"The Lord's Patience"

“The Lord’s Patience”

 

Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.   They will say, “where is this ‘coming’ He promised?”  Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”      2 Peter 3:3-4

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.  The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness.  Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.      2 Peter 3:8-9

 

In these verses, the Apostle Peter, warns us that in the LAST DAYS scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own EVIL desires.  A scoffer is a rude, mocking individual, a person who makes fun of and mocks the actions, words, deeds or life-style of another individual.  In this instance they would be the ones who SCOFF at the idea of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. They carry out their SCOFFING and UNBELIEF in order to PRACTICE their own EVIL desires.

 

They are judging the VALIDITY of the PROMISE of the return of the Lord Jesus Christ with THEIR concept of time, evidenced by their statement:  “Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 

 

Then Peter reminds the readers of his letter, that:  “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.”  Indicating that mankind’s concept of time and God’s concept of time are drastically different.  Mankind judges time against time, and God judges time against eternity.  And what may seem like a LONG time to mankind is a SHORT time to God. 

 

The Apostle Peter, states that God is NOT slow in keeping His promise.  Again mankind is judging God’s delay by their concept of “slowness”, indicating that the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ will NOT happen, however, Peter gives the REAL REASON for God’s delay:  It is because of God’s PATIENCE with mankind.  He does NOT want ANYONE to perish, but He wishes that EVERYONE would come to REPENTANCE and be SAVED. 

 

Sadly, though He KNOWS that EVERYONE won’t come to REPENTANCE and SALVATION.  There will be some who will continue to REJECT His FREE gift of SALVATION, and He is delaying the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, so that as many as WILL COME will have the opportunity to come.  But TIME is running out.  Will you be one who ACCEPTS or REJECTS?

 

God with His GREAT PATIENCE is waiting for you 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 take advantage of God’s GREAT PATIENCE, and receive the HOPE of HEAVEN for ALL of ETERNITY.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

"The Commissioning of God's Servant"

“The Commissioning of God’s Servant”

 

I give you a command in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, the One who will judge the living and the dead, and by His coming and His kingdom:  Preach the Good News.  Be ready at all times, and tell people what they need to do.  Tell them when they are wrong.  Encourage them with great patience and careful teaching.         2 Timothy 4:1-2

But you should control yourself at all times, accept troubles, do the work of telling the Good News, and complete all the duties of a servant of God.          2 Timothy 4:5

I have fought the good fight.  I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.       2 Timothy 4:7

 

This is the Apostle Paul’s charge to Timothy, concerning his ministry, as a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  He instructs Timothy to carry out certain duties of his ministry, with BOLDNESS and PERSERVERANCE.  As we read Paul’s charge to Timothy, we need to see that the same things that Paul is encouraging Timothy to do in his ministry, could also apply to any TRUE SERVANT of GOD, and their ministry, whatever that ministry is.

 

Paul’s charge to Timothy is to PREACH the GOOD NEWS.  As TRUE SERVANTS of GOD, we should be willing to PROCLAIM the GOOD NEWS, that JESUS SAVES.  Paul tells Timothy that he should BE READY at ALL times, and to tell people what they NEED to do.  So it is with the TRUE SERVANT of God.  We too, should BE READY at ALL times to share what God wants His Children to do.  To be BOLD and tell them when they are WRONG, and that takes COURAGE, but it is something that NEEDS to be done.  People NEED to be TAUGHT and SHOWN how God wants us to LIVE our lives and how to conduct our ministry.  This SHOULD be done with ENCOURAGEMENT, GREAT PATIENCE, and CAREFUL TEACHING.

 

Then Paul instructs Timothy, on a more personal level.  He tells Timothy that he should CONTROL himself at ALL times.  In other words, he should be in CONTROL of his emotions, especially in times of difficulties and hardships. He should be FOCUSED on SHARING the GOOD NEWS at any opportunity.  And to complete ALL the duties of a SERVANT of GOD.  This is EXCELLENT advice for ALL TRUE SERVANTS of GOD.

 

Paul then tells Timothy this:  “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”  As a TRUE SERVANT of GOD, can you say the same thing?  Prayerfully you can.

However, if you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are not a TRUE SERVANT of God, and do not have the same future awaiting you.  The TRUE SERVANT of God will be ushered into ALL the glories of an ETERNITY in Heaven.  But YOU will experience ALL the HORRIBLE ATROCITIES of Hell, with NO WAY of ESCAPE, for ALL of ETERNITY.  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 become a TRUE SERVANT of GOD, and receive the HOPE of Heaven.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"God's Incomparably Great Power!"

“God’s Incomparably Great Power!”

 

…and His incomparably great power for us who believe.  That power is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.     Ephesians 1:19-21

 

GOD IS NOT DEAD, nor does He SLEEP.  He is not a WEAK God who needs SLEEP in order to have energy to minister to the needs of His Children.   He is OMNIPOTENT or ALL POWERFUL, and His POWER is INCOMPARABLY GREAT.

 

It is the same POWER that raised Christ from the dead, the same POWER that seated Christ at God’s right hand, the place of GREAT HONOR, far above ALL rule and authority, power and dominion, and EVERY name that is invoked, at this PRESENT TIME, and also in FUTURE TIME.   

 

The INCOMPARABLY GREAT POWER, which raised Christ from the dead, is the same POWER that is available to the TRUE BELIEVER, in this PRESENT age.  What an AWESOME source of SPIRITUAL POWER and STRENGTH for living the Christian life. 

 

The TRUE BELIEVER can live VICTORIOUSLY, and not live a DEFEATED life, because they have access to God’s INCOMPARABLY GREAT POWER.  POWER that is GREATER than anything throughout this universe. 

 

It is a POWER that CREATES, performs MIRACLES, RESURRECTS, RESTORES and REDEEMS mankind.  It is a POWER that PROTECTS and PROVIDES for God’s Children.  They can have the assurance of God’s INCOMPARABLY GREAT POWER working in their spiritual life. 

 

Do you have that ASSURANCE?  Can you live a VICTORIOUS life?  If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then your answer is “NO” to both of these questions.  ONLY through the shed blood of Jesus Christ are you able to have ASSURANCE and live VICTORIOUSLY in this LIFE and ETERNITY.  In order to do that, you MUST come to God 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 receive the ASSURANCE of GOD’S INCOMPARABLY GREAT POWER, and start living a VICTORIOUS life.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Pass or Fail?"

“Pass or Fail?”

 

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.  Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you---unless, of course, you fail the test?       2 Corinthians 13:5

 

The Apostle Paul’s ministry and his own credibility came under the strict scrutiny of the Corinthians.  Paul gave them this word of advice:  “Examine yourselves, test yourselves.”  It is always easier to point a finger at another person and accuse them of NOT being what they claim to be, but here Paul is saying, “if you are going to scrutinize me and my ministry, you NEED to check out your OWN FAITH, first.” 

 

I believe this is GOOD ADVICE for everyone to take into consideration.  We are quick to point out other people’s faults and shortcomings, but we, sometimes, do the very same things that we accuse them of doing.  We NEED to EXAMINE ourselves, are we FOLLOWING Jesus Christ?  Or are we FOLLOWING our own desires?  Do we exemplify our FAITH?  Are we WALKING in FAITH?  So, how are you doing so far?  PASSING or FAILING?

 

Are you being FAITHFUL to God and His ways?  Do you have a tendency to drift back into your old sinful ways?  Do you FORGET that Christ Jesus dwells in you, by the presence of His Holy Spirit?  Do you SEEK Him DAILY?  Are you SUBMISSIVE to Him?  Are you OBEDIENT to Him?  Are you EMBARASSED or ASHAMED to be a WITNESS for Him?  PASSING or FAILING?

 

These are just a handful of things that we NEED to EXAMINE in our lives, if we TRULY claim to be a TRUE BELIEVER.  Before we start looking at others and scrutinizing their Christian behavior, we NEED to EXAMINE and TEST our OWN walk with Christ.  And find out if we PASS or FAIL.

 

If you have NOT given your heart and life to God then you are living a FAILED life, and are headed for an eternity in Hell, the place of FOREVER torment, torture, pain, agony, heartache, and despair, with NO ESCAPE.  God is waiting for you 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 start living out your FAITH, in order to receive a PASSING grade.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"A 'Never Meant to be ' Relationship"

“A ‘Never Meant to Be’ Relationship”

 

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers.  For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?  Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?  What harmony is there between Christ and Belial?  Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?  What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?  For we are the temple of the Living God.        2 Corinthians 6:14-16a

 

In the Apostle Paul’s letter to the TRUE BELIEVERS in Corinth, he gives them a WARNING of sorts, as how they should conduct themselves and with whom they should have relationships with.   He tells them that they should NOT be YOKED or to be put under the control or power of the UNBELIEVER.

 

It seems that the Church in Corinth was having some problems with FALSE TEACHERS and possibly IDOLATRY.  So Paul felt urged to enlighten the TRUE BELIEVERS concerning the ‘NEVER MEANT TO BE REALATIONSHIP’ between UNBELIVERS, or FALSE TEACHERS and themselves.

 

Paul does NOT say that the TRUE BELIEVERS were not to have any contact with an UNBELIEVER, that would be impossible, not to mention that we are to be SALT and LIGHT to a LOST and DYING world, in other words, we are to be a WITNESS, and in order to be a WITNESS, we must have SOME contact with UNBELIEVERS.  However, we are NOT to engage in ANY of their activities or condone ANY part of their UNGODLY BEHAVIOR. 

 

In order for Paul to get his point across, he used some examples of ‘NEVER MEANT TO BE RELATIONSHIPS,’ such as, RIGHTEOUSNESS with WICKEDNESS, there is NO place for RIGHTEOUSNESS to be in the company of WICKEDNESS, it would be like mixing oil with water.  They are SO opposites, and we get RIGHTEOUSNESS from Jesus Christ, and WICKEDNESS from Satan.  Paul goes on to say, “what FELLOWSHIP does LIGHT have with DARKNESS”, again, LIGHT and DARKNESS are opposites, and LIGHT comes through Jesus Christ and the DARKNESS comes through Satan.  Then Paul continues with the question, “What harmony is there between Christ and Belial, the devil?”  The answer is quite simple, Jesus is RIGHTEOUSNESS and LIGHT, and the Devil is WICKEDNESS and DARKNESS.  So what does a TRUE BELIEVER have in common with the UNBELIEVER?  It is a RELATIONSHIP, which is NEVER MEANT TO BE!!   Paul goes a step further, in order to dispel the acts of IDOLATRY.  He asks the question, “What agreement is there between the temple of God and Idols?”  The TRUE BELIEVER, is warned many times, throughout the Word of God, about participating in ANY form of IDOLATRY.  It is a ‘NEVER MEANT TO BE RELATIONSHIP,’ because the TRUE BELIEVER is the TEMPLE of the LIVING GOD, and it is where the SPIRIT of the LIVING GOD resides. 

 

This is VERY applicable for the TRUE BELIEVER today.  We are NOT to be YOKED in a ‘NEVER MEANT TO BE RELATIONSHIP’ with UNBELIEVERS.  It is NOT a part of God’s plan for His Children.

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are living in a ‘NEVER MEANT TO BE RELATIONSHIP,” which is controlling you, and is taking you down the path to a place of FOREVER torment, torture, pain, agony, heartache, and despair.  You are NOW given the opportunity to escape that ‘NEVER MEANT TO BE RELATIONSHIP and the destination that is attached to it, 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 break away from the ‘NEVER MEANT TO BE RELATIONSHIP,’ and begin a ‘MEANT TO BE RELATIONSHIP with JESUS CHRIST.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Children of God"

“Children of God”

 

We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.         1 John 5:19

 

The person who comes to God with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, seeking FORGIVENESS and SALVATION, accepting God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as their Savior and Lord, then becomes a TRUE CHILD of God. 

 

How can one KNOW for sure that they have been born of God?  Here are a few indications:  A TRUE CHILD of GOD will NOT CONTINUE to sin, the word “continue” is a fundamental part of this statement.  We ALL sin and fall short of God’s glory, (Rom. 3:23).  Even the TRUE CHILD of GOD, because we are in the flesh, and as the Apostle Paul has said: I do what I wish not to do, because of the flesh.

 

The difference being, is that the TRUE CHILD of God does NOT CONTIUNE to sin.  They may fall to the temptation, occasionally, but they do NOT CONTINUOUSLY sin.  It is NOT a part of their life-style.  Sin is no longer appealing to them, as it once was.  Their desire is MORE for the things of God, then for the things of the world. 

 

The TRUE CHILD of GOD is controlled by the Holy Spirit of God and is no longer bound to sin, and under the control of the evil one, Satan.  They are not strongly influenced or enticed by worldly ideas, schemes, influences, and enticements.  But they are guided by the Holy Spirit of God, to be influenced and enticed by the ways of the HOLY, RIGHTEOUS God.  And to receive POWER to OVERCOME any temptations this sinful, depraved world has to offer.

 

The TRUE CHILD OF God is also given the HOPE of Heaven as their ETERNAL home.  The person who has NOT given their HEART and LIFE to God is NOT a TRUE CHILD of GOD, but is controlled by the evil one and is influenced and enticed by worldly things.  They are led astray on a path that leads to an ETERNITY in a place called HELL, the place of FOREVER torment, torture, pain, agony, heartache, and despair, and with NO ESCAPE.  Unless you 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, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION and become a TRUE CHILD of God, with the HOPE of Heaven for ALL eternity, and be free from the control of the evil one.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

"What You Do, Will Be Done to You"

“What You Do, Will Be Done to You”

 

“The day of the Lord is near for all nations.  As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head.”       Obadiah 1:15

 

This message was given to Obadiah, from the Lord God Almighty, for the nations who were/are the enemies of Israel.  Now, nations are made up of people, and in a lot of countries, the people vote to put people into LEADERSHIP positions, who will LEAD that nation to do the WILL of the PEOPLE.  The question is:  Will those who are in LEADERSHIP positions be ALLIES or ENEMIES of Israel? 

 

If the LEADERSHIP of a nation, made-up by the people, who have given the RIGHT to GOVERN their LAND, to the LEADERS, and those LEADERS are ANTI-ISRAEL, then the PEOPLE will be held accountable, and will be JUDGED and given the PROMISE, which the ALMIGHTY GOD has proclaimed:  “As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head.”  What exactly does that mean?

 

God told Abraham; “I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and ALL peoples on earth will be blessed THROUGH you.”  (Gen. 12:1-3)   I believe this is pretty plain, if the nations are ALLIES or FRIENDS of Israel, God will bless them, but if they are ENEMIES of Israel, they will be cursed, which means that the same things that they do to Israel will come back on them. 

 

So as a nation of people, who have the AUTHORITY to put into LEADERSHIP the LEADERS, who will either LEAD that nation to be ALLIES or ENEMIES of Israel, and who will decide whether they, the people, will bring CURSES or BLESSINGS on themselves and on their nation.  BE CAREFUL, who you elect to LEAD your Nation.  “The Day of the Lord is NEAR for ALL nations.”  Judgment is coming!  Where will your nation stand?  Will it be, BLESSINGS or CURSES?

 

REMEMBER, the nation is made up of the people living in that nation.  The outcome of the judgment will depend on the CONDITION of the HEARTS of the people.  Is your HEART, a TRUE REPENTANT HEART that has been OBEDIENT to God and His WILL?  Or are you DISOBEDIENT to the WILL of the Almighty and facing judgment and being sentenced to an eternity in Hell?  In order to ESCAPE judgment and Hell, 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 be OBEDIENT to Him, and be an ALLY to Israel, and bring BLESSINGS on your Nation.   Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"The Day is Near!"

“The Day is Near!”

 

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 13:12

 

 

The NIGHT, which the Apostle Paul is alluding to, in this part of his letter to the Christians in Rome, is referring to the time period where Jesus Christ is absent from the earth and Satan is hard at work, deceiving and destroying mankind and any relationship with the Almighty God.

 

All we need to do is OPEN our eyes and ears and be ALERT.  This world can’t get too much worse morally, than it is already.  The morals of mankind are RAPIDALLY DECAYING and the FILTH and PUTRID environment in which we are living in, is RAPIDALLY DESTROYING the DECENCY of humanity. 

 

Mankind is ALLOWING, and in some cases PARTICIPATING in some of the MOST CORRUPT, INDECENT, behavior known to man.  And it will only get worse, because we are FAST approaching, THE DAY!!  “What exactly is THE DAY?”  You might ask. “THE DAY” is the time when SALVATION for the TRUE BELIEVER, is FINALIZED, with the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.   The time that is between the NIGHT and the DAY is the PRESENT, the time we are living in NOW.

 

We, the TRUE BELIEVERS, are ENCOURAGED by the Apostle Paul to, WAKE UP!  to be ALERT, and to STOP being influenced, and tempted to PARTICIPATE in the deeds of darkness, and to put on the ARMOR of LIGHT.  In other words, we NEED to LIVE in the LIGHT, and to be a LIGHT in this DARK, DEPRAVED, and DOOMED world.   We NEED to let the LIGHT of Jesus shine in us, so that we could LEAD others to the LIGHT, which is the Lord Jesus Christ.  So that they may come out of the DARKNESS, and out from under the control of Satan, and into the LIGHT of SALVATION. 

 

Are you living in the DARKNESS?  You are, if you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God.  But He is giving you the opportunity to escape the DARKNESS and come into the LIGHT, right NOW, The DAY is fast approaching, so don’t put it off any longer.   Come NOW, to Him with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, CONFESSING your sins to Him, and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELILEVING, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and live in the LIGHT, and be a LIGHT to a LOST and DYING world.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"Our Legal Indebtedness"

“Our Legal Indebtedness”

 

 

He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; He has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.                        Colossians 2:13b-14

 

When we are born, we are born with a SIN NATURE, and as we grow and mature, and learn RIGHT from WRONG, we become accountable for our SINS.  We have the choice to do RIGHT or to do WRONG.  It is our decision. 

God provided the LAW, in order to show mankind how we should live our lives and conduct ourselves in and amongst others.  The Law is like a certificate of INDEBTEDNESS.  However mankind is UNABLE to keep ALL the LAW, and because of this the LAW becomes a BILL of INDEBTEDNESS. 

 

People, who cannot pay their BILL of INDEBTEDNESS, were considered criminals, but Jesus Christ, took away their BILL of INDEBTEDNESS with His death.  It was as if He nailed it to the cross and it was evidence of wiping the slate CLEAN.   

 

Those who come to the cross for the FORGIVENESS of their SINS, are CLEANSED and are NO LONGER in a state of LEGAL INDEBTEDNESS.  Because Jesus Christ, PAID IT ALL for ALL, and it is NO LONGER necessary for mankind to be in a STATE of LEGAL INDEBTEDNESS.  Unless they REJECT the PAID IN FULL gift, which is given by the DEATH of Jesus on the cross. 

 

Many miss out on being set FREE from the burden of LEGAL INDEBTEDNESS, which is against us and CONDEMNS us to an eternity in Hell, if we keep REJECTING the PAID IN FULL gift.  Have you come to the CROSS of CHRIST to be FORGIVEN of your LEGAL INDEBTEDNESS of SIN? 

 

If you have NOT come to God for your FREEDOM from LEGAL INDEBTEDNESS, You have 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 be TRULY FREE from your LEGAL INDEBTEDNESS of SIN, which is pulling you into Hell.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Spirit That Indwells You"

“The Spirit That Indwells You”

 

 

But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.  And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of His Spirit who lives in you.        Romans 8:10, 11

 

Because of the sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, PHYSICAL DEATH came to the human body, as well as spiritual death.  God told Adam: “for dust you are and to dust you will return.”  There is no escaping the PHYSICAL DEATH of the human body. 

 

But if Christ dwells in you, by the Holy Spirit of the Living God, then though your body is subject to DEATH, because of SIN, the Spirit gives LIFE, because of RIGHTEOUSNESS. 

 

The Holy Spirit of the Living God, which is implanted in the TRUE BELIEVER at the point of conversion, gives ETERNAL SPIRITUAL LIFE, now, and that same SPIRIT that raised Jesus’ PHYSICAL BODY from the grave, will also raise our PHYSICAL BODIES from the grave, and will give LIFE to them, at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.  We will experience two resurrections, the SPIRITUAL RESURRECTION and the PHYSICAL RESURRECTION.

 

What an AWESOME thought, to KNOW that the power of the SAME HOLY SPIRIT that raised Jesus from the dead indwells the TRUE BELIEVER.  The question is, are we tapping into that POWER, or are we quenching it?   Hopefully we are ALLOWING the Spirit of the Living God to fill us and use us to the potential that He desires.

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you have NO ETERNAL SPIRITUAL LIFE, except for the fact that you will spend ALL ETERNITY in HELL, the place of ETERNAL torture, torment, pain, agony, heartache and despair, with NO WAY of 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 be implanted with the SPIRIT of the LIVING GOD, who will bring ETERNAL SPIRITUAL LIFE to you NOW, and will later bring you ETERNAL PHYSICAL LIFE.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"The Wicked Person"

“The Wicked Person”

 

For the wicked boasts of his heart’s desire; He blesses the greedy and renounces the Lord.  The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God’ God is in none of his thoughts.  His ways are always prospering; Your judgments are far above, out of his sight; as for all his enemies, he sneers at them.  He has said in His heart, “I shall not be moved; I shall never be in adversity.”                 Psalm 10:3-6

 

King David, in this Psalm, gives us a pretty in-depth character analysis of a WICKED person.  I believe that the most striking thing that David brings out is the fact that a WICKED person, “renounces” the Lord.  They do NOT seek God nor is He in their thoughts.   

 

The one thing a WICKED person does is to boast about their WICKED desires, schemes, and deeds.  They are generally arrogant and prideful, forceful and greedy.  They view the one that is living according to God’s laws and precepts as weak and inept, not up to their standards.  The WICKED wants NOTHING to do with them, unless it is to demean and destroy them.  And they will go to ANY extremes to take them down. 

 

The WICKED person seems to prosper in ALL their ways.  Why is that the case?  Because they work according to the ways of this EVIL, WICKED world and will do whatever it takes to accomplish what they desire.  Remember, they are NOT seeking after God or His laws and precepts, but they are following their own WICKED schemes and ways.  They have the mind-set that they will NEVER fall or have to face adversity, they believe they are INVINCIBLE.

 

However, their demise is coming.  In Psalm 11:6, it tells us the plans God has for the WICKED in the judgment of this world, it states:  “Upon the WICKED He will rain coals; Fire and brimstone and a burning wind shall be the portion of their cup.”  They will face the Judgment Seat of God, and will receive their sentence, because of their REJECTION of Him, and His Son, Jesus Christ, and will spend ALL of ETERNITY in Hell, the place of torment, torture, pain, heartache, agony and despair.  Everything they have WICKEDLY SCHEMED to accumulate will be destroyed. 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are one of the WICKED, whether, you are prosperous or not.  Your status in this life will not matter, ONLY what you have accomplished for Christ will matter.  So you MUST turn from your WICKED ways and turn 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 TURN AWAY from your WICKED life-style and FOLLOW the Lord, then receive an ETERNAL HOME in Heaven.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

:"The Gentile Connection with Abraham"

“The Gentile Connection with Abraham”

 

Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous will live by faith.  But the law is not based on faith; instead, the one who does these things will live by them.  Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written:  Everyone who is hung on a tree is cursed. The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles by Christ Jesus, so that we could receive the promised Spirit through faith.      Galatians 3:11-14

 

The law cannot bring JUSTIFICATION.  NO ONE can be JUSTIFIED before Almighty God, by being OBEDIENT to the LAW.  If it were possible to be JUSTIFIED by keeping the law, then JUSTIFICATION and SALVATION would be given by WORKS and not by FAITH.

 

NOBODY is able to keep the WHOLE law, all the time, when one small part is broken then the WHOLE LAW is broken and the person is under the curse, they must CONSTANTLY LIVE by EVERY PART of the law CONTINUALLY, which is IMPOSSIBLE.  The law was given to show mankind how to live in this world, but not to bring JUSTIFICATION and SALVATION.

 

Being legally OBEDIENT to the law was NOT the basis for JUSTIFICATION before the Holy, Righteous God.  So Christ came to REDEEM us from the curse of the law.  He did this by becoming a curse for us, taking on the sins of ALL mankind, past, present, and future sins. He who knew NO sin, became sin, in order for JUSTIFICATION to be made. 

 

The purpose for Christ to come and provide JUSTIFICATION for mankind, Jew and Gentile, was that the Gentiles would be able to receive the blessing of Abraham through Christ Jesus, in order for us to be able to receive the promised Spirit, NOT by OBEDIENCE to the law, but through FAITH.  For it is by FAITH that we are SAVED.  Not by WORKS, least ANY man should boast.   Jesus Christ is the GENTILE CONNECTION to Abraham and God’s blessing on him.

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God then you cannot receive JUSTIFICATION nor partake in the blessing of Abraham, nor receive the promised Spirit of the Living God.  Instead you will be doomed to spend an ETERNITY in Hell, the place of eternal, heartache, agony, torment, torture, pain and despair.  This is your destiny, unless you 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, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and be JUSTIFIED before God, then receive the blessing of Abraham and the promised Spirit, because of your FAITH in your GENTILE and JEWISH CONNECTION.  Do it NOW while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The PERFECT, PERMANENT High Priest"

“The PERFECT, PERMANENT High Priest”

 

…but because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood.  Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.   Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.   Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for His own sins, and then for the sins of the people.  He sacrificed for their sins once for all when He offered Himself.       Hebrews 7:24-27

 

The high priests of the biblical times, were neither PERFECT nor were they PERMANENT in their priesthood.  However, the Son of the Living God became the PERMANENT, PERFECT High Priest.

 

One who is able to SAVE COMPLETELY, which means that the SALVATION, which comes through Jesus Christ, is COMPLETE.  There is nothing that needs to take place or added to the SALVATION PLAN for mankind.  It is COMPLETE from the beginning to the end, the end being the home-going of the TRUE BELIEVER, either through the physical death or the Rapture.  He will see us through to the very end.  He will NEVER LEAVE nor FORSAKE us.  He will be with us through EVERY trial and bring us through EVERY spiritual battle VICTORIOUSLY!  He is FOREVER interceding for us before the Almighty God. 

 

He is ALL we NEED, because He is HOLY, BLAMELESS, PURE, SET APART from sinners, EXALTED above the heavens.  He is SINLESS, and became the ONCE for ALL SACRIFICE for ALL mankind, therefore, He does NOT NEED to offer daily sacrifices for His sins, because He is and has ALWAYS been WITHOUT sin, however mankind is SINFUL, yet, the shedding of His precious blood will cover ALL their sins.  He is the ULTIMATE SACRIFICE, there is NOTHING else that NEEDS to be done or can be done that would be able to bring sinful, wicked, depraved man into a relationship with the Holy, Righteous God.  HE is the PERFECT, PERMANENT HIGH PRIEST, FOREVER INTERCEDING for His own.  Do you belong to Him?

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to Him then you do NOT belong to Him, and He is NOT your PERFECT PERMANENT HIGH PRIEST.  You, along with all the other LOST people will face the Judgment Seat of God, and you will be given your sentence of an ETERNITY in Hell, the place of FOREVER torment, torture, pain, heartache, agony and despair.  Unless, you 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, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and receive the blessings of Jesus, your PERFECT, PERMANENT High Priest, and your PERFECT, PERMANENT HOME, Heaven.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Fighting the Good Fight, Finishing the Race, Keeping the Faith!"

“Fighting the Good Fight, Finishing the Race, Keeping the Faith!”

 

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, will award to me on that day---and not only to me, but to all who have longed for His appearing.                             2 Timothy 4:7-8

 

These are the words of the Apostle Paul to his protégé, Timothy.  Who was a devout Christian, a servant of the Almighty God.  He was a pastor. And the Apostle Paul was his mentor, and as a mentor, Paul wanted to ENCOURAGE Timothy in his ministry in Ephesus. 

 

The Apostle probably had an inclination that his message to Timothy would not be just for Timothy, but it would reach a wider audience of believers and moreover those in the ministry. 

 

In this letter, Paul, who was in a Roman dungeon, when he penned this epistle, must have had a sense that his time was drawing near, when he would be beheaded for his own ministry of spreading the GOSPEL as far as he could.  Therefore, it was of the utmost importance to Paul to ENCOURAGE Timothy to FIGHT the GOOD FIGHT, FINISH the RACE, and KEEP the FAITH.   A message that should resonate in the hearts of every TRUE BELIEVER, and ESPECIALLY those who are called into the ministry. 

 

Earlier in this letter, Paul had said this: “Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”  In other words; you are in a battle, so put on the FULL ARMOR of the Living God, and be prepared to FIGHT the GOOD FIGHT.  And like a runner in a race, DON’T GIVE UP! but PRESS ON to the FINISH LINE, all the while be sure to KEEP the FAITH. 

 

And in so doing, you will WIN the CROWN of RIGHTEOUSNESS, which is being kept for you, and   the Lord, the Righteous Judge, will present it to you on that day, the day of Christ’s return.  You will be side by side with ALL of those who have FOUGHT the GOOD FIGHT, FINISHED the RACE, and KEPT the FAITH.

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you will NOT receive any rewards, much less the Crown of Righteousness, but you will be sentenced to an ETERNITY in Hell, the place of FOREVER torture, torment, heartache, agony, pain and despair, with NO way of 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  FIGHT the GOOD FIGHT, FINISH the RACE, and KEEP the FAITH.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"From Wealth to Poverty, From Poverty to Wealth"

“From Wealth to Poverty, From Poverty to Wealth”

 

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.      2 Corinthians 8:9

 

Few, if any, who are WEALTHY, would be willing to give up ALL they have, to live in POVERTY, for the WELL BEING of others.  Some may give a little or even a lot, but not ALL for the sake of others. 

 

But that is exactly what the Lord Jesus Christ did when He left ALL the RICHES of Heaven to come and live in POVERTY among the wicked, depraved, and sinful humanity.  A world that is consumed with POVERTY in EVERY NATION. 

 

He came, He sacrificed, He gave, and mankind CRUCIFIED Him.  He paid the SIN DEBT of ALL mankind.  He left His WEALTH to live in POVERTY.  The KING of KINGS and the LORD of LORDS, became NOTHING, all for the SALVATION of a sinful, depraved, POVERTY-laden world that would, and still rejects His offer to bring them out of their SIN, DEPRAVITY and POVERTY and into HOLINESS, RIGHTEOUSNESS, and WEALTH.

 

When a person comes to God for the SALVATION of their soul they receive ALL the RICHES of Heaven, because they become JOINT-HEIRS with Jesus Christ to ALL the RICHES and GLORIES of Heaven.  They move from POVERTY to WEALTH, all because Jesus came from the WEALTH of Heaven to live in POVERTY on this earth.  He CAME, SACRIFICED and GAVE Himself for the WELL-BEING of a POOR, SIN-SICK world.

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are LIVING in SPIRITUAL POVERTY, which will lead you to HELL, the place of FOREVER heartache, pain, agony, torment, torture and despair.  But if you 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, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and He will move you from POVERTY to all the WEALTH of Heaven.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"Being Reconciled to God"

“Being Reconciled to God”

 

All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:  that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.  And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us.  We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

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 5:18-21

 

In these verses of Scriptures, we see a two-fold process of the act of reconciliation.  First is the MINISTRY of RECONCILIATION:  This is the WITNESSING process of this ministry and it is the testimony of those who have been reconciled to God.  They MUST SHARE their RECONCILIATION experience with those who NEED to be RECONCILED to God.  They are the AMBASSADORS of Christ, and through them God uses His Holy Spirit to make the appeal for RECONCILIATION.  

 

The second part of this two-fold process is the MESSAGE of RECONCIIATION.  The MESSAGE is that God took His Only Begotten Son and made Him, who had NO SIN to become SIN for US, so that in Him we might become RECONCILED to God and become the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God.  Christ became the ULTIMATE SACRIFICE for this lost and dying world.  A world DRENCHED in SIN and DEPRAVITY.  A world in DESPERATE NEED of being RECONCILED to a HOLY, RIGHTEOUS GOD.  And the ONLY WAY for that to happen was for Christ to come to this world as a man, and to be offered up as the ONLY SACRIFICE that would bring RECONCILIATION between mankind and his CREATOR GOD. 

 

This took place on an old rugged wooden cross, when the Holy RIGHTEOUS God who came in the form of a human being, the Lord Jesus Christ, took on the sins of ALL mankind, past, present and future, He who knew NO SIN, became SIN so that WE might be RECONCILED to God, in order for us to become the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God.  WHAT A MIRACEL of REGENERATION, RESTORATION, and RECONCILIATION to become the RIGHTEOUSNESS of the ALMIGHTY GOD.

 

Have you been RECONCILED to God?  You can be, 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 RECONCILED to Him and receive the HOPE of ETERNAL LIFE in Heaven.  Do it NOW, while you still can. He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!