"The Aroma of Christ"

“The Aroma of Christ”

 

For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.   To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life.   And who is equal to such a task?         2 Corinthians 2: 15, 16

 

When we are planning to go off somewhere, one of the things most of us do is to want to have a PLEASING FRAGRANCE about us.  So we spray or dab a little bit of FRAGRANCE on us.  To some the FRAGRANCE is PLEASING and to others, it may NOT have a PLEASING AROMA about it.

 

Our offering to God is the PLEASING AROMA of Christ, the TRUE BELIEVER is that PLEASING AROMA.  We are the PLEASING AROMA among those who are being saved and those who are being lost.    To those who are PERISHING, this PLEASING AROMA brings the STENCH of DEATH. Many will REJECT Christ and spend an ETERNITY in Hell, which is a SPIRITUAL DEATH.  Those who are being saved are attracted to the Savior for the SALVATION of their souls, through the PLEASING AROMA of CHRIST, the WITNESS of the TRUE BELIEVER.  They will receive ETERNAL LIFE in Heaven.

Who is equal to the task?  Only God can give ETERNAL LIFE, and He has accomplished it by using Jesus Christ, and His PLEASING AROMA.   Are you the AROMA of CHRIST?  Have you given your HEART and LIFE to God?  If your answer is “NO”, then you are LOST and PERISHING and headed for a SPIRITUAL DEATH and an ETERNITY in HELL, unless you 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 ETERNAL LIFE in Heaven, and become the PLEASING AROMA of CHRIST.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"Just a FOOT-WASHING"

“Just a FOOT-WASHING”

 

“Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean.  And you are clean, though not every one of you.”         John 13:10

 

In the biblical days, people walked everywhere on dirt roads and dusty streets.  They wore sandals and therefore their feet needed a DAILY WASHING.   When they went to visit and partake in fellowship with someone, their host would provide a “foot washing” for their poor, tired, hot, dirty feet.  Even though ALL of their body was bathed before they arrived, their feet had gotten DIRTY and NEEDED a fresh CLEANSING, before the fellowship began. 

 

Jesus, the PERFECT HOST, proceeded to wash His disciples’ feet, because they had become dusty and dirty from their journey.  When He came to Peter, Peter refused to let his Master do such a thing to him, so Jesus, in essence, told Peter, even if you are bathed and CLEAN, your feet have become DIRTY and needs to be CLEANSED from the dirt that is on them.  Then He says that NOT EVERYONE is TOTALLY CLEAN. 

 

For ALL TRUE BELIEVERS, our HEARTS are like our FEET, they tend to get DIRTY from the DAILY SIN that we partake of, and in order to partake in FELLOWSHIP with Christ, we must first have our HEARTS CLEANSED, even though we have been FULLY WASHED by the CLEANSING BLOOD of Jesus Christ.

 

 In our daily life, we get our HEARTS defiled with the sins of envy, hatred, jealousy, gossiping, slandering, lust, etc., and then we want to have FELLOWSHIP with  Christ, and we can’t because we have a DIRTY heart, which MUST, FIRST be CLEANSED, then we can commune with our RIGHTEOUS REDEEMER.  Some BELIEVERS are like the Apostle Peter, who told Jesus, “not just my feet, but my hands and my head as well!”  They think they need another WHOLE BATH, when all they need is a “FOOT-WASHING.

 

In order to do that, we must ALL, BELIEVER and NON-BELIEVER, come to God with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, ready to have their heart CLEANSED from its sins, and we MUST CONFESS our sins to Him, asking Him for His FORGIVENESS.  The NON-BELIEVER NEEDS to BELIEVE that Jesus died for them and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for them, before God, and ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, which results in a COMPLETE CLEANSING, then they ONLY NEED to have a DAILY CLEANSING of their HEART, in order to partake in DAILY FELLOWSHIP with Jesus.  Come to Him NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"Instrument of Unrighteousness or Instrument of Righteousness?"

“Instrument of Unrighteousness or Instrument of Righteousness?”

 

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.  For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under the law, but under grace.           Romans 6:12-14

 

When the Holy Spirit of God brings us to Christ for the SALVATION of our soul, and we ACCEPT Him as our SAVIOR and LORD, we become DEAD to sin, because we have been crucified with Christ.  And we then become ALIVE with Him because we are brought into a NEWNESS of LIFE.  We have TURNED AWAY FROM our OLD, SINFUL LIFESTYLE and have TURNED TO a NEW LIFE in Christ.   Therefore, we are DEAD to SIN and ALIVE to God in Jesus Christ.

 

So we should NOT let SIN reign in our mortal body, but we SHOULD be OBEDIENT to God’s will, and STOP presenting the members of our body to sin, to be used as INSTRUMENTS of UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. 

 

Instead we SHOULD present ourselves to God as those ALIVE from the DEAD, and our BODIES SHOULD be INSTRUMENTS of RIGHTEOUSNESS to the HOLY, RIGHTEOUS GOD of this Universe.   SIN will not MASTER over us, because we are NOT under the law, but we are under GOD’S AMAZING GRACE.  We are to be OBEDIENT to God’s laws, but the LAW cannot SAVE us, ONLY GOD’S GRACE is ABLE to SAVE mankind from their sins.  Have you experienced God’s AMAZING GRACE?  Are you an INSTRUMENT of UNRIGHTEOUSNESS or RIGHTEOUSNESS?

 

You can EXPERIENCE God’s AMAZING GRACE 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 if you do this you will become DEAD to your SINS and ALIVE in Christ Jesus, and will become an INSTRUMENT of RIGHTEOUSNESS.  So do it NOW, while you still can, and ESCAPE the HORRORS of Hell for ALL ETERNITY.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"The Coming of Grace and Truth"

“The Coming of Grace and Truth”

 

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

Out of His fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.  For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

John 1:14, 16, 17

 

GRACE; Unmerited favor; or receiving what we don’t deserve. 

 

In the beginning, the Word was with God and the Word was God.  The Bible is the WRITTEN WORD of God, Jesus Christ is the LIVING WORD of God.  God’s LOVE was exhibited through the coming of the LIVING WORD, who became FLESH, NOT with a sinful nature, but He, who is the essence of the ALMIGHY GOD, came as a HUMAN BEING, possessing HUMANITY, which became a part of His deity. 

 

He came as a newborn babe, He grew as a child, as a teen, as an adult, with ALL of the functions of a human being, yet His SONSHIP was SPECIAL.  He was/is ETERNAL, the FULLNESS of GOD, yet He was FULLY HUMAN, but without A SINFUL NATURE.  He was the GLORIOUS REVELATION of His Heavenly Father, God, and came from His Father, FULL of GRACE and TRUTH. 

 

Mankind, in its SINFUL NATURE, needed a SAVIOR, and because of the FULLNESS of Jesus Christ, He was the PERFECT solution to the problem that plagued mankind, SIN.  God’s GRACE and TRUTH came to mankind wrapped up in a tiny bundle of SINLESS FLESH.  What the Law, which was given to mankind, by Moses, could NOT do, Jesus Christ could, TAKE AWAY the sins of the WORLD. 

 

And because of GOD’S LOVE, mankind can receive His GRACE and TRUTH, by ACCEPTING His Son, Jesus Christ, as their SAVIOR and LORD.  You do that 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 receive the FULLNESS of GOD’S GRACE and TRUTH, which comes through the Lord Jesus Christ, and ESCAPE the UNENDING HORRORS of Hell.  If you have NOT done this, you NEED to do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

                                                                                  

"Spiritual Fullness"

“Spiritual Fullness”

 

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.          Colossians 2:6-7

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.        Colossians 3:17

 

Yesterday, we sat down to a table filled with all kinds of DELICIOUS, MOUTH-WATERING, foods, which when consumed, FILLED our stomachs.  Some stomachs were FILLED to the brim and caused us to want to sit around and snooze some.   While for others, it was FUEL for them who would be out in a few hours, scampering and literally fighting for items in their trek of BLACK FRIDAY.  Food is actually FUEL for our body’s functions.  It helps strengthen our muscles, and it helps our eyesight, skin, hair and teeth.   So it is important to FEED the body the FOOD that will BE BENEFICIAL to the PROPER WELL-BEING and FUNCTION of its VITAL PARTS.  When it is FED the food that is NOT GOOD, it can DAMAGE the muscles, eyesight, skin, hair and teeth. 

 

So it is with our SPIRITUAL BODY, we MUST do certain things to KEEP it HEALTHY and STRONG.  First we NEED to START out by LIVING our LIVES in Christ Jesus.  We do that by TURNING AWAY FROM the TEMPTING, TANTALIZING, MORSELS of SIN, and TURNING TO Him for the GOOD, NUTRITIONAL FOODS, such as READING, STUDYING and OBEYING His Holy Word, which produces RIGHTEOUSNESS, and will KEEP us ROOTED and BUILT-UP in Christ, and the SPIRITUAL FULLNESS will STRENGTHEN our FAITH, as we LIVE HEALTHY SPIRITUAL LIVES according to God’s Word.  This will FILL our SOULS with SPIRITUAL FULLNESS, and will HELP us thwart off the FIERY DARTS of Satan, and FILL our HEARTS with THANKFULNESS.

 

And it will give us the SPIRITUAL STRENGTH to do whatever we need to do, in the name of the   Lord Jesus, and to give THANKS to God for ALL of the SPIRITUAL FULLNESS we NEED.  Are you experiencing SPIRITUAL FULLNESS?  Or are you “SPIRITUALLY ANEMIC” and in NEED of some “SPIRITUAL FOOD?’.

 

 If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are VERY SPIRITUALLY ANEMIC, and on the verge of DYING SPIRITUALLY.  In order to be made SPIRITUALLY WHOLE and HEALTHY, with ETERNAL LIFE in Heaven, and ESCAPING Hell and ALL of its HORRORS, with no WAY of ESCAPE, you MUST TURN AWAY FROM your life of sin 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 experience  “SPIRITUAL FULLNESS” for your HUNGRY SOUL.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Giving THANKS!"

“Giving THANKS!”

 

Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord.  Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.           Romans 14:6

Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.     Ephesians 5:20

 

Today, in America, we celebrate a “special day”, a day set aside to give THANKS to the ALMIGHTY GOD, as the Pilgrims and the Indians gave THANKS to God for the HARVEST and other things as well, such as their health and their relationship with their new friends. 

 

Many families will sit down at a table, spread with MUCH food, and sweet fellowship with each other.  They will have warmth and love, a roof over their heads, good health, and FULL TUMMIES.  All of which and MORE, they SHOULD give THANKS to the ALMIGHTY GOD for.

 

Some, who live in other countries, and do NOT celebrate this ‘SPECIAL’ Day of Giving THANKS, should make it a point, as should we ALL, to give THANKS to GOD for ALL He has done for ALL of mankind, where ever they might be, EVERYDAY.  We ALL should have an ATTITUDE of GRATITUDE!

 

So my dear friends, before you “PIG OUT” stop and think of ALL that God has BLESSED you with, and give THANKS TO HIM for His PRESENCE, PROVISIONS, AND PROTECTION.  You may NOT have ALL you want, but there is SOMETHING you can be THANKFUL FOR.  If you are a TRUE BELIEVER, you can definitely be THANKFUL for your SALVATION and ETERNAL HOME in Heaven.

 

However, if you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, you can still be THANKFUL for His plan of SALVATION, a plan that gives you the opportunity, NOW, to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and spending an ETERNITY in Hell, with ALL of its UNENDING HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE, 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 GIVE THANKS to Him.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"THANKFUL for God's Mercy and Grace"

“THANKFUL for God’s Mercy and Grace”

 

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.       Psalm 51:1

For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!          Romans 5:17

 

MERCY:  NOT getting what we deserve, because of God’s UNFAILING LOVE, He has ABUNDANT MERCY on mankind.  When we are born, we are born with a SINFUL NATURE, thanks to Adam and Eve.  We have a CREATOR, Father God, who LOVES us UNCONDITIONALLY and has provided a WAY for us to NOT receive the judgment that is due us. And if we will cry out to Him, as the Psalmist, David did saying:  “Have MERCY on me, O God according to your UNFAILING LOVE; according to your GREAT COMPASSION blot out my transgressions.”   And if we are willing to TURN AWAY FROM that SINFUL lifestyle and TURN TO God, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, He will FORGIVE us and have MERCY on us.  God’s ABUNDANT MERCY is yours for the asking.

 

GRACE:  is getting what you DON’T deserve, UNDESERVED BLESSINGS.  Because of one man’s sin DEATH REIGNED through that one man, Adam.  But because of one man, Jesus’ ABUNDANT provision of God’s AMAZING GRACE, we will receive the gift of RIGHTEOUSNESS and be set FREE from the BONDAGE of our sins and ESCAPE the CONDEMNATION and JUDGMENT of spending an ETERNITY in Hell with ALL its HORRORS, which is due us.  Instead, when we come to God for the SALVATION of our SOULS, we will receive His AMAZING GRACE, because of His ABUNDANT MERCY.   These are the MOST IMPORTANT things a person can be THANKFUL for.

 

But you MUST FIRST, TURN AWAY from your SINFUL LIFESTYLE and TURN TO God, crying out to Him for His ABUNDANT MERCY, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, and 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 His AMAZING GRACE, and ESCAPE HELL, and GAIN HEAVEN.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

"THANKFUL for God's Guidance"

“THANKFUL for God’s Guidance”

 

The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.  The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice.  He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.  But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.           John 10:2-5

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

 

The Lord Jesus Christ, gives us a good example of God’s GUIDANCE for His Children.  By using the figure of speech, of the relationship of the Good Shepherd and His sheep.  The sheep KNOWS the voice of the Shepherd and LISTENS to His voice.  We, who are God’s Children, are referred to as His sheep and Jesus is our Good Shepherd.  Those who have a close relationship with Him KNOWS His voice and will listen to Him. 

 

The Good Shepherd gives each of his sheep a name, and when he comes for them, he calls them by their name and they come to him.  Jesus, our Good Shepherd, KNOWS our name, and He will call us to FOLLOW Him.  We FOLLOW Him, because we KNOW His voice.  He goes ahead of us and gives us GUIDANCE in our life’s journey with Him.    We should NEVER FOLLOW Satan’s voice, but we SHOULD FLEE from him, because his voice will give GUIDANCE into EVIL and WICKED pathways that we do NOT want to take, because they will LEAD us to an ETERNITY in Hell, the place of UNENDING HORRORS, with NO WAY of ESCAPING.

 

However, when we FOLLOW the Good Shepherd, He will GUIDE us to the TRUE, LIVING God, who will be our God for ever and ever and He will be our GUIDE into an ETERNITY in Heaven with Him.  Psalm 25:5 should be a PRAYER for EVERY TRUE BELIEVER:  “GUIDE me in Your truth and TEACH me, for you are God my Savior, and my HOPE is in you ALL day long.”

 

Who is GUIDING you?  I am SO THANKFUL that I can DEPEND on God’s GUIDANCE to get me through this life, and PROVIDES me with the HOPE of Heaven for ALL of ETERNITY.  If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are receiving GUIDANCE from the one who will lead you straight to an ETERNITY in Hell, unless you 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 be THANKFUL for God’s GUIDANCE and the HOPE of HEAVEN.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

"THANKFUL for God's Goodness"

“THANKFUL for God’s Goodness”

 

 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!  His love endures forever.  Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story----those He redeemed from the hand of the foe.  Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for mankind, for He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.      Psalm 107:1, 2, 8, 9

 

This Psalm was written to the nation of Israel when they were REDEEMED from captivity in Babylon.  However, this Psalm is applicable to the TRUE BELIEVER of Jesus Christ.  We too have been REDEEMED, set FREE from the BONDAGE, and CAPTIVITY of our sins.  All because of God’s ABUNDANT MERCY, AMAZING GRACE, and ENDURING LOVE. 

 

Therefore, we NEED to give THANKS to the LORD for our DELIVERANCE.  And we NEED to tell the STORY of our REDEMPTION, in order for others to be set FREE from the BONDAGE and CAPTIVITY of their sins.  We need to be a WITNESS to others, concerning ALL of the GOOD, WONDERFUL DEEDS God has done, and is CONTINUING to do for mankind. 

 

Just as He PROVIDED water for their THIRSTY bodies, He has PROVIDED LIVING WATER for the DRY, THIRSTY SOULS of mankind.  That LIVING WATER is Jesus Christ, God’s Only Begotten Son, who has REDEEMED FALLEN mankind from an ETERNITY in Hell, the place of UNENDING horrors, IF they will come to God and partake of the LIVING WATER.

 

Just as He PROVIDED LIFE-SAVING food for the CAPTIVES, He PROVIDES SOUL-SAVING food for those whom He has REDEEMED.  Jesus Christ, is the BREAD of LIFE, for those who come to Him for the REDEMPTION of their SOULS.  Are you THIRSTING and HUNGERING after God’s RIGHTEOUSNESS? Have you come to the FOUNTAIN OF LIVING WATER or partaken of the BREAD OF Life, Jesus Christ?  He’s your ONLY HOPE.

 

In order to ESCAPE an ETERNITY in Hell and ALL its HORRORS, with NO WAY of ESCAPE, you MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sins and TURN 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 GIVE THANKS to God for ALL of His GOODNESS.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"THANKFUL for God's Provision"

“THANKFUL for God’s Provision”

 

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.     Philippians 4:19

And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.        Matthew 6:8

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.        2 Corinthians 9:8

 

God is the GREAT PROVIDER, for His TRUE CHILDREN, those who have been to the Cross of Calvary, and REPENTED of their sins, and have ACCEPTED His FREE gift of SALVATION.  For them, He will meet ALL their needs.  Maybe NOT ALL their wants, but definitely ALL their needs. 

 

When we PRAY for our NEEDS, we should NOT try to IMPRESS God with our vocabulary, and our ability to use it, like the pagans, or UNBELIEVERS do, when they are in NEED of God’s PROVISION.  Some think if they use BIG FANCY words, and maybe even bargain with God, He will HEAR them and PROVIDE their need.  But that is NOT God’s way.  You MUST FIRST, COME TO Him CONFESSING your sins and getting your HEART right with Him.  ACCEPTING Jesus Christ, as your SAVIOR and LORD.  Then He will HEAR your PRAYERS, and PROVIDE your NEEDS.  The Psalmist says, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will NOT hear.” (Psalm 66:18)   You MUST FIRST come with a CLEAN HEART, free from sin.  Then He will HEAR your requests.  And keep in mind that God is OMNISCIENT, ALL KNOWING, He knows your NEEDS, before you ask Him.  But He still likes to hear from you.  And NOT just when you NEED something, but He LOVES it when you come to Him with a HEART FULL of THANKSGIVING and PRAISE.

 

He is NOT ONLY able to meet ALL your NEEDS, but He is ABLE to BLESS you ABUNDANTLY, in ALL things, and at ALL times, having ALL you NEED, when you SERVE HIM with a LOVING, GIVING HEART, doing GOOD DEEDS, NOT BEGRUDGINGLY, but with a CHEERFUL HEART. 

 

Yes, I am TRULY THANKFUL for God’s PROVISION.  And NOT ONLY for the material things, but ESPECIALLY for my spiritual well-being.  God has PROVIDED SALVATION to ALL who will come to Him with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, TURNING AWAY FROM their sins and TURNING TO Him, CONFESSING their sins to Him, and 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 ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION and let Him SUPPLY ALL their NEEDS, and have the HOPE of an ETERNAL HOME in Heaven.  If you have NOT done this, you do not have His PROVISION, and are doomed to an ETERNITY in HELL.  So come to Him NOW, following the above steps.  And be THANKFUL for His PROVISION of ALL your NEEDS.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"THANKFUL for Heaven"

“THANKFUL for Heaven”

 

“Whom have I in Heaven but You?  And earth has nothing I desire besides You.”      Psalm 73:25

“Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in Heaven…”       Matthew 5:12a

“After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken up into Heaven and He sat at the right hand of God.”       Mark 16:19

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in Heaven, not built by human hands.         2 Corinthians 5:1

But our citizenship is in Heaven.  And we eagerly await a SAVIOR from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.       Philippians 3: 20

We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at Home with the Lord.      2 Corinthians 5:8

 

Heaven, the dwelling place of God.  I am THANKFUL for such a place, I am THANKFUL because I am a TRUE BELIEVER, and like the Psalmist says:  “Whom have I in Heaven but You?  And earth has NOTHING I desire besides You.  If you are a TRUE BELIEVER, then you too can relate to this statement.  Knowing that we do NOT belong to this WRETCHED, SIN-LADEN WORLD, with ALL of its, heartache, pain, misery, and despair, but because God DOES exist, we have the HOPE of Heaven.

 

As True Believers, who DILIGENTLY, and with JOY serve our God, and because we serve Him, He gives us REWARDS, which are being stored in Heaven.  I am THANKFUL for Heaven, because my REWARDS are being stored there, where they will NOT be destroyed by rust, moths or decay.

 

Heaven is not only the dwelling place of God, but it is also the dwelling place of His Son, our REDEEMER and LORD, Jesus Christ, who was CRUCIFIED, BURIED, and RESURRECTED, and is sitting at the RIGHT HAND of God, the place of HONOR, in Heaven.  So I am THANKFUL for Heaven because it is the dwelling place of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Heaven is also the place where we will have a GLORIFIED BODY, a building from God, an ETERNAL HOUSE for our SOUL that is NOT built by human hands, but is DESIGNED and PERFECTED in EVERY WAY for ALL of ETERNITY.  This is another reason I am THANKFUL for Heaven.

And Heaven is the HOMELAND of the TRUE BELIEVER, it is where their CITIZENSHIP is.  We are but sojourners in a STRANGE LAND, which we will soon be leaving to go to our FOREVER HOME, HEAVEN.  I am THANKFUL for Heaven, because that is where MY CITIZENSHIP is.

 

We are CONFIDENT in our ETERNAL DESTINATION and are EAGER to be at HOME with our Lord.  I am THANKFUL for Heaven, because it IS my ETERNAL HOME.  Is it your ETERNAL HOME?

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then Heaven is NOT your ETERNAL HOME. Your ETERNAL HOME is a place called HELL, the place of UNENDING TORMENT, TORTURE, PAIN, HEARTACHE, AGONY and DESPAIR, with NO WAY of ESCAPE.  However, God is giving you the opportunity NOW to change your ETERNAL HOME.  You can do that 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 become a CITIZEN of Heaven, and be THANKFUL for HEAVEN.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

"THANKFUL for Wisdom and Knowledge"

“THANKFUL for Wisdom and Knowledge”

 

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.        James 1:5

To the person who pleases Him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and happiness, but to the sinner He gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God.          Ecclesiastes 2:26

 

WISDOM:  Good judgment based on knowledge, (Webster’s Dictionary)

 

The Author of the brief epistle of James, urges TRUE BELIEVERS, who lacks the WISDOM they NEED to KNOW their God and His ways, to be able to TRUST in Him, and to BELIEVE in His GREAT POWER, to ASK God, and He will give them the WISDOM and KNOWLEDGE they need.

 

The TRUE BELIEVER needs to have a CLOSE RELATIONSHIP with God, their Heavenly Father.  In order to obtain that RELATIONSHIP, they need to have KNOWLEDGE of God and His ATTRIBUTES, with this KNOWLEDGE they gain WISDOM to be able to LIVE a LIFE in this WRETCHED, CRUEL, WICKED world, by FAITH in Him.  LIFE on earth is UNPREDICTABLE, we ALL, SINNER and BELIEVER, alike, face many UNCERTAINTIES, some of which takes a good deal of WISDOM to be able to OVERCOME. 

 

King Solomon, the author of the Book of Ecclesiastes, the WISEST man ever, tells us that the person who PLEASES God, God will give them WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE and HAPPINESS.  It is WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE and HAPPINESS that God provides for His TRUE CHILDREN that will enable them to LIVE by FAITH and to PLEASE the One who is in CONTROL of EVERYTHING.  The Sinner has the WISDOM of the WORLD, and God gives them the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to those who PLEASE HIM.  This reminds  me of Estate Sells, where, all of a person’s belongings, those things that they might have cherished at one time, things that sometimes gives incite to who that person was. Their personal things are sold to WHOEVER pays the price.  Usually, the Sinner is not always HAPPY with their lifestyle, because they KNOW something is MISSING.  No matter how much they gather, they can’t seem to fill the void.

 

I am TRULY THANKFUL for the WISDOM and KNOWLEDGE that God gives His TRUE CHILDREN, which enables us to KNOW Him better, and gives us the WISDOM we NEED to LIVE by FAITH.  Do you possess the WISDOM and KNOWLEDGE from God?  Or do you possess the WISDOM of this WRETCHED, CRUEL, WICKED world, which will lead you to an ETERNITY in HELL, suffering ALL of its HORRORS, with NO WAY OF ESCAPE.  You NOW, have the opportunity to possess the WISDOM and KNOWLEDGE, which God gives FREELY to those who PLEASE Him. You MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN 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 receive WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE and HAPPINESS from God.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"THANKFUL for the Promise of the Holy Spirit"

“THANKFUL for the Promise of the Holy Spirit”

 

He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.              Galatians 3:14

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.        John 14:26

But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth.  He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come.          John 16:13

 

In order to receive the PROMISE of the HOLY SPIRIT, God redeemed us that we might inherit the blessing, which was given to Abraham, this came about through the REDEEMING WORK of Jesus Christ on the cross.  And by our FAITH, when we TRULY give our HEART to God, then we would be able to receive the PROMISE of the SPIRIT, who will TEACH us ALL THINGS.   This is one reason I am THANKFUL for the PROMISE of the Holy Spirit.

 

The Holy Spirit, will be our ADVOCATE, or COUNSELOR, the One who pleads our cause, before the Almighty God. The One who gives us COUNSEL in RIGHTEOUS LIVING, and INSIGHT into God’s precepts.  He will TEACH us ALL the things we NEED to KNOW, and REMIND us of the TEACHINGS of Jesus Christ.   This is another reason I am THANKFUL for the PROMISE of the Holy Spirit.

 

The Holy Spirit will be our GUIDE.  He will guide us into ALL the TRUTH.  The Spirit would NOT speak on His own initiative, but He would ONLY tell what Father God tells Him, which is TRUTH.  He will GUIDE us into insight on what is yet to come, the RETURN of Christ.  Are you READY?  This is another reason I am THANKFUL for the PROMISE of the Holy Spirit. 

 

These are a few of the reasons I am THANKFUL for God’s PROMISE of the Holy Spirit.  It is His PROVISION for the TRUE BELIEVER to be able to LIVE by FAITH.  And to KNOW we belong to Him, because His Spirit bears witness to our spirit.  Do you belong to Him?  Do you POSSESS His Spirit? 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to Him, then you do NOT belong to Him, nor do you POSSESS His Spirit.  And you are living a SINFUL lifestyle, which is leading you to an ETERNITY in Hell, with ALL of its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  But you can CHANGE your destiny by, TURNING AWAY from your sins 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 THANKFUL for God’s PROMISE of His Holy Spirit, and your HOPE of Heaven for ALL of ETERNITY.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting, and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"THANKFUL for REFUGE in God"

“THANKFUL for REFUGE in God”

 

The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress and my Deliverer; my God is my Rock, in whom I take refuge, my Shield and the Horn of my Salvation, my Stronghold.        Psalms 18:2

When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, but even in death the righteous seek refuge in God.         Proverbs 14:32

 

REFUGE:  A place of safety, shelter, a safe retreat. 

 

The Psalmist, David, describes what God is to him.  He says that God is his ROCK, in whom he takes REFUGE.  The Lord God was David’s SAFE-PLACE.  He describes God as his FORTRESS and DELIVERER.  God was David’s DEFENSE and his SHIELD of PROTECTION.  God was David’s HORN of SALVATION, in biblical times the HORN represented STRENGTH, so God was David’s STRONG SALVATION, and God was David’s STRONGHOLD. 

 

For the Christian, SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING, God is our REFUGE, ROCK, FORTRESS, DELIVERER, SHIELD, STRONGHOLD and the STRENGTH of our SALVATION.   For those who have TRULY been REDEEMED, our REFUGE is not in the STRENGTH of human beings, nor is it in the STRONGHOLD of a FORTRESS made with human hands, but it is in the STRENGTH  of the ALMIGHTY GOD, who has DELIVERED us from the HORRORS of an ETERNITY in Hell.  He is our SALVATION, our STRONG and MIGHTY TOWER, our SAFE-PLACE.  And I am TRULY THANKFUL I can take REFUGE in His ABUNDANT MERCY and AMAZING GRACE, and be PROTECTED by His SHIELD of SALVATION. 

 

In the book of Proverbs, we are told, “when calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, but even in DEATH the righteous seek REFUGE in God.”  When the wicked are faced with SERIOUS PROBLEMS, they are brought down, or DEVASTATED, because they have NO HOPE, they have no REFUGE to go to.  But the RIGHTEOUS of God, even when facing DEATH, has a REFUGE in their HEAVENLY FATHER, GOD.  Remember, 9-11, when the churches filled up with people who were TERRIFIED that it was the END OF THE WORLD?  But where are they NOW, many are still with NO HOPE, because they have NOT given their HEARTS and LIVES to God, and they have NO REFUGE to run to.

 

 Are you with NO HOPE or REFUGE, to whom you can run to?  Are you destined for an ETERNITY in Hell, with NO WAY of ESCAPE?  God wants to be your REFUGE, the STRENGTH of SALVATION for you.  You can obtain that REFUGE and SALVATION 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 take REFUGE in Him for ALL of ETERNITY.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"Thankful for FREEDOM!"

“Thankful for FREEDOM!”

 

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.        Galatians 5:1

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.  But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh.       Galatians 5:13a

 

FREEDOM, this is TRULY something that Americans can be THANKFUL for.  We live in the FREEST country on earth.  Yet there are still people who live here and are held in bondage.  They are NOT in bondage to another person, but they are ENSLAVED to the SIN that is embedded in their HEART.  And will lead them straight to an ETERNITY in Hell, where they will be tormented and tortured, imprisoned, with NO WAY OF ESCAPE.

 

But the Lord Jesus Christ came to mankind to set us FREE from that bondage and to FREE us from the yoke of slavery to the sins that so easily besets us.  If we have given our HEARTS and LIVES to God and have TRULY TURNED AWAY FROM our sins and TURNED TO HIM, who has PROVIDED our FREEDOM, we should STAND FIRM in our FREEDOM and not be BURDENED again by a YOKE of SLAVERY.  Because we are called to be FREE.  However, we SHOULD NOT use our FREEDOM to indulge the flesh. 

 

In other words, we NEED to WALK or LIVE by the Spirit of the Living God, who, through His Son, Jesus Christ, has set us FREE from our bondage, and we should NOT gratify the desires of the flesh, which would put us back into the BONDAGE of our SINS.    If the Son has set us FREE, we are FREE indeed, and we do NOT need to be bound by the yoke of our fleshly desires.

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are ENSLAVED to your sins.  And are being led to an ETERNITY in Hell with ALL of its HORRORS.  But you can be SET FREE from your bondage, and have an ETERNITY in Heaven, with God and His Son, Jesus Christ, 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 FREEDOM from your bondage, and be THANKFUL for your FREEDOM.    Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Giving Thanks to the Lord!"

“Giving Thanks to the Lord!”

 

Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for mankind.       Psalm 107:8

This is how God showed His love among us:  He sent His One and Only Son into the world that we might live through Him.  This is love:  not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.         1 John 4:9-10

 

The MOST WONDERFUL deed that the Lord God has done for mankind, is the PLAN of SALVATION.  A VERY EXCELLENT way to show His UNFAILING LOVE for mankind, is through this PLAN, to bring the Crown of His Creation into a RIGHTEOUS RELATIONSHIP with Him.  In order for Him to be able to FELLOWSHIP with mankind, and to provide a “FOREVER HOME” with Him and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, in Heaven. 

 

The PLAN was carried out through the CRUCIFIXION and RESURRECTION of His ONE and ONLY SON, who REDEEMED mankind from their SINS and BROUGHT SALVATION to a LOST AND DOOMED WORLD, ALL because of His UNFAILING LOVE.   A TRUE, ABIDING LOVE that is ours for the asking.  If we will ACCEPT His LOVE, and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ into our HEARTS and TURN AWAY from our SINFUL lifestyle and TURN TO God, He will be FAITHFUL and JUST to FORGIVE our SINS and give us SALVATION, and the HOPE of HEAVEN for ALL of ETERNITY.

 

So the FIRST and FORMOST thing that we SHOULD be THANKFUL for is God’s PLAN of SALVATION, and His UNFAILING LOVE for those who are WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM their SINFUL LIFESTYLE, and to escape all the HORRORS of HELL for ALL of ETERNITY, and TURN TO God, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, CONFESSING their SINS to Him and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING, with ALL their HEART, that Jesus died for them and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for them, before God, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION and His Son, and experience His UNFAILING LOVE, and be THANKFUL for this MOST WONDERFUL DEED.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"I Will Give Thanks Because...."

“I Will Give Thanks Because….”

 

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.         Psalm 9:1

The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.  Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.        Psalm 9:9-10

 

“Thanksgiving” the time of year, when families gather together to offer “THANKS” to God for ALL of His WONDERFUL deeds.  Or do they?  Is it, for a lot families, just a time to get together and “PIG OUT” with maybe, a slight “Thanks” to the cook(s) for ALL THEIR wonderful contributions of food?  I wonder how many families will even offer a BRIEF prayer of “thanks” to God for anything He has BLESSED them with.  Maybe it’s because they don’t know HOW to say “thanks” to Him, because they don’t speak to Him at all.  You don’t need ONE day set aside to give “THANKS” it SHOULD be DONE EVERY DAY, by ALL of God’s children.

 

Our Psalmist tells us that he will give “THANKS” to the Lord, with ALL his HEART; and he will TELL of ALL God’s WONDERFUL DEEDS.  Then he begins to tell of ALL God has done for him.  In verses nine and ten, he says; “The Lord is a REFUGE for the oppressed, a STRONGHOLD in times of trouble.”    The Lord is a place of PROTECTION for those who are beaten down by others, through words or deeds.  He is a place of FORTIFIED STRENGTH in TROUBLED TIMES.  These are some of His WONDERFUL DEEDS that we can PROCLAIM and be THANKFUL for. 

 

For those who are TRUE BELIEVERS, they can put their TRUST in Him, because He is their Heavenly Father, who LOVES them with a TRUE ABIDING LOVE.  These are a few more of His WONDERFUL DEEDS, TRUST and LOVE, which we can PROCLAIM and be THANKFUL for.

 

And other VERY IMPORTANT THINGS, which we can PROCLAIM and be THANKFUL for is: His ABUNDANT MERCY and AMAZING GRACE.  “For You, Lord have NEVER forsaken those who seek You.  Those who have RECEIVED His gift of SALVATION can PROCLAIM it and be VERY THANKFUL for it, because NOW, they have the HOPE of ETERNAL LIFE in Heaven.  Do YOU? 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you have VERY LITTLE, if anything to PROCLAIM or give THANKS for.  And you will be spending ALL of ETERNITY in Hell, with ALL its HORRORS, which is DEFINITELY NOT something to give “THANKS” for.  But BECAUSE of God’s ABUNDANT MERCY and AMAZING GRACE, you can ESCAPE ETERNITY in Hell by, TURNING AWAY from your sins, 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 YOU can give “THANKS” and PROCLAIM His WONDERFUL DEEDS.   Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!