the GIFT for whom he had waited so long to see and NOW he was ready to be taken to his Heavenly home.

We wait with great anticipation, the unwrapping of gifts, on Christmas morn, to see if we have received what we have been waiting for.  God has given to this lost and dying world a GIFT, which will SUPERSEDE, and NEVER be DUPLICATED in any way.  A GIFT that will give HOPE, and SECURE our eternity.  If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you will not receive the GIFT of HOPE, the GIFT of His PRECIOUS and ONLY SON, the Lord Jesus Christ, our SALVATION.  Instead you will spend an eternity in a place called HELL, with NO HOPE.  Unless 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 spread the GOOD NEWS that God’s PERFECT GIFT to ALL mankind, has been REVEALED in Jesus Christ.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

                                                                 

 

 

 

"The Gift That Can NEVER Be Duplicated"

“The Gift That Can NEVER Be Duplicated”

 

 

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.         Romans 6:23

 

This time of year we are racking our brains and stressing over the PERFECT GIFT.  What are we going to get for Aunt Tilly or Uncle Herman?  And what about little Billy Bob?  Or sister Nellie? 

 

We wonder if they have the same thing that we fought the crowds and traffic jams, to buy for them.   OH, NO!  What if someone else bought the same thing that I got them?  Should I return it and buy something else, maybe I’ll just put it back, until I find out if they have what I was going to get for them?   We worry and fret about the gifts we give. 

 

I certainly am GLAD that God didn’t have the same questions when He gave us the MOST COSTLY, VALUABE, FOREVER, GIFT of SALVATION.   The GIFT that keeps on GIVING!! And the GIFT THAT CANNOT BE DUPLICATED, EVER!!! 

 

When one lives continually in sin, allowing it to be in control of every facet of their lives,  they WILL pay the wages of sin, which is DEATH, NOT just a physical death, but a spiritual death as well.  Your body, your earthly dwelling place, will die and it will decay.  Your, SOUL, however, will NOT die, but will go straight to that place called HELL, the place of FOREVER torment, torture, pain and agony for ALL eternity, and with NO HOPE, and NO WAY of escape. 

 

BUT, God in His ABUNDANT MERCY and GRACE, is NOW offering you, the MOST EXTRAORDINARY, COSTLY, VALUABLE, NOT TO EVER BE DUPLICATED, GIFT of ALL time.  ALL you have to do is 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 the MOST VALUABLE, COSTLY AND FOREVER GIFT, which has been SPECIALLY made just for YOU, which is NOT delivered to you by Santa, but by JESUS Christ, it’s  your SALVATION.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!     Merry CHRISTmas!!!

"Your Gift to God"

“Your Gift to God”

 

 

Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to Him as an instrument of righteousness.        Romans 6:13

 

This is definitely the season of GIFT-GIVING, God in His GREAT, ABIDING LOVE, MERCY and GRACE has given to mankind the BEST and MOST COSTLY GIFT, which has EVER been given to anyone, by anyone, that being the sacrifice of His ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come into this world as a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger, who grew up to be a man, like no other man, and ONLY HE could do the deed that God had planned, for the REDEMPTION of ALL mankind.  NOBODY can provide a more COSTLY or more NEEDED GIFT.  So what could we possibly give GOD, who OWNS it ALL?

 

 Those who have ACCEPTED His GIFT of SALVATION, must offer Him the BEST GIFT we can.  It is NOT, GOLD, SILVER or any other PRECIOUS METALS, It’s NOT ALL the WEALTH of this world.  But as the Scripture tells us we must offer Him OURSELVES.  It tells us that we should NOT offer ANY part of ourselves to sin, to become an instrument of wickedness, but instead we NEED to offer to God ALL of OUR SELF, EVERY PART to be an instrument of RIGHTEOUSNESS.

 

That is the BEST GIFT we can GIVE to the Almighty God, and the only GIFT that He desires.  What BETTER way to express our LOVE and GRATITUDE for being REDEEMED and brought from DEATH to LIFE. 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are headed for an eternity in HELL.  However, if you will 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 offer Him the GIFT of YOURSELF, EVERY PART as an INSTRUMENT of RIGHTEOUSNESS, you will escape Hell and have the HOPE of Heaven.  So do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!   Merry CHRISTmas!!!

"The Gift That Truly Keeps On Giving!"

“The Gift That Truly Keeps On Giving!”

 

 

“She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”         Matthew 1:22

 

This verse of Scripture is words that were spoken to Joseph when he found out that Mary was with child, knowing that the child was not his, he had some very important, heartbreaking decisions to make.  And then an angel from the Lord appeared to him in a dream and spoke to Joseph saying:  “Do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name ‘Jesus,’ because He will save His people from their sins.” 

 

Joseph, being a godly, devout man did as the angel instructed him to do.  He was OBEDIENT to God’s plan.  And because of God’s plan and Mary and Joseph’s OBEDIENCE to Him.  They along with Father God brought the BEST GIFT that mankind will EVER receive. 

 

This gift is the gift of SALVATION, which is the REAL REASON for the CHRISTMAS SEASON.  It’s NOT toys, clothes, electronics, jewelry, cars, or even Santa Clause, but it is something that will LAST throughout eternity.  It alters a person’s life, from HOPELESS to HOPEFUL, from LOST to REDEEMED, and has the power to pull people from the brink of Hell.  If they ONLY would BELIEVE and ACCEPT this MOST VALUABLE GIFT that was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. He grew into a man, who DIED for ALL mankind, who died as a pauper, was buried and laid in a BORROWED tomb. 

 

But was raised the KING OF KINGS, and LORD OF LORDS, and will ONE GLORIOUS DAY, reign as the GLORIOUS KING, the ONLY ONE who could bring the PRECIOUS, ETERNAL GIFT of SALVATION to a dying world.  He came, He conquered, and He’s coming again!!!  Are YOU ready?

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to Him, then you will NOT be able to receive the AWESOME GIFT of SALVATION, The GIFT that KEEPS on giving.  The ONLY GIFT that can give you the HOPE of HEAVEN for ALL of eternity.  So why not come to God NOW, 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 and then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and be brought out of HOPELESSNESS and into HOPEFULNESS.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He waiting and coming SOON!!!

  

 

 

"A Great Light"

“A Great Light”

 

 

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.      Isaiah 9:2

When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, “I am the Light of the world.  Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the Light of Life.”       John 8:12

 

The Prophet Isaiah, in his day, prophesied quite a bit concerning the coming of the Messiah, to the nation of Israel.  In this passage of Scripture, he prophesies about A GREAT LIGHT.  That GREAT LIGHT is the ONLY, ONE, TRUE MESSIAH, the Lord Jesus Christ.  The One who came as a tiny babe, born in a stable, and laid in a manager, the One who came as a LIGHT for a DARK, DYING world, a world without HOPE.

 

Matthew, an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, repeated the Prophet Isaiah, in chapter 4, verse 16 of the gospels, indicating that Jesus was that GREAT LIGHT, which Isaiah spoke of.  In John 8:12, Jesus spoke of Himself being the LIGHT of the world, and the LIGHT of life.  

 

In Isaiah’s prophecy, he spoke of the people who were living in darkness or sin, those who had seen a GREAT LIGHT, those who became believers of the Lord Jesus Christ and followed Him.  At the coming of a tiny babe born in a stable, who was and is a GREAT LIGHT to a LOST and DYING world that is living in the land of DEEP DARKNESS.  JESUS is the LIGHT of the world.  He is the LIGHT of LIFE.

 

Are you living in the DEEP DARKNESS of sin, yet to see the LIGHT, Yet to come into the illumination of the Light of Life?  We celebrate the birth of the LIGHT of LIFE, the Lord Jesus Christ on December 25^th, and I can’t help, but wonder how many people actually realize the fact that CHRISTmas is the celebration of the birth of the One, who is able to SAVE them from their sins and their destination to an eternity in Hell, the place of torment, torture, agony, pain, and despair. Or do they celebrate CHRISTmas as a time for Santa Claus and all the festivities that goes along with the holidays, and leave the Light of Life, Jesus Christ, out of their celebration? 

 

If this is your story and you are living in DEEP DARKNESS, you are destined for an eternity in Hell, 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 come FROM the DEEP DARKNESS, and into the LIGHT, and LIVE in the LIGHT of LIFE.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Mankind's Worship---From God's Point of View"

“Mankind’s Worship ---From God’s Point of View”

 

 

“I hate your New Moon Feasts and your appointed festivals I hate with all my being.  They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them.  When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening.  Your hands are full of blood!  Wash and make yourselves clean.  Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong.”   “Come now, let us settle the matter, “says the Lord.  “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”         Isaiah 1:14-16, 18

 

This is part of a message to the nation of Judah, from the Almighty God, given to them through the Prophet Isaiah.  Judah had become a REBELLIOUS nation.  A people whose guilt was of GREAT magnitude.  They REBELLED against God and His laws.  They REJECTED Him and turned away from Him.  And when the condemnation came they would bring a multitude of sacrifices to Him, thinking it would appease the Almighty God, and change their wretched conditions. However, their HEARTS were stained with a multitude of UNCONFESSED SINS.  So God gave this message to Isaiah to be relayed to the nation, concerning their worship.

 

To the Almighty God, the people’s New Moon Feasts and appointed festivals, had become a hated part of their worship process, because it was not done with a CLEANSING of their SIN-DRENCHED HEARTS.  They celebrated and went through the motions of worship, with SINFUL HEARTS, HEARTS that were still in REBELLION against God and His laws.  Therefore, the RIGHTEOUS GOD, did NOT ACCEPT their MANY sacrifices or their worship, and He would NOT LISTEN to their prayers, and would NOT LISTEN until they REPENTEND, and was CLEANSED from their SINFUL, EVIL WAYS.

They were offered an invitation to COME to Him with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART and then their sins would be FORGIVEN.  Many people will come to church on Christmas morning, with SIN-DRENCHED HEARTS and go through the motions of worship, but they will NOT be willing to COME and REASON with God, over the condition of their HEART.  Some will come, seeking FORGIVENESS, but will leave the church without a TRUE CHANGE in their HEART, they will go through the motions and may even repeat all the right words, but their ATTITUDE toward their FALLEN NATURE, remains the same.

 

You cannot CHANGE your RELATIONSHIP with God, by showing up at church on EASTER and Christmas, and continue to live in sin the rest of the time, and think you are in a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with the Almighty God.  If you have been thinking along those lines, you are treading in TREACHEROUS WATERS and are DROWNING in your SINS, and on your way to an eternity in Hell.  You MUST come to God, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, in order to have a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with Him.  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 rest ASSURED that you have a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with Him.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!       “MERRY CHRISTMAS!!”

 

 

  

 

"The Word Became Flesh!"

“The Word Became Flesh!”

 

 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.  We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:1, 14

 

This time of year, our minds are set on GIFT-GIVING. The GREATEST gift a person can receive, at any point of time, is the gift of God’s MERCY and GRACE, which is brought to mankind through the Word of God, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Through Him we obtain SALVATION, which is a part of the gift of God’s MERCY and GRACE.  It is the main part of the REDEMPTION PLAN.  And without God’s MERCY and GRACE, we are unable to obtain SALVATION, and therefore, we have NO HOPE. 

Yet, because of God’s AMAZING GRACE and ABUNDANT MERCY,  the Word, which is Jesus, who has ALWAYS been with God and IS God, brought the MAIN part of God’s REDEMPTION PLAN, SALVATION to mankind, by becoming FLESH and dwelling among mankind.  He came not as a grown-up man, but as a newborn babe, not as a ROYAL baby, but born to people of humble means.  He wasn’t born in a castle, but a stable, full of smelly animals.  He was not wrapped in new, soft, warm blankets and laid in a fancy cradle, but was wrapped in rags, and laid in a feeding trough full of hay.  He wasn’t surrounded by diplomats or wealthy people, but He was surrounded by a stable full of smelly animals and shepherds, who had come from their flocks of sheep on a nearby hillside, to see the newborn King of kings.

 

The Apostle John wrote that, he personally saw the glory of the Word, Jesus, who was FULL of GRACE and TRUTH, and He came from the Father God, to a LOST and DYING world.  A world who, in a large part, REJECTS God’s FREE GIFT of MERCY and GRACE, and thus misses out on the SALVATION part of God’s gift.  They are drowning in HOPELESSNESS and are headed for HELL, the place of eternal torment, torture, agony, pain, heartache and despair, with no HOPE for escape.  UNLESS they come to God with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, CONFESSING their sins to Him and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING with ALL their HEART, that Jesus died for them, and is in Heaven, making intercession for them, before God, then ACCEPTS His gift of MERCY and GRACE, and obtains SALVATION of their souls.  If you are in this group of people, and you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you MUST do the same thing, and DO IT NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!   Oh, by the way, this IS the REAL, TRUE reason we have CHRISTmas.

"Tapping into the Power!"

“Tapping into the Power!”

 

 

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.”      Acts 1:8

 

Can you imagine the impact on this world, if EVERY TRUE BELIEVER tapped into the power that is within them, which is given by the Holy Spirit of the ALMIGHTY, LIVING GOD of this universe?

 

Wow!  What a tremendous change it would be.  However, we, who are TRUE BELIEVERS, seem to shy away from “TAPPING INTO THE POWER” that is provided to us from the ALMIGHTY God, Himself. 

 

We would be ASTOUNDED if we would actually experience the differences that would come about through such a transformation.  Many of us have experienced a drastic change in our own lives, when we came to Jesus for the SALVATION of our souls.  We became a NEW creation and all our old ways have been done away with and BEHOLD ALL things have become NEW.  We no longer PRACTICE a sinful lifestyle, but are striving daily to live a RIGHTEOUS lifestyle, because of the presence of God’s Holy Spirit, which indwells EVERY TRUE BELIEVER. 

 

Yet, many TRUE BELIEVERS, fail to TAP into the POWER that is within them, through the Holy Spirit of God.  WHY?  Well, some may not be FULLY aware of what is available to them through the work of God’s Holy Spirit.  And some may not want to utilize the POWER that is indwelling them, they may be somewhat fearful of what they would have to do. 

 

If you are a TRUE BELIEVER, who would be open to the POWER of God’s Holy Spirit, to be a WITNESS to a lost and dying world, but don’t know how to TAP into that POWER, this is what you must do:  Make yourself AVAILABLE to the Holy Spirit by being SENSITIVE and SURRENDERING yourself to Him, then be OBEDIENT to His will, and FOLLOW His directions, and be AMAZED at the POWER that is at work within you. 

 

If you are NOT a TRUE BELIEVER, then you do not possess the Holy Spirit of the ALMIGHTY God, and you do NOT possess His POWER.  But you are a tool in the devil’s hand and are at his bidding.  You are headed for an eternity in HELL, the place of horrendous, torment, torture, pain, agony and despair, without ANY way of escape for ALL eternity.  However, ALMIGHTY God is offering you the opportunity to come to Him and receive the SALVATION of your soul and the POWER of the HOLY SPIRIT, which will indwell you at the time of your conversion, and you will be a WITNESS to a LOST and DYING world.  You can do that 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 TAP INTO His POWER, and be the WITNESS, He wants you to be.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!