"Living in Darkness or Living in Light".

“Living in Darkness or Living in Light”

 

This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you:  God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.  If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.  But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.       1 John 1:5-7

 

There are MANY people who claim to have fellowship with God, but they CONTINUE on living in a SINFUL LIFESTYLE.  The Apostle John, informs us that there are TWO different lifestyles; DARKNESS and LIGHT.  He says that God is LIGHT and in Him there is NO darkness AT ALL. 

 

John has spoken many times about the DARKNESS representing SIN, and the LIGHT is God.  You cannot have it both ways.  Many try to live a “double life,” they CLAIM to have FELLOWSHIP with God, yet they CONTINUE to live as the world lives, in DARKNESS.  There is NO WAY this is POSSIBLE.  If you are CLAIMING to have fellowship with God, living in the LIGHT, yet you CONTINUE to live in the DARKNESS, you are LYING, not only to others, but to yourself, as well. 

 

This is a VERY SERIOUS state to be in.  The TRUE BELIEVER is NOT perfect, they still sin, but the difference with a TRUE BELIEVER and those who CLAIM to be, but their lifestyle says differently, is, the TRUE BELIEVER is actually living in the LIGHT, and when they fall to temptation, their sin is illuminated by the LIGHT, and then they are convicted of that sin and will CONFESS it to God, and the blood of Jesus, His Son will purify them from ALL sin.  Those who CLAIM to be a TRUE BELIEVER, yet CONTINUES to live in DARKNESS, are blinded by the lie they are living, and they try to combine their DARKNESS with the LIGHT.

 

This CANNOT be done.  Jesus says:  “So, because you are: “LUKEWARM”---neither HOT nor COLD—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”  (Rev. 3:16)   Which basically tells us that we cannot have it both ways.  We are either living in the DARKNESS or living in the LIGHT.

 

When you come to God for SALVATION, you MUST SEPARATE yourself from your SINFUL lifestyle, living in the DARKNESS, and ACCEPT living TOTALLY in the LIGHT, having your sins illuminated and receiving FORGIVENESS and CLEANSING of ALL your SINS.

 

If you are living in the DARKNESS, and have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, or if you THOUGHT you had given your HEART and LIFE to God, but are CONTINUING to live in the DARKNESS. You are NOT a TRUE BELIEVER, and you have NOT received FORGIVENESS or CLEANSING from your sins, and you are living a lie, which will carry you straight to an ETERNITY in Hell.  But God in His INFINITE MERCY and AMAZING GRACE, 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 come from the DARKNESS into the LIGHT, and TURN AWAY FROM your OLD SINFUL LIFESTYLE and TURN TO GOD, the TRUE LIGHT.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"He Became Poor That You Might Become Rich"

“He Became Poor That You Might Become Rich”

 

You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.  You know that Christ was rich, but for you He became poor so that by His becoming poor you might become rich.         2 Corinthians 8:9

 

 

Jesus Christ left ALL the SPLENDOR and GLORIES of Heaven to come to a DEPRAVED, UNGODLY, HEATHENISTIC world.  A world that would reject Him as the Son of the Almighty God.  A world that would eventually sentence Him, on trumped up charges, to the most WRETCHED kind of execution, ever carried out by mortal man.  A world that STILL REJECTS Him, and persecutes His Children for their beliefs.

 

Jesus, who owned EVERYTHING, sacrificed it ALL, for the REDEMPTION of ALL mankind.  When He came to earth to fulfill the PROMISE of His Heavenly Father.  He wasn’t born to a wealthy family, but a poor family.  When He became a man, He didn’t own a thing, but depended on the generosity of BELIEVERS for the support of His ministry.  He gave up ALL He had so that mankind might be saved.

 

Not only did He, who was beyond being RICH, become POOR in the material aspect, but looking at things from a complete SPIRITUAL aspect, He, who knew NO sin, became SIN, by taking on the sins of ALL mankind, PAST, PRESENT, and  FUTURE.  He paid their debt that they could NOT pay.  He who was RICH in EVERY WAY became POOR for the SALVATION of the world, so that they, who are POOR in EVERY WAY might become RICH. 

 

You may NOT ever become RICH materially, while you are on this earth, but REMEMBER, this earth and EVERYTHING in it is TEMPORARY.  But ETERNITY is FOREVER.  Are you storing up treasures in Heaven?  Are you RICH spiritually?  If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are POOR in EVERY ASPECT of your wretched, sinful life, and will spend ALL ETERNITY in Hell, the place of ETERNAL torment, torture, pain, agony, heartache and despair.  However, if you TURN AWAY from your sins, 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, and ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and come out of your POOR, WRETCHED, SPIRITUALLY BANKRUPT LIFE and into a RICH, GLORIFIED, SANCTIFIED, SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE, then you can receive the ETERNAL RICHES of Heaven.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Revelation of the Children of God"

“The Revelation of the Children of God”

 

For the creation waits in eager expectation for the Children of God to be revealed.   For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the One who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the Children of God.       Romans 8:19-21

 

When Adam and Eve DISOBEYED God, in the Garden of Eden, they SINNED against God, and because of their DISOBEDIENCE, they were JUDGED and found GUILTY.  This JUDGMENT not only effected mankind, but it also brought about a curse on all of God’s creation. 

 

And that curse will not be broken until the RETURN of Jesus Christ to the earth, to REVEAL the Children of God.  At that time they will be TRANSFORMED and will share in the GLORY of Christ Jesus.  Their SALVATION will be COMPLETE. And ALL of creation will be LIBERATED from its BONDAGE of DECAY and it will finally be brought into the FREEDOM and GLORY of God’s Children. 

 

The Scripture says that creation waits in “EAGER EXPECTATION” for the time when Christ returns to collect ALL of God’s Children and then will set up His Messianic Kingdom on earth.  It is part of God’s plan, for a NEW CREATION, this will happen in two stages:  First, will be a renovation, of sorts, when He returns to set up His Kingdom on earth.  But the Second stage: will be when the Old Creation is destroyed by fire and a NEW Creation will be formed, a NEW HEAVEN and a NEW EARTH will be created. 

 

Now we can understand why Creation today, is waiting with EAGER EXPECTATION.  It will definitely be LIBERATED and brought into the FREEDOM and GLORY of the Children of God.  EVERYTHING will be made BRAND NEW. 

 

There will be NO MORE SIN, Satan, or physical DECAY.  What a GLORIOUS TIME that will be.  Are you READY?  If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God then you are NOT a Child of God and you will be spending your eternity in HELL, the place of UNENDING, torment, torture, pain, heartache, agony and despair, with NO WAY of ESCAPE.  You will not be LIBERATED or FREE from God’s condemnation on the UNGODLY.  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 become a Child of God, who will be transformed into a GLORIOUS BODY, and will spend an ETERNITY in Heaven, FREE and LIBERATED.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"The Cost of Freedom"

“The Cost of Freedom”

 

But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.         Isaiah 63:5

 

Many will be celebrating Memorial Day with their family and friends, this weekend, there will be beach excursions, picnics, boating, swimming, fishing and sports.  Now, these things are fine and fun, but some will be decorating graves, and tears will be shed for their loved ones who have sacrificed so much.  And I wonder how many will stop and think about those who shed their blood and gave their life, in order to preserve these and other freedoms that we enjoy.  After all that is what Memorial Day is all about, REMEMBERING those who have given their ALL, those who have sacrificed THEIR lives so we could enjoy OURS. 

 

There was One who gave His ALL, so mankind could be FREE from their SINS, and face an ETERNITY in Heaven a man named Jesus, who was beaten beyond recognition, spit upon, taunted, humiliated like nothing we have ever experienced or will ever experience.  Then He was nailed to a rugged cross, pierced for OUR transgressions, crushed for OUR iniquities; OUR punishment was on Him. 

 

The King of kings and Lord of lords GAVE His life, so that ALL mankind might be set FREE from their sinful lives.  It was by His wounds that we are healed, NOT a physical healing, but a SPIRITUAL healing for our poor, wretched, SIN-SICK soul. 

 

When we think about our FREEDOM, let us NOT FORGET, the REAL, EVERLASTING FREEDOM, that some of us, who have given our HEARTS and LIVES to Jesus Christ, enjoys, along with the HOPE of an ETERNITY in Heaven. 

 

Our BRAVE men and women who have, throughout the history  of our GREAT Nation, paid the ultimate cost for OUR freedom, deserves to be REMEMBERED and HONORED, but the ONE who has REDEEMED US and SET US FREE for ALL ETERNITY, very much DESERVES to be REMEMBERED and HONORED, and NOT just today but EVERY SINGLE DAY. 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are NOT TRULY FREE, but you are living in BONDAGE to your sinful lifestyle, and facing an ETERNITY in Hell, the place of UNENDING torment, torture, pain, agony, heartache and despair, with NO WAY of escape.  But God has a plan for your SPIRITUAL HEALING and TRUE, EVERLASTING FREEDOM, which 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 be TRULY SET FREE with the HOPE of ETERNITY in Heaven.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Whom Have I in Heaven but You?"

“Whom Have I in Heaven but You?”

 

Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.  But as for me, it is good to be near God.  I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.       Psalm 73:27-28

 

The Psalmist Asaph, knew full well, the demise of those whose lives are far from God and His laws.  Those who are UNFAITHFUL, He will DESTROY. That is what ETERNITY holds for the UNBELIEVER, the one who lives a corrupt, sinful, depraved life.  The one who is FAR from God, in other words, the one who has NO relationship with God, but embraces the world and its life-style. 

 

But for the TRUE BELIEVER, it is GOOD to be NEAR God for He is their REFUGE, a SHELTER from danger, but NOT ONLY a SHELTER, He is also their SALVATION, and when a person comes to God with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, seeking a REFUGE for their sin-laden, weary soul, they receive not only a REFUGE, but SALVATION too.  And their destiny is a home in Heaven with God. 

 

The TRUE BELIEVER will receive a better, more balanced view of life and be more equipped to live a RIGHTEOUS life, on earth, because of their RELATIONSHIP with God.  It TRULY is a GOOD thing to be NEAR to God, and to follow His laws.

 

 God is our ONLY HOPE for an eternity in Heaven.  Through the SACRIFICE of His ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, Jesus Christ, we have SALVATION, and are guaranteed an ETERNAL HOME in Heaven.  Since Jesus Christ is God in the flesh, who else in Heaven can provide these things for us, but God?  So the Psalmist was right on spot when he said:  “Whom have I in heaven but you?”

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are one of the UNFAITHFUL, an UNBELIEVER, and you are facing DESTRUCTION.  You will perish, you will be spending your ETERNITY in a place called Hell, the place of UNENDING torment, torture, heartache, pain, agony and despair, unless you TURN AWAY from your sinful life 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 let Him be your REFUGE, then you can say: “Whom have I in Heaven but you?”  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"FAITH = Righteousness and Justification"

“FAITH = Righteousness and Justification”

 

The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.  He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.      Romans 4:23-25

 

Because of Abraham’s FAITH, “it was credited to him” the “IT” is RIGHTEOUSNESS.  God credited Abraham with RIGHTEOUSNESS because he believed in God and His promises.  But the phrase “it was credited to him” was not written for Abraham alone, it is also applicable to us, today, at least to those who BELIEVE in God and His power to raise the Lord Jesus from the dead.

 

There can be NO redemption of mankind without the DEATH and RESURRECTION of Jesus our Lord. We must have FAITH like Abraham in order to have RIGHTEOUSNESS and JUSTIFICATION credited to us.  We must BELIEVE that Jesus was delivered over to death for OUR sins and was RAISED to LIFE for our JUSTIFICATION.  JUSTIFICATION is the act by which a sinner is freed from their sin through their faith, and credited to them by God as RIGHTEOUSNESS.

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God then you have NOT been credited with RIGHTEOUSNESS and JUSTIFICATION, but are condemned to an ETERNITY in Hell because of your UNBELIEF.  However, God is giving you the opportunity NOW, to turn AWAY from your SINS and to turn 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 have RIGHTEOUSNESS and JUSTIFICATION credited to you, and escape the HORRORS of HELL.  Do it NOW, while you still can. He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"Acknowledgement, Confession, Forgiveness"

“Acknowledgement, Confession, Forgiveness”

 

Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.  I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.”  And you forgave the guilt of my sin.       Psalm 32:5

 

David, a man after God’s own heart.  David sinned against God, and he ACKNOWLEDGED his sin to God, he was OPEN with his ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, and he did NOT try to hide or cover it up, because he realized that he COULD NOT hide or cover it up.  He knew that God KNEW ALL about it.  And because of his relationship with God, David ACKNOWLEDGED the sin and CONFESSED it to the Lord.  And God was FAITHFUL to FORGIVE David, and released him from the guilt that the sin caused.

 

In my opinion, David can be classified as a TRUE BELIVER.  And because he was a TRUE BELIEVER, he felt GUILT and REMORSE for his shortcomings, so much so that it actually made him physically sick.  He KNEW that his only HOPE was to ACKNOWLEDGE and CONFESS his sins to God and to SEEK His FORGIVENESS.  When David carried out this scenario, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART then God would FORGIVE and release him from the GUILT of his sin.

 

This is evidence that a person is a TRUE BELIEVER, when they are CONVICTED of their sin, by the work of the HOLY SPIRIT, which is indwelling them, and they ACKNOWLEDGE and CONFESS their sin to God, then SEEK His FORGIVENESS of the sin or sins, then and ONLY then will they be RELEASED from the GUILT of that sin. 

 

If you do NOT come under CONVICTION, and you feel NO GUILT or REMORSE, and you do NOT feel like you need to ACKNOWLEDGE and CONFESS your sins to God and SEEK His FORGIVENESS, then either the Holy Spirit is on a leave of absence, and in a TRUE BELIEVER, that will NEVER happen OR He has never taken up residence in your HEART, because you have NEVER TRULY come to God with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART to begin with. 

 

But God in His infinite MERCY and amazing GRACE, has provided for the UNBELIEVER an opportunity to come to Him NOW, and begin a RIGHTEOUS RELATIONSHIP with Him, by coming with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, ACKNOWLEDGING your sins, and CONFESSING them 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 become a TRUE BELIEVER.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Adopted Child"

“The Adopted Child”

 

For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.  For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.  The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.  And by Him we cry, “Abba, Father.”  The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.  Now if we are children, then we are heirs---heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.          Romans 8:13-17

 

The Apostle Paul tells the believers in Rome, about their ADOPTION into God’s family. He begins with how they should live their lives.  He tells them that to live according to the flesh, will bring them death.  Paul doesn’t mean that the TRUE BELIEVER of Christ, who might be living in sin, would die an ETERNAL DEATH in Hell, but that they would NOT enjoy the blessings of living a SPIRIT-FILLED life now and would miss out on receiving any future, ETERNAL REWARDS in Heaven.  They would miss out on being LED by God’s Spirit and enjoying the FREEDOM of being REDEEMED.  Instead, they would live a life of SHAME and GUILT, like an UNBELIEVER.  But if by the Spirit of God, you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, and will be considered a Child of God.

 

 

The Spirit of God brings ADOPTION into God’s Holy Family to ALL TRUE BELIEVERS.  And because of this SPECIAL relationship with God, we are able to cry “ABBA, Father.”  This is a very endearing and intimate title, indicating the type of relationship we have with our Father God.  And because of this SPECIAL relationship the Spirit Himself, testifies that we are God’s children.

 

And since we are God’s children, we are also HEIRS---Heirs of our Father God and CO-Heirs with Christ Jesus, if we are willing to share in His sufferings, so that we might be able to share in His glory.  This also means, to be able to make sacrifices, and to put the well-being of others before our own.  To LIVE for Christ, and to exemplify His LOVE, MERCY and GRACE to a LOST and DYING WORLD. 

 

Have you received your ADOPTION into God’s Holy Family?  Are you considered His Child, His Heir and co-heir with Christ Jesus, to ALL the glories of Heaven?   In order to receive all of these SPECIAL BLESSINGS, 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 His ADOPTED CHILD, HEIR, and CO-HEIR with Christ Jesus.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"What Doe the Future Hold?"

“What Does the Future Hold?”

 

In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.                          2 Timothy 3:12-13

 

 

We who are TRUE BELIEVERS, will face PERSECUTION of some sort.  We may not be flogged, beaten, tortured, or have our children ripped from our arms and thrown to hungry lions, or our loved ones executed before our very eyes.  But we will experience some form of PERSECUTION, because of our FAITH.

 

 When we had the Presidential elections, a lot of us that are TRUE BELIEVERS, feared that if one of the candidates got into office, our God-given rights, our religious freedoms, would be taken from us, because of the mindset and speeches made by this one candidate.  But PRAISE be to God, He heard and answered our prayers, and that candidate LOST the election. 

 

If they would have won the election I’m sure the PEOPLE of FAITH, would be suffering some form of persecution.  We are NOT out of the woods, yet, for we are living in the LAST DAYS, and PERILOUS TIMES await us, even WORSE than we might think.  Paul in his letter to Timothy says; “evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”  We haven’t seen ANYTHING yet, folks, not like what lies ahead.  We MUST be READY, and we do that by TRUSTING in God, STANDING STEADFAST on His PROMISES, being FAITHFUL to His WORD, and SEEKING HIS FACE DAILY (praying).

 

We should be LOOKING and LISTENING for His SOON return.  The RAPTURE of the SAINTS of God, to be taken to their ETERNAL HOME, Heaven.  The place of ETERNAL BLISS, where there will be NO MORE EVILDOERS or IMPOSTORS to bring PERSECUTION on God’s People.  NO more burdens to bear, NO more heartaches there, only PEACE, LOVE, and JOY like we have NEVER KNOWN. 

 

What does your future hold?  If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are headed for DESTRUCTION in a place called Hell, where you will suffer; torment, torture, pain, agony, heartache, and despair for ALL of ETERNITY 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 ASSURED of the HOPE of HEAVEN, for ALL of ETERNITY.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"The Rock"

“The Rock”

 

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.      Psalm 18:2

He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense I shall not be greatly moved.      Psalm 62:6

In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.     Psalm 62:7

 

The Psalmist David, wrote many Psalms, in which he referred to the Lord as his ROCK.  These verses are but a few.  I wanted us to see David’s HEART, a man who was after God’s own HEART.  A man who realized where his STRENGTH came from, and that the Lord was his FORTRESS and DELIVERER, SHIELD and the HORN of his SALVATION, and his STRONGHOLD.

 

Jesus Christ, the Rock, the HORN of OUR SALVATION.  Without Jesus, there would be no SALVATION.  It is ONLY by the SHEDDING of His PRECIOUS blood that we have the SALVATION of our souls.  He is the ROCK!

 

He is our DELIVERER, it was by God’s own plan that the Lord Jesus Christ come to this earth, live a short life, and suffer and die, in order to REDEEM mankind from their sins.  He is our DELIVERER.  He is the ROCK!

 

He is WORTHY of our TRUST, because in Him is our STRENGTH and our STRONGHOLD.  When we are WEAK, He is STRONG, therefore, we can CONFIDENTLY put our TRUST in Him, because He is the ROCK!

 

He is our DEFENSE, defending our position in Him, the JUSTIFICATION of our right standing with God, and therefore we shall not be GREATLY moved.   Our right standing with God will not be removed, because it is ETERNAL. 

 

We can be assured of the HOPE of our SALVATION, because He is the ROCK of our STRENGTH, and our REFUGE is in Christ and Christ ALONE.  He ONLY is our ROCK.

Is He YOUR ROCK, FORTRESS, DELIVERER, SHIELD, the HORN of your SALVATION, STRENGTH, STRONGHOLD, and your DEFENSE?  He is NOT if you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, but He can be ALL of this and SO much MORE, if you will 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 let Him be your ROCK, FORTRESS, DELIVERER, SHIELD, HORN of your SALVATION, STRENGTH, STRONGHOLD, and your DEFENSE.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Enemies of the Cross of Christ"

“The Enemies of the Cross of Christ”

 

For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.  Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame.  Their mind is set on earthly things.      Philippians 3:18-19

 

The Apostle Paul was deeply concerned for the SPIRITUAL WELFARE of the believers in Philippi.  So much so, that he was moved to tears as he OFTEN warned them of those who were considered to be ENEMIES of the CROSS of Christ.  Those who preached and taught a different doctrine than that of Paul.  The Apostle Paul preached and taught ONLY the TRUE WORD of God. 

 

These false teachers trusted in their own abilities and achievements, instead of trusting in the sufficiency of Jesus Christ alone.  This was proof enough to know that they were NOT children of the Living God.  And that they were headed for DESTRUCTION, this does not mean complete annihilation but being totally separated from the presence of the Almighty God throughout eternity.

 

“Their god is their stomach,” tells us that they were ONLY interested in the desires of their own hearts, and more or less, gorged themselves on their own sinful cravings. 

 

“Their glory was in their shame,” instead of giving God glory, they took all the PRAISE and ACCOLADES for themselves.  They were PROUD of their sinful actions.

 

“Their minds were on earthly things,” They had the mindset of depending on EARTHLY THINGS, to try and gain God’s merits.  Paul warned the Believers in Philippi, to NOT live such a lifestyle.  It was TRULY NOT God’s plans.

 

This is a VERY IMPORTANT message for ALL BELIEVERS today, we SHOULD FOLLOW the Word of God and model our lives after those who are TRUE BELIEVERS.  Those who are NOT  interested in the desires and sinful cravings of the heart, those who do NOT seek PRAISE and ACCOLADES for themselves, and are NOT PROUD of their sinful actions, and those who have NOT set their minds ONLY on earthly things.  But have wholly set their HEARTS and SOULS on FOLLOWING God and His plans, and TRUSTING HIM for all their needs. 

 

Are you like the false teachers?  Following your own selfish ambitions and sinful desires?  If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God then your answer has to be YES to both questions.  You, then are considered to be an ENEMY of the CROSS of CHRIST, and your destiny is DESTRUCTION in HELL, the place of ETERNAL torment, torture, agony, pain, heartache, and despair, with NO WAY of ESCAPE.  Your ONLY HOPE, is 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 DON’T be an ENEMY of the CROSS of Christ, but FOLLOW Him to Heaven, your NEW HOME, where you will live for ALL ETERNITY.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

"Lord, Guard My Mouth and My Heart!"

“Lord, Guard My Mouth and My Heart!”

 

Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.  Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil so that I take part in wicked deeds along with those who are evildoers; do not let me eat their delicacies.        Psalm 141:3-4

 

This Psalm is one of David’s evening prayers for SANCTIFICATION and PROTECTION.  David knew how wicked the mouth can be, so he called upon the Lord to “set a guard over his mouth,” and a “watch over the door of his lips,” in order for his speech to NOT be against God and His laws.  David knew that the tongue was, as James, a disciple of Jesus, wrote, “a world of evil among the parts of the body.  It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.”  (James 3:6)  

 

In order to be SANCTIFIED, David knew that one of the most evil parts of his body was his MOUTH. It corrupts the WHOLE body, and it needed a GUARD over it, and a watch over his lips to keep him from SINNING against God. 

 

Then David asked God to KEEP his HEART from being drawn to evil so that he would NOT participate in WICKED deeds.  David was asking God to help him STAY AWAY from temptation, and partaking in those WICKED deeds with those who are evildoers.  The very last statement:  “do not let me eat their delicacies” refers to the sensual pleasures procured by their WICKED deeds. 

 

David knew that he could not obtain SANCTIFICATION if he allowed his speech to be that of an evil nature or his deeds to be tainted by WICKEDNESS that was in his HEART.  He wanted to be PLEASING to Almighty God, and wanted very much to be SANCTIFIED by God. 

 

This SHOULD BE the prayer of EVERY TRUE BELIEVER that God would GUARD our MOUTH and HEART, and would SANCTIFY and PROTECT us from falling into TEMPTATION, and being UNFAITHFUL to Him.

 

If you are NOT a TRUE BELIEVER that is if you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then your MOUTH and HEART are UNGUARDED and you are using them to do WICKED deeds, which will send you to Hell, the place of UNENDING torture, torment, heartache, pain, agony, and despair.  However, you can change that destination by coming to God with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, CONFESSING your sins to Him, and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you before God, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and let Him GUARD your MOUTH and HEART, so that you might receive SANCTIFICATION and PROTECTION.  Do it NOW, while you still can, He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"The Coming Day of Judgment"

“The Coming Day of Judgment”

 

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.     2 Peter 2:4-9

 

Throughout the Bible, God has revealed His plans for the ungodly, those who PRACTICE the ungodly deeds and desires of their wicked hearts.  He tells us that their destiny is DESTRUCTION.  The Apostle Peter, in this second letter, gives us some examples of God’s RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT. 

 

The first example is; the fallen angels, those who rebelled against God, if God, in His RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT, punished angels, He certainly will NOT hesitate to punish UNGODLY PEOPLE.  These fallen angels are being held in chains of darkness, in Hell, until their final destination, the Lake of Fire, is carried out.  There is NO future trial, their fate is already sealed. 

 

The second example is; the ancient world, God destroyed the world by the GREAT FLOOD.  The people of Noah’s day were wicked and corrupt, they were very ungodly, and the only righteous ones were Noah and his family.  Noah preached and preached for the people to REPENT, or face the JUDGMENT of God.  But the people laughed at Noah and thought he was an old, crazy man.  They REFUSED to listen and to heed Noah’s pleas.  So God in His RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT, DESTROYED THE WORLD, covering it in DEEP, DEEP WATER, and saving ONLY Noah and his family, and two of every kind of animal, male and female. 

 

The third example is; the DESTRUCTION of Sodom and Gomorrah, by burning them to ashes. God made them an example of what will happen to the ungodly at the COMING JUDGMENT.  Yet He rescued Lot, a RIGHTEOUS man, who lived among the ungodly of Sodom and Gomorrah, and who daily, saw the BLATANT WICKEDNESS and UNGODLY BEHAVIOR, which tormented Lot in his soul. 

All of these examples shows us that God, the RIGHTEOUS JUDGE, WILL, bring RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT on this CORRUPT, UNGODLY, WICKED WORLD.  Judgment Day is COMING!  What will be your destiny?  Will you face DESTRUCTION?  Or will you be SPARED and face an ETERNITY in Heaven?  The ONLY way you can be SPARED from the COMING JUDGMENT of the UNGODLY, is 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 be RESCUED from the COMING JUDGMENT of the UNGODLY, and spend ALL of ETERNITY in Heaven.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"Mankind Reaps What They Sow"

“Mankind Reaps What They Sow”

 

Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.        Galatians 6:8

The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.      Psalm 37:29

But all sinners will be destroyed; there will be no future for the wicked.      Psalm 37:38

 

All of mankind will stand before the Judgment Seat of God, and give an account of their deeds.  Those who have sown to please the FLESH, will REAP DESTRUCTION, but whoever sows to please the SPIRIT, will REAP ETERNAL LIFE, in Heaven.

 

In Psalm 37, King David gives us a pretty CLEAR and CONCISE picture of the destinies of both the RIGHTEOUS and the UNRIGHTEOUS, or the BELIEVER and the UNBELIEVER.  In verse 10, David says:  “the wicked will be no more,” and in verse 11 he says:  “But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.”  In verse 20, he says:  “But the wicked will perish.”  Verse 22, “Those the Lord blesses will inherit the land, but those He curses will be destroyed.”  Verse 28, “Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed; the offspring of the wicked will perish. “  Verse 29, “The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.”  And lastly, verse 38, “But all sinners will be destroyed; there will be no future for the wicked.

 

David goes on to say:  “The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; He is their stronghold in time of trouble.”  When a person sows to please the FLESH, when they are living in a SINFUL, WICKED lifestyle, their destiny is DESTRUCTION, when they CONTINUALLY  REJECT the Lord’s gift of SALVATION for their own sinful desires, then they are DOOMED to spend an ETERNITY in Hell, the place of UNENDING torment, torture, pain, heartache, and despair, with NO WAY of escape.  However, you can turn away from that sinful lifestyle and sow to please the SPIRIT of God NOT the FLESH.  Choose ETERNAL LIFE in Heaven, over DESTRUCTION and Hell.

 

You do that by, NOT sowing to please the FLESH, and 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 begin sowing to please the SPIRIT of God.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Ultimate Conqueror"

“The Ultimate Conqueror”

 

If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first.  If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own.  As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.    Remember what I told you:  ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’  If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also.  If they obeyed My teaching they will obey yours also.            John 15:18-20

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.          John 16:33

 

We, who are TRUE BELIEVERS, live in a world that is quickly becoming ANTI-CHRISTIAN.  In many areas it is already there.  Jesus tells his disciples that the world hates them because it hated Him first, and if you belonged to the world, it would LOVE you as its own.  But because He chose them to be separated from the world and its worldly ways, they did NOT belong to the world.  

 

So it is with the TRUE BELIEVERS.  We along with our lifestyle are HATED by the world, for exactly the SAME reasons as the disciples, we were CHOSEN by Christ Jesus to be separated from the world and ALL its ways.  Jesus goes on to say that “if they persecuted Him, they WILL also persecute us.  ‘A servant is NOT greater than his master.’ Since they persecuted Him they WILL also persecute us, because we, his servants are NOT greater than Christ, our master.

 

He is issuing this warning ahead of time so they will be prepared and will NOT fall away.  This warning is for us today also.  We need to be prepared in our minds and hearts so we are able to withstand the actions of a LOST and DYING world.  We too can be VICTORIOUS, because of the work of God’s Holy Spirit, which indwells all TRUE BELIEVERS. 

 

Jesus, then encourages them by saying;   “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have PEACE.  In this world you will have TROUBLE.  But take heart!  I have OVERCOME the world.”   One day we will see the KING OF KINGS take His RIGHTFUL throne and EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, and EVERY TONGUE WILL CONFESS that JESUS CHRIST is LORD!!!

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you’re a part of the world and are participating in its ways.  This world, as we know it NOW, will one day, PASS AWAY, and ALL the EVIL and WICKEDNESS will be gone, along with those who have participated in it.  Is this your destiny?  You can change your ways 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 become a TRUE BELIEVER with THE ULTIMATE CONQUEROR as your King.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!       

"The Seen and the Unseen"

“The Seen and the Unseen”

 

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.            2 Corinthians 4:18

 

As TRUE BELIEVERS, we should NOT FIX or FOCUS on what is seen.  In other words, THIS is NOT all there is.  This LIFE and world in which we live is TEMPORARY.  One day it will ALL be gone, because on that ONE day, God will do away with this LIFE and world.  “The present heavens and earth are reserved for FIRE, being kept for the Day of Judgment and destruction of the ungodly.”   (2 Peter 3:7)  

 

So the Apostle Paul, tells the TRUE BELIEVERS in Corinth, that ALL the things we can see now are TEMPORARY and we should NOT FOCUS or FIX ALL our attention on the “SEEN” things, the TEMPORARY things.  But we should FOCUS on the UNSEEN, because the UNSEEN is ETERNAL.  “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard and what no human mind has conceived---the things God has prepared for those who love Him.”  (1 Corinthians 2:9).  

 

This LIFE as we know it will one day be gone.  And the ones who have NOT given their HEARTS and LIVES to God, will be destroyed along with this wicked world in which we are living.  The TRUE BELIEVERS in Christ Jesus, those who have given their HEARTS and LIVES to Him will be SAFE and SECURE in HEAVEN, their ETERNAL HOME.  Where is your destiny?  Heaven or Hell?

 

You can have an ETERNAL HOME in Heaven too, if you will 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 FIX your eyes on the UNSEEN, the ETERNAL THINGS, those promises of God.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming Soon!!!

 

 

"Taking Hold of the Prize"

“Taking Hold of the Prize”

 

I have not yet reached my goal, and I am not perfect.  But Christ has taken hold of me.  So I keep on running and struggling to take hold of the prize.  My friends, I don’t feel I have arrived.  But I forget what is behind, and I struggle for what is ahead.   I run toward the goal, so I can win the prize of being called to heaven.  This is the prize God offers because of what Christ Jesus has done.         Philippians 3:12-14

 

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the believers in Philippi, uses the analogy of a Greek foot race, with the life of a TRUE BELIEVER of Jesus Christ.  He starts out with the statement that he has NOT yet reached his goal, and that he is NOT perfect. 

 

So we see in Paul, a runner, who is NOT perfect, but because of what Christ Jesus has done for him, he will be STEADFAST and STRONG.  He will NOT give up or give in, but will KEEP ON running and struggling to TAKE HOLD of the prize.  Paul didn’t feel as if he had already reached his goal, he didn’t look back at his past, which would have been a STUMBLING BLOCK, and would have slowed him down, but he PERSERVERED and kept STRUGGLING for what was ahead.  His course was toward the goal of WINNING the PRIZE of being able to spend an ETERNITY, with God, in Heaven, ALL because of what Christ Jesus has done, in order to provide the way towards the goal.

 

Oh for sure, it is NOT a CLEAR, SMOOTH PATH, which is free from obstacles, trials, and tests, but all along the way there are things that help make the race possible to win.  Things like, the PRAYERS and ENCOURAGEMENT of other believers, but the MOST EFFECTIVE thing is the work of the HOLY SPIRIT that indwells us, and when we are OBEDIENT and SUBMISSIVE to Him, we can, like the Apostle Paul, be a VICTOR in the race.  And we will enjoy an ETERNITY in Heaven with God and Christ Jesus, sharing in their GLORY.

 

However, if you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are LOSING big time, in the race, and your fate is an ETERNITY in Hell, the place of FOREVER torment, torture, pain, agony, heartache and despair, with NO WAY of escape.  You are given the invitation NOW, to enter the race toward the goal of the PRIZE of an ETERNITY in Heaven and sharing in all its glories, but you must prepare for the race 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 enter the race, STEADFAST and STRONG, running and struggling  to reach the goal of that ETERNAL PRIZE.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!