"The Ministry and Message of Reconciliation"

“The Ministry and Message of Reconciliation”

 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.  All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.           2 Corinthians 5:17-19

 

The MINISTRY of RECONCILIATION is the act of being RECONCILED, brought together or brought into HARMONY with one another. When mankind was/is made a NEW CREATION in Christ Jesus, when their OLD LIFESTYLE has passed away, and the NEW has come. 

 

This is made possible ONLY through their ACCEPTANCE of the SACRIFICAL ACT, which was carried out by the Lord Jesus Christ, who DIED on the CROSS for the SINS of ALL mankind, PAST, PRESENT, and FUTURE.  God made Him to be SIN who KNEW NO SIN.  He took on Himself ALL the sins of EVERYONE, man, woman and child, who had ever lived, was living at the present time, or who would ever be born in the future time.  Jesus Christ DIED in OUR place, in order for mankind to be RECONCILED to God.  This is the MINISTRY of RECONCILIATION.

 

The MESSAGE OF RECONCILATION  is that  God so loved the WORLD that He gave His ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, that whosoever believes on Him, should NOT perish, but have ETERNAL LIFE in Heaven.  Mankind has been given the gift of SALVATION, and the HOPE of HEAVEN for ALL of ETERNITY. Which was made possible by the DEATH, BURIAL, and RESURRECTION of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

 

You can’t BUY, BARTER OR BARGAIN SALVATION.  It is a GIFT from God to ALL who will come to Him with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, WILLING to SURRENDER themselves to Him, and to be WILLING to CONFESS their SINS to HIM, TURNING AWAY FROM their OLD, SINFUL LIFESTYLE, and TURNING TO God, asking Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING, with ALL their HEART that Jesus died for THEM, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for them, before God, then ACCEPTING His gift of SALVATION, and being RECONCILED with God, and ESCAPING the HORRORS of an ETERNITY in HELL.   This is the MESSAGE of RECONCILATION.  Will you ACCEPT it NOW?  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"Being a Light"

“Being a Light”

 

“You are the light of the world.  A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.   Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.   In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven.            Matthew 5:14-16

 

We live in a DARK, DEPRAVED world.  A world shrouded in DARKNESS, because of the EVIL, DEPRAVITY of the minds of those who are LOST and LIVING in the DARKNESS.  Jesus tells His followers that they are the “LIGHT of the WORLD, “and they must LET their LIGHTS SHINE in order for it to dispel the DARKNESS.  They are to LIGHT the path to an ETERNITY in Heaven, for others to see.

 

They are NOT to try and conceal their LIGHT, but to let it SHINE like a beacon that illuminates a town, on a hill that cannot be hidden.  They are to put their LIGHT on a LAMPSTAND to give LIGHT to those who are in the DARKNES of a house.  So that they might be drawn to the LIGHT, and receive a NEW life, and they will NEVER live in DARKNESS AGAIN.

 

They will walk or LIVE in the LIGHT.  Jesus 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)   In the same way, we, the TRUE BELIEVERS are the LIGHT of the World, and we need to let our LIGHTS SHINE before others, so they might SEE our GOOD deeds, and GLORIFY our Heavenly Father.   Are you a TRUE BELIEVER, who’s LIGHT may be dimming?  Jesus wants your LIGHT to SHINE BRIGHT, in order for that to happen you must CONFESS your sins to Him and RESTORE your relationship with Him. 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are LIVING in DARKNESS, and you NEED to come into the LIGHT, and RECEIVE SALVATION for your sin-sick soul, and ESCAPE an ETERNITY in Hell with ALL of its HORRORS, and RECEIVE an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL of its BLESSINGS and REWARDS.  You MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, come out of the DARKNESS, TURN TO God, and come into the LIGHT, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, CONFESING 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 LIGHT of the World, dispelling the DARKNESS of a LOST, DARK, and DYING world.  DO it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"Our Hope, His Unfailing Love"

“Our Hope, His Unfailing Love”

 

We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.   In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name.  May Your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in You.           Psalm 33:20-22

 

We live in a world of UNCERTAINTIES, and are faced with decisions that will or could alter our lifestyles, according to what we say or do.  As God’s Children, we NEED to depend on His WISDOM and GUIDANCE in our decision making process. 

 

The Psalmist says; “We WAIT in HOPE for the Lord;”  sometimes we are put into God’s WAITING ROOM, which can be nerve-wracking at times, because we wonder if He has forgotten about us, due to the length of time we seem to be spending there.  However, if we will WAIT in HOPE, realizing that He is our HELP and our SHIELD, and we can put our HOPE in Him, TRUSTING in His TIMING, and relying on His WISDOM.  Our HEARTS can TRULY rejoice in Him, because we can TRUST in His HOLY NAME. 

 

We can experience His UNFAILING LOVE, because we put our FAITH and HOPE in Him, to give us the GUIDANCE and DIRECTION that He PROVIDES.  We will be VICTORIOUS in our DECISION making, and can REST ASSURED, with PEACE in our HEART, that we are where we are supposed to be, according to His will, because we put OUR HOPE in HIS UNFAILING LOVE.  Do you possess HOPE in His UNFAILING LOVE?

 

This is the MOST IMPORTANT LIFE-CHANGING decision you will EVER make.  It will determine your ETERNAL DESTINATION.  If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are LOST and in NEED of a LOVING SAVIOR, who will NOT only PROVIDE ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, for you, but He will SECURE it.  Your alternative is an ETERNITY in Hell, the place of UNENDING torment, torture, pain, heartache, agony and despair, with NO WAY of ESCAPE.  However, if you will TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL lifestyle, 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 put your HOPE in His UNFAILING LOVE, because He is your HELP and your SHIELD in this life.  You will have ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

"God's Instructions, Teachings, and Counselling"

“God’s Instructions, Teachings, and Counselling”

 

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.       Psalms 32:8

 

Some believe these words to be those of David, speaking to his readers, others believe it to be those of God speaking to David’s heart.  Either way, my thought is to OUR response to God’s INSTRUCTIONS, TEACHINGS and COUNSELLING, whether they come to us through DIRECT communication with God, i.e. PRAYER, or through the gifted people that God gives us to help INSTRUCT, TEACH or COUNSEL us, in living and surviving as His Children, on this wicked, sinful, and depraved earth.

 

A lot of times, many will REJECT His INSTRUCTIONS, TEACHINGS, and COUNSELLING, because they cannot ACCEPT what God EXPECTS of them, as His Children, they either don’t UNDERSTAND or they don’t want to CHANGE their lifestyle.  So they REBEL against the INSTRUCTIONS TEACHINGS and COUNSELLING, regardless of who delivers it. 

 

PAINFUL as it might be, to SURRENDER to the INSTRUCTIONS, TEACHINGS and COUNSELLINGS, we NEED it to GUARD and PROTECT our FAITH, and in some cases, our HOPE for our ETERNAL INHERITANCE.  We, as God’s Children, NEED to KNOW what the WORD of God says and what it MEANS to us, ESPECIALLY if we are to share it with a LOST and DYING WORLD.  And to be able to PLEASE our Heavenly Father, and to be able to SURVIVE in our HOLY, RIGHTEOUS, lifestyles.

 

God has gifted some to be TEACHERS and COUNSELORS for the purpose of INSTRUCTING, TEACHING and COUNSELLING us in order for us, His TRUE CHILDREN, to be EQUIPPED for EVERY GOOD work.  They are to INSTRUCT, TEACH, and COUNSEL, whatever God has said in His Holy Word.  So we NEED NOT to REJECT the SPIRITUAL INSTRUCTIONS, TEACHINGS, AND COUNSELLINGS given by the ALMIGHTY, HOLY, RIGHTEOUS GOD, but we NEED to make ourselves AVAILABLE to ALL GODLY INSTRUCTIONS, TEACHINGS, and COUNSELLINGS.  We do that through the PREACHING and TEACHING of God’s HOLY WORD.  That means we should ATTEND a GOOD BIBLE BELIEVING, BIBLE PREACHING, CHURCH that HOLDS to the TRUTH of GOD’S WORD.

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are living in REBELLION to Him and His Word, and are NOT abiding by His INSTRUCTIONS, TEACHINGS OR COUNSELLINGS, but you are a part of those who are LOST and DOOMED to an ETERNITY in HELL, destined to experience ALL the HORRORS of HELL for ALL of ETERNITY.  You can change your destination by TURNING AWAY from your SINFUL, REBELLIOUS, lifestyle, and TURNING 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 your INSTRUCTIONS, TEACHINGS and COUNSELLING, in order to live a HOLY, RIGHTEOUS LIFESTYLE, here on earth, and to ESCAPE the HORRORS of HELL.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The TRUE REPENTANT Heart"

“The TRUE REPENTANT Heart”

 

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

 

I think that this verse of Scripture, describes the TRUE REPENTANT HEART, the condition that the HEART should be in when a person comes to God for the SALVATION of their soul.  TRUE SALVATION takes place in the TRUE REPENTANT HEART of one who is searching for PEACE in their troubled soul. 

 

It takes place when, a person acknowledges that they are a SINNER in NEED of a SAVIOR.  And when they don’t try to hide or cover up their iniquity or sin.  Instead they CONFESS their sins or transgressions to the Lord, sincerely with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  A heart that is seeking RELEASE from its wicked, depraved nature, and is WILLING to SURRENDER TOTALLY to the One who can provide that FREEDOM from the SIN that is harbored in the heart.

 

I know that some of you might, think it redundant of me to post the plan of SALVATION in EVERY post that I do.  But it is IMPERATIVE to me to give EVERYBODY the opportunity to ESCAPE HELL and to GAIN HEAVEN.   Nobody knows when they will be swept into ETERNITY.  None of us have a written guarantee that we will live the next five seconds.  Many are swept out into ETERNITY, and have never been exposed to an invitation to give their HEARTS and LIVES to God, and they are LOST and experiencing the HORRORS of HELL.   Whenever I hear of someone passing away, especially SUDDENLY and UNEXPECTEDLY, I immediately wonder what their destiny is, where are they DESTINED to spend ALL ETERNITY?  Did anyone share the plan of SALVATION with them?   

 

Our time is SHORT, on this earth, we will either face death or we will face the RAPTURE, TRIBULATION, and JUDGMENT, where will you spend ETERNITY?  Here is how you can KNOW where your DESTINY will be.  You MUST 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, then ACCEPT His SALVATION, and let God FORGIVE the GUILT of your SIN. And KNOW that you KNOW where you will spend ETERNITY.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"Endure and Receive"

“Endure and Receive”

 

For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:

“For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry.  Now the Just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”

But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.     

Hebrews 10:36-39

 

The writer of Hebrews, whom I believe to be the Apostle Paul, knew that the TRUE HEBREW BELIEVERS needed some ENCOURAGEMENT in their service and relationship with God and His Son, Jesus Christ.  So he penned this exhortation, which probably contains the CENTRAL theme of ALL the exhortations in this letter, that of a STRONG, ABIDING FAITH.  A FAITH, which would ENDURE all persecutions and torture they might encounter in their time here on earth.

 

Living the Christian life, and REMAINING FAITHFUL in ANY situation is not EASY, but it is REWARDING in the end.  Our writer, is referring to those BELIEVERS who may have started out FAITHFUL, but their FAITH became WEAK, and they willfully begin to DRAW BACK to their OLD, SINFUL lifestyle, they were what some call “back-sliders”.   

 

The Scriptures tells us that; “For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry.”  Christ is coming SOON, we know NOT when, but we KNOW that it will be SOON.   Therefore, we who are TRUE BELIEVERS, MUST LIVE by FAITH, and those who DRAW BACK, will not RECEIVE their rewards, but will face punishment, while here on earth.  God will have NO PLEASURE with them. 

 

But for those who ENDURE and are FAITHFUL to the end, and do NOT DRAW BACK, but will press on to the preserving of the soul, they will inherit ETERNAL LIFE in Heaven, with God the Father, and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, along with ALL their REWARDS.

 

If you are a TRUE BELIEVER, who is DRIFTING BACK into your OLD, SINFUL lifestyle, because your FAITH is WEAK, you NEED to come to God and seek His FORGIVENESS, TRUSTING Him to HELP you, by PRAYING DAILY, and STUDYING His Word.  Turn away from your OLD LIFESTYLE and ENDURE with a STRONG FAITH to the END, and RECEIVE all your rewards.

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are LOST and headed for an ETERNITY in Hell with ALL its HORRORS.  You can change your direction, by TURNING AWAY from you SINFUL lifestyle, and TURNING 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 ENDURE with a STRONG, ABIDING FAITH, and RECEIVE your REWARDS.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Disobedience and Unbelief = NO ETERNAL REST!"

“Disobedience and Unbelief = NO ETERNAL REST!”

 

And to whom did God swear that they would never enter His rest if not to those who disobeyed?  So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.           Hebrews 3:18-19

 

REST---FREEDOM from worry, trouble, pain, etc.  Peace of mind.  (Webster’s Dictionary)

 

The Author of the Book of Hebrews, gives a warning to those who are DISOBEDIENT, and live their lives in the UNBELIEF of God or ANYTHING connected to Him.  They live in DENIAL of the FACT that they will leave this earth, CONDEMNED, and SENTENCED to an ETERNITY in Hell, the place of UNENDING, torment, torture, pain, heartache, agony and despair, with NO WAY of ESCAPE.  They will NEVER be able to ENTER God’s ETERNAL REST, until they come to Him BELIEVING in Him and His Only Begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who GAVE His life in order to GIVE life to those who are LOST and LIVING in SIN. 

 

They MUST be OBEDIENT to God’s WORD, and FOLLOW His PRECEPTS.  The ONLY WAY they can ENTER His ETERNAL REST is to TURN AWAY from their acts of DISOBEDIENCE and UNBELIEF, and to come to Him with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  DO NOT HARDEN your HEARTS against God! Come to Him, CONFESSING your sins to Him, asking Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God, the ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and ENTER His ETERNAL REST.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"It's ALL or NOTHING!"

“It’s ALL or NOTHING!”

 

Therefore, submit to God.  But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.  Cleanse your hands, sinners and purify your hearts, double- minded people!           James 4:7-8

 

In this part of James’ letter to the twelve tribes scattered among the nations, is a message, which EVERYONE should take heed of, and FOLLOW its’s CLEAR and PERCISE directions. 

 

First of all, James, evokes the people to SUBMIT to God.  SUBMIT means the same as SURRENDER.  His intentions are, for people to SUMBIT to the COMPLETE control of the ALMIGHTY God.  You are to SURRENDER ALL to Him, with-holding NOTHING, but WILLINGLY turning ALL you are or EVER hope to be, over to God.

 

Then he says to RESIST the DEVIL, which means you are to TURN AWAY from his temptations and RESIST his DECEPTIVE powers.  You can ONLY do this with the help of the HOLY SPIRIT, which indwells ALL TRUE BELIEVERS, which means you need to GIVE your HEART and LIFE to God, which comes with your SUBMISSION to Him.  When you are TOTALLY SUBMITTED to God, you will be able to RESIST the DEVIL, and he will FLEE from you, because of your relationship with the HOLY, RIGHTEOUS, ALMIGHTY God.

 

When you DRAW NEAR to God, He will DRAW NEAR to YOU.  And your relationship will grow and get STRONGER and MORE INTIMATE.  You will have SWEET, PEACEFUL FELLOWSHIP with your Heavenly Father. 

 

James, STRONGLY ENCOURAGES people to CLEANSE your hands, and PURIFY your HEARTS.  This was part of the Jewish ceremonial cleansing.  For the SINNERS and double-minded it was IMPERATIVE that they be CLEANSED from their SINS and DEPRAVITY.  They were to GIVE their ALL to God, and not have ANY connection or compromising with the WORLD.  It was ALL or NOTHING.  And it STILL is ALL or NOTHING.  You cannot be DOUBLE-MINDED, and receive the HOPE of HEAVEN, by PROFESSING that you are a TRUE BELIEVER, but really NOT POSSESSING it, because you have NOT TOTALLY SURRENDERED to God.   You cannot be LUKEWARM, for He will REJECT you.  You must SUBMIT your ALL to Him.  Have you done that?

 

To GAIN the HOPE of HEAVEN, and ESCAPE the HORRORS of HELL, for ALL of ETERNITY, you MUST 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, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and SUBMIT your ALL to HIM.  REMEMBER, it’s ALL or NOTHING!  So do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Enemies of the Cross or Citizens of Heaven?"

“Enemies of the Cross or Citizens of Heaven?”

 

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. 

But our citizenship is in Heaven.  And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.

Philippians 3:18-21

 

The Apostle Paul’s concern for the TRUE BELIEVERS in Philippi was that they FOLLOW his example, because MANY were living as ENEMIES of the CROSS of CHRIST.  And he did NOT want anyone to be led astray.  So he tells them about the DESTINY and the ATTRIBUTES of those who may PROFESS to be Christians, but they don’t POSSESS the SALVATION, which makes them a TRUE BELIEVER, or a TRUE CHILD of God.

 

Notice that the FIRST thing Paul says concerns their DESTINY, which is DESTRUCTION, not total annihilation, but RUINATION of their FALSE BELIEF SYSTEM and an ETERNAL SEPARATION from ALL that is GOOD, and from GOD also. 

 

Then Paul tells them WHY they are ENEMIES of the CROSS of CHRIST.  He says their god is their stomach, their mind set is on their OWN fleshly desires and their gluttony, their GLORY is in their SHAME, they practice SELF-GLORIFICATION of their WORLDLY, FLESHLY, SINFUL deeds, the very things they SHOULD be ASHAMED of.  Their MIND-SET is on EARTHLY things, UNGODLY things that they thought would bring them merit with God.    Do YOU fit into this category?

 

Now, Paul changes the conversation over to the OUTCOME for a TRUE BELIEVER.  He says, our CITIZENSHIP is in HEAVEN.  Because we are NOT TRULY at HOME on this wretched, sinful, depraved, lost world, but our ETERNAL HOME awaits our arrival.  And we EAGERLY await a SAVIOR, who will come and escort us to our TRUE FOREVER HOME.  And He will, by His SUPERNATURAL POWER, TRANSFORM our LOWLY BODIES, into GLORIOUS BODIES, just like His.  What a DAY that will be!!  EVEN SO, COME QUICKLY, LORD JESUS!!   Is this YOUR DESTINY?

 

It can be, it you will give your HEART and LIFE to GOD, by coming to Him with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, TURNING AWAY from your sinful lifestyle and TURNING TO God, CONFESSING your sins to Him, and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and ESCAPE an ETERNITY in Hell, and gain your CITIZENSHIP into HEAVEN.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"Turn My Heart"

“Turn My Heart”

 

Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.       Psalm 119:37

To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, He will give eternal life.  But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.       Romans 2:7-8

 

This prayer of the Psalmist, is a prayer that EVERY TRUE BELIEVER needs to offer to our Heavenly Father, that He would TURN OUR HEARTS towards His laws, and that we might be OBEDIENT to His will for our lives. 

 

And that our HEART would NOT be turned toward SELFISH GAIN, which would cause us to SIN against our God, with a DISOBEDIENT nature, and would lead us to an ETERNITY in HELL.

 

The Apostle Paul gives the TRUE BELIEVER a picture of what happens to those who have asked God to, “TURN MY HEART TOWARD YOUR STATUTES and NOT TOWARD SELFISH GAIN.  Those who are PERSISTENT in doing GOOD SEEK GLORY, HONOR and IMMORTALITY. To them God will give ETERNAL LIFE in Heaven, and they will ESCAPE ALL the HORRORS of an ETERNITY in Hell.

 

But to those who are SELF-SEEKING and who REJECT the TRUTH and FOLLOW EVIL, there will be GOD’S WRATH and ANGER.  They will face an ETERNITY in HELL, with NO WAY of ESCAPE. Which of these two groups do YOU belong to?  SELF-SEEKING or SURRENDERED to GOD?

 

If you are presently in the SELF-SEEKING group, and have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God. I have GOOD NEWS for you.  God has a PLAN, to RESCUE you from an ETERNITY in HELL.  If you will TURN AWAY from your SINFUL LIFESTYLE, 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 let Him TURN your HEART toward His statutes and DELIVER you from SELFISH GAIN, and an ETERNITY in Hell.    Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"Preparing For Battle"

“Preparing For Battle”

 

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty Power.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.     Ephesians 6:10-12

 

The Apostle Paul is instructing the TRUE BELIEVERS to gear-up for BATTLE.  We are in a SPIRITUAL WAR, and our enemy is NOT mortal man, but it is against the rulers, the authorities, the powers and the spiritual forces of evil in heavenly realms.  In order to FIGHT and be VICTORIOUS in this BATTLE, we MUST be STRONG in the Lord and in His MIGHTY POWER.  How do we accomplish this?

 

First of all, we NEED to make sure that our RELATIONSHIP with God is what it should be.  PRAYER is our line of communication, REMEMBER, if there is SIN in your HEART, God will NOT hear your prayer, unless it is the PRAYER of REPENTANCE.  (Ps. 66:18)  So we NEED to make sure our line of communication is open and working correctly. 

 

Then make sure your ARMOR is READY for BATTLE.  Check out each piece carefully.  First check out the BELT of TRUTH.  One of the things that Satan uses to defeat the Believer is DECEIT, of which he is the master.  He will use it to bring shame to the Believer.  DECEIT is, the act of LYING.  So the TRUE BELIEVER, who KNOWS the TRUTH, for it is the TRUTH that has set them FREE, SHOULD buckle the BELT of TRUTH around their waist, making sure it is secure.

 

The BREASTPLATE of RIGHTEOUSNESS, is the next piece of armor to put on.  We, as TRUE BELIEVERS, need to consistently live our daily lives in the LIGHT. LIVING as God’s Children, being OBEDIENT to our Heavenly Father.   This will keep the accusations of Satan null and void, and will give Satan NO OPPORTUNITY to attack, because we can stand in the RIGHTEOUSNESS of Jesus Christ.

 

Our feet should be shod with the preparation of the GOSPEL of PEACE, This helps the TRUE BELIEVER to STAND FIRM and SUREFOOTED in the GOSPEL.  KNOWING and EXPERIENCING the PEACE that comes to us from the GOSPEL MESSAGE.  We are able to STAND upon the WORD of the Living God and be VICTORIOUS over our ENEMY.

Above ALL else we MUST take up the SHIELD of FAITH, in order to thwart off the fiery darts of UNBELIEF and DOUBTS, keeping them away, so that our FAITH remains STRONG, STEADFAST and UNSHAKEABLE, throughout the BATTLE.   And then put on the HELMET of SALVATION, which PROTECTS our minds and our thoughts.  When our minds are set on JESUS CHRIST and His imminent RETURN, we are less likely to fall into Satan’s traps.  These pieces of ARMOR are for the PROTECTION of the TRUE BELIEVER. 

 

The SWORD of the SPIRIT, and PRAYING are used for ATTACKING SATAN, TEARING DOWN his STRONGHOLDS and DEFEATING him.  The WORD of GOD is the SWORD, and what we NEED to OVERCOME SATAN and his attacks.  READ IT, MEMORIZE IT, and OBEY IT.  This is what will WIN the BATTLE.  BE READY, by doing ALL of the ABOVE.

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you have LOST this BATTLE and are headed to an ETERNITY in Hell with all of its HORRORS.  But you can still be VICTORIOUS over SATAN and change your DESTINATION from Hell to Heaven, by TURNING AWAY from your sinful lifestyle and TURNING 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 ABLE to STAND STRONG, STEADFAST, and VICTORIOUS in the BATTLE.  Don’t FORGET your ARMOR!  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"The Undivided Heart"

“The Undivided Heart”

 

Teach me Your way, Lord, that I may rely on Your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name.        Psalm 86:11

I will praise You, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify Your name forever.      Psalm 86:12

Be sure to fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you.   1 Samuel 12:24

Blessed are those who keep His statutes and seek Him with all their heart.       Psalm 119:2

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.       Proverbs 3:5

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”        Mark 12:30

 

Psalm 86 is a prayer of David, a man after God’s own heart.  In this prayer, David petitions God to give him an UNDIVIDED HEART.  He knew that if he was to be FAITHFUL to God, and to be able to RELY on God’s FAITHFULNESS, he NEEDED to have an UNDIVIDED HEART.  An UNDIVIDED HEART is a HEART that is WHOLLY or COMPLETELY under the control of God’s Holy Spirit. 

 

It is a HEART that will offer TOTAL praise to the One, who is WORTHY and that praise and adoration will be done with an UNDIVIDED HEART. 

 

When we SERVE the Lord we are to serve Him with ALL our HEART, and to consider what GREAT things He has done for us.  We are to SEEK Him with an UNDIVIDED HEART, and NOT a HEART that is PARTIALLY seeking Him, but one that is WHOLLY seeking His presence.

 

We are to TRUST the Lord with ALL our HEART and to not lean on our own understanding.  In order to FULLY TRUST in the Lord, as we should, we MUST TRUST with an UNDIVIDED HEART. We cannot put our TRUST FULLY in Him, if we are depending on worldly means too.  It is EITHER OR, but NOT both.  It cannot be done with a DIVIDED HEART.

 

Jesus taught that the MOST IMPORTANT law for us to obey is to. “Love the Lord your God with ALL your HEART and with ALL your soul and with ALL your mind and with ALL your strength.” If we are to TRULY LOVE GOD, it MUST be done with an UNDIVIDED HEART, SOUL, MIND and STRENGTH.  Do you TRULY LOVE God?  Or are you trying to LOVE Him with a DIVIDED HEART, SOUL, MIND and STRENGTH? 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you have an UNDIVIDED HEART, but it doesn’t belong to God, it belongs to SATAN and you are headed for an ETERNITY in Hell, and ALL its horrors, with NO WAY of ESCAPE.  In order to keep from that destiny, you MUST 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, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and PRAISE HIM, SERVE HIM, SEEK HIM, TRUST HIM, LOVE HIM, with an UNDIVIDED HEART.   Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Acts of the Flesh, or the Fruit of the Spirit?"

“The Acts of the Flesh, or the Fruit of the Spirit?”

 

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

But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.  

Galatians 5:19-23

 

The ACTS of the FLESH are obvious in the world in which we live.  They are flaunted in front of us daily.  They are the attributes of an UNBELIEVER, who continually lives carrying out most of these ACTS and more, which are not listed here, but nevertheless they too exist. 

 

Now, let me clarify something very important, this does not mean that if a TRUE BELIEVER falls into temptation, and is guilty of one of these sins that they will LOSE their SALVATION.  It is speaking of those who LIVE conducting such ACTS CONTINUALLY and with NO remorse for their sinful behavior. For the TRUE BELIEVER, they will come under CONVICTION, which is brought on by the work of the Holy Spirit, who indwells them, and they SHOULD TURN AWAY from their transgression and TURN BACK to God with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, and He will be FAITHFUL to FORGIVE them of their sin.

 

The Apostle Paul tells us that those who choose to live by ACTS of the FLESH will NOT inherit the Kingdom of God.  Their destiny, will be spending an ETERNITY in HELL, should they continue living such a SINFUL lifestyle, and REJECTING Jesus Christ as their SAVIOR and LORD.   Are you living by ACTS of the FLESH?

 

The OPPOSITE of living by ACTS of the FLESH is PRODUCING the FRUIT of the SPIRIT, which is NOT done under our OWN actions, but by the actions of GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT, which indwells EVERY TRUE BELIEVER.  When we TOTALLY SURRENDER to the HOLY SPIRIT, and His work in our lives, we will PRODUCE His FRUIT.  Now, there might be somebody that is thinking they can live by the ACTS of the FLESH and practice living with the attributes of the SPIRIT, but if you are thinking that way, you are very much DECEIVED and more than likely NOT a TRUE CHILD of the Living God.  Any of the FRUIT you bear is of your OWN merits and NOT the HOLY SPIRIT, who is NOT indwelling you.  If you have NOT given your WHOLE HEART and LIFE to God, then you are living by ACTS of the FLESH and are destined for an ETERNITY in Hell.  However, God has a plan to RESCUE you from that destiny.  But you MUST come to Him with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, in order to be RESCUED, and you MUST CONFESS 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.  ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and be set FREE from living by ACTS of the FLESH, and start producing the FRUIT of the SPIRIT, and inherit the Kingdom of God.   Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Security of the Sheep"

“The Security of the Sheep”

 

“My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, no one will snatch them out of My hand.  My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand.  I and the Father are One.”       John 10:27-30

 

These are the words of our Lord Jesus Christ confirming the SECURITY of the TRUE BELIEVER.  We are the SHEEP, and He is the GOOD SHEPHERD.  Being His sheep, we should FOLLOW Him, whenever and wherever He LEADS. 

 

He gives us ETERNAL LIFE, and we will NEVER perish; ETERNAL LIFE is a gift, and because it is a gift, given to EVERY TRUE BELIEVER, when they come to God for their SALVATION, they are ASSURED of ETERNAL life, and the promise that they will not PERISH.  TRUE BELIEVERS may stumble and fall to temptation, but Jesus, the GOOD SHEPHERD NEVER loses ANY of His SHEEP.

 

The SECURITY of the SHEEP does not depend on the frail sheep, but on the ABILITY of the GOOD SHEPHERD to DEFEND and PRESERVE His flock.  NO ONE is strong enough to SNATCH them out of His hand or the hand of His Father, who is OMNIPOTENT, or ALL POWERFUL, and there is NO ONE stronger or more powerful than He.

 

God’s plan of SALVATION and the gift of ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN cannot be done away with or taken away from.  If it were possible to SNATCH it away, it would not be ETERNAL.  God would not take back from Jesus, His One and Only Son, the gift of His flock.  However, the flock is made up of TRUE BELIEVERS, those who have TRULY REPENTED of their sins, and have RECEIVED their gift of SALVATION, and ETERNAL LIFE, the gift that will NEVER be taken AWAY from them, because they have the GOOD SHEPHERD, who is like His Father, ALL POWERFUL, and ABLE to SECURE His SHEEP.  Are you a part of the Flock of Jesus?

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are NOT a part of His flock.  And your ETERNITY will be spent in Hell, unless your TURN AWAY from your sinful lifestyle, 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 become a part of His SAFE and SECURE flock, with an ETERNITY in Heaven.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"You KNOW Me"

“You KNOW Me”

 

Lord, You have examined me and know all about me.  You know when I sit down and when I get up.  You know my thoughts before I think them.  You know where I go and where I lie down.  You know thoroughly everything I do.  Lord, even before I say a word, You already know it.  You are all around me---in front and in back---and have put Your hand on me. Your knowledge is amazing to me; it is more than I can understand.         Psalm 139:1-6

 

David acknowledges God’s OMNISCIENCENT power.  OMNISCIENT, ALL KNOWING, this is one of three of God’s SUPERNATURAL attributes.  The fact that God KNOWS EVERYTHING about EVERYBODY, and EVERYTHING that HAPPENS, even BEFORE it happens, in fact, He has KNOWN it before creation, this is MIND-BOGGLING. 

 

Just think, God KNOWS EVERY teeny, tiny aspect of your life, as a matter of fact David says that God has planned out ALL of His days and written them in His book even before he was one day old. (v 16)  God has plans for EVERYBODY.  He KNOWS whether we will be OBEDIENT to His will or not. 

 

He KNOWS ALL about YOU, even when you sit down or stand up, He knows what you think even BEFORE you think it.  (SCARY, isn’t it?)   He KNOWS where you go and where you lie down.  David says that God KNOWS THOROUGHLY EVERYTHING he does.  That means there is NOT one tiny detail that God doesn’t KNOW about, concerning our every action.  Even BEFORE we speak a word He already KNOWS what we are about to say.  He is EVERYWHERE, ALL around us in FRONT and in BACK, and His MIGHTY hand is on us. 

 

How can this be?  That He can KNOW ALL ABOUT EVERYBODY that has ever been born, even the precious babies who were ABORTED, He KNOWS EVERYTHING about YOU, and He is EVERYWHERE, there is NOWHERE you can go that He is NOT there.  There is NO HIDING PLACE.  His KNOWLEDGE supersedes ANYTHING and EVERYTHING, and is TRULY AMAZING and MORE than mortal man can conceive. 

 

Do you KNOW this AMAZING God?  Have you given your HEART and LIFE to Him?  If NOT then you are doomed to an ETERNITY in Hell, the place of UNENDING torment and torture. God not only KNOWS you, but He LOVES you, even while you are still living in sin, and He wants you to have an ETERNITY in Heaven with Him.  This is possible, only if you will come to Him with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, CONFESSING your sins to Him, and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus, His ONLY Begotten Son, died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and LET God be God in your life.  Do it NOW while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Curse and the Cure"

“The Curse and the Cure”

 

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

 

When Adam was created by God, he was created without a sinful nature.  He knew not sin, he was not DISOBEDIENT to God in ANY way.  Not until Eve was tempted by the serpent in the Garden of Eden, was SIN and DISOBEDIENCE against Creator God known or brought into the PERFECT, SINLESS CREATION.  It was then that SIN entered the world.  Mankind is born with a sinful nature, thanks to Adam.  “Therefore just as sin entered the world through one man,” because of his DISOBEDIENCE, we are CURSED with a SINFUL nature.  “And DEATH through SIN came to ALL people, because ALL sinned.”  (Rom. 5:12)

 

Because SIN and DEATH, the CURSE, was brought into the world, through the DISOBEDIENCE of one man, and since mankind is born with a SINFUL NATURE, DEATH reigns.  It is a SPIRITUAL DEATH that separates mankind from Creator God, and ALL that is RIGHTEOUS and HOLY, and condemns mankind to an ETERNITY in Hell, the place of UNENDING torment, torture, pain, heartache, agony and despair, with NO WAY of ESCAPE.  ALL due to one man’s DISOBEDIENCE.

 

But God in His INFINITE MERCY, AMAZING GRACE and ABUNDANT LOVE, sent ONE MAN, Jesus Christ to bring REDEMPTION and JUSTIFICATION through His ULTIMATE, SACRIFICE, His LIFE’S BLOOD shed on an OLD RUGGED CROSS, for the SALVATION of ALL mankind.  In order that GRACE might reign through RIGHTEOUSNESS, and OBEDIENCE over DISOBEDIENCE would bring LIFE through that ONE MAN, Jesus Christ our Lord, and our REDEEMER.  The CURE!

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, you are headed for HELL, because of that CURSE and you are dying a SPIRITUAL DEATH, SEPARATION from GOD for ALL ETERNITY.  But God is offering 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 ESCAPE from the CURSE, of DEATH by RECEIVING the CURE, of LIFE, ETERNAL LIFE in Heaven.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"Called to Be Holy"

“Called to Be Holy”

 

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.  But Just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written:  “Be holy, because I am holy.”        ! Peter 1:14-16

 

HOLY:  Set apart for religious use, consecrated, sacred, spiritually pure, sinless. 

 

As OBEDIENT children of the Living God, we should become as close as we can to being like Him in EVERY aspect of our lives.   One of the attributes of God is HOLINESS, and because He is HOLY, we too should be HOLY. 

 

When we come to Him for the SALVATION of our souls, we NEED to have a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  There are many people who THINK they are SAVED, but are NOT, because they did NOT receive it with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, they may have accepted it in their MIND, but it was NOT a TRUE REPENTANT HEART experience. 

 

When a person comes to God for SALVATION, and they come with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, they come ACKNOWLEDGING they are a SINNER, and will CONFESS their SINS to Him. The difference is that they have a LIFE-CHANGING experience.  They are no longer to conform to their OLD SINFUL ways, and evil desires they once practiced, but something NEW takes place in their HEART.  Now, please don’t misunderstand, they will be tempted, more than ever, to continue in their SINFUL lifestyle, but the Apostle Peter, encourages all of God’s OBEDIENT CHILDREN to become HOLY or set apart for religious purposes, to be SPIRITUALLY PURE, and SINLESS. 

 

Of course, we will NOT be able to achieve COMPLETE HOLINESS, this side of Heaven, but we are to WORK at getting every part of our lives to be in the process of becoming conformed to God’s PERFECT and HOLY will.  We are being CALLED to be HOLY as He is HOLY.   

 

A person who may THINK they are SAVED, but it is or has been ONLY a MIND thing, and NOT a TRUE HEART thing, will NOT have a LIFE-CHANGING experience, but will go right back doing their old evil desires, thinking that they can have the best of both, being SAVED, and still living in SIN.  The devil has them DEADLY DECEIVED. 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, and you are continuing to live a SINFUL life-style, then you are headed for an ETERNITY in Hell, with all of its HORRORS.  You MUST 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, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION and be CALLED to be HOLY as He is HOLY.  Do it NOW, while you still can He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!